You need to know if you are a friend of God or a foe.
Have you ever read the Psalms? Who is our God?
He forgives sin, yes.
He also delivers, provides abundantly, makes our hearts glad, defeats our enemies.
He rescues. He does it by sending His arrows and lightning and hailstones and coals of fire to vanquish the enemies.
He saves us from our strong enemy. He leads us and shows us the way to go.
He makes the wine to increase. He comforts. He bows the heavens to come down to us.
He blesses and gives us righteousness. He plucks us out of the net that’s trapped us. He lifts our heads and puts our feet on the rock, high above our enemies. He subdues them under our feet.
How far does God go for His children, for His friends?
What about Hezekiah’s story? The Assyrians are attacking. Hezekiah prays. Because he turned to God and prayed, God wipes out 180,000 Assyrian troops while the Israelites sleep.
That’s what He’ll do for His child who asks for help. It’s also what He’ll do to an enemy. He had 180,000 Assyrians killed.
It would be really good to know if you were a friend or foe.
Are you a friend of God? Do you believe you can ask for help and He’ll get angry enough with those coming against you that He’d wipe out an army for your sake?
The Bible says we’re enemies of God if we are sinners, if we are in the world.
What does the Bible say?
For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.
Philippians 3:18-19 NASB 1995
That’s a stark description of those who set their minds on the things of the flesh instead of on the things of the Spirit. Is your mind set on earthly things – job, money, entertainment, social media, sports, activities, food or other fleshly lusts, hobbies, books, knowledge, fashion, gossip, politics, dieting, health, exercise? It’s death.
Is your god your appetite? Can your appetite control you? Do you have a craving to do this or that, and then you do it? Your appetite is controlling you. It’s your god. You are submitting to it.
What’s your mind on when you wake up in the morning? What’s the first thing on your mind? If it’s not the Lord, something else has your heart. What do you talk about throughout the day? If it’s not the Lord, something else has your heart. What do you gravitate to when you are tired and worn or stressed? If it’s not the Lord, something else has become your god.
If you can’t get out of bed to pray, but can get up in the cold, dark morning to exercise, something else has your heart.
If you can’t find the time to read your Bible but can stream shows and movies, then something else has your heart.
Your thoughts are on the world.
Their end is destruction because they are enemies of the cross of Christ.
You may say you love God, but so did the Pharisees. God says, “Their lips praise me, but their hearts are far from me.”
You turn your heart to God by forsaking your sin. He will help you get it out of your life. You have to hate it and want it out. You have to choose to love God. Choose to love God.
This cuts off before his wife walks in. There are flowers where the computer was with a note that says, “Love you more.”
That’s what we need to say to God, not just with our Sunday praise songs, but with our daily choices. When that temptation looks you in the eye, you say back, “I love God, not you.” If it’s true, you’ll be able to walk away. It won’t have power over you. And God will smile at His friend.
The Tribulation 