The Christian’s

Global Positioning System GPS is a global navigation satellite system developed by the Department of Defense which transmits precise signals allowing receivers to calculate and display accurate location, speed, and time information to the user. It works in all weather conditions, day or night, 24 hours a day, around the globe, and we can use it in our vehicles to help us get to our destination.

Global Positioning System You put in your destination address and it will tell you the roads you need to travel along with the appropriate turns to get you there. In this lesson, we want to make some comparisons between this manmade GPS and God along with His word and us.

The Christian’s GPS Guide Recognize God’s Powerful Sight Recognize God’s Powerful Sight

Recognize God’s Powerful Sight God God is like the manmade GPS in that He knows exactly where you are at and where you are going both physically and spiritually just as he did with Adam and Eve. (Genesis 3:9-13, 17ff) But while the manmade GPS makes mistakes, God is infallible, inerrant, and eternal which all men should realize or they are without excuse. (Romans 1:20; Proverbs 15:3)

Recognize God’s Powerful Sight God has given us an inspired, infallible, and inerrant word to correct us when we are wrong and instruct us in doing what is right in His sight so that we will have the wisdom to get to our eternal destination through Christ. (2 Timothy 3:14-17; John 14:1-6) Are you doing what is right in your own eyes or the eyes of the Lord? (Judges 17:6; 21:25)

The Christian’s GPS Guide Recognize God’s Powerful Sight Recognize God’s Powerful Sight Follow God’s Powerful Standard

Just as the GPS has to make choices as to which road to go on, we also make decisions as to our eternal destination. God has created us in His image without sin when we are born, but at some point in our youth we choose to sin. (Ezek. 18:20; Jer. 3:25; James 1:13- 16; Romans 3:23; 1 John 3:4)

Follow God’s Powerful Standard When we make choices based upon our feelings without divine revelation, the GPS (Bible) tells us that it will eventually lead to eternal condemnation. (Proverbs 14:12; Revelation 21:8) We cannot guide our own footsteps in righteousness. (Jeremiah 10:23)

Follow God’s Powerful Standard Thankfully, through the power of His blood and resurrection from the dead, we can be born again to a living hope through the reliable standard of the Scriptures. (Jn. 11:25-26; 1 Pet. 1:3-5, 19, 22-25) If you are not on the right road that leads to heaven, (through God’s Powerful Standard), you will not escape the righteous judgment of God. (Hebrews 4:12-13)

The Christian’s GPS Guide Recognize God’s Powerful Sight Recognize God’s Powerful Sight Follow God’s Powerful Standard Follow God’s Powerful Standard Avoid the Great Prowling Schemer

Avoid the Great Prowling Schemer (Satan) You can be honestly and sincerely thinking you are doing what’s right and still be wrong. (Ex. Following manmade GPS and taking the wrong turn) Satan disguises himself as an angel of light and uses those who appear to be righteous in order to deceive others. (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)

Avoid the Great Prowling Schemer (Satan) Even though he appears innocent we must not let our guard down because the Bible describes Satan as a prowling lion seeking to devour souls. (1 Pet. 5:8) Satan is always scheming in order to get people to curse God and disobey Him. (Job 1:11) But how does he get people to do that?

The GPS (Satan) Can Use Family Satan took away everything Job had but allowed his wife to live so that she would do his bidding when she told him to “curse God and die”. (Job 2:9) What if your loved one told you to quit serving God when you were suffering through trials? Would you do it? But Job overcame the GPS (Satan) and did not curse God. (Job 1:22; 2:10)

The GPS (Satan) Can Use Family You must love Jesus more than any other family member when they tell you to sin, discourage you You must love Jesus more than any other family member when they tell you to sin, discourage you from doing what is right, or become your enemy or you are not worthy of Him. (Matt. 10:34ff; Lk. 6:46) Will you put on the whole armor of God so that you will be able to stand firm and overcome the schemes of the GPS (Satan)? (Ephesians 6:10ff)

The GPS (Satan) Can Use Friendships The Bible warns about bad company corrupting good morals. (1 Cor. 15:33) But you want to be popular, or get along with others in order to avoid persecution, and so you decide to hang out with the wrong crowd. If you continue to be their friends, you will likely think, talk, dress and act like them.

The GPS (Satan) Can Use Friendships If you delight in God’s word you will overcome the GPS (Satan) by saying no to their enticements to sin. (Psalms 1:1ff; Proverbs 1:10ff) Even if you have faithful friends, Satan can use them to lead you astray (judging by appearance, traditions, assumptions). (Job 4:8; 8:8; 11:5-6; 19:14; 32:3; 42:7) Will you say no when your friends entice you to sin or will you give in to Satan?

The GPS (Satan) Can Use Ministers Satan disguises himself as a minister of righteousness so that he can deceive people into believing a lie. “No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)

The GPS (Satan) Can Use Ministers Satan can use his ministers to tell people... that “all roads lead to heaven ”; that “all roads lead to heaven ”; “just accept Christ as your personal Savior and you will be saved ” ; “once you’re saved, you’re always saved””; “it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are honest and sincere”; etc.

The Christian’s GPS Guide Recognize God’s Powerful Sight Recognize God’s Powerful Sight Follow God’s Powerful Standard Follow God’s Powerful Standard Avoid the Great Prowling Schemer Obey God’s Plan of Salvation

GPS (Bible) Concerning Salvation Example- The GPS will change the mileage the closer I get to the destination. It is accurate even though there are different answers along the route. It is the same way concerning salvation.

GPS (Bible) Concerning Salvation In the book of Acts, different answers are given to people depending on where they are at spiritually. They are not told everything they need to do at one time. The sum of God’s word is truth. (Psalms 119:160)

GPS (Bible) Concerning Salvation An unbeliever should examine the GPS (facts of the gospel) so that he might believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God or he will die in his sins. (John 20:30-31; 8:24) The only way anyone can have faith is by hearing the GPS (God’s word) (Romans 10:17), not by a vision, miracle, feeling, or strong conviction.

Obey the GPS (Gospel Plan of Salvation) A person who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son A person who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God must have the conviction to obey everything Jesus commanded in the GPS (the Bible). (Matt. 28:19-20; John 14:15; Heb. 5:8) A person who does not obey the GPS (gospel) will be punished forever in torment. (2 Thessalonians 1:7f)

Obey the GPS (Gospel Plan of Salvation) The Ethiopian eunuch heard preaching about Jesus and wanted to be baptized in water. He was told if he believed with all his heart he could. Then he said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God”. (Acts 8:37) This was in accordance to Jesus command to believe and be baptized in order to be saved. (Mark 16:15-16)

Obey the GPS (Gospel Plan of Salvation) Those who were pricked in their heart that Jesus is Christ and Lord on the Day of Pentecost were told to repent and be baptized. Why? So that they could have the forgiveness of sins. (Acts 2:38)

Obey the GPS (Gospel Plan of Salvation) A penitent believer was told “arise and be baptized & wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord””. (Acts 22:16) Why was he baptized? So that his sins would be washed away. Then a Christian is told to learn to obey everything Jesus commanded and grow in the grace and knowledge of His will. (Matthew 28:20; 2 Peter 3:18)

Conclusion In this gospel meeting we will be using the GPS (God’s Powerful Standard) so that we might overcome the schemes of the devil, obey God’s plan of salvation and go to heaven. The Great Prowling Schemer (Satan) will try to deceive people into believing that the way to heaven is broad and easy and many will go there.

Conclusion Do not be deceived! God’s Powerful Standard is narrow, difficult, and few will actually go to heaven. "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)