When One Sin Is Fostered And One Vice Indulged Our Lives Will Become The Strongest Bulwark Of Vice In This World Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6) Victory In Jesus - https://youtube/watch?v=P8ajtJtNXF4 Sometimes we find ways to justify our transgressions of the laws of God. Some have even said, “God understands that we are sinful” as a means to justify their indulgence in a vice. The fact that we are hungry does not give the right to steal our neigbour’s bunch of bananas. The last time I check the Bible in Ex. 20, it said “Thou shalt not steal.” As far as God is concerned there is NO justification for taking something that does not belong to you and that was not given to you. Stealing is a sin under ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. I am not sure if we realize that this principle applies to all other commandments found in the word of God. There are some people who don’t see a problem with having a relationship with someone who is already married. For some strange reason we don’t seem to see this as stealing. While we might not exchange in activities which results in the breaking of the seventh commandments, the fact that we have allowed our emotions to be wrapped up with someone who does not belong to us is STEALING. The Apostle Paul, an inspired writer of the Bible said in 2 Cor. 6:14 – “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” We have taken this text and use it to speak to the marriage relationship between two people of different faiths. But if we look carefully at this passage of scripture we don’t see any specific type of relationship expect the one of righteous vs unrighteous. Matthew Henry in his commentary on this text said, “It is wrong for good people to join in affinity with the wicked and profane; these will draw different ways, and that will be galling and grievous. Those relations that are our choice must be chosen by rule; and it is good for those who are themselves the children of God to join with those who are so likewise; for there is more danger that the bad will damage the good than hope that the good will benefit the bad. We should not yoke ourselves in friendship and acquaintance with wicked men and unbelievers. Though we cannot wholly avoid seeing, and hearing, and being with such, yet we should never choose them for our bosom-friends. Much less should we join in religious communion with them; we must not join with them in their idolatrous services, nor concur with them in their false worship, nor any abominations; we must not confound together the table of the Lord and the table of devils, the house of God and the house of Rimmon.” This morning the Lord is calling us to surrender every area of our lives to His total control so that we will not find anyway to justify any secret sins our vices. Instead we will come boldly to the throne of grace where we will find mercy to help us in the time of need. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we will gain the victory over our carnal nature and become just like Jesus in word, thought and action. The spirit of self-justification originated in the father of lies and has been exhibited by all the sons and daughters of Adam. Confessions of this order are not inspired by the divine Spirit and will not be acceptable to God. True repentance will lead a man to bear his guilt himself and acknowledge it without deception or hypocrisy. Like the poor publican, not lifting up so much as his eyes unto heaven, he will cry, God be merciful to me a sinner, and those who do acknowledge their guilt will be justified, for Jesus will plead His blood in behalf of the repentant soul. The humble and broken heart, subdued by genuine repentance, will appreciate something of the love of God and the cost of Calvary; and as a son confesses to a loving father, so will the truly penitent bring all his sins before God. And it is written, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9. (Steps to Christ, pg. 40, 41 – Ellen G. White) There are those who for a time are successful in the struggle against their selfish desire for pleasure and ease. They are sincere and earnest, but grow weary of protracted effort, of daily death, of ceaseless turmoil. Indolence seems inviting, death to self repulsive; and they close their drowsy eyes, and fall under the power of temptation instead of resisting it. {GW 135.2} The directions laid down in the word of God leave no room for compromise with evil. The Son of God was manifested that He might draw all men unto Himself. He came not to lull the world to sleep, but to point out the narrow path in which all must travel who reach at last the gates of the city of God. His children must follow where He has led the way; at whatever sacrifice of ease or selfish indulgence, at whatever cost of labor or suffering, they must maintain a constant battle with self. (Gospel Workers, pg. 135 – Ellen G. White) Many feel that it would be a great privilege to visit the scenes of Christs life on earth, to walk where He trod, to look upon the lake beside which He loved to teach, and the hills and valleys on which His eyes so often rested. But we need not go to Nazareth, to Capernaum, or to Bethany, in order to walk in the steps of Jesus. We shall find His footprints beside the sickbed, in the hovels of poverty, in the crowded alleys of the great cities, and in every place where there are human hearts in need of consolation. We are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and comfort the suffering and afflicted. We are to minister to the despairing, and to inspire hope in the hopeless. (Ministry of Healing, pg. 105, 106 – Ellen G. White)
Posted on: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 11:12:36 +0000
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