Moving Closer To The Lord In 2006
Part 3: God Wants Us To Move Away From Sin And Be Closer
INTRO
: Two weeks ago I started a series. Moving Closer To The Lord In 2006. If we ever need to move closer to the Lord it is today. We need to have a closer walk with the Lord. Can anyone say this is not so? This is what God wants for us and what He expects us to seek a better closer walk with Him. Will He make us, force us, twist our arms, or even worse to "make" us serve Him better? No, I think not. But He will speak to us through His Spirit. He will speak to us through His Word. He will speak to us through other's lives and godly example. The choice is yours this day.In the first message of this series I dealt with the fact God wants us closer through His Word. It is God's Word that can become alive in our lives. It is His Word that can lead us down the paths we need to follow. It is God's Word that can enhance us and prepare us for the life to come. Then I dealt with our need to be closer through worshipping Him. Another way He wants us to get closer is by moving away from the sin that causes us to be far form Him.
Once again I have much scripture for you. I have a handout that will save you some time and also help you keep them handy for more study latter on.
Before I get started I need to tell you, my math was off one zero last week. That does not sound like much, but when I mentioned the host of angels that would be worshipping the LORD, I should have multiplied 10,000 by 10,000 and come up with 100,000,000 not the 1 billion I did. I was off by 900,000,000. Oops, that is what being off by one zero can do.
Let's get started…
Did you know sin is everywhere? It fills our lives?
Proverbs 14:12 12There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Isaiah 53:6 6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Sin is not just about doing wrong things, but not doing good things as well?
James 4:17 17Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Okay, let us get into the message, we first must know that…
Sin is an affront to God.
Isaiah 59:1 - 2 1Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
He despises it.
It "sickens" Him.
It is against His nature.
He will not tolerate it.
Proverbs 6:16 - 19 16These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Sin "weakens" us
Judges 16:20 - 21 20And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him. 21But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.
Hampers our walk with the Lord
Hampers our influence with others
Hampers our fellowship with each other
Sin should not have a part in our lives
James 4:17 17Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Romans 6:20 - 23 20For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sin is deadly
- Rom 6:23Sin affects everything about our lives.
Romans 1:24 - 25 24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Our sins helped crucify Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
We should be on the lookout for sin.
Hebrews 2:1 - 3 1Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; 3How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Aware of the consequences
Proverbs 11:19 - 21 19As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. 20They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. 21Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
Aware of its nature - binds us
Proverbs 5:22 22His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
Romans 7:23 23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Aware of the cost
2 Thessalonians 2:12 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Because we should know…
Sin is costly
Romans 7:11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
Deceives us
Titus 3:3 3For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
"Deadens" us spiritually
1 Peter 2:11 11Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Destroys our lives and others
2 Timothy 3:13 - 15 13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Disheartens and discourages us
Decreases and limits our accomplishments
Sin's burden can be removed form our lives
John 5:14 14Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
John 8:11 11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Isaiah 1:16 - 17 16Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
Romans 6:12 - 16 12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
We must lay it down
We must walk away
We must not look back with longing
Sin calls for us to seek out forgiveness
From God
Rev. 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
From those we have hurt
For a better closer walk with Him
Hebrews 12:1 - 3 1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Sin happens, be forgiving too
Matthew 18:21 - 35 21Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Remember, all have sinned
Remember your forgiveness from God
Remember your need for forgiveness
Galatians 6:1 1Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 012206am