THE NIGHT AIR WAS AS THICK AND AS SILENT AS VELVET. WHEN SUDDENLY THE STILLNESS WAS BROKEN BY THE SOFT FLAPPING OF LEATHERY WINGS. OUT OF THE GLOOM CAME ANGER, HIS ALREADY CONTORTED FEATURES TWISTED AS HE SAW THE MAN. ANGER'S COHORTS WERE ALREADY THERE, PERCHED ON ONE SHOULDER WAS DESPONDENCY WHILE ALCOHOL CLUNG TO THE MAN'S BACK.
KNOWING THAT IT WASN'T RIGHT THE MAN TRIED TO SHAKE THE DEMONS FREE BUT THEY WERE TOO STRONG FOR HIM TO COMBAT ON HIS OWN. AND STILL ANGER SAT THERE, WAITING, BIDING HIS TIME. DESPONDENCY DUG HIS CLAWS IN DEEPER AND AS HE RODE THE MAN ALCOHOL TWISTED HIS MIND AND BROUGHT HIS WILL TO SUBMISSION.
AND AS ANGER WATCHED AND MUSED HE PLANNED HIS ATTACK ON HIS HELPLESS VICTIM. ONCE THE TWIN DEMONS OF DESPONDENCY AND ALCOHOL HAD BROKEN THE MAN'S WILL THEN AND ONLY THEN WOULD IT BE ANGER'S TURN AND ANGER WOULD MAKE THE MAN DANCE TO HIS TUNE. OH YES, THEN HE WOULD BE IN CONTROL. AND THE THINGS THAT ANGER COULD DO IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE TWINS. WHO WOULD THE MAN VENT HIS ANGER ON, HIS FAMILY, PERHAPS SLAP THE KID AROUND A BIT, TEACH HIM SOME RESPECT. OR MAYBE IT WAS TIME THAT HIS WIFE KNEW WHO WAS BOSS. MAYBE IT WOULD BE A FRIEND, SOMEONE WHO TRIED TO HELP HIM BREAK THE TIES OF ALCOHOL, YES NOW WOULDN'T THAT BE FUN, HE COULD SHOW THAT WIMP WHAT A REAL MAN WAS MADE OF.
AND THERE IT WAS THE PERFECT OPENING, ALCOHOL AND DESPONDENCY HAD BEEN JOINED BY SELF PITY WHO WAS REMINDING THE MAN OF ALL THE ABUSES, BOTH REAL AND IMAGINARY THAT HAD BEEN HEAPED UPON HIM. THE TIME WAS RIGHT AND ANGER SWEPT IN HIS WINGS BEATING FURIOUSLY IN THE AIR, AND HE HAD THE MAN IN HIS GRIP. HELPLESSLY THE MAN STRUGGLED IN THE GRIPS OF HIS OWN PRIVATE DEMONS UNABLE TO DO THE RIGHT THAT HE WANTED TO DO BUT COMPELLED BY FORCES BEYOND HIS REACH TO DO THOSE THINGS THAT HE HATED. ONCE AGAIN GOOD HAD LOST THE FIGHT AND IN ANGER HE STRUCK OUT AT THE ONES HE LOVED. WHAT A GREAT STORY, IT'S SUPER FICTION BUT ROTTEN THEOLOGY.
HOW DOES SIN EFFECT US, HOW DOES SIN CONTROL US? WHAT MAKES US SIN? AND WHAT IS THE RESULT OF OUR SIN? THE MANIA THAT SWEPT THE CHRISTIAN WORLD AFTER FRANK PERRITI HAD PUBLISHED THE NOVELS "THIS PRESENT DARKNESS" AND "PIERCING THE DARKNESS" WOULD HAVE US LOOKING IN EVERY CORNER AND BEHIND EVERY DOOR FOR THE DEMONS WHO TWIST AND DISTORT ALL THINGS GOOD AND DRIVE US TO DO THE THINGS WE HATE. BUT IS IT SCRIPTURAL TO BLAME DEMONS FOR OUR SINS, OR IS THAT SIMPLY A COP OUT. TWENTY YEARS AGO THE COMEDIAN FLIP WILSON WOULD DEFEND HIS ACTIONS BY SAYING "THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT". HAVE WE ACCEPTED THAT AS A VALID EXCUSE IN 1993.
LET'S LOOK AT SIN.
THE VERY FIRST QUESTION HAS TO BE, WHAT IS SIN? COLLINS DICTIONARY DEFINES SIN AS "THE BREAKING OF RELIGIOUS OR MORAL LAW, ESPECIALLY THROUGH A WILFUL ACT."
WELL THE OLD TESTAMENT NEVER FORMALLY DEFINES SIN THE CONCEPT IS "ANYTHING CONTRARY TO THE KNOWN WILL OF GOD".
THE WORD USED THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT LITERALLY MEANS "TO MISS THE MARK." THAT IS CERTAINLY TESTIFIED TO IN Romans 3:23 (NIV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
NOW I AM SURE THAT WE COULD ENTER INTO ALL KINDS OF LEGAL DEFINITIONS OF SIN AT THIS POINT, IS THIS SIN, HOW ABOUT THIS. AND IF WE DO THAT WE END UP LIKE THE PREACHER WHO DECLARED THAT THERE WERE 748 SINS AND AFTER THE SERMON PEOPLE WERE LINED UP TO GET A COPY OF THE LIST. IN IT'S SIMPLEST DEFINITION SIN IS DISAPPOINTING GOD THROUGH OUR DISOBEDIENCE. THAT'S SIN.
THE SECOND QUESTION THEN HAS TO BE "WHY DO WE SIN" AND THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION WHY DO PEOPLE SIN? WELL THE MOST ELEMENTARY ANSWER IS "BECAUSE". YOU SEE WE SIN BECAUSE THAT IS THE NATURE OF THE BEAST. ADAM WAS CREATED IN THE PERFECT IMAGE OF GOD, BUT WHEN HE CHOSE TO SIN IN GENESIS 3 THAT IMAGE BECAME DISTORTED, NOT DESTROYED SIMPLY DISTORTED. WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE A FRIEND OF MINE ACCIDENTALLY KNOCKED A PHOTOGRAPH OF MY SISTER ONTO THE FLOOR. IN THE FALL THE GLASS BROKE, AND WELL THE IMAGE OF DIANNE WAS STILL THERE IT WAS DISTORTED BECAUSE OF THE CRACKS IN THE GLASS. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AT THE DAWN OF TIME WHEN THE FIRST MAN AND FIRST WOMAN CHOSE TO WILFULLY DISOBEY GOD'S COMMANDMENT THE PERFECT IMAGE WAS DISTORTED NOT DESTROYED JUST DISTORTED. THE LEGACY THAT ADAM AND EVE HAVE LEFT US WITH IS THE LEGACY OF SIN.
I'VE MENTIONED IT SEVERAL TIMES BUT IT BEARS REPEATING, NO WHERE IS ORIGINAL SIN MORE CLEARLY DEFINED THEN IN CHILDREN. HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO TEACH CHILDREN HOW TO SAY NO, WON'T, DON'T AND OTHER NEGATIVE WORDS, BUT YOU HAVE TO TEACH THEM HOW TO SAY PLEASE, THANK YOU AND YOU'RE WELCOME. NEVER HAD TO TEACH A KID HOW TO THROW A TANTRUM, HOW TO CRY HOW TO REBEL. BUT KIDS HAVE TO BE TAUGHT HOW TO BE POLITE, AND PLEASANT, HOW TO OBEY.
IT WAS THROUGH ADAM AND EVE THAT SIN ENTERED THE WORLD AND IT BECAME THEIR GIFT TO US, ALONG WITH THE PUNISHMENT FOR DISOBEYING GOD'S WILL Romans 6:23 (NIV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
WHEN PAUL GIVES US A LIST OF SPECIFIC MORAL SINS IN GALATIONS 5 HE BEGINS BY SAYING THESE ARE THE ACTS OF THE SINFUL NATURE. THE HUMAN NATURE. BUT HE TELLS US THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE THE ACTIONS OF SOMEONE WHO IS A CHILD OF GOD BECAUSE HE SAYS QUITE PLAINLY IN Galatians 5:21 (NIV) those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
WELL THEN THE THIRD QUESTION IS "IF WE SIN BECAUSE WE HAVE TO SIN HOW DO WE NOT SIN?" VERY FRANKLY IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. YOU DO NOT HAVE THE POWER TO NOT SIN. IF YOU ARE A PEOPLE AND MOST OF YOU LOOK LIKE YOU ARE A PEOPLE THEN FOR THE VERY REASONS THAT WE MENTIONED ABOVE YOU CANNOT NOT SIN. EVEN WHEN WE TRY OUR HARDEST TO PLEASE GOD, AND DO ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY DO THE PROPHET ISAIAH TELLS US IN Isaiah 64:6 (NIV) and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
WELL PREACHER THAT IS REALLY DEPRESSING, FIRST YOU TELL US THAT WE ARE ALL SINNERS THEN YOU TELL US THAT BECAUSE WE ARE ALL SINNERS WE ARE ALL GONNA DIE, AND THEN YOU TELL US THAT THERE ISN'T A THING THAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT, THANKS BUNCHES YOU MADE MY DAY. EVEN THOUGH IT'S TRUE THAT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY THAT YOU CAN NOT SIN, DON'T FORGET THAT IF YOU HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN THERE IS A DIFFERENCE, OR AT LEAST THERE OUGHT TO BE, PAUL TELLS US IN Romans 7:5 & 6 (NIV) For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. PAUL TALKS ABOUT OUR SINFUL NATURE IN THE PAST TENSE, SOMETHING THAT USED TO BE BUT ISN'T NOW. HE BACKS THIS UP IN Romans 8:4 WHEN HE SAYS THAT WE DO NOT LIVE ACCORDING TO THE SINFUL NATURE BUT ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT.
YOU SEE WHAT WE ONCE WERE AND WHAT WE ARE NOW SHOULD BE TWO DIFFERENT CREATURES COMPLETELY, 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! DOES THAT DESCRIBE YOU, HAS THE OLD GONE HAS THE NEW COME. CHRIST TELLS US IN Matthew 6:24 (NIV) "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. YOU CANNOT SERVE BOTH GOD AND YOUR SINFUL NATURE, EITHER YOU WILL HATE THE ONE AND LOVE THE OTHER OR YOU WILL BE DEVOTED TO ONE AND DESPISE THE OTHER. Romans 8:8 (NIV) Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
BUT HOW DO I CONQUER THE SINFUL NATURE? HOW DO I GET ON TOP OF IT? Galatians 5:24 (NIV) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
THAT STATEMENT CONCERNING CRUCIFYING THE SINFUL NATURE INDICATES AN ACT OF THE WILL. THE MAIN REASON WHY CHRISTIANS DON'T CRUCIFY THE SINFUL NATURE IS THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO. THEY ENJOY THE SIN THEY ARE DABBLING IN. WE HATE TO ADMIT IT BUT IT'S THE TRUTH WE SIN BECAUSE WE WANT TO SIN.
DURING MY FOURTH YEAR OF COLLEGE I ATTENDED AN ICE HOCKEY GAME THAT WENT UNTIL 2:00 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, IT WAS THE ONLY TIME WE COULD RENT THE ICE. THE NEXT MORNING I JUST COULDN'T CONVINCE MY BODY THAT WE SHOULD GET UP AT SEVEN SO I COULD BE TO MY EIGHT O'CLOCK CLASS, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS MY FAVOURITE SUBJECT. LATER THAT DAY I RAN INTO MY PROFESSOR AND APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING THERE, "I REALLY WANTED TO BE THERE DR. KANZELMAR" I TOLD HIM. HIS REPLY HAS STUCK WITH ME NOW FOR OVER TEN YEARS BECAUSE HE SAID, "DEN IF YOU HAD WANTED TO BE THERE YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE, BECAUSE YOU DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO." PROFOUND ISN'T IT YOU DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. "PREACHER YOU DON'T REALLY BELIEVE THAT DO YOU?" SURE DO.
THAT PHILOSOPHY FITS RIGHT INTO THE REALITY OF Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. YOU SEE WHAT WE CAN'T DO ON OUR OWN, WE CAN DO THROUGH CHRIST. WHAT YOU CAN'T DO ON YOU OWN CHRIST CAN GIVE YOU THE POWER TO DO. AND THAT IS IN ALL AREAS OF YOUR LIFE. BUT THE DECISION TO OBEDIENCE TO GOD IS A CONSCIOUS DECISION. IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU DECIDE TO DO.
THERE ARE TIMES THAT WE FALL, BUT THEY TELL US THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PIG AND A SHEEP IS THAT IF A PIG FALLS INTO MUD, HE GETS RIGHT INTO IT, WALLOWS AND PLAYS AND STAYS IN THE MUD. HOWEVER IF A SHEEP SHOULD FALL INTO MUD THEY IMMEDIATELY GET OUT. HOW DO WE REACT TO SIN, IF WE SLIP DO WE GET RIGHT OUT OR DO WE PLAY AROUND IN IT.
FALLING INTO SIN ISN'T FATAL, STAYING IN SIN IS. A LADY ASKED AN OLD FISHERMAN WHO WAS STANDING ON A WHARF, "IF YOU FELL IN THE WATER HERE WOULD YOU DROWN" "NAW" HE SAID "FALLING IN THE WATER DOESN'T DROWN ANYBODY, IT'S THE STAYING UNDER THAT DOES THE DROWNING." FALLING ISN'T FATAL BUT STAYING DOWN IS.
Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV) The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. PAUL IS BEING VERY STRAIGHT FORWARD, IF WE LIVE IN A SINFUL MANNER, THAT IS CONTINUING TO SIN WE WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. NO IFS, NO ANDS, AND NO BUTS. AND WHAT IT COMES RIGHT DOWN TO YOUR CHOICE, NOT MINE, NOT YOUR PARENTS NOT YOUR SPOUSES, NOBODIES CHOICE BUT YOURS AND YOURS ALONE. YOU WILL CHOOSE TO SERVE GOD, OR YOU WILL CHOOSE TO SERVE YOUR SINFUL NATURE. BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, IT WILL BE YOUR CHOICE.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE DEMONS? WHAT DEMONS, OH RIGHT THOSE DEMONS. THE ONES WITH THE LEATHERY WINGS, AND CONTOURED FEATURES. YOU KNOW BETWEEN YOU AND ME, I THINK WE GIVE THE DEMONS CREDIT FOR A LOT OF STUFF THAT WE DESERVE THE BLAME FOR. "OH PREACHER I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF IT MUST BE THE DEMON OF LUST." THAT'S RUBBISH. MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO GET HYPED UP ON DEMONS USE Ephesians 6:12-13 (NIV) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. AND SO WE TALK ABOUT THE POWERS OF THE DARK WORLD, AND THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS. BUT DON'T FORGET VS. 13 Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. VS. 13 SAYS THAT WE ARE GOING TO WIN, THAT WE STAND, THAT WE DON'T GIVE IN. THE GREATEST DEMON YOU WILL HAVE TO FIGHT WILL BE THE DEMON OF SELF. YOU WILL ONLY COMMIT SINS THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO COMMIT. DO I SEE A FEW RAISED EYEBROWS AND DETECT SOME DOUBT AMONG THE FAITHFUL? ONE OF THE GREATEST PROMISES OF THE BIBLE IS 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
GOD DID NOT SAY THAT WE WOULDN'T BE TEMPTED, EVEN CHRIST WAS TEMPTED. BUT GOD DID SAY THAT YOU WOULD NEVER BE TEMPTED BY SOMETHING THAT YOU COULDN'T RESIST. OUR PROBLEM IS THAT MANY OF US ARE LIKE AUGUSTINE WHO PRAYED SAVE ME GOD BUT NOT YET. WE WANT TO HAVE OUR CAKE AND TO EAT IT TOO. WE WANT TO BE CHRISTIANS, WE WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN BUT WE WANT TO SIN AS WELL. WE WANT EVERYTHING THAT THIS LIFE CAN GIVE AND EVERYTHING THE NEXT LIFE CAN GIVE.
BUT GOD DOESN'T WANT ANYTHING LESS THEN EVERYTHING. YOU CAN'T SAY THIS 95 PERCENT OF MY LIFE IS GOD'S AND THIS FIVE PERCENT IS MINE. DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY, NOT AT ALL. YOU DON'T PLANT A GARDEN AND THEN RESERVE A CORNER OF IT FOR WEEDS. CAUSE IF YOU DO THE LITTLE GREEN MONSTERS SOON WANT IT ALL. NO MAN CAN SERVE TWO MASTER. YOU CAN'T SERVE GOD AND SELF. YOU CAN'T SERVE GOD AND SIN. YOU CAN'T SERVE GOD AND THE DEVIL. BECAUSE YOU WILL EITHER LOVE ONE AND HATE THE OTHER OR DEVOTE YOURSELF TO ONE AND DESPISE THE OTHER.
IF YOU PLAY WITH FIRE YOU WILL GET BURNED. AND IF YOU PLAY WITH SIN YOU WILL GET BURNED. REMEMBER SIN WILL ALWAYS TAKE YOU FURTHER THEN YOU WANT TO GO. SIN WILL ALWAYS KEEP YOU LONGER THEN YOU WANT TO STAY AND SIN WILL ALWAYS COST YOU MORE THEN WHAT YOU WANT TO PAY.
YOU WILL NEVER BE SIN'S MASTER IT WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR MASTER.
THE SECRET, Galatians 5:16 (NIV) So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. AND HOW DO YOU LIVE BY THE SPIRIT? WELL PROBABLY THE FIRST STEP IS TO ADMIT THAT YOU CAN'T DO IT ALONE. AS LONG AS YOU ARE TRYING TO LIVE A SINLESS LIFE BY YOURSELF YOU WILL BLOW IT CAN'T BE DONE. IF YOU WERE TO GO TO AN A.A. MEETING YOU WOULD HEAR PEOPLE GET UP AND SAY "MY NAME IF BOB AND I'M AN ALCOHOLIC, OR MY NAME IS ALICE AND I'M AN ALCOHOLIC." NOW THEY MAY NOT BE DRINKING, MAY NOT HAVE TAKEN A DRINK FOR TWENTY YEARS BUT EVEN AS A SOBER ALCOHOLIC THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ALCOHOL. MAYBE IN CHURCH WE NEED TO STAND UP AND SAY "I'M DEN AND I'M A SINNER, OR MY NAMES PETER AND I'M A SINNER" THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO SIN, BUT IT DOES MEAN THAT WE KNOW WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE ARE. AND WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO CHANGE THE FACT THAT WE ARE SINNERS.
BUT THE APOSTLE JOHN TELLS US IN 1 John 2:1 (NIV) My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. CATCHY ISN'T IT, I WRITE THIS TO YOU SO YOU DO NOT SIN. JOHN GOES ON TO SAY IF WE FALL IT'S NOT FATAL WHEN HE SAYS But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS NOT FOLLOWING A BOOK OF RULES, OR A LIST OF DO NOTS INSTEAD IT IS BEING OBEDIENT TO GOD. AND HE PROMISES THAT HE WILL GIVE US ALL THE HELP WE NEED IN BEING OBEDIENT IF WE WANT IT. BUT IT IS OUR CHOICE. BECAUSE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS THE BOTTOM LINE IS NOT FOLLOWING A BOOK OF RULES, OR A LIST OF DO NOTS INSTEAD IT IS BEING OBEDIENT TO GOD. AND HE PROMISES THAT HE WILL GIVE US ALL THE HELP WE NEED IN BEING OBEDIENT IF WE WANT IT. BUT IT IS OUR CHOICE. BECAUSE BOTTOM LINE IS WHAT JESUS SAID IN John 14:23-24 (NIV) Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
