“In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.” (Luke 10:30 NIV)
First of all, notice that the title starts with the word “When,” and not the word “If.” You see, I’m assuming, or at least hoping that you will be in the assembly of the saints this morning at your local church. Therefore, let me give you some advice when you leave church today.
Before I give you some advice, note that the bible verse above comes from Jesus’ parable about “The Good Samaritan” when He answers the question, “Who is my neighbor?” This morning, briefly before you set out to attend service, I am not going to spend time focusing on the familiar focus placed on the Samaritan who helped the man coming down from Jerusalem on the Jericho Road. Instead, I will focus on something of major importance, something we may tend to overlook in the aforementioned parable.
You see, the man who was attached in the parable was coming down from Jerusalem, the center place of worship for God’s people at the time of our text. Perhaps he was there for worship and as he was walking down the road, on his way home or to another destination, he was robbed, stripped, beaten, and left half dead.
Here is the point that I want you to remember. When you leave church today, after you have been at a higher place, for places of true worship are always a higher place on this earth; after you leave church, be aware of the efforts of Satan, the secular world, and even our old self (that old sinful nature), all which will try to steal your joy, beat out you conviction to make perfect progress, strip you of your enthusiasm to respond to the preached word, and leave you spiritually half-dead, not as alive as you were in the sanctuary. Be alert! Be strong! Be focused! Be ready to thwart of any terrible situations, troubling circumstances, or tainted conversations that will try to attack you. Tell Satan to depart from you! Tell the secular world that it can’t detain you or delay your walking down the path of righteousness! Say to self, “Old things have passed away, and all things have become new, so don’t try to pull me back or get me off track. No detours will be allowed!”
I hope this advice proves to be helpful. Enjoy your worship service, my friend. Be blessed!
“Last of all I want to remind you that your strength must come from the Lord’s mighty power within you.” (Ephesians 6:10 The Living Bible)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King
The enemy even goes to church with you. There is not a moment the enemy is not prowling around you to get you off track. Listening and hearing the word gives you defensive and offensive strategies and Holy Ghost power to fight self, the enemy, and the world while in church and once you leave church. It also provides you the desire to get to church in the first place. What a mighty God we serve.
The transforming word and He (The Holy Ghost) will give us victory over our enemies: Satan, the secular world, and self. Yes, what a mighty God we serve. Be blessed!