What NOT To Do Any Time

(i.e. What is wrong with the world today?)

Sermon from congregational readings in Judges - Nov 2, 08 – bk@kluth.org

Judges 21:25 In those days Israel had no king, so the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.

1) Don’t build your life without firm foundations…Build your life on the Solid Rock

Luke 6:46-49 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

2 - Don’t be wise in your own eyes...Trust in the Lord and acknowledge Him

Prov 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Prov 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.

3 - Don’t take the wide gate & broad road…Go through the small gate & the narrow road

Matt 7:13-14 (Jesus said) "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

4 - Don’t sow to please your wrong desires…

Plant the good things of the Spirit

Gal 6:7-8 Don't be misled; remember that you can't ignore God and get away with it: a man will always reap just the kind of crop he sows! If he sows to please his own wrong desires, he will be planting seeds of evil and he will surely reap a harvest of spiritual decay and death; but if he plants the good things of the Spirit, he will reap the everlasting life that the Holy Spirit gives him.^TLB Gal 5:19-25 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.^NLT

5 – Don’t persist in wicked deeds & thoughts…

Turn to the LORD and His thoughts & ways

Isa 55:7-9 Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. "My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.^NLT

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DAILY BIBLE READINGS: This week read Ps 106, Haggai 1-2, Matt 1-3

News headlines from the book of Judges

People disobey God and live distressed and defeated lives

Fat and overweight leader assassinated by left handed killer

Woman pounds a tent peg through an Army general’s head and kills him

Military infighting causes over one hundred thousand troops die

Arguing, feuding, bickering, and name calling between two towns

Man murders 70 relatives to take over family business

Drinking party leads to 1000 people being burned alive

Army commander murders his child because of a foolish decision

Minister goes to prison after getting involved with murder, theft, prostitutes, lust, and deceit

Minister leads other astray through false teaching and idol worship

Homosexuals attack house – man’s girlfriend raped and murdered

Man cuts up murdered girl friend & sends her body parts around the country

Fighting among feuding relatives leads to murder of innocent people.

Young women kidnapped and made to become wives to their kidnappers