Wednesday, March 15th, 2010

With Rick Warren

SATAN LOVES ISOLATED BELIEVERS

Encourage one another daily ... so that none of you may be hardened by sin's

 

A church family will help keep you from backsliding.

None of us are immune to temptation. Given the right situation, you and I are capable of

any sin. (1 Corinthians 10:12; Jeremiah 17:9; 1 Timothy 1:19) God knows this, so he has

assigned us as individuals the responsibility of keeping each other on track.

The Bible says, "Encourage one another daily ... so that none of you may be hardened by

sin's deceitfulness." (Hebrews 3:13 NIV) "Mind your own business" is not a Christian

phrase.

We are called and commanded to be involved in each other's lives. If you know someone

who is wavering spiritually right now, it is your responsibility to go after them and bring them

back into the fellowship.

James tells us, "If you know people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write

them off. Go after them. Get them back." (James 5:19 MSG)

A related benefit of a local church is that it also provides the spiritual protection of godly

leaders. God gives the shepherd leader the responsibility to guard, protect, defend, and

care for the spiritual welfare of his flock. (Acts 20:28-29; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Hebrews 13:7, 17)

We are told, "Their work is to watch over your souls, and they know they are accountable to

God." (Hebrews 13:17 NLT)

Satan loves detached believers, unplugged from the life of the Body, isolated from God's

family, and unaccountable to spiritual leaders, because he knows they are defenseless and

powerless against his tactics.