(John 10:10 AMP) The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
We can never use the devil as an excuse for bad behavior or wrong mindsets. But, he is a very real adversary who is bent on your destruction.
He is an enemy of the worst sort.
The enemy does not play fairly and has no rules of his own but wants to steal from you and kill you.
- He vents his hatred on the ones that God loves most because he cannot express that hatred directly to God.
- He seeks to destroy the anointing on your life and ruin your testimony because he knows that delays that plan of God and ultimately his demise.
(1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV) Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
You will not lay hold onto eternal life until you fight the good fight of faith and are willing to fight until you win.
One More Night with the Frogs
(Exodus 8:1-15 NLT) Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go back to Pharaoh and announce to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Let My people go, so they can worship Me. (2) If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs across your entire land. (3) The Nile River will swarm with frogs. They will come up out of the river and into your palace, even into your bedroom and onto your bed! They will enter the houses of your officials and your people. They will even jump into your ovens and your kneading bowls. (4) Frogs will jump on you, your people, and all your officials.'” (5) Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Raise the staff in your hand over all the rivers, canals, and ponds of Egypt, and bring up frogs over all the land.'” (6) So Aaron raised his hand over the waters of Egypt, and frogs came up and covered the whole land! (7) But the magicians were able to do the same thing with their magic. They, too, caused frogs to come up on the land of Egypt. (8) Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and begged, “Plead with the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people. I will let your people go, so they can offer sacrifices to the LORD.” (9) “You set the time!” Moses replied. “Tell me when you want me to pray for you, your officials, and your people. Then you and your houses will be rid of the frogs. They will remain only in the Nile River.” (10) “Do it tomorrow,” Pharaoh said. “All right,” Moses replied, “it will be as you have said. Then you will know that there is no one like the LORD our God. (11) The frogs will leave you and your houses, your officials, and your people. They will remain only in the Nile River.” (12) So Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh’s palace, and Moses cried out to the LORD about the frogs He had inflicted on Pharaoh. (13) And the LORD did just what Moses had predicted. The frogs in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields all died. (14) The Egyptians piled them into great heaps, and a terrible stench filled the land. (15) But when Pharaoh saw that relief had come, he became stubborn. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had predicted.
Four reasons for one more night with the frogs:
- I am a little comfortable in my issue (situation or circumstance).
Does not mean you like it, might mean you don’t even realize the problem is there or you have adjusted to it.
What has become “normal” for you is not “normal” for God.
We should never grow accustomed to what the devil tries to bring into our lives.
- I am a little fearful – God’s Word might not work for me.
It might be God’s will for me to live with these frogs.
- I am a little lazy – It might take some work to overcome this.
You mean I have a part to play in being free?
How bad do you want to be free?
- I am a little selfish – We don’t think about the bigger picture – who my situation is really affecting.
Pharaoh – “I’m not really bothered by them, I have people for that…”
We don’t realize how our problems are affecting those around us.
Are You Done with Your Frogs?
- Stop making allowances for your frogs.
Everybody can make frogs and has frogs…
(Exodus 8:7 NLT) But the magicians were able to do the same thing with their magic. They, too, caused frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.
What you make excuses for you will tolerate! What you tolerate, you will never be free from it.
- Believe God’s Word when it says you don’t have to live with the frogs.
God’s Word is the final authority on your situation. You need to receive it that way.
- Set the time. Decide TODAY there will be no more pet frogs.
(Exodus 8:9 NLT) “You set the time…”
(Hebrews 11:1 NKJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
(2 Corinthians 6:2 NLT) For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.
Don’t leave what you are believing God’s Word for out in the future. Jesus said to receive it NOW.
(Mark 11:24 BBE) For this reason I say to you, Whatever you make a request for in prayer, have faith that it has been given to you, and you will have it.
- Speak God’s Word about and to your frogs.
(Mark 11:23 GW) I can guarantee this truth: This is what will be done for someone who doesn’t doubt but believes what he says will happen: He can say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it will be done for him.
Say, “Yesterday was my last full day with the frogs.”
(Exodus 8:13 NKJV) So the LORD did according to the word of Moses. And the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courtyards, and out of the fields.
- Begin to thank God you are free from the frogs!
(Philippians 4:6 NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
(Romans 4:20 AMP) No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God,