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WHAT’S GOING WRONG? (2)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     In a previous lesson, we looked at some of the things that are going wrong in our society.

1.       Disrespect that permeates all areas of life

2.       Desensitization to sin

3.       Division among the citizens

 

B.      We want to complete this lesson in this study.  We will be looking at four other things that are symptoms of what is going wrong in our world today.

 

I.                    DISBELIEF

 

A.     When we refer to disbelief, we are referring to a disbelief in God and a disbelief in what God has said in His Word.

1.       Disbelief is an absence of belief.

2.       Disbelief is the rejection of belief.

 

B.      Forms of disbelief:

1.       Some disbelief is extreme, that is, blatant denial of God, Christ and the Scriptures.

2.       Some disbelief involves acknowledgement, but no conformity.

a.       People will acknowledge God and the Bible.

b.      But, they will not conform their lives to that which God sets forth in the Bible.

3.       Some disbelief involves specific teachings and practices set forth in the Scriptures.

 

C.     Some consequences of disbelief

1.       Gives us no foundation upon which to build our lives.

2.       Causes one to be estranged from the Creator and Redeemer of man.

3.       Causes God to withhold many of His blessings

4.       Makes one a servant of the evil one instead of God

5.       Gives us no hope beyond what this life can give.

 

D.     Verses from God’s Word:

1.       Mark 16:16

 

…be that believeth not shall be damned.

 

2.       Luke 18:8

 

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.  Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

 

3.       Hebrews 3:12

 

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

4.       Hebrews 3:19

 

So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

 

II.                 DISOBEDIENCE

 

A.     Very simply disobedience is the refusal to obey.

 

B.      We have a huge disobedience problem in our world.

1.       Children disobey their parents.

2.       Adults disobey the laws of the land.

3.       Humanity disobeys the Word of God.

 

C.     Consequences of disobedience

1.       Brings lawlessness to organizations and institutions.

2.       Says that every man is his own God.

3.       Causes anarchy instead of peace.

4.       Will not allow for accomplishment and success.

 

D.     God’s design is for there to be obedience in every realm.

1.       The home

a.       The wife is to submit to her husband (Eph. 5:22)

 

Wives, submit yourselves unto you own husbands, as unto the Lord.

 

b.      Children are to obey their parents (Eph. 6:1).

2.       Citizens are to obey the civil authorities (Titus 3:1).

 

Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work.

 

3.       The church

a.       All are supposed to obey God (Rev. 22:14).

 

Blessed are they that do his commandments…

 

b.      Church members are to obey the elders (Heb. 13:17).

 

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves…

 

III.              DISHONESTY

 

A.     Dishonesty involves a lack of integrity, candor and sincerity.  It is the disregard for facts.  Dishonesty is the promotion of lies. 

 

B.      Dishonesty is seen in all realms of life.

1.       Cheating on tests at school

2.       Extortion in large corporations

3.       False reporting by news outlets

4.       Cover up of scandals by religious authorities

5.       Lies from our elected officials

6.       Disregard for facts by the scientific community

7.       Hypocrisy in the lives of Christians

 

C.     Consequences of dishonesty

1.       Makes agreements impossible

2.       Erodes basic trust in relationships

3.       Is really a form of hatred toward the person being deceived

4.       Fuels strife and wars

5.       Makes society cynical and less compassionate

6.       Dims the lights of Christians that are supposed to shine in the world

 

D.     God despises dishonesty.

1.       Proverbs 6:16-17

 

These six things doth the Lord hate:  yea, seven are an abomination unto him:  a proud look, a lying tongue…

 

2.       Proverbs 12:22

 

Lying lips are abomination to the Lord:  but they that deal truly are his delight.

 

3.       Ephesians 4:25

 

Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor:  for we are members one of another.

 

IV.              DERELICTION

 

A.     Dereliction is defined as the neglect or abandoning of something.

 

B.      What we see in our world today is a dereliction of duty in many areas.

1.       Husbands and wives are derelict in their duties to one another.

2.       Service providers are derelict in their duty to render good service to their customers.

3.       News outlets are derelict in providing many facts to their listeners.

4.       Politicians are derelict in upholding the principles of the Constitution.

5.       Ministers are derelict in faithfully proclaiming the gospel of Christ.

6.       Christians are derelict in living their lives as imitators of the Christ.

 

C.     The consequences of being derelict:

1.       Things do not get done.

2.       Others have to pull our slack.

3.       Individuals become cynical of others.

4.       People get fed up and tempers flare.

5.       People and organizations are hurt.

6.       Others are forced into difficult positions, namely confronting the dereliction of duty.

 

D.     In the Parable of the Talents, we find a man who was derelict in his duty.  The lord of the derelict servant confronted him with very strong words and strong discipline (Matt. 25:26-30).

 

His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sow not, and gather where I have not strewed:  thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.  Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance:  but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness:  there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

CONCLUSION

 

A.     In a world that is spiraling downward, Christians have a choice.

1.       We can part of the problem.

2.       We can be part of the solution to the problem.

 

B.      We should be part of the solution.

1.       We will respect all men.

2.       We will always see all evil for the evil that it is.

3.       We will promote unity in Christ.

4.       We will develop a strong belief in God and His Word.

5.       We will strive to be obedient to God in all things.

6.       We will be people who speak the truth in love.

7.       We will never be derelict in any of our duties.