What are you taking with you into 2020? What are you leaving behind?
Key Scripture: Song of Solomon 2:1-15 (HOLMANS)
“Hunt the foxes for us, the little foxes, that spoil the vines, for our vines are in blossom.” (Song of Solomon 2:15, Jubilee Bible 2000)
Foxes are little – it’s the little things, the things that are overlooked that spoil things of value.
The fact is if little things are not reigned in, they grow.
What are the little things that are potentially spoiling areas of your life?
KNOWING YOUR ENEMY
Ephesians 6:12 - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (NIV)
The Bible is also full of warnings describing how the enemy works. He is described like a serpent.
2 Corinthians 11:3 - But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
He is also described as a roaring lion
1 Peter 5:8 - Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
The devil waits for when we are most vulnerable to attack.
The devil is also described as a fox. Foxes hunt at night when we are asleep, when we are not alert. The devil hunts when we are not alert, when we are sleeping.
It’s time to wake up and look at ourselves and check if there are signs of little foxes.
SEARCH OUT THE FOXES
There are 2 types of foxes we need to look for:
Little Thoughts
Everything starts with a thought, a belief and a reason
Experts estimate:
60,000 – 80,000 thoughts a day. That’s an average of 2500 – 3,300 thoughts per hour. Conservative estimations say 50,000 thoughts per day, which means about 2100 thoughts per hour.
2 Corinthians 10:5 – We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Arguments and pretensions are things we think about, over and over in our heads.
The measuring stick is:
Philippians 4:8 - *Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. *
Proverbs 25:28 - *Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lack self control. *
A lack of self-control, started with thoughts.
Thoughts have pathways. Which pathway is your thought life taking you? And where will it take you in 2020?
*Little Attitudes. *
Attitudes are contagious.
1 Cor 15:33 - Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Gal 5:9 – A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.
Attitudes develop with our permission and the permission of others if not challenged. They don’t just happen, they develop little by little.
Great men and women of God who possessed awesome attitudes and it took them into their future – people like Joseph, Ruth, David, Mary (the mother of Jesus).
Those with a bad attitude affected their future: Cain, Saul and Absalom.
The moment we don’t correct those little thoughts and attitudes, we are agreeing with them.
LITTLE ACTS HAVE BIG IMPACT
Out of control thoughts and attitudes have an impact on ourselves and those in relationship with us.
Gal 5:19-21 - T*he acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.*
Our actions either build or tear down God’s kingdom. Which are we going to be – builders or tearers?
HUNT THE LITTLE FOXES DOWN
Let’s be real
• Get real, stop making excuses, stop blaming and rationalising; time to take responsibility
• Be real with where you’re at, humble yourself
• Repent
Get Help
• Confession is powerful.
• Power in community. Community brings healing.
• It’s important to have people in our life that speak truth gently and that we be humble to hear it.
Dive into God’s Word
• Be disciplined in God’s Word.
• Know what God’s Word says.
• Encourage yourself and then stand on God’s Word.