Standing at the Crossroads

The title of today's sermon is Standing at the Crossroads. Standing at the Crossroads. Of course, I should say hi to all those out in Cyberland. I'll look at the camera and say hi. It's always good to know I'm being watched from afar.

Standing at the Crossroads. Over recent years and months now, we have heard politicians, pundits in the media, and just everyday people express a common opinion that the United States and the world in general are standing at a crossroads. What does that expression mean? A crossroad, literally, according to Merriam-Webster.com, a crossroad is a place of intersection or junction of two or more roads. There's been a lot of crossroads out in the country. There's usually maybe a gas station every now and then, or a cow standing by itself. That was a crossroads, though. A crossroads. I've got to make sure I say crossroads during the sermon and not crosswords. You can help me. Crossroads. Now, figuratively, we use the term crossroads to describe a crucial point where a decision must be made. A crucial point where a decision must be made. And so whether literally or figuratively, we come to a crossroads in life whenever we must decide which way we will go moving forward. Will we turn left? Will we turn right? Will we go north? Will we go south? Will we answer yes? Will we answer no? And so it is that we often stand at the crossroads whenever we make a major decision about the future direction of our lives. For many people today, standing at the crossroads, though, means that our nation, society, must choose which direction it will go, such as becoming more progressive, more conservative in values and worldview. Unfortunately, either way they get, they choose, they're going to end up at the same place in time. You see, Scripture speaks of choosing which way to live in moral and spiritual terms. To either submit to God or to resist God is the crossroads decision every human being will eventually need to make. Now, the Bible provides us an example of standing at the crossroads moment in the book of Jeremiah. If you turn with me, please, to Jeremiah in chapter 6.

In Jeremiah chapter 6, we read of a time, kind of the backdrop to this episode, we read of a time when the kingdom of Judah faced the impending Babylonian invasion. At that time, God required Judah, the kingdom of Judah, to make a critical decision. Beginning in Jeremiah 6 verse 16, we read, I'm going to read a bit, and I'm going to pause. We read Jeremiah 6 16, thus says the Lord, stand in the ways and see. Now, just to pause there a moment, the ways refers to paths. Other Bible translations, such as the New Interventional and the New English translation, reads, stand at the crossroads. You're going to need to make a decision. But the New King James says, stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it. This is God speaking to them. And then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, Judah, we will not walk in it. Now, the old paths refer to God's covenants. It refers to God's way of life, his ten commandments, which, of course, do lead to blessings. But Judah refused to submit to them, to submit to God. Continuing verse 17, God continues, he says, also I set watchmen over you, saying, listen to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, we will not listen. The sound of the trumpet refers to the warning calls of repentance given by God's prophets. Judah also refused to repent. Continuing verse 18, therefore God said, hear, you nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. Hear, O earth, behold, I will certainly bring calamity upon this people, the fruit of their thoughts. The fruit of their minds, what they did, is bringing this about. Thought leads to action. Because they have not heeded my words, nor my law, but rejected it. And so the coming great calamity, of course, would come through the cruel, immersaless Babylonian Empire. And that's what Scripture calls them. They're cruel, immersaless. You can check down there in verse 22. But Jeremiah faithfully preached God's call to repentance. If we move to read over in chapter 7, verse 3, across the page, Jeremiah continues to preach repentance. Jeremiah 7, verse 3, Thus says the Lord of Host, the God of Israel, amend your ways. Make your ways right, in other words. Amend your ways in your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Do not trust in these lying words. Apparently, there are false prophets telling the people this sort of thing. We'll tell you about it here. They're hearing lies saying, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these. False prophets were telling the people not to fear, for God would deliver them. Why? Because they had the temple of the Lord.

But God urged them not to listen to those lies. It doesn't matter that the temple's there. What matters is your heart and your behavior. They needed to repent. Verse 5, Jeremiah, inspired of God, continues, For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless and the widow, do not shed innocent blood in this place or walk after other gods to your hurt, then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever. But Judah blatantly refused to obey God, and they yet believed that he would deliver them, even though they were living in a way that was resistant and opposed to God. And they thought they'd be delivered again because the temple of God was in their midst. Verse 8, God speaks to them again, says, Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before me in this house which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations, all the things they like to do. God's ass has this house which is called by my name become a den of thieves in your eyes, and God answers it. He says, Behold, I, even I, have seen it. In other words, yes, it has, says the Lord. In Jeremiah 9.13, a few pages over, Jeremiah 9.13, we can read God's condemnation of their willful ignorance and rejection of him. Jeremiah 9.13, and the Lord said, Because they have forsaken my law, which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice nor walked according to it, but they have walked according to the dictates of their own hearts, and gone after the Bales, which their fathers taught them. Therefore, thus says the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, I will feed them this people with wormwood, very bitter, and give them water of gall to drink, again, great bitterness. And I will scatter them also among the Gentiles, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, and I will send a sword after them until I have consumed them. A pretty strong punishment, condemnation from God.

Judah stood at the crossroads with God, and they willfully chose to resist and oppose God. And so, just as God had forewarned, he allowed the full might of the Babylonian Empire to destroy Jerusalem and the Temple of the Lord, and the people were taken into exile.

Now, what lesson might we learn from this example?

A simple one, but very important. It is not wise to reject God. It is not wise to resist God, nor to oppose God. Whenever we stand at the crossroads of decision to make a choice that will impact our lives and the lives of others, as best we can, we need to choose the way that will keep us at one with God and in harmony with His commandments and His ways of life. Why? Well, because only God's way leads to eternal life. Only God's way leads to eternal life.

But if we had ever hesitate in choosing to submit to God in His will, or if we should ever feel the pull of resistance and opposition to God in the way that we should go, then it is absolutely vital that we know and that we remember who God is and that we know and remember who we are. And so today, we will do some remembering. We're going to do some remembering. First of all, again, it is never wise to resist God. No one and no thing can successfully resist God. Now, many have resisted. In fact, every human being but one has resisted God. But none ever succeed in resisting God because God is powerful, and God bears all authority over the entire universe. Let's turn to Romans chapter 11, verse 33 through 36. The apostle Paul in Romans 11, 33 through 36, freely admits that it is impossible for the human mind to comprehend, to grasp, all that God is. It's impossible. Try as we want, try as hard as we want. We just can't quite do it. Here's what Paul says in Romans 11, verse 33 through 36. He puts it this way, Oh, the depth of riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God, how unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out, for who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has become His counselor, or who has first given to Him, and it shall be repaid back to Him. For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things to whom be glory forever. Amen, Paul says. Now, in verse 34, Paul is quoting, taking that verse from Isaiah 40, verse 13. He quotes from Isaiah 40-13 an attempt to express the inipidance of God. He goes back to the Bible, we might say, for His sources to explain His views as we tried to do as well. Now, you might recall, I suppose, what Isaiah says there in Isaiah 40, but in case you don't, let's turn there. Let's turn to Isaiah 40, verse 12 through 18. Isaiah 40, verse 12 through 18. In Isaiah 40, verse 12. Isaiah's point here, by the way, is to ask us a rhetorical question of sorts. He asks, in essence, who can do what God does? Who can do what God does? So he says Isaiah 40, verse 12, who has measured the waters and the hollow of his hand, measured heaven with the span, and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure, weighed the mountains and scales and the hills in a balance? Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as His counselor has taught Him? With whom did He take counsel? And who instructed Him? And who taught Him in the path of justice? Who hath taught Him? Again, we're speaking of God. Who hath taught Him knowledge and showed Him the way of understanding?

And then verse 15. To give us perspective again, Isaiah says, Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket. My grandmother used to say things like that. That's just a drop in the bucket. It's a little thing. The nations are a drop in a bucket. They are counted as the small dust on the scales. Just go poof, and the dust blows off. Look, He, God, lifts up the aisles as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn. All the great trees and lumber of Lebanon that they might use to burn sacrifices and offering to God. He says, All Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor it be sufficient for a burnt offering. Making us think there's nothing, not enough we can do, and not enough there that can even begin to thank God and to recognize God for who and what He is. And then again, verse 17. All nations before Him are as nothing, and they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless. That's quite the perspective. The nations are about a drop in the bucket. Now, how would the superpowers of the world like the United States, China, and Russia, how would they feel about that? You're less than nothing. How should we feel about that?

We should feel humbled, and frankly, odd and profoundly grateful.

And if you want even more reasons for why we should feel this way before God, and reasons for rejoicing before God, I'd recommend that you also read Psalm 33. Maybe you can do that later today, or as you prepare for atonement. Psalm 33 is a very, very encouraging Psalm. It's about God's greatness. And I find it a wonderful spiritual pick-me-up. And I think you will, too. You'll find it's a wonderful spiritual pick-me-up for whatever's ailing you right now, for whatever's ailing you. God is absolutely all-powerful. He reigns supreme over all creation, all things, and most certainly over humanity. And yet even so, whether out of ignorance or selfish willfulness, some people do resist and oppose God.

We might recall how Scripture derides such foolishness. We can see an example of this. You turn with me back to Job chapter 9. In Job chapter 9, Job was a man blameless before God.

But he, too, found something God helped him to find something he needed to work on to repent of for his good.

Job chapter 9, verse 4 through 13. Let's read what Job has to say. Job says this. Job chapter 9, verse 4. God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him and prospered? Who has hardened himself against him and prospered? The New International Version says, who has resisted him and come out unscathed? I think we know the answer. Nobody. Nobody. Verse 5. God removes the mountains, and they do not know when he overturns him in his anger. He shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble. He commands the sun, and it does not rise. He seals off the stars. He alone spreads out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. He made the bear, Orion, and Pleiades, referenced to the constellations, and the chambers of the south. He does great things past finding out, yes, wonders without number. And if he goes by me, I do not see him. And if he moves past, I do not perceive him. If he takes away, who can hinder him? Who can say to him, what are you doing?

God will not withdraw his anger. The allies of the proud lie prostrate beneath him.

Clearly, God does not put up well with pride. He punishes those who are proud and stubborn, who resist him, and who dare to question him. And if we turn once again to Isaiah, this time please Isaiah 45. And Isaiah 45, verse 9 through 10.

Again, we find reference here to the foolishness of resisting God, opposing him. Here, Isaiah 45, verse 9 through 10, we find more of God's condemnation towards those who would strive with him. Such resistance to God is, well, maybe to put it mildly, is stupidity. It's stupid. Isaiah 45, verse 9, woe to him who strives, that means argues. Woe to him who strives, argues with his maker. Let the pot-shirt strive with the pot-shirts of the earth. What does he mean? Humanity, we're like broken pieces of pottery, little bits of pottery. You're not even whole. You're worthless. Don't argue with God. Go argue with the other little broken pot-shirts called humanity. But do not argue with God. Shall the clay say to him who forms it, What are you making? Or shall your handiwork say, He has no hands? I love that. Shall your handiwork say, He has no hands? And woe to him who says to his father, What are you getting? Or to the woman, What have you brought forth? Now no one is in a position to argue with God who gave him or gave her existence. God is our maker. He designed us and He gave us purpose. He created us in His own image. And a creative process that we know is still unguessable.

And so this mortal puts on immortality in the resurrection. And so it is the height of pride and disrespect for anyone to criticize God for how He or she was made or for how He runs the universe. Frankly, I think it's unwise to criticize God for anything, and that's something we should all remember. Criticizing God is as outrageous as a clay pot telling its potter He has no skill or a child objecting to its parents for being born. It's outrageous, and we must not do it. Anyone with such a condescending attitude—because really it is, you're condescending, you're looking down on God. I don't want to do that. Anyone with such a condescending attitude and view towards God is not only pitifully ignorant and disrespectful and arrogant, but that person may also bring God's punishment. I say may because God is very merciful, but even God only puts up with foolishness for so long. God may bring that person punishment just as He punished the kingdom of Judah. Such resistance to God, whose omnipotent and sovereign overall creation will never turn out well, whether for an individual, a family, a nation, or for the whole of humanity. It just will not work. We cannot be that way towards God. It is never a good idea to oppose God in His will. Of course, the fall festival season, and especially as we're approaching atonement, it is an appropriate time to consider our own crossroads in the path of life we walk upon. We must not be resisting God, and we can take comfort in knowing that though many have and though many will resist God, thankfully, thankfully, no one will ever succeed at resisting God. God is supreme. It is simply not possible to resist God and be blessed. I do have some resistance in my throat. Excuse me.

I thought I drowned in that frog before I came up here. I just drowned in a word. It doesn't sound right. No, Dee, I was going to say, oh well, that's my rural upbringing, maybe showing back up, although I love it.

And so it's simply not possible to resist God and be blessed. And that's why we must humble ourselves always. We should always try to be humble in our mindset and our approach to God, and we must strive to submit ourselves to our great and wonderful God. God is most powerful. He is most faithful. He's most loving and merciful and kind. And as we're told in Deuteronomy 7 verse 9, you don't need to turn there, but in Deuteronomy 7 verse 9, he is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love him and who keep his commandments. And that's what we're striving to do. And so how wonderful it is that God blesses those who do humbly submit to him. For example, let's recall some of God's assurances, some of those promises. Let's turn to Hannah's prayer, for example. Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel chapter 2 verse 7 through 10.

1 Samuel chapter 2 verses 7 through 10.

Now these words, again, are very powerful, and they're powerful in the remindingness of God's mercy, and I find them very, very encouraging, and I hope we all do. 1 Samuel chapter 2 verse 7. The Lord makes poor and he makes rich. He brings low and he lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap to set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the lords and he has set the world upon them. He will guard the feet of his saints. But the wicked? The wicked will be silent in darkness. For by strength no man shall prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces. From heaven he will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed. Of course, pointing to the end times when Christ returns. Now Hannah's ancient prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God, again, should encourage and comfort us. Her words remind us of the assurance of God's coming kingdom, and Christ shall reign upon the earth and judge the nations and the peoples. And think of the words we read there in verse 8. God raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap and makes them inherit the throne of glory. Isn't that a beautiful picture of God's mercy and justice? And it should remind us that in God's perspective there is absolutely no one insignificant to him, especially none who are striving to follow and love him. These will reign as kings in the kingdom of God, and so shall all those who trust and follow God. Let's also turn to Psalm 37. In Psalm 37, again, it's a very encouraging poem. Psalm 37 is a poem, but it's also a psalm. Throughout this psalm, Psalm 37, such as in, we don't read this, but for example, verses 3 through 5, we can again read similar assurances that we just saw here in the prayer of Hannah. Similar assurances of God's blessings towards those who trust him, those who remain ever faithful and doing good. But I'd like for us also to notice the assurance of God's salvation. The assurance of God's salvation found in verses 37 through 40. Psalm 37, verse 37, mark the blameless man and observe the upright. For the future of that man is peace, but the transgressors shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord. He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them and deliver them. He shall deliver them from the wicked and save them because they trust in him. Now the blameless man is not someone who never sins. A blameless man is not someone who never sins, but he is someone who sincerely repents. He sincerely repents whenever he does sin and he seeks God's forgiveness. And we want an example of that. You can go back and read about Job. That's what Job did, and that's what we do. In contrast to the wicked knowingly sinned, they refuse to repent and they resist God's ways. And these are the wicked that will be destroyed. But the blameless, the righteous, will be strengthened and delivered from the wicked. And ultimately God will grant them true peace and true salvation in the kingdom of God, again because they trust and submit themselves to him. Let's also look in John chapter 10. Let's go to the Gospel of John.

In John 10, verse 27 through 30, we need to recall the powerful promises of Christ himself. Of course, Jesus Christ made many wonderful promises that inspire us and help us in staying true to him. It helps us in times of trouble, staying true to him and to our Father, especially when our flesh is weak and we just can't seem to move forward sometimes. But here we find his assurances in John 10, 27 that can strengthen our hope and our resolve. John 10, verse 27. And Jesus said, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. Neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. We've been reading about that. And no one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand.

Both the Son and the Father have us in their hand. I and my Father are one, Christ said. So again, here we find Christ's own assurance to us that he and the Father are holding us in their hands. We and I need to think about that quite often, I think. And do we remember what we read earlier in Isaiah, chapter 40, verse 12? Remember how God measured the waters in the hollow of his hand? Just how powerful to save are God's hands? Yeah, that's right. Just that powerful. Just that powerful and much more. In God's hands, we are absolutely safe. Now, of course, standing at the crossroads of our life's decisions, we could foolishly choose to reject those safe and loving hands. We could just simply pitch ourselves right out of God's hands. But why would we want to do such a really foolish and tragic thing as that? We shouldn't. We must believe and trust what God's scripture tells us. Let's also turn back a look at John, chapter 6, verse 37 through 40. John 6, I think I said that wrong. John 6, verse 37 and 40.

John 6 through 7. Here, again, we read more of Christ's wonderful assurances, things we should recall, such as that God the Father himself calls us to Jesus Christ. That's in John 6, 44. But here, again, verse 37, when we come to him, he does not intend, when we come to Christ, he does not intend to let any of us go. John 6, 37. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of the Father who sent me, that of all he has given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of him who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day. And then down, verse 47, most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in me has everlasting life. And now with all of that in mind, let's turn to Romans chapter 8. Romans chapter 8, verse 31 through 32. When we choose to commit ourselves to following God the Father and Christ his Son, to live according to God's commandments and way of life, we can be assured that God will help us, guide us, direct us, guard us, and ultimately give us his gift of eternal life, salvation, in the kingdom of God. The all-powerful and sovereign God holds us most protectively in his hands. And so I think we could agree with what Paul says here in Romans 8, verse 31 through 32. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all. How shall he not with him also freely give us all things? In verse 38, Paul said, For I am persuaded, and I think we are too, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. God closely watches over those who are his. In his promises of salvation are certain. Who but God has so blessed his people in this age, and then in the age to come he will bless them with all things. And all things seems to suggest all things. The universe. What exactly? We don't know. We'll find out one day. God's kindness and mercy and love are truly beyond our comprehension. The words try to express it, but the words, like words often do, fail. And God wants all humanity we know to share in his love, ultimately, for all eternity. He wants no one to be destroyed. And again, we should believe and remember that what an awesome God is our God. That word is so awesome. God is awesome.

Now, with that being said, we know. We know that as long as we are mortal, we must strive against our mortal nature. That mortal, human, carnal, fleshly nature. And against the devil. We must strive against these things. The devil, of course, we know is also known as the prince of the power of the air. That's what it says in Ephesians 2, verse 2. And so, unless we continually resist temptations to sin and all wicked influences, we could turn back to the life of sin after knowing all these things. We could turn back.

And we pray we don't. And most likely, we won't if we do our part. But just as the kingdom of Judah willfully turned away from God, so might any human being. And as powerful as God is, He gives to each of us a mighty power as well. He gives to us the sole power for us to stand at the crossroads to determine our course in life. And when we choose to submit to God, which we must always do, we know that at the same time, we are choosing to resist the devil and to resist the flesh. Now, Scripture is clear as to what our response to the devil must be. Let's turn back to James, chapter 4. I'm sure we recall these Scriptures. In James, chapter 4, verse 7 through 8. Here Christ's followers are sternly warned. Therefore, we are told, James 4, verse 7, submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. And we are also giving clear instruction on what we must do. Verse 8, draw near to God, and he, God, will draw near to you. And cleanse your hands, you sinners. Take care of our actions. Make our actions right. And purify your hearts, our thoughts, you double-minded. And so, in brief, we must stick close to God, give more time to God, and repent from sin. Essentially, stop resisting God. That's what happens when we sin. Now, over the years, we've been instructed in how to draw near and stay near to God. I think we understand that it requires our daily prayers, Bible study, fasting, and thoughtfully meditating upon God's Word. And certainly, it's true that those four activities will be futile, though, if that's all we do. Those activities will be futile if we're not also using them in our efforts to repent from sin. What's the point of studying God's Word and fasting and meditating and praying if we don't act upon what we're learning, how we're growing? And so, yes, we must understand what God's Word says, but it's very vital that we do what God says. And then there's another vital thing we must do to be near to God. To be near to God as we can be. And perhaps it's the most vital thing we can ever do to be near to God. And maybe we don't often think about it, but perhaps the most vital thing we can ever do to be near to God is to be baptized. It's true to be baptized. After being called by God the Father and with baptism and the laying on of hands by which we receive the indwelling of God's Holy Spirit, then we begin to develop a relationship with God that we have not experienced before that time. And a relationship with God to such spiritual depths of understanding and with a new willing desire within us to submit to God that was just unknown to us before. You can learn a lot about God without being baptized, without having His Spirit in you, but it's not the same. You're not going to be near to God. Are you going to be as near to God if you don't have your His Holy Spirit in you?

Yeah, we need a Spirit in us. That's close. That is a close relationship. That begins to start a truly close and lifelong relationship that we're to cherish with God and to develop with God. And of course, all the while we're doing this, we must be persistent in resisting sin. We must be persistent in opposing Satan, the devil. The devil. Now, God in His love and wisdom provides us with specific instruction about the types of actions and behaviors which we must resist and repent of.

We find it throughout the Bible. Let's find examples of these sort of directions throughout the Bible. But let's turn to Colossians chapter 3. Let's turn to Colossians chapter 3. Here Paul offers a list of the sort of things we should not be doing.

These are things we know we're supposed to be repenting of. But let's, again, as part of our remembering what it is we're to be doing now. So let's read beginning in Colossians 3 verse 5. Paul writes, Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth. The NIV reads this way, put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature, to your carnal, fleshly nature. And then here's a list of some things. This is not a thorough complete list. Fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, covetousness, which is idolatry.

Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. So again, these are things we put to death in that watery grave of baptism. We're not to be practicing these things as our way of life anymore. They pop up, we see them, we need to repent and seek God's forgiveness. Be rid of it. Now it's interesting these are some of the same sins for which God condemned the kingdom of Judah as we read earlier. Let's continue in verse 8.

Paul says, But now you yourselves are to put off all these. So here's a few more things. If you thought you got away from the first list. But all the way these, anger, wrath, malice. That's pure out hatred. Blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. And do not lie to one another, remember the devil is the father of lies. And since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is Christ in us, who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of him who created him. And so those who follow Christ must, yes indeed, resist the ways of sin in the devil.

And then in verse 12, Paul also wants to encourage us. He wants to point us in the right direction of what we need to be doing. And so here in beginning verse 12, Paul lists the attributes of those who are submitting themselves to God. Here's the things we need to be working on. Positive things we can be improving. Therefore, as the elect of God, verse 12, holy and beloved, were set apart and loved of God. Put on tender mercies, put on kindness and humility, meekness and long suffering, bearing with one another and forgiving one another.

And if anyone has a complaint against another, well, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. It's not good enough just to sit there and complain and tell others, but then never go to that person who you're complaining about. It's not the way it's supposed to work. But above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you are also called in one body, and be thankful. And I hope that what we're reading today is helping us all to be much more profoundly thankful to God. And so all these and other such sincere attributes reflect God in His Spirit at work and those who choose to be submissive to God in His ways. These good works, these good works reflect God's Spirit and might at work in their hearts and in their minds. And for whose glory? For God's glory. Not our own, but for God's glory.

But the devil and the poles of the flesh constantly strive to undermine our desire to be submissive and obedient to God. And therefore, we must constantly be prepared for the spiritual skirmishes for the spiritual battles we will face in life. In Ephesians 6, 10 through 18, Paul describes the spiritual armor and weaponry of Christ's followers. The weaponry and armor that his followers must always wear in preparation for the spiritual battles against the devil, against temptations, and against anything that would turn us from God. Now, these battles will come. Now, we've read Paul's description of God's armor many times. The armor we must wear includes truth and righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

And with all these mighty gifts from God, we must also continue with prayer and perseverance to stand and resist the devil in anything that would turn us from God.

Now, I won't read those verses with you right now, though we should certainly read them and study them more on our own and encourage us to do that as Aptomant approaches. But the point I wish to make is this. Our most wonderful and awesome God who created this vast universe, who measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and who now holds us, has provided us with all these spiritual attributes and means necessary to resist and oppose the devil in all that this world and all that this life may throw at us.

With God's help, we can be like spiritual Teflon. Teflon. It won't stick to us. We're impervious.

We love God. We love God, for he is the inipotent and sovereign God, most merciful and loving. He has given us his Holy Spirit, his word of truth, his righteous way of life. He's given us a purpose for existing. That is so good to know what our purpose is. He has given us faith and hope, the assurance of salvation. He has answered prayers. He gives his strength, his strength of courage and of his will to persevere until the very end. With all these his blessings, we can surely stand and oppose all that's contrary to God.

And when we do need help in understanding how to wear this armor and how to handle these weapons, these spiritual weapons, we can go to our Father. We can go to God. We can ask our loving Father and he in Christ. We know they will surely help us. What Father doesn't want to help his child to live, to live life fully? So whenever we find ourselves standing at a crossroads in life and confronted with a choice between submitting to God or resisting God, we need to remember and to believe what the scripture tells us about God and about his promises to help us, about his desire to give us salvation. Now what we've recalled today should make our decision-making easier to do. We must submit to God and so believe and do what he would have us do.

Ask God for his help in being faithful and he will give us of his strength and will and faith to do whatever it takes for us to draw near to him and to stay near to him forever. Forever.

And as we continue in repentance and closeness to him, we shall arrive to where God's way of life ultimately leads. We will be sons and daughters of God in his divine family.