Seven Deadly Sins: Wrath 7.7 - June 25, 2010

7 Deadly Sins
7.7 – Wrath

Proverbs 22:24 (New International Version)
Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered,

Proverbs 29:11 (NIV)
A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
 
Ephesians 4:26-27 (NIV)
"In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

What is it?

Why is it such a big deal?

How do we fight anger?

1.    Remember who is in control.Psalm 56 (New International Version)
Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me; all day long they press their attack. My slanderers pursue me all day long; many are attacking me in their pride. When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? All day long they twist my words; they are always plotting to harm me. They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, eager to take my life. On no account let them escape; in your anger, O God, bring down the nations. Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll —
 are they not in your record? Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise-in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? I am under vows to you, O God; 
I will present my thank offerings to you. For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

Romans 12:17-19 (NIV)
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

2.    Remember that you are not a victim of how you feel.
Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV)
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

1 Timothy 3:1-7 (NIV)
Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

3.    Remember that People are precious to God!
Exodus 20:13 (NIV)
You shall not murder.

James 1:19-21 (NIV)
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

Some Questions to Ask:
1.    Am I avoiding deeper issues with my anger?
2.    Do I use my anger to control others?
3.    Do I trust God to deal with those who hurt others or me?
4.    When I become angry, who do I talk to?
5.    Knowing that anger will be a battle we face the rest of our lives, what provision are you making to help deal with anger well?

Seven Deadly Sins: Sloth - July 18, 2010

7 Deadly Sins
7.6 – Sloth

Proverbs 6:6-11 (New International Version)
Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.

What is it?

Why is it such a big deal?
Matthew 6:25-27 (NIV) – Jesus’ Words
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 (NIV) – Paul’s Words
For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.

How do we fight sloth? (As a choice)
1.    Take Proper Rest.
Exodus 20:8-11 (NIV)
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

2.    Work for the Lord, not for men.
This seems cliché but it is true.
Colossians 3:22-24 (NIV)
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
 
Galatians 2:20 (NIV)
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Some Questions to ask:1.    Am I burnt out?
2.    Do I need a break?
3.    Am I battling depression? Is that circumstantial or chemical?
4.    Am I taking advantage of breaks?
5.    Is my diet or exercise hindering my ability to accomplish things?
6.    Do I regularly put things off that should be done sooner?

Seven Deadly Sins: #2 Gluttony - June 20, 2010

7 Deadly Sins
7.2 – Gluttony
Review the history of the list:
 

What is it?

Why is gluttony such a big deal?

5 ways to commit the sin of gluttony (according to Pope Gregory)

1.    Eating before the time of meals in order to satisfy the palate. (Time – When and How Much)
Philippians 3:17-21 (New International Version)
Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

2.    Seeking Delicacies or Better Quality of Food to Gratify the “Vile Sense of Taste.” (Quality)
Proverbs 23:1-3 (New International Version)
When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony. Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
Numbers 11:1-6 (English Standard Version)
Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the LORD and the fire died down. So that place was called Taberah*, because fire from the LORD had burned among them. The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat. We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!”

3.    Seeking After Sauces and Seasoning for the Enjoyment of the Palate. (Stimulants)
1 Samuel 2:12-16 (ESV)
Eli’s sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD. Now it was the practice of the priests with the people that whenever anyone offered a sacrifice and while the meat was being boiled, the servant of the priest would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand. He would plunge it into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot, and the priest would take for himself whatever the fork brought up. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. But even before the fat was burned, the servant of the priest would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast; he won’t accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.” If the man said to him, “Let the fat be burned up first, and then take whatever you want,” the servant would then answer, “No, hand it over now; if you don’t, I’ll take it by force.”

4.    Exceeding the Necessary Amount of Food. (Quantity)
Proverbs 23:20-21 (New International Version)
Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

Ezekiel 16:49 (ESV)
“ ‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.

5.    Taking Food With Too Much Eagerness – Even When Eating Proper Amounts and Not Too Luxurious. (Eagerness)
Genesis 25:29-34 (ESV)
Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.

Some questions to ask in regards to gluttony:
1. Why am I eating?
2. Why am I eating what I am eating?
3. By consuming this, did I put myself in a position where I didn’t trust God?
4. Do I trust God to provide for me?
5. Am I leveraging “freedom” to minimize my convictions?
6. Am I making excuses for what I know is wrong?

Seven Deadly Sins: 7.1 Envy - June 13, 2010

The 7 Deadly Sins
7.1 – Envy

A Brief History of the List.........

Today, we are going to look at Envy…
Envy is the one deadly sin that even sinners don’t like to mention.

Proverbs 14:30 (New International Version)
A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

In the Bible, there are all kinds of examples of Envy causing problems.
• Cain and Able
• Ishmael and Isaac
• Jacob and Esau
• Joseph and his coat of many colors caused his brothers to sell him into slavery
• None more famous than Saul’s Envy of David.

1 Samuel 18:1-9 (New International Version)
After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father's house. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. Whatever Saul sent him to do, David did it so successfully that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the people, and Saul's officers as well. When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. As they danced, they sang: 
"Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands." Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?" And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

What did Saul do as a result of his Envy?
1. He stopped ruling his kingdom
2. He pursued David and tried to kill him exclusively
3. He spent national resources to eliminate the next King chosen by God
4. He showed that he didn’t care about God’s plan, the country, or even his own family. He
only cared about himself. This is where Envy always leads.

Some Questions to ask yourself about envy:

1. Does God have good things for you?
Luke 11:11-13 (New International Version)
Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

John 10:10 (New International Version)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

2. What drives you?
1 Timothy 6:9-12 (New International Version)
People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

3. Are you focused on Temporary or Eternal things?
2 Corinthians 10:5 (New International Version)
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Hebrews 3:12-13 (New International Version)
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.