Sins of Commission (2)
A Return to Holiness • Sermon • Submitted
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· 9 viewsA continuation of addressing sins within the camp.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
For us to genuinely have personal and corporate revival, we must address the transgressions within our life, those blatant acts of rebellion against God and His Law. Sins that we call, “sins of commission.” (Dr. Gregory R. Frizzell, Return to Holiness: A Personal and Churchwide Journey to Revival, (Nashville: The Master Design, 2000), 49.
Opening Passage
11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Outline
For us to truly be revived, we must address sin in the camp. Whether that camp is a camp of one or a camp of 101, the sin within the camp must be addressed. Revival only comes when God’s people seek Him in repentant faith with a broken heart. As James wrote, But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God and He will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you (Jam. 4:6-10 NASB).
As we through the Scriptures we find several areas of transgression that many may not even realize as sin, but they must be addressed and repented of.
Areas of Transgression that Must Be Addressed in Every Believer’s Life
As a believer, one must clean out the closet rather than come out of the closet, repenting of those sins they are hiding (Eph 5:5, 12)
As a believer, one must address how they are treating the temple of God and repent of those sins against the body (1 Co 3:16-17)
As a believer, one must address who and what they worship and repent of the sin of idolatry (Ex 20:2-3; Mt 7:24)
As a believer, one must address stewardship and repent of a lifestyle of withholding the tithe and offering (Mal 3:8-10)
Hiding sin, abuse of one’s body (temple of God), idolatry, and stewardship are just a few of the areas of needed repentance. We must also stop being lazy in service to the Lord.
As a believer, one must address their faithfulness in service and repent of slothfulness (Pr 13:11)
11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
I was watching an old episode of survivor the other night and there was a contestant that was standing to the side and not doing anything but watching everyone else work. Then he made the comment, that you could have anything done for you if you worded it the right way. He was being lazy and not putting forth the effort needed to survive. Whereas we are called to serve, many would fall into the category of slothfulness. This is not what God has called us to though. He has created us to serve.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Not only are we called to serve the Lord, we are called to work in general and to provide for our families. We find another proverb that warns us of laziness...
6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
The apostle Paul wrote...
8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Not only do we need to address those areas mentioned before and laziness, which is sin, within the camp, we must also address our fascination with witchcraft and the occult.
As a believer, one must address their worship of evil and repent of celebrating mediums and sorcery (Lev 19:31)
31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.
We must stop celebrating evil, witch craft, sorcery, etc., within life. Our human nature is bent toward evil and the things of the enemy.
As Moses wrote about man’s imagination...
5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
The Scripture is clear. We are to eschew evil not embrace evil. As Peter writes, “He must turn away from evil and do good; He must seek peace and pursue it (1 Pt 3:11 NASB). As Paul writes, abstain from every form of evil (1 Th 5:22 NASB). As children of God, we are not to be involved with evil, Do not be mismatched with unbelievers; for what do righteousness and lawlessness share together, or what does light have in common with darkness (2 Co 6:14 NASB). Where many struggles begin within the household of faith and the in the individual Christian’s life is in the first step of compromise.
As a believer, one must address their commitment to God and repent of compromise (Rev 2:14-15)
14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
As Jesus instructed the angel to tell John to write letters to the seven churches of Asia minor discussed within the book of Revelation, we find a letter written to the church at Pergamum. While this church had some good mentioned about it, the part that was telling what was wrong with it, the comprise within it. Too often we find churches that have compromised on the Word of God. Why do we find churches that have compromised? Because, at some point the body of that church began to compromise in their walk, service, and relationship with Christ. Let this not be our testimony.
How many of us have given Satan a foothold in our life, knowing that we are called not to, and do not give the devil an opportunity (Eph 4:27 NASB). It is in the realm of compromise that we begin to fall away from the Lord. Why we do we compromise? We compromise out of pride and selfishness. From the beginning, this is what caused Adam and Eve to compromise. It is what has caused so many to falter in the ministry. This is what has caused to so many churches to falter, so many individuals begin down a path of self destruction, compromise. We must realize we cannot serve two masters. We will either hate the one and love the other or embrace the one and reject the other. We must remain faithful to the Lord and discipline ourselves to be obedient in all areas and faithful in all areas.
As a believer, one must own up to the fact that their sin is quenching the Holy Spirit in their life and the life of the church (Rom 14:23; Rom 7:18)
Who among is guilty of quenching the Spirit of God within our lives through willful disobedience in thought, tongue, and/or action. As Paul writes to the church at Thessalonica, we are not to quench the Spirit of God. How is this done. It is done within two major ways:
(1) We find the Spirit quenched when we do not have faith.
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
We find that Jesus was unable to perform miracles in his own home town because of their lack of faith.
58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
(2) We quench the Spirit of God through willful disobedience to the Word of God
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Sins of Commission
Sins of Commission
Conclusion
Do you have a closet that needs to be cleaned? Are you in need of change within your life? Do you even have a relationship with Jesus Christ today? If not, that’s where it begins; accepting Christ as Lord and Savior. It is only through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit that one comes to cleaning out their closet and setting things in order according to the will of God. However, we must also understand that we can quench that Spirit. In that process, we no longer working with God, but rather we are working against God. As I have told my kids often, help me help you. It is the same way with the Spirit of God. The more we work with the Spirit of God through obedience, we find that the Spirit of God grows within us and provides more victory and power to clean the closet. We must stop hiding sin and repent of sin.