My Sheep Know My Voice - 6

My Sheep Know My Voice - 6

Subject: Determining When God Is at Work 

by Rick Welborne

--Do we ever give Satan permission to take us bondage or does God ever grant Satan permission to take us bondage?  Do we ever give Satan an open door into our lives or does God ever give Satan an open door into our lives?

–Think of the OT.  Children of Israel would sin...God would allow the enemy to take them into captivity ...Bondage...verse in Isaiah 29...I know the plans...going into bondage.

–Satan is a thief...always looking for ways to get in... looking for access!

Ephesians 4:27 (NKJV) 

27 nor give place to the devil. 

–Number one open door is pride. Many people are proud they don’t have pride. Definitions of pride according to Robert Morris:

1. Pride is trusting in your own strength.

Luke 22:3132 (NKJV) 

31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 

32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." 

–The word “asked” in the Greek has more than one meaning- Greek lexicon - to ask for something and to receive; to ask for with success; Peter, Satan asked for and received permission to sift you as wheat.

Luke 22:31 (NASB) 

31 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 

–In other words Satan has a right into Simon’s life and what would that open door be?

–We believe that the open door in Peter’s life was because he was trusting in his own strength and was filled with pride...listen to the conversation before these verses.

Mark 14:2731 (NKJV) 

27 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered.' 

28 "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee." 

29 Peter said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be." 

30 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." 

31 But he spoke more vehemently, "If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And they all said likewise. 

–Jesus said to Peter - what part of all do you not understand...not me...these sissies! Scripture in OT that says you will...Peter said, “not me the Scriptures are wrong.”

Matthew 16:2123 (NKJV) 

21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 

22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" 

23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." 

–What kind of pride and arrogance does it take to take Jesus aside and to rebuke Him?

–Jesus looked right at Peter (a man) and addressed Satan...whatever your theology is...Jesus addressed Satan in him, on him, around him, behind him...he addressed Satan.

–Right before this Jesus has changed Peter’s name from Simon to Peter (You are the Christ, the Son of the living God) and now He is calling him Satan because of the pride in Peter...Peter...I like my other name better.

–When they came to arrest Jesus one of the disciples cut off one of the soldiers ears - Guess which one - Peter.

–The reason he cut off his ear is because he missed his head...what kind of pride and arrogance to think you could take on a whole garrison of soldiers...he was trusting in his own strength.

–Satan has a right to you because you have opened a door of access to him...trusting in his own strength.

–Right after this Peter goes against his strong declarations and denies the Lord to a teenage waitress and even curses...denies the Lord three times.

Robert Morris: Many mature believers who have served the Lord for a long time fall into this trap because they begin to trust in their own strength instead of trusting in the Lord.

–Is it possible this is why King David fell because he had been such a strong follower of the Lord?  Absolutely.  In a time when kings went out to war...He stayed home. Bathsheba.

1 Corinthians 10:12 (NKJV) 

12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 

2. Pride is trusting in your own righteousness.

Job 1:612 (NKJV) 

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.

7 And the LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?" So Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it." 

8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" 

9 So Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? 

10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 

11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" 

12 And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. 

–Wouldn’t you say that was God granting Satan permission to go after Job?  Hard to understand until you read the next 31 chapters of Job...three friends show up...not good friends for sure.

–Though they were not on target...they in essence were speaking to Job trying to help him understand that he could have potentially left an open door in his life. He could not see it! He would not see it!

–Job denies everything that they are accusing him of...I did not do these things and I did do these things. Job 32 Elihu...I have held it as long as I can...I have waited for you old guys to get it right but you are not doing it.

Job 32:12 (NKJV) 

1 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 

2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. 

–Answer to the whole book...Job was righteous in his own eyes and he justified himself rather than God.

Job 33:89 (NKJV)   Elihu

8 "Surely you have spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the sound of your words, saying, 

9 'I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me. 

–Job would have had to be Jesus for that to be true.  Elihu said:

Job 36:3 (NKJV) 

3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. 

–Here is the open door in Job’s life...He was righteous because of what he did not because of Who he knew...the Lord! Job argued and was saying because I did this and did not do this...I am righteous.

–Mature believers fall into this sin...when we first get saved we know it had to be the righteousness of Jesus that saved us...could not do it ourselves.

–10 years, 20, 30 years later we don’t do the things we used to do and we now do so many good things and we start thinking that is what makes us righteous...lady in office. We are not righteous by what we do...Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) 

21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 

–When you begin to trust in your own righteousness...that is pride. Pharisee praying in church...God I am glad that I am not like others...like this tax collector:  What Job does for 31 chapters...compare me to anyone and you will see.

–Job’s problem...all of a sudden God shows up and says, OK you want to do some comparisons? Compare yourself to Me!

Job 38:16, 12,22,24,34-35 (NKJV) 

1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: 

2 "Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge? 

3 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. 

4 "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. 

5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 

6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, 

12 "Have you commanded the morning since your days began, And caused the dawn to know its place, 

22 "Have you entered the treasury of snow, Or have you seen the treasury of hail, 

24 By what way is light diffused, Or the east wind scattered over the earth? 

34 "Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That an abundance of water may cover you? 

35 Can you send out lightnings, that they may go, And say to you, 'Here we are!'? 

Job 39:2627 (NKJV) 

26 "Does the hawk fly by your wisdom, And spread its wings toward the south? 

27 Does the eagle mount up at your command, And make its nest on high? 

–God sums it up like this:

Job 40:78 (NKJV) 

7 "Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me: 

8 "Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified? 

–Can you imagine God asking you that question? Of course Job’s response to God’s questioning was to repent...so many mature believers fall into the trap of trusting in their own righteousness.

Job 42:16 (NIV) 

1 Then Job replied to the LORD: 

2 "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. 

3 You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. 

4 "You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.' 

5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 

6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." 

–Many are living righteous lifestyles (they think)...we believe in living a righteous lifestyle...living un-righteously opens us up to the enemy...only the blood of Jesus makes us righteous.  

3. Pride is trusting in your own wisdom.

–Ahab had 400 prophet who were yes men.

–Jehosaphat good king.

1 Kings 22:78 (NKJV) 

7 And Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of Him?" 

8 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say such things!" 

–God gives permission to the demon to have a lying spirit in the mouth of the prophets. Ahab did not want the truth. God is in control.

James 3:1416 (NKJV) 

14 But if you have bitter envy and selfseeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 

15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 

16 For where envy and selfseeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 

–Pride opens the door for his destruction. Would God ever grant permission...yes. Why would God grant permission to the enemy? Take the warning of this message about pride. I repented while I did it.

Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV) 

18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. 

–Good news is that Job and Peter and repented. Ahab - thought he had more wisdom than God...dressed like a regular soldier. Certain man draws a bow...hits Ahab... Jehoshaphat is saved.  God’s grace toward him.

–Pride is a trap that the strong, the righteous, and the wise fall into many times. Guard your heart and ask Holy Spirit to reveal any open doors to pride. 

Psalm 69:5 (NKJV)
⁵  O God, You know my foolishness; And my sins are not hidden from You.