To Steal Your Eternity
—Did you have any idea the enemy is working in your life to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10)? Jesus said that he is and in Mark 4 Jesus teaches us his tactics. Know the enemy is working behind the scenes, he doesn't want to be noticed, but he is working to steal from you.
—I see it in people's lives everywhere I look. I see it because it's familiar to me —I have been through it. If you haven't then it is a good thing to go through because the bottom line is —the enemy is trying to control you so he can steal your eternity from you. He probably already has a good hold on you if you are not paying attention.
—Peter said be sober and vigilant the enemy roams around like a roaring lion looking for someone he can devour.
1 Peter 5:8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. 9 Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. AMPC
—You know his most likely subject is the one who isn't watching, or the one who doesn't believe in him. To that the wolf replies —all the better to eat you with my dearie!
—Here is the thing God is wanting me to talk to you about today. The most used trick the enemy uses is money. The care of having enough —providing for your family.
—Seems innocent enough but look closely here at what Jesus said and as you read determine where your focus is and where it should be.
Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in). 25 Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life? 28 And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin. 29 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear? 32 For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all. 33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things [taken together will be given you besides. 34 So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble. AMPC
—If you have prioritized money, if your life is about all the things you need, then the enemy has you! Right? Because if you think about and live about money and things, then you are serving money. If you don’t see yourself as about money, then pray and ask Jesus if this is you. Why should you ask? Because oftentimes we don’t want correction, we're too comfortable. That’s the enemy's trick.
—But Jesus has so much for you that is far beyond a little temporary comfort. He has more for you than you can ask or think. He has forever peace, comfort, joy, healing, so much more than I can mention here! He has more for you than you can imagine. It is His will you prosper in every area and He will take you to that place if you want Him to.
3 John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers. AMPC
—If you don't want to be corrected Jesus knows you don't want to be corrected —and so He won't correct you. He won't force His will on you. But if you ask and want to be corrected so that you are right with Him, He will do that. I suggest you take the correction because in so doing He is preparing for Kingdom living, even here and now. Remember the Kingdom is within you, Jesus in you!
—If the enemy can get you to chase stuff and serve it all your life then you will be the one who will have disregarded His command.
—Yes, the enemy has a dirty plan and just like the wolf he dresses up (2 Corinthians 11:14). You don't want to partake in his ways or you get to live with him and not God. Really a good estimation of your eternity to come stems from how you are living here.
—The plan as Jesus said is to live the importance of life. And what is the importance of life? Having time to serve and to love others. Having it be your priority to do His will instead of that of the enemies. When you strive to do His will, your Father will provide for you as He does the birds. Yes and how much more important are you to Him than the birds?
—So seek God’s way and what you need will be added to you. Don't spend your life running in circles to get what you need and then your eternity in hell, but instead live your life wisely and in so doing spend eternity with your Father.
Matthew 6:33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things [taken together will be given you besides. AMPC
—In addition the besides includes more than you need. More than you can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).