THE SCARS OF SIN–JUDGES 16:18-21

THE SCARS OF SIN
JUDGES 16:18-21
Key verse: Judges 16:21, “But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.”

Introduction:

Everyone has heard the story of Samson and Delilah and it’s tragic end. The sad end of mighty Samson, who once had been so greatly energized and utilized by the Lord, is also an allegory and a grave warning to every Christian. “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: And sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14-15).

I. SIN BLINDS THE INDIVIDUAL

A. Satan knows our individual weaknesses and tempts us accordingly, James 1:13-14, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”

B. As believers we are commanded to grow in Christ.

1. Desire the milk of God’s Word, 1 Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”

2. Go on to strong meat, Hebrews 5:12-14, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe, 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

C. As believers we are to add things to our faith, 2 Peter 1:5-7, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.”

1. Virtue (moral excellence), 2 Peter 1:3, 5a, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue;”

2. Knowledge, 2 Peter 3:18, ”But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

3. Temperance (curbing one’s desires and impulses, self-controlled), Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

4. Patience, James 5:7, “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.”

5. Godliness, 1 Timothy 4:8, “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”

6. Kindness, Ephesians 4:32, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

7. Love, Ephesians 4:15, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”

D. He that lacks these things is blind, 2 Peter 1:9, “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”

II. SIN BINDS THE INDIVIDUAL

A. Unconfessed sin quickly enslaves its practitioners, Romans 6:12-13, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”

B. You become servants of corruption, 2 Peter 2:19, “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.”

III. SIN GRINDS IN THE LIFE OF THE INDIVIDUAL

A. A sinful life soon becomes a “grind”, tedious and tasteless, 2 Peter 2:22, “But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”

B. Samson did return to God again before his death, but he was still blind, and bound, and grinding.

1. God forgives sin, 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

2. The effects of sin are not easily removed.

a. Israel wandered in the wildness 40 years and died because of their sin, Numbers 14:33, “And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness.”

b. David’s sin with Bathsheba almost destroyed his family, Job 21:19, “God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.”

C. How much better it is NOT to yield to sin, 1 Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it”

CONCLUSION

Sin leaves terrible scars in our lives. Satan uses past sin in the life of a believer to bring discouragement and sorrow. Thank the Lord that God has already forgotten our confessed sin. It is under the blood of Jesus Christ. It is as far as the east is from the west from us in God’s sight.

But we still remember it, don’t we. Yet many continue to add scar upon scar to their rebellious life refusing to repent and confess their sin. They are great examples for their children and others who see their lives.

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