The Deep End

B.K. York

Topical Sermon

Title:

Don’t Jump into the Deep End.

Introduction:

We are to be in the world, but not of the world. We are also to be the light of the world. But you cannot take a candle and jump into the deep end of a pool and expect the light to remain.

That water is a lot like the company we consistently keep.

By all means, go into the world and be with sinners and teach them the gospel. We can call this the shallow end. You can still stand up and keep your light shining.

But there is a line to be drawn at a certain point.

We can call this the deep end where you can not keep the candle above water. There was a young man who was in the deep end when he worked at a chemical plant. The company he spent 80 plus hours a week with was not godly. The language used and the things they talked about would cause anyone here to put their fingers in their ears.

Thesis:

The goal of this lesson is to show the folly of keeping the company of the unrighteous.

What does fellowship with the unrighteous look like?

(2 Peter 2:18-19) For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

The company of the unrighteous boasts about the follies they have undergone.

They entice you with the lusts of the flesh.

They promise freedom...... Who doesn’t have a desire for freedom in this crooked world?

But they falsely advertise joy and wonder.

They are slaves to sin.

(1 Kings 11:1-3) “Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart.”

We see fellowship with the unrighteous looks like disobedience to the commandments of God. Solomon was to not engage in marriage with these women, but he through God’s word aside to have fellowship with them.

What does fellowship with the unrighteous do to you??

(1 Corinthians 15:33) Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.

The young man’s co-workers at the chemical plant enticed him with their lifestyles. At that point in life, he gave in to their company and their evil ways.

This constant almost 24-hour interaction with the unrighteous, caused him to become a slave to corruption like them.

At that time in life, he gave up all of the morals he had left.

He was not just lost but headed straight down the road to destruction.

(Revelation 2:23) And I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.

When you keep the constant company of the unrighteous, you conform to their ways of life. You depart from what God says is good, and you begin to rebel against the Lord.

God knows our hearts and actions, and He will bring down judgment on all that we have done.

(1 Kings 11:4-6) “For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done.”

(1 Kings 11:11) “Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant.”

Because of Solomon’s constant fellowship with unrighteous people, he then fell away and did evil in God’s sight. Which caused his relationship with the Lord to be taken away and consequences to follow as well.

What we should do with this newfound knowledge?

(Proverbs 14:7) Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

These unrighteous people claim to know how to obtain freedom from the pains of life.

But they only know how to bring more pain. They only know how to continue to be slaves.

(Ephesians 5:11) Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

We are to be the light of the world. Expose the work of darkness instead of jumping into the deep end of the pool of unrighteous living.

Conclusion:

Learn from the plant workers mistakes. Do not jump in the deep end of the pool, where you will keep the constant company of the unrighteous. They do not know the things that lead to eternal life, God does.

Learn from Solomons error. Do not throw the Lord’s commandments aside to satisfy your desires like he did. Lest you meet the consequences for your actions as he met the consequences for his own.

The unrighteous company promises you freedom and pleasure, but you will be enslaved. Keeping their company will cause you to not only lose your morals but will cause you to lose your fellowship with God. The way of the unrighteous leads to destruction.

Stay in the shallow end of the pool where you can keep your candle shining. Where you can stand and not drown.

Call to Action:

What will you choose?