1 John 3:10-15 Concerning Cain

Read Genesis 3 and sing songs about love of God

I would like to start today with a quote from Dr David Jeremiah. “ One of the ironies of modern life is that as our world becomes more connected through advances in technology, our society becomes more fractured and divided. WE are discovering that social media can be anything but social. In fact, much of it fosters animosity and hatred. The impersonal and immediate nature of the technology seems to invite toxicity.”

I know what you may be thinking. I just get on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or whatever to keep up with my grandkids play candy crush, and write Bible Verses. Great for you! My theme this year is Christian liberty, and if that is what you can do on social media than hey, I do not find a verse in the Bible that says though shalt not go on social media. BUT I am talking about any form of media today. Does it drive you to hatred and anger.

Frances Haugen was a product manager of facebook and she quit in May 2021. She testified that the facebook algorithm is designed to generate hate and that hate sells ad revenue and drives the profit margin sky high. She claimed that conflicts caused by hate speech on Facebook caused hundreds of thousands of deaths across multiple countries. It is called viral hate. Hatred of your brother and it is dangerous.

I would like to quote to you from NPR’s Bobby Allyn

Haugen testified before a Senate subcommittee. She provided a clear and detailed glimpse inside the notoriously secretive tech giant. She said Facebook harms children, sows division and undermines democracy in pursuit of breakneck growth and "astronomical profits."

Hatred’s roots are buried deep in pride.

Genesis 4:1–2 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

Did you know that in Genesis chapter 4 there are two different words used for Cain. Actually the first time we see Cain’s name is different than all the other references to him in the Bible. It is very interesting. When Eve sees the son she has given birth to she cherishes that first born son and the first use of his name is the verb form of his name. It means “I have aquired.” She continues. This is the MAN I have been given from the LORD. The proper name for Cain used every other time has a direct correlation to the word spear. All this put together is to say that many scholars believe that Eve is saying this is the promised seed that would destroy the Serpent that would put an end to the WORLD. MY Boy Cain!

Meanwhile the Abel means worthless, vain, breath, or vapor. I have stated this before image being those two boys. Mom names one. My Man my champion my spear, look the boy God promised me. Then when Abel comes, oh look another one, whooptie do! How would you like to grow up in that family, Imagine if Eve had a Facebook. Here is my precious little CAIN IIIEEE PPOOO What a fine looking young man. You should see him throw a football, isn’t he so handsome. Meanwhile Abel is the background. Abel’s like look at me mom, I just taught myself to play the piano. Go away honey I’m busy with your brother. Mom look I trained a horse today. Sorry sweetie but I am posting pictures of Cain right Now, MOM, hey I just solved world hunger. Oh that’s nice, why don’t you play with some sheep as Comb your brothers hair. Some of you had siblings like Cain didn’t you. Mom’s favorite while you were forgotten. In an instagram world that breeds hatred and jealousy.

Both Cain and Abel outwardly worshipped God.

Genesis 4:3–4 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering,

From the world’s perspective Cain and Abel both gave to the LORD. They both looked good. Both of their parents could have been proud that their children were doing right and giving to God. But Abel offered the acceptable sacrifice. We all know that a big part of it, is the without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins, but there appears to also be the issue that man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.

You see what you see on TV is a lie. When I was a child you want to know who I thought was the perfect family. THE COSBY Family! Father was a doctor mother was a lawyer. Big house funny father sophisticated mother. Money morality and a little fun in learning the lessons of a situational comedy. I watched the Cosby Show too much. But little did any American couch know what was lurking in the background. Cosby’s life is clear evidence that what you see in public has little to do with what is happening in the heart.

Cain’s jealousy sprouted anger in his heart.

Genesis 4:5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

Abel should have been jealous of Cain after all He was Cain iiiipppoooo and Abel was yeah so what I got another one. Cain had 1,000 friends on FACEBOOK and his mom loved and liked every picture but that isn’t what matters. Cain became jealous of Abel. I believe the world that hates you is probably jealous of you. You don’t have to keep up with the jones because God is your father and heaven is your inheritance. We shouldn’t be jealous of the mansion on the hill when ours have driveways made of gold.

God gave Cain a chance.

Genesis 4:6–7 So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

You know how God says that he is not willing that all should perish but that all should come to repentance. God gives everyone a chance. Most people get a lot more chances than they deserve. God gave Pharaoh a chance before he hardened his heart. He gave Pilate and even Sodom and Gomorrah and the people of Noah’s day ample opportunity to change.

Jealous hatred grew into murder.

Genesis 4:8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

That is one of the saddest stories in the Bible. But it is true that jealousy led to hatred and hatred led to murder. You may say that is a big jump but that is the point of today’s message the hatred of Cain is a DANGEROUS THING. Keep away from those things that would cause you to hate someone anyone else.

Children of God do not hate their brother.

1 John 3:10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

Just like in the story of Cain and Abel. John divides all people in two types of children those who are children of God and children of the devil. The truth is that only God knows whose child you truly are. We all once walked as children of the devil and he would love to keep you in his fold. But Jesus can set you free from being the devil’s let’s look at the two characteristics of God’s children and the devil’s children.

We become God’s children through the grace of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

We are saved by Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross and resurrection from the dead, but the proof that you are God’s children is in a changed life. God’s children act like it. Inspect your heart.

1 God’s children practice righteousness.

1 Peter 1:13–16 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

God’s children do right. This was the topic last week. God’s children obey God’s command. This week I want to focus on number two

2 The devil’s children harbor hatred.

John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

Hatred is a characteristic of the child of the devil. Don’t hate people, don’t hate your brother or neighbor who mistreats you. Don’t hate the person who mocks your belief or the person who tries to make you compromise your morality. When you are tempted to hate them, pray for them. Don’t hate the congressman you don’t like or the policeman who gave you a ticket. That is what the children of the devil do.

God’s children love one another.

1 John 3:11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,

We need to cement this message into your heart. Write it in stone right there. It should come natural love one another. That takes overwhelming grace, to love them when they stink. When they act funny. When they are just different. LOVE is a gift from God. You need to love

Jesus commanded it. If you are His child, you will love.

John 15:12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

There is no compromise on this. Carlton I have to give him credit. Love and forgiveness is one of his mottos. I will tell you without compromise. We are commanded to love and forgive. Christians love and forgive. Jesus said it that settles it. None of us are perfect. We all need to work on it. But we should be recognized for it. The greatest evidence of faith in Christ in your life is the LOVE OF CHRIST! If you love Christ, you will be someone who loves your brother your neighbor. I want you to look in your heart. Are you sure that you are on your way to heaven? If you are, you should have the love of God in your heart. Some of you really need to LOVE! I don’t have a list. But the Holy Spirit does. If he is tugging on your heart. YOU NEED TO LOVE! Don’t quench the Holy Spirit. Get right with God in the Love department.

Concerning Cain.

1 John 3:12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

this is the reason we looked at the story of Cain. I will tell you what, the point is. In this world. People look good they may have 1,000 friends on FACEBOOK they may give to the poor be mom’s favorite golden child and everyone loves them at work. But if they have a hatred problem, their heart is as ugly as sin they are a child of the devil. They are in the spirit of Cain. GOD SEES THE HEART, Not the outward appearance.

The world hates.

1 John 3:13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.

The world system is grounded in hatred. Don’t get sucked into hatred. Don’t post your hatred on line. Don’t shout your hatred from the roof top. Don’t sit around the watercooler and talk about how much you hate conservatives or liberals or the Boston Redsox. Don’t hate the sinner, DON’T AGREE OR AFFIRM THE SIN, but don’t you dare hate the sinner, but by the grace of God you would be a sinner on the way to hell too.

Hatred is death, In Christ you are alive!

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

This is the message of the gospel. Hatred sin anger, it leads down the broad path to death. Some of you are flirting with hatred and unforgiveness. Let go of it. I must tell you Romans 6.23 was written for the child of God remember the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. Don’t walk the path of hatred. It leads to a scary place. You must let go of hatred. Aren’t you sick of hatred. If today you think of one person you hate. You need to confess that and ask God to give you that agape love the kind of love that says no to hatred.

Children of the devil wallow in death, God’s children are alive!

Ephesians 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,

God has called us from death to life.

1 John 3:15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

If you hate your brother you are no better than Cain. Your hatred is murder!

Jesus said hatred equals murder.

Matthew 5:21–22 You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

Think about those words. Think about them hard. Look deep in you heart. Is there anyone you hate, that you won’t forget, do you harbor anger against a person or group of people. Have you treated someone like a child of the devil. It is time to come to the altar and confess. It should be a crowded altar today. I am going to pray about my heart, if God is working on your heart will you join me. Please don’t unless you feel the spirit leading

LET LOVE WIN!

John 15:13–14 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.