Against God

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Job 41:10 Not Standing Against God

No is so fierce that he would dare to stir him up. Who then is able to stand against Me? Job 41:10

There are men and women throughout the world who have become so accomplished that they feel that no one can stand up against them. Some feel as if they are the top of the world and in full control. It often appears that what they desire, they will get no matter what the cost and no one can stop them. Yet, there are also some things so great that even the best will not want to face if at all possible.

God had just described some large animal and how fierce it is that no one would be willing to stir it or mess with it, but He can control it. Then He asks Job who will be able to stand against Him.

Humans have been able to capture and hold every animal on the planet. There is no animal so large or fierce that it cannot be captured. While most will fear many of these animals, there are some who will take them on with no fear.

In the same way that people have been able to control animals, there are some that feel that they can go against God and control Him. In defiance they are rebel against God and refuse to do what He says.

Believers will sometimes also choose to rebel against God and stand up against His desires. God will call a believer to do something for Him and that person will refuse to do so. Or God will allow something in one’s life, and the person will get angry with God for that allowance.

Instead of standing up against God, believers must understand that He is in control and knows what is best. Trusting God’s judgement and walking with God is the best choice.

You may have times in which you do not agree with or understand what God is allowing or doing in your life. There may be times of pain and suffering as what Job had went through.

Do not allow yourself to rise up against God and attempt to control Him. Understand that God is greater than you and more powerful than you will ever be. Respect His decisions in your life and put your trust in Him. Allow God to be God and Master of your life.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will trust God choices for your life; that you will walk with God; that you will not stand up against God’s judgements in your life; and that God will give you strength through the challenges He allows you to go through.

Picture by Lisa Yount under Unsplash

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Philippians 3:19 Description Of The Enemy

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. Philippians 3:19

The majority of the world live without God. They desire things for themselves with virtually no care or concerns for God or others.

On the outside surface the world appears to be doing well and making it. Everything appears to be going well and that they are successful. Evil men, and those with no regard for God, appear to be able to be in control and are winning the battles.

Paul just mentioned that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Now he describes them has having a goal of destruction, their selves as god, filled with shame, and their mind only upon earthly things.

When Jesus died upon the cross, it was not for selfish reasons but for others. He set an example of how those who follow Him should live their lives. The majority of the world stands against the cross and Jesus, because both stand against selfishness.

The goal of many is selfishness, which will always lead to destruction of others in order to build one’s self up. They feed on what satisfies them physically, while rejecting their spiritual needs. What the world finds as great and good is actually very shameful. Everything about the world is focused upon earthly, temporary things that will die and fade away.

There are some in the church that are living in that same way as an enemy of Jesus and His church, the believer. They strive to tear down believers with false lies and deception, attempting to destroy what God is building.

The true believer will focus on Jesus, God the Father and heavenly things. He will build others up in Christ, refuse to live in sin, and pull others away from sin.

Each day you live, you have a choice as to how you live. You must choose where your focus is. There are two places to put your focus on: the temporary, earthly things or on the eternal things of God and heaven.

If you choose to look at things and live as the world does, you will be an enemy of the cross of Christ. Rather choose to live for God. Live to have eternal life and bring as many others as possible with you into that eternal life with God.

Do not be an enemy of the cross of Christ inside the church.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that your mind will be set upon the things of Christ; that your goal will be to serve God; that your glory will be found in Jesus; and that you will be His witness to all on this earth.

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Mark 14:38 Prevent Falling To Temptation

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Mark 14:38

The standards of the world are that a person can do whatever he desires as long as it does not directly hurt another person. These standards can be found everywhere. Advertisements are focused on telling a person needs and deserves to have whatever he desires.

People cannot have or do too much, according to the world. This type of thinking causes people to do things that go against God and His standards.

As Jesus was about to be betrayed in the garden, He was praying and wanted the disciples to pray also. They had fallen asleep. Jesus told them that they needed to watch and pray to keep from falling into temptation.

Temptation is the pressure put on someone to go against a set of standards for a different set of standards. Most often this is going against God’s standards–sinning against God.

No true believer really wants to sin, but do continue to fall into the temptation to sin. The world wants nothing more than a believer to sin against God. The best way for a believer to prevent this from occurring is to watch and pray.

One must watch and be alert to the deception of the world to get him to sin. He must also pray. Prayer will keep his focus upon God and His standards, taking his eyes off of the lusts and temptations of this world.

God is willing to show a person the way out of temptation as the pressure arises. He will be able to bring to memory His word to turn from all sin.

Without prayer, a person is trying to do it on his own and will fall to the temptation to sin.

Every day there will be times of temptation that will come up in your life. You have to be ready to combat those temptations.

The first way to beat them is be watching for those temptations. Be ready for when the enemy tries to trip you up.

The next thing you need to be doing is praying, without stopping. Rely upon God’s Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide you to turn away from all temptation to sin. Refuse to sin against God.

Watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will pray to God continually; that you will rely upon God’s strength; that God will open your eyes to temptations before you; and that you will refuse to sin against God.