Sermon Central
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Seven (7) Signs And Symptoms Of Cain Syndrome
Contributed by Herbert Armstrong Bosantog on Nov 7, 2012 (message contributor)
Summary: 1. He was half-hearted towards God. 2. His Decision was based on his OWN MIGHT. 3. He did not follow the PLAN of God. 4. He became SLAVE by his own sins. 5. Cain was easily OFFENDED. 6. He HATED his brother. 7. He ran away from his CALLING!
Scripture: Genesis 4:9-12
(NIV) 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don’t know," he replied. "AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER?" 10 The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless WANDERER on earth."
WANDERER= Living w/o Purpose/Mission.
The Cain Syndrome
1. He was half-hearted towards God
He knew God, but the problem was he never took the time to cultivate his relationship with his heavenly Father. He never diligently desired to look after GOD’S OWN HEART & never tried to find out what GOD WANTS HIM TO DO.
-“O God! Let your WILL be done.”
2. His Decision was based on His own wisdom.
He did things that he thought was right in OWN EYES but it wasn’t right in the EYES OF GOD. We can all fall into this trap of the enemy if we do not SPEND TIME to get to know the WILL OF GOD.
-Always ask for GOD’S GUIDANCE. Spend time in reading the Bible.
3. He did not follow the PLAN of God.
Cain, being a farmer, offered God some fruit from his own backyard. Instead of obtaining the product from his brother’s flock, Cain wanted to keep everything WITHIN HIS CONTROL.
-Obedience to the WILL OF GOD. Cast out your SELFISH AMBITION.
4. He became slave by his own sins.
He didn’t repent. God was waiting for him to ask for forgiveness. (“Where is your Brother?”)
Every time we fail to listen and obey GOD’S WILL, we are opening the door to sin. If we fail to rule over sin, sin will rule over us.
-Always ask for forgiveness (Ezekiel 36:26). “Ask God give you a CLEAN HEART w/ RIGHT DESIRES”.
5. Cain was easily offended.
Sometimes, as in Cain’s case, people get angry when they are being rebuked. Instead of turning back, they keep on going because they are OFFENDED by the CORRECTIVE WORDS.
God tried to correct Cain, but instead of responding to the WILL OF GOD, Cain was offended.
- Ezekiel 36:27 (The Holy Spirit will help you become sensitive to the voice of God)
6. He hated his brother
Cain didn’t listen to the voice or WILL OF GOD. Evil has taken root in his heart and he resented his brother, thinking Abel was the cause to all his problems and frustrations. (Genesis 4:7)
Blaming others is immaturity! Accepting the fault is a sign of HUMILITY!
Remember Adam and Eve? They blamed each other! Adam admitted the fault but he even blamed God of giving him a woman (Genesis 3:12)
7. He ran away from God
He was trying to hide from God’s presence; he was running away from his CALLING. (Gen. 4:16)
Even then, God still PRESERVED Cain’s life and PROTECTED him, (Genesis 4:15) in the hope that the prophetic message of the blood of Abel would ONE DAY AWAKEN HIM! (Gen. 4:10)
All of us had experienced the “Cain Syndrome”
Hebrews 11:4, (He speaks & telling us to live a holy life)
-The BLOOD of Jesus FULFILLED the CRY of the blood of Abel.
We are redeemed by the blood of Jesus. IT IS FINISHED!
