How many of you ever heard the phase, “God is in the details?” Well this was attributed to a German architect, by the name of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, who was born March 27, 1886 having died August 17, 1969. But in the 1990s, the phase was change to, “The devil is in the details.” So saints and ‘aints, I really believe the changing of that phrasing has a deeper connotation than what you can see with your present understanding. While living in this world, in a lot of ways we’re constantly entering in some form of a contract either intentionally or unintentionally. In any case, we enter in an agreement a lot of times without looking at any of the details. Some of you have heard this phrase before: “Look at the fine print,” or “read the bottom line,” or “look into the details” to see the binding agreement to the contract. For some of us, this is the story of our lives. Sometimes we may enter into a verbal contract. A verbal contract is the same as a written one without hearing the full details. Some will enter a contract or agreement without getting a clear and precise understanding of what they’re opening themselves too.

This usually winds up in you paying a half cost in the functionality of your life. In one form or another, it affect us either physically, mentally, soulfully or in all three areas, thereby leading you down a different path than what God has planned for you from the beginning. Here’s a little phrase you might remember from the old school: “don’t sign a contract your butt can’t pay for.”

In the book of Luke 14:26-33 says this:
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have
sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

After having failed at this myself in ways, the Lord God gave these pointers we should be aware of and gave do consideration of:

A. What type of contract is it
B. What is the duration of it
C. Will this harm me or others
D. What benefits am I or will I get if any
E. What do I have to give up or give in to
F. Will Jesus approve of it

There is an old saying which is very simple: “You better ask some body.” We allow lots of agreements and contracts pass by us because our lack of understand.

Proverbs 3:5-7 says this:
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

In every agreement or contract you enter into there are always sub-contracts attached that you have agreed to as well and sometimes you might enter into a contract that is both written and verbal. This is understood or a given.

Remember this, “when in a storm don’t be so much concern with the intensity or the direction it’s coming from, but keep control of the affect on your heart and mind, that they stay intact.

2 Timothy 2:3-5 says:
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive
lawfully.

Also, Luke 14:28-33 says:
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

That’s why, in most cases it’s best just to be quite. And also, “weight it before you say it.

James 1:19-22 says:
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

So now that you have heard the Word of God, is your foundation strong enough in Jesus Christ to stand in these evil days?

It is so.