And thanks to the generosity of the Price Hill United Church of Christ, we have no debt, though we do have a major responsibility. This sacred place is a tool that the Lord can use for good. This weekend, I hope to share with you some dreams that I have, or that have been shared with me, for how to use this building.

As fun as that dreaming is, there are some dangers ahead for us. As we have this beautiful building with so many possibilities, here are four enemies to our church, temptations that I see as crouching in wait to distract us. They may be surprising, because none of them come from the outside! These are enemies whom the devil will stir up from among us. But if we take heed ahead of time, and if we are prepared and aware of the enemy’s schemes, we will not be hurt by them.

1. Martha can become our enemy. (see Luke 10:38-42) A sister wrote an email warning to me about it this week, and it pertains to me. But it could also pertain to any of us. We can easily start to focus on service rather than on Jesus. This church is to be built on a foundation of prayer and worship, and our works and labors need to emanate from the depths of our relationship with the Lord. But it’s easy to get so busy doing things that we turn completely around, to the point where our prayer becomes, "Lord, don’t you even care that others are not helping me do this work for you?" There is a better choice, and it is to sit at Jesus’ feet, to learn and to love.
2. Pharisees can be our enemy. (see Matthew 23) Jesus had compassion on the prostitute, the tax collector, the leper, and every sinner he met, except for the religious hypocrite. So before we easily dismiss ourselves and declare ourselves not guilty, let's see if the sin of the Pharisees could pertain to us. It’s easy to begin to serve the institution over the Lord. And before too long, we can wind up crucifying our own Messiah in order to protect our nation. The other sin of the Pharisees is to maintain appearance and pretense of holiness, rather than reality of righteousness and justice. The fear of men will prove to be a snare, but the one who fears the Lord, and the Lord only, will be blessed.
3. Eli can become our enemy. I think that Eli perhaps became so busy taking care of his ministry in the Tabernacle that he neglected his family and failed to discipline his sons. We, too, can get so busy with church things that family is neglected. Since this church has started, I have badly neglected my family. Now, my family can sustain this schedule for a few months, but now that the building is resolved, the other things must give way. We can be too busy doing good things, all important, even urgent, that we neglect to do the best things. The church is about relationships, not programs. But we can easily add programs that take over our lives. (see 1 Samuel 2:12-36)
4. Lucifer is an enemy. (See Isaiah 14:12-15) "Lucifer" means shining one, or star of the morning. Just as the angel Lucifer was enamored with himself and his pride, so Babylon was enamored with the wealth and power of that ancient city. Isaiah foretold the destruction of that proud land. Paul warned the Ephesian elders that from among their own number wolves would arise who would try to win disciples after themselves (see Acts 20:29-31). Diotriphes wanted to be first, and so resisted the apostolic authority of John (see 3 John 9). This may be the number one problem among church leadership in the New Testament church, and it is probably the biggest problem in churches today, as well. We must beware the desire for control and power. I can feel it pulling at me. My rhetoric may still say that we are a body and that we all share together, but my desire for control and power has already infiltrated several areas, and I see the temptation that church planters face to not let go of control. Perhaps you are also feeling that strong pull, wanting to "run" something in the church from the ground floor. When we had no building, there was nothing to fight over! Remember what Proverbs tells us: Though a rich man may be able to pay his own ransom, a poor man hears no such threats (Proverbs 13:8). Let us hold this facility with open fingers. We must never give in to the temptation toward strong opinions, to division, to pride, to ownership, or to "carpet fighters."

We must be aware of the schemes of the devil. He will send enemies in our midst; no doubt, they are already here, seeking to destroy us. The temptations to be driven by a building, then by money, then by programs, or by control and power, can all be little foxes that sneak in and spoil the vineyard. The church is about relationships; relationship with God and relationship with one another. Chase out the foxes, call out the enemies, and let’s use this building for the glory of God!

-submitted by Ken Read ken.read@cincybible.edu