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INTRODUCTION
ILLUS: Next week’s message on Revival. Today I will preach on the need for revival - our sin.
I quoted my dad, so I should quote my mother. In her own ways, over the past year or so she has
dropped hints “We don’t hear sermons against sin like we used to.”
So, today is a sermon against sin - personal - in lives of Christians.
We need to be reminded that the devil, the first sinner, rebelled against God, and tempted Adam and
Eve in garden to believe lies and brought sin into the realm of mankind, we have inherited the sin
nature.
We need to be reminded that we better be on the alert against the schemes of the devil, the evils in
the world and the lusts of our own flesh, for we do like to sin. Sin is very real, AND has very
severe consequences even for Christians.
There is within us all the sin nature that if we allow it a measure of control we too can be a
murderer, a criminal of the worst sort. Christ came to the cross to redeem us from the penalty,
power, and presence of sin, the temptations and wiles of the devil, the lusts of our flesh and the
eternal damnation of hell.
Really, I begin with Invitation. If you have never personally accepted Christ as Savior - repent of
sin, believe, be saved from the eternal penalty of sin in hell. John 3:16. Simple. Secure your
eternity in heaven through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross: “Believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31)
However, this message is mainly an Invitation for Christians to examine our lives. We need a warning
about our sinful choices even as Christians.
Let us go back to first crime after the fall, and the first time the word “sin” is used
in the Scriptures. READ TEXT: Genesis 4:3-8
1. The Warning about Sin vs. 6-7a
- God spoke to Cain, gave him a warning about the reality of sin, and the need to master
it. The Bible is filled with warnings to believers about sin.
- The first brothers each offered to God a sacrifice of their specialty, Cain’s was
not acceptable I believe because his heart was not right, result of his discontent and
anger “countenance fallen“ God saw it in his face.
- But God gave him a second chance - “You can make this right.”
- We have three sources of temptation all tied together - the devil and his demons, the
world, and our selfish fleshly nature.
- The devil is after us. One of the schemes of the devil is to be an accuser of the
brethren (Rev. 12:10)
- The devil knows he lost us for eternity, yet he will still try to ruin our Christian
walk, Christian testimony and work at making our lives as miserable as possible here on
earth.
- A lie the devil wants us to believe is: we can sin a little and get by with it.
Don’t worry about consequences.
- God knows sin has consequences, so He warns Cain. He warns us. The Bible is filled with
warnings to believers of the destructiveness of sin.
- If we, even as Christians, seek a little pleasure of sin for a season - there are high
consequences. Or if we, even as Christians, allow the devil a foothold into our lives,
to open a door for the devil to exploit a weakness in us - spiritual, physical, mental,
emotional, hormonal, relational - the high consequences of our sin are still devastating
in real life right now.
- And if we, even as Christians, have the attitude of “How bad can I be and still be
good enough“ - that we can play with sin a little bit and not get caught or suffer
bad of consequences - we are most self-deceived.
ILLUS: Pastor Bob Coy, Decision Magazine March 2010: New Christians often hint:
“Now that I am a Christian, what can I get away with?“ However,
“Sin is not something to get away with, but something to get rid of.”
- We who call ourselves Christians need to pay better attention to the bold warnings in
the Bible about sin in our lives. We love to point our fingers at the world, but Bible
tells to examine ourselves for we are in danger:
- David said: Psalm 139:23-24
- Eph. 4:27 “and do not give the devil an opportunity“
- 1 Peter 5:8 “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil,
prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
- 1 John 2:15-17
- God warned Cain of the danger, allowed him a choice. Something eerie about Cain’s
silence to God, no gratitude, repentance, restoration. Sadly, Cain chose murder v.8, and
v. 16. Bible is God’s early warning system.
2. The Wretchedness of Sin v. 7b
- ”sin is crouching (lying) at the door“ - sin is ready, willing, able attack
- Satan is a seen as a serpent. Imagine a rattle snake lying outside your door, you open
it, before you know it, it has attacked and bitten you. If you don’t watch the
hurt is inevitable.
- Sin is blood thirsty, “its desire is for you.” Sin’s attacks are
personal; sin possesses its victims, no escape if you are unprepared.
- Worldly temptations come looking for you, they are strong, and our flesh is weak, and we
have an angelic enemy that seeks to devour us.
- What is harder to do? To sin or be righteous? Be righteous. Our natural bent is to sin.
Our selfishness starts in childhood - “Mine.”
- Lists of sins: Mark 7:20-23; Rom. 1:28-31; Gal. 5:19-21
ILLUS:
- “greed” - gambling, stealing, overspending, coveting
- “fornications” - every type of immorality, porn, adultery,
impurity
- “drunkeness” - alcohol, drug use.
- “sorcery” - playing with the occult
- “murders” - violence in TV, movies, video games
- “slanders, haters of God” - profane language has become
acceptable
- “inventers of evil” - people make money tempting us.
- “gossips” - imagine “innocent” gossip made the
list in Romans.
- Many a good man has fallen into sin, it looked so good…
ILLUS:
- Jonah 1:3 flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord
- Wise King Solomon was lead astray by pagan women
- Judas was with Jesus, treasurer, but betrayed, but still responsible
Matt. 26:24
- Many contemporary examples of Christians who have fallen - yielded to
sin.
- Don’t be deceived - we have the ability to fall - 1 Corinthians 10:12
- Sin is inherently harmful; it never improves us, always ruins.
3. The Warfare against Sin v. 7c
- How do we master sin, rather than be mastered by it? The God who warns is the God who
empowers us to resist temptation, say “no” to sin.
- Be careful what you sow.
- Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever
a man sows, this he will also reap.”
- 1 Cor. 15:33 “Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good
morals.” If you play with fire you will get burned, wrong crowd.
ILLUS: Seen too many times - good Christian lead astray when living
on their own.
- Be aware of your weaknesses.
- Hebrews 12:1 “let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin
which so easily entangles us.”
- Every one of us has an Achilles heel - a week spot that the devil can
get a foothold and come and destroy us from the inside out. What is
yours? I know some of mine.
- Satan and his demons will exploit your weaknesses; he will be on us
- Be fearful of falling into sin and its consequences.
- Nothing wrong with a healthy fear
ILLUS:
- Fear of getting burned keeps you from touching a hot
stove
- Fear of being killed driving keeps you on the right side
on 2 lane road.
- Romans 1:21-23 If you walk away from God after you have known Him your
mind will become dark and confused. The first thing to fall is your
worship of God. When people walk away from God sadly you can tell by
their church attendance.
- The most miserable people in the world are Christians out of fellowship
with God and they know it. We have to hate sin.
- Be Protected with the Armor of God
- Ephesians 6:10-18; Psalm 119:133
- Be Brave in obedience to God
- James 4:7; 1 Peter 1:15-16
CONCLUSION
We have watered down Christian living to just lists of nice things to do, and forgot the lists of
bad things not to do. God is holy - hates sin - all and every equally. The lists need to start with
holiness to God, but then comes separation from sin - know what they are and avoid like the plague
for they are.
Is there anything in your life that can ruin you?
Is there anywhere in your life where the devil has a foot in the door?
Is there any sin in your life that will catch up with you?
To live a purposeful life of sin for a believer is very, very costly, too costly...
PLEASE - REPENT!
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