Who Walks The Halls Of Our Church?
2 Corinthians 2:10-11 (NIV)
10 If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven--if there was anything to forgive--I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
INTRODUCTION: A few weeks ago, Sherry and I took some time away. We needed the get away. While we were away, the church conducted a business meeting for the purpose of approving a church budget.
The conversations and meetings I have had since my return have caused me to ponder this, “Would these issues have surfaced had I been here?”
Upon our return, I began to hear reports from many people. Some directly to me, and others to me through my wife. Some who spoke to me came with the attitude that they were justified in what they did, others came with the attitude that they had done nothing and were innocent. Many portrayed others as the perpetrators of disunity and fracture. In the end most if not all have probably overlooked their own involvement, and inflated the involvement of others. Each forgetting the Scripture where we are both warned and commanded;
Matthew 5:21-24 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ’Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ’Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ’You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
• We are warned against anger towards are brother
• We are warned against worship with bitterness and unforgiveness
• We are commanded to get things right horizontally before we can have things right vertically
THIS ATTITUDE OF ANGER AND UNFORGIVENESS CRACKS THE DOOR OF THE CHURCH OPEN, ALLOWING THE DEVIL TO SLIP IN AND REMOVES OUR SENSITIVITY TO SPIRITUAL THINGS.
What soon follows is a breakdown of the biblical pattern Jesus has given for dealing with issues of unforgiveness, anger, and division. Or may I call it what it is – SIN!
Jesus instructed us in the proper manner and order in dealing with issues of sin in the church:
Matthew 18:15-17 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ’every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
1. First, there is individual responsibility.
2. Second, there is group responsibility
3. Third, there is corporate responsibility
When this pattern is not followed, what results is:
• Careless remarks, “There is sin in the church”.
Careless because that is all that is heard
Careless because it is never explained
Careless because it is universal in scope
Careless because it is spread in DIRECT violation of biblical mandates, making what may have been an innocent party now an offending party.
• Secluded meetings
Meetings that serve to increase division
Meetings that violate the Biblical pattern
Meetings that stir the issue, not resolve the issue
• Thoughtless Actions
Serving less so the church struggles to fulfill it mandate ministry-wise
Stop worshipping so that the church struggles to give its full attention to God
We remove ourselves from corporate worship to talk about the “sin in the church”
We remove ourselves from corporate worship because we have not behaved Biblically and fractured our own walk with Christ
Stop Giving so that the church struggles to fulfill its financial commitments
THIS EMBRACING OF WILLFUL SIN THROWS THE DOOR OF THE CHURCH OPEN, ALLOWING THE DEVIL TO ROAM FREELY AND REMOVES OUR ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH BIBLICAL MANDATES.
Whether offended or offender, we have all placed ourselves under the control of our sinful nature, and have rejected the authority of Christ. With all of this, we have literally brought ourselves where angels not only fear to tread BUT do not tread!
2 Peter 2:10-11 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; 11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord.
With all of this in mind, I believe that this morning it is important that we understand the seriousness of our situation.
I would like you to turn in your Bibles to 2 Samuel 16:20 – 17:4
2 Samuel 16:20-17:4 20 Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give us your advice. What should we do?" 21 Ahithophel answered, "Lie with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench in your father’s nostrils, and the hands of everyone with you will be strengthened." 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he lay with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice. 1 Ahithophel said to Absalom, "I would choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. 2 I would attack him while he is weary and weak. I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king 3 and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed."
4 This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.
I AHITHOPEL WAS A GREAT MAN
A His position made him great
1 Chronicles 27:33 Ahithophel was the king’s counselor. Hushai the Arkite was the king’s friend.
B His family made him great
1 2 Samuel 23:34 34 Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, -- records that Ahithopel’s son was one of David’s Mighty Men of Valor
2 2 Samuel 11:3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, "Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" -- records that his granddaughter was the future queen of Israel
UNDERSTAND THIS: YOU ARE NEVER SO SPIRITUAL, SO GODLY, OR SO GREAT THAT YOU BECOME IMMUNE TO AN UNFORGIVING SPIRIT OR AN UNREPENTANT HEART!
II AHTITHOPEL WAS A HURT MAN
A He was hurt by David’s Seduction of Bathsheba
2 Samuel 11:2-5 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful,
3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, "Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" 4 Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home. 5 The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, "I am pregnant."
B He was hurt David’s Murder of Uriah
2 Samuel 11:14-17 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah.
15 In it he wrote, "Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die." 16 So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest defenders were. 17 When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in David’s army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died.
C He was hurt by David’s Cover Up of His Sin
2 Samuel 11:27 After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the LORD.
UNDERSTAND THIS: THE HURTS DID NOT DESTROY AHTITHOPEL, HOW ANTITHOPEL HANDLED THE HURTS DESTROYED HIM!
III ANTITHOPEL WAS A GUILTY MAN
THESE ARE ALL THE SINS OF AHITHOPEL BECAUSE HE WOULD NOT FORGIVE
A He left his place of service
2 Samuel 15:12 While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from Giloh, his hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing.
B He refused to forgive David’s
2 Samuel 12:13 Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.
Psalms 51:3-4 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.
1 David repents – Ahithopel never forgives
2 Ahithopel ultimately separates from David
C He aligns with David’s enemies
2 Samuel 15:31 Now David had been told, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." So David prayed, "O LORD, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness."
D He gives vengeful council
2 Samuel 16:22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he lay with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
2 Samuel 17:1-4 Ahithophel said to Absalom, "I would choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. 2 I would attack him while he is weary and weak. I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king 3 and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed." 4 This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.
WILLFUL SIN SQUELCHES SPIRITUAL INSIGHT!
2 Samuel 17:5-7 But Absalom said, "Summon also Hushai the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say." 6 When Hushai came to him, Absalom said, "Ahithophel has given this advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion." 7 Hushai replied to Absalom, "The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time.
2 Samuel 17:14 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel." For the LORD had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.
UNDERSTAND THIS: WHILE WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM OF THE SIN OF ANOTHER, OUR REACTION TO AND ACTIONS AFTER CAN MAKE US JUST AS GUILTY
IV AHITHOPEL WAS A DEFEATED MAN
2 Samuel 17:23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
A Ahithopel was defeated when he refused to forgive even when God did
B Ahithopel was defeated when he sought revenge
Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
C His defeat was complete when his own sin poison his ministry
2 Samuel 17:5-7 But Absalom said, "Summon also Hushai the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say." 6 When Hushai came to him, Absalom said, "Ahithophel has given this advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion." 7 Hushai replied to Absalom, "The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time.
2 Samuel 17:14 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel." For the LORD had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.
2 Samuel 17:23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
UNDERSTAND THIS: TO KEEP A SPIRIT OF UNFORGIVENESS IN OUR LIVES WILL LEAD TO DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES
What has become evidently clear to me over the last few weeks is that this church has had more than enough hurt, more than enough offense, and that the actions of some and the reactions of others has brought us to the point where repentance and forgiveness needs to be practiced appropriated and accepted.
The Bible declares what our actions should be, …
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
This morning, the front of the church is open for you to get your life and spirit right with God. You know who you are. I cannot believe that this issue has not impacted just about everyone in here to one degree or another.
You were an offender
You were an offended
You spread discord
You did not do you part to seek the truth, or stop the whispers of disunity
You pulled back your time, talent, treasure, or ministry
Even today, you are hounded by your actions, or the actions of others a few weeks ago.
Now is the time to put these things out before a loving and forgiving God.
Tonight I am going to ask you to come back with an attitude of prayer, asking God to bring the person you need to seek forgiveness from to church also. Then to seek each other out and simply ask for forgiveness – I am sorry I offended you, or I am sorry I was offended by what was said. No qualifiers, no buts, no becauses, just simple forgiveness.
But pastor, I don’t have it in me to forgive. I don’t have the strength or the desire to do it. If that is what you are thinking, I want to give you a verse to meditate on today:
Luke 1:37 For nothing is impossible with God."
Tonight, return with an attitude of forgiveness and communicate that to those who will be there around you.
