The third sermon on "The Christian Walk" is called the worthess, or vain, walk. Verse 17 says not to walk as "the gentiles walk." As it is used here it means not to walk as heathens walk. Don't live like people who live only for the world and belong to Satan's world system. "In the vanity of their mind" refers to an empty way of living that leads to an empty life.
I. Verse 18 - "Having the understanding darkned" A. They walk in the dark as opposed to walking in the light of Christ. B. They are "alienated from the life of God." Sadly, the Lord has nothing to do with their lives, which is the kind of society we are living in. C. They are ignorant of the true way of life. They are walking blindly through life. II. Verse 19 - "Who being past feeling..." A. They are living "lascivious" lives. Which means that they live only for the world and have bought into Satan's lie. Paul gives a description of this way of living in Romans 1:24-27, which is the direction of the world. B. They "work all uncleanness." C. And they work "with greediness." III. Verses 20-24 - "But ye have not so learned Christ." A. Christ hasn't taught us to live for the world - the world system. B. We should have put off the "old man" which lived "according deceitful lust." C. According to verses 23-24 we should live with renewed minds since we are new people living in "righteousness and true holiness." In Christ we do not live in a dark world, ignorant of God's way and will. Christ has taught us better than to live for the world and to join them in their waywardness.
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Our text shows that the devil goes to worship services. In this case it was a synagogue, we would call it "church." From this text we will learn how the devil works and through whom he works.
I. This is nothing new. A. The devil has always entered the sanctuaries of God. 1, He was in the Garden of Eden. 2. He was with the Israelites coming out of Egypt. 3. He was on the mountain with Jesus. 4. He is here now. B. He is trying to do his work: 1. through indifference 2. through skepticism 3. through weariness 4. Etc. C. We just need to be aware of him. II. Vs. 23 - He was there in a person. A. Not as a serpent, but in a man. B. He does his dirty work through people. 1. Think again of Adam and Eve. 2. Think of David and Bathsheba. 3. Think of Judas Iscariot. 4. Think of Simon Peter's denial. 5. Think of human history.............. C. We should be aware of the devil and his demon's work in our lives. 1. He might do it with gross sin, as with David. 2. He might do it through our not taking God's work seriously. 3. He might do it through our not taking spiritual disciplines seriously, such as, Bible reading and prayer. III. Vs. 24 - He was there to stop the work of Christ. A ." Let us alone, what have we to do with thee..." 1.They spoke up after verses 21-22. The devil and his demons always become alarmed when God's word is going forward and people are being saved and drawing closer to God. 2. So, the demons said, "let us alone..." The devil and his demons always want to be left alone to do their dirty work. Don't leave them alone, go after them............. B. "Art thou come to destroy us?" 1. Yes! Hebrews 2:14 2. The devil and his demons fear Jesus most of all, because they know that He can destroy them. C. Too often we let the devil stop the work of Jesus, for example, by arguing about nothing......... In conclusiion, you will notice that the devil and his demons were no match for Jesus. The work of Christ went on in spite of them. People were amazed. When is the last time people were amazed here because of victory in Jesus? We need to heed James 4:7-8 (This sermon was presented by J.W. Harper to The Preacher's Goldmine. For further explanation of the Preacher's Goldmine source, go to the introduction to A Christian's Companion in the Walk, two sermons down.)
Introduction: Some forts that Satan builds against us: I. Indifference A. Revelation 3:16 B. Indifference is the curse of our day. C. Satan is the builder of this fort. II. Doubt -- Matthew 4:3 A. To doubt the Sonship of Christ is to halt on the brink of eternity. B. To doubt is to reject Christ and salvation. C. To doubt might be to neglect salvation until it's too late. III. Deception -- Galatians 6:7 A. By the riches of this world. B. By our own hearts. C. By the power of Satan. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 IV. Unbelief -- "Ye believe in God, believe also in me." John 14:1 A. In the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. B. In Christ as the Lord of our lives. Acts 2:36 C. Unbelief is the sin that damns men's souls. John 8:24 1. Here is the fort that defeats us. 2. Here is the fort that must be taken at all costs. |
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