Help! Series

RIP TIDE

4. HELP!

(When you realize you are being pulled

into a Rip Tide)

This is week four in our Rip Tide series.

Have you enjoyed this message series?

I know I have.

It’s a very easy way to understand

the seriousness of the pull and effects

of sin in our lives.

We’ve also learned some very practical ways

to stay away from the pull of sin,

and what to do if you find yourself

already caught in a spiritual rip tide.

A few weeks ago, Gwen helped us learn

about the duties of a life guard.

And we learned that God has placed life guards

in our lives to help protect us and to warn us of danger.

Many times these lifeguards

are in places of authority in our lives,

such as parents, teachers, pastors,

and government officials.

I want to pause right here

because I’ve noticed

a severe lack of respect and obedience

to the authority in some of your lives.

I know most of you try to obey the authority in your lives, even if you don’t necessarily like it, or agree with it.

Most of you realize that God chooses the people

who He wants in positions of your authority.

And He’s the main reason

you should respect and obey

the people in authority over you.

But there are a few here who are loudly disrespecting and disobeying authority, and I want to tell you right now that you are testing God.

God clearly states that we are to obey those

who have the rule over us.

As a citizen of the United States of America,

you are responsible

to obey the laws of the government

and teenagers, that includes traffic laws.

I’m not joking.

I’m the lifeguard that’s blowing the whistle

because I’m very concerned for your safety,

your future, and the future of those

whose lives you are putting in jeopardy.

You need to understand

that when you choose to disobey the law,

you have removed yourself

from under God’s umbrella of protection.

Have you ever heard someone

who’s been caught in sin say

“I didn’t know that was wrong” ?

Well, God doesn’t accept excuses,

and He certainly doesn’t accept that one.

Let’s look at John 15:22

“If I had not come and spoken to them,

they would not be guilty of sin.

Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.”

If you’ve sat under my preaching,

or anyone else’s who’s a true messenger of God,

then you’ve been warned.

If you’ve ever picked up a Bible,

then you’ve been warned.

If you have God-fearing Christian friends

who have been up front and honest with you,

then you have been warned.

If you say you’re a Christian,

and have the Spirit of God living within you,

then you have been warned.

If you’re a child of God,

then you are guilty of your sin

until you ask for His forgiveness.

John 9:41 “Jesus said,

‘If you were blind,

you would not be guilty of sin;

but now that you claim you can see,

your guilt remains.’”

If you’re guilty of sin, then you need to repent

you need to swim perpendicular to the current

and confess it before God and ask His forgiveness.

God says in I John 3

I John 3:6

“No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning.

No one who continues to sin

has either seen Him or known Him.”

Look at that again.

“No one, who lives in Him, continues to sin.”

Now it doesn’t say,

“No one, who He lives in, continues to sin.”

because none of us are perfect.

As Christians, being perfect is our goal,

but until we reach heaven, we will never obtain it.

It doesn’t say that if Christ lives in us,

we won’t sin any more.

It says if we live in Him we won’t sin any more.

There is a difference.

At the point of our salvation,

God has done all of His work.

But after that point, we have to do our part.

We have to Live in Him.

What that means is that we have to stay out of the pull of the Rip Tide.

Stay away from the current.

Warn others about the danger just like I did tonight.

Live your life for Him.

Give yourself to Him and His purpose. Serve others.

These are the things

that will keep you away from sin.

If your true heart’s desire

is to get away from the pull of sin,

then you have to live your life for God.

That is a pro-active thing. It doesn’t just happen.

You have to make it happen. Every day.

Now we are going to look at the different reactions

of people who find themselves

being pulled into the current of the rip tide.