The Immoral Harden Hearts

Genesis 4:1-8 “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. 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, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 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.” 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.

Cain had a choice. He could have simply exchanged fruits and vegetables for a lamb and went and made the proper sacrifice to God. Cain chose sin.

Honor you father and mother the Bible says. Teenagers do you honor your father and mother? What choices are you making?

You know Pontius Pilate had a choice to make also. Should he give Jesus over to be put to death or let Him go. Pilate found no reason to put Jesus to death. He chose wrongly. Many of us here to day are choosing foolishly. Choosing sin over the protection of God.

David and Bathsheba

2 Samuel 11:1-4 “It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.”

David did not follow the path of duty

2 Samuel 11:1 “It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.”

David (king) was not fulfilling the responsibilities of King.

David takes the path of lest resistance

By stay home he was taking the easy path not the one he should take but the easy way out. David chooses to remove himself from the protection of God.

Matthew 4:6-7 “and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ””

Jesus never’s removes Himself from the protection of God to pursue selfish, or self-serving interest, but remains steadfast in His resolve using the Word of God.

David takes off his armor

Ephesians 6:10-11 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

David leaves himself vulnerable to attack because he had chosen the path of lest resistance and not followed to path of duty.

David gets lazy

2 Samuel 11:2 “Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.”

David was coming off a great victory and now he’s at home just chill’n with out his homies because they are all out at war. It’s said that 3 out 5 Pastors resign after some great accomplishment at the church they serve.

David was laying around all day not doing what he should have been doing and this leads to being where he should not be. See how this things will just escalate if we don’t stick to God’s plan and under His protection.

Proverbs 24:30-34 “I went by the field of the lazy man, And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; And there it was, all overgrown with thorns; Its surface was covered with nettles; Its stone wall was broken down. When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest; So shall your poverty come like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.”

David had a wandering eye

David saw Bathsheba but he did not have to keep looking or even go even further by inquiring into who she was.

Job 31:1 ““I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?”

2 Samuel 11:3 “So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?””

David continues down this sinful trail by having her brought to the royal house.

2 Samuel 11:4 “Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.”

Our sins lead to death

James 1:14-15 “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

This is a drug (LSD) - lust - sin - death

The solution

Psa 119:11 “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.”

Psa 51:1-10 “Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

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.”

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

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