Complete Sermon Notes
Sin In The Camp – pt. 1
The Intro: Why, What, When, Where, and How
-
Ashley Madison in the news.
- The church is a hospital for sinners but not a night club.
A.W. Tozer reminds us: “Where does Christianity destroy itself in a given generation? It destroys itself by not living in the light, by professing a truth it does not obey.”
Why – it deeply affects the church: “Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?” 1 Corinthians 5:6
-
The church is referred to the Body of Christ – sin is like cancer to the body.
Paul asked the Galatian church, “You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (Galatians 5:7-9.)
He is asking, “What’s in your life that keeps you from going on in the full blessing of Christ? You were doing so well at one time. I know you to be a praying people, and you labor diligently to do good works, but something is wrong. I don’t see you growing anymore. Instead, you’ve gone back to relying on your flesh. I don’t sense the sweet aroma of Christ you once had…Something’s hindering you. “What could have persuaded you to settle in this condition?”
Whatever it is, I tell you it’s not of God…Something is clouding you, something you may be holding on to. And it’s causing the Lord to have a controversy with you… I know so many Christians today who once were mightily used of God. These people were devoted, praying, believing saints. But then something happened to them that somehow caused them to be hindered from experiencing the fullness of the blessing of Christ…Often that hindering leaven was a single besetting sin. To all such people, Paul asks, “What happened? What’s hindering the flow of Christ’s blessing in your life? What leaven has crept in?” – “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (Galatians 5:9).
-
Something is wrong – “How is it that while we make such great claims for the power of the Gospel, we see so little of the supernatural in operation?” Duncan Campbell
_____
Why is it so important to address this from the pulpit?
Often, close friends are too caught in their own sin to challenge us, or they want to be liked. If people post things on FB we don’t like, we just “unfollow” them. The media fuels sin, the leadership of our land encourages it, and churches avoid it.
We’ve become very good at avoiding conviction – if a person dares to challenge us, we dilute the conviction saying they’re legalistic, judgmental, and arrogant.
-
If someone who cares for you challenges you, there’s probably something to it.
Sin diminishes the work of the Spirit – praise and worship are stifled, spiritual growth is halted, and joy and peace are no where to be found. Sin is a heavy weight of bondage that affects every area of life.
_____
Sin in the Camp – Joshua 7 – 9 – The Sin of Achan
10 So the Lord said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? 11 Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff. 12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you.
-
Why doesn’t God just judge the person? He does, but the Body is also affected
-
We have to be careful applying Old Testament truths to New Testament believers
-
He uses exposure to turn the Body back to Him
APPLICATION: Exposure, confession, repentance, seek GOD – “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face?”
New Testament – not going to Matthew 18 yet: 1 Corinthians 5 – “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
-
Sexual Sin is destructive – if a person is not disciplined here, they aren’t disciplined in other areas as well. This is the #1 target area.
-
Pride – “not doing something when you should.” So all these churches who think they’re humble because they never address “hard things” are actually prideful.
The person is living a lie – silence only reinforces it [there is a time for silence though]
– “Submission is ducking so God can hit your husband.” B. Moore
-
THE TRUTH IN LOVE is like a sledgehammer to the heart and a blow to the head
1] The person is convicted and returns to God
2] Or you convey the heart of God in the matter
NEXT WEEK [unless we have time]: 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you … 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
-
He is being removed from fellowship to total isolation – God begins to strip away things from their life
- Flesh is the “fleshly nature.” Surgery has to occur.
- We must extend compassion but without compromise.
START HERE: Don’t just think of the church corporately, but us individually.
Sin is Deceptive – it must be confronted:
1 Corinthians 6 checklist – 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers [a spirit of dissension], nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
-
PRO’S and CON’S of the Sin – take some time and make a list
CON’S – FOOLISH DECISIONS – sexual sin, regrets, abortions / TOTALED VEHICLES, JAIL OR DUI’s / PASSING OUT WHEN THEY SHOULD BE GUARDING THEIR FAMILY / DESTROYING YOUR BODY – POISONING IT / DESTRUCTIVE WORDS AND ACTIONS / HARMING YOUR MARRIAGE AND YOUR CHILDREN – see the pain in their eyes / ADULTERY & PORN ADDICTION / LOSS OF INCOME – OR YOUR JOB / BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS / THE FILLING OF THE SPIRIT VANISHES / DEPRESSION AND FEAR DOMINATE / MANY MANY EXTRA PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES / IDOLATRY – MOCKING GOD / TARNISHES THE GOSPEL – SHAMES CHRIST AND OUR CHARACTER / DESTROYS OUR DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYER LIFE … in short, everything is compromised.
PRO’S: “sin feels good for a season”, but when the season is over, there’s hell to pay.
-
Yet God is Gracious – “Return to Me and I will return to you.”
CLOSING LYRICS: I’ll walk through the fire, With my head lifted high, And my spirit revived in Your story, And I’ll look to the cross, As my failure is lost, In the light of Your glorious grace.
