Concept of Sin – Transcription

When you’re born again the life of God is in you, He is the way and we’ve come to the way, and we’ve received that life and become one with Him. We ARE the way! But, you see, a lot of times many Christians think that their childhood life is the revelation of Christianity! No just because you’re still childish, because you’re still carnal doesn’t mean that something’s wrong with Christianity or maybe something’s wrong with you! Don’t use your imperfection to judge the perfection of Christ in you!

Do you know why many times some of us can’t forgive ourselves when we do wrong? Because we don’t know how to forgive other people; and so when we make mistakes, when we do wrong, we find it hard to forgive ourselves because we don’t forgive others. So we get too hard on other people and when it comes down to our own errors we don’t know what to do. But you have to make up your mind to win because Jesus died for you! Hallelu Yah! Praise God forevermore!

OK, so I said in the old Testament if you broke the Law, then you were said to have sinned, before the Law came, sin, the Bible says sin was in the world before the Law came. There was sin in the world, but since there was no law you couldn’t locate sin, you see that? Because there was no law, so death reigned! He says, “From Adam to Moses” [Romans 5:14]. And it’s so significant that he tells us that death reigned from Adam to Moses, why didn’t he say from Adam to Jesus, or to John the Baptist? He says from Adam to Moses. Because when the Law came, the Law was more powerful than death! The Law could stop a man from dying. So it was either the Law was gonna reign in your life, or death was gonna reign in your life. If the law gained mastery by your obedience to the Law you would not die! But you know they failed many times, but the power was given to the Law. And that’s why Moses said to them the Law is your life. Hallelu Yah! Thank you Lord Jesus!

Well then, you know in the New Testament already you have to understand Jesus fulfilled the demands of justice in the Old Testament. Jesus died for us, he paid the full penalty for every sin that was ever committed under the old contract; and that could ever be committed, He paid. And having paid the full penalty he did something more. See that already saved us, but He didn’t stop there He gave us a new life, a new nature; the Bible says, “…if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation…” [2 Cor 5:17] Now this new creation is, you know, the old man was saved by the death of Christ; the new man was born by the resurrection of Christ and so the new man belongs in a new race. This is a new creation.

That’s why the…right, let’s put it this way; now, you see, you don’t belong to the old generation; now generation I’m not talking about a period of time I’m talking about a breed. Alright? You belong to a new breed, a new class, a new race like when God created all that he created then He made man in His own image. This was God’s creation, Adam was God’s creation. And as God raised them up He finally gave them a Law and these were His people. Now God has raised a

new people, a new people, and He put His Word in their hearts. Why? They are the reproduction of His Words! They are the off-spring of His Word; they were born of His Word. Are you catching this? See until you really know who you are, you’d never be able to live that way!

God’s word is a mirror, you know? As you study the Word of God, that’s why reading your ROR is so important, it’s very, very important. I don’t know why, if you don’t use your Rhapsody, study your Rhapsody I think you’re missing too much. I study my Rhapsody, I’ve read today’s own, I read yesterdays that’s the way I go through it. I read the article, from the title, all the way. The article, the references and I study the scriptures, those several chapters that are given to you to study. And I’m amazed how every day it has something to do with my daily life! So don’t think you know too much you don’t need it!

Alright, anyway; the Word of God has given birth to us and because we are from the Word of God we can only be sustained by the Word of God alright? We can only be sustained by the Word of God. Now this new people how does God [run?] them? What is the concept of sin? When do they do wrong? In God’s mind what would be called sin? See we have been so trained and taught with the consciousness of sin by so many preachers while we’re growing up by our environment because of the difference between right and wrong that many of us have either lost the idea or never had the understanding of the concept of sin!

By the simple definition of sin, the Christian cannot sin, by the simple definition of sin, and you know religious people, I got red light! Red light! You go with your red light!! See by the simple definition of sin the Christian cannot sin and now you can understand why John said he cannot sin because, His seed remains in him. John said it I didn’t say it! I’m only re-echoing what’s already there. By the simple definition of sin, he said sin is the transgression of the Law. Now if the Christian has been given no law, how can he transgress a law that does not exist? He already told us God is love, he said, “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4:8] He said that we are the off-spring of love we were born of Him, that’s what John said. And Paul said, “The fruit of the Spirit is love” [Gal 5:22] And you’re born of the Spirit and he says, the fruit of the Spirit, the re-created human Spirit produces love. He tells us, Whatsoever is born of God cannot sin, That is born of God cannot sin because His seed remains in him! He says he cannot sin because His seed remains in him.

I have read many commentaries and found that theologians have been hitting their heads over that scripture; they don’t know what to make of it. And it’s so clear, where we have said, many of us have said that, that he meant they cannot practice sin. Some of the versions even put it that way. That one who’s born of God cannot make a practice of sin. Yea but, he’s just, he just let it out! That he cannot sin, It’s not making a practice of it it’s more than that. He said cannot commit so what is sin, why did john say that? When you study John’s writings you understand why John could come to that level where he could make such a plain statement. That the one that’s born of God cannot sin because His seed remains in him, [1 John 3:9] why? Because of the concept of sin! He knew what sin was; you see the problem with the Church, the Church of Jesus

Christ all around the world is that too many that don’t know control the Christian environment. That’s what the problem is, too many who don’t know, but you know what? It’s changing, it’s a matter of time. For he said he’s coming for a Church without spot, without wrinkle or any such thing; it’s gonna be a victorious Church not a Church that’s dominated by Satan, dominated by fear and unbelief. No! A Church that has gained the understanding of what Christ came to do and is taking advantage of it, that’s what Paul wrote to Timothy. He said, “Be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus,” He said, “Take advantage of it!”

But how can you take advantage of something you don’t know? Sin consciousness it’s the Bain of most of God’s people forever looking for sin around them and that’s the reason why they sin. Because the more conscious of sin you are the more sin you commit. Because you see, what dominates your mind, is what controls you’re actions. You become what you think. Hallelu Yah! Are you there? Ok let’s read this stuff! We were reading the other day the 14th chapter of the book of Romans you remember? We’ll go back there now, maybe we should just read from book one again ok?

It’s a long chapter but the verses we already read bear repeating from verse one, “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.” Now it’s amazing who Paul calls weak! In our human fleshly thinking, what he calls weak would have been the one’s we call strong! Watch it now. “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.” But we think the guy who eats only herbs is a strong Christian it says here, “. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.” The one who is weak eateth herbs, he says, it’s right here, we’ll see it. “3Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.” God hath received him. “4Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.  5One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”

You know some people on their birthday they’ll fast and Pray; it’s a Holy day for some other it’s a holiday. Understand what I’m talking about? Some would fast and Pray on that day and separate themselves from everything else you know? That’s a very special day, that’s ok. Don’t get mad at those who are having a nice time! You know, well you are having a nice time too but in your Prayer closet. And if you have a husband and a wife are one and the other side, oh boy! The wife wants to make her day, the husband doesn’t think, doesn’t even remember dates! Paul is saying don’t get mad at each other, don’t say, so and so never forgets the wife’s birthday, you, how come you never remember? Forget it! Paul says, some people remember, some don’t! `No you have to find out what I like then I have to find out what you want, No! It’s not so, don’t let some people brainwash you they’re brainwashing you with what the Bible doesn’t say. They’re trying to help you have a good marriage with sense knowledge it’s not going to work, I say it’s just not going to work.

What’s going to help you is this, become for yourself a better Christian; live the life that God has given us the more you live that life as an individual the better you will be towards other people. You see God’s Word is so complete it teaches us everything. I always say you don’t need a marriage seminar you need a Word seminar. Hallelu Yah! Some may say you can be a great Christian and flop in your marriage, not true! How could you? I don’t know where they get their ideas from.

Do you know who a Christian is? Christianity is not a church thing; it’s a way of life. It’s a life you live towards God, towards man and for yourself. The more you know Christ the more loving you will be; towards your wife, towards you children, towards those you work with, towards everybody! You become more patient, you know, the fruit of the Spirit will be developed in your life, you grow in your Christian walk, you watch yourself grow. You know? No matter how you go for a marriage seminar, and give you the seminar, you learn all those things in your head. If you don’t know the simple Word of God to live an everyday Christian life through the Word. Whatever they give to you in your head will flop, it’s not gonna work! It’s like teaching a dog to live a human life, watch he’ll return to his own vomit you can’t teach him out of that.

Ok what verse are we? Verse 6, “6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. I found out some people eat dogs. Some folk eat dogs. So when you…I was told that from Calabar area they eat dogs, from Ondo they eat dogs so you see someone there [would] keep your dog! Yea because when they see your dog they see meat! That’s the way they think, that’s the way they think you are seeing a pet, they are seeing meat [laughs]

7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 13Let us not therefore judge one another anymore: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. “

Now that’s very important, that’s very important, that’s very important. I’ll come to that now, it says it’s, “14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him,” I want you to begin to see the concept of sin, “but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.” In the New Testament, sin is a very personal thing, you’ll see it in a moment, you’ll see it in a moment. “15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of.” I want you to mark these Scriptures, these last few verses that I just emphasized including verse 16, then it says. “17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these…” Oh boy I like this! “18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.” Hallelu Yah!

“19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 22 Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Can you see the concept of sin in the New Testament? “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Why? We walk by faith not by sensory perception. Hm oh Hallelu Yah!

1 Corinthians chapter 8, I wanna begin reading from verse 1, are you ready? “1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him. Praise God! Hallelu Yah! I like that. “4As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world...” Now, while we’re reading about things related to idols what I want you all to realize is that; today it may not be something offered to idols that we are challenged with but you see he’s given us a picture of other things that are…contentious among Christians, alright? Ok verse 4. “4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world...”

Now I want you to remember when you study in the 15th chapter of the book of Acts, the disciples are gathered one time, the Apostles of Christ and they spoke with Paul, and they said to him. We are so glad that people are giving their lives to Christ among the gentiles; we are so happy about your preaching and thank God for the Testimonies but, warn them to abstain from things strangled. I wonder what they thought about the gentiles, they looked at the gentiles as people who would just catch an animal and just tear it and start to eat it! See they warned them not to eat things offered to idols but Paul had accepted all of that, initially, and finally he just gave them the word. He gave than the Scriptures and look at the argument I want you to look at the argument.

“4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. 5For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords

many,) 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” Praise God! “7Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge…” I like this, smart, smart, he says, “7Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge…” He says everybody doesn’t know it, so we are not going to exercise our knowledge without discretion. There are things that even though we know them we can’t say them; there are things I can’t preach to you even though I know them I can’t preach them to you cos you can’t handle that. I can’t tell you. The Lord said to me one time, he said, “I’m gonna show you many things but nor for you to tell everybody.” He talks to you for your own liberty in the Spirit for your own Faith walk. There are things that if I began to say because God told me, I would mess things up. So I have to be sure what does he give me to tell other; because we’re not all at the same level of growth.

Do you know that God knows He has made us more than conquerors? He knows that, God knows that there’s nothing in the world that can ever destroy us. Why then does He tell somebody don’t get on the road today? There will be trouble, is He afraid of the trouble? Is He so powerless he can’t deliver? Does He have any problem with that? No, the problem is not God, the problem is you! You don’t have that level of Faith that can trust Him to save you from what’s coming against you. He would rather not let you go out cos you can’t face what’s coming. Not because He can’t face it but you can’t stand it yet because you haven’t grown to that point. The Bible says when He brought the children of Israel out of

Egypt they went up, “Harnessed.” It says, He did not take them through the way for the Philistines although that was near.” It says, “He said to himself lest the people see war and repent and run back to Egypt” [Exodus 13:17-18]. He didn’t take them through the way of the Philistines even though it was near, the Bible says it was near, it was the shortcut. But the Philistines were there couldn’t He have helped them destroy the Philistines? Yes, but they could not have trusted Him for that victory at that point. He had to train them, they needed to know that he was with them, they needed to know he was in their camp. He had to train them first, so He took them through the long route. And that happens to many of us in our lives and we wonder why!!! Tell somebody to be patient, be patient; God’s dealing with some stuff in your life. Hallelu Yah! Praise God forevermore! Amen! Hallelu Yah!

So that’s what Paul says in 1 Cor 8:7 says, “7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.” Don’t you see that? See the guy eats it…”oh, oh oh!” It’s like somebody, he’s eaten something, he eat it nicely until he was told! That a poisonous substance had been poured into it. When he was eating there was no problem, he tasted it, it tasted good! He eat it alright, he said thank you everything was fine until somebody said, “Did you eat that one?” He says, “Was anything wrong?” Now, nothing was wrong when he was eating it, nothing was wrong when he was through with it, nothing was wrong when he said thank you, now he’s told, “Did you eat that one?” “Which one?” “The one in the red plate.” “Was anything wrong?”

“Oh, something poured into it, [groans]. Look here, what’s killing him now? The new knowledge is killing him now, it’s not the poison, it’s what he just heard! You see that? It’s not the poison, it’s what he just heard is killing him.

There’s a young guy, everything is fine, he’s been cool! You know his wife is fine, his kids are fine, he’s just been having a great time then the wife gets sick, and then they take the to the hospital and tested positive. And he says Hey! Then someone says well now that your wife has tested positive you better go for a test too; he says, “I ain’t going for no test.” They said, “you know that last time your wife had blood transfusion something happened, that was why. Then he goes for a test and they say, “ Positive!” Guess how he’s coming back home? You see what has knocked his joy out of him? The new knowledge; the H.I.V. hasn’t done anything yet! Already he’s seen himself dying, he’s seen himself sick, he’s now sick, he’s sick already, nothing has happened! He’s sick. Now before now if he had a headache, he’s, “GET OUT!” Now he has it…H.I.V! that’s what’s killing a lot of them, that’s what’s killing them!

He says”… there is not in every man that knowledge,” He says, “For some up til now for conscience they eat it as something offered to idols and their conscience is defiled. What defiled them is their thinking, their belief there’s an idol behind it but Paul says, “We know there is no other God but one!” He says that idol you see is an empty thing. You know? When you study further, he tells us, he says, “When the gentiles offer sacrifices before idols,” He says there is nothing standing in front of them. He says, what they’re offering is an offering unto demons. And…Oh dear, let me leave that on for the next time.

“8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.” Are you seeing that now? A Ha! So he says, verse 10, “10

For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;” Are you following this argument now? “11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?” Look he’s telling you that even though you are exercising your rights in Christ a weak brother who sees you may not necessarily become strong just by seeing you doing it. He’s conscious, still weak and defiled, maybe only made bold to do what you’re doing but in heart he doesn’t believe. So he’s emboldened to eat what you’re eating but inside his heart he still believes, “we’re doing the wrong thing.” And now he’s condemned. So he [Paul} tells those who have knowledge, be careful what you do in the presence of others, c’mon, c’mon. Verse 12 reads, “12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.” Their weak conscience he calls them weak! Their weak conscience so when you sin against the Brethren that way you sin against Christ.

You know as a leader you have to be careful what you do before others. The Bible says we’re made a spectacle to the world and even to Angels. Now here’s some important points along these

lines. I said in The New Testament, when you have a clear understanding of the concept of sin it’ll help you. He says, “Whatever is not of Faith is sin.” [Romans 14:23]. Is that right?

And will you turn to Galatians chapter, Galatians chapter 5, have you seen it? Galatians chapter 5 from verse4, verse 6 1, 2 Go! [audience reads], again, oh! Go on! Mmm, Hallelu Yah! Go on! But Faith that worketh by love. Now I brought that in for a reason . He said, “Whatsoever is not of Faith is sin.” What Faith is he talking about? He says,” 6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” So in Christ Jesus, he says, “Whatsoever is not of Faith is sin,” what Faith? Faith which works by love, Faith that is operated by love, Faith that is operated within the confines of Love anything that is not of Faith that works by love is sin that is the definition of sin in the New Testament! Faith which works by love, Faith which works by love, not, you see you can be selfish while you are acting your Faith, that’ll fall short of the Righteousness of God. So it doesn’t mean that once you are acting your Faith that makes it right, it is Faith which works by love.

A Sister, there’s a Brother who says that he loved a Sister so much, he loved her so much and raped her! Is that love? That’s not love, that’s selfishness. He considered himself, love considers first God and others, love sees God in others. Are you hearing me? The Bible says if you love you will not steal from another, if you love you will not work to the disadvantage of another, how could you? Now you can understand, the Bible says, “Love is the fulfilling of the law,” In other words if somebody were to live according to the Law perfectly he would end up loving, but they couldn’t work from outside in and so He gave us the life from inside to work it out! Faith which works by love, you see things differently, you see things differently when you function like that you find that you consider others, you wanna make others happy you wanna make, you wanna have others have a fulfilled life. You see you wanna help them, you become God’s outstretched arm for others you don’t consider yourself first, you don’t consider your own gratification first, you consider others you think of them first; Faith which works by love.

Anything that is outside that is what is sin in the New Testament, that is what is sin you wanna know what sin is in the New Testament? That’s the concept of sin; sin is not just, people say, well, thou shalt not, though shalt not, all the thou shalt nots have been cancelled! In Christ Jesus, he says, circumcision or non-circumcision none of them avails anything! But Faith which works by love. [Gal 5:6].

You know I said sin has become a personal thing in the New Testament, very personal. It is impossible to do something wrong in the sight of God by Faith which works by love [laughs], it’s impossible, it’s impossible, how? It’s impossible, it’s impossible, Faith that works by love to produce something wrong? Bible says he that loveth have fulfilled the Law, “…he that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law.” [Romans 13:8] Hallelu Yah!

Let me show you something, you know sometimes there are things that we need to understand that the Word of God has some precedents, you know? There are certain things that God gave to us in types and shadows. You see, to help us see whatiIt really wanted us to know to help us understand them. Let’s look at this. God made all of the creation that we study about in the book of Genesis and then He made Adam in His own image. In the 2nd chapter of the book of Genesis, when you read from the 16th into the 17th verse the Bible tells us something, that God gave an instruction to Adam, come on let’s go there!

Genesis chapter 2, we are reading from verse, let’s read from verse 15. “15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:” Who was he talking to? The man! The woman was not there, He was talking to the man, “But of the tree,” Verse 17, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” He told Adam before Eve was formed; this instruction was given to Adam if Adam had kept that instruction, even if Eve had eaten it! Things would have not changed. Things changed because of Adam the other animals were not told, were not given the same instruction, it was Adam it was a very personal instruction given to him. A very personal instruction given to him, if only he had kept it he would have been the one to deal with whatever others could have done in any way that he would have been guided to deal with it. But Man fell not because Eve eat but because Adam eat. Let me show you another thing, you know sometimes I’ve told you about Lot and his family, let’s look at it, Genesis chapter 19 let’s take a look at exactly what happened there.

Genesis chapter 19 we are reading from verse 17, are you there? This is that place where Lot and his family got delivered by the Angels of God, when, just before God destroyed Sodom alright? Ok, now, in the 17th verse. “And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth,” When the Angel had brought Lot and His family forth, abroad that he said, Lot said, no, the Angel said “…escape for thy life, look not behind thee…” The Angel said to him, “…escape for thy life, look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. 18And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my LORD: 19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me…” Very unbelievable, “…and I die: 20Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. 21And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. 22Haste thee, escape thither for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. …” Now remember, they’d been told not to look back you remember?

“…Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 23The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. 24Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 25And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the

inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. 26But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt…” His wife looked back, God said don’t look back, He told her whole family, don’t look back their only instruction was not to look back they were being delivered from Sodom. God’s destroying the city today, He said don’t look back, He said escape to the mountain, he said I can’t run to the mountain, let me run to this other city, Zoar. He said ok, I will not burn that city for your sake you can flee to that city and he escaped to that city. But Mrs. Lot was behind and looked back, the Bible says when she looked back she was turned to a pillar of salt, lets read further, “27And Abraham…” the very 27th verse,”gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD: 28And he looked toward Sodom…” The same Sodom others were forbidden to look at! “And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.” Can you see that? “ 29And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham…”

Hallelu Yah! They were not to look at the city, but Abraham looked at the city, how come he wasn’t turned to a pillar of salt? You know what I’m trying to bring to your notice here? Don’t think that because Brother so and so is doing it and Sister so and so is doing it that it is ok for you. The Spirit of God leads us, He guides us, He gives us personal instruction on the things WE! should not do. Even though others are doing it, we need to learn what we should not do what is not good for ME! Someone else may be doing it, don’t judge him, leave him, but as long as in your heart you believe it is wrong take your hand away from it! Because it will destroy you, are you still there? You know there are [people] who are forever looking for what others are doing that’s wrong they never look at themselves. One little thing that you do that you think is little can frustrate the rest of your future, but to you haven’t done anything as bad as Brother X.

Why isn’t he going through all the problem you’re going through because of one little thing that you did? Because all those things you think that Brother X did, all those are between him and God this one is between you and God, God is saying that this small one that you did is the problem that will frustrate you so leave it alone, but to you, no! Especially as a Minister you need to know those things that God doesn’t want you to do, you see you don’t need to be asking Him, Lord, what are the things you don’t want me to do. You know how some people are, they just want to know everything today, let’s just settle it now! They want to write it down, no you don’t need to the Spirit of God guides you, when your Spirit is, is it right, is it wrong? Leave it! Leave it otherwise it will burn your conscience, burn your conscience. Many are frustrated from their conscience and that’s why they cannot fulfill the purpose of God in their lives. Because there’s something inside them that Satan is accusing them about constantly, constantly. They find that they’re repenting about something, they’ll repent today they’ll repent another day throughout the week they are repenting. The next month they are still repenting, leave it alone it’s not good for you. Leave it with Brother X or Sister Y or Uncle Sam! But for you, it’s not good for you. Hallelu Yah!

Let’s look at something here. Let’s look at Samson for a moment, remember Samson? Book of Judges 13th chapter a very very interesting story you know? “1And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years…” 13th chapter of the book of Judges and I’m reading from verse 1 and now I’m in verse 2. “2And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not. 3And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son. 4Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing...” Who was this instruction given to? Mrs. Manoah. “ For Lo thou shalt…” Verse 5, “5For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines…” He says no razor shall come upon his head, his hair shall not be cut, this is a special instruction for Samson they must not cut his hair. He’s telling us that this young man is gonna be anointed by God’s Spirit and that he was called from the womb! He will be a Nazarite unto God, no razor shall come upon his head. This is not for every child born in Israel.

Alright, you know the story and the Angel made sure he gave the instructions again when the husband was together with the wife again later on. And on and on and on, now would you turn to chapter 14 I want to show you something interesting chapter 14. Samson now was born; he was growing up now a young man alright? Now he does something very striking, an amazing thing. Now remember this is the book of Judges the Law had come, alright? A very striking thing here from verse 1; “1And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. 2And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife…” Strange thing, strange I said strange. Look at this guy, according to the law he’s not supposed to marry a Philistine, he’s not, there are things that we cannot explain. Do you know why? Because God is behind those things, but this guy comes and says to the parents. I’m in love with one lady and she’s a Philistine and I want to marry her so, help me get her. And his parents were, what!?

Verse 3, “ 3Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well…” Verse 4 is what beats me here, “4But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD…” And you know? I just said Lord, I submit, I leave it to you, no arguments we are told! We are not told to question it, we are informed. “But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.” Bible says it was God who Prompted Samson TO DO IT!! Don’t ask why, we were just told the only reason we’re given there is that God sought an occasion against the Philistines He knew they were insincere and he wanted to provoke the Spirit

against them and He caused Samson to want one of them, in marriage, now, you know this Samson guy you know there’s something just about him. I want to show you something about Samson I want you to understand; now Samson gets into a situation like this and Bible says it was God who was behind it. I said be careful somebody else will do this thing and get in trouble Samson does it and ITS OK!!

Turn to chapter 16, lets see Samson in action chapter 16 from verse 1. “1Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her…” Samson! Honestly there are some people called Samson today I don’t know how they manage, frankly I don’t know how some brethren are able to answer that name. It appears that their fathers that gave them that name never read the full story; I know he won at the end but, I don’t think…Bible says he didn’t produce a lasting working issue. There was some kind of indiscipline with Samson, do you understand? But his indiscipline seemed to be working for him. Now let’s look at something that happens here Samson goes to a harlot and when he was through, in verse 2. “2And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night…” He was there all night with that harlot, “… and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him. 3And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill…” I mean the Anointing was upon Samson! What no human being can do Samson did right after he finished with a harlot!!

The Anointing was on Samson, now somebody else does that and the Anointing will not come on him again. Look there are some of you God says to you fast and Pray if you don’t fast because the Spirit says to fast the Anointing will not come, you’d want to do something and the power of God would not flow. You wonder so why, why is it that you know with some people why is it that the Anointing just flows with them? Because the instruction given to you was not the one that was given to them Samson’s own was, no razor should come upon his head, as long as no razor came! The power of God would rest on Samson and it says you better not touch him he remains a Nazarite! As long as nothing touches Samson Hair! The Anointing will be on him [laughs]. Then something happens here look at verse 4 “And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah…” Now interestingly, now Delilah was not a harlot you know many people think that Delilah was a harlot in the picture she was not a harlot we already told about the harlot in verse 1.

Delilah was not a harlot but Delilah was somebody who loved her country and also loved money, when you get, when you find yourself in love with a woman that loves money you are in trouble. I’m telling you it’s a fact. “ 5And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver…” And then she began to trouble Samson, you know the story we go straight to verse 16 now. She had tried him several times until this time verse 16. “16And it came to pass,

when she every time pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death…” She kept pestering him, pestering him, have you ever been so pestered by somebody? Pestering him, pestering him; you won’t tell me you say you love me but you will not tell me, I can’t understand it you have deceived me 3 times now. You won’t tell me anything, you say I’m your wife but you have hidden many things from me, you have a land in so-so place you won’t tell me, you buy something you will not tell me.

Pestered and pestered, stop trying to know everything! I don’t know what you do, I don’t know [laughs] every time Samson came, you know? She started. You understand this our relationship there are too many secrets you know? Somebody says she’s in love with you and he’s keeping secrets [laughs] Delilah kept troubling Samson Bible says until his soul was vexed unto death. Why didn’t he just go away!? He was in love…then! look at it, he told her all his heart. A! “…and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go…” [vs 17] Why! Samson why! You see some people think that Samson’s problem was women his problem was not women look at what his problem was, this is what led to his destruction. Look at what led to his destruction; it was not the harlot that was a bad case but see what led to his destruction.

“…if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man. 18And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart…” What was she after? She wanted money she wanted to save her country and she wanted money. “…Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand. 19And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him…” She began to afflict him, she! Mmm, she tried it first she tried it first to see if it would work. She began to afflict him, it worked! “…and his strength went from him. 20And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him…”

Because in St. Matthew’s Gospel you read from chapter 12… you see what I’m telling you is this there are things that God doesn’t want you to do, don’t do them are you hearing me? Just because someone else has done something and gotten away with it doesn’t mean it’s good for you. The way some people do business is not good for you, are you hearing me? And there are things that are good for you and some other people will try those things and get into trouble but it will work for you. From verse 1. “1At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat…” Look these guys never acted like this before it was when they got along with Jesus that they began to act like this. These were Jews to the core they wouldn’t have done this on the Sabbath day! Until they started walking with Jesus, verse 2. “ 2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. 3But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; 4How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?...”

He said it was not lawful for David eat it! But David eat it and was blameless why was David not smitten by God? You see there are things that some of you might have been involved with that were not sins at all and Satan has used those things to make you ineffective. When you understand the Word of God, understand God’s concept of sin it will help you and you can put Satan where he belongs and stop Him from accusing you. But at the same time, I’m telling you there has to be a balance so that you do not put yourself in the place of disadvantage. Hallelu Yah! Wonderful, this is nice, now look at verse 5. “5Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? The priests, the priests of the Law who announce that the Sabbath day they must keep it Holy Bible says on the Sabbath day they profane the Sabbath and are blameless. They were operating by a different revelation [laughs] which if somebody else did he would be stoned to death they were blameless. They profaned the Sabbath, Jesus said they profaned the Sabbath he didn’t say they did some things on the Sabbath and it was not, He said they profaned the Sabbath and were blameless.

“6But I say unto you, that in this place is one greater than the temple. 7But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. ..” He said he was guiltless, they were plucking the ears of corn on the Sabbath day and Jesus maintained that he was guiltless. And these guys carried the Law, can’t you see? Jesus said no, look at David did you accuse David? No, what about the priest in the Temple? No, he said ok this on here’s greater than the Temple, guiltless. He said, “8For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.” [Mark 2:28] You see your liberty will be to the extent of you knowledge of God, you see the liberty of God that is given to us is not for us to do what we like but it is the liberty of the Spirit that frees us to serve God beyond Satan’s accusations, beyond Satan’s condemnation where your Faith can produce results. You know as long as Satan is challenging you Faith and challenging your actions your Faith will be shaky you will find that you prayers will always be prayers of forgive me and forgive me and forgive me. But through knowledge will the just be delivered…can you say Amen!