Title: AWFUL CONSEQUENCES OF SIN
Text : Lamentations 1:1- 5;8 v5 ( Jerusalem ) Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted Jerusalem for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy…v8 Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.
Lamentation means wailing, great mourning, and weeping. Written by prophet Jeremiah soon after the horrible destruction and captivity of Jerusalem by the Babylonians led by King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. In this book, the prophet clearly described the awful consequences brought by sin . Jerusalem’s constant disobedience, rebellion, idolatry , and backsliding made her a captive and a slave, v8 because of the greatness of her sins she experienced the fierce but just judgment and chastisement of the LORD. Let our text today be a strong warning for all of us that if we live in sin and allow sin, our greatest adversary, to have dominion over us, then we will experience those awful consequences of sin, for it is the just anger of the Lord for man’s transgressions, that has filled the earth with sorrows, lamentations, sickness, and death. Prophet Jeremiah gave us the following terrible consequences of sin :
I. SIN BRINGS MISERY AND GRIEF Lamentations 1:2; 7
1v2 “ Jerusalem wept sore in the night.” Sin is a very subtle enemy it gives you pleasure but for a season Hebrews 11:24 afterwards it will give you lasting pain and misery. Sin is a thief, it snatches away our joy and happiness. Before her fall, Jerusalem lived a blessed and happy life-but sins transformed their joy into misery and lamentations Lamentations 5:15. King David, after his fall, experienced and saw how sin took away his joy, in Psalms 51:12 he prayed “ restore unto me the joy… “
II. SIN BRINGS SHAME AND DISHONOR Lamentations 1:1;8
1v1 “ Jerusalem ( she ) that was great among the nations..” In her early and humble beginnings, Jerusalem was a great and glorious city, chosen and favored by God and honored by all men. As the years passed by, the people of Jerusalem forsook the Lord and followed after strange gods, their great sins turned their honor into shame. Lamentations 1:8 “ “ all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness “ In her faithful days, God clothed them with mercy and honor, but her rebellions and pride provoked God to stripped her of all the honors she enjoyed. The book of proverb gives us a concrete example of sin bringing dishonor. Proverbs 6: 32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. 33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
III. SIN BRINGS CURSES AND HINDRANCES Lamentations 3:8;44
The LORD through Moses proclaimed His conditional blessings and curse upon the nation Israel in Deuteronomy 11:26-28 “ Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey. “. The miserable state of Jerusalem was a result of their constant disobedience of the commandments of the LORD. Sin does not only bring curses but also hindrances:
1. Sin hinders our prayers Lamentations 3:8 “ Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer. Lamentations 3:44 Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that [our] prayer should not pass through. cf Psalms 66:18; 1 Pet. 3:7
2. Sin hinders blessings Lament. 1:6 Lament. 2:12 Jeremiah 3:2-3
3. Sin hinders fellowship Lamentations 2:5-9 v5 “ The Lord cast off his altar…v9 “ the prophets find no vision from the Lord” cf 1 John 1:6-7
4. Sin hinders the ministry - 1 Corinth. 5:6 “ a little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Apostle Paul was saying that when a Christian lives in sin it affects the church and hinders the ministry.
IV. SIN BRINGS DESTRUCTION AND DEATH Lamentations 1:15; 2:21
This is the ultimate awful consequences of sin : death and destruction. Because of the wickedness and rebellion of Jerusalem, God did not spared them but made them drank of his wrath. Lamentations 2:2 The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied: he hath thrown down in his wrath.. “ Lament. 2:21 “ Thou has killed and not pitied..”
Oh what an awful consequences, when we continue to live in sin… God has the power to destroy our works and body and allow Satan to inflict “ for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus “ 1 Cor. 5:5
Sin not only brings destruction but ultimately death. James 1:14-15 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
1 John 5:16 .. there is a sin unto death: “
Brethren, may we consider the above terrible consequences of sin.
Jerusalem was given sufficient time to repent from her iniquity but she did not that’s why she experienced the judgment of God. But if there is genuine repentance there is restorarion, we can be assured of God’s mercy and forgiveness .
Lamentations 3:22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. Lamentations 3:40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
Beloved brethren, Let us not live in sin, but rather flee from sin and strive against sin and let us not let sin have dominion over us.
Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
2 Timothy 2:19 ..And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
While there is still time, let us repent from our sins and seek God’s mercy…
Sermon by Ptr. Yolito De Gracia
Landmark Missionary Baptist Church
107 B. Fili St., Sangandaan 1400
Caloocan City, Metro Manila, Philippines
email : tjbaptist@yahoo.com
