WHAT ON EARTH

ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH YOURSELF?

 

Matthew 6:10 "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."
 

Intro.: There is a game that children in America used to play called "Simon Says."
A series of commands are given preceded by the words "Simon says."

According to the game, the child is supposed to do everything that Simon
says, but if a command is given that is not preceded by the words "Simon says,"
then that command is not to be obeyed. The object is to begin giving
commands rapidly preceded by "Simon says," such as Simon says to touch
your nose, etc., then to slip in a command that is not given by Simon.


If the child obeys a command that is not given by Simon, they have erred.
As God's children, we need to obey the commands that are given,
not by Simon, but by the Savior. We are definitely not to obey commands
given by Satan.

 

For this message, we're going to play a game, only it's not really a game; it
is real life. We'll call it, Satan says . . ., but the Savior says . . . Remember, only
move when the Savior says. Don't listen to the voice of Satan; listen to the
voice of the Lord. Do God's will, not Satan's.
 

I.    SATAN SAYS, "FRET THYSELF."

 

God says in Psalms 37:7, Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret
not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man
who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
 

II.   SATAN SAYS, "JOIN THYSELF (TO THE WORLD)."
 

II Chronicles 20:37, Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah
prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself
with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy words. And the ships were
broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

(Discuss context).

 

God, on the other hand, says, "Withdraw thyself!"

I Timothy 6:5 tells us of perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and
destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness, and warns us, from
such withdraw thyself.
 
 

III. SATAN SAYS, "TAKE THE GOODS TO THYSELF."

 

Literally, go for the gold; live for material things.

Genesis 14:21 - And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the
persons, and take the goods to thyself.
 
 

IV. SATAN SAYS, "AVENGE THYSELF."

 

Satan wants you to get even (down on their level).

 

God says:
Leviticus 19:18 - Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge again the
children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself:
I am the Lord.
 

Romans 12:19 - Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give
place unto wrath: for it is written, vengeance is mine; I will repay,
saith the Lord.
 
 

V. SATAN SAYS, "ABUSE THYSELF;


HARM THYSELF & OTHERS."

I Corinthians 6:9 - abusers of themselves with mankind.

 

God says to do thyself no harm.
Acts 16:28 - But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm.

 

Now, let's look at some things God says:
 

I. GOD SAYS, "PRESENT THYSELF."

 

He told Moses to do this.
Exodus 34:2 - And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning
unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount.


Some church members haven't presented themselves in church lately.


They are careless about their appearance (not appearing at all).
 
 

II. GOD SAYS, "BEHAVE THYSELF."
 

I Timothy 3:15 - But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou
oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the
living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
 
 

III. GOD SAYS, "EXERCISE THYSELF."

 

I Timothy 4:7 - But refuse profane and old wives fables,
and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

 

Exercise takes discipline, that is why there are few great athletes.
Perhaps hat is why there aren't more great Christians.

 

You have to exercise for yourself. No one else can do it for you.
 
 

IV. GOD SAYS, "HUMBLE THYSELF."

 

James 4:10 - Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift
you up.
 

I Peter 5:6 - Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time.
 

Exodus 10:3 - And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharoah, and said unto
him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse
to humble thyself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me.
 

V. GOD SAYS, "GIVE THYSELF."

 

I Timothy 4:15 - Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them;
that thy profiting may appear to all.
 

VI. GOD SAYS, "TAKE HEED TO YOURSELF

       LEST YOU MESS YOURSELF UP."
 

Exodus 34:12 - Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the
inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst
of thee.

 

Again, see the contrast:
Satan is saying, Ensnare yourself. He's setting a snare for you.
 Satan is saying, Entangle yourself.

But God says:
II Timothy 2:4 - No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of
this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

 

It seems that Satan doesn't have to tie us up;
all he has to do is hand us the rope.

 

Some people can t serve God because they are all tied up.
  

VII. ANOTHER THING GOD SAYS IS, "BESTIR THYSELF."

 

II Tim. 1:6 - Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the
gift of God, which is in thee.

 

II Samuel 5:22 - And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread
themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 23. And when David enquired of the
LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them,
and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. 24. And let it be,
when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees,
that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord go out before
thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

 

VIII. GOD SAYS, "SHOW THYSELF."

 

I Kings 2:2 - be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man.
Christians need to quit hiding their testimony.
 

IX. GOD SAYS, "DELIGHT THYSELF."

 

Psalms 37:4 - Delight thyself also in the LORD, 
and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
 

X. GOD SAYS, "CHOOSE ... WHOM YOU WILL SERVE."

 

Joshua 24:15 - Choose you this day whom you will serve.
Satan says, Put it off.; you've got plenty of time.

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Copyright Ben Shepherd 1997
Permission is freely given to use this sermon in a preaching & teaching ministry. .
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