The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1946-09-19
S E r NJ O N E T T E
COMPROMISING WITH SATAN
By
Rev. Walter Fl. Brown

First it is well for us to know
that compromise means to adjust or
settle by mutual understanding and
concession. In the realm of politics,
compromises have settled many
bitter disputes without the loss of
blood. In cur own history, Henry
Clay and the Missouri Compromise
are an outstanding example. Com
promise may solve some of the
world problems today but in the
realm of the spiritual there can be
no compromise. This fight with sin
and Satan is a fight to the finish.
He who compromises with forces in
the moral world is enslaved. Who is
Satan Very clearly we are led to
believe Satan is not an influence
but a personality of great power.
Jesus on the Mount of Temptation
shows us the power, influence and
station of Satan. Matt. 4. III. Also
Satan can hinder us. l Thes. 2:18;
he can beguile us. 2 Cor II:3. He is
our accuser. Rev. 1910. He will be
cast into eternal fire. Rev 20: I-10.
He may enter our hearts if we de-
sire him. John 1927, and he is the
father of some. John 8:44
Now may we learn lesson from
Moses and Aaron on the one side
and Pharoah, King of Egypt, on the
other side. Briefly let us preView
the setting of our text. Israel was in
great trouble. They were in bondage
to the Egyptians and sorely afflicted
and beaten while they labored max
OF his people and raised Moses to
deliver the ISraelites from the bond
age and slavery of the Egyptians.
The contest was between Moses,
Aaron, and God, against the hard
ness of the heart of Pharoah. Re
fusing the Divine Command, given
through Moses, to let the children of
Israel go; Pharoah brought down
upon the land the plaques of: Nile
River turned to blood, frogs cover
ing the land, lice and then flies in
great swarms filled the land. After
this fourth plague, Pharoah called
Moses and Aaron and proposed to
compromise Here is our lesson.
lex. 8:25 GO ye, sacrifice to
your God in the land" In effect
he said GO sacrifice-Worship, but
do it as / want you to. Don't be-
come too involved, don't join the
church. In every city and commun-
ity there are some who have moved
in, and perhaps for justifiable rea-
sons, such as, leaving a home church
but too often simply refuse to move
their membership because they do
not wish to become too involved
with the responsibilities of the
church. People may compromise
today, saying, we can worship God
anywhere and everywhere. Why
join a church Only sissies and
hypocrites go to church. But do
many people worship God with all
that it means prayer, belief, and
trust in Him. outside of the realm
of the church and ministry? &? We
needs must remember that the
church is a divine institution; it is
His body. Eph. 1923.
The story is told of a minister
who visited one of his members on
a very cold, windy day. The mini
ster rebuked him for not attending
services. His reply was, Il can Wor-
ship God just as well at home" ."
They were sitting by a CRATE fire
and the Goals in the CRATE were red
and hot. The minister with the tongS
lifted a red hot coal to the hearth
and there they both watched it
grow cold and lose its warmth and
glow. 81 have learned the lesson,
said the man, I will be with you
next Sunday" He learned the less
on. Have you Worship God if you
will, says Satan or the Devil but
do it here at home Don't get stirred
up. Compromise NO! Please, let's
be on fire for God. Surely, we need
spiritual warmth and Vigor today,
if ever we needed it.
Hex. 8:28-Our text, the second
compromise. Pharoah said, Eye may
sacrifice only ye shall not go very
far away. In effect the compromise
that Satan suggests, is; to worship
God, but don't be one of these mar
row minded Christians. Worship
Join the church, but still mingle
with the world. Be a good fellow
hale and well met. Yet Mat. 1924
is a clarion call, 'If any man will
come after me, let him deny him
self, take up his cross and follow
me-" Satan is reversing this anc
telling you that you need not sac,
rifice self. On the other hand Goo
is calling us to come out from among
them and be separate. There mus
be a line of demarcation, Perhap!
the church needs to ask herself anc
to determine if Christianity is still
the vital moving force in her life
or has she too compromised. 1t ha'
been said that Once evil fought the
church but now she has joined her
self to it." No small wonder that TOT
few take the church seriously, bu
she is still Gods instrument for sal
walton and evangeliZing the people
of our day. How many of us arr
known today as Christians by ou
lives ? Are we representing Jesu
Christ to the world today? Or hav'
we compromised and are letting th
Devil use us as tool to wreck ou
precious lives and souls Again, lie
me remind you that Satan woul'
suggest, "Be a Christian but don
60 very far" We beg of you, don
compromise with him but go tn
whole way with God and for Goo
III-The third compromise tina
Pharoah suggested was, that tn
men be allowed to 60 but to leav
the women and children. Ex. 10:1l
He knew that the men would retur
If the women and children wer
left and hench the compromise c
Pharoah. The lesson taught is ths
Satan would let US go but to leav
oEr heart (our guilt sin or the de