WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CHRISTIAN SINS 6/30/02
TEXT: ROMANS 8:1 - 13
INTRO:
AS I BEGAN PREPARING FOR THIS MESSAGE, IN MY MIND, I THOUGHT OF THE THOUSANDS OF SERMONS THAT HAVE BEEN PREACHED AGAINST SIN. AND LET ME JUST SAY THAT WITH ALL THE SERMONS THAT HAVE BEEN PREACHED, IT STILL SEEMS AS THOUGH SATAN IS STILL WINNING THE BATTLE IN THE LIVES OF BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS.
WHAT IS MOST AMAZING ABOUT THE DEVIL, TEMPTATION AND SIN IS THE FACT THAT SATAN HAS USED THE SAME 3 METHODS OF TEMPTATION AGAINST CHRISTIANS DOWN THROUGH THE AGES AND HE SEEMS TO WHIP US EVERY TIME.
WHAT ARE THE 3 METHODS HE USES?
1. THE LUST OF THE FLESH
2. THE LUST OF THE EYES
3. THE PRIDE OF LIFE
AND SATAN USES EACH OF THESE 3 METHODS TO TEMPT YOU AND I TO SIN. AND PAUL WRITES HERE IN CHAPTERS 6,7,8 OF THE STRUGGLE WITH SIN IN THE HEART OF EVERY SAINT.
CHPATER 6 PAUL REVEALS THE WAGES OF SIN
For the wages of sin is death
WHEN A PERSON PERSISTENTLY CONTINUES TO LIVE IN SIN – THE END RESULT WILL BE DEATH.
CHAPTER 7 PAUL REVEALS HIS STRUGGLE WITH SIN
For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
CHAPTER 8 PAUL REVEALS THE SOLUTION FOR SIN
But if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
WHAT IS PAUL SAYING? PAUL IS SIMPLY SAYING IF YOU AND I WILL CHOOSE TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD – THERE CAN BE VICTORY OVER SIN. THANK GOD THERE’S A SOLUTION!
NOW BEFORE WE GET INTO THE MESSAGE, LET ME GIVE YOU SOME 5 DIFFERENT THOUGHTS ON THE WITNESS OF THE UNIVERSIALITY OF SIN.
1. WITNESS OF HISTORY
THEY TELL ME THAT FROM THE TIME OF ADAM THERE HAS BEEN MORE THAN 40 BILLION PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED ON THE EARTH.
· 1/3 OF THOSE HAVE BEEN KILLED BY MAN
· 1/3 OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE MURDERED.
ILL. THINGS HAVE NOT CHANGED! WE STILL IN AMERICA ARE BUTCHERING
1.5 MILLION BABIES IN THE NAME OF ABORTION TODAY.
ILL. I WAS LISTENING TO CHRISTIAN RADIO THE OTHER DAY AND THEY WERE DICUSSING THE ISSUE OF ABORTION. THEY HAD A WOMAN POSE AS A 13 YEAR OLD GIRL WITH A 22 YEAR OLD BOY FRIEND. AND OUT OF THE 800 ABORTION CLINICS SHE CALLED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM WERE WILLING TO CONCEAL HER BOYFRIENDS AGE, HIDE THEIR SIN AND MAKE A WAY SO SHE WOULD NOT HAVE TO NOTIFY HER PARENTS! THAT’S THE KIND OF WORLD WE ARE LIVING IN TODAY!
SIN IS EVER SO PREVALENT TODAY! AND IT IS HIGH TIME WE CHRISTIANS QUIT LIVING IN IT AND START FIGHTING AGAINST IT WITH ALL OUR MIGHT.
2. WITNESS OF CONSCIENCE
YOU KNOW WHY SO MANY TODAY ARE COMMITTING SUICIDE? THEY HAVE A GUILTY CONSCIENCE AND THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.
ILL. LAS VEGAS
THEY TELL ME THAT LAS VEGAS HAS THE HIGHEST SUICIDE RATE IN THE WORLD – WHY? IT IS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT GO OUT THERE LIVE THEIR LIVES IN –
· SEXUAL IMMORALITY
· DRINKING THEMSELVES DRUNK
· THROWING ALL THEIR MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN
AND WHEN THEIR FLING IN SIN IS FINISHED – THEY HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO LIVE FOR!
3. WITNESS OF RELIGION
YOU GO TO AFRICA AND ASIA AND THE MID EAST AND YOU CAN FIND THAT EVEN AMONG THE HEATHEN OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE - FAR AWAY FROM MODERN CIVILIZATION, THE TRIBAL PEOPLE SACRIFICE TO APPEASE THE gOD’S FOR THEIR SIN.
4. WITNESS OF SCRIPTURES
ROMANS - FOR ALL HAVE SINNNED, THERE IS NONE RIGHT....
JEREMIAH - HEART IS DESPERATELY WICKED
I JOHN 1:8 - IF ANY MAN SAYS HE IS WITHOUT SIN HE IS A LIAR
5. WITNESS OF CHILDREN
ISN’T IT FUNNY THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO TEACH A CHILD TO –
· LIE
· STEAL FROM THE COOKIE JAR
· HAVE A REBELLIOUS SPIRIT, WHY ? IT IS IN THEIR NATURE TO DO THOSE THINGS.
AND EVEN THOUGH YOU AND I HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN, WE STILL HAVE TO BATTLE AND FIGHT AGAINST THE TEMPTATION TO SIN. AND THERE ARE SOME SEVERE CONSEQUENCES GOD WILL ALLOW TO HAPPEN WHEN YOU AND I AS CHRISTIANS CONTINUE TO LIVE IN SIN.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CHRISTIAN SINS?
WELL LET ME SAY FIRST OF ALL WHAT DOESN’T HAPPEN.
1. YOU DON’T LOSE YOUR SALVATION
I AM AMAZED AT SOME OF THE BAPTIST DENOMINATIONS TODAY THAT BELIEVE YOU CAN LOSE YOUR SALVATION.
· I DON’T KNOW HOW THEY CAN SLEEP AT NIGHT
· I DON’T KNOW HOW THEY HAVE ANY PEACE OF MIND
· I DON’T KNOW HOW THEY CAN HAVE ANY JOY!
· IF YOU CAN LOSE YOUR SALVATION 1 SINGLE SOLITARY SIN HAS THE POWER TO SEND YOU TO HELL!
JESUS: IF YOU BREAK ONE OF THE COMMANDMENTS – YOU BREAK THEM ALL!
ILL. I THANK GOD THAT I DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT LOSING MY SALVATION! GOD HAS ME IN HIS HAND AND NO ONE IS ABLE TO PLUCK ME OUT. WHAT HAPPENS?
I. GOD ALLOWS SIN TO RUN IT’S COURSE
GALATIANS 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
WE LIVE TODAY AS THOUGH THAT LAW DOESN’T PERTAIN TO US! WE THINK WE CAN LIVE LIKE WE WANT TO LIVE AND THERE BE NO SERIOUS RAMIFICATIONS AT ALL. LISTEN COMMON SENSE TELLS ME IF YOU-
· YOU SOW CORN - YOU’LL REAP CORN
· YOU SOW GREEN BEANS - YOU’LL REAP GREEN BEANS
· YOU SOW A WILD CROP – YOU’LL HAVE A WILD HARVEST
ILL. SOMEONE SAID, “LIFE IS LIKE A BOOMERANG - WHATEVER YOU THROW OUT IS SURE TO COME BACK AGAIN.”
ILL. A FRIEND OF MINE UP AT WORK SHOWED ME THE PICTURE OF A YOUNG 23 YEAR OLD WOMAN IN THE TOPEKA PAPER (OBITURARY SECTION). SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL GIRL – JUST SO HAPPENED SHE WAS A FRIEND OF THEIRS. WELL, THIS YOUNG LADIES MOTHER CAME HOME ONE NIGHT AFTER WORK AND FOUND HER DAUGHTER DEAD, HANGING FROM A ROPE! (SHE HAD COMMITTED SUICIDE) AND EVERYONE WAS SEARCHING FOR REASONS AS TO WHY SUCH A YOUNG BEAUTIFUL GIRL WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT! I’LL TELL YOU WHY – THERE WAS SIN IN HER LIFE AND THE DEVIL CAME ALONG AND WHISPERED IN HER EAR – KILL YOURSELF IT’S THE ONLY WAY OUT!
OH LISTEN TO ME THIS MORNING, SIN CARRIES WITH IT AN AWFUL PRICE! I CAN TELL YOU STORY AFTER STORY OF THOSE WHO HAVE REAPED WHAT THEY HAVE SOWN! AND GOD WILL ALLOW SIN TO RUN ITS COURSE IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU AND I CHOOSE TO LIVE OUR LIVES IN SIN.
II. OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD IS SEVERED
MY FRIEND, YOU CAN’T LIVE IN SIN AND STILL FELLOWSHIP WITH A RIGHTEOUS GOD. YOU SAY PREACHER – “I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN SIN AND I’M STILL FELLOWSHIPING WITH THE LORD.”
I JOHN 1:6
IF WE SAY WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM AND WALK IN DARKNESS, WE LIE AND DO NOT THE TRUTH.
YOU MAY BE PRAYING – BUT GOD WILL NOT BE LISTENING!
DAVID: IF I REGARD INIQUITY IN MY HEART HE WILL NOT HEAR ME.
AND MY FRIEND, WHEN YOU GET INTO SIN, YOU AUTOMATICALLY LOSE (2) THINGS.
1. JOY
PSALM 51:12 - RETURN UNTO ME THE JOY OF THY SALVATION
THE REASON WHY SO MANY CHRISTIANS ARE WALKING AROUND WITH AN OLD SAD LOOK ON THEIR FACE IS BECAUSE THERE IS SIN IN THEIR LIFE! MY FRIEND, YOU CAN MARK IT DOWN – IF YOU ARE LIVING IN SIN YOU’LL NOT HAVE ANY JOY IN YOUR HEART! MY FRIEND A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN CANNOT LIVE IN SIN FOR VERY LONG AND ENJOY IT – BECAUSE HIS FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD WILL BE BROKEN.
YOU’LL NOT ONLY LOSE YOUR JOY, YOU’LL ALSO LOSE YOUR -
2. CONFIDENCE
I JOHN 3:21
BELOVED IF OUR HEART CONDEMN US NOT, THEN HAVE WE CONFIDENCE TOWARD GOD.
WHEN THERE IS SIN IN MY LIFE, THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE PLACE TO BE IS
· BEHIND THE PULPIT PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD
· ON MY KNEES ASKING FOR SOMETHING I NEED, WHY? BECAUSE WE LOSE OUR CONFIDENCE WHEN WE ARE LIVING IN SIN.
BUT WHEN I AM RIGHT WITH GOD, I HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT GOD IS –
· WITH ME, USING ME
· POWER IS ON ME, SPEAKING THROUGH ME.
MY FRIEND, IT IS A SERIOUS THING WHEN WE DECIDE TO COMMIT A SIN. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CHRISTIAN SINS?
III. GOD WILL CHASTEN US
WHEN YOU AND I GET OFF INTO SIN, THE BEST THING FOR YOU AND I TO DO IS TO JUDGE OUR OWNSELVES AND REPENT OF OUR SIN.
I CORINTHIANS 11:31
IF WE WOULD JUDGE OURSELVES, WE SHOULD NOT BE JUDGED.
MY FRIEND, GOD LOVES YOU SO MUCH THAT HE GIVES EVERY OPPORTUNITY IN THE WORLD FOR YOU TO GET RIGHT!
BUT THOSE OF US WHO REFUSE TO EXAMINE OUR HEART AND REPENT OF OUR SIN, THEN GOD WILL COME ONTO THE SCENCE WITH HIS CHASTENING ROD TO DO SOME WHIPPING.
REV. 3:19 - AS MANY AS I LOVE
CHRISTIAN, GOD DOES NOT CHASTEN US TO HURT US, HE DOES IT TO HELP US. YOU SEE GOD KNOWS HOW SIN CAN RUIN OUR LIFE – SO HE WANTS TO CORRECT US BEFORE WE GO ANY FARTHER.
SIN IS EVER SO SERIOUS TO THE CHRISTIAN TODAY, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD NOT TAKE LIGHTLY. YOU SAY, BUT I WILL BE FORGIVEN, YES, BUT THERE WILL ALSO BE A PRICE YOU HAVE TO PAY.
IV. GOD COULD PLACE YOU ON THE SHELF
I COR. 9:27
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
THAT WORD CASTAWAY IS A WORD THAT MEANS “REJECTED OR DISAPROVED.” AND WHAT PAUL WAS SAYING WAS IS THIS: IF (I) SIN THERE IS THE POSSIBLITY THAT GOD COULD SET ME UP ON A SHELF SOMEWHERE NEVER TO BE USED EVER AGAIN!
AND MY FRIEND, GOD SOMETIMES HAS TO DO THIS TODAY. JUST PUT A CHRISTIAN UP ON THE SHELF AND SAY I’LL NEVER USE THEM AGAIN!
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL POPULAR PREACHERS WHO HAVE FALLEN INTO SIN AND GOD HAS PLACED THEM ON THE SHELF AND HE WON’T USE THEM ANYMORE.
MAYBE YOU ARE A –
· SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER
· BUS WORKER
· TRUSTEE
· SINGER - IF YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE IN SIN – GOD MAY SAY THAT’S IT, THEY ARE DISAPROVED – I’LL NOT USE THAT PERSON ANYMORE.
ILL. NOAH BUILT AN ARK, PREAHCED THE GOSPEL, WAS MIGHTILY USED OF GOD. LIVE 350 YEARS AFTER THE FLOOD, BUT THE LAST THING THAT YOU AND I HEAR ABOUT NOAH WAS THAT HE GOT DRUNK. AND YOU NEVER HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT HIM EVER AGAIN.
PERHAPS GOD PUT HIM ON A SHELF AND SAID, “HE’S A CASTAWAY.”
AND MY FRIEND, THE MOST MISERABLE PERSON IN THE WORLD IS NOT A LOST PERSON. THE MOST MISERABLE PERSON IS A MAN THAT HAS KNOWN THE JOY OF SERVING THE LORD BUT IS NOW SIDELINED – DISAPPROVED BY GOD!
MY, MY, MY, MY WHAT A SCARRY THOUGHT THAT GOD WOULD NEVER USE –
· JIM FENDLEY
· NILES LLOYD
· OR SOME OF YOU BECAUSE WE REFUSE TO GIVE UP SIN.
V. GOD MAY TAKE YOUR LIFE
I JOHN 5:16
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
WHAT IS THAT HORRIBLE SIN? IS IT –
· IMMORAL LIVING
· DRUNKEDNESS
· REBELLION, PRIDE – WHAT IS IT?
ILL. LEON WISE SUMMED IT UP BEST WHEN HE SAID, “THE SIN UNTO DEATH COULD BE ANY SIN GOD HAS CONVICTED YOU ABOUT – YET YOU REFUSE TO GIVE UP THAT SIN – SO GOD TAKES YOUR LIFE.”
I BELIEVE SAMSON, ANANIAS & SAPPHIRA, SAUL, MOSES -
WAS 120 YEARS OLD, YET STILL HAD HIS EYE SIGHT AND HIS STRENGTH, YET HE DIED.
AND LET ME SAY THAT YOU AND I ARE NOT EXEMPT FROM THIS IN OUR DAY AND TIME. WE ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE FOR LIVING IN ANY KIND OF SIN.
YOU SAY I CAN’T GIVE IT UP – OH, YES YOU CAN.
THERE HATH NO TEMPTATION TAKEN YOU BUT SUCH AS IS COMMON TO MAN; BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL, WHO WILL NOT SUFFER YOU TO BE TEMPTED ABOVE THAT YE ARE ABEL; BUT WILL WITH THE TEMPTATION ALSO MAKE A WAY TO ESCAPE THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR IT.
THE REASON WHY YOU DON’T QUIT SINNING IS BECAUSE YOU DON’T WANT TO QUIT. BUT THERE IS A PRICE TO PAY.
1. SIN WILL RUN ITS COURSE
2. YOU’LL LOSE YOUR FELLOWSHIP
3. YOU’LL BE CHASTENED
4. PLACED ON A SHELF
5. TAKEN AWAY.
