Soaring Faith

Victorious

READ: Zechariah 9:9
 
CHALLENGE: Zechariah 9:9
 
Palm Sunday is a victorious day. Triumphant! Jesus comes into Jerusalem triumphantly surrounded by mobs of people adoring him and singing his praises. We need to soak in this theme of victory.
 
 
Jesus asked them to go and untie a donkey for him to ride on. If the owners ask you what you’re doing, just say, “The Lord has need of it”. This would be like us walking into someone’s driveway and taking a brand new truck. Jesus tells us, “The keys are in it and if someone asks you, just say, The Lord needs it”!
 
 
 
 
 
This familiar scene fulfilled an Old Testament prophecy Matthew 21:4-5 - This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:‘See, your king comes to you,gentle and riding on a donkey,and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
 
 
Zechariah 9:10 - I will take away the chariots from Ephraimand the warhorses from Jerusalem, to the ends of the earth.
 
 
Zechariah 9:10 - Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious,lowly and riding on a donkey,on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
 
 
A. VICTORIOUS PRAISE
 
 
1. We Rejoice Over What God Has Done
 
 
Luke 19:37 - When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives,:
 
 
2. We Praise Jesus
 
 
Luke 19:38 - “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”!”
 
 
 
B. VICTORIOUS HOPE
 
 
1. Your King Is Coming
 
 
Revelation 22:12-13 - “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
 
 
Jesus rewards. He is in charge!
 
 
2 Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us.
 
 
· Your King Is Coming to You
 
 
Your king is coming TO you. It can also mean, FOR you! It’s for your benefit that he’s coming. I love the kind of king we have. He didn’t come to be served but to serve.
 
 
C. VICTORIOUS CHARACTER
 
 
Who is this Jesus? I love the description of who He is!
 
 
1. Be Righteous Like Jesus
 
 
To be righteous means that you live in accordance with the laws of God! His character was stellar. Did Jesus fit this description? Our Jesus had no sin. Pilate thought he was innocent. One of the criminals on the cross said, he’s done nothing wrong. The Centurion said he was innocent. Our Jesus did the right thing. In real life, this passage fits Jesus Christ.
 
 
1 Peter 3:18 - For Christ also suffered once.
 
 
2 Corinthians 5:21 - God made him who had no sinfor us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
 
 
 
2. Be Victoriously Saved Through Jesus
 
But this victory over sin is something we need to live out. Revelation 3:21 - To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.
 
 
John 3:17 - For God did not send his Son into the world.
 
 
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
 
 
 
3. Be Humble Like Jesus
 
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Where Are You Going?

READ: Genesis 13:10
CHALLENGE: Think Through Where You’re Headed in Life
A. MISTAKE #1 – WE DO NOT LOOK BEYOND IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION
V10 - Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
 
Genesis 3:6-7 - When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Job 31:1 - I made a covenant with my eyesnot to look lustfully at a young woman.
Proverbs 23:31-35 - Do not gaze at wine when it is red,when it sparkles in the cup,when it goes down smoothly!32 In the end it bites like a snakeand poisons like a viper.33 Your eyes will see strange sights,and your mind will imagine confusing things.34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,lying on top of the rigging.35 “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt! They beat me, but I don’t feel it! When will I wake upso I can find another drink?”
Hebrews 12:16-17 - See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.
James 1 puts it so well when it comes to sin. James 1:13-15 - When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
B. MISTAKE #2 – LACK OF SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT
Vv11 - So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company:
1. The Success Siren
2. Small Steps Make Big Differences
12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom.
C. MISTAKE #3 – DISREGARDING POTENTIAL INFLUENCE
13 Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.
Hebrews 11:24-26 - By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.
1 Corinthians 15:33 – Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
 
 
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Faith& Conflict

READ: GENESIS 13:1
CHALLENGE: Trust God Through Conflicts
Vv1-4 - So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. 2 Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.3 From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier 4 and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the Lord.
A. CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES – IS THIS REALLY A PROBLEM?
Vv5-7 - Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. 7 And quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.
1. Is This Battle Choosing Me?
2. Am I Choosing This Battle?
Are you choosing the battle or is the battle coming to you.
B. MAKE PEACE THE GOAL
V8 - So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives.
Romans 12:8 - If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Ephesians 4:30-32 - And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
C. RESOLVE IT IN FAITH
V9 - Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”
1. Offer Solutions
2. Take the Low Road.
· He’s not controlling
Can you see how he wasn’t trying to be controlling. He put out the non-negotiable where there needed to be change. He suggested a solution. He allowed Lot some say. It’s brilliant.
· His faith is in God
How can Abraham be so at ease with this? He is promised the land of Canaan. Abraham is trusting God. He took matters into his own hands in Egypt and that was a disaster. Now he’s allowing God to direct him.
3. Change Where You Can
Philippians 2:3-4 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Genesis 2:24 - That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united.
I’ll make changes wherever I can. If you want me to pick something up or stop saying something. I try to be very agreeable.What can you do to keep the peace?

The Constant

📖 Embrace Change, Make God Central, and Daily Depend on Him 🙏
In this powerful sermon based on Genesis 12:8, we delve into the challenges of embracing the spiritual nature of life. Abraham, on his journey through Canaan, builds altars dedicated to the Lord, acknowledging God as the constant amidst change.
 
🌍 Embrace God as the Constant in Change: Abraham pitches his tent between Bethel (House of God) and Ai, highlighting life's transient nature. We're reminded that, like Abraham, we navigate different seasons, jobs, and relationships. Wherever we are, God is there; embrace change, trust God, and do good.
🏠 Make God Central: Building altars symbolizes making God central. As we gather around His Word daily, we're encouraged to look intently, continue, and live it out. Let's establish patterns—church, Bible study, and daily reading—to keep God central in our lives.
🙏 Daily Depend on God: Abraham "called on the name of the Lord," emphasizing prayer as a means to connect with God. Prayers involve giving thanks, confessing sins, and asking for help. Gratitude, forgiveness, and seeking God's guidance keep us vitally connected to Him.
 
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This Little Light of Mine

In this episode, we delve into the profound message embedded in Genesis 12:7, exploring the transformative power of faith and its ability to shine a light for Christ. The challenge posed is clear - "Shine a Light for Christ."
Drawing inspiration from the life of Abraham, we witness his obedience and the rewards that follow as God renews His promises. The focus is on Abraham's symbolic act of building an altar in a foreign land, not just a stack of stones, but a powerful declaration of his unwavering belief in God.
As we uncover the layers of Abraham's testimony, we realize the importance of being a good witness, leaving behind a legacy that speaks of faith, love, and service. The podcast emphasizes the idea that our actions become our altar, shaping our testimonies and influencing those around us.
The discussion extends to the concept of sacrifice, exploring how giving up something significant can be a powerful expression of dedication to God. The episode invites listeners to reflect on their own sacrifices, emphasizing the role of sacrifice in deepening one's connection with the divine.
Loyalty to God above worldly influences is another key theme, drawing parallels between Abraham's altar-building and the daily choices we make in a world filled with distractions. The episode encourages listeners to consider the altars they are building in their lives, questioning whether they are dedicated to God or inadvertently aligned with the values of the world.
The podcast concludes by urging individuals to reevaluate their dedication, prompting them to make a conscious decision to shine a light for Christ through their testimonies, sacrifices, and unwavering loyalty to God. It serves as a call to action, encouraging listeners to be intentional about the altars they build in their lives and the message they convey to the world.
 
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A Faith That Does

READ: Genesis 12:5
CHALLENGE: Live Your Faith
A. FAITH IS SEEN IN ACTIONS
VV5-6 - He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. 6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.
1. Make No Excuses2. Respond Immediately3. Obey Completely4. Take Steps
James 2:14-19 - What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food..Faith without actions is an impossibility.
B. FAITH LOOKS PAST IMPOSSIBILTY TO POSSIBILITY
Vv7a - The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.”
1. We Have Faith in the Unseen
Hebrews 11:1-2 - Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
Hebrews 11:8 - By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance,.
Hebrews 11:39-40 - These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, .
2. Faith that God Makes the Impossible Possible

The Common Thread

READ: Genesis 12:1
 
CHALLENGE: Walk by Faith, not by sight.
 
FAITH IS STRONGER THAN THE BROKEN BRANCHES OF THE FAMILY TREE
 
 
Faith is Stronger Than the Branch of Dysfunction
 
Genesis 11:27-30 - This is the account of Terah’s family line. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 28 While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth..
 
Faith Works in the Root of Normal
 
 
     B. FAITH MOVES FORWARD WITHOUT ALL THE ANSWERS (vv1-4)
 
V1 - The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.[a]
3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”[b]
4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.
 
 
 
Faith Moves Us Past Our Comforts
 
Moves Us Past What’s Certain
 
 
2 Corinthians 5:7 - For we live by faith, not by sight.
 
    C. FAITH LIVES BY GOD’S PROMISES
 
Vv2-3 - “I will make you into a great nation,and I will bless you;I will make your name great,and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you,and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
 
 
Promises Are Based in God’s Plan
 
 
Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans.
 
John 3:16 - For God so loved.
 
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.
 
 
Promises Give Us Tremendous Confidence
 
   D. FAITH IS AN ACTION
 
VV5-6 - He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there..
 

Taking a Stand

READ: Genesis 6:5
 
 
CHALLENGE: Stand for What’s Right
 
 
This is a Bible. It’s not old fashioned or out of date. If anything, the Bible keeps us from devolving into the worst mess of humanity. If you want to talk what’s old fashion, it’s sin. Murder was in the beginning. As was immorality and violence and injustice. That’s what’s old fashion in the world.
 
A. YOU DON’T HAVE FOREVER TO GET IT TOGETHER
 
 
V3 - Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend withhumans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”
 
 
1. God’s Spirit Strives with People
 
Job 34:14-15 - If it were his intentionand he withdrew his spiritand breath,15 all humanity would perish together.
 
John 16:8 - When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment:
 
Job 33:14-18 - For God does speak—now one way, now another—though no one perceives it.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on peopleas they slumber in their beds,16 he may speak in their ears.
 
2. Enough is Enough – You Can Push God Too Far
 
2 Peter 3:8-9 - But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
 
B. KNOW THAT SIN IS AN ENDLESS and DANGEROUS SLIDE
 
V5 - The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.
 
1. Sin is an Endless Hallway so Don’t Take the First Step
 
2. Sin Wants More and More of You
 
Romans 1:24-25 - Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
 
C. CHOOSE TO DO THE RIGHT THING
 
Vv8-9 - But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.This is the account of Noah and his family.
Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.
 
· Noah Found Favor
 
Galatians 1:10 - Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
 
Don’t be afraid to be different. I’m not saying, weird.
 
· Righteous
 
To be righteous means that you have a standard that you live by. The standard here is set by God.
 
“The root basically connotes conformity to an ethical or moral standard. It originally referred to something that was straight. It refers to an ethical standard. A moral standard is found in the Old Testament. The standard ultimately resides in the nature and will of God”.
 
Righteousness is not something that just impacts you personally. Righteousness “tries to preserve the peace and prosperity of the community by fulfilling the commands of God in regard to others”.
 
If you look at the 10 Commandments, they lay out how to live in harmony within a community. I’m going to be at peace when I’m not lying to you, cheating on you, stealing from you, or destroying you. When I live in a way that protects your well-being that is righteousness.
 
Job 29:12-17 - because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist them.13 The one who was dying blessed me; justice was my robe and my turban.15 I was eyes to the blind.
 
What is righteousness? Rescuing the poor and helping widows and protecting people. In chapter 31 he says that he was not lurking at his neighbor’s door hoping to sleep with his wife.
 
When it says that Noah was righteous it means that he was moral. But his morality included love for those around him. Being faithful to your spouse is righteous. But so is packing lunches for the kids on Friday and Operation Christmas Child.
 
James 1:27 - Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after.
 
· Noah Was Above Reproach
 
He’s blameless. He’s not perfect. But he was seeking to do the right thing before the Lord. There were not a bunch of handles for people to make accusations against him.
 
He was a man who knew where he stood. It’s so fascinating to me that you can be blameless in a society that is completely sold out to doing the wrong thing.
 
· Noah Walked with God
 
He walked with God. He had a relationship with the Lord. He was following God’s lead. You allow God to plant the good stuff in your life and that will make you strong. In a world that was spiritually bankrupt, Noah was rich in righteousness. Who is singled out and blessed? Noah. Who’s a hero? Noah! His life is extraordinary because he didn’t go with the flow.
 
1. Doing the Right Thing Counts
 
Who will make it through the worst epoch of world history? The one doing right. You do the right thing and it will be noticed! Trust me. You work hard. You be honest. And if nothing else, God sees it.
 
You have Joseph in the Bible getting hit on by Potiphar’s wife on a regular basis. She’s throwing herself at him. He said no and ultimately he ran away. He was not going to do it no matter what. He became a great leader.
 
Abraham was righteous – it counted! God blessed!!
 
2. Don’t Take Your Morals from the Crowd
 
You Don’t Take Your Morals from the Crowd. If you’re in a mob of people and they all want to go the wrong way, do you go with them? No.
 
The thing I heard a lot about when I was younger was how can you have any fun if you don’t party. I don’t need to be tipsy to have a good time. The thinking was, “Everyone has to do this”.
 
No, I don’t have to be like everyone else.
 
Romans 12:2 - Do not conform.
 
3. Remember that the Choice is Yours
 
What do you believe? What are your non-negotiables.
 
Job’s wife said, curse God and die, why are you holding onto your integrity. That’s a sad statement! Job had to know his course and no matter how big the storm or how much he suffered, he knew that he couldn’t and wouldn’t curse God.
 
You have to know where you stand. It takes a lot of commitment to do the right thing. But in the determination is the blessing.
 
No one can force you to do what you don’t want to do. You say no! No – I’m not doing it.
 
Know your beliefs and don’t compromise! Daniel resolved himself not to drink the wine or eat the kings food. He could not be talked out of his stand. He found great success.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were spared in the furnace.
My encouragement. If Noah could live right in his world, so can you!

Consequential

READ: Genesis 4:9
CHALLENGE: Get Back to God
A.HEAR GOD’S TELLING QUESTIONS
1. WHERE?
· Shows a Lack of Remorse
· Shows a Lack of Honesty
· Shows a Lack of Love
“Am I my brother’s keeper”? YES CAIN – actually you are! You’re the big brother and yes, big brothers protect the younger ones from harm. Not Cain. He’s bearing no responsibility for any of it.
2.WHAT Did You Do?
V10 - The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. Revelation 6:9-10 - When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”
 
Psalm 32:3-5 - When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
 
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.
 
B.REPURCUSSIONS OF UNREPENTANCE
 
Vv11-12 - Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”
· Repercussion 1 – Resistance to Your Efforts
· Repurcussion #2 – Loss of Community
· Repurcussion #3 - Restlessness
C.THE RECKONING
Vv13-14 - Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
1.Rootless
2.Remembered
But even in James 2 – it’s Rahab the Prostitute. It’s great that we can be redeemed. But what do you want to be known for? Do you want to be known as a loving dad? Then be that. Do you want to be a servant? Be that! You want to be remembered as a grump or a nice person? Be that.
 
Genesis 4:15-17 - But the Lord said to him, “Not so[e]; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod,[f] east of Eden..
 
Cain would forever chase what he already had! So stay at home and do what God wants you to do.

Your Choices

READ: Genesis 4:5
 
 
CHALLENGE: Make Good Choices
 
Last week we talked about getting past mediocrity. We need to make sure that we are living for God and investing into that relationship. Cain is angry and downcast because God did not approve of him or his offering. God warns him that sin has desires for him and that he needs to get it under control.
 
 
(trans.) Perhaps you’re struggling with anger or feeling things are unfair. Maybe your thoughts get a bit gloomy. Let’s talk about it.
 
 
A. REVIEW YOUR THINKING
 
 
Vv5-6 - but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?
 
 
God did not accept just anything that Cain brought to the table as he met with disapproval. Thus, God didn’t give him the favor that he thought he deserved and he’s ticked. It’s a vicious cycle. You don’t do what you’re supposed to. You get called out for it. Now you’re angrier and your behavior gets worse. He’s angry right now. Anger is common but sometimes we’re not thinking straight. As your thinking goes, so goes your attitude and your actions!
 
 
(trans.) What can we learn from Cain?
 
 
1. Calm Yourself Down
 
 
Cain’s offering was not viewed with favor, so Cain was VERY angry! He’s not a little bit upset, he’s super ticked! It’s impossible to know how they knew God approved of the one and not the other, but there was no doubt. Cain is super peeved, and his face is downcast.
 
 
· Don’t Fuel Your Anger
 
 
He’s angry and this is a word, “angry”, means to “burn” or to “be kindled”. Is this different from outbursts? Outbursts are when you instantly explode and then you’re fine! Everyone else is a smoldering briquette but you feel so much better! “What’s for dinner”?
 
 
This is not explosive anger, this is kindled anger. A fire built a piece at a time – a thought at a time. I imagine at some point in your life you’ve built a real fire. I start off with small pieces of broken twigs and sticks and some pieces of bark and I start my fire there. Then I add slightly larger pieces until I have a nice hot fire burning. Soon there is a bed of hot pulsating radiating coals!
 
 
That’s a good word picture for this anger. We can start out with little sticks of upset ,whether real or perceived, and then we add one stick upon another until we get that fire burning nice and hot! Kindled gives me the idea building it a piece at a time.
 
 
Ever kindle anger one thought at a time? “I can’t believe they did that”. “They said this”. “They didn’t do that”. “They don’t care”. “They never listen”. “They wanted to hurt me”. Or they somehow break your trust. The only thing I asked was for them to get a Snickers bar while they were out and they couldn’t even remember! “I’d remember because I do everything…. I literally do EVERY THING! I’m tired of doing everything!! No one helps me! They’re all sitting there in the living room laughing together while I’m slaving away”. I can hear that fire crackling right now.
 
 
I’ve asked them so many times to please refrain from …. Fill in the blank! Or, I’ve asked them for months to fix that dripping faucet. Their mother calls and they’re gone! For me it’s six months of waiting. For their mother it’s six seconds! Your thoughts are up in smoke! They never or they always – let’s light this fire! And all this chatter in our brain is dry and splintered sticks just perfect for igniting.
 
 
We pile up all of these little hurts and we build the blaze and if you’re not careful, the fire is not so little any longer - it’s a full blown blaze. I can just smell the smoke. Jesus warned against it in the sermon on the mount! He equated our anger and name calling with murder.
 
 
I can tell you one thing that does not help and that’s fueling the fire. Stop looking at their facebook page. Stop wondering about what they’re doing. Stop thinking about how unfair what they did was. Why fuel it? What good will it do? Entrust yourself to God because vengeance belongs to him.
 
 
One thing I know about fires is this, they cannot burn without fuel. If you’re not adding to it and continuing on with the gossip, it has nothing to burn on. But when you keep talking about it and bringing it up over and over again, keep ruminating on it, you’re keeping it going! It’s unhealthy.
 
 
And let’s remember – it’s Cain who’s on fire, not Abel. Cain is the one burning up inside and there is no good that will come of it.
 
 
James 1:19-20 - My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
 
 
Abel was doing what Abel was supposed to do. There’s not even a forgiveness issue here. The biggest thing wrong is Cain’s thoughts. It’s how he’s viewing his life and allowing himself to take offense.
 
 
· Don’t Allow Your Thinking to Sour
 
 
His face is downcast. The anger is impacting him to the point that it literally says that his face is fallen! His happiness and joy just fell off the map. Our thinking can sour on people like milk left out on the counter.
 
 
What makes you sour? Often, it’s because your expectations are unmet. You thought people would elevate you more highly than they did. You thought that people would help but they didn’t. You thought your spouse would be more attentive, but they’re not. You thought people would miss you when you weren’t around, they didn’t seem to.
 
 
Perhaps you think you should have been invited or included or looked up to. But you weren’t. They didn’t even care what you thought, and you thought they would. And because our expectations are unmet, we begin to get resentful and angry and other ugly things in our brain bets bigger.
 
 
And of course, Cain is not down on himself. He’s down on his brother. His brother is in the way of him getting the acceptance that he truly desires. So another leading culprit in anger is frustration from blocked goals. Cain perhaps had a blocked goal of acceptance by God. When our goals are blocked, we become angry.
 
 
The easiest way to think about it is this. We set the goal to be up in Austinburg in 10 minutes but a slow poke pulls out in front of us and now it’s going to take 11 minutes. I was behind someone who was going the speed of a pedal car. We may go ballistic over this. All we have to do is change the goal that we set.
 
 
We set goals for when projects need to be done. For how much of something we need to accomplish. For all kinds of things. Should that not happen we’re frustrated and then angry. What can we do? Change the goal, it was always arbitrary anyway.
 
 
· Ask Why You Are Angry
 
 
God asks Cain the perfect question. Why are you angry? Why are you downcast? I think of God’s question to Jonah. Do you have a good reason to be angry? The answer? No. You have no real right to be angry. Right now, if you’re angry at someone or at a situation or even at the church, do you have a right to be?
 
 
If you’re angry at God, why are you angry?
 
 
You get angry at your spouse. Do you have a good reason? Are you seeing it clearly? Often when you’re angry you’re not thinking straight. You’re reacting emotionally and it will get you in trouble.
 
 
If you’re angry at someone or something, ask yourself this – do you have a good reason to be? Do you have a right to be? Because sometimes you don’t have your facts right. You’re not seeing it accurately. You’ve made some misinterpretations and jumped to some conclusions.
 
 
Trans. So what’s the answer?
 
 
B. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY and DO RIGHT.
 
 
V7 - If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door;.
 
 
God talks to Cain about Cain. He said, you want acceptance and you need to do the right thing. Now that could be making the right sacrifice to some obedience in his life. There is obviously a darkness in Cain. And we have to deal with that.
 
 
1. Do Right
 
 
a. Right is a Choice
 
 
Look at the verse. If you do what is right – this is result. If you do not do what is right – this is result. You can do what is right or you can do what is wrong. No one else was deciding this but Cain. And no one was making him commit such a heinous crime against his own brother – it was all on him.
 
 
We all have choices in this life. God clearly lays out two options in this passage. Doing right or doing wrong. The word “right” comes from a word that means good and pleasant and here refers to “moral goodness”, the opposite of evil. Everyday you have choices. I don’t control what other people do but I do control what I do. My response is my responsibility – get a handle on that truth and it will go better for you!
 
 
I can make time to read my Bible or not. I can choose to work hard or to slack. When we work hard there are typically good benefits to that.
 
 
God is pointing out the truth to Cain – you can choose the right way! And these are steady steps in the right direction. Typically, any spot I’ve gone, I didn’t there right away. Last Saturday I went hiking with my son, Luke. We visited a few falls and to get there required many steps along the way. It wasn’t one step – it was many steps.
 
 
Cain would kill his brother. That horrible destination was at the end of a trail deliberately walked day after day. He chose to walk a path of bad choices and one step at a time until he found his way to a spiritual catastrophe.
 
 
I’m sure failures in marriage or faithfulness didn’t happen in one moment. There were many decisions to linger in places you shouldn’t have been. To allow thoughts. To communicate. To flirt. To not invest into your relationship. There are typically many choices made that get you to the cliff – to the brink of moral failure.
 
 
God encourages Cain to do the right thing. It’s a choice between right and wrong. Please acknowledge that there is right and there is wrong. Like there is sweet and there is bitter. Like there is hot and there is cold. Like there is light and there is dark. Like there is love and there is hate. There is right and there is wrong. They are opposite and both exist. Just like you can do something really good, you can do something really bad. Both choices are before us.
 
 
I enjoyed watching the Lord of the Rings because JR Tolkien had no problem clearly spelling out a good side and a bad side. Mordor was way different from the Shire! I love that in the Bible that right and wrong is spelled out in the Ten Commandments and places like Deuteronomy which means the second law. Moses was a great leader and before he died, he once again gave clarity on how to live. The Bible is full of clarity.
 
 
Hebrews 5:13-14 - Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
 
 
The word of God teaches us to discern right from wrong. What decision will you make in life? If you lack the wisdom to know what the right thing to do it then ask God and he’ll give you direction.
 
 
b. Choices Bring Consequences
 
 
Decisions are cause and effect. One path leads to this and another leads to something else. In Deuteronomy they stand on two mountains talking blessings and cursings. On Mount Ebal it is dry and arid and that was the side where curses were recited. The other mountain had more vegetation on it and springs and growth. That was blessing.
 
 
If you obey, there was blessing. If you disobeyed, there were curses that you brought consequences upon yourself. This is a missing piece in the thinking of America today. We don’t think there are consequences for bad behavior. We think that we can choose any option and every path will lead to the same happy place but that’s untrue.
 
 
On the other hand, good choices bring blessings to your life. I know that hard work pays off. We had some difficult projects last year including laying the floor for a stone patio which we had NEVER done before. On the days we didn’t want to shoot ourselves, we wanted to shoot each other. It was one of hardest projects I ever did! If I could wind back time, I’d still do it all over again as the beautiful end result is amazing. Good things happen when we’re willing to work at it.
 
 
Typically you reap in areas into which you invest. It’s up to us whether or not we are investing into our spiritual lives. Our marriages. Our important relationships.
 
 
In this case, Cain is looking for acceptance from God. God tells him, “Do the right thing and you’ll be accepted”. This is classic! This is a result of making the right decisions.
 
 
(1). Acceptance
 
 
What is acceptance? It comes from a word that means “to lift one’s head in restoration”. To lift one’s face is an indication of favor or acceptance. Doing what’s right precedes being accepted. I don’t think that we can do whatever we feel like doing and then demand that God accept us or that people accept us regardless. Especially when we’re not willing to be repentant. You want forgiveness and the acceptance back into the good graces of someone else? Then do the right thing.
 
 
There’s some thought as to how the world will deal with you if you do the right thing. I truly believe that honesty, hard work, faithfulness to your spouse, kindness, service are universally accepted. Doing the right thing brings a certain level of respect.
 
 
I don’t find acceptance from my wife if I’m not behaving. I find acceptance when I do what’s right. When I’m investing energy into our relationship. When we guys know all is well – our faces can be lifted up at home.
 
 
When you’re working with others you may know what triggers them. How about don’t do that? Don’t do things that are going to upset the apple cart and then be upset when no one wants you around the apples.
 
 
Don’t be upset that people don’t want you fishing with them if you’re always splashing around and throwing rocks in the water. Live in a way that brings acceptance to you. Assuming that’s the right thing.
 
 
1 Peter 3:7 - Husbands,.
 
 
Treat your wife right that your prayers not be hindered. Our behavior impacts our prayer life and our relationship with God. So there are consequences of bad behavior.
 
 
Do the right thing and you’ll be accepted. You’ll be favored. You might have offended a family member or friend. You know what you could do that would help out quite a bit? Change!
 
 
(2.) Dominated by Darkness
 
 
….But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.
 
 
Sin desires Cain. Sin was lying at the door just waiting to take opportunity in that anger. Sin is right there just waiting for the chance. It’s wanting to get at you. It’s like a ferocious lion just waiting for the chance to pounce on you. It’s a monster!
 
 
What does God identify as the problem? Sin. Doing the wrong thing. Sin desired him. Was hungry for him. I reckon it’s safe to say that sin wants to destroy people.
 
 
Ephesians 4:26 – “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
 
 
All evil needs is an open door! Sin is crouching. The devil is in that sin – you can bet on it. He uses it. Jesus called him the father of murderers. He’s involved in this somehow!
 
 
So, let’s take the analogy. Like a lion waiting at the door to pounce on you. You’re lamp chops. It’s salivating at the thought of getting to you. What are you going to do? Darkness wants to dominate you.
 
 
God said, you have to master it. You have to say no. You have to show it who’s boss. You have to exercise self-control. And I think that’s so important because it’s one of the fruits of the Spirit.
 
 
In Cain’s case, it’s anger that must be mastered. You need to control it. God told him that he needed to call the shots over evil. There are so many times we need to remind ourselves that we don’t need to do the wrong thing. We can do right.
 
 
Resist the devil and he will flee from you! Resist. Evil is so destructive. Addiction, drugs, pornography, anger.
 
 
He wanted to be accepted and to be accepted meant that he needed to make changes. Often we do need to make changes.
 
 
It’s a tug of war. It wants to master you but you must master it!
8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”[d] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
 
Choices