The biggest mistake you can make.
Matthew 27:3-5
* I readily admit that I am a gleaner. Many of my illustrations come from outside sources and from this website. - KMK
Introduction
To Err is human ---wrote Alexander Pope in the 18th century
In 1982 – humorist Russel Baker expressed the same idea in more specific terms: I make the average number of mistakes. Maybe 150 a day or so on a busy day. Most of them aren’t terribly serious. Putting too much sugar in the coffee cup. Picking up the phone and dialing the number of the phone I just picked up. Yes humans make mistakes; we goof up and create mess. We miss-hear, misinterpret, miss- judge, misread, misspeak, misspell, misunderstand, and yes, MAKE THE MISTAKE OF SINNING.
Romans 7:14 –25
Struggling with Sin
14The law is good, then. The trouble is not with the law but with me, because I am sold into slavery, with sin as my master. 15I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. 16I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience shows that I agree that the law is good. 17But I can’t help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things.
18I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn, I can’t make myself do right. I want to, but I can’t. 19When I want to do good, I don’t. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway. 20But if I am doing what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing it; the sin within me is doing it.
21It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22I love God’s law with all my heart. 23But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? £ 25Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
I had a friend once who bought an entire set of furniture, without asking his new wife, what she liked…MISTAKE!
1986 World Series Bill Buckner – Mookie Wilson - Mistake!
Owner of the Red Sox traded a pitcher for cash…. The pitchers name was George Herman “Babe” Ruth – Mistake!
- A newspaper in Kansas, trying to correct a mistake that had occurred in a previous issue,
carried the following item: “We wish to apologize for an error in the wedding story in last week’s paper.
Due to a typesetter’s mistake we said, ‘THE ROSES WERE PUNK.’ What we intended to say, ‘THE
NOSES WERE PINK.’”
- Here’s another.
When the janitor of the First Security Bank, Boise, Idaho, accidentally put a box of 8,000 checks
worth $840,000 on a trash table, a nightmare occurred.
The operator of the paper shredder dumped all the contents into his machine, cutting them into
quarter-inch shreds and dumping them into a garbage can outside the bank. The bank supervisor said,
“I want to cry!” (I’ll bet he wanted to do more than that!)
WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES… Romans 3:23 – All have sinned….
The truth of the matter is man has been making mistakes since creation.
a. Great mistakes of the past:
1). The ancient Babylonians believed that the earth was flat in 8th Century B.C. The sad fact is there are still people today who believe that the earth is flat. Their claims are based on their literal interpretation of the Bible, which, for example refers to "the four, corners of the Earth." They call themselves the "Flat Earth Society." Their base is in Utah.
.
2). Pliny a Roman administrator who lived in 1st Century A.D. wrote an encyclopedia called "Natural History". It was published in the middle ages, which at that point became a reference book for 1,500 years. Here are some of his facts published in this work:
* He told of women giving birth to elephants in Africa.
* He stated that cats were one of the causes for driving people into insanity. He concluded that a cat did this by licking a human’s skin with their tongue.
* Having trouble with tooth decay? He stated eat a mouse or inhale smoke from burning onion seeds.
* He also claimed that mouse droppings, rubbed into one’s head, caused hair to grow on bald spots.
* He reported that ear wax healed poisonous wounds.
3). Columbus - believed he landed in the East Indies and so he named the native people of America "Indians". I believe the Indians are glad he was not looking for Turkey or they would have been named "Turkeys".
4). In 1975 convicts at Saltillo Prison in Northern Mexico spent several months digging a secret tunnel, carefully planned to reach beyond the prison walls. The plan worked, but only to a point. The tunnel did lead out of prison, as seventy-five convicts discovered when they emerged in a nearby courtroom, they quickly recaptured.
MISTAKE!
It was a mistake!!!! As he threw the money at the feet of the priests….
His name was Judas Iscariot; He had been one of the twelve trusted traveling companions of God manifest in the flesh.
He was mentored by Majesty,
He was witness to wonder
He was Trusted above the others to hold the purse, by the one who knew the hearts of all…
He watched as blind eyes opened,
deaf ears heard
He saw the crippled man slowly – But steadily rise to his feet and bend down…NOT IN PAIN – NOT IN UNSURENESS—BUT HE STOOPED IN OBEDIENCE TO TAKE UP HIS BED AND WALK!!!!
He watched a man come bounding out a coffin-like cave still in his grave garments….
That is what Judas saw….
Judas heard the parables, he heard the teachings, he was privy to revelation…
Yet through all the seeing and all the hearing he still made a MISTAKE!!!
THE SELFISH SIN NATURE – BEGAN TO STIR IN HIS HEART AND JUDAS LOOKED PAST THE MIRACLES AND HEARD ANOTHER VOICE…
A VOICE OF BEYTRAL –
A VOICE OF BITTERNESS
HE MADE A MISTAKE-
PETER WAS STRONG
Peter had revelation…whom do men say that I am ……
THOU ART THE CHRIST!
Peter was more blessed the Judas – he was part of the inner circle…
He was on the mount of transfiguration….
He saw things others did not…
He was sure, strong, and steady…. JESUS EVEN CALLED HIM ROCK!
But the day before His crucifixion, Jesus told them:
The Shepard will be struck…. The Sheep will scatter…
" NOT ME LORD, THE OTHERS MAY RUN BUT NOT ME…"
"Before the rooster crows - Three TIMES YOU will deny ME!"
Peter WAS SURE IN HIMSELF. Jesus was sure of Peter’s fraility!
Peters sureness
Was a mistake.
Letting the enemy have you like Judas did is a MISTAKE
But
Being too proud to admit your weakness or liability like Peter…
That is a Mistake TOO….
We read the end of Judas Story…
He watches – he hears --- he feels condemned – remorseful, He finds His own tree and Hangs himself.
Peters story is one the night before he would not have believed….
Standing near a roaring fire trying to keep himself warm…Surveying the situation
He is still sure in himself – in his vow at the supper table…
He has already tried to use the sword. Only to watch the Savior miraculously place a severed ear back on a servants head…
His thoughts are interrupted by a little maid…. "Your one of them…."
Suddenly self preservation kicks in – The sin nature acts up- Peter wanting to do good gives in and does bad…
"No – I don’t know what you are saying…"
That’s Mistake # 1
Another girl – "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth…"
“I do not know the man!”
That’s Mistake # 2
Others – "Your speech betrays you…."
Began to curse and swear…"I do not know HIM!"
Mistake# 3 – Rings out in unison with the crowing of the rooster.
Peter goes out and weeps.
ONE BETRAYS– One DENIES
Both MAKE GREAT MISTAKES!
Maybe you have given access to sin in your life.
Sold out the Savior for LOVE- LUST – LAUGHTER – LIQOUR
Maybe you have called him Savior made a vow – but backed up on it….
You feel guilt and remorse….
MISTAKE! But the Biggest MISTAKE YOU CAN MAKE IS
Not the SIN!–
No- the BIGGEST MISTAKE YOU CAN MAKE IS -
FAILURE TO ASK FOR FORGIVNESS!!!
My BIBLE tells me God is not pleased with sin-
But this same Holy Book says that He is PATIENT and LONGSUFFERING – WILLING THAT NONE SHOULD PERISH – BUT ALL WOULD COME TO PLACE OF REPENTENCE!
You can bank on this Book when it says….
"If we confess our sins ….He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Yes! You have been treating her wrong…that’s a mistake…
Yes! You have been away from the church to long…That’s a mistake…
Yes! Putting illegal and dangerous chemicals in your body is wrong…Mistake!
Yes that affair is sin…MISTAKE!!
BUT DON’T MAKE THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF YOUR LIFE AND WALK OUT ON THE GRACE OF JESUS CHRIST!
Don’t make one a greater mistake on top of teh mistakes you ahve all ready made!
You have a God that undersatnds your fraility, He understands your weakness, He understands your sin nature!
And just when He should be saying " I Loathe you" He is saying " I Love YOU"
Judas went looking for help from a law based Religion –
Religion CAN’T HEAL THE HURTS - MAKE THE PAST RIGHT
MAN CAN’T FIX THE PROBLEM - But JESUS CAN!
MAN MAY LOOK AT YOU LIKE THEY DID AT JUDAS AND SAY "TOO LATE!!!!"
BUT JESUS SAYS "Today is the day of salvation"
MAN MAY SAY to YOU LIKE THEY SAID TO JUDAS – "HANDLE IT YOURSELF!"
BUT JESUS SAYS TO YOU:
“ CAST ALL YOUR CARES--{THAT’S YOUR SINS AND YOUR HURTS) ON ME FOR I CARE FOR YOU!!!!!!”
DAVID – MADE A MISTAKE.
BATHSHEBA - ADULTRY –
Covered his
TRACKS with MURDER – then he covered thatt backtrail with MARRIAGE- followed with MATERNITY.
9 MONTHS TO A YEAR…. David spent PORTRAYING A LIE! How many sacrifices, how many times did David play Church?
LIKE THE POSTIVE PRAYERS OF CORNELIUS THAT BUILT UP LIKE A MEMORIAL – DAVIDS ERRORS WERE A MONUMENT OF
UNREPENTED MISTAKES THAT GOD WOULD NOT LOOK PAST….
NATHAN – The man of God comes on the scene.
You are the man! YOU HAVE MADE A HUGE MISTAKE!
DAVIDS RESPONSE-
Psalm 51
TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN. A PSALM OF DAVID WHEN NATHAN THE PROPHET WENT TO HIM, AFTER HE HAD GONE IN TO BATHSHEBA.
1 Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just £when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.
18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion;
Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,
With burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.
DON’T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF LEAVING HERE – WITHOUT TALKING TO JESUS ABOUT YOUR MISTAKES
You don’t have to end like Judas. He found his own tree! PAYED for his guilt on that tree. I want you to know there is a cross with your name on it….
But you’re not on it- JESUS IS!
TO PAY FOR YOUR SINS!!!!!
Let JESUS have your heart today!
