Sermon Tone Analysis

| / // // //Introductory Story/ |

*Overcoming the Sins of Your Past* \\ II Corinthians 7:10

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm.

He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods.

He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target.

Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner.

As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck.

Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it.

He was shocked and grieved!

In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his sister watching!

Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes" But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen."

Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?"

So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper."

Sally just smiled and said, "Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help" She whispered again, "Remember the duck?"

So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several days of Johnny | / // // // // // // // // // // // // // // //Story Illustration//I.

Sin//            a.

Easy//            b.

Fun//II.

Walk away//            a.

Harder//            b.

Less consequences//III.

Explanation of story people//            a.

Brother is us//            b.

Sister is conviction// / |

doing both his chores and Sally's; he finally couldn't stand it any longer.

He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.

Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, "Sweetheart, I know.

You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you.

I was just wondering how long before you would tell me what had happened."

This little story illustrates many of our lives.

We find our selves in a situation that presents 2 options: the first being to sin, which is usually the easiest and let’s face it, the most fun; and the second being to listen to the conviction of the Spirit and walk away, which is the more difficult of the two, but the consequences are small if any.

In our story, the little boy committed a sin by killing his grandmother’s prized duck.

You could say that he is a representation of each of us here today.

Rather than confessing that sin and asking forgiveness, he decided to keep it quiet.

Now enter the sister into our story, which could represent the conviction that told us it was wrong not to confess by hiding the duck and lying.

By the brother’s lack of confession to his grandmother, she continued to bring the sin to his attention until he could bare the sin no longer and confessed.

The grandma in this story can be viewed as symbolic for God, who is always watching.

So how do we overcome the sins that we have committed in the past and stop their power over us?

To begin, let’s look at sin it’s self.

*Sin*

            There are many passages in the Bible that speak about sin.

But what exactly is sin?

I John 3:4 tells us that “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.”

And sin is real.

It is a barrier between us and the Lord.

If you do not have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, then you are considered dead to the Lord by your sin.

We all know what is considered sin as we know what right from wrong.

But how do we know what is right and what is wrong?

Not everyone has the 10 commandments, and even those that have access to them typically do not read through Exodus to find them.

Well, each one of us is born into this world with a conscience.

Our conscience is our guide between right and wrong.

It t | /            e.

Conscience tells us when we approach sin or have jumped into sin// //            f.

Some deny knowledge//            g.

Claim “what is right for me may not be what is right for you”//            h.

Everything is relative//            i.

Even those who don’t know Christ know it is wrong to murder and steal//            j.

Romans 2:14-15// // // // //                        i. Key to verse// // // // // // // / |

ells us when we are approaching danger, or sin, and when we have jumped head first into that dangerous sin.

There are those who will deny knowledge of right and wrong and try to claim that what is right for me may not be what is right for you and vice versa.

Right and wrong are relative in their eyes.

But this is not true.

God has established right and wrong and tells each one of us.

Even those who do not know Christ know it is wrong to murder and to steal.

Where does that come from?

The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 2 verses 14 and 15 that, “Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, [he is talking about the 10 commandments] do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, [and here is the key] since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.”

The “them” in this case is that their thoughts are defending the law not their sin.

As a human being, we know what is right and what is wrong.

The law of the Lord is written on our hearts.

And when we sin, we sin against God.

When David sinned with Bathsheba and broke all ten of the 10 commandments (when he coveted his neighbor’s wife, lived a lie, stole his neighbor’s wife, committed adultery, committed murder, dishonored his parents, and thus dishonored God), he didn’t say “I’ve sinned against man.”

He said, “Against you, and you only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight.”

(Ps.

51:4)  Our sin is not confined to our own bodies, but rather it is a direct assault against God.

I hate to use such a strong illustration, but it is appropriate in this case.

It is like each of us standing right in front of God, and when He tells us not to do something for our own good.

Instead of listening, we spit in His face and do it anyway.

That is why David said that it is against God and God alone that he had sinned.

Some people say that God has tempted them as a test.

They say that God has dangled the carrot of sin in front of their face just to see if they would fall.

But God is never the tempter nor is He the creator of sin.

Satan is known as the great tempter throughout the Bible.

But we cannot stand by falling into sin, saying that Satan alone is | / // //                n.

Can’t fall into “Satan tricked me”// // // // //                o.

James 1:13-15// // // // // // // // // //                p.

Those in Jesus will not spiritually die// // // // // //                q.

License to sin?//                r.

Meginionto// // / |

to blame.

We should not fall into the “God it was not me, it was Satan.

He tricked me,” routine.

That just does not work.

If you are breathing, then you have a conscience.

If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, then you have the Holy Spirit dwelling with in you.

So where does sin come from?

Turn with me to James chapter 1 and verses 13-15.

James 1:13-15.