I. EXORDIUM:
Do we keep our word? Do we have word of honor?
II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:
General believers
III. OBJECTIVES:
To show that we need to keep our word.
IV. TEXT:
Numbers 32:23
But if you fail to keep your word, then you will have sinned against the Lord, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.
Pray that GOD will enable us to keep our words even in good times and bad.
V. THESIS:
Not keeping our words is sin against the LORD GOD.
VI. TITLE:
Keep Your Word
VII. EXPLICATION:
A. Author: Moses
B. Name: derived from numberings of Israel
C. Central Lesson: Unbelief bars entrance to abundant life
D. Time of writing: 1490-1452B.C.
VIII. MAIN BODY:
A. Failure to keep your word:
1. Yes is yes, no is no (Matthew 5:37, James 5:12)
Matthew 5:37
Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.
James 5:12
But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.
2. Illustration: Parable of 2 sons: (Matthew 21:28-31)
Matthew 21:28-31
28 “But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’29 The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway.30 Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go. 31 “Which of the two obeyed his father?”
3. Keep your words and action aligned (Matthew 23:3)
Matthew 23:3
So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.
B. If not, we will sin against the LORD:
1. All sin are against GOD
a. Sin against CHRIST (1 Corinthians 8:12)
1 Corinthians 8:12
And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ.
b. Sin against the FATHER (Psalms 119:11)
Psalms 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
c. Sin against the HOLY SPIRIT (Mark 3:29)
Mark 3:29
but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences.
C. Sin will find us out:
1. Evil will find us (Proverbs 11:27)
Proverbs 11:27
If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!
2. Examples:
a. Adoni-Bezek (Judges 1:7)
Judges 1:7
Adoni-bezek said, “I once had seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off, eating scraps from under my table. Now God has paid me back for what I did to them.” They took him to Jerusalem, and he died there.
b. Joseph's brothers (Genesis 42:21)
Genesis 42:21
Speaking among themselves, they said, “Clearly we are being punished because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn’t listen. That’s why we’re in this trouble.”
c. David, the Psalmist (Psalms 40:12)
Psalms 40:12
For troubles surround me— too many to count! My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage.
d. Jews of Ezra's time (Ezra 9:6)
Ezra 9:6
I prayed, “O my God, I am utterly ashamed; I blush to lift up my face to you. For our sins are piled higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached to the heavens.
IX. CONCLUSION:
GOD is always Faithful in His Promises (Jeremiah 1:12, Isaiah 55:10-11), keep our words to Him and not sin against GOD.
