Confronting Flagrant Sin in Our Lives

When will you stop choosing to deliberately choose sin over what God has called us be apart from.

You choose to sin because you like it, how it makes you feel

You don’t want to choose God’s way because where is the pleasure in that, it’s painful in self discipline.

I have had conversations with people who say it is easier to sin than not.

So today we are going to be confronting the flagrant sin in our lives.

In scripture we are going to see why it is so important.

In Mark 9:42-50 we are going to see when we are flagrant in our sin in our lives we can no longer salt the earth with the love and message of God; we become useless to Him. We must process the qualities of salt even though it takes painful discipline to God.

Mark 9:42-50 “42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. 44 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 46 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where “ ‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 Everyone will be salted with fire. 50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.””

Pray!

Causes of Temptations

People cause temptation

Your body causes temptations

Your mind causes temptations

Penalty of temptation and sin

Salt Qualities Found in Believer’s

Remember God’s Faithfulness

just as salt was used with sacrifice, it recalled God’s covenant with his people Lev.2:13 “13 Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.”

We should make a difference in the “flavor” of the world we live in

Just as salt changes meat flavor Matt. 5:13 “13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

We should counteract the moral decay in society

just as salt preserves meat from decay

Salt as a Preservative in South AfricaThemes:

Describing the making of Biltong (South Africa’s dried meat), H. V. Morton writes: “The meat, having been cut and trimmed to the required size, is well rubbed with coarse salt to which a small quantity of brown sugar has been added.… If properly cured it will keep almost indefinitely.”

when we lose our desire to salt the earth with the love and the message of God; we become useless to him.

Closing

God requires painful self discipline; just as it did to stay on the cross, Matt: 16:24-26 “24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”

The areas of your life that Jesus is asking for us not to deliberately fall into temptation: overcoming weakness and sin, dishonesty, anger, addiction, lust, doubt, lack of discipline.

You can have the qualities of salt if you just repent and confess.

Prayer at the end :

Prayer for the Church to Be Salt and Light

Themes: Church: Nature; Mission; Reconciliation; Righteousness; Service

Lord Jesus, you have set your church in the world as salt to hinder its decay, and light to illumine its darkness. Forgive us for our failures to be the new society you intend, and renew us by your Holy Spirit. Grant that in a world of alienation your people may offer reconciliation; in a world of oppression, righteousness; and in a world of competition and greed—the freedom of unselfish service. Help us to bring friendship to the lonely, support to the weak, deliverance to the slaves of passion and fear; and to all those despised and rejected by men the steadfast love of God.

For then the people who walk in darkness will see a great light, even yourself, Lord Jesus, the light of this dark world, for your name’s sake.

RFW 7/30/23