Harmless Compromise

Harmless Compromise

2 Timothy 3:12-15

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:12-15 NKJV)

Intro:

One thing that the devil will try to do is get you to compromise your beliefs. If he can get you to compromise on one thing, then that starts his process. One harmless thing. Oh that’s not too bad. Something that you know in your heart that you shouldn’t do, but you give in anyway. Something that may seem harmless, or something that no one will ever know. I tell you that God knows. Harmless compromise will destroy you.

Compromise Results in Sin

When we compromise on what we know is right it results in sin. We find in the scriptures, where sin originated as a result of compromise. Eve compromised on what she knew was right.

2 Corinthians 11:3

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Genesis 3:1-7

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden;3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.” 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

Compromise Results in Defeat

When we turn from what we know is right, it will eventually destroy us. Sometimes we don’t give in right away, it takes a while, but in any case compromising what we know is right will eventually defeat us. Let’s look at what happened to Samson. He was favored by God, and had strength beyond measure. He compromised and gave in to the enemy and it destroyed him.

Judges 16:5

And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Entice him, and find out where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and every one of us will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.”

3 times Delilah tried to defeat him before he finally gave in.

1. Tied him up with seven bowstrings.

2. Tied him up with new ropes.

3. Weaved his hair.

4. Then eventually cut his hair.

Judges 16:16-20

And it came to pass, when she pestered him daily with her words and pressed him, so that his soul was vexed to death,17 that he told her all his heart, and said to her,“No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.”18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up once more, for he has told me all his heart.” So the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hand.19 Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him.20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord thad departed from him.