Stop the spread of sin all around us
* Some of the steps to stop viruses we can relate them to stopping the spread of sin.
* James 4:7-8 : "7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."(ESV)
* Get your life right move forward and cleanse yourself clean through baptism.
* Paul is told to be baptized and wash all his sins away
* Don't think even though you are cleansed that all your worries and struggles will go away because they won't but God will be there with you through them and help you through them
* Don't think that every time you mess up that you go and get rebaptized because you don't. You ask for forgiveness from God
Understand your Influence
* You can pass sin from yourself to others and others can pass sin to you
* We can both positively and negatively effect other lives; it is contagious
* 1 Timothy 4:12 : "12 let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." (ESV)
* Be an example
* Understand you influence others; you spread to others
* Let's make sure we are spreading positive things, Godly things to others like family, co-workers, and friends
* Minimize the contact with negative attitudes
* 1 Corinthians 15:33 : "33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame."(ESV)
* How many times do we say we can handle the negative attitudes and continue hanging out with people with negative attitude and they end up changing you even though you said you can handle it
* At some point they will Influence you even though you say they don't
* Romans 12:2 : "2 Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."(ESV)
* 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 : "9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people- 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler-not even to eat with such a one."(ESV)
* Be careful who you hang around with
* Try to when possible take yourself away from them
You can avoid sin by staying at Home * Not talking about not going places, but keeping yourself at home more * You shouldn't be out drinking and partying * A lot of sin can be avoided by staying at home with your family * Make things that are your problems less accessible * If you are struggling with something don't surround yourself with the problem because it will cause you to have negative attitudes * Psalms 103:1-3 : "1 Bless the Lord O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases."(ESV)
* Mark 2:17 : "17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, " Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." (ESV)
Jesus is the Great Physician.
Facebook Link to Sermon
Sermon by - John Barker
Notes by - Elysia Norman & Aerial Norman