Little Foxes (Part 2)
Last week we began a study in the second chapter of Song of Solomon. We began to look at the little foxes that spoil the vines in our vineyards. We understand now that each person has a vineyard which is our hearts and minds for Christ. We learned that it is Satan who will try to set the little foxes or little sins, and compromises into our vineyards to put walls up between us and Christ. We must take the little foxes. We must clear them out of our vineyards so that the tender intimacy we share with our Father in Heaven is not torn down.
Handout: Little Foxes
Song of Solomon 2:15 “Take us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines; for our vines have tender grapes.”
In the previous lesson we studied some examples of little foxes that spoil our vines. There are many but we will only be looking at a few. Last week we looked at the little foxes known as number 1. Pride, 2. Disobedience, and 3. The Lust of the Flesh. This week we will continue our fox hunt and learn about more of these little foxes so that we can recognize them when they come to us from the tempter.
Revelations 21:8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.”
Now we who are born again already, we will never have to go through the second death.
Revelations 2:11 “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Revelations 20:6 “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”
We who have believed and obeyed God by accepting Christ as our Savior, we will not endure the second death.
After we are saved, however, satan will still try to place doubt in our minds about God’s love for us. He knows that if he can make us doubt God’s love then we will fear and when we fear, our flesh takes over and we try to do those things that would make the flesh feel safe and more at ease. Those things are against God and His word.
We do not have to fear. God has given us all a measure of faith that will grow when we trust, and obey, doing those things that God has instructed us to do in His word.
Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
1 John 4:18-19 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love Him , because He first loved us.”
When we grow in faith, in grace we can understand the pure and perfect love of God for us and we will not doubt and fear! Praise The Father for that!
We do not have to be discouraged when we are trusting God in all things. God is good and He will never do us evil.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Lamentations 3:19-26
“Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for HIM to the soul that seeketh Him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.”
1 John 5:4-5 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God.”
Praise God, Jesus came so that we do not have to be discouraged. We can be content in all things because we know that God is working all things out for our good. (Romans 8:28)
Now, let’s look at the little fox called Complaining. Complaining is a very dangerous thing to do.
Numbers 11:1 “And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and His anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.”
God takes it personally when we murmur and complain! God knows what is best for each of us, and we are to wait patiently on the Lord being content in all things. We cannot do this on our own but through Christ we can do all things.
Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I speak in respect of want; for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound; every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Psalm 37:7 “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; fret not thyself because of him to prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devises to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”
Psalm 27:14 “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
Praise God, we can wait upon Him and be content in whatever state we are in because of JESUS! Thank YOU LORD!
Matthew 7:5 “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
In other words God’s word is telling us to worry about ourselves instead of looking at others to see what their sins are!
Proverbs 6:16-19 “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
God’s word teaches that we are not to slander others. It doesn’t matter what they are doing. WE ARE NEVER TO SLANDER OTHERS!
Proverbs 10:18 “He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.”
The last little fox we will look at can be very tricky. It is a huge thing but can come to us in ways that we don’t even recognize it unless we are very keen to the Holy Spirit and His direction and revelation in our lives.
7. Idolatry
We know clearly that serving other gods is a HUGE NO NO. God said in His word clearly that we shall have NO OTHER gods before Him. NONE! HE IS THE ONE TRUE GOD, and we should love Him and serve Him alone with all of our hearts.
Satan knew that we would understand this, so he decided to get sneaky about it. He knew that most Christians would not out right set up an idol of stone and kneel before it and worship or pray to it, so he put desires in front of us and things that are pleasurable and some that are not wrong to do when done the right ways. Satan took those and made them things in which if we are not very careful, can become idols, when we turn to them for comfort in times of trouble instead of primarily going to the Lord. We do this sometimes ignorantly and do not even realize to what extent we are doing it!
As I write, I am praying to The Father that I will be able to get this across where it is clear. Anything that we turn to for our comfort, peace, for our joy, if we turn to those things instead of turning to God, it is an idol. This is dangerous because it can be many things or people. One obvious thing that some people turn to for comfort is drugs or tobacco use, or alcohol. We know what destruction those things can cause but what about those little things that are not bad to do, but we can use them in the wrong ways? What about the things that we don’t think about? What about food? We have to eat to live, and it is not a sin to eat and enjoy our food but what about the times when we eat and we are not hungry but we are eating in order to make ourselves feel better instead of turning to God when we are stressed or troubled about something? What about the person we run to for comfort instead of running to God? Enjoying your food or your friends is not a sin, but using them for our sole purpose of joy, comfort, or strength is a sin and anything or anyone we place before God is an idol. It will tear us down, and anything we put ahead of God, will ruin our relationship with Him. It will spoil our tender grapes; it will hinder our fruit bearing for His glory.
Those little foxes will spoil our vines if we are not very careful and putting all things into perspective and knowing that God is our main source of strength and from Him comes all blessings. Thank You LORD.
Exodus 20:3 “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
Matthew 4:10 “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.”
When we turn to other things for help and comfort they will only let us down in the long run. I am reminded of what the prophet Isaiah wrote concerning Moab. We can apply the same things to our own lives and vineyards today when we turn to other things instead of turning to our Father.
Isaiah wrote that Joy and gladness are taken away from the orchards: no one sings or shouts in the vineyards. No one treads out wine at the presses. For I have put an end to the shouting. My heart laments for Moab like a harp, my inmost being for Kir Hareseth. When Moab appears at her high place, she only wears herself out when she goes to her shrine to pray, it is to no avail.
As we read that we can feel the sadness and anguish in those words. We too like Moab, when we place other things in front of the Lord looking to them for comfort, for answers, we only wear ourselves out because it is to no avail. God is our all. We must love, worship, praise, and run to Him for all things.
Let us pray…
Dear Righteous, Heavenly Father,
We kneel humbly before You in praise yet again. Father we praise, worship, and thank You that we can come boldly before Your Throne of Grace. Lord we ask today that You help us to capture those little foxes that so desire to spoil our vines. We ask that You help us to care for our vineyards as You would have us to. Father we ask that You cut away everything from us that isn’t like Jesus. Lord we understand that this is a hard thing for the flesh and we ask that You give us the strength and the courage to endure all that it entails because we know Father that we must crucify this flesh and keep it in submission in order to follow You. Father we know that any suffering that our flesh must endure is more than worth living and existing in Your divine favor. We know that any suffering is not even to be compared to abiding in You and the glory that will be brought to You name and to Your Kingdom. Help us LORD to love You and serve You as You would have us to. We will forever worship You and Praise You. We love You Lord, In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Thank You Father for hearing and answering our prayers.
~*Cindygirl*~
March 19, 2017