How To Avoid A Fall
1) Don't Be Too Self Confident And Forget Jesus
The first way to avoid a fall is don't be too self confident and forget Jesus. 1 Corinthians 10:12 says Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Remember Jesus said at John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. In other words without Jesus we can do nothing. Determine today to obey 1 Corinthians 10:31 that says Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Let people everywhere see Jesus and not you in everything we do to fulfill 1 Corinthians 1:31 that says That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Don't be like Peter and be too self confident and experience a fall that led to a thrice denial of Jesus. Peter's self confidence is stated at Matthew 26:33 that says Peter answered and said unto Him (Jesus), Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto Him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. Note that all the disciples including Peter were too self confident and eventually forsook Jesus. Mark 14:50 says And they all forsook Him (Jesus), and fled.
Peter's self confidence led to a fall and thrice denial of Jesus. Peter even began to curse like a sailor denying that he ever heard of Jesus. On his third denial before a damsel in the palace, a maid on the porch, and Malchus (the man who remembered that Peter had injured his ear healed by Jesus), the cock crew twice, Peter denied Jesus thrice, and you had a preachin' chicken and a chicken preacher face to face. Unlike Peter, deny yourself daily (Say to that man or woman you see in the mirror every morning Now what are you up to today), take up your cross daily, and follow Jesus. Jesus said at Luke 9:23 If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Notice how anointed the above picture is where Peter is weeping bitterly after the rooster crowed because Peter thrice denied Jesus after he warmed himself by the fires of this fading world. Matthew 26:69 says Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew, And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
Instead be like John the Baptist and say John 3:30: He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease. Then rejoice and say Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Remember one person plus Jesus equals victory. 1 Corinthians 15:57 says But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Be like Jonathan and his armourbearer at Michmash believing that there is no restraint to save by many or by few. 1 Samuel 14:6 says And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.
Don't Be Too Self Confident Like Goliath and Nebuchadnezzar
And Experience A Fall
Don't be too self confident like Goliath and Nebuchadnezzar and experience a fall. Goliath's self confidence by mocking little David led to his fall. Goliath's fall is recorded at 1 Samuel 17:50 that says So David prevailed over the Philistine (Goliath) with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. David got the victory over Goliath because he fought Goliath in the name of the Lord.
Nebuchadnezzar's self confidence by boasting about his power over everything led to his fall. Nebuchadnezzar's pride turned him into a creature that ate grass as oxen, where his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. But after Nebuchadnezzar humbled himself and honored God, his understanding returned and he became king again.
Rejoice and read how King Nebuchadnezzar repented and became a humble child of God exalting the Lord Jesus. Nebuchadnezzar got saved and I look forward to meeting him in heaven. Jesus said at Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Nebuchadnezzar learned that being humble and blessed with the Lord Jesus is better than the shame that follows pride.
Daniel 4:33-37 says The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured Him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation.
Daniel 4:35-37 goes on to say And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest thou? At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors, and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase.
How To Avoid A Fall
2) Don't Neglect Prayer
The second way to avoid a fall is don't neglect prayer. Don't be like Peter and fall, failing to pray, while you become lazy and sleep too much. At the Garden of Gethsemane Peter fell asleep, failing to protect Jesus because he forgot to pray. Matthew 26:40 says And He (Jesus) cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Comparing Two Bible Stories To Learn About Prayer
A Blessed Revelation Preached By Dr. William P. Grady
In the Garden of Gethsemane
Jesus was awake and the apostles were asleep
In the boat during the storm
Jesus was asleep and the apostles were awake
The moral of these two stories:
If you can stay awake in the prayer meeting
You can sleep through the storm
Unlike Peter, stay awake and keep praying daily to avoid a fall. Proverbs 20:13 says Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. Proverbs 23:21 says For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. Get out of the bed early and pray every morning to avoid a fall and experience victory in your life. Jesus said at Proverbs 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
Don't let the cares of the world make you neglect prayer and fall. Remember the warning at Luke 21:34 that says And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all those things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Instead be like Hezekiah and pray daily to avoid a fall. When Hezekiah received threatening letters from Sennacherib, Hezekiah prayed and spread out the threatening letters to God. God heard Hezekiah's prayers and in one night only one angel killed 185000 enemies and caused Sennacherib to flee where his own sons killed him.
2 Kings 19:35 says And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore an five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.
Like Hezekiah, Jesus told us at Luke 18:1 And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. Wake up everyone and keep praying to avoid a fall. Let's all obey Galatians 6:9 that says And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not (remember according to Luke 18:1 we faint not and reap blessings when we always keep praying).
Organizing Or Agonizing
There's nothing wrong with organization
But we also need some agonization in prayer
Unfortunately most churches overorganize and underagonize in prayer
Every person that accomplished anything for God was a person of prayer
DL Moody and Charles Finney had great revivals with thousands saved
Because hundreds of people prayed while Moody or Finney preached
Preachers preach better when they have prayer warriors praying
while they preach anointed sermons
How To Avoid A Fall
3) Don't Doubt And Fail To Make A Decision About Jesus
The third way to avoid a fall is don't doubt and fail to make a decision about Jesus. You're either for or against Jesus. Remaining neutral and failing to make a decision about Jesus is a rejection of Jesus. Jesus said at Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Jesus has nothing to do with lukewarm people who neither accept or reject Jesus.
Jesus said at Revelation 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Right now stop doubting and being lukewarm. Instead receive Jesus today and get saved. Get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and rose again.
Don't be like Peter and follow Jesus afar off with doubt while you choose the pleasures of this fading world. Matthew 26:58 says But Peter followed Him (Jesus) afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. Peter was close to Jesus when things were going good and Lazarus was raised from the dead and when 5000 were fed with just two fishes and five loaves of bread. But when trouble arose and Jesus was led to be crucified, Peter followed afar off.
Note that Peter didn't completely quit. Peter just followed Jesus afar off. Like Peter a lot of christians stay close to Jesus when things are going good. But when troubles arise, these same christians follow Jesus afar off, failing to attend church while they neglect to read their bibles. Unlike Peter, keep preaching, reading your bible, and attending church in the good and the bad times. Remember Jesus is the Word so in order to receive perfect peace daily keep your mind stayed on the Word Jesus to overcome trouble. Isaiah 26:3 says Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee (Jesus and the Word of God): because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.
Don't isolate yourself when you face troubles and follow Jesus afar off. Instead continue to attend church and fellowship with your brothers and sisters to overcome trouble. Fellowship is important because Jesus said at Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Remember one person can only put 1000 devils to flight. But two people praying together can put 10000 devils to flight with a prayer 10 times more powerful. Deuteronomy 32:30 says How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their rock had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up? For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.
Ecclesiastes 4:9 says Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow, but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him (the devil), two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. One ant can push a crumb, but ten ants can push the crumb better and faster. Crooked sticks seem to straighten themselves out when they are tied in a bundle. A singing congregation sounds fine, but I wouldn't want to hear them one at a time
How To Avoid A Fall
4) Don't Fear People's Opinion About Your Belief In Jesus
The fourth way to avoid a fall is don't fear people's opinion about your belief in Jesus. Remember Proverbs 29:25 says The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe. Right now say Hebrews 13:6: So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Remember the wise words of Jeremiah 17:5 that says Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
Don't be like Peter who denied Jesus because of the fear of man. Luke 22:58 says And after a little while another saw him (Peter), and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. Unlike Peter, don't be ashamed of Jesus. Confess Jesus everywhere.
When you are in the perfect will of God, no person or anything can harm you. Jesus told us at Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Remember Jesus' words at Matthew 10:28 that says And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him (Jesus) which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
How To Avoid A Fall
5) Don't Associate With Evil Companions
The fifth way to avoid a fall is don't associate with evil companions. Proverbs 13:20 says He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not he knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. In other words evil communications with evil companions will stop you from witnessing Jesus to lost sinners who have no knowledge of the Lord Jesus. The result will be lost sinners who failed to get saved because they did not hear the Word of God and ended up in the lake of fire.
Now christians are in the world but they are not of the world. We need to witness to lost sinners who are drunkards, drug addicts, criminals, and prostitutes. But witness to these sinners in public places like restaurants, Walmart, or at church. Don't witness to these lost sinners though when they are committing crimes at their personal homes. But the Holy Spirit will tell you when these sinners get delivered and when it's a blessing to visit their homes and lift up the Lord Jesus.
Don't be like Peter who associated with evil companions by warming himself by the fading fires of this world enjoying the temporary pleasures of sin that end in misery. Luke 22:55 says And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. Wow Peter warmed himself by the enemy's fire. Peter got his thrill the same way sinners in the world got their thrill.
Don't be like Peter and get your thrills the same way the world gets its thrills (warming yourself by the world's fire). In other words when you get your thrills the same way sinners in the world get their thrills (smoking pot, drinking beer, fornicating, cursing, and wasting all day texting on your cellphone and posting gossip on facebook) you're falling away from God. Remember James 4:4 says Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
It's easy to float downstream with the world's current. But decide today to live for Jesus and go upstream against the world's current. You know that you are growing with Jesus when you become less like the world. An old Japanese missionary used to say that the duty of every christian in any age is to discern the spirit of the age and then to go diametrically opposed to it.
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Choose To Live For Jesus Instead Of Worldly Pleasures Avoiding A Fall
Click This Youtube Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vwqOgexx3A
And Sing The Words Below To The Hymn I Am Resolved
Written By Palmer Hartsough 1896
I am resolved no longer to linger charmed by the world's delight
Things that are higher; Things that are nobler; These have allured my sight
I will hasten to Him; Hasten so glad and free
Jesus greatest highest; I will come to thee
I am resolved to go to the Saviour; Leaving my sin and strife
He is the true one; He is the just one; He has the words of life
I am resolved and who will go with me; Come friends without delay
Taught by the bible; Led by the Spirit; We'll walk the heavenly way
I pray in Jesus name that this bible study blesses multitudes everywhere with great joy, peace, and strength. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 746-7071. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.
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