Title: Sold Out To Whom? Post by: Shylynne on December 30, 2004, 08:35:53 PM Satan Has a Kingdom and He is Buying Souls
Yes, Satan has a kingdom and he gives it to whosoever he will. That’s an overwhelming thought and it is changing the way many people live. Satan made that point to Jesus, and the Son of God did not argue with it, but simply rejected any desire to be a part of his dark world. Look at the manner in which Satan tempted Jesus. “And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan . .” (St. Luke 4:5-8) The Scripture further states that Satan is the “god of this world.” (II Corinthians 4:4) He does have the power to give you the kingdom of the world if you will give him your soul. Our world has a multitude of people that Satan has purchased just like he tried to buy Jesus. Many people will look at their worldly blessings and say, “…look what God has blessed me with” not knowing it was not the God of Heaven but the false god of this world. Any material blessing that does not come in a manner that makes you a greater saint or richer toward God did not come from the Heavenly Father. Anything you possess that robs you of your family time and your church life, or your devotion in the Word of God and prayer, is not from the God of Eternity. When your job becomes a weight around your neck, you must ask the Lord of your life to free you for His kingdom from the burden of destruction. If the world offers you some great possession that separates you from the church were God has planted you, you must stop to consider the source of that offer. If the world tries to buy you away from the time necessary to be a great elder or deacon in your church, a dedicated dad or mom, or a dedicated husband or wife, the offer did not come from the third heaven but from that kingdom in the mid-air. Satan is very busy buying this word’s allegiance. We look at rock stars and movie actors, etc., and quickly admit that they have sold out to the god of this world, but do not forget that the devil is buying the little man or woman just like he is buying the big fish. No wonder Jesus made such strenuous requirements for His disciples and saints. The world and its god, Lucifer, are constantly after your heart. Satan will pay any price to buy and destroy your soul and the only possibility for your eternal salvation is total surrender to Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. You must “forsake all,” all of the world and all of its claims for your one Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” (St. Luke 9:23b-25) Later He added, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26-27) The majority of the church world is religious but knows nothing of this kind of Biblical surrender. They are going to be eternally lost unless someone gets this message to their heart. The only blessings you can count from God are those that come to you after you have denied all to follow Jesus. When you surrender to Him, deny yourself, and deny all the claims men make on you for the one life of total lordship under Jesus Christ, then He will meet all of your needs and give you more than Satan could have ever given, plus eternal life. That is His promise to every saint of God. Listen, “And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.” (St. Luke 18:29-30) His offer to every living soul is to give you His Kingdom if you will refuse Satan’s kingdom. There are only two kingdoms in the world and the choice is yours. Jesus said, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (St. Luke 12:32 Joseph R. Chambers www.pawcreek.org Title: The Surrender Of Our Will Post by: Shylynne on December 30, 2004, 08:41:46 PM Something beautiful happens when an individual surrenders his will to Jesus Christ. Our Creator has a sovereign plan for each of our total lives, and that design is so spectacular and heavenly that nothing can compare. He has predestined us from the foundation of the world to His glory. His Word declares that He alone is the foundation on which we must build. After we surrender to this single foundation, then He begins the beautiful process of revealing the rest of His story plan to us. The Spirit said to the Ephesus church family, "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself." (Ephesians 1:9) He cannot, and will not, reveal His will until we surrender our will to Him.
Jesus Christ was our perfect example. The Gospel of John reveals His absolute subordination to His Father. He never spoke of His own ideas or plans. In fact, He had no other plan but His Father's. "Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." (John 7:16-17) I love this divine statement. First, He said, "I have no will but the Father's." Then, He said, "If you will surrender to His will, then you will have the enlightenment of knowing in your heart that My doctrines are pure and divine." Something supernatural happens in our very spirit and mind once we surrender our will to the Heavenly Father. The Son of God was plainspoken. "If any man will do his will he shall 'know'..." This is divine revelation. Multitudes are asking, "How can I know the will of God?" Multiple books are being written on "finding God's Will." All of the searching and hand wringing could end quickly if each person would totally surrender their will to Him. No book but the Holy Bible can reveal the will of God for you. But the one addition to that Book is God's readiness to apply the truth of that Book when you give up your own will. Only the Spirit of God can reveal in your heart all the plans for your life. Your profession, your partner of a wife or a husband, your time, and every aspect must be discerned as you are totally yielded and free of all your preconceived plans. We live in a religious world that says you can bring all your talents, plans, decisions, etc., into your Christian walk. Some would even suggest that there are many different paths to serving God and God wants you to just be yourself. This concept is not only wrong, it is terrible. The eternal God knows your name, your abilities, your sins and even your thoughts. He has the perfect solution for all your needs and the perfect plan for all your life. He wants you to surrender your will totally and submit to His revelations for your life. Our nature is depraved. The most eloquent and cultured person among us has a wicked heart that must be washed in the Blood. This is the greatest struggle in the present church world. Multitudes are willing to profess Jesus Christ as long as it is on their own terms. Salvation is not just the redeeming of the old nature but the renewing and transformation of that nature. It is the miracle of being "born again." He does not sanctify my will but totally changes my will to His will at my surrender. A man, who was born blind, was seated by the path where Jesus and His disciples ministered. His disciples ask Jesus, "... Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." (John 9:2-3) Every situation of every individual soul on this earth has been allowed or designed for God to reveal Himself in that life. Your worst nightmare is an ordained opportunity for God to change your life. He is sovereign over His universe. Nothing that happens is meaningless. Whatever your situation or heartbreak, surrender your will to Him and He will begin the process of miracles. When you give up all your will and great plans to the "Master Designer of Human Lives," He will reveal His design, and you will discover a glorious life. He awaits somewhere beside the path you are struggling to navigate. His plans may not always take you through a flower garden, but it will always end in one. http://www.pawcreek.org/ |