23-1112a Transcript

Preacher: Tom Freed

(2:00) Hello. (2:03) Good to see everybody. (2:05) Thanks, John and Kevin, for the scripture readings. (2:09) I got exciting news. (2:11) I guess John’s preaching tonight. (2:14) I hope. (2:19) Let’s support him. (2:21) I know it’s hard to get here Sunday night and Wednesdays, but good to support each other.

(2:28) My sermon’s called Pleasures of Sin for a Season. (2:33) If I could bet on something that I know would happen, it would be 100% guaranteed to happen, (2:40) it would be everybody sitting here today is going to sin sometime in the future. (2:46) Every single person here and every single person that has ever lived in the history of the world has sinned.

(2:54) Romans 3.23 says, (2:58) For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (3:02) So just because you’re a Christian doesn’t mean you’re perfect. (3:07) We struggle with sin all the time like anybody else.

(3:11) I struggle daily and I always screw up. (3:16) The only reason we are justified is because of what Christ did for us. (3:23) We are forgiven because we obey God’s word and we’re trying to do our best to live a faithful life.

(3:31) There’s a saying I heard before. (3:34) It says the difference between a sinner and a saint is that one is forgiven and the other one ain’t. (3:40) So it’s not proper English, but you get the point.

(3:43) Even though we are Christians, we still mess up all the time. (3:48) We still struggle. (3:50) But we’re forgiven because we obey God.

(3:54) So we shouldn’t walk around thinking we’re better than anybody else because our sins have been forgiven. (4:04) A lot of Christians get a bad rap for walking around thinking they’re better than others. (4:11) I don’t think we have that problem here, but that’s not the attitude to have.

(4:16) We instead need to be humble and thank God for how merciful He is. (4:22) If you say you have no sin, you’re deceiving yourself and you make up God to be a liar. (4:28) We claim we have not sinned.

(4:30) We make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives, 1 John 1. (4:37) We also need to be careful as Christians not to walk around thinking we can do whatever we want because our sins are forgiven. (4:46) How many of us think, well, I can do this sin because I can repent of it, you know? (4:54) I can repent later. That’s not the attitude to have.

(4:58) Romans 6, 1 and 2. (5:00) What shall we say then? (5:02) Shall we go on sinning that grace may increase? (5:06) By no means. (5:08) We have died to sin. How can we live any longer in it? (5:12) So that was a problem with the Romans.

(5:15) They thought they could go on sinning and do whatever they want because it’s going to increase the grace that God’s given. (5:23) But we have died to sin. We shouldn’t live in it.

(5:27) I’ve been guilty of this mentality before. (5:30) I’m sure some of you have also. (5:33) You know, we think, well, I’m going to do this, you know.

(5:38) You kind of think, well, I know I shouldn’t but I’m going to commit this sin and then, you know, right after I’m done I’m going to repent. (5:47) Well, that’s not the attitude we need to have. (5:53) If you’re a Christian, you’re way off base, you have this kind of thinking.

(5:57) You may be in danger of losing your soul. (6:00) If we deliberately keep on sinning, after we receive the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, Hebrews 10.26. (6:12) So we cannot deliberately sin. (6:14) We can’t walk around and keep sinning and keep thinking God’s going to forgive us.

(6:21) We all make mistakes and struggle as Christians. (6:24) But let us make sure we are not willfully sinning against God. (6:28) It’s easy to slide down a slippery slope of sin and start thinking you can live like the world and God will continue to wipe your sins away.

(6:40) We need to make sure we don’t stumble and also correct others and help them escape the snare of the devil, 2 Timothy 2.24-26. (6:53) And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach patience and humility, correcting those who are in opposition. (7:05) If God perhaps will grant them repentance so that they may know the truth and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (7:19) It’s not only our job to live right, but we have to help others be saved as well.

(7:26) You may ask yourself, why do we sin as Christians when we know the dangers and consequences of it? (7:35) I wonder this all the time. (7:37) We know it’s wrong, but we still do it. (7:41) We still are overcome many times.

(7:44) Like Paul said, we don’t do what we want to do, what we know we should do, but we do what we shouldn’t do. (7:54) The sin can be a very powerful thing. (7:56) And I would be lying to you if I didn’t say that sin is very pleasurable.

(8:03) As Christians, it can seem like you’re not allowed to do anything while the world is out there having all the fun. (8:10) It seems like everything is a sin when you’re a Christian. (8:16) You can’t have fun, you can’t go out and do all the fun things the world is doing.

(8:21) You can’t drink, smoke, party, all that stuff. (8:26) Even thinking something is a sin. (8:32) Satan does a good job of making sin look appealing.

(8:37) He shoves it in our face 24-7. (8:40) Especially through the media, with movies, commercials, and television shows. (8:46) Some years ago, Andy Griffith was the most popular show.

(8:51) Now look at the shows you have on TV. (8:53) All they do is push everything you can imagine against the Bible, against God’s teachings. (9:02) These programs show how much fun it is, and how great it is to be drinking, doing drugs, partying, (9:08) sleeping around, and getting into any kind of trouble you can think of.

(9:13) They get away with everything because it’s a movie. (9:16) They run around committing crimes and doing whatever they want, and it does seem fun. (9:24) Hollywood also paints Christians in a negative light and mocks God every chance they get.

(9:32) You ever notice in the media, too, how they always make Christians look bad, or stupid, or, you know, (9:40) that they’re really awkward and out there. (9:45) They usually promote everything that goes against God and His Word. (9:50) Sin can be a lot of fun and pleasurable, but that pleasure only lasts for a certain amount of time.

(9:57) The Bible says, pleasures of sin for a season, Hebrews 11.25. (10:06) Choose it rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, and to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. (10:16) So there can be great pleasure in sin, and you can have quite a few fun seasons sewn to the flesh. (10:26) The problem is that everything you do has a consequence.

(10:30) But for every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction. (10:35) That’s Newton’s third law of motion. (10:38) It’s basically, everything you do has a consequence.

(10:43) Every single thing you do, there’s going to be a reaction to it. (10:49) It might not be immediate, but it’s going to happen. (10:54) God made all the laws in the world and the universe.

(10:57) And the third law of motion is similar to one of God’s biblical laws. (11:02) The law of sowing and reaping. (11:05) This means whatever you do in life, whether good or bad, you’ll reap the consequences or benefits of it.

(11:14) Galatians 6, 7-8. (11:17) Be not deceived, God is not mocked. (11:20) For whatsoever a man soweth, that he shall also reap.

(11:25) For he that soweth unto the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption. (11:32) But he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life. (11:38) When you sow to the flesh, it can be pleasurable.

(11:42) But the problem is the harvest of sinful actions is nothing but pain and sorrow. (11:49) Jesus and the apostles used quite a few parables and analogies related to farming. (11:54) Because that is what most people did back then.

(11:58) When you sow your seed in the field, you have to wait months before the harvest when you would reap or collect your crops. (12:09) Just like with sin, it can be fun at the moment. (12:14) But you might not see the results of your actions and pay the penalty until months or years later.

(12:21) I’ve done this where you thought you got away with some kind of sin. (12:25) And five years later, it pops up. (12:30) It bites you and you think, how did this happen? (12:35) Other times it’s immediate.

(12:39) You might pay the consequences that day or night. (12:45) So just keep in mind, eventually you have to pay for what you have done on earth and answer to God. (12:53) So Hollywood does a great job of showing how much fun sin can be.

(12:57) But they fail to show the consequences it produces. (13:01) They love to show how fun partying and drinking alcohol is. (13:07) But they don’t show you the homeless man who lost everything from being an alcoholic years down the road.

(13:13) Or the person dying from liver damage in a hospital. (13:16) Or the lives ruined from a careless drunk driving accident. (13:19) That kills somebody’s life.

(13:23) And makes smoking weed and doing drugs look cool. (13:26) But it doesn’t show you the strung out drug addict stealing for his next high. (13:31) Or the person who overdosed on Oxycontin or some other drug.

(13:37) Or even the person who lost all motivation to do something great because of his habitual drug use. (13:52) So I know at least 5 or 6 people I went to high school with that died from drugs, from drug overdoses. (14:00) It’s probably way worse now.

(14:03) Or you might think, well hey, I don’t do that much. (14:08) I smoke once in a while, I do this and that. (14:10) But it does kill motivation.

It does hold you back. (14:15) You can’t watch one show or movie without a steamy sex scene in it. (14:20) But it doesn’t show you the consequences of an STD or unwanted pregnancy that results from it.

(14:28) Or the emotional and mental pain from failed relationships. (14:35) Even worse is the amount of people who will have an abortion to get rid of the unwanted pregnancy they got in the first place. (14:42) It’s like David when he committed adultery and then committed murder to cover up the sin of adultery.

(14:50) You try to cover up one sin with the other one. (14:54) But the one you’re covering up with is much worse. (14:58) The number of American babies killed by abortion each year is roughly equal to the number of US military deaths in all wars combined.

(15:09) So all US military deaths in all wars combined is 650 some thousand. (15:15) Every single year there’s 650 to over a million abortions. (15:21) So imagine every year how many babies are killed when you look at all the US military lines lost in World War II, World War I, Vietnam, every single war that ever happened.

(15:34) In the US, every single year, that’s how many abortions happen. (15:40) But what about committing adultery? (15:43) Marriage is under attack and Hollywood makes the extramarital affairs seem commonplace. (15:49) But it fails to show the family destroyed and lives ruined by this sin.

(15:54) I could sit here all day and talk about the consequences of sin in people’s lives. (16:03) But Hollywood, you know, the media won’t show you that. (16:08) They’ll just show you the pleasure to get up front, but they won’t show you what you have to pay later on down the road.

(16:14) We need to be careful about what kind of things we sow in our lives. (16:20) Sin will lead to pain, sorrow, and destruction. (16:23) While sowing to the spirit will lead to love, peace, happiness, and joy.

(16:29) And in the end, eternal life. (16:32) Sin may be fun and enjoyable, but like I said, eventually you have to pay. (16:37) You have to pay the consequences for what you’ve done.

(16:41) Sin starts off harmless and innocent, but when it’s full grown, it dominates and destroys you. (16:48) That one drink, that first kiss, one puff of weed, or even that juicy piece of gossip you can’t resist telling somebody. (16:58) Seems innocent enough.

(17:01) And your friends will pressure you and they’ll tell you it’s no big deal. (17:06) One little drink or one smoke won’t hurt you. (17:11) You know, even though sin starts off small and harmless, if left unchecked, it will grow bigger and bigger in your life until it overpowers and dominates you.

(17:21) You may just dabble in a sinful act at first, but the more you do it, the stronger it becomes. (17:29) And it can easily lead to an uncontrollable addiction. (17:35) So those first sins don’t seem, they seem harmless.

Doesn’t seem like a big deal. (17:43) But the more and more you do it, the more of a habit it becomes. (17:47) Eventually it becomes an addiction.

(17:51) This is when sin stops becoming fun and destroys your life. (17:56) It is what you can call full grown sin that will eventually lead to death, physically and spiritually. (18:04) James 1.15 (18:07) And after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin.

(18:11) And sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death. (18:17) So you can see here that sin starts in our mind and grows and grows until we think about it more and more. (18:25) Like somebody who has gotten pregnant.

(18:27) You can’t see the child inside the woman. (18:32) Just like you can’t see the sin inside your mind that you’re thinking about. (18:37) But eventually the more you think about it, the bigger it gets until you can’t hold back and you commit the sin.

(18:43) And give birth to it in action. (18:46) Just like a woman gives birth. (18:49) If we keep practicing this sin, it will continue to grow just like a child.

(18:55) Until it gets full grown and destroys us. (19:00) We can see we need to conquer sin first by attacking it at the root. (19:04) When we first think about it.

(19:08) God says, even if you think about a sin, even if you think about something that is still a sin. (19:15) Matthew 5.28 (19:17) But I say to you, whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with his heart. (19:24) So even if you think about something, it’s a sin.

(19:29) We need to ask for forgiveness. (19:31) Even for the thoughts we have in our heart. (19:34) Acts 8.22 (19:36) Repent therefore of your wickedness.

(19:39) And pray God that perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. (19:44) We don’t have to wait until we physically commit the sin. (19:47) But we need to stop it before it gets to the point.

(19:50) Repenting and asking for forgiveness when we first think about it. (19:56) So that’s the best way to avoid sin. (19:58) When you first think about it, you need to stop it at that point.

(20:03) If you keep thinking about it and it keeps growing, it’s eventually going to turn into action. (20:09) If you fail to do this and start practicing sin, you become a slave to it. (20:14) John 8.34 (20:17) Jesus replied, (20:19) I tell you the truth.

(20:20) Everyone who sins is a slave to sin. (20:24) I can still remember a great example of this. (20:27) Of being a slave to sin from a testimony I heard in Haya years ago.

(20:34) Somebody gave a speech where she mentioned that her alcoholism affected every part of her life. (20:41) It controlled where her money went. (20:42) Where she lived.

(20:44) What she thought about. (20:46) Where she worked and what she did with her free time. (20:51) If you have an addiction, it can control every part of your life like an evil taskmaster.

(20:57) Every thought, every action, and everything you do in life can end up revolving around that sin. (21:04) So when the thing becomes that powerful and addictive, it controls whatever you do. (21:10) It can control where you live.

(21:13) They’re just like that alcoholic, they want to live by a bar. (21:16) They want to have a job where they get off early enough to drink. (21:19) All their money goes there.

(21:22) All their free time goes to drinking. (21:27) If you don’t want, if you don’t do what is right, sin is crouching at the door looking to rule over you. (21:34) Genesis 4.7 (21:37) If you do well, you will be accepted.

(21:40) And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. (21:44) It’s desirous for you, but you must rule over it. (21:49) Just like that, sin is crouching.

(21:51) The devil is also looking for his chance to devour you. (21:56) 1 Peter 5.8 (21:58) Be sober minded, be watchful. (22:00) Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

(22:08) Look and see the devil is trying to get us. (22:11) The sin is trying to overpower us. (22:15) If you don’t get control of it, it will devour you.

(22:19) Physically, spiritually, emotionally. (22:22) Like a cancer to eat away at your life. (22:25) So you have a choice to make in your life.

(22:28) You can be a slave to sin or a slave to God. (22:31) Romans 6.16 (22:33) Do not know that if you present yourself to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one who you obey. (22:41) Either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness.

(22:49) So I’ve had in my life many times where I enjoyed the pleasures of sin for a season. (22:57) Or maybe quite a few seasons. (23:01) You know, I found that sin only brings temporary pleasure.

(23:06) It can be fun in the moment, but it never satisfies you. (23:11) You can never truly be satisfied by sin. (23:14) You’ll keep wanting more and more.

(23:18) Proverbs 27.20 (23:20) Death and destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man. (23:30) So we can see that man’s never satisfied. (23:35) You’ll never get enough of a certain sin to bring complete satisfaction.

(23:41) No matter how much you indulge yourself. (23:44) You’ll always want more. (23:46) Jim made a great point in one of his sermons when he talked about King Solomon and his many wives and concubines.

(23:53) He said if you’re not satisfied with one woman, you won’t be satisfied with a thousand. (23:59) Solomon had 300 wives and 700 concubines. (24:03) And I’m sure he still was looking for more.

(24:07) Just like Solomon, some people are never satisfied. (24:11) Even with billions of dollars. (24:14) Look at all these billionaires.

(24:17) You gotta wonder, at what point do you have enough money? (24:21) You think a billion dollars would be enough, but they want more. (24:26) Accountless women, unlimited drugs and alcohol. (24:29) Houses, cars, or whatever else you can think of.

(24:32) Most people don’t have access to unlimited things, but certain people that are rich and famous do. (24:41) And they’re never satisfied. (24:44) But a lot of them are not happy.

(24:48) It is never enough. (24:49) The eyes will keep lusting for more and more no matter how much you have. (24:55) I’m trying to find worldly happiness.

(24:59) And pleasing the flesh outside God’s Word. (25:02) And every time it’s failed. (25:05) I’m sure many of you have also.

(25:09) You know, you may think, oh, this is the answer to what I need. (25:12) I’m mastering my prayers. (25:13) So I’m going to do it my way.

(25:15) But your way will never work out. (25:17) Your way is the wrong way. (25:20) And it’s better to find out from somebody else’s mistakes than experiencing yourself.

(25:29) I found the most happiest moments in my life in times when I obeyed God’s Word and had a strong relationship with Him. (25:38) God created us and gave us the Bible so that we can have the best possible life. (25:44) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.

(25:47) Plans to prosper and not to harm you. (25:50) Plans to give you a hope and future. (25:52) Jeremiah 29, 11.

(25:55) There is only true freedom in Christ. (25:59) Galatians 5, 1. (26:01) For freedom did Christ set us free. (26:04) Stand fast, therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.

(26:10) We die to sin and are set free at baptism. (26:16) Romans 6, 4. (26:18) Therefore we are buried with Him through baptism into death. (26:22) That just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life.

(26:31) We crucify our old self with Jesus so they might be set free from sin. (26:37) Romans 6, 5-7. (26:40) Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with.

(26:47) That we shall no longer be slaves of sin, for he who has died has been freed from sin. (26:54) That’s the only way to achieve freedom, is through Christ. (26:58) If not, you’re a slave to sin.

(27:01) Sin will control you. (27:02) Sin will tell you what to do. (27:05) It will control your actions and thoughts.

(27:08) When you put on Christ, though, you become a new creation. (27:13) 2 Corinthians 5-17. (27:17) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

(27:21) Old things have passed away. (27:23) Behold, all things have become new. (27:26) The world cannot offer you what God can.

(27:31) It has nothing to give you but temporary pleasures that lead to addiction, pain, suffering, slavery, and death. (27:37) Do you have a choice to become a slave to sin or a slave to God? (27:43) What choice are you going to make? (27:46) God is merciful and longsuffering towards us and wants us to have a blessed life. (27:51) He offers the best possible life and withholds nothing good for those who do what is right.

(27:59) Psalm 84-11. (28:02) For the Lord God is a sun and shield. (28:04) The Lord will give grace and glory.

(28:07) No good thing will He withhold for those who walk uprightly. (28:12) He loves us so much He didn’t even withhold His own Son from us. (28:16) He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for all of us.

(28:23) How will He not also freely give us all things? (28:28) Romans 8-32. (28:31) If you’re not a Christian, what are you waiting for? (28:34) Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (28:39) Acts 22-16.

(28:42) So true freedom and joy can only be found in the Lord. (28:48) Like I said, sin, suffering, doing things your own way only leads to pain. (28:55) And eventually it will lead to eternal damnation.

(28:58) On the other hand, becoming a Christian and obeying God’s word, you’ll live a blessed life and have eternal life with God. (29:12) So if you would like to join God’s family today, or if sin is starting to dominate your life and you need our prayers, now is the time to come forward.