Matthew 18:7…….Ready

Matthew 18:7…….Ready

18:7 “Woe (Not of judgment, but of consequences. “I know where this is going to go.”  “I know how this is going to turn out.” and it isn’t  good.) to the world because of the things (Jesus doesn’t list what these things are. If He did the list would go on forever. Not only that, but they can change from one generation to the next, from one culture to the next) that cause people to sin. Such things must come, (Temptations are unavoidable. There’s the sinful flesh/nature that tempts us, there’s the devil who tempts us, there’s the world that tempts us, there’s deceivers that tempts us.)  but woe to the man through whom they come!. (For a Complete Expository See Book)

Extended Sermons

“Teaches though it’s inevitable were going to hurt & offend someone, were not to the perpetrators of it.”→ Although we can’t stop stumbling blocks from being in the world, we can stop them from coming through us. Remember how the Peter pulled Jesus aside and rebuked him for speaking of His upcoming death and resurrection saying, “Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!”- In response, “Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns (Matt. 16:22-23) Unknowingly Peter was doing the work of Satan in offering Jesus the way of no suffering, no pain. It’s important that we examine are motives, words, and actions. Are they coming from the world, the flesh, and our own desires. Or are they coming from God and what He desires. It’s inevitable that believers will hurt and offend someone, But when they do  they’ll do all they can to see that they don’t do it again, if it can be helped. If fact they will say “Show me how I’m harming you and I’ll stop and see I don’t do it again.” Do you take it lightly when someone says “That’ troubles me” Or do you take it to heart in seeing that you don’t do it again. It’s not about flawless living. But of a heart that wants to correct things that unintendedly harms others. Let your mistakes make you more mindful of those around you.

“Teaches how there’s going to be times when people will hurt us and offend us, but God will handle it.” → Because we live in a sinful fallen world it’s guaranteed that people will hurt and offend us in this life, it’s inevitable. Will be offended by people we work with, people that we live with, and yes people who we worship with too. Some offenses will be small and easy to over look. Others will be overtly evil and purposely directed our way. Others will come simply because we live in a messed up world where wicked, horrific, and unimaginable things take place every day.  We might not understand every facet and intricacy how that reality fits into God’s plan. But that’s a reality we have to accept, one that the bible has pointed out long ago. Starting all the way back in the garden of Eden, the dawn of creation when Adam & Eve sinned bringing sin into the world. And the sooner we come to grips with that reality the sooner we can  move pass the initial shock of being offended and start forgiving. We can get pass all the pouting, I can’t’ believe that they did that to me. I can’t believe they treated me like that. It’s the mentality that says “I can’t believe that a sinner, sinned against us”. We watch the news, the crime rate is up, politicians are on the take, and we’re shocked, what else did we expect when there are people who have rejected and rebelled against Christ, who want nothing to do with God. We find a co-worker who has been talking about us behind our backs and we’re shocked. A family member lashes out and were shocked. A spouse is abusive and we’re shocked. I cant’ believe they did that to me. I’m always nice, I treat people with respect, how could they do that to me, how dare they treat me like that. We think like nothing bad should ever happen to us. But as Christians, having a better perspective of the fallen world we live and all that go’s with it, that there’s other issues at play, or they wouldn’t have done what they did. Knowing this truth, should help us endure whatever offense we face and be more forgiving, that’s not really they that did it, but it was the sin living in them.

“Teaches though sin abounds in the World, we’re still responsible for the evil and bad we do.”→ No matter how Divinely ordained or Sovereignly predestined, the perpetrators of sin and evil will still  pay. Even though God can use the sinful intentions and actions of an individual or nation to accomplish His righteous purposes does not exempt them. In the Old Testament God used pagan and evil foreign nations, like the Assyrians and the Babylonians, to bring His judgment upon Israel and Judah for their idolatry and disobedience. In Isaiah God calls Assyria “the rod of my anger” and “the staff in whose hand is my wrath” to punish a “godless nation.” However God notes that Assyria did not realize it was acting on His behalf.-(Is. 10:5–7) The Assyrians were motivated by their own arrogant desire to conquer and destroy nations. From this perspective we see how God using the evil leader’s own sinful ambitions to punish a sinful people, but this does not excuse the leader’s wickedness. Or how about Joseph’s brothers who committed a great evil by selling him into slavery. God used the evil intentions and actions of Joseph’s brothers to achieve His Redemptive purpose of saving his family from famine. The brothers, however, were still guilty of their sin.-(Gen. 37:18-28, 50:20) The crucifixion of Jesus is the ultimate example of God using evil to accomplish His ultimate good. Bible states that their evil acts were part of God’s predetermined plan to bring Salvation to humanity.-(Acts 2:23) Even today though you may be the rod of God’s judgment which He planned. But God will still hold you fully responsible and culpable. God’s not going to let you off the hook because by driving drunk one night and getting into an accident you brought a person to a Saving faith in Christ Jesus. It’s like Judas saying, “Look God how my greed for money in betraying Jesus for thirty pieces of silver helped you fulfill your plan in Saving the world.” Or Pontius Pilate saying “Look God if I didn’t condemn Jesus to death on trumped up charges of sedition and treason, He would never have been crucified for the sins of the world.” Did Pontius Pilate really thing that washing his hands made him less culpable in the eyes of the world or God.

Additional Notes & Applications 

Warns how the World is not friend to your desire to live a Godly life. Worldly values, beliefs, and desires are going to be at odds with Godly values of humility, holiness, and righteousness.

Teaches how our battle with sinful temptations is inescapable. No one is going to be immune or get a free pass. (Don’t expect to outgrow sin)

Warns against thinking we can put ourselves in certain situations to not be tempted.

Teaches things that cause others to sin are bound to occur in a world that rejects Christ and ignores God

Warns how it’s one thing to have an Godless way of thinking, it’s another thing to start recruiting people into that.

Teaches since sin is already a part of life, we don’t need to contribute to it by adding a bunch of unbiblical rules for people to follow and obey.

Warns since there will always be seducers, tempters, and bad examples, we need to be on guard.

Calls for not allowing our failures to keep us from being useful to God. Keep sin accounts short and check temptation at the door..

Teaches how sometimes God allows temptations to test us and build character.

Teaches though we may not have ability to completely cure the disease, but we do have the freedom to limit and battle its symptoms.

Teaches there’s a big difference between stumbling into sin to practicing and being slaves to it.

Jesus is not we saying we might as well give into temptation since it’s going to happen anyway, or absolving us of the guilt of our actions. That our sin is not our fault because God allows it. Jesus isn’t going to let us off the hook that easy. He understands our tendency to justify ourselves, minimize our sin, hide behind “but everyone’s doing it” or “I couldn’t help myself.” And He is rightly concerned that we not live with a “It’s not my fault mentality”  that God understands it’s just human nature. Second, Jesus is not saying that believers who sin, who stumble, are lost to Him. They can get up and continue to follow after Him.

THINGS THAT CAUSE OTHERS TO STUMBLE

• When someone tells you one drink won’t harm you or hurt you

• When someone tells you of all the fun in taking drugs and getting high.

• When someone tells you just looking doesn’t hurt.

• When someone tells you it’s not a big deal everyone is doing it.

• When someone tells you there’s nothing wrong with getting even, they deserve it.

• When someone calls you to join in the gossip in order to help somebody

• When someone tells me how to cheat in exams, everyone does it.

• When someone tells you it’s O.K. to dress seductively in wearing short dresses when going out.

• When someone offers something valuable very cheaply, without explanation.

• When someone tells when it comes to abortion you have the right to decide what to do with you own body

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