How to Win Over the Devil
 a sermon on Matthew 4:1-11 by Don
Ginkel for any Sunday in Lent
Years ago,
when Dr. Billy Graham was asked, "Do you believe in a real
devil?" it is said that he responded, "The Bible declares it
to be so, and further, I have done business with him myself."
Is it really true that the devil has enormous influence in the
lives of people? He seems to be able to make things go wrong
so often. He seems to be able to take the wind out of people's
sails and place them in very depressing situations. This
morning we want to learn HOW TO WIN OVER THE DEVIL. First we
need to establish...
I. Who the
devil is -
The devil was created as a
good angel and lived in heaven with all the angels before the
fall. He was given free choice to obey or not obey God.
Somehow, in some way, Satan turned on God in heaven and
desired the glory that God had for Himself. The result is that
Satan was thrown out of heaven together with all the angels
who followed him. We read in 2 Peter 2:4 that "God did not
spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting
them into gloomy dungeons to be held for
judgment."
They were damned instantly and
were never given another chance to change. That's God's
judgment on them. So now the devil has launched an all out
attack on people, deceiving them, lying to them, tricking
them, persuading them, bargaining with them, so that people
like you and me will spend eternity in total
damnation. [Complete
Article]
|
|
Who's Your
Project?
 by Kent
Hunter
Pastor Jay is very
excited about having a church full of disciples. From the
pulpit, he began his motivating talk: "The church is called to
make disciples. We are in the disciple-making business. So,
we're offering a series of adult Bible classes and we're
encouraging you to give one a try. This is your opportunity to
grow in your understanding of God and to learn about serving
from the Scriptures."
Bible studies are good. We
need to learn all we can about God. However, Pastor Jay has a
few missteps in his strategy: 1) disciples are not attracted
through a talk - not even preaching; 2) you don't disciple
people in a group like a Bible study; 3) it isn't about
getting people to "a class"; 4) discipling is not an academic
exercise. It's about a relationship. It begins by saying,
"Come follow me."
So who's your project? Who are
you discipling?
|
|
Stack of
Stuff
A mother and her
ten-year-old son were walking along the street when they
ran into run-away girl who announced to them that she had
given up "pot" for Lent. A few moments later the mother asked
her son if he knew what "pot" was. "Sure, I know what 'pot'
is," he replied, "but what's Lent?" Does your child know what
Lent is?
Duh at Taco
Bell
My daughter went to a local
Taco Bell and ordered a taco. She asked the individual behind
the counter for "minimal lettuce." He said he was sorry, but
they only had iceberg.
Suppose
"Suppose you were an idiot. And
suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat
myself." The acidulous wisdom of Mark Twain speaks to us
today as some members of congress seek to save Americans from
the tentacles of a very serious recession.
These are difficult economic
times
for many churches. The
14-page folder, "How To Be A Good Giver and Love it"
by Pastor Don can be a big help not only for churches, but
also for God's people. You can order a Good Giver
Kit for only $2. Just email us and ask for Item #530. Churches and
pastors can charge this order. Or, order on line at www.churchpress.com.
Two big questions that
beg answers:
1) What are two
things that you'd coach a young pastor on today that you
would not have done ten years ago? 2) If you are trying to
counsel a 40-year-old pastor in a church that's stuck, what
are two things you would encourage that pastor to do?
Order Heaven for
Easter
Yes, you can order heaven for Easter!
Just invite Easter worshipers to attend the best selling Bible
study course, The Many Wonders of
Heaven. Church Press will provide you with
colorful bulletin inserts for your Easter service free of
charge. Start the following Sunday. Email us today for your free bulletin
inserts, #149F. Tell us how many you
want.
For the
Unemployed
One possibility is to offer to
work for a prospective employer free for one week, no strings
attached. We've seen it work.
Our March
freebie
With any order,
ask for #505, a free burgundy vinyl holder, pad, and
matching pen (a $6.14 value). This set is the most popular
from our list of church attendance materials.
Dr. Craig Loving,
pastor and counselor in the Denver area, offers a
free monthly email Newsletter. His February topic was
pastors and their marriages. You can receive his newsletter.
To have your name included just go to DrCraig@SummitCounselingAssociates.com.
Recently a
pastor
called Church Press and
told of a man in his community whose life was totally messed
up. The pastor got the man to agree to watch the DVD lessons
for I Have Good News for You. In
Lesson 4, on the Holy Spirit, the class is focusing on 2 Cor.
6:2, "...now is the time of God's favor." The class
is asked, "What time is it?" They respond: "7:36 p.m." They
are then asked, "What is the time to believe in Jesus as your
Savior?" They respond, "7:36 p.m." The man watching the DVD
looked at his watch and it said, "7:36." Guess what happened
next. He did!
"Solitude does not just
happen.
We have to carve it out of our hectic days
and make room for it. Life can become so crowded, leaving no
room for the most important things. We need time alone,
sitting at the feet of Jesus, so that we might know Him. It is
out of those quiet moments that His plan for our lives rises
like the dawn. It is in solitude that we are replenished and
restored to face the challenge of the day. We might think that
we do not have time for solitude, but if we are wise, we will
realize that solitude actually improves our time management.
We must look for opportunities to practice solitude, and when
they come, grab them. Here are some tips for making the
most of moments and hours just with yourself: [Complete
Article]
Medley of Praise and
Thanksgiving
Two verses of each of these hymns are printed
out in Word. All begin in the same key.
"Rock of Ages"
"Great Is Thy
Faithfulness"
"Blessed
Assurance"
"I Love To Tell the
Story"
"From All That Dwell Below the
Skies"
|
 God Knows My
Situationwritten by a friend of
Church Press upon learning that he had lost his job -
married, five children (feel free to copy this)
God knows my situation...
He has my cell phone number...
He knows what's in checking and savings and how long it
will last...
I am more important to Him that hairs, ravens or
lilies...
I'm His child and He is my "Abba," Daddy...
I'm His heir and His riches are my riches...
He is my Jehovah Jireh, my Provider...
He makes me lie down in green pastures, leads me to quiet
waters and
restores my soul...
Hallelujah, I have a heavenly Daddy who will never leave
me or forsake
me...
I will fear no evil nor the future for He is with
me...
What valley of the shadow of death? I can't see it past
this oil dripping into
my face from an overflowing
cup!
I am His and He is mine...
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so!
My situation has not taken God by surprise. Jesus knew
the cry of my
heart before I knew to
cry...
He is working ALL things - even bad things - together for
my good!
All praise and thanks to You, dear Jesus, my Savior, my
Friend. I hope
in You! Amen.
|
|
Lenten Service
Invitation
A model letter (could
also be an email) to all members to attend the next Wednesday
evening Lenten service or a Sunday service with a strong
emphasis on Calvary.
Mr. &
Mrs. Joe Brown
1552 Main Street
Anywhere, US
77777
Dear Joe and
Mary-
Martha and Judas were
different. They were so unalike that we
seldom mention them in the same breath. Martha was not
entrusted with the disciples' money. Judas did not have a
brother that who was raised from the dead. Martha is last
described serving Jesus. Judas is last described exchanging
his Teacher for money and then hanging himself in the
shadows.
Judas and Martha were
different, but in one way they were alike.
They were alike in their feelings about Mary. Both Martha and
Judas complained about the sister who in their opinion was
selfish, careless, and irresponsible in her preoccupation with
Jesus. While Martha worked to prepare a meal for her guests,
Mary sat at Jesus' feet. While Judas thought about the money
that could be "given to the poor," Mary "wasted" that money on
Jesus' feet (Luke 10:39-42 & John 12:1-8). [Complete
Article]
|
|
"White As
Snow"
How many times after Holy Communion
have you "felt" like you still were not
forgiven. Suggestion: Sing "White As
Snow" by Leon Olguin, a newer hymn, based on
Isaiah 1:18, that will comfort you. Sing it before,
during, or after the Lord's Supper.
We've attended a church that sang it at
every Communion Service. It is permissable to print the words
when you use the CCLI program. Church Press carries The
Best of the Best (compiled by Rev. Mike Zhender, LCMS)
which contains this song. Check our website for
purchase. The first verse:
White as snow,
white as snow, Though my sins were as
scarlet
Lord, I know,
Lord, I know That I'm clean and
forgiven...
Now take just a
little more than a minute and listen. Then, sing it at your
next Communion Service.
|
|
Wet
Pants
Come with me to a third grade
classroom. There is a nine-year-old kid sitting at his desk
and all of a sudden, there is a puddle between his feet and
the front of his pants are wet. He thinks his heart is going
to stop because he cannot possibly imagine how this has
happened. It's never happened before, and he knows that when
the boys find out he will never hear the end of it. When the
girls find out, they'll never speak to him again as long as he
lives.
The boy believes his heart is going to
stop. He puts his head down and prays this prayer, "Dear God,
this is an emergency! I need help now! Five minutes from now
I'm dead meat."
He looks up from his prayer and
here comes the teacher with a look in her eyes that says he
has been discovered. [Complete Article]
|
|
Ideas for Easter
Sunday - Make Plans Now
- Encourage ALL members to bring their Easter lilies to
church before worship to adorn the chancel area. They can
tuck a piece of paper inside with their name on it.
- For congregations that feel comfortable with it, have a
traditional egg hunt. Plastic ones work just fine,
especially if they have some candy inside. Last year a
church in California had 700 children in their egg hunt.
Many of them came to Sunday School that Sunday. What would
you do if YOUR Sunday School doubled or tripled Easter
Sunday morning? It can happen. Go for it!
- Invite your community to a free pancake breakfast Easter
Sunday morning put on by the men. Serve pancakes, sausage,
eggs, milk, juice, coffee and tea. Put an ad in your local
paper on the above efforts. Encourage each family to bring
an unchurched family to breakfast and then worship. The
above two points are non-threatening ways for people to
invite their friends to your church.
- Be sure the Easter message clearly tells how those
without saving faith may come to faith then and there.
"I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the
day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2). "Seek the LORD
while He may be found; call on Him while He is near"
(Is.55:6). For some worshipers this will be the last Easter
service they will attend. Pretty sobering.
- Develop a plan to contact all Easter Sunday visitors in
person or by phone. They must know how important they are to
your church and to the Kingdom of the
Lord.
|
|
The Last
Move
They say there is
a painting of a chess game called "The Last Move." The
devil is shown grinning at a young man who is sweating. The
youth had gambled with the devil for the joys of the world,
and on the next move he would lose the game and his
life. "The Last Move."
One day a famous chess champion studied the picture. Then
he said, "I'll make the young man's move for him." They set up
a chess board exactly as it was in the picture. He then made a
move which the artist had not seen as possible. The devil lost
the game.
If such a chess champion had come to save the young man,
not in the picture, but in real life, do you think the young
man would ever forget such a savior?
A much greater CHAMPION saved you when your game was lost
and your number was up. It cost Him His life. Are you
remembering Him? Are you acknowledging that in your life and
by your words and attitude?
"My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you
- I, whom you have redeemed" (Psalm
71:23). |
|
