A Little Leaven
Notes
Transcript
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
This persuasion is not from him who calls you.
A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is.
I. Introduction
I. Introduction
a. A little bit of sin can have effects on every ounce of your relationship with God!
a. A little bit of sin can have effects on every ounce of your relationship with God!
b. Some would say it’s a little sin!
b. Some would say it’s a little sin!
1. It’s just a little white lie.
1. It’s just a little white lie.
2. It was just a small peek.
2. It was just a small peek.
3. It was just a sip.
3. It was just a sip.
4. It was just a small puff.
4. It was just a small puff.
c. How do you break up a concrete structure without heavy machinery?
c. How do you break up a concrete structure without heavy machinery?
1. You do it by 1 hit after another hit. Until you have weakened the concrete enough and then it begins to crumble.
1. You do it by 1 hit after another hit. Until you have weakened the concrete enough and then it begins to crumble.
2. Our relationship with the Lord works the same exact way.
2. Our relationship with the Lord works the same exact way.
i. Each time we give in to temptation we have allowed our relationship with God to weaken a little.
i. Each time we give in to temptation we have allowed our relationship with God to weaken a little.
ii. If you continue to allow that “little” sin to creep in before long you find yourself back even further than you were before the Lord delivered you.
ii. If you continue to allow that “little” sin to creep in before long you find yourself back even further than you were before the Lord delivered you.
3. Jesus said that we should not just keep our temple clean, but clean and filled with Him!
3. Jesus said that we should not just keep our temple clean, but clean and filled with Him!
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
II. I need the help of the Lord to reverse the curse of sin!
II. I need the help of the Lord to reverse the curse of sin!
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
a. Jesus wants us to give our burdens to Him!
a. Jesus wants us to give our burdens to Him!
b. God never wants you to fail. In fact, He said that He has plans for you and failing is not one of them!
b. God never wants you to fail. In fact, He said that He has plans for you and failing is not one of them!
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
c. Living for God may not be easy but living for God ought to be joyous!
c. Living for God may not be easy but living for God ought to be joyous!
1. The JOY of the Lord is your strength!
1. The JOY of the Lord is your strength!
Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
2. Living in His kingdom is a joyous thing!
2. Living in His kingdom is a joyous thing!
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
3. What do you mean that we should be joyous?
3. What do you mean that we should be joyous?
i. Does that mean we will be bubbly and happy all the time?
i. Does that mean we will be bubbly and happy all the time?
ii. No, this simply means that we can have a peace of mind knowing that we have a precious promise that lasts for eternity, if we can just put sin away from us!
ii. No, this simply means that we can have a peace of mind knowing that we have a precious promise that lasts for eternity, if we can just put sin away from us!
iii. Paul said that we ought to “Rejoice Always”!
iii. Paul said that we ought to “Rejoice Always”!
iv. We do not have to live downtrodden all of our lives.
iv. We do not have to live downtrodden all of our lives.
a. He is there to help us back up again if we will just turn to Him!
a. He is there to help us back up again if we will just turn to Him!
III. Turn to Jesus!
III. Turn to Jesus!
A. He is the ONLY One that can change your life and pardon your sins!
A. He is the ONLY One that can change your life and pardon your sins!
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
B. We must understand first that He is the only source that can change us!
B. We must understand first that He is the only source that can change us!
C. Then we must follow the steps that He gave us to be changed!
C. Then we must follow the steps that He gave us to be changed!
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
1. Jesus said we must be born again, and to do so we must be born of water and of the Spirit!
1. Jesus said we must be born again, and to do so we must be born of water and of the Spirit!
D. At the end of Christ’s ministry on this earth He told the disciples that day what they needed to do going forward.
D. At the end of Christ’s ministry on this earth He told the disciples that day what they needed to do going forward.
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
And ye are witnesses of these things.
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
E. Peter preached on the day of Pentecost these very things. These steps are still necessary today.
E. Peter preached on the day of Pentecost these very things. These steps are still necessary today.
1. If I have followed these steps and I fall into sin. I don’t lose out with God if I go and find a place of repentance.
1. If I have followed these steps and I fall into sin. I don’t lose out with God if I go and find a place of repentance.
F. Today, what are you going to do?
F. Today, what are you going to do?
1. Are you satisfied living with this leprosy of sin in your life?
1. Are you satisfied living with this leprosy of sin in your life?
2. Or are you ready to give it to God and let Him help you and remove this thing from your life?
2. Or are you ready to give it to God and let Him help you and remove this thing from your life?
G. When you are born again you become a “son of God”!
G. When you are born again you become a “son of God”!
1. The devil’s job is to get you to question your identity.
1. The devil’s job is to get you to question your identity.
i. He tried to get Jesus to identify His identity, “If thou be the Son of God?” Yet , when Jesus stepped on the coast of the demoniac, He was accurately identified as Jesus, “the Son of God”. The devil didn’t as the question in the wilderness because he didn’t know the answer – he asked because he hoped Jesus was uncertain of His identity. Born again believer, YOU ARE a “child of God”. Ignore the confusing questions/accusations of the adversary. He knows the answer. So do you. That is your identity. Act it!
i. He tried to get Jesus to identify His identity, “If thou be the Son of God?” Yet , when Jesus stepped on the coast of the demoniac, He was accurately identified as Jesus, “the Son of God”. The devil didn’t as the question in the wilderness because he didn’t know the answer – he asked because he hoped Jesus was uncertain of His identity. Born again believer, YOU ARE a “child of God”. Ignore the confusing questions/accusations of the adversary. He knows the answer. So do you. That is your identity. Act it!
ii. The enemy has no power over you especially when you are the child of God!
ii. The enemy has no power over you especially when you are the child of God!
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.