Flirting With Disaster Wk1

Jeremy Elliott

Flirting With Disaster • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

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Flirting With Disaster

Flirting with Disaster

Text: ; ;

Big Idea of the Message: Because flirting with sin can lead to disaster, it’s vital we evaluate the importance of establishing safeguards in our life.

Application Point: Though we’re all tempted differently, establishing safeguards will help everyone avoid allurement to the devil’s sneaky, tasty, flashy bait; a hook is always there waiting.

Sermon Ideas and Talking Points:

Introduction:

We are Starting our sermon series called flirting with disaster.

The things we’re going to discuss are The things that cause people to be broken. I’m not talking broken before the Lord in a good way I mean broken.

The most common problem in the church is brokenness of Spirit.

We all want to carry our fire insurance and get out of hell free cards by saying that with Christian.

In front of certain people will talk about holiness and righteousness, but behind closed doors and sometimes not we want to flirt with things that are an abomination to the Lord, things that grieve the Holy Spirit, things that the spirit in you doesn’t agree with and detests and therefore it causes a conflict inside of our spirit man.

In front of certain people will talk about holiness and righteousness, but behind closed doors and sometimes not we want to flirt with things that are an abomination to the Lord, things that grieve the Holy Spirit, things of the spirit in you doesn’t agree with and detests and therefore it causes a conflict inside of our spirit man.

And inside of your mind, body, soul and spirit there is a fight going on between your flesh man and your spirit man you are the arena, you are the ring, you are the octagon and they are tearing the turf up, they are leaning against the ropes, they are slamming each other against the mat and it is beating you up.

And thus you crawl or slide into church once again on a Sunday

thankful that you made it getting everyone you can pray for you so you feel like you’ve covered all the bases

it getting everyone you can pray for you so you feel like you’ve covered all the bases

Then making a declaration unto the Lord at His Altar that you are going to change

just to get back out and start winking at the enemy

That is flirting with disaster.

We are going to cover every base in this teaching that we can, today is only an introduction into that with a plan of action to become stronger in our Faith.

Big Idea of the Series: Temptation is all around us—lust, greed, and envy.

We flirt with temptation when we don’t set up proper boundaries and safeguards.

In This teaching we will confront each person with what happens when we flirt with sin and provide encouragement in how to protect ourselves from temptation.

1. You Are The Target And The Shooter

Imagine having a target on your life.

Someone is out to get you,and there is nothing you can do about it but avoid them at all cost.

The only problem is that you’re not exactly sure where to hide or how to avoid them; you’re not exactly sure where they are and how much they know or don’t know.

It would certainly lead to a paranoid, miserable life.

The truth is that all Christians do have this problem—spiritually. We have someone out to get us—and we have been warned.

(NLT): 7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

(NLT): 10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.

Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

11 Wisdom will multiply your days

and add years to your life.

12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.

If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.

Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,

for they are my constant guide.

explains that the devil has schemes that he uses to bring us down.

tells us that the devil is like a lion looking for his next prey. The devil is out to get us.

There is a target on our life.

However, we as humans have another problem—our sinful nature.

We can’t sit back and shift the blame to the devil for our failures, especially when we’ve been warned about being strong in the faith and in God, instead of our own flesh.

Why must we be told not to trust our own selves to take on the devil?

Because our flesh is weak!

Our flesh is no match for the power of darkness and evil

(, ).

(NLT): 10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power

(NLT): 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

Paul made it clear in that we still struggle with a sinful nature.

Verses 23 and 24 say,

Romans 7:23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.

24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death

Now, the wage of sin has been paid through the death of Christ;

let’s not get that confused. There isn’t a bounty on our life, but there is an all-out attack, in an attempt to derail us so that we’re ineffective for Christ.

So What Part Do We Play in This?

2. Flirting With Sin

Our problem is that we often like to flirt with sin. When we flirt with sin,however, we’re flirting with disaster. Sin, as we’re told in the book of James, brings nothing but death

(NLT): 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

Its end result is always the same.

So if the end result of sin is always the same Then why do we flirt with it?

We know why.

We’re still living in our flesh, and we feed its appetites because our flesh is ravenous.

The better question is: How do we flirt with it?

We flirt with disaster when we give in to our pride, selfishness, greed, lust, envy, and so on.

So what can we do to protect ourselves from OURSELVES and from the enemy

3. Set Up Boundaries

It is important that we set up protections to safeguard us from our own vices.

It is common practice for a sports team to watch film of their previous game to see where they made mistakes.

The goal is to watch so they learn from their mistakes and don’t repeat them.

This can be a very embarrassing process but a necessary one, if there is to be improvement.

Story: Film of me blocking

Just as it is important for an athlete to watch film so they learn not to repeat their mistakes,

it is also important for Christians to know what trips them up,

what sets them off,

what tempts them,

so they can watch for those weak areas in their life.

What Are Boundaries and Safeguards

Boundaries and safeguards that we establish are merely tactics in an attempt to help and protect a Christian from being in a position of temptation.

Boundaries and safeguards that we establish are merely TACTICS in an attempt to help and protect a Christian from being in a position of temptation.

That means these safeguards and boundaries will be different based upon each individual’s sinful habits.

The safeguards and boundaries are merely a means to an end product (sinning less); they are not the end product themselves.

As Christians, we understand that sin cannot be tamed, managed, or controlled.

Setting up safeguards and boundaries should not be viewed as behavior modification or seen as a measure of spirituality.

The only way to overcome sin is submission to the supernatural (the Holy Spirit), because it’s a supernatural power and battle (flesh and devil).

Believing that our sin could be controlled by behavior modification is to gravely misunderstand and reduce the power of sin,

which results in a misunderstanding of the greatness of the grace of God.

CLOSING

If you’ve ever had a child,babysat,or been in charge of a small group of children, you understand the importance of establishing safety measures.

Why do adults, parents, and teachers do this? It’s done so the children don’t harm themselves or each other.

God has provided safety measures for us

Babies and children are wonderful and a blessing from the Lord, but they can be professional mess makers.

Much like us is baby Christians can make big messes of our spiritual life.

When it comes to an infant. It takes a caring, patient adult to help them mature and grow. As that baby turns into a toddler, the safety measures change. As the toddler changes into a child, the safety measures once more adapt.

With every stage, the boundaries and safeguards are adjusted.

The same is true for growing Christians. The safeguards change as we grow in Christ. We are good at making messes.

It’s important to note that in the Christian life, spiritual maturity does not automatically happen with time and annual “birthdays.” Rather, spiritual maturity comes the more you spend time in the Word of God.

automatically happen with time and annual “birthdays.” Rather, spiritual maturity

comes the more you spend time in the Word of God.

what could these boundaries look like? if a person struggles with anger and loves playing sports for a church league, it’s probably best that that person not play sports if they are unable to avoid “blowing up” on the basketball court or baseball field. Stay away from it—that’s a boundary. If a person struggles with overspending (coveting), then it’s probably best that there is accountability from a parent, spouse, or friend on their spending. A credit card should be avoided; instead, they should have a debit card or cash allowance only.

these boundaries look like? if a person struggles with anger and loves playing sports for a church league, it’s probably best that that person not play sports if they are unable to avoid “blowing up” on the basketball court or baseball field. Stay away from it—that’s a boundary. If a person struggles with overspending (coveting), then it’s probably best that there is accountability from a parent, spouse, or friend on their spending. A credit card should be avoided; instead, they should have a debit card or cash allowance only.

#5 of original 7 men chosen in is a man named Timon...

All seven had to be Holy Ghost & Faith Filled, Honest men. Timon is only mentioned once in all the Bible and it’s right here in verse 6. Timon’s name means- “The price has been paid!”

Regardless of one's behavior, if the blood of CHRIST hasn't paid sins debt, there's no salvation