Standing on God's Truth: The Sin of Idolatry and Sexual Immorality

Good morning. What a wonderful week this was....what a glorious morning this morning was. Waking up to some frost on the windshield as I came into church this morning.

What made it even better was knowing we were going to have Justin’s Baptism this morning

As I said earlier it is now OUR responsibility to underpin him

to encourage him

to edify him

to rebuke him

to correct him

to have tough conversations because we love him and we are brothers and sisters in Christ and as of today family here at CCC

We get to celebrate again next week with Casey Knapp who will be baptized next Sunday

God is moving.....God is always moving but we are listening

I again ask for prayer for the sharing box we are in the process of making.....we are converting an old hutch into the share box....Stephanie has posted some on groupme....if you can help and have not reached out to her please do so

I want to make sure we are all on same page here........God laid this on Stephanies heart and a few others in this congregation and another. They are moving in obedience and you may not be called to help with this particular ministry and that is okay

what I want you to pray about however is if this ministry upsets you

makes you angry

makes you think or say things like

people will take advantage of it

people will steal from it

people will abuse it

yes they will.....if we are able we will speak to those folks but here is what I want you to understand

God didn’t place this on their hearts and and then say to them police this people will take advantage

no He said build it....place it....fill it....pray over it.....I will do the rest

what people do with this is between them and God

it is always between them and God.....He called for this to be done and we are doing it regardless of how people use it and quite frankly how others feel about it

God has laid it on the heart of those who will fill it and check it and donate funds and nonperishable food and warm clothing items to it

if that is not you that is okay but don’t be angry and attack because you are not angry and attacking us you are angry at and attacking God and that my friends is between you and God....He will deal with you and those who take advantage

This morning is going to be tough

If you toes havent been stomped on yet during this series in Romans for many they will be today

This is something we deal with day in and day out

this is something that used to be hidden from society now it is celebrated by society

our kids and those of the world are being taught not only is this sin right but it is something you must support and accept or be ridiculed and attacked in social media and physically at times.....some have lost jobs over taking a stand against this sin

sin is sin

God defines what sin is.......our job is to stand on His Word

Let’s Pray

I am going to again read all of 18-32 this morning like I did last week as I want you to again hear the entire scripture therefore painting the entire picture in your mind and heart

What we covered the past 2 weeks...what we are covering today and what we will cover next week and maybe the week after

Romans 1:18-32

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Romans 1:18–32 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

Two weeks ago we looked at 18-19

vs 18 we talked about God’s wrath revealed against ungodliness and unrighteousness

we talked about unrighteousness is the result of ungodliness

vs 19 God made this clear by setting up natural consequences

Last week we looked at 20-23

vs 20 God’s creation reveals His character

He designed and created the world

humans

all creation to reveal Himself

removing all excuses to claim one does not know God

vs 21 those who reject God become vain...chasing after evil imaginations resulting in foolish hearts being darkened

vs 22 be so careful with your pride

pride always leads to destruction

you are not wise....only God is wise

vs 23 because of their foolish hearts people are chasing their evil imaginations they turn to idols...worshipping the created not the Creator

Today we are going to tackle 24-27

this is a hard truth

This is a truth that will force you to make a stand

there is no gray area here....or anywhere in God’s Word in fact

this is a Truth that will make you choose a side

This is a Truth that stands completely against modern society and tolerance and acceptance

This is a Truth that would get me arrested in Canada or Europe

This is not my Truth....this is God’s Truth so I will boldly proclaim it this morning

For some this will offend you

others will be convicted

some may become angry at me or this church....that is between you and God because it is His Truth that will be proclaimed this morning

Romans 1:24

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Romans 1:24 “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:”

Gave them up comes from Greek word meaning to deliver....much like a judge delivering one found guilty to the jail for punishment

Here we see the result of free will

these folks...like many today....have chased their vain imaginations so long and so hard that God gives them over to their evil lusts and desires

notice God didn’t give them over to satan

God didn’t give them over to sin

God didn’t give them over to the world

God gave them over to their own lust of their own hearts

you and I are wicked in our flesh

we are sinful in nature

our lusts are evil and our desires are sinful

when we do not renew our minds through the power of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit teaching us we follow our own evil lusts and desires

In fact sin comes from lusts

James 1:12-16

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James 1:12–16 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.”

our lusts are not necessarily sinful in and of themselves but when we are drawn away and enticed ......when we do not take them captive and make them obey the Word of God then we sin.....when we follow those lusts

God gives us the power through the Holy Spirit living inside of us as Christians and His Word to destroy our lusts therefore destroying temptation and leading us closer to Him and away from sin

look at what they are chasing and given over too

Uncleanness

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uncleanness comes from a Greek word meaning impurity...physically and morally

lust

luxurious living

extravagant living

isn’t that what our hearts want today

luxury

extravagant

the biggest

the best

the most expensive

we have to have the latest and greatest thing

we have to have the most popular

the most over the top

this is a heart condition

lust of their own hearts leads them to dishonor their own bodies between themselves

this applies to everything

obviously physical stuff

what about pleasure

vacations

things

hobbies

sex

it is never enough...more partners

more beautiful than the next

you can’t watch TV or Facebook or Tiktok or movies without seeing this play out

sex sells

sex speaks to the evil lusts in our hearts

keeping up with the Joneses even in sex

never settle

there is always better to be had

you do you

live your best life

that is the result of evil....lustful desires of your heart

That belief

that lifestyle

then takes you further and deeper than you are ever willing to go on your own

that is the thing with sin

it always takes you further than you would have ever gone on your own

The more you give to your evil...lustful heart the more it demands and the further you move away from God and the closer you move to satan

Look at what God says

Romans 1:25

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Romans 1:25 “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”

changed the truth of God into a lie

what Truth of God

all have sinned

the wages of that sin is death...eternal....spiritual death

God’s holiness and justness requires you to pay your sin debt which you could never pay so you will face His wrath and eternal punishment in hell

however His love sent Jesus to pay that debt for you

giving you forgiveness and salvation if you make Jesus your Lord and Savior and believe that God raised Him from the dead

that is God’s Truth...that is the Gospel

Then God’s Truth moves to living as God lived in Jesus

obeying and growing from milk...Gospel...to meat...sanctified and holy as God is holy

Today we deal with the rejection of one of God’s Truths we are to obey

Marriage and God given sex within that marriage

Genesis 2:24

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Genesis 2:24 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

God established marriage

one man

one woman

the two becoming one flesh through being intimate....making love together

Here is one of the big reasons why sexual sin is so damaging...the truth that sex leads to the two becoming one flesh

not just physically by exchanging dna but spiritually....you are spiritually connected with that person

it is not just a one night stand it is connecting spiritually with that person as one flesh

Hebrews 13:4

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Hebrews 13:4 “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”

Sex is an idol for many

many have

many do

many will chase sex and give up so much for it

it’s all they can think about

it is an evil

lustful desire of their heart

we worship so much more than sex however

we can even worship creation

anything you put before God is an idol

the question isn’t are idols present

the question is will you destroy and kill them in your own life because of God’s Truth so you man honor and worship God Almighty

God’s Truth and character are all around us

the problem isn’t seeing it

the problem is are you willing to kill your desires in order to follow His desires

I Thessalonians 1:9

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1 Thessalonians 1:9 “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;”

turn from idols to serve the living and true God

Do you truly serve the living and true God....not just this church or your idea of God

you should serve God through this church if you attend here but that is not the only place you are to serve God

God is moving here and there are lots of areas to serve God in CCC but you must serve God in your life outside of CCC

It is about your heart not your actions

are you willing to turn from idols to God?

maybe your idols is busyness.....you are so busy you can’t give anything to God even if you want to.....the enemy loves an overcommitted Christian because they are a safe Christian...too busy to do the works God created for them to do

Romans 1:26-27

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Romans 1:26–27 “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.”

Again God gave them over to their evil lusts and thoughts

it is interesting that Paul here mentions women first

the Greek word translated women is really the word that is usually translated female

Why does this matter

why is this important

Throughout history women are typically the last to fall in to moral depravity in a culture or society

so Paul is using this to show us just how bad things were because even the women were morally deprived....even the women were fulfilling their evil lusts and desires.....even the women were chasing vain imaginations

it demonstrated just how evil and sinful this culture was

sounds like today doesn’t it....some of the most evil we see played out in front of us today is done by women

our society and culture have fully rejected God and His ways and are, in my opinion, no different from this time that Paul is discussing here in Romans

our society is evil including the women

that is again why God says to be apart from society

to be different....set apart

to be light in the overwhelming darkness

vs 26-27 specifically talk about homosexuality and the sin of homosexual acts and lifestyle

this sin and lifestyle is evil and sinful

God talks about the sin of homosexuality and that lifestyle many times in the Bible

I challenge you to read Genesis 19 and the story of Sodom and Gomorrah especially if you struggle with homosexual desires

read Genesis 19 if you believe homosexuality and gender confusion and transsexual lifestyles are okay and accepted by God

read Genesis 19 if you feel that God is tolerant and His love means you must accept sin as okay because of love

God doesn’t just talk about it in Genesis

Leviticus 18:22

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Leviticus 18:22 “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”

Pretty clear

abomination comes from a Hebrew word meaning something disgusting.....abhorrence

abhorrence according to websters 1828 means extreme hatred

God hates all sin and has an extreme hatred for homosexuality

See also

I Corinthians 6:9-11

Jude 7

God makes it clear that homosexuality and homosexual lifestyles and acts are indeed sinful....there is no question about that the question becomes will you stand on His Truth

God gave them over to something He hates because they loved it not God

They rejected God time and time again by repeatedly returning to their vomit as Proverbs says

I know that this touches all of us

there are some here that struggle with homosexual desires

there are some here that struggle with gender confusion

there are some here that struggle with tolerance and acceptance

there are some here who know it is sin but refuse to stand on it due to fear of consequences from society

there are some here who hate those who struggle with homosexual sin

God is bigger than your struggle and if you will seek Him and His ways He will lead you and guide you to righteousness here

He will deliver you from this sin and evil

Church what do you worship

it is easy to say here in church with likeminded believers that you stand on God’s Truth and will stand against sin

everyone here will give you an amen and pat you the back and support you with prayer and encouragement

what about outside these doors

homosexuality is a sin.....do you preach the Gospel at a gay pride parade or event

if God calls you to that you better go and preach

what about having that conversation with someone you know who struggles with the sin of homosexuality

will you speak God’s Truth in love and mercy and grace or will you be too afraid they might become upset and not be your friend anymore

what about when you can be arrested for saying anything against homosexuality and that lifestyle

it is coming.....if I preached this message in Canada or Europe I would be arrested for hate speech

it will be here before we know it....will you still stand on God’s Truth then

what about if it costs you a job....many employers are so scared to be sued by those claiming LBGTQ whatever is a lifestyle and something they are born with and must be accepted

not only are the suing but because the legal system is so corrupt with evil and sin they are winning

so because of that they are so scared of the movement that they fire those who stand against it

will you be fired?

Paul stood against society by so boldly preaching the Gospel that they killed him

will you give your life for God if you are faced with the choice of stop talking about Jesus and live or keep talking about Jesus and die

this is real and this is happening all around the world this morning

this is here

inside this church

among those listening online

for sure in our community and schools....all levels of schools both teachers and students

the question isn’t is it real the question is what is your response

maybe God showed you that you have a stronghold sin this morning

a sin you struggle with

a sin you justify

a sin you hide

a sin you love more than Him

will you worship that sin or give it to God and be delivered from it this morning?

Your time is now