sf957 - The Danger Of Ensnaring Sins (Genesis 20 1-18)

Genesis 20:1-18

Introduction

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

1A. The Cause of Ensnaring sins

1B. Imbedded sin (Genesis 20:13)

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

2B. Un-confessed sin

2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

3B. Concealed sin

Revealed only under certain circumstances

“We can never know our hearts until circumstances arise to draw it out. Peter did not imagine he could deny his Lord, but when he got into circumstances which were calculated to act upon his particular weakness, he showed that his weakness was there.” (Pink)

4B. The root cause is a lack of faith

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

2A. The Cost of Ensnaring Sins

1B. They will make a coward of you (20:2, 11)

Fear of man will always cause you to sin.

“The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe” (Prov. 29:25, NKJV)

Simon Peter is a perfect example. (Matthew 26:69-75)

2B. They will ruin your testimony before a lost world (20:9-10)

Persistent, repeating sins damage your witness.

Lot is the perfect example. (Genesis 19:14)

3B. They will bring embarrassment on you and your family (20:13)

The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)

4B. They will break your fellowship with the Father

Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

5B. They will injure those around you (20:17-18)

Exodus 34:6-7 And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation.

Isaac repeats the same sin (Genesis 26)

3A. The Cure for Ensnaring Sins

God’s grace!

Seen in God’s protection (20:6)

Ø God is sovereign over all men!

Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Seen in God’s perspective (20:7)

Ø God refuses to view Abraham based on his performance!

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Romans 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Seen in God’s patience

Ø God did not judge Abraham harshly

Psalm 86:15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

We must confess and repent of our sins.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Ezekiel 36:31 Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations.

Lessons Learned

Believers sin

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12, NKJV)

When Believers sin they suffer

Charles Spurgeon said, “God does not allow His children to sin successfully.”

We will suffer from both the consequences of our sin and the chastening hand of God (Hebrews 12:5-11)

When Believers sin others are affected

The sin of one often occasions the sin of others; he that breaks the hedge of God’s commandments opens a gap to he knows not how many; the beginning of sin is as the letting forth of water.

Sinning Believers can be forgiven and restored

1 John 1:9

God controls all men and their sin

Note, (1.) There is a great deal of sin devised and designed that is never executed. As bad as things are in the world, they are not so bad as the devil and wicked men would have them. (2.) It is God that restrains men from doing the ill they would do. It is not from him that there is sin, but it is from him that there is not more sin, either by his influence upon men’s minds, checking their inclination to sin, or by his providence, taking away the opportunity to sin. (3.) It is a great mercy to be hindered from committing sin; of this God must have the glory, whoever is the instrument, 1 Sa. 25:32, 33. (Matthew Henry)