Righteous and Right

Introduction

As I sought the Lord on what to speak on this morning, I was hoping to maybe start a nice little sermon series that would lead us right up until Christmas.

I just like getting people ready to have their minds focused on the real reason for the Christmas season. We all know how easy it is to get distracted by all the pretty lights and colorful displays.

Christmas is always one of my favorite times of year because people are generally nicer to one another and more giving of themselves instead of getting everything they can for themselves.

So I was thinking I would like to lean into that a little bit and get everyone started off right with Christmas only being a few weeks away.

My wife had decorations out the day after Thanksgiving, she was ready to go! Tree is up, we even got pictures in our Christmas pajamas as we started our yearly Christmas movie marathon.

Many times I have heard the still small voice of the Lord speaking to me to go to a particular portion of Scripture; this was one of those times. It is not the Christmas message I was looking to preach.

1 Corinthians 10:1–13 NKJV

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Better Men Have Fallen

Sometimes we get the impression that the children of Israel were just a bunch of losers that were to ungrateful and selfish to deserve to be Gods chosen people.

I believe that if we could know some of these individuals as real people and not just as the children of Israel we would find that they were probably no different than you and I, only they did not live in the dispensation of grace as you and I do today, many times theirs sin’s were dealt with quickly and severely.

I believe we might see a different picture, a picture of good people faced with troubles, and temptations, the fault as many of us, to choose complaint, murmuring, manipulation, deceitfulness to solve their problems rather than trusting God to solve their dilemma.

You see that’s our example, that Gods chosen people on the way to prosperity, and promise land got lost in their hearts and minds for forty years running from what we all run from many times, yielding to the masters direction, and provision.

Good people, promised people, chosen people, but on the wrong place.

The Pull of Two Paths

Proverbs 9:1-6 / 9:13-18

Proverbs 9:1–6 NKJV

Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars; She has slaughtered her meat, She has mixed her wine, She has also furnished her table. She has sent out her maidens, She cries out from the highest places of the city, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, “Come, eat of my bread And drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding.

Describes two voices from two houses Wisdom and The Foolish Woman, and they cry out to the SIMPLE.

Proverbs 9:13–18 NKJV

A foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knows nothing. For she sits at the door of her house, On a seat by the highest places of the city, To call to those who pass by, Who go straight on their way: “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”; And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, “Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” But he does not know that the dead are there, That her guests are in the depths of hell.

Who is the SIMPLE? You and Me.

Carnality

Gods creation who are ignorant of the spiritual things, the eternal rewards ( Wisdom ) or the eternal consequences ( Foolish Woman’s House ).

You can read for yourself and see the difference between the two.

You will find Wisdom or the Kingdom of God, offers information, knowledge, direction, rest, understanding, purpose. So complicated and much to inconvenient to consider quickly.

Then the Foolish Woman, who offers every kind of pleasure rather than understanding.

Her knowledge comes easy and from the surface. She seduces her victims and draws them in at their weakest moments only to find themselves deceived and trapped in the belly of hell.

Proverbs 7:12–19 NKJV

At times she was outside, at times in the open square, Lurking at every corner. So she caught him and kissed him; With an impudent face she said to him: “I have peace offerings with me; Today I have paid my vows. So I came out to meet you, Diligently to seek your face, And I have found you. I have spread my bed with tapestry, Colored coverings of Egyptian linen. I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with love. For my husband is not at home; He has gone on a long journey;

Solomon describes her ways. Look at how she traps and seduces the simple.

It is our fall time after time, not so much that we have deliberately ran to sin, but that behind the curtain of what is seen, and felt and touched there is the supernatural, the truth of our every day decisions.

Our destination is heaven but we are many times sidetracked by roads of dishonesty, lust, greed.

Abraham walked down the path of Dishonesty -(see Gen_12:10-20)

Proverbs 26:27 NKJV

Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

Many times in war soldiers would dip pits to trap their enemy, only sometimes in the confusion of battle they at times would fall into their own pit, thus if you are deceitful eventually you might find yourself trapped in your deceit. The same for the rock returning upon you. Soldiers would push a rock up to the top of a hill or cliff to push off on passing opponents, only sometimes in the attempt to defend themselves with their device, they were flattened themselves. Deceit sometimes catches up with us. This is often the problem with lying, eventually you have to lie to cover up your lies.

Proverbs 20:17 NKJV

Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.

David was a Righteous Man in the Wrong place:

The Road of Impurity

– 2 Sam 11:2

2 Samuel 11:2 NKJV

Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.

DISCOURAGEMENT – (Elijah)

(Psa 42:4

Psalm 42:4 NKJV

When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.

(Psa 42:5

Psalm 42:5 NKJV

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.

DISOBEDIENCE- (Jonah)

Jonah found himself continually going down from the presences of the Lord until down brought him to the belly of the fish at the bottom of the sea.

“Sin will always take farther you than you want to go and keep you longer than you want to stay.”

• Righteous People sometimes wind up in Wrong Places!

Make sure that you are following the Lord in all your ways.