Dead Flies The Little Things That Rot The Soul Series

🪰 “DEAD FLIES” — When Little Things Rot a Soul

SEEING THE BIG PICTURE

TEXT

Ecclesiastes 10:1

“Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor:

so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.”

PROLOGUE

There are things in my life that never destroyed me all at once —

they didn’t hit me like a storm…

they leaked into me like a slow poison.

“The little foxes… spoil the vines.” — Song of Solomon 2:15

It wasn’t the giant temptations that nearly ruined me —

it was the little ones I allowed to live in the corner of my heart

because I told myself, “This one is too small to matter.”

“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” — Galatians 5:9

But dead flies are small too.

And still… they rot the fragrance.

The ointment God poured into me was good.

His calling was good.

His mercy was good.

The jar of my life did not spoil itself —

I let something small fall into it.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” — Proverbs 4:23

And I didn’t scoop it out while I still could.

I.) I USED TO THINK DANGER LIVED IN THE BIG SINS.

Now I know danger lives in the little ones I don’t repent of.

“Be sure your sin will find you out.” — Numbers 32:23

It isn’t the lion that stalks me first —

it’s the fly that lands unnoticed.

“The devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about…” — but before he roars, he whispers.

(1 Peter 5:8)

• One careless glance,

• One lingering thought,

• One secret appetite,

• One obscured boundary,

• One unguarded moment…

And the rot begins.

“Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” — James 1:15

II.) THE SINNER ISN’T DESTROYED ALL AT ONCE;

sin eats by the mouthful but swallows by the crumb.

“He that sows to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption.” — Galatians 6:8

Alcohol doesn’t shatter the liver in a day—

it erodes it sip by sip.

Lust doesn’t own a heart overnight —

it rents space by invitation.

The soul doesn’t fall in one leap —

it decays by inches when no one is looking.

“Behold, your sin will find you out.” — Numbers 32:23

“Be not deceived: God is not mocked.” — Galatians 6:7

Dead flies are the sins I don’t fear because I can still hide them.

III.) I HAVE PRAYED FOR GOD TO KEEP ME FROM GREAT FALLS,

while passively allowing the little leaks that sink great ships.

“The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.” — Proverbs 11:3

I guarded the front door of my life

while leaving the windows open.

I asked God to be my strength

while refusing to be my own watchman.

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.” — Matthew 26:41

I have cried out for revival

while holding on to “just a little folly.”

The Bible doesn’t say “a bucket of folly…”

…it says “a little folly.”

It doesn’t take a scandal…

just a fly.

“Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults.” — Psalm 19:12

EPILOGUE

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

— Psalm 51:10

INVITATION