TOPIC: WHO IS YOUR REAL ENEMY?
MEMORISE:
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
READ: Psalm 35:1-7
1 Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.
MESSAGE:
Does your enemy have any legitimate claim against you? Are you sure your adversary does not have a genuine reason to attack you? These are the questions you must answer before inviting God- the Great Ally to come to your aid in the battle of life. Requesting divine intervention against your enemies will be counterproductive if you are the real enemy of yourself. How can one be an enemy of himself or herself? The answer is in today’s memory verse. You can be against yourself if you break divine laws, and this has its consequences. An example is in Malachi 3:8-9:
“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.”
Anyone who refused to pay their tithes is robbing God. What are you doing that is taking you away from your maker- the one who is supposed to be your unfailing Ally? You must answer this question before inviting God to be your Ally so you wouldn’t be inviting Someone you have taken as an enemy- that would be the greatest irony of all. Many times, I have told my children that there is only one person that can be against us when God wants to be for us and that is our very selves! The nobleman said to the unprofitable servant in Luke 19:22:
“….Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant…”
We can also create enmity with the Greatest Ally when we abuse God’s temple either by sexual immorality or indecent dressing. 1 Corinthians 3:17 says God would destroy anyone who destroys His temple. Your dressing can destroy another person and when that happens, you create enmity between yourself and God. Thus, there is no way God can come to your rescue in the time of adversity. This is why you must ensure that your relationship with God is not in doubt at any time. This is possible when you accept Jesus as your Lord and forsake all sinful habits.
If you are already born again, continue to live Holy. When you do, God will fight for you and humiliate your enemies in ways you could never have imagined.
Beloved, I beseech you: do not be an enemy to yourself and ensure you are always on the side of God.
ACTION POINT:
Examine yourself and make sure the Greatest Ally is not only your God but your friend also.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: AMOS 5-9.
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 21: ROCK OF AGES, CLEFT FOR ME.
1. Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.
2. Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
3. Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
4. While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
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