What sirens sing for you
1 Timothy 1:19…”reject your moral compass”
That’s a scary thought: Loving something more than God. That thing is an idol – a God-replacement. With that love, you take away God from His rightful place in your heart. Ephesians 5:5
What is it that leads you away from the Lord? Do you know it? What sirens sing for you? We must learn to shut-off the siren songs that lead to shipwrecked lives 1 Timothy 1:19.
Unnecessary weight
We all battle against specific sins. What is it that takes you to it?
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of [a]witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, 2 [looking away from all that will distract us…
Sin doesn’t start with sin. It starts with wanting, mulling-it-over, considering it, loving it. That is “unnecessary weight”. Run away from that. Strip it off, God tells us.
Sin is a dirty rotten liar. It promises good, but always fails to deliver. It lies.
Sin is so very clever. Sin entangles and enslaves us. So Scripture advises us to shut-off the siren songs…
“stripping off
every unnecessary weight
and the sin
which so easily and cleverly
entangles us”
Run away from entanglements
The counsel of Scripture is to …run away from it. “Keep far, far away“…from it. Whatever it is. You know. It leads you “to sin and enslaves the soul….” So the wise “run [keep far, far away] from” it.
“Therefore, my beloved, run [keep far, far away] from [any sort of] idolatry [and that includes loving anything more than God, or participating in anything that leads to sin and enslaves the soul].”
– 1 Corinthians 10:14 AMP
How other versions put it:
TLB …carefully avoid idol worship of every kind.
MSG …when you see people reducing God to something they can use or control, get out of their company as fast as you can.
NOG …get as far away from the worship of false gods as you can.
NABRE …avoid idolatry.
VOICE …run from idolatry in any form.
The answer to enslavement is “…focusing our eyes on Jesus….” He “…is the Author and Perfecter of faith….”
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of [a]witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us,
2 [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, [b]disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].
3 Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself [consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
To what and where do you let your mind wander off? Siren songs are all around. Philippians 4:8 gives us a list of of good things to think about. It is wise to center our mind on these: whatever is true, honorable, worthy of respect, is right, confirmed by God’s word, is pure, is wholesome, is lovely, brings peace, is admirable, is of good repute, any excellence, anything worthy of praise.
“think continually on these things”
center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart
This is the full verse.
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].”
__________
How far away can you get? (1 Corinthians 10:14) Don’t settle for “how close can I get”. That’s King Solomon’s Fool talk. When sin reigns – Hell is coming.
“Who would want to
go through all of life
— and end up
…still a fool?”
– Source: King Solomon’s Fool
Don’t practice what leads to sin…wisdom says
About sin, wisdom says: carefully avoid it, get out of their company, get as far away as you can, run from any form of it, keep yourself free from “loving anything more than God“. It says: strip them off! Strip off “every unnecessary weight and the sin….”
Hebrews 12:1
…let us run
with endurance and
active persistence
the race
that is set before us
So the question is: What do you love – more than God? Hopefully we can soon say: Nothing.
FOR MORE:
What do you love a lot, really-really-a-LOT? Does it take you away from God?
__________
The one who is an idolator – 1 Corinthians 10:9-14, Ephesians 5:5
Letting it reign until Hell is Home
The sins we can practice to go to Hell. Just so you know.
What is more important than your eternity? Excerpt: Whoever you are – you must have realized by now that you yourself have no special entry visa permit to Heaven. The fear of death shows us all up with that. Why else do people fear dying and death? So what have you done about it?
The Bible gives us hope with our coming experience in this, death. Have you looked into it lately? I have – and I’m not afraid of death. What I rather prefer is what’s coming next!
Who do you think you are? You think God has privileged you above all others so that you may walk smoothly into Heaven when you die?
The Kingdom of God is very exclusive, very luxurious, very special
Being 100% given-over to Jesus
Are you ready to meet your Maker?
This Hope we have – and what this hope does
Specific salvation parameters Jesus absolutely requires
Conform or Resist the pressures Excerpt: Take a Christian Stance
What is your stance on issues in the public square? Conforming Romans 12:2 is still a problem, no matter your age.
According to Peter, we mustn’t be “conformed to the evil desires”, sins “which governed you in your ignorance” 1 Peter 1:14. The enemies of our soul will roll you up, keep you silent, keep you conforming in it’s mold – even getting you to support evil, hating others. There are consequences for supporting evil!
Do you feel it? I resist the pressure to conform. In Christ I am a strong person. Yes I can – I can stand strong Ephesians 6:10-18…verse 11. What I say? Stand Strong. Stand up. Speak up. Be not conformed.
Caught up with a practice God has said not to practice?
The world of illusion of some churchgoers
Better is thinking with God’s Word
Know your thinking – Save your future
Contrast the wise versus the foolish:
The Good Fruit List
versus
The Bad Fruit List
What is proper among saints – Ephesians 5:1-3
Run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us
Running in the dirty realm of “living in sin” Excerpt: There is no greater question than: What does God require of us? Gotta get it right. Absolutely must get it right.
Have you accepted all that Jesus Christ is and does – all of what He Himself requires of us to be saved? Don’t die short of the glory of God! Romans 3:23 His is not a glory I want to miss-out on.
Philippians 4:8 “think continually on these things”
Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].
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