CHRISTIAN PITFALLS

Pitfall—An unsuspected difficulty, danger, or error that one may fall into. I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. Satan is out to get all of us. We as Christians need to be aware of certain problems or pitfalls that Satan will try to get us to fall into. II Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

The Pitfall Of Attitude Attitude determines altitude. We should have the attitude of Christ. Philippians 2:5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, We should have the attitude that Jesus described in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. It is important that we have the right kind of attitude because often this where sin starts.

The Pitfall Of Courage In Joshua 1:6-9 God tells Joshua to be strong and of good courage 3 times. Elijah was a man of courage. He stood againstAhab & Jezebel The four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, I Kings 18:36 And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, "Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel, and that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. He was often referred to as a trouble-maker. But he stood strong.

Paul was a man of courage in Athens, Acts 17. In Acts 17 he preached to those in Athens the unknown God. II Corinthians 11:24-28 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. To suffer all this still be faithful, Paul showed what true courage is.

In Acts 7 Stephen was a man of courage as he preached to those in Jerusalem, even though it cost him his life. Today we need to be just as courageous in our lives. I Corinthians 16:13 Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong.

The Pitfall Of Deception One of Satan devices is deception. II Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. II Corinthians 4:3-4 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Satan tries to deceive us today. We must look at everything carefully to make sure it is of God, and not Satan trying to deceive us. II Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Prove yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed you are disqualified. I John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, to see whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. I Thessalonians 5:21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.

The Pitfall Of Neutrality Many Christians today believe they can keep one foot in the kingdom and one foot in the world. Perhaps this was the problem with the church of Laodicea. Revelation 3:15-16 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth. Jesus couldn’t tell if they were with Him or against Him.

The people of Joshua’s day had to choose. The people of Elijah’s day had to choose. Joshua 24:15 "And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.'' I Kings 18:21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him.''

TODAY YOU MUST CHOOSE You must decide who you are going to serve. Matthew 12:30 "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin to which leads to death, or of obedience which leads to righteousness. Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. WHO WILL YOU CHOOSE?

Satan is out to get us. To avoid these pitfalls we must: Have a Christ-like attitude. Be Courageous Make sure Satan does not deceive us. Choose God, Christ,Righteousness, and Life HAVE YOU FALLEN INTO ANY PITFALLS THAT SATAN HAS SET FOR YOU?

Given by David Hamlin on November 1, 2009 pm Hollister, Missouri church of Christ