WHEN SIN TAKES CONTROL
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Genesis 4:1-15
1 Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the Lord’s help, I have produced a man!”
2 Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground.
3 When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord.
4 Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift,
5 but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.
6 “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected?
7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”
8 One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.
9 Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” “I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”
10 But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!
11 Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood.
12 No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”
13 Cain replied to the Lord, “My punishment is too great for me to bear!
14 You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!”
15 The Lord replied, “No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him.
INTRODUCTION:
A- Background
1- History to this point in Scripture.
a. God created everything according to his wise design.
b. Mankind warped creation through rebellion.
(Genesis 3:17-19)
17 And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.
18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains.
19 By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”
(Romans 8:19-23)
19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.
20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope,
21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.
22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.
B- Lessons can be learned from “How it All Began.”
1- We serve an all-powerful God who is also all-wise.
2- Because God is this and so much more, we can trust him with our lives.
C- Sin has created all kinds of problems in human lives. Here are a few we see in our text:
I- SIN WARPS OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WORSHIP. (Genesis 4:1-5)
I- SIN WARPS OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WORSHIP. (Genesis 4:1-5)
1 Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the Lord’s help, I have produced a man!”
2 Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground.
3 When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord.
4 Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift,
5 but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.
A- Sin causes mankind to misunderstand how God can be approached in Worship. (Genesis 4:3-5)
A- Sin causes mankind to misunderstand how God can be approached in Worship. (Genesis 4:3-5)
3 When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord.
4 Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift,
5 but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.
1- We think that we can approach God on our own terms.
a. Cain thought that God had to accept what he wanted to give as an offering.
The requirement of a blood sacrifice had been established in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:21)
21 And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.
A blood sacrifice is necessary to atone for sin.
(Leviticus 17:11)
11 for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.
(Hebrews 9:22)
22 In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.
Offering the work of our hands is useless. (Isaiah 64:6)
6 We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.
Only the blood of Christ can now atone for our sins. (1 Peter 1:18-19)
18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value.
19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.
B- Sin causes mankind to forsake worshipping God and create his own gods. (Genesis 4:16)
B- Sin causes mankind to forsake worshipping God and create his own gods. (Genesis 4:16)
16 So Cain left the Lord’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
1- Mankind has turned away from the true God, because of his sin.
(Romans 1:21-23)
21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.
22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.
23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.
II- SIN SEEKS TO CONTROL OUR HEART AND MIND (Genesis 4:6-7)
II- SIN SEEKS TO CONTROL OUR HEART AND MIND (Genesis 4:6-7)
A- Through allowing anger and resentment to consume our thoughts and emotions. (Genesis 4:6)
A- Through allowing anger and resentment to consume our thoughts and emotions. (Genesis 4:6)
6 “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected?
1- When we refuse to deal properly with our sin through confession and repentance, anger sets in as a defense mechanism.
a. We need to avoid this. (Psalm 37:8)
8 Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm.
(Ephesians 4:26-27)
26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,
27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
(James 1:19-20)
19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
B- Sin ensnares us and will control us if we allow it to. (Genesis 4:7)
B- Sin ensnares us and will control us if we allow it to. (Genesis 4:7)
7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”
1- Sin ensnares and enslaves the sinner.
(Proverbs 29:6)
6 Evil people are trapped by sin, but the righteous escape, shouting for joy.
(John 8:34)
34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.
III- SIN WILL LEAD US DOWN THE PATHWAY OF DESTRUCTION (Genesis 4:8-15)
III- SIN WILL LEAD US DOWN THE PATHWAY OF DESTRUCTION (Genesis 4:8-15)
8 One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.
9 Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” “I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”
10 But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!
11 Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood.
12 No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”
13 Cain replied to the Lord, “My punishment is too great for me to bear!
14 You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!”
15 The Lord replied, “No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him.
A- Sin will lead us to premeditated rebellion that hurts others. (Genesis 4:8)
A- Sin will lead us to premeditated rebellion that hurts others. (Genesis 4:8)
8 One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.
1- Cain allowed sin to control him.
2- Cain planned the murder of his brother.
3- When we allow sin to controll us, others around us are affected in many ways.
(Romans 1:28-31)
28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.
29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.
30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents.
31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy.
a. We have the choice, if we are saved. (Ephesians 4:22-24)
22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.
23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.
24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
B- Sin always winds up destroying our lives. (Genesis 4:9-15)
B- Sin always winds up destroying our lives. (Genesis 4:9-15)
9 Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” “I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”
10 But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!
11 Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood.
12 No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”
13 Cain replied to the Lord, “My punishment is too great for me to bear!
14 You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!”
15 The Lord replied, “No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him.
1- God knows about our sin. (Genesis 4:9-10)
9 Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” “I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”
10 But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!
(Hebrews 4:13)
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
2- God will not overlook our sin. (Genesis 4:11-15)
11 Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood.
12 No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”
13 Cain replied to the Lord, “My punishment is too great for me to bear!
14 You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!”
15 The Lord replied, “No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him.
(Ecclesiastes 12:14)
14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.
(Galatians 6:7-8)
7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.
8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.
(Proverbs 28:13)
13 People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.
CONCLUSION:
