One Bad Apple

Gen 6:1-9

1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

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.

6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

(KJV)

The Word of God they call it the God’s letter of love. One thing though God would make sure that all can see the activity of the evil one.

I have a hunch that some of us might take the devil for granted. So we have verses in the Bible like

1 Pet 5:8

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (KJV)

Seventh-Day Adventist know that the devil is not a red skinned blooded mammal walking around with pitchfork in hand and a long tail. He is an intelligent, spirit being, life force. He has in his focus, the object of his abhorrence mankind. The target of his destruction is the object of God’s salvation.

You find one day you just can’t seem to do anything right. Unforeseen circumstances make you late for work, you boss shouts at you and threatens your job security. You get sick, you bills piled up for no reason, you get bit by a dog, you get your foot stepped on!

You know at times when things happen whose responsible. And when these things happen the world can curse and complain, take out their frustration on others and fuss and blame it on luck and stomp. But we can lift our voices toward glory and ask for divine assistance and with spirit filled courage address the one who is sometimes responsible, look the adversary in the eye and say “Get thee behind me thou Satan!.”

He exists only to see you and I buried in Christless graves—think about it. No wonder scripture cries aloud and says “ Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. ”

That warning goes to the party people person, to the blue collar worker, to the secretary, to the housewife, to the congressman, to the solider, to the gang member, to the drug dealer, to the student, to the boy around the corner, to the Christian, to all peoples. . . . that there is a rebellious mean spirited demonic intelligence seeking your and my destruction.

You can only be aware of his sophistry if you surrender completely to God. Why because the devil rarely works in the open. He does his dirty work through agencies, mediums, nations, individuals and circumstances.

The devil could be working through your occupation, your school, he may be working through your bank account, your house or car, your friends, your mate, the devil could be working through the person sitting next to you or if you’re not really careful the devil could be working through that suit or dress that you’re wearing this morning.

The Bible says that we ought to take him seriously today no matter who you may be. It’s one thing though to take the enemy lightly it’s another to take God lightly.

That’s why God wrote the warning in the Bible! Because says the scripture

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path! In other words Watch him!

I want you to observe his cunning, I want you to know just how he will plan your demise! I want you to escape! I want you to listen.

Now if this is true for mankind in general how true is it for the Christian.

Or are you as one minister put it an individual who belongs to the church of “in my opinion.”

Are you one of those believers who think life is life, work is work, religion is religion. If you think Christianity is just a part of life and not a way of life you got problems.

Why do I say that? I submit to you today that in today’s scripture lesson we find on the most powerful weapons of the enemy.

The Bible says

1 Cor 10:11

11 Now these things . . . they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (NAS)

Our story goes way back in antiquity. During the earth’s beginnings already the devil had it going his way.

· Wickedness of man was great

· Evil continually (thoughts and actions)

· Violence filled the earth

How did it start? I want you to be aware though that the world is saved because of the faithful.

So he had to get some of them to cross over!

Gen 6:1-6

1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

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.

6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

(KJV)

We could’ve called this sermon Beauty and the Beast. The story goes like this the beast comes to introduce to you a beauty! Like snow white an apple that looks so delicious and good but is poison!

· Oh honey he’s so fine!

· It didn’t start with you! It’s the oldest trick in the book!

The devil has always sought to mingle the sons of God with the daughters of men. The descendants of Seth with the descendants of Cain.

He had warned Israel about it?

Deut 7:3-4

3 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. (KJV)

He warned his people about that in the new testament church.

2 Cor 6:14-18

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

(KJV)

Solomon went through that, those wives and concubines almost killed him and cost him his spiritual life! It cost him to apostatize and commit to those false gods of wood and stone.

Israel felt it when they returned from their exile in Babylon.

But you say well Lord, I understand that but you see I a good judge of character. He’s got a good job, she’s well educated, he comes from a decent home, she’s got a good head on her shoulders.

And She’s fine! Plus He’s gorgeous!

The Devil seeks to attack the home first as a means to get to society!

Well I’m married to an unbeliever I guess that means I should leave my spouse!

No the Bible speaks to you (sometimes people marry into a situation where one becomes a Christian and one does not.)

1 Cor 7:13-16

13 And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, let her not send her husband away.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; . . . .

15 Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such {cases,} but God has called us to peace.

16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? (NAS)

(The case of the y. man who was accosted by the Christian y. lady)

I knew a lady who was waiting for a husband to become Christian . . . when he made the move she was still complaining.

Problem is that these folk are not converted.

They marry without counsel or consent. Without the guidance and blessing of God.

(Divorce) used more in the church.

(Wheat and tares)

Work at it! Learn about it what I am talking about Love!

Jesus says

Matt 11:29-30

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

(KJV)

Gen 6:4-6

4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

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.

6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. (KJV)

“Gold, silver, and precious stones existed in abundance. . .They glorified human genius, worshipped the works of their own hands, and taught their children to bow down to graven images.” PP.90

Gen 6:7

7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

There’s one way to spoil good fruit. That is to make sure you got a few rotten apples in the bunch. That’s why you relationships as Christians are very important.

Who are your friends? Do they uplift the name of Jesus or do they despise it?

Who will be you life partner? Who will choose? Will you choose for yourself? Or will you say Lord your will be done?

(brief description of Noah’s time)

(Maybe there were believers at that time)

One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch. Sin is contagious, that’s why it has to be destroy. Another who refuses to let go of the disease will be destroyed with it!

It’s gonna rain, it’s gonna rain you better get ready and better set mind God showed Noah the rainbow sign it won’t be water but fire next time!

Matt 24:38-39

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (KJV)

Many complain if God is so loving how can he consent to the destruction of the wicked. In Noah’s day or any time.

God deeply loved man even in his fallen state. . . God deals mercifully!

He gave them a gospel of mercy in the promise of the woman’s seed! (the coming Messiah)

He gave them a ministry of mercy by raising up different God fearing men and women to proclaim the gospel and warn them against the ways of sin.

He gave them a spirit of mercy to plead and strive with them

He gave them a period of mercy 120 years to get it together and repent of their sin.

He gave to those who would listen an ark of mercy!

Where there is mercy you’ll find God’s grace!

How did Noah fare?

Gen 6:8, 9

8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

9 . . . . Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. (KJV)

What’s the cure for this world’s sin sickness!

God’s grace and mercy

There is a balm in Gilead . . .