Sunday Reflection

Sure glad we had AC today. The forecast today was 99 degrees. Makes you wonder how they survived in the old days.

Going into the 'Deal no Deal' series I expected Spiritual warfare. Not sure I realized how intense it might become. The enemy doesn't want us to know his weapons, and he especially does not want us to know how to win temptations battle.

If Satan does not get us to fall with 'the lust of the flesh' or 'the lust of the eyes,' he pulls from his arsenal 'the pride of life.'

• Pride makes us think we are better than everyone else.
• Pride makes us jealous..
• Pride makes us build monuments to our self.
• Pride pressures us to impress people.
• Pride prevents us from fully submitting our life to God.
• Pride breaks God’s Greatest law, ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’
• Pride promotes Satan's agenda.
• Pride prevents us from praying to and depending on God.
• Pride causes us to lose the joy of the blessings we currently have.
• Pride eventually ends in shame.
• Pride destroys lives.

The antidote to pride is humility. Humility is simply knowing that we need God! The measure of our humility is our dependence on God.

God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble.
Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. …
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
James 4:6 - 10

“To be humble to superiors is duty, to equals courtesy, to inferiors nobleness.”

Benjamin Franklin

Give or Take

‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35

Sunday mornings we are currently going through the three temptations of Christ: 'the lust of the flesh', 'the lust of the eye', and 'the pride of life.' Satan takes full advantage these natural desires in our lives to tempt us to sin. We all want to satisfy what our bodies desire, to get what our eyes see, and to be promoted in this life. To win against the 'lust of the flesh' we have to walk in the Spirit. To win against the 'lust of the eyes' we have be generous. To win against the 'pride of life' we must have a humble heart.

This week we are going to take a close look at how selfishness leads to sin.

The tempter takes takers, but God guards givers.

Are you a giver or a taker?

Deal No Deal Launch

We launched our 'Deal No Deal' series this morning. I really felt I shared what the Lord wanted me share today. But, in dealing with the 'lust of the flesh,' it was difficult being relevant and at the same time keeping it respectable. So much more I really wanted to share.

Satan has no boundaries in His presentation and enticements. But preachers have limits in showing the degree to which sin destroys.

So many lives are ruined when the temptation battle is lost. I pray today's message will help our people win this battle.

Deal No Deal

Life has many alluring temptations. But most will lead you down a path of deception and destruction. Don’t be fooled! They might look like the “real deal”, but they’re not! Join us starting May 18th on Sundays @ 11 AM and follow the discerning path that leads to truth and a life well lived. Be Discerning; Not Deceived!