Sin: That Nasty Three Letter Word
Accusation or Conviction
INTRODUCTION
Construction worker Patrick Lawler thought he had a toothache. For almost a week, he tried painkillers and ice packs to reduce the swelling. When nothing he did brought relief, he finally went to the dental office where his wife works. Only after the dentist took an x-ray did Patrick learn the true source of the toothache. He had a four-inch nail in his head.
When the dentists reported their discovery to Patrick's wife, she thought they were joking. But the x-ray revealed the truth. The nail had entered through his mouth, just missing Patrick's right eye.
The incident occurred six days earlier. Patrick was working with a nail gun that backfired. Although one of the nails shot into his mouth and embedded itself, Patrick didn't realize it. He merely complained of a toothache and blurry vision, and even tried ice cream to soothe the pain.
After the nail was discovered, surgeons at a Denver hospital successfully removed it through four hours of surgery. Although it is a "pretty rare injury," one neurosurgeon admitted, "this is the second one we've seen in this hospital where the person was injured by the nail gun and didn't actually realize the nail had been embedded in their skull."
Sin can embed our lives. And it is possible to ignore it, deny it, or just laugh it off. But sin is up rooted when we begin to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit's conviction in our lives.
As believers we are often more attuned to the voice of the Accuser than the voice of the Convicter.
TO DEAL WITH THE NASTY THREE LETTER WORD IN OUR LIVES WE MUST DECIDE IF WE WILL EMBRACE ACCUSATION OR CONVICTION
I. Concerning Sin two spiritual powers remain at work in our lives.
A. The Accuser
Rev 12:10
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
"Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ.
For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night,
B. The Holy Spirit
Accusation or Conviction
John 16:7-8
7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
II. The Work of the two powers is critically different.
A. The Accuser--Seeks to Bring Spiritual Death
John 10:10
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
B. The Holy Spirit--Seeks to lead us to from Sin to Righteousness (fullness of life in Christ)
John 16:13
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.
III. End Result is Different
2 Cor 7:8-10
8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it-I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while- 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
A. Accuser--Worldly sorrow--Death
B. Holy Spirit--Godly sorrow Repentance
* Judas--Worldly sorrow--death
* Peter--Godly sorrow--repentance & life
IV. So what's the Difference?
Accusations Convictions
Attack who we are after we have sinned
Worthless
Horrible
Idiot
Attack what we have done or not done as it reflects on our character.
That was unloving
That was lustful
That was bitter
Make us feel worthless, hopeless and trapped Make us feel guilty, motivated and repentant
Sense we feel like worthless nobodies we act like worthless nobodies. Since are repentant we admit our failing (confess) recommit to the relationship (repent) receive cleansing move on.
Surrender to the battle against sin. Continue the battle against sin
V. What about the Unpardonable Sin?
The Accuser likes to make us believe that we have sinned such and egregious way that we have committed an unpardonable sin.
Matt 12:31
31 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
A. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
* A total rejecting the of work of the Holy Spirit and attributing in to the work of the Enemy
* A person who has done this is incapable of having the HS work in their life.
* Since the Holy Spirit Convicts us of sin which is the first step toward forgiveness these people cannot find forgiveness.
* They have rejected the source.
B. A person who has done this wouldn't care, wouldn't worry about it.
* There is no conviction in their life.
C. Being convicted is a sign of the Holy Spirit at work.
* Don't worry about the unpardonable sin.
SUMMARY
Both the Accuser and the Holy Spirit seek to influence us in our battle against sin.
* One leads to Death
* One leads to Repentance and Life
Who we listen to in our battle against sin means the difference between defeat and Victory.
INVITATION
Have you surrendered in your battle with sin? Is their a sin to which you have just given up the fight?
Today maybe you need to reaffirm you desire for sin not to be your master. We invite you to come forward to pray.
Do you listen to the accuser? Do you live constantly beating yourself up for your failures and sins? This type of worldly sorrow leads to death.
Do you need to embrace Godly sorrow that leads to forgiveness and restoration? We invite you to pray.
Do you just want someone to join you in prayer about the battle with the Nasty three letter word in your life? We invite you to pray.
