Sermon Tone Analysis

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.

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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!