Tag Archive - Sin

Daily David, Week 11, Day 4

November 10, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

Today, we look at Hebrews 12:1-12. These verses give encouragement when going through difficult times.

What does it mean to throw off everything that hinders us (12:1)?

It means to get rid of everything in our life that keeps us from experiencing an intimate relationship with God.

Another challenge is that we sometimes put ourselves in the place of God. We think we need to do more than God has called us to do. But when we do more than what God has called us to do, it gives us less time to do that which he has called us to and we do not do it as well.

Where do we fix our eyes (12:2)? What was Jesus’ focus when he walked this earth (12:2)? Why was it not easy for Jesus to keep his focus (12:3)?

We fix our eyes on Jesus. When Jesus walked this earth he kept his eye on the Father’s will which was to die on the cross for the sins of the world. But Jesus constantly had distractions. Satan was out to distract him. He had many good things he was doing on the earth like healing people and preaching incredible sermons. But none of those things were the ultimate purpose for which he was sent.

What might we remember when we go through suffering to help us endure (12:4-7)?

We remember that Jesus suffered. We also remember that God disciplines those that he loves. A parent that fails to discipline their children would be considered a neglectful parent. Discipline is not pleasant to go through as a child, but it is for the ultimate good of that child. It is really hard for that child to understand it when that child is going through it.

Why is discipline considered loving (12:8-11)? What does a person’s reaction to hardship reveal about them?

The person will learn from the discipline and will have a fuller and more peaceful life as a result. A persons reaction to discipline will reveal the type of relationship they have with the Lord.

What have you learned in your life through hardship?

I have learned that God is always there. I have learned to trust him. I have learned to know his peace. I have learned that what I think is bad is often for my good and that all things work for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purpose.

Daily David, Week 9, Day 4

October 27, 2011 in Posts with 0 Comments

Our readings today are from Mark 12:35-40, Luke 1:29-33, Romans 1:1-6, Revelation 22:16-21.

Whose kingdom did the people of Jesus’ day expect the Messiah to reestablish?

David’s kingdom. The expected the Messiah to be a political leader who would restore their freedom from the foreign occupation of the Romans.

What does it mean that David would call the Messiah “Lord” (Mark 12:37)?

It means the Messiah would be one who was even greater than David himself. His kingdom would surpass David’s kingdom.

Why do most people seek honor (12:38-40)?

People seek honor to be recognized. We want approval from others. Recognition will boost our ego and give us a greater sense of worth. If we don’t find our worth and significance in Jesus we will look for it in other ways.

What do you think it means that the throne of David will be given to Jesus (Luke 1:32)?

It is the throne promised to David that God would establish forever. The throne is that of a servant. It is the throne that he will reign over God’s people. In the Old Testament God’s people were the people of Israel. But now God’s people has become those who have received Jesus as Savior by faith.

Who Son is Jesus according to the human nature (Romans 1:3)? According to the divine nature (1:4)? What did Jesus do that David never did (Romans 1:4)?

According to the human nature he was a son of David. According to the divine nature he is the son of God. Jesus rose from the dead. But David is still buried in the grave.

What is the holy city described Revelation 22:19 where Jesus, son of David, will reign for eternity (see Revelation 21:1-4)?

It is the city of Jerusalem. But it is not David’s Jerusalem. It is the new Jerusalem. God is present in this new Jerusalem in an even greater way than he was present in the temple in the old Jerusalem. This new Jerusalem is where all God’s people will dwell.

Some thoughts on sin

October 19, 2011 in Weekly Email with 0 Comments

Whether we admit it or not, we are all experts on the subject of sin. Unfortunately, we are experts for all the wrong reasons. It is a topic we know all too well.

Sin is something that must be dealt with. Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death. Sin is what separates us from God and creates a barrier between us.

I share with you this week’s email, some thoughts on sin from last Sunday’s message on David and Bathsheba.

  • We like sin. Sin tastes good and feels good. There is no doubt that sin brings pleasure. It is desirous.

  • Sin is debt. There is literally hell to pay for sin. We might receive pleasure from sin upfront, but there is a cost that follows. Long after the pleasure we derived from our sin is gone, we will still be paying the consequences.

  • Sin has an irresistible pull. As irrational as it may be, we are still attracted to sin. If David had knew what his sin with Bathsheba would cost him, he would have ran as fast as he could. But the pull of sin is so strong, we let our guard down, and forget the consequences.

  • We can try to resist. There are certainly efforts we can make to avoid sin. We can get an accountability partner who will pray with and for us while holding us accountable for our actions. We can safeguard ourselves by avoiding situations where we are tempted towards sin. These are good, but . . .

  • The only thing that overcomes temptation is divine power. As much as we rely upon human will-power for over-coming temptation, we will eventually fall without God’s divine power. This is why Jesus teaches us to pray, lead us not into temptation. Jesu knows that without the Spirit of God at work in us we will never be able to overcome temptation.

  • When you stumble into sin, admit it. Sin loves to hide in the dark. It does not want to be exposed. When the time comes that you fall into sin, don’t keep it inside. Confess it to another believer or pastor. Write it down. Don’t make excuses or try to rationalize it. Just come clean. Do more than just think thoughts about how you are sorry. Externalize it. Until you get it out of you, it is going to continue to hurt you.

  • After you admit your sin, ask God for forgiveness. Don’t ask for forgiveness expecting him to forgive you. There is nothing that you have done to make you worthy of God’s forgiveness. It is not God’s obligation to forgive you. There is no reason he should forgive you. Ask humbly. Appeal to his mercy and kindness.

  • Receive God’s forgiveness by faith. Know that your sins are forgiven because Jesus died on the cross. There is no sin that God cannot forgive. If God can forgive David, who was a murderer and adulterer, then he can forgive you. To say that my sin is so bad that God cannot forgive me is to say that the cross is not sufficient enough. It is to say that Jesus needed to do more than be beaten and die an excruciatingly painful death. Don’t think your sin is so bad that God’s love cannot cover it.

  • Make restitution for your sins. You can see the word restore. Making restitution is about making right was is wrong. Unfortunately, sometimes we cannot fully restore the damage we have done. In these moments we do everything that we can in our power no matter how much it costs us, trusting God will do the rest of the work.

  • Live a 180° life. This is what we call repentance. In the ancient Greek of the New Testament the word for repentance means to turn around and go the other direction. When I receive God’s forgiveness, I now seek to live differently than I lived before. I take a different road to travel. Jesus has given me a new life and a fresh start. I desire to honor him by doing everything possible to avoid going down the same road again and falling into that sin.

Avoiding Sin

October 17, 2011 in Sermons with 0 Comments

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Sin is fun, but there is literally hell to pay. The cost of sin is never upfront. We always pay on the back side. There is nothing rational about sin. There is just such a gravitational pull towards it.

In this message we will talk about what sin is, what sin does, how to avoid it, and what to do when we fall into it. The reading for today is the infamous story of David and Bathsheba found in 2 Samuel 11-12.

Daily David, Week 7, Day 5

October 14, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

As we explore the topic of sin this week, we come to our final reading in Hebrews 12.

What does verse 1 tell us to do with sin? How did sin entangle David? How does sin hinder or entangle us?

Let us throw it off. I don’t imagine a person simply tossing it aside, but throwing it as far as they can possibly throw it from them. Get rid of it so that it will never come back.

David allowed sin to entangle him. When he saw Bathsheba from his roof, he did not flee. But rather he embraced the thoughts of his mind.

Sin will get a hold of us. Thoughts will consume our mind to the point we can’t get it out of our mind. Overcoming sin is not something we can do on our own. We need the strength of the Holy Spirit to help us overcome.

How does verse 4 picture the struggle with sin?

It pictures the struggle with sin as an epic struggle. It is going to take great effort. It may even cost us our life. But we keep fighting. It is the hardest thing we will ever do.

Why is it good to be disciplined by the Lord (12:5-6)?

God disciplines those he loves. If the Lord’s discipline was absent in our lives, then we would question if he really loved us. A caring and loving parent is going to discipline their children. Otherwise they would be considered to be neglecting their duties.

Why is it when we endure hardship, we look for short-cuts and avoid God’s discipline (12:7)? What is the benefit to enduring (12:11)?

Discipline is difficult. It is not fun to go through. It is learning a lesson the hard way. But sometimes that is the only way to learn the lesson. We don’t want to do it that way, so we look for another simpler and easier way. We thrive on instant gratification. Discipline is something that is shunned.

But there is great benefit to enduring discipline. As it says in verse 11 there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. I think it is John Maxwell who says you can play now and pay later or you can pay now and play later. Discipline results in freedom. A lack of discipline will ultimately end up in form of bondage.

What does God want for you (12:12-13)?

God wants for you to be strong. He wants you to succeed. He want life to go well for you. He wants life to the full. God wants you to succeed even more than you want to succeed yourself. That is a powerful thought when it comes to living in obedience and allowing ourselves to be disciplined by him.

Describe how sin is exchanging future blessings for instant gratification (12:16-17)?

Esau traded his birthright to Jacob for a single meal. Later when he wanted his father’s blessing he did not receive it. Sin will provide us temporary pleasure, but there are future consequences to endure. It is like paying on credit. We take the payment up front, but end up having to pay out later long after the initial gratification we received is long gone.

How does a “proper view” of God help us to resist temptation (12:28-29)?

Remembering who God is and what his place is will remind us that he knows so much better than we do. The pleasure we so often seek to attain through our sin does not come close to comparing to the pleasure God seeks to bring us through salvation. It is like fighting for scraps out in the back of the restaurant in the garbage while the owner wants to invite us in for an all you can eat steak dinner. You might need to wait a little bit to get in. But the meal inside will be so much better than what you could find outside.

Also, remembering that God is also our judge. He sees all. He knows all. There is nothing that goes unnoticed by him. We will give an account for all our actions and will pay for them or be rewarded for them.

Daily David, Week 7, Day 4

October 13, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

We turn to the New Testament today. We have look at the impact of sin in the life of David, but Jesus has much to say about sin as well. Two places we will look are Matthew 5:17-37 and Matthew 18:1-9.

What is the consequence of violating God’s commands (5:19)?

Jesus says you will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven. Violating God’s commands will not jeopardize your salvation. You are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. But there is still reward for obedience and consequences for disobedience.

What does Jesus say about being angry with another person (5:22)

It says you will be subject to judgment. It puts you in danger of the fires of hell.

What does Jesus say constitutes adultery (5:28)?

It says to look lustfully at another woman is to commit adultery. We can imply it also applies towards women looking at men as well.

What steps should be take to avoid sin (5:29-30, 18:8-9)? Do think Jesus is talking literally or figuratively here?

Jesus uses what is call hyperbole for emphasis here. But he is not really exaggerating here. Sin is serious business. Sin reaps heavy consequences in our lives. We should not take sin lightly. We typically blow sin off. We know Jesus died for us. We say thank you Jesus and then we move on without much thought. But do not take Jesus’ forgiveness for granted and do not disregard the serious consequences sin will bring into your lie. It will devastate your life if you overlook it.

Is your attitude toward sin – “how much can I get away with?” or “avoid it at all cost?” What is the godly response? Why would “how much can I get away with?” be considered playing with fire?

Too often our attitude is about what we can get away. We try to push the limits. We look to see how far we can bend without breaking. But this is not he attitude God desires. It should not be how much we can get away with in our life. It should rather be about how much we can honor him with our life. If our faith is right and our attitude is right, then our desire will be to have nothing to do with sin and to avoid any potentially compromising situations.

Daily David, Week 7, Day 3

October 12, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

Psalm 51 is an incredible Psalm. It is a Psalm where David is so transparent. His sin against Bathsheba has been exposed. The only thing he can do now is come clean and he does. Here he asks for God’s forgiveness. He asks for God to restore him.

When celebrities and politicians get caught in sin, they are often sorry they got caught. They are not so much sorry for having sinned. But David is a breath of fresh air. In the words of these Psalms we can see that he is not just sorry he got caught, but that he is sorrowful over his sin.

What is mercy (51:1)?

Mercy is undeserved kindness. It is act of giving grace. It is allowing a person to live even though they deserve to die. It is canceling a debt a debtor cannot pay back. It is allowing a person to maintain their position even though their actions warrant removal. To give mercy is to treat someone better than their actions deserve.

When we sin, who are we ultimately rebelling against (51:4)?

We are rebelling against God. God has given us his commandments. Sin at the heart is doing what God has told us not to do. He is our creator and he did not create us to sin.

If I was to build a computer, but the computer did not do what I wanted it to do, it would not be a very useful computer. There would not be much purpose for it. I would either throw it away or tear it down and sell it for parts. In much the same way when we do not do what God created us to do, then we are an offense to him.

What does it mean to have a pure heart? A steadfast spirit (51:10)?

A pure heart is to have a right motive. It is do good simply for the purpose of doing good and serving the Lord. Sometimes we have an agenda. Our motives are not pure. We do “good” for self gain.

To have a steadfast spirit is to remain loyal and true. It is is being true to ourself and to God. It is about doing what we say we will do no matter how hard it might be. It is to not give up and stand strong in the face of temptation.

Why would David need to be worried about being cast from God’s presence (51:11)?

God is holy. He is righteous. He is without sin. God and sin do not mix. David had committed a great sin. When we sin, we are essentially telling God that we don’t care what he thinks or what he says. We are essentially saying, “God, I don’t need you. I think I can do better.”

What is the response to God’s healing and forgiveness (51:13-15)?

David says that he will teach others about God’s goodness. He will speak the truth to others who are engaged in sin, that they might turn from their ways. He says he will sing praise unto the Lord with his lips.

What does God desire of us when we fall to temptation (51:16-17)?

God knows there are times when we will stumble and fall. In these times, God desires for us to turn from our sin and to turn back to him. It is more than just saying, “God, I am sorry, I will not let that happen again.” It is taking a serious hard look at how we got ourselves in the situation in the first place and then doing everything in our power not to let it happen again.

At the same time, no amount of will power is going to keep us from sin and help us resist temptation. Ultimately, it goes back to God. God’s Holy Spirit living in us is the only way to overcome sin. The more and more he dwells in us the more and more we will be able to stand strong. So the more and the more we need to go to the places where we know he dwells, and go less and less to the places we know we are given to temptation.

Daily David, Week 7, Day 2

October 11, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

David had committed the sin with Bathsheba. Now he is confronted with the sin. It is a sin he can no longer hide in the dark. The prophet Nathan comes to confront David. Nathan was the man David needed in the previous chapter to hold him accountable. Today’s readying is 2 Samuel 12.

Who is the poor man in Nathan’s story (12:1)? The rich man (12:1)

The poor man was Uriah. David was the rich man.

Why do you think Nathan used this story instead of telling David straight up he had sinned (12:1-4)?

The reason for using the story was to take David off of the defensive. It was to speak the truth in love. He did not want to condemn David, but for David to be convicted in his own heart.

Why is it easier to point out the sin of others than it is to see our own sin?

Jesus warns against pointing out the speck in another’s eye while failing to see the log that is in your own eye. We resist seeing the sin in ourselves. When we are able to point out the sin of others it will take the focus off of us.

What does Nathan say would be the consequence of David’s sin (12:10)?

He tells David that his family will live by the sword. After this event David’s family was faced with constant turmoil. David would have a daughter rapped and three sons killed.

Temptation does not set out to turn us into an enemy of God, but to forget about God. Not only does temptation cause us to forget about God, it also causes us to downplay the consequences of our sin. How do you see this in the story of David? In our culture? In your life?

One of the reasons we so easily engage in sin is because we fail to consider the consequences of our actions. When we watch television you rarely see the consequences of fornication and adultery. Everyone is usually having a good time. Sin has good “PR.” It has marketing genius. People buy into it, but fail to realize the full cost. We would not sin if we did not think we could get away with it.

Who is the second son born to David and Bathsheba (12:24)? Who would Solomon become?

Solomon was the second born. He would become king after David. He would build the temple in Jerusalem and was known for his magnificent wisdom.

God does not excuse the sin of David and Bathsheba, but how does God still use this for good?

God does not excuse the sin of David and Bathsheba. They would reap the consequences of their sin for the rest of their life. Yet, Solomon would come out of this relationship and ultimately Jesus would be born generations later. God would provide the salvation of the world. There is no greater example of God bring good out of something so bad.

Daily David, Week 7, Day 1

October 10, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

This week we come to the infamous story of David and Bathsheba. This is a story that shows the humanness of David. He was a man after God’s own heart, and yet he is shown to be an adulterer and a murderer. There is such a contradiction in the life of David. He is a sinner. He is a saint. He is both at the same time.

The Apostle Paul would claim to be the chief of sinners (see 1 Timothy 1:15). Yet, there are few who might be considered more holy than Paul. How can this be?

The answer is not found in either David, Paul, or in us. The answer is found in God shown in Jesus Christ. He takes our sins upon the cross and removes them from us. We are saints not because of anything we have done, but because of what Jesus has done for us.

The story of Bathsheba is a story of hope for us. It reminds us that we are not saved by what we have done. If David can be considered righteous in God’s eyes, even though he was a murderer and adulter. God can make me righteous as well. Our reading is from 2 Samuel 11

Where should David have been (11:1)? Where was David instead (11:1)? What does this say about where temptation finds us?

The text says that this was a time when kings normally go out to war. David should have been with the army. Instead David was in Jerusalem at his palace. It also says that he was taking a nap in the afternoon. He had let his guard down. This is where we are usually confronted with temptation and least resistant to it. It is those times we put ourselves in places we should not be.

Who do you think is at fault in this story? David? Bathsheba? Both? When do you think the battle against temptation was lost for David?

It really is both. David certainly is at fault. But Bathsheba is not totally innocent in this affair either. She was taking a bath well aware that she could be seen from the roof of the royal palace.

It was lost when David looked twice. David looked down over the city and he noticed this beautiful woman. But he didn’t stop there. He then asked who she was. David should have turned as soon as he saw her. This was not a road that was going to be good to go down.

At this point in his life, who is David accountable to? What does this story tell you about having someone in your life to hold you accountable for your words and actions?

David is not accountable to anyone. He is the king. The servant tries to warn David telling David this woman is married. But David had a sense of invulnerability. He was the king. Who was going to stop him? He was going to do what he wanted to do.

This story points to the importance of having someone in our life who will hold us accountable. We need someone to be able to speak into our life when we get off course. If we don’t have that person in our life we will likely go down the same road David went down and find ourself in a world of hurt.

What should David have done when Bathsheba sent the message she was pregnant (11:5)? Do you want people to know about your sin? How do you keep your sin from being revealed to others? What is our motivation for concealing our sin?

It was then that David should have owned up to his sin. Yes, it was hard to do. But sin likes to hide in the dark. It loves to be covered up. Sin grows in the darkness. The longer it is swept under the rug, the more devastating its consequences will be.

We don’t want others to know about our sin. We try to cover it up. Sometimes it involves committing another sin so no one else knows. It might mean telling a lie. We think we can avoid the consequences of our sin or we try to delay the consequences. But the truth is that the consequences will catch up to us at some point in time.

List the people who get hurt because of David’s sin?

David, Bathsheba, Uriah, the other soldiers who died with Uriah, David’s son. Later on we will see some other delayed consequences of this sin and other people who are affected indirectly.

What advantage does Joab now have over David (11:14-25)?

Joab now knows David’s dirty little secret. He would certainly be able to use this against the king to his advantage. He would no doubt demand preferential treatment.

How do you think this story ends? A) happily ever after, B) the beginning of the end, C) all’s well that end well, D) a bump in the road. E) other?

The answer I give to this question is other. There were certainly consequences that resulted from this story. However, the grace of God is evident as well. King Solomon would be born to David and Bathsheba and it was King Solomon who would build the temple in Jerusalem. We are in no way going to condone the sin of David in this story, but God does work for the good of those who love him even in spite of David’s fall into sin.

David, Week 7 Study Guide

October 9, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

October 10-16

Avoiding Sin

Memory Verse:

Psalm 51:10–11 (NLT) 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.

Day 1

2 Samuel 11

Where should David have been (11:1)? Where was David instead (11:1)? What does this say about where temptation finds us?

Who do you think is at fault in this story? David? Bathsheba? Both? When do you think the battle against temptation was lost for David?

At this point in his life, who is David accountable to? What does this story tell you about having someone in your life to hold you accountable for your words and actions?

What should David have done when Bathsheba sent the message she was pregnant (11:5)? Do you want people to know about your sin? How do you keep your sin from being revealed to others? What is our motivation for concealing our sin?

List the people who get hurt because of David’s sin?

What advantage does Joab now have over David (11:14-25)?

How do you think this story ends? A) happily ever after, B) the beginning of the end, C) all’s well that end well, D) a bump in the road. E) other?

Day 2

2 Samuel 12

Who is the poor man in Nathan’s story (12:1)? The rich man (12:1)?

Why do you think Nathan used this story instead of telling David straight up he had sinned (12:1-4)?

Why is it easier to point out the sin of others than it is to see our own sin?

What does Nathan say would be the consequence of David’s sin (12:10)?

Temptation does not set out to turn us into an enemy of God, but to forget about God. Not only does temptation cause us to forget about God, it also causes us to downplay the consequences of our sin. How do you see this in the story of David? In our culture? In your life?

Who is the second son born to David and Bathsheba (12:24)? Who would Solomon become?

God does not excuse the sin of David and Bathsheba, but how does God still use this for good?

Day 3

Psalm 51

What is mercy (51:1)?

When we sin, who are we ultimately rebelling against (51:4)?

What does it mean to have a pure heart? A steadfast spirit (51:10)?

Why would David need to be worried about being cast from God’s presence (51:11)?

What is the response to God’s healing and forgiveness (51:13-15)?

What does God desire of us when we fall to temptation (51:16-17)?

Day 4

Matthew 5:17-37; 18:1-9

What is the consequence of violating God’s commands (5:19)?

What does Jesus say about being angry with another person (5:22)?

What does Jesus say constitutes adultery (5:28)?

What steps should be take to avoid sin (5:29-30, 18:8-9)? Do think Jesus is talking literally or figuratively here?

Is your attitude toward sin – “how much can I get away with?” or “avoid it at all cost?” What is the godly response? Why would “how much can I get away with?” be considered playing with fire?

Day 5

Hebrews 12

What does verse 1 tell us to do with sin? How did sin entangle David? How does sin hinder or entangle us?

How does verse 4 picture the struggle with sin?

Why is it good to be disciplined by the Lord (12:5-6)?

Why is it when we endure hardship, we look for short-cuts and avoid God’s discipline (12:7)? What is the benefit to enduring (12:11)?

What does God want for you (12:12-13)?

Describe how sin is exchange future blessings for instant gratification (12:16-17)?

How does a “proper view” of God help us to resist temptation (12:28-29)?

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