Be Aware of Opportune Times

(The following was published in the bulletin at St Charles Bible Church – August 19^th, 2018, St Charles MN)

     The devil made me do it!  (A phrase popularized by television comedian, Flip Wilson.)  The reality is that just isn’t true.  The devil, Satan, cannot “make” us do anything. 

     “Alexander was trying to save all the pennies that he could in order to buy a baseball bat.  But he had a hard struggle.  One night when he was saying his prayers, his mother heard him say fervently, ‘O Lord, please help me save my money for a baseball bat.  And, God, don’t let the ice cream man come down this street anymore’!” 

     Puritan author, John Owen, writes, “Secret lusts lie lurking in your own heart which will never give up until they are either destroyed or satisfied.”  The flesh—although it feels comfortable and natural at times—is not a friend to be trusted: “The carnal mind is enmity against God”  (Romans 8:7).  Enmity is not just an enemy; an enemy can be reconciled.  Enmity is in direct opposition to the will of God.  Putting it another way, the flesh says, “Feed me so I can destroy you … destroy your health, your relationships, your soul.”  C.H. Spurgeon warned, “Beware of no man more than of yourself; we carry our worst enemies within us.”

     Although the enemy will come against our family and our finances, we cannot blame him…we must take responsibility for our own poor choices when warranted.  According to 1 John 2:16, the devil entices through the lust of the flesh (unbridled passions), the lust of the eyes (covetousness), and the pride of life (boasting of what we have and/or do).  Another step toward victory is to take responsibility for our actions, submit them to God, and resist the devil:  “Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

     Be aware of “opportune times.”  Recall Luke 4:13: “And when the devil had ended everytemptation, he departed from Him [Jesus] until an opportune time.”  In battle, the enemy attacks at opportune times.  “Opportune times” in the Greek language denotes a favorable wind blowing a ship toward its destination.  Again, 1 John 2:16 reminds us that the world entices through cravings for physical pleasure and through covetousness, and through pride in our achievements and possessions.  These are the three areas where the enemy will concentrate his focus.  Be aware of these “opportune times.”

     Last week while I was preaching about the devil, my lapel microphone began really crackling (to your annoyance, I know!).  After borrowing Dee’s mic, my throat began to tighten so I fought the need to cough.  Then, Dee’s mic would not stay in place.  Someone suggested it was “spiritual warfare”, and maybe it was. I am beginning to understand that the devil is more active in our lives than we realize.  I know that the devil would like to make us believe that we are powerless to say “No!” to sin, and “Yes!” to God, but we obey the devil because we want to!  This bears repeating–“…Resist the devil”, the Apostle James says!  “and he will flee from you.”  (James 4:7) 

Pastor Jim B

  ’47 / ’56 St Charles MN

Doris Jean H

’44 / ’55 Manheim PA