"A Battleground, Not a Playground"

September 27  A Battleground, Not a Playground  1 John 4:4

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

The Bible teaches us about God and Satan, about Good and Evil and the expectations from serving God or Satan!  Folks, regardless of what is being told today, our Christian faith places us directly into the Battleground against Satan and his minions!  Somehow, a false message of “Prosperity” has spread across Christendom and it declares that following Christ means a life of ease and prosperity with little challenges or struggles!  WRONG!!  Following Christ means that you become the NUMBER ONE target for Satan!  The Holy Scriptures clearly instructs us to “Put on the WHOLE ARMOR of God!”  We don’t need Armor in a “Playground!”  Friends, how sad it is to witness professing believers being used by Satan to cause others to stumble and thinking that they are doing right.  AGAIN, it is not “What You Think, IT IS WHAT GOD SAYS THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE!!!  If your actions do not further the cause of Christ, then, STOP and evaluate the motivations of your words and actions!  I have an extended family member that likes to inform me that I am not doing what is right, when I, according to him, am not promoting a political agenda and not shouting to the top of my abilities just how Evil people have become!  REALLY?  Does that describe you?  Does your focus center around politics and some “Worldly” perspective?  I am fully aware of the Battle that we are engaged in and I am fully aware of the stakes!  I choose to trust God, to claim His Promises and I am living my Earthly Life in the midst of the Battlefield, with the FIRM and SURE KNOWLEDGE THAT I AM THE VICTOR!!!  Why?  BECAUSE GREATER IS HE WHO IS IN ME THAT HE WHO IS IN THE WORLD!  Come on Folks, God has promised Victory and we, simply have to claim the victory and LIVE IT EACH DAY!  I am aware that these few words do not express the intensity of my thoughts, however, please focus on God, on His Provision and continue to focus on what HE says and not the World!  WE ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE PLAN OF GOD, HOWEVER, WE CAN CHANGE (through the HOLY SPIRIT) THE LIVES OF THOSE THAT WE SHARE JESUS WITH!  Please don’t be so “EARTHLY MINDED that YOU ARE NO HEAVENLY GOOD!!  We are in a Battle and we are struggling daily, however, when we focus on what is holy and righteous and edifying to God, we WILL OVERCOME!  Enough said… Forget the activities of the world and focus on the reality of HEAVEN…THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME, I AM JUST PASSING THROUGH! What God does with you is entirely up to you!  It always has and it always will… Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!