october-20-2024

Heaven Series

Good morning, Zion’s Refuge, what a beautiful day God made for us. Today we will removing roadblocks on our journey to heaven. Please open your Bibles to Romans 14:13. By removing the enemies’ roadblocks it will make our journey less stressful and more pleasant. Now, your Bibles are open to Romans 14:13 let’s make the road easier to travel. 

Removing the stumbling blocks, help me to go to heaven:

Romans 14:13: Let us not therefore judge one another anymore: but judge this rather that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. 

            We are born in a world that is sinful. We are very critical of people who are not like us. It could be a political difference, it could be an educational difference or geographical (where you are from). That is why the apostle Paul it's telling us not to judge one another. This puts stumbling blocks in the path of those we judge and creates a place for people to fall. We should be more kind and tender hearted towards people that we go to church with and people that we work with. Before we give a judgment or an opinion it would be wise to understand what the person believes and what they like and don't like. We could be a real help to our family and to our friends if we would just respect their ideas and basic concepts of life. We are allowed to have our opinion and speak our convictions but a wise person knows when to be silent. When we are confronted with things that are controversial it's very important to speak wisely and not in a condemning tone. 

            From the Christian point of view we are to be an ambassador for Jesus and present the gospel to everyone. Our success in spreading this gospel has a lot to do with the way we present the material. Our main objective is to get people saved and prepare them for our Christian life. We are not to judge and lay down road blocks that hinder them from serving God.

            If the people we are talking to don't see our love for Jesus, they will never be able to receive the love of God. We are a reflection of the glory of God and the love of God. It is not what we say is what we believe and how we live our daily life that convinces people to serve God. We are viewed by people every day they see our good or bad our ugly. It is better that they see the inward man Jesus Christ that is what changes lives.

Woe to those who offend Little Children

Matthew 18:1-7: at the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven? 2.  And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,  3. and said, verily I say unto you, except you be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of heaven. 4. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. 5. And whosoever shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6. Whosoever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7. Woe unto the world because of offenses! (Stumbling blocks), for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offenses cometh.

            Jesus loves the little children of the world. They are precious in his sight. He protects them with his tender mercies. But he said that offenses must come. And there will be people who are rude and non-caring that hurt and offend these young children and eventually are driven from the churches. Many times people judge young people too harshly. The young people need to be encouraged they need to be loved and they need to be prayed for. We most definitely need to invest our funds into our youth programs so we can build long futures for our churches. The churches should encourage youth to be participants in the church and to love the Lord. We need to encourage these to grow in the Lord and the grace of God so there will be no stumbling blocks that  hinder them in their Christian journey.      

Hate causes people to stumble

I John 2:10: he that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whether he goeth, because that darkness had blinded his eyes.

            To eliminate brothers and sisters from stumbling in the word of God, we need to build loving relationships in our families. Hatred is a sin that has been in existence since Cain and Abel. It would seem that all this time that people  should learn to live without hate. The only way we can temper hate is allowing the saving grace of God and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to mold our character to love others God will make a new creature out of us, to the point that we will love our enemies and pray for them. We do not condone the sins of our enemies but we are concerned about their everlasting soul and that is why we pray for them. So let us remove the stumbling block of hatred and ask God to bring us into loving relationships with our families.

False doctrine will cause you to stumble

Revelation 2:15: so hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which thing I hate. Nicholas who was one of the seven deacons appointed to wait on tables was guilty of spreading heresies in the church. He compromised and allowed people to worship idols and commit immoral activities which was against the doctrine of Jesus. He had the opinion that a Christian could live immorally and worship idols and still be saved. Jesus said in Revelation 2 and 15 I hate this doctrine. By following false doctrines it will cause you and others to stumble. Let us remove these things idols an immoral conversation and deeds from the church.

Let the Holy Spirit guide you, from stumbling:

John 16:13: Howbeit when he (The Holy Spirit), the spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.

            God has made it possible through his Holy Spirit to lead and guide us on our Christian journey. If we have ears to hear let us hear what the spirit says to us daily. The spirit of God will never ever allow you to stumble unless you override his warning. If you would be earnest in your heart. Listen to God daily and pray. The stumbling blocks will be removed and you can walk in the light of Jesus and live the abundant life. Note: God has given you a free will and it's up to you to resist stumbling blocks.

Way of escape

I Corinthians 10:13: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: that God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. God tempts no man to evil. When we are tempted and drawn away by our own lust. God through the Holy Spirit will faithfully and always make a way for your escape. It is awesome to walk in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit the way is well lit, and we will not stumble.  

Invitation:

            Satan desires to make you stumble, but there is God who can lead you to victory over this present world. God has been calling you and you know it His voice. Come to the altar and repent of your sins and invite Jesus into your life. It is time to live the abundant life!

Questions:

1. Why would judging others cause people to stumble?
2. Why does God protect his little children from stumbling?
3. How can we minimize hatred in family relations?
4. How does following false doctrine cause to stumble?
5. How does the Holy spirit guide the believer and keep them from stumbling?
6. Has God helped you to escape the temptation, designed to make you stumble.