WHAT SIN EASILY ENSNARES, ENTANGLES YOU? Hebrews 12:1
What sin gets you, that when you put your guard down, you so easily fall?
Sometimes, as you go through the other chapters, some, if not all, of the listed pitfalls are mentioned. Each pitfall can easily cause someone to flip up, fall spiritually. For the participants, some pitfalls are easier to fall into than others. It is important to know one’s weakness or susceptibility.
A) Pride
1) Proverbs
Pride will destroy you. Let others speak of what you have done. Be like a child who is humble, and totally trusts the Father. God can take away what ministry you have because of pride.
Most common reason for employees leaving companies is their leaders gave limited praise and recognition for their efforts.
2) It is very tempting to take credit from others and even God. How do we do that and how can we prevent it?
It is our nature to want to take credit. Be accountable to others to help you from being prideful.
Henry Blackaby said, “Leaders who fail to acknowledge God as the source of victory are leading people away from God and wrongfully causing their followers to misdirect their praise” (page 232, Spiritual Leadership).
3) Be careful of an unteachable spirit. (Proverbs 1:7; 2:10-11) How teachable are you?
4) How do you view yourself? Are you self-sufficient? Where is your humble barometer at? How can you tell someone is humble? (John 15:5)
They give God the credit and accept the acknowledgment from others that God is using them.
Roosevelt, one of our greatest presidents, had a tendency to think all his causes were right and anyone opposing him was corrupt, wrong and evil. D.L. Moody was once quoted, “There is nothing more than that to D.L. Moody except as God uses him.”
5) Pride makes a leader vulnerable. “Leaders are fragile precisely at the point of their strengths, liable to fail at the height of their success” (Max Dupree).
B) Sexual Sin
1) 2 Samuel 11:1-5; Proverbs 14:12, 15; Galatians 6:7 – 9
Do not rely on your own strength for this. Have people around you who can tell you if you are involved in activities that can draw you into this sin. Stay away from situations where temptation lies.
Build in safeguards. What you have worked at all your life can all be lost in one simple, split-second act.
2) Make yourself accountable (to a couple of close same gender partners). Heed their counsel – No one is immune.
3) Consider the consequences – Nothing to gain, everything to lose. (Genesis 39:5-16) a) What did Joseph do right?
He resisted, keeping in his mind that God had brought him into Potiphar’s house. It was difficult, but he ran from the temptation.
b) How could he have prevented this?
Not be in the house along with Potiphar’s wife.
c) What are consequences of falling sexually?
You can lose everything you have worked for.
4) Develop healthy habits – Keep high standards, utilize your wife.
5) What are your standards? What healthy habits should you develop? (i.e. Take along a picture of your family)
6) Pray and ask others to pray for you (hedge of protection around you). Be above reproach in all you do.
C) Being cynical – (Galatians 6:1) Doing ministry can cause negative attitudes. Having a
critical spirit is very damaging – Numbers 12 (Aaron and Miriam).
D) Power Abuse – 2 Samuel 11:1-27 (page 379, Maxwell Bible). By watching King David weave a tangled web following his sin with Bathsheba, we notice five common abuses of power that still trip up leaders today. Calvin
1) Drifting away from those disciplines we still demand of our people (v.1).
2) Believing that others owe us whatever use we can make of them (vv. 2,3)
3) Attempting to fix things up rather than make things right (v. 6).
4) Refusing to accept that we could be blindly out of God’s will (v. 11).
5) Believing that people in our way are expendable (v.14).
E) Greed – of money, power, people, material possessions. What is your love level with money? Do I do all things ethically and morally?
F) Laziness – Mentally, spiritually, physically – (Mark
1) Learn to think and to think outside the “box”.
Ask God to help you be creative, to see life with His eyes (what He sees).
2) Do you have a place to think? Do you make time to think? Develop a growth plan.
You need time to think and meditate upon the thoughts and ideas God gives you as you meditate on His Word.
G) Pursuing not the best for you – (Hebrews 12:1-2)
1) What good things should you lay aside, that are only good in your life or at one time was your best, but are not anymore?
Doing good things, but not what you are best at, will discourage you and slow down your ministry.
2) What are potential distractions or things that can exhaust you that can cause you to lose your focus and endurance?
Doing too many things in your ministry. Being involved all the time with ministry activities you are not good at. Not getting rest because of your busyness.
H) Success – Numbers 20:1-12
1) Charles Colson, Founder and President of Prison Fellowship, “By the time you read this, we will have dedicated our new national offices near
Moses was not allowed into the Promised Land because he didn’t obey God once, as he struck the rock rather speak to it. The people received the water, but Moses had totally failed. Don’t let earthly success be your indication that you are faithfully following God.
2) What do we use as indications of success?
Numbers, busyness, education, awards, years of service, people we know.
3) What is a biblical definition for success?
a) Luke
faithful in bigger responsibilities. If you are faithful with other’s property, you will be faithful with yours.
b) 1 Corinthians 4:1-2.- Be found faithful with what you have been entrusted.
Do what God wants you to do at that moment.
I) Priorities out of line! Wrong priorities
1) Who is number one in your life? (Exodus 20: 3-4) Do you have any idols in your life?
2) Where do my wife and family fit in the picture of my life?
3) What about work and ministry? Am I in the right place?
