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Complete Sermon Notes

Sin In The Camp pt. 3

What – Matthew 18 – Dealing with a Sinning Brother – 15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

When – An UNREPENTANT heart embraces a consistent pattern of sin.

We don’t have a ‘one size fits all’ approach – too many variables.

1ST STEP: 15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. cf. PART 2

Where AND How – Dealt with 1st privately and graciously.

2ND STEP: 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’

The offender now realizes the seriousness of their sin.

Next week: 3RD STEP: 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church… FINAL STEP: …But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. 18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

PRIDE often surfaces = “defense mode”.

This doesn’t have to be right away – we should never be in a hurry

Grace says, “I’m not perfect. I’ve contributed too”

1 person, then 2 or 3, then more – along with God’s Word and conviction

Research the Facts 

Galatians 6:1, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual [you who live by the Spirit] should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”

“Keep watch on yourself” – The Pulpit Commentary – “The Christian is to be on his guard against his own weak and corrupt nature; lest he withhold help, or adequate help; lest in helping he get betrayed into the sin of Pharisaic self-righteousness – the sin of harshness…”,

Go Get Them is NOT the right approach . . . 

A Good God – He begins with conviction: “Never disregard a conviction that the Holy Spirit brings to you. If it is important enough for the Spirit of God to bring it to your mind, it is the very thing He is detecting in you. You were looking for some big thing to give up, while God is telling you of some tiny thing that must go…” Oswald Chambers

God also uses circumstances: “If we try to skip over certain steps along the way because they seem too painful or too difficult, we can be sure God will always bring us back to face and deal with that area of growth. But just as we cannot skip steps along the way in order to avoid pain, we cannot skip them because we are in a hurry and think God isn’t taking us along quickly enough” (NKJV Study Bible).

1 Way God Brings us BACK to Deal with an Area of Growth is thru confrontation and circumstances.

The alcoholic often doesn’t quit until he loses his job.
The person addicted to pain meds often doesn’t quit until they lose their kids.
The person who is angry & prideful often doesn’t change until the spouse leaves.
The liar often doesn’t change until life is unbearable because of his deception.

SIN BRINGS “DISUNITY” – THE POWER OF UNITY – 1 or 2 witness:  death penalty, prayer, godly counsel

18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”     –    Prayer After the Service

“Father, I pray that they be 1”

Romans 15:5-6 (NKJV) 5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Two Choices:

1. Change – Confront,…  Repent, Turn, Surrender, and Rebuild

2. Failure to Change – Confront, … Excuses, Fight God, and Continue on a destructive path.

Deuteronomy 5:29 [NKJV] “Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!”

• God’s pleading: “Oh, that they had such a heart” …

A spouse pleads, a child pleads, friends & family plead, but have you ever thought about God pleading?  

Luke 13:34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!

• The Arrogance of the human heart: …“that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments”

• How many problems are self created? …“that it might be well with them and with their children forever!”

Our choices affect those closest to us – those we love the most we often hurt the deepest.

We must deal with the Sin in Our Own Heart Before Sin the Camp

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