Rev. Jimmy F. Locklear
Mrs. Connie Bullard led the congregation in a song from Romans and Ephesians. We can use Bible verses to sing while learning the scriptures.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
The Adult Choir Sang:
“He will see Me Through” and “God Going send Revival all over this Land“
I Peter: 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” Dr. & Mrs. Ralph Richardson were influential in given us some directions about today message.
Title: “Hearing the Soar of the Lion – But not the Foxes in Our Lives”
Mrs. Richardson in her statement let us now that “the fox will not let you know when they are about to attach.” For example, “our tomatos outside last week was beautiful on the outside but as soon as I picked it there was a hole. The inside has been destroyed by an outside predictor.”
“As Christian, we do not fall into great sin such as murder because we are generally aware of the big sins but unaware of the little sins that are destroying our lives.” Mrs. Bert said, “Its the little fox that destroys the vine of our lives. Each of us is a vineyard of the Lord. He, the Lord Jesus Christ makes us so that we might benefit others, that they will see the essence of Christ our lives. We are a vineyard of the Lord Jesus Christ not to be taken lightly.” Isaiah states, “The vineyard is His followers”. King Solomon sayed, “Like little foxes that spoils the vine of our lives.” What are these foxes? Webster defines, “a fox is intelligent, swift, quite, and manipulate.” Back in the day when we did not get our eggs and chickens from Food Lion our greatest fears was losing our food to the fox. All we saw was the evidence where he had been as he stole our possessions. In Hebrews, “it tell us that its not the roaring lion that will kill one but the sneaking of the fox where we lose. Sin will come into your life and destroy you as a person. These small foxes are small but they can become a lion.”
What are those things that will drag us down are those small sins. “It not the roar of the lion but it’s the sneaking in of the foxes in our lives that destroys us from the inside out. “Like that tomato it looks good on the outside but it’s the inside that makes the difference. We flew from the roar of the lion but many times we fail to see the little things as the movement of the foxes.”
Let’s look at some foxes that can destroyed our lives?
Somebody is looking at your life. “The life you are living shows up when someone else is looking at you as a Christian. “We have hitch hikers in our life that will pattern your life but that is not where one should be looking. These foxes that might put a shadow on your life whither it’s one or two or three foxes. I hate hitch hikers” – your pattern must be God. Here are some examples of that fox who creeps into your lives unless you are vigilant:
• “Not praying for others” I Samuel 12 “For as for me God and all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God, that we die not”
• “Not doing good when it is your duty as a Christian” James 4:17 “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is a sin.” We should be visiting the sick and shut-in, prisoners, honoring our parents by edifying one another, etc.”
• “Making decision without seeking God” Come now – instead we should say “If it be the Lord’s Will”. “How many of us do not seek his own good. How do we rationalize our own behavior? This is right for me. Well, if I don’t take care of myself who will.” Let each of you regard one another do not look out for your own interest but the interest of others. Philippians 2:3 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
• Hypocrites, Jesus was deeply disturbed by the actions of Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis 19:24 ‘Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven.’ How do you want to appear telling one story and living another? Don’t look at man behind to curtain the Wizard – listen at Jesus.”
• Ignorance of God’s Word – failure to know God’s Word Math 22:9 Mrs. Richardson posed the question, “Where is your Bible?” “Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.” We should know that the devil will not always come in the front door; they sneak in when you are unaware.
• Not being Thankful! “Your heart should be overwhelmed by what God is doing for you on a daily basis.”
• Impurity of what enter into your mind and heart! “It not too dirty come let me tell you this joke it’s alright, it not that bad.” If your mouth is open for Christ your heart is enlarged for the Kingdom of God.
• Association of others, a good example of this come from Stephen when is felt the presence of God Acts 7:55 “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,”
In conclusion, how do we protect ourselves? “Be aware of the foxes in our lives. The Church is the sanctity of God. Don’t let someone say that the church is dead. We must be alive daily for God and protect our lives and set a hedge around our lives. We wish that the foxes did roar but that is not the case. He come enters quietly he bits and that bit will change your life forever. Each one of us must realize and ask God to help us not to allow the fox to destroy us from the inside out.”
God’s Blessing on each of you as you face another week.
Closing Song/Prayer: “He Set Me Free” Mr. Jennings Bullard
