Pastor Ken examines what it means to run the race with Jesus.

What does it take to run the race with our Lord?

Verse: I Peter 5:8 "Be self-controlled and alert.

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." NKJ

As a believer in Christ, you are a marked target of the enemy. Just as we live in this day of threats of terror attacks that come in the form of suicide bombers, commercial airplanes, or common letters in the mail.
Likewise, Satan, the devil, is out to get you.

However,let me say one important thing right here: Let us correct our theology once and for all time: Satan is defeated!

Jesus has already won the war. Yet, in spite of the outcome in eternity, here on earth we fight a constant battle.

You will face many temptations as a Christian, but you can meet them successfully through God's appointed means --

The WORD! Our verse cautions us to be on guard at all times.

God's Word has the power to alert you to Satan's attacks and to enable you to resist tempation. He Word also has the power to guide you in making every decision.

His Word will lead you along the way of this race we call life.

Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" NKJ

Not only will He guide you, He also will light your path in those times of darkness and confusion.

The importantance of God's Word is that He will never let you fall.

If you are going through the fire, look up and know that God is with you all the way.

Never think you are outside God's reach. A practical tip learned over the years: when you are tempted Satan's ploy is to deceive you into thinking that you deserve a break today.

Imagine someone taking a large red balloon and moving it right up against your face. It seems Satans tactic is to deceive you into blindness by "blocking" or interrupting your perspective. With the balloon in your face, all you can see is red. So when you are tempted, take the sword of the Word and POP that balloon.

Just as when Jesus was tempted, respond to every temptation with the Word. Never pray: Oh God help me not do this or that. When you pray like that you are focusing on the problem, subjectively admiting to yourself you are likely to do this or that. Instead, begin to pray for someone else.

Let a temptation be a spring board to lift you above the temptation as you begin to pray for someone else. I suggest picking a prayer target that is someone in the throws of Satan. Being that the ministry has always been involved with helping women not abort, I early on was attacked with sexual lust constantly.

No matter how much I prayed, I still was tempted. Thus, I focused on an abortionist that I had met. I prayed for his salvation and healing and that his eyes would be opened every time I was tempted.

The song says: Let's forget about ourselves and magnify the Lord.....well, dearly beloved, when you pray interceeding for someone in Satan's kingdom, his imps and demonic spirits who are not omniscient, omnipresent, or all powerful.

They are merely created, yet deceived and fallen angels. Thus, when you pray for someone in their control, they have to let go of you and rush back to protect and defend their interest in that person.

To have freedom over such a personal area is incredible. Will I ever be tempted again? Certainly. Almost daily. But does the enemy win? Not when I pray and remember what I am telling you in this message.

There is power in walking with Jesus Christ. Run the race like a soldier. Be prepared. Be on guard. Be armed. Be ready for any form of attack along the way. And when you have done all that you can do, then just stand and stand therefore. The battle is not yours.

Dearly Beloved, I pray this message hits home with you. I would love to hear your feedback.

Remember to support us, please.