Tired of being the Punch Line?

December 31, 2011

by DJ Martin (SingleFocus Ministry®)

They say that true life is a comedy… But, when will we get tired of being the punch line in the devil’s joke? I mean, he is going around causing all kinds of havoc in relationships and laughing all the way to heaven, telling the joke to God (Job 1:6) and guess what…we’re the punch line of each joke (Job 1:11). For example: I was idealistic, determined to financially promote the kingdom of God. I got to working overtime, and my ideals became a joke in the devil’s comedy routine. I forgot the reason and purpose and just worked for the money. At the end of the year I found out that I supported the government more than myself. And I can’t say that the kingdom received any financial benefit. The joke wasn’t on me… My selfishness, greed, self-gratification and my lack of trust in God was the story and I was the punch line.

In the beginning God officiated the marriage of Adam and Eve (Gen 2:24). Nowadays some men are telling the ladies, “Lets live together first.” That’s the fad today. The world has all kinds of excuses for ‘shacking’ instead of marriage. You’re led to believe that it is temporary, but how long has it been now? Have you set the date yet? Only heaven knows who you could be married to by now… The joke is not on you… It’s your world view; your selfishness; your self-gratification; your lack of trust in God, His love and His will that is the punch line of the devil’s cruel joke.

God said, “be fruitful and multiply (Gen 1:28).” Some years ago some people determined to get rid of as many Black American babies as possible through wholesale abortion (genocide). Teenagers are having premarital sex, abortionists are living in mansions and the teenagers’ adult lives have become shaky, because of possible side effects from abortion: emotional stress, barrenness, cervical cancer, breast cancer, and death… ‘Pro-choice’ marketing helps them to feel comfortable and you can’t watch anything on secular TV without viewing sexually suggestive commercials. Even the kids’ TV sitcoms subtly promote promiscuity. There are other minority groups out numbering Black Americans, because too many are choosing to behave immoral and consequently participate in abortion (there have been approximately 13 million Black American babies aborted since 1973 according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control). There are some church elders recommending abortion and there is government support (Planned Parenthood) paying for it. The joke is not on these young women… It is their naivety, self-centeredness; self-gratification; recklessness; maneuverability; vulnerability; poor self-esteem; disobedience and lack of trust in their parents’ sound advice; and their lack of trust in God, His love and His will that is the punch line in the devil’s cruel comedy routine.

God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16). Therefore, He has the Bible full of relational wisdom and self-growth counsel from Genesis to Revelation. However, all kinds of turmoil are being stirred up in marriages: adultery, financial struggles… high stress situations! Sometimes it is a matter of un-forgiveness; selfishness and pride; and lack of discipline or self-control. It probably could be remedied by giving God sovereignty in your life; studying individually and collectively the word of God and applying it in your relationship. Sometimes couples find themselves in a heated argument about dinner, discipline of children, a new purchase, a relative coming to visit, scrambling the eggs or boiling the eggs… I mean, have you ever stepped back and looked at what you’re arguing about? But then there is always someone who comes along who understands you better than your spouse. Stop! Don’t fall for that! When some person of the opposite sex comes at you when there is conflict in your marriage, that’s a clear sign that you are about to become the punch line in the devil’s comedy routine. You’re not the joke, but your selfishness and pride (it’s my way or the highway attitude); your unwillingness to forgive (which God requires before He hears our prayers) and/or your self-centeredness (instead of focusing on the will of God) is the punch line in the devil’s cruel comedy routine.

I have too many family, friends and acquaintances whose lives and relationships are the punch lines of the devil’s cruel comedy routine. Christ made the ultimate sacrifice and paid the price because, it is the will of God that no man parish (2 Peter 3:9). He extends love, grace and mercy to each of us each and every day. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25). That’s seeking the will of God, then sacrificing for her good, forgiving and showing grace and mercy. Wives are to submit to their husbands as unto the Lord (Ephesians 5:22). Christ submitted to God the Father. It is more than about you and your spouse’s personal preferences. Children are to obey their parents in the Lord (Ephesians 6:1). We all are to love our neighbor as ourselves. That’s seeking their good and not their harm. It must start with the focus on the sovereignty and will of God. After His extraordinary sacrifice and obedient submissiveness to God’s will by dying on a cross, Christ arose from the dead in power and victory. All things are under His feet (1 Corinthians 15:27). We may be the unsuspecting punch line, but God is not mocked (Galatians 6:7). We who are in Christ are victorious in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57). Your life story is written with a happy ever after ending (Romans 8:37). But, if you are not discerning, you will find yourself continuously being the punch line in the devil’s cruel comedy routine.

Notwithstanding, not all is a result of selfishness, but some is due to wickedness at the hands of evil people who live to prey on the innocent, undiscerning and vulnerable. Victims can be assured that “vengeance is mine” says the Lord (Romans 12:19). The Apostle Paul said that God would eventually make the disobedient believe a lie and He will turn them over to a reprobate mind (Romans 1:28). You’ve seen adulterous Pastors teach the word, shout and go on like nothing is wrong, because they don’t know that the Spirit has left them. You’ve witnessed the immoral or addicted sing or play the piano every Sunday Morning. They spout the word of God eloquently and get all emotional as they sing or play the keyboard, but they have no idea that the Holy Spirit has left them (Judges 16:20), because they continue to live the worldly lifestyle and they haven’t been ‘zapped’ by God. They have been given over to the devil as a punch line in his cruel comedy routine!

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of being the punch line in the devil’s cruel comedy routine. This new year, let’s resolve to be alert and discerning. Let’s obediently prioritize and honor our commitment to God and in all our ways acknowledge Him (Proverbs 3:6). In every temptation or turmoil, let’s pray for discernment to know whether it is a test from God or a temptation from the devil (James 1:1-15). Whichever it is, let’s resolve to handle the situation the way God would have us to. Let’s pray for His guidance and direction; study His word so that we can handle any relationship the way He teaches; and trust Him for the victory (John 16:33)! Let’s put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11); thank Him for the victory by faith; and apply His word at all times. Sometimes you have to go the second mile (Matthew 5:41): forgive (seven times seventy) even when it seems unforgivable (Matthew 18:22); show grace and mercy as Christ has shown to us; love the way Christ loved us (John 14); and focus on the promised victory (Romans 8:37) even though it looks like imminent defeat. We must resolve to have faith in God and establish that God’s way is better than the writer of Soap Operas; soft porn movies; TV sitcoms; politicians, champions of ungodly causes or doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1). And finally, let us resolve to no longer allow our selfishness, greed, self-gratification, disregard for the will of God, un-forgiveness, and our pride to become the punch line in the devil’s cruel comedy routine. In Christ we are victorious and that’s no joke!

“For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, [even] our faith.”1 John 5:4

That’s Todays’ Single Focus…

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