Matthew 10:26-31, Hebrews 10:26
Protect Yourself
I noticed Jesus, in teaching to His disciples, said three times
within a space of just six verses, "Fear not" \\#26,28,31\\ Jesus was
telling the disciples that they should not fear what man can do to
them.
Indeed, what wicked man can do to us should be of very little concern
to us. Jesus said in \\#28\\ that ALL they could do is kill our
bodies. The implication is that does not amount to very much.
However, just because we are not to be afraid of people does not mean
we should not have some fear. Some things can harm us much more than
wicked people whose only weapon is death. Such as? Such as sin.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we
have received the knowledge of the truth, there
remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment
and fiery indignation, which shall devour the
adversaries.
Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the
hands of the living God.
Such as sin. If there is anything that believers should fear it is
sin. I think many Christians have it backwards. We fear sin very
little and what man thinks or does to us very much. We must fix
that and in so doing, we must learn to protect ourselves from sin.
How do we do that?
I. Make ourselves strong in the Lord.
Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the
Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may
be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
A. Salvation brings us into great spiritual privilege but with
privilege comes great responsibility.
1. We are responsible to grow in Christ.
2. Like a soldier, make yourself strong in the Lord.
3. A soldier prepares his/her body and mind to understand
and defeat the enemy.
B. How do we do this?
1. Learn truth.
a. Unless you had some wise, godly parents, most
everything you have been taught or were led to
believe is likely wrong.
(1) Evolution - wrong. You were created by God.
(2) The best family time is sports, outdoors, and
having good hobbies. Wrong, the best family
time is at church and at home reading the Bible
and praying together.
(3) Freedom gives you liberty to do what you want.
Wrong. Freedom gives you the opportunity to do
what is right.
(4) The accumulation of riches is the score card of
life. Wrong. Serving Jesus and serving others
is.
(5) Retirement is a time for you to kick back and
take it easy. Wrong. Retirement is the time
for you to do for the Lord what you have not
had time to do before.
b. Most every notion ever planted in our heart was man’s
philosophy of life, but in Christ, we have access to
the truth.
John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but
grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
c. Now, our minds must be realigned to the truth.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world:
but be ye transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2. Live in righteousness.
a. It is amazing to me how much of the Bible deals with
our behavior and just as amazed that it is constantly
commanding us to be a forgiving, tolerant, loving
model of righteousness.
(1) Over and over again, God commands us to be sheep-
like in our behavior even while living in a
world of wolves!
(2) Christians are to ALWAYS take the high road and
there is no high road too high to take.
b. We must settle now that we are going to do what is
right because it is the right thing to do.
c. Not because it pleases us, rewards us, or is
convenient for us.
d. Whatever God in His Word and by His Holy Spirit
directs us to do, we are going to do it.
3. Comprehend salvation by grace based on the death of Jesus
when we believe and repent.
a. We did not get salvation because we were worthy. We
got saved because God paid the price and we heeded
the call.
b. We are not going to keep our salvation because we are
good.
c. We are not going to lose our salvation because we
are bad.
d. Even so, if we appreciate what God freely gave us, we
will honor God all the days of our life.
4. Walk in faith.
2Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
a. The very nature of walking by faith implies we do not
know every bump, curve, and stop sign ahead.
b. Men, if we have to know how it is going to end and
work before we do what you feel God is leading us to
do, we will not accomplish anything for the Lord.
c. But we learn to walk every day in obedience to the
Word of God and listening to the Spirit of God.
d. This process is also called walking in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the
Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of
the flesh.
e. There is nothing magical or mystical about it.
(1) Pray over everything.
(2) Screen every option through the Word of God.
(3) Take a step, then verify it is correct through
the Holy Spirit.
(4) If not correct, back up a step and start over.
(5) If it is correct, then start over from where you
are.
f. When it is finished, you will look backward and see
you have traveled a long journey, every step in the
will of God and under the direction of the Holy
Spirit.
5. Become skilled in the Word of God.
2Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved
unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
a. Every believer has the right and obligation to read,
study, and obey the Word of God as they understand
it.
b. You do not have the right to create your own doctrine,
but you do have the right to obey the Bible.
c. Our history is being re-written but that is what our
country has always been about.
d. That is also the history past down to you through the
name of the Baptists.
6. Practice praying.
II. Remove ourselves from temptation.
A. The Bible teaches the believers that we must distance between
us and whatever tempts us to do wrong.
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not
into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing,
but the flesh is weak.
Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and make not provision for the flesh,
to fulfil the lusts thereof.
2Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but
follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with
them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
B. Every person’s temptations are unique, but the method of
overcoming then is always the same.
1. Separate yourself from the things that tempt you.
2. Expose yourself to abundant doses of prayer and the Word
of God.
3. Hold yourself Accountable to other believers in your
church.
4. Get involved in service to the Lord Jesus Christ.
III. Seek strength in numbers.
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but
exhorting one another: and so much the more, as
ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have
received the knowledge of the truth, there
remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment
and fiery indignation, which shall devour the
adversaries.
A. God’s people need to realize the asset we have in the church.
1. There are reasons God has linked us together into a family
instead of leaving us independent agents in His service.
2. It is because we can be more and do more for Him together
than we can separately.
B. God’s strength is both to us and through us.
1. If our church is godly and Biblical, we grow stronger
there.
a. You will be fed God’s Word there.
b. You will learn and develop your spiritual gifts there.
c. You will practice the character of God there:
humility, submission, leadership, co-operation,
unity, forgiveness, love, etc.
2. If our church is godly and Biblical, it grows stronger
while we are there.
a. Your interaction with others will encourage, teach,
and train others while you are there.
b. You are not just receiving. You are giving and the
more active you become, the help you will give.
C. And considering the close proximity the write attendance to
the church and sin, I would say there is a strong chance you
will suffer much if you give up your attendance there.
IV. Realize that in sinning, we will lose something both valuable and
irreplaceable.
Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man
fail of the grace of God; lest any root of
bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby
many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane
person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold
his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would
have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for
he found no place of repentance, though he sought
it carefully with tears.
A. Esau is not a very inspiring Bible character.
1. Here he is called profane because he did not appreciate
the blessings God had given to him.
2. He sold God’s blessings to him for a "morsel of meat."
B. But, in his later years, Esau demonstrated God’s grace. (When
Jacob returned to Canaan, Esau went to meet him. It was
obvious he had forgiven his brother and loved him. Perhaps
it was Uncle Esau that taught Joseph how to forgive his
brothers!
C. Even so, Esau could not get back the things that he lost.
1. Lost opportunities
2. Lost relationships
3. Lost time
4. Lost blessings
5. Lost gifts from God
In short, take sin seriously!
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