Accepting Responsibility

Ezekiel 18:1–4 NKJV

The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, “What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children’s teeth are set on edge’? “As I live,” says the Lord God, “you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel. “Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die.

Ezekiel 18:30–32 NKJV

“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord God. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!”

Intro:

AG: Presidential Advice lame duck Pres met successor Oval office

in transition near end presented incoming leader 3 numbered envelopes told open them in order when great difficulties

After new Pres had “honeymoon” period w\media & public, US experienced economic downturn. opened 1st envelope. Inside a card read: “Blame me.” So criticized former admin

Then social upheaval brought about a critical domestic crisis. Pres opened #2 envelope. Inside card “Blame my party”

He did so, in an overt display of partisan politics.

A year later, when foreign policy resulted in serious problems at end of rope President opened the third envelope.

Inside, the card read: “Prepare three envelopes.”

Only blame so long before you become responsible

Our society wants to avoid responsibility as long as we can

John Leo U.S. News\World Report: "We are in an era of the abuse excuse, ie victimology - claiming to be a victim so you are not responsible for your actions

So easy to find someone else at fault in Ezekiel’s day did so God’s people in captivity believed being punished unjustly. They were saying, “The way of the Lord is not right”

What’s going on our suffering not our fault

Refused to own up to their sins and responsibilities

We live in a society where racism, classism, sexism,

and other bad isms exist can feel we only victims

Like an attorney looking at various parts of the argument

In our families, the same things holds true. We have difficulty accepting responsibility

1. Stop PLAYING THE BLAME GAME

We are all touched by the hand of the past,

no one is the master of his or her fate.

You didn’t ask to be born to who you were born to

We come into world under circumstances we did not create.

Familiar saying going around in OT

Ezekiel 18:2 NKJV

“What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children’s teeth are set on edge’?

Popular proverb taught what ancestors have done effected us

Involves subtle shifting of responsibility for present disaster, no hope I’m victim of parent’s sins

It is the classic passing of the buck to someone else.

Now to be honest Ex 20:5, 34:7 Jer 31:28 say the sin of fathers will be visited on the children to 3rd 4th generations

Certainly every parent knows our decisions effect our kids

Why being a parent is so frightening

Scripture appears to be complaint about God’s unfairness.

Our parents sinned, so why should we suffer?

Israelites took comfort in proverb because got them off hook.

Note: Evil actions of others EFFECT us but do not JUDGE US God holds us responsible for our actions not actions of others Each generation has opportunity to avoid mistakes of parents Judgment is not a steam roller with no one at the wheel Is Hope God is driving always willing to put on the brake

Who do you blame? For your life

GENETICS, I can’t do this or that because of genes

FAMILY, grew up in dysfunctional family can’t do better

GOVERNMENT, all know how lives worse cause of Wash

SCHOOLS teacher didn’t teach me

Or GOD man said I prayed to stop smoking, and God didn’t take the desire away. He didn’t take away my desire to gamble, & he hasn’t brought back my wife. Religion doesn’t work."

When we play the blame game

Attempt to exempt me excuse me justify me

Try to hide our lives

God won’t play the blame game with us We are effected but not determined by others

Consider the costs of BLAMING

PUSHES PEOPLE AWAY don’t you just love it when someone nags and blames you isn’t that uplifting? NO

HARMS A MARRIAGE if you are blaming your spouse

For your unhappiness, hurt etc. no help for marriage

BREEDS ARROGANCE excuses self, I’d get along

if it weren’t for . . reality is I’d screw life up alone

Add PUSHES GOD AWAY can’t deal with is

Wayne Dyer said All blame is a waste of time.

No matter how much fault we find with another, regardless of how much we blame someone, it will not change us.

The only thing blaming someone does is to keep the focus off of us while we look for external reasons to explain our unhappiness or frustration. We may succeed in making another feel guilty about something by blaming them, but we won’t succeed in changing and moving away from the sin that is making us unhappy.

To preserve unity in our family and church, we must stop playing the blame game. We should also....

2. Accept Proper Responsibility for your life.

Each person is a part of society and each person stands alone

You are unique no one exactly like you

Liberty means responsibility that’s why most people avoid it

You matter to God, in a world where you & I so often only a # God cares about you, created you to respond to love of Jesus

Most bad people have wonderfully good qualities and most good people have some bad as well.

To challenge us to accept responsibility for life Ez 18 3 stories Vs 5-9 tells of person is moral\righteous and acts accordingly, he\she will live

Vs 10-13 if son has a righteous father the dad’s righteousness will not save the son Can’t say parents good got me too

Vs 14-18 If an evil father has an honest son, son will live in his integrity

Ezekiel 18:4 NKJV

“Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die.

Take CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE

We expect science to solve all our problems. waiting new magical pill that will let us eat all the fattening food we want, not gain weight.

Move beyond victim hood.

1) Accept blame when you are responsible.

But don’t buy into another’s blame game stuff

2) Address the root of the problem.

3) Do what is right, whether it "works" or not.

We believe people are accountable for their actions.

God looks at individuals.

Each one will answer for his or her actions.

One life, then death, then judgment. Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

It is possible to change.

All of science can predict from this environment this person

Good news from Jesus is all about how we can change.

Every adult child of alcoholic no have to be alcoholic

If Gospel doesn’t have power to change us is a waste of time.

James 4:8–10 NKJV

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

1991 movie Grand Canyon. rich lawyer tries avoid traffic jam by detouring off the expressway, gets lost in a very dangerous and unfamiliar part of the city. Car breaks down. It’s night, & he manages to call tow truck when it arrives, expensive car is surrounded by gang members who planning to take his car by force, & possibly harm him in the process.

Tow-truck driver, "Simon," arrives, played by Danny Glover. Over protests of gang members, Simon proceeds to hook car up to his truck. Then Simon does something unexpected.

Asks leader of gang to just let him go. "I’ve gotta ask you for favor, Let me go my way here. Truck’s my responsibility, & now that car’s hooked up to it it’s my responsibility too."

Then he goes on, "Man, the world ain’t supposed to work like this. I mean, maybe you don’t know that yet. I’m supposed to be able to do my job without having to ask you if I can. That dude is supposed to be able to wait w\his car w\out you ripping him off. Everything supposed to be diff. than it is"

You cannot determine the hand you are dealt

But you can decide how the hand is played

Ezekiel called people to humble approach to God

Person cannot save self implication is that 1 must face self acknowledge inner condition & fact that no change easily

Because free to act must Develop DISCERNMENT

1 John 4:1 NKJV

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Christian w\out discernment is like loaded 747 trying to land in dense fog w\out Instruments or radios. Lots of noise, a great deal of power, and good intentions until the sudden crash.

develop discernment

ON YOUR KNEES Jas 1:5 lack wisdom ask of God

James 1:5 NKJV

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

IN GOD’S WORD Ps 119:98-101 Your laws make me wiser

Psalm 119:98–101 NKJV

You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word.

Give me better understanding instead of following

A way of trouble

FROM DISCERNING FRIENDS Prov 13:20

Proverbs 13:20 NKJV

He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

Wise friends make you wise, you hurt yourself by going around w\fools

As you are building your life accepting responsibility

Take charge of your life Develop discernment

In America today people get in trouble

By how they deal with $$ and sexuality

Are you a steward of all God has given you?

Are you accepting responsibility for actions?

Listen to how Vs Ezekiel 18:31-32

Ezekiel 18:31–32 NKJV

Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!”

Underline get rid of sins done, truth is all of us come up short

Why Jesus Christ came into world to take our sins save us

New heart and new way of thinking= conversion

God’s Justice is not a balance sheet skewed by forgiveness

My life is not YOUR FAULT

It’s my OPPORTUNITY

No one in all of human history exactly like you

You are one of a kind not recycled

Conclusion:

I must accept personal responsibility for my life.

Not my parents fault or society’s fault that is blame game

Maybe you were blessed to have Godly parents

Must follow Christ for yourself no depend on them

Come to a point where you look back on your past sins with sorrow, and regret. Then you need to confess your sins to the Lord, and desire a new heart.

What’s responsibility do we have for this church?

NO blame someone else, what is your part of where we are?

Are we making disciples are you living proof?

Are we growing in love for God & one another, you proof?

Folks we can lay blame wherever we want, God spoke plainly to Ezekiel “the soul that sins will be one who dies and not those who lived in the past.

They will answer for their own sin and so will you.

We cannot lay the blame for what we do at the feet of another