Enter Not into Temptation
Scripture: Matthew 26:41Devotional Series: The Good Shepherd
Teaching: The Good Shepherd pt. 1 (SUN_AM 2021-03-07) by Pastor Star R Scott
Hallelujah! It’s great to be in His presence this morning; amen? We are such a blessed people. We have been looking at the hour in which we live, as we have been studying for months concerning the preparation of the bride for the return of Jesus. Even so; come quickly, Lord Jesus; amen? Is there anything in your life that you think is worth hanging around here? It’s time to go, praise God! We are pilgrims; we are just sojourners; we are passing through; this world is not our home, praise God! He has gone to prepare a place for us, and He is coming again to receive us to Himself that, where He is, there we may be also. Every man who has that hope is to purify himself even as He is pure. That’s quite a task, isn’t it? So, there’s a lot before us as we continue to prepare ourselves. He is coming for that bride that is “without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” If you think that there is a place where we can kind of relax and say, “Okay, we have arrived,” it’s not going to happen; there are no resting points here: we are pressing toward the mark, the prize, the high calling of God that is in Christ Jesus. Paul makes it very clear: “we are at war so put on the whole armor of God; amen? If we are going to be good soldiers for the kingdom, nothing of this world can be allowed to distract us or attract us: we are to put off every weight and every sin that does so easily bind us and hinder us from fulfilling God’s call, His purpose in our lives, which is that great glorification that we will experience here any day. Can you imagine it: in a moment this body is laid down, no more hindrance of sin, no more fleshly appetites, no more weakness, but alive in Him (praise God!), like Him? We will see Him; we will know Him; we will be like Him. Hallelujah!
Father, work this in us now as this Day comes upon us. Prepare Your church, and give us that hunger and thirst for Your return; give us that hunger and thirst for Your likeness, Lord. We want to be like You. Father, we hate this world and all that it represents. Let us be repulsed by all that the world loves, the things that used to entertain us and attract us, let them become an abomination to us as we become more like You. Father, we are asking that You would, by Your Holy Spirit, continue to illuminate us in this hour. Keep us safe in this hour of seduction; keep us safe, Lord, as many around us are falling, as we see the corruption of this hour, the false teachers and false prophets, and the lying signs and wonders, that are coming on the scene. Make us keen in our spirits, Father, that we would know Your voice. You have said that Your sheep know Your voice, and another they will not follow. We stand confident that none should pluck us from Your hand; but we also stand, Father, with an awareness of the hour: there is no time to sleep lest that day overtake us. “Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation,” was Your admonition to us. So, Father, we just trust in You; we just trust in You to continue to illuminate, to give us understanding, and to bring us to that place of humility, that we might stand. For that, Father, we will give You all the praise and all of the glory in Jesus’ name; amen.
Father, work this in us now as this Day comes upon us. Prepare Your church, and give us that hunger and thirst for Your return; give us that hunger and thirst for Your likeness, Lord. We want to be like You. Father, we hate this world and all that it represents. Let us be repulsed by all that the world loves, the things that used to entertain us and attract us, let them become an abomination to us as we become more like You. Father, we are asking that You would, by Your Holy Spirit, continue to illuminate us in this hour. Keep us safe in this hour of seduction; keep us safe, Lord, as many around us are falling, as we see the corruption of this hour, the false teachers and false prophets, and the lying signs and wonders, that are coming on the scene. Make us keen in our spirits, Father, that we would know Your voice. You have said that Your sheep know Your voice, and another they will not follow. We stand confident that none should pluck us from Your hand; but we also stand, Father, with an awareness of the hour: there is no time to sleep lest that day overtake us. “Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation,” was Your admonition to us. So, Father, we just trust in You; we just trust in You to continue to illuminate, to give us understanding, and to bring us to that place of humility, that we might stand. For that, Father, we will give You all the praise and all of the glory in Jesus’ name; amen.