Please note that, while this sermon may be preached in stand-alone fashion, it is part of a series. You may wish to take a look at the first three sermons. Especially helpful would be sermon one which lays the foundation. Also, there is a companion sermon called THINK Before You Speak.
V. E – Effect
Have I thought through the effect(s) that will result from my action?
A. Have I Considered the Effect Upon My Savior? (Ps. 78:40-42; Titus 2:14; Eph. 4:30; John 11:35; Rev. 5:6; 1 Thess. 2:11-12)
Psalm 78:40-42 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! 41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. 42 They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.
John 11:35 Jesus wept. (There are things that grieve the Savior.)
• Christ died for the church.
• And He had a purpose in mind when He did so!
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
• He loves the church!
• Christ loves his children.
• How it must break his heart when they fight.
ILLUS: No greater grief for a parent than children that do not like each other, are at odds against one another or actively try to avoid or to hurt their brother or sister.
• He has provided Salvation
• He has provided the Spirit
• He has provided the Scriptures
• And He must look down and wonder if we are using any of these gifts?
• He must marvel that we go back and live after the old nature.
Ephesians 4:25-32 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4:30 (AMP) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God’s own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin).
QUOTE: The Greek has it, "And stop grieving the Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God." Expositors says: "This is not a general exhortation, but one bearing, as the ’and’ indicates, particularly on the preceding injunction. [Handout Quote Begins Here] The utterance of evil or worthless words is repugnant to the holiness of the Spirit, and is to be refrained from as calculated to grieve Him. Word Studies in the Greek New Testament
ILLUS: Revelation tells us that the eternal 2nd Person of the Trinity is pictured as a Lamb. He is a Lion to the sinner, but a lamb to the saint. And He is pictured not merely as a lamb, but as a lamb slain!
Revelation 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
I would take that to mean that the prints of the nails are visible in His hands. The wound in his side is visible. The piercings of His feet are visible. The scars from the crown of thorns are visible. As he looks down at me, and then back to the scars, I don’t want Him to wonder if His sacrifice was worth it!
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 [The Apostle Paul wrote] As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
When I sin against my brother, I grieve the heart of my God!
ILLUS: X-Files episode featured a family that had a twisted, deformed creature in their basement. As the plot progressed, the family would bring sick friends and family over and take them down to the basement. The creature would take their sickness upon itself, become even more twisted. The sickness could not be simply taken away; the creature had to take it upon itself. So Christ took our sin upon Himself. He did not simply make a pronouncement absolving us. No! Ever sin forgiven was paid for with a strip, a wound or a piercing. When we sin, let us remember that forgiveness is not free. To us, yes. To God, no! sermoncentral.com
STOPPING POINT 11/13/2011
B. Have I Considered the Effect Upon Sinners?
• There are those watching us who are not involved in our dispute.
• Among those will be those who do not know Christ.
• We must preserve the testimony of Christ, of the Christian and of the church!
• This world doesn’t know Jesus.
• It only sees those that claim to know him.
• When I act, the world is watching, and what I do can harm the cause of Christ!
• The Bible is very clear that we are to maintain our testimony before the lost.
1. The Demand (Ps. 39:1; Mt. 5:16; Philip. 2:14-16; 1 Thess. 5:22; 1 Pet. 2:9)
• God demands that the believer maintain a pure testimony before the world.
Psalm 39:1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Philippians 2:14-16 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his
marvellous light:
2. The Defense (Titus 2:6-8; 1 Peter 3:13-17)
• When we sincerely live out our faith, it silences the critics of faith
Titus 2:6-8 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. 7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
1 Peter 3:13-17 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
3. The Demonstration (John 13:35; John 17:21)
• My treatment of my brother is a testimony to the world of the reality of my faith.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
QUOTE: If Christ makes no obvious difference in the life of the believer, the world has the right to ask the question, “Why then do I need to commit my life to Christ?”
NOTE: PROV. 25:26 AND COMMENTARY HAVE BEEN ADDED AND ARE NOT ON HANDOUT.
Proverbs 25:26 (KJV) A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
• Or it could be rendered another way …
Proverbs 25:26 (NASB) Like a trampled spring and a polluted well Is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
QUOTE: A righteous man who lets his reputation be compromised is like pure water being tainted and ruined by mud or other pollutants. The value of a pure spring or well in an arid country lends force to the statement. Once a spring or well is contaminated it may never be pure again, and disappoints those who come to it for a drink. A righteous person who defects to sin disappoints others who look to him. BKC
4. The Decisions (1 Peter 2:9-12; 1 Peter 3:1; cf. Titus 2:10)
• Our lives may be a motivation for sinners to come to the faith.
1 Peter 2:9-12 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
QUOTE: God visits people and nations, and such a visitation can be either in grace or in judgment. We cannot be sure which kind of visitation Peter has in mind here. Perhaps he anticipates the Lord visiting unbelievers in mercy—the godly lives of believers being used by Him as a factor in their conversion. Or perhaps he envisions the Lord visiting His enemies in judgment and using the good lives of His people as an added item in their indictment. Either way, those who are visited will be forced to acknowledge the goodness of God’s people and thus bring glory to God. Exploring the Epistles of Peter
• When we sincerely live out our faith, our lost loved ones may be won to the Lord.
1 Peter 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
• When we sincerely live out our faith, our co-workers may come to Christ.
QUOTE: Paul admonished Titus (2:10) to teach the servants that, by their faithful service to their masters, they could “adorn the doctrine of God.”
THE SERIES RESUMES HERE ON 2/5/2012 (HANDOUT G BEGINS HERE)
C. Have I Considered the Effect Upon the Saints?
(Friend, Neighbor, Spouse)
NOTE: There are so many directions that we could take this point. We could go through the effects of being slandered, of being the subject of gossip, of being the recipient of a vengeful act or an instance of rage, etc. But perhaps the greatest effect that our sin has upon our brother or sister in Christ, is that is causes him or her to stumble in his or her faith!
As I act, have I paused to consider the effect upon my relationships with the saints?
• Will what I am about to do help or hinder?
• Will it build up or tear down?
• Will it encourage or discourage?
• Will it strengthen or crush the spirit?
• Am I about to burn a bridge of relationship that I am going to need?
1. The Effect of a Positive Example (GOOD WORKS, GOOD EXAMPLE)
a. It is Profitable (Titus 3:8)
Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Careful to maintain: Lit., Take thought about the manner in which you stand before men.
ILLUS: The power of a positive example.
"We are living a Gospel, A chapter each day,
By deed that we do, By word that we say;
Men read what we live, Whether faithless or true,
Say! What is the Gospel, According to you?" Knight’s Master Book of New Illustrations.
b. It is Proof (Of the reality of my faith) (1 John 4:20-21)
1 John 4:20-21 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
• Believers in Christ have a new nature, the nature of God Himself.
• Hating a believer is simply not part of the divine nature.
• If our nature is so radically different from the divine nature, it may be that we have only the old nature (unsaved).
• But when we love our brother, and do all we can to prevent any harm to him, then we show others that there is something different about us.
• And it creates a thirst for that something, someone, that makes a difference.
1 John 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
c. It is a Provocation (To Good Works by Others) (Heb. 10:24)
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Consider – katanoeo To observe fully :- behold, consider, discover, perceive. Strong’s
Provoke – An incitement to good. Strong’s
QUOTE:
"The slightest breeze that ever blew, Some slender grass has wavered,
The smallest life I ever knew, Some other life has flavored.
"We cannot live our lives alone, For other lives we touch,
Are either strengthened by our own, Or weakened just as much." Knight’s
2. The Effect of a Poor Example (BAD WORKS, BAD EXAMPLE)
QUOTE: No man is completely worthless. He can always serve as a horrible example. Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations
SKANDALON At this point, we will limit our study so that it revolves around just one Greek word, that word is skandalon.
English Words used in KJV: [Total Count: 15]
offence 9X
stumbling block 3X
occasion of stumbling 1X
occasion to fall 1X
thing that offends 1X
DEFINITION: (“scandal”); probably from a derivative of
• Basically, this word refers to that which causes someone to be tripped up in their faith.
• There are things that offend me in the English understanding of the word (such as profanity on TV or irreverence during prayer requests).
• But those things do not come near what the Greek word means.
• What we are talking about is that sin which causes someone to stumble and fall in their walk with God.
• It could come from a poor testimony on my part.
• Or it could come from a poor response to someone who is in sin.
• We want all of our actions to be toward restoration, not toward resignation.
• This is the concept behind fathers being asked not to provoke their children to wrath! (Eph. 6:4)
a. The Prohibition of Offenses (Rom. 14:13; 1 Cor. 10:32)
Romans 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
1 Corinthians 10:32 Give none offence [Gk., aproskopos – not striking out at one], neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
• Men often say, “It is my life, I can do with it what I want!”
• Yes, God does give us freedom to act anyway we choose.
• But He has not said that we can avoid the consequences of our actions.
• And if my life causes someone to stumble, there are consequences.
b. The Problem of Offenses (Rev. 2:14; James 3:2)
BAD EXAMPLES CAN LEAD OTHERS TO SIN
Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
QUOTE: Balaam had been guilty of counseling King Balak to cause Israel to sin through intermarriage with heathen women and through idol-worship (cf. Num. 22-25; 31:15-16). The Bible Knowledge Commentary
James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
• James hits the nail on the head as he always does.
• He tells us that what we say causes others to stumble even more than what we do.
• We must be very careful to restrain ourselves from hateful words.
c. The Punishment of Offenses
Two truths …
1. God will punish those who cause believers to stumble. (Mt. 18:7)
Matthew 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
2. We are to mark and avoid those whose sin causes believers to stumble. (Rom. 16:17)
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Mark – skopeo Carefully observe them and keep your eye on what they are doing.
Avoid – ekklino Decline (as opposed to recline, or dine) them. Present imperative, “continue to keep away from them, keep on staying away.”
CONCLUDING APPLICATION (1 Tim. 4:12; Gal. 6:7-10)
• We have considered many reasons to pause before we act.
• Perhaps none is more important than this one.
• So, before we act in haste, and before we do things that we will regret, before we do sinful things that will cause others to lose heart in their walk with God, let us indeed PAUSE BEFORE WE ACT.
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Galatians 6:7-10 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
• Have I considered the effect upon the saints.
HANDOUT H BEGINS HERE ON 2 26 2012
D. Have I Considered the Effect Upon Self?
1. The Effect on My Reputation (Prov. 4:18; Eph. 2:10; 5:8; 1 Thess. 2:12; 1 Pet. 2:9)
• Will I diminish my influence by this action?
• We could use the word “character” here instead.
ILLUS: The Cost of a Good Reputation
A young man, who had been active in Christian work, went to a distant city to take a position. Some time afterward a friend, calling on him, mentioned his former work in the presence of some of his new acquaintances. The young man looked annoyed, and when he and his friend were alone, he said: "I didn’t intend that these people should know about my church work."
"I am sure your record wasn’t one to be ashamed of," his friend rejoined.
"Oh, no," was the answer, "but I did not want them to expect so much of me." The fact was that he had made up his mind to lower the standard of his Christian living, and did not want those with whom he associated to expect anything better of him.
There is a warning in the incident. While it costs something to win a good reputation, it also costs something to hold fast to it. If there ever comes a time when you feel that you would prefer that those around you do not know that you profess to be a Christian, you need to question yourself closely as to the reason. Peter, who denied his Lord, first sought to have it appear that he belonged, not to the disciples, but to the crowd. Practical Bible Illustrations from Yesterday and Today.
Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
1 Thessalonians 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
• I can’t imagine anything that is much worse than to speak and people just completely ignore what you say.
• Your life has outshouted your lips!
2. The Effect on My Reaching Others for Christ (Testimony) (Mt. 5:16; Phil. 1:20; 2:14-16; 1 Peter 2:12)
• Will my ability to speak for Christ be silenced by this action?
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Philippians 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
Philippians 2:14-16 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest [Lit., conduct that is beautiful and good] among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
ILLUS: Bob and Steve
Bob goes to church, Steve does not. Bob sings in the choir, Steve doesn’t know any gospel songs. Bob goes to Sunday School and even teaches sometimes, Steve has never studied any part of the Bible. Bob puts a little money in the plate now and then, Steve has never even thought about sending money to a church. Bob brings his family into Steve’s hardware store sometimes. Steve is always courteous to those around him while Steve has seen Bob be very hateful to those with whom he disagrees. Steve has seen Bob snap at his wife and his son. So, Bob will be in church again Sunday, but since Bob is Steve’s idea of what a believer must be like, Steve will probably not be in church this Sunday, or any time soon … and perhaps never! Bob may have religion, but he has lost his testimony!
SONG: I’d Rather Be An Old Time Christian
I’d rather be an old-time Christian than anything I know,
there’s nothing like an old-time Christian,
with a Christian love to show.
I’m walking in the grand old highway, and I’m telling everywhere i go,
That I’d rather be an old-time Christian, than anything I know.
3. The Effect on My Relationship (with the Lord) (Acts 7:51; 1 Thess. 5:19; Heb. 3:10, 17;1 John 1:5-7)
Ac 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
1Th 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.
Heb 3:10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
Heb 3:17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
1 John 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
ILLUS: The Guest
Once a young man, who had inherited a home, and who had a close friend, invited his friend to share his home. He was given a room with a bed, a place at the table, and a key to the door. One day, this man met a new friend, one that shared an interest in his hobby, and he invited the new friend in. First, the former guest was asked to share his room, then to give up his bed and sleep on the floor, and finally was told that you will no longer have a place at my table. As one would expect, the former guest went away from the intolerable situation, grieving that his old friend would treat him in this way. Child of God, the Holy Spirit is your old guest. He came to dwell with you when you were born again. When we allow others and other things to come in and displace our old friend, he is grieved deeply. Let us remember that our actions can hurt our fellowship with God!
4. The Effect on my Record (Mt. 12:36; Rom. 14:12; 2 Cor. 5:10)
• Do I want this on my record when I stand before the Bema Seat?
Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
• In addition to the human record (our reputation, character, testimony) …
• God is keeping a record.
• Do I want this on my record?
• Do I want to stand before the Lord having done this?
• There is a record of private deeds.
• There is a record of the way that we have treated others.
• There is a record of our obedience to God’s commands.
• There is a record of our crossing God’s lines!
5. The Effect on My Regard of Self (Ps. 51:3; Ez. 20:43; Mt. 26:75; 27:3-5; Heb. 12:17; Ps. 51:17)
• Is this the way that I want to be, to act, to behave?
• Can I live with myself after doing this?
• Is this the way that I want to see myself?
Psalm 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Ezekiel 20:43 And there [NOTE: When I bring you back into the land of Israel] shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.
Matthew 26:75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
Matthew 27:3-5 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Hebrews 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
• I have been disappointed in others, and that is hard.
• But I have been disappointed in myself, and that is almost impossible to deal with humanly.
• But God can help me, if I turn it over to Him!
Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
CONCLUSION:
• We have spent quite some time looking at much of what Scripture tells us about PAUSE before you act.
• When all is said and done, it will not be whether or not that I have HEARD this message that will bring success to my walk before God and others.
• It will be whether or not I have obeyed this message.
Proverbs 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Proverbs 16:17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
Proverbs 17:10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
• We have admonished you from the Word of God. Will you listen? Will you heed?
Proverbs 28:14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
Romans 13:11-14 (KJV) 11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
APPLY: I WISH THESE HAD PAUSED …
I know that we must not add to the Word of God. Yet, often when I am teaching a passage, I wish that an extra verse could be added. That verse would be a short prayer before an action that results in devastating, even eternal consequences.
• I wish that Eve had paused before she partook of the fruit.
• I wish that Cain had paused before he allowed his anger to boil over and ending up killing his own brother.
• I wish that Esau had paused before he sold his birthright for a little soup.
• I wish that Moses had paused before, in his frustration with the murmuring people, he took the credit for the water from the rock.
• I wish that Samson had paused before he yelled to his father, “Get her for me, for she pleases me well.”
• I wish that Saul had paused before he consulted a witch and had his kingdom snatched from his hands.
• I wish that David had paused before he ordered that Bathsheba be brought to him.
• I wish that Jeroboam had paused before he decided to take the heavy hand method with the people.
But …
• I am glad that Joseph did not yield to Potiphar’s wife.
• He remembered the admonition of Proverbs 7:22
Proverbs 7:22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
• And I am glad that the Bible tells us that David learned to behave himself wisely.
• And so we have a choice! Will we PAUSE?
QUOTE: “He is running a hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction.” (Last line of, Can Anybody See Her, Casting Crowns)
ILLUS: A Preacher and His Unbelieving Barber
A preacher and his unbelieving barber were walking down the street as their conversation turned to the love of God. Said the barber to the preacher, "If God was as loving as you say, why does He permit all the poverty, disease, and squalor that exists in the world? I cannot believe that a loving God would permit these things."
The minister was silent until they met a man who was especially unkempt and filthy. His hair was hanging down his neck and he had a half-inch of stubble on his face. Then he said, "You can’t be a very good barber or you would not permit a man like that to continue living in this neighborhood without a haircut or shave."
Indignantly the barber answered: "Why blame me for that man’s condition? I can’t help it that he is like that. He has never come into my shop; why, I could fix him up and make him look like a million dollars, if he’d only let me!"
Giving the barber a penetrating look, the minister said: "Then don’t blame God for allowing people to continue in their evil ways, when He is constantly inviting them to come and be saved. The reason people are slaves to sin and evil habits is that they refuse the One who died to save and deliver them."
The barber saw the point. Do you? We are the source of much evil in the world. Dave McFadden, SC.com
