Sin lieth at the door?

[Karen C.]

The story of Cain and Able.

Gen 4:2-8

Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. 4Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, 5but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."

Judas Iscariot

Luke 22:1-5

22:1Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. 2And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.

3Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. 4So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.

Luke 22:31-34

31And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." 33But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death." 34Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me."

God said to Cain,

[angels4u]

Karen thats why we have to wear our spirituel armor  girl!

Sin does lay at the door, and have to be alert at all times...

Angels

[JohnS]

32But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail;

This blows me away and raises so many questions. What happens if your faith fails?

[Karen C.]

Angel~How many times have you been in service and felt the enemy come and try to "ROOST" right in your mind?! You know, Ol' so and so shouldn't be doing.... Whats ol' so and so doing .... As spiritual folks, YES, we know how to rebuke the enemy. I feel there's a lot of the "little foxes spoiling the vines", so to speak.

Example: I work with a girl that I actually had started witnessing to her before she told me she was a Christian already!!! (Sorry, but by attitude and actions I could'nt tell.) Matter of fact she a LIFTIME member of the same denomination as ME!?? Spirit filled Church.

That scares me! For the delusion is that strong already? Yes, I'm concerned. At the same time I'm happy that you are working out your salvation with fear and trembling also! :inlove: I will continue to try and spark some people into realizing that this is not a test!! It is forever!!!

James 3:13-4:6

13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

James 4

4:1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?

[Butterfly634]

Guard our tongues, be careful what we watch, where we go.

I've recently been convicted about the shows I watch on tv. There are so few good ones to watch, I've wondered if I should just get rid of the tv in my room all together. I often feel tempted to watch that oh-so-good show I just "can't miss" when I know I should be concentrating on God and reading his word.

[God's rebel child]

"I now struggle with how to show my close family that they aren't truly saved, and

                     how to get past their stunting of my spiritual growth.  Well, It's all in God's hands at any rate. I pray that the falling

                     away will pass quickly."

Butterfly-how do you know that your family isn't "truly saved"?  You are right: it IS in God's hands.  As you say, prayer will help you.

[angels4u]

Hi Karen,

What somebody else is doing is between them and the Lord, and sometimes its hard to leave that with the Lord espesially when it is somebody close to you....we love to judge ,right?

God can change you completely and yes I can sometimes feel the oppression.But the

[Butterfly634]

God's rebel child-

They are where I was before I was saved. I can tell by their actions, and the things they say. My borther (24) has actually lectured me on labeling people as "christians", basically saying it didn't matter if they were christians and I shouldn't try and conform anyone to my beliefs, becuase the government gives us freedom of religon and if I try to show someone my beliefs, I'm taking away their right and then MY right should be taken away. This was in the presence of my father who whole-heartedly agreed.

My sister (20) has fallen into some bad crowds in her past. She listens to music with every other word being a cuss word.

[OKC Karen]

Butterfly~

I know the Lord is able to even save our families. Once I QUIT trying to convert them. I pray and stay obedient to His leading and have seen my sister, Racer, saved. One of my brothers is geeting close and my Mother was saved through a miracle of God before she died.

I believe the Lord calls out those who will be obedient and walk after the Spirit, in order for others to be saved.

As long as I'm doing His will, and lifting them up in prayer, in faith, He IS FAITHFUL. Praise the Lord....

Sister, you just keep letting the Holy Spirit lead you and grow you in His knowledge for He will do wonderful things through those who will set themselves apart for His use!! :thumb:

Keep the joy of the Lord and always be sensitive to the leading to walk closer to the Lord! You will not go wrong there!  :thumb:

Read Acts 19:17-20. that proves that the Holy Spirit can reveal things that you need to get rid of that offends God.

The Lord revealed alot of junk in my life I had to get rid of and clean up. I don't regret it at all. You can ask racer (on this MB) about what has been going on!! It's ALL good, yes there is the battles, but nothing compares to Jesus!

Keep in the WORD. It Will Transform you and help you....

Much :inlove: , In Christ, Karen :biggrin:

[Butterfly634]

Thank you so much for the encouragment and wise words Karen! I'll be praying for your brother that he may come to know the Lord soon.  

God Bless!