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evil

evil. understanding. Understanding Evil. Evil is all around us. We are exposed to it every day, and in many ways. We are not to indulge in it, but how much should we seek to understand it? What is a prudent Christian to do?. I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch

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evil

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  1. evil understanding

  2. Understanding Evil Evil is all around us. We are exposed to it every day, and in many ways. We are not to indulge in it, but how much should we seek to understand it? What is a prudent Christian to do?

  3. I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.

  4. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. Romans 16:17-20

  5. Divisions and Obstacles • Why are we warned about divisions? • What about Paul & Barnabas? • What about Protestantism? • What about the ‘ole U. S. of A.? • “Many a church, nary a good reason…”

  6. Divisions and Obstacles • What forms of obstacles can we encounter? (KJV = “offenses”) • Can’t obstacles be good? • Various verses about comfort… • Revisit Isaiah 40:3-5

  7. The Litmus Test • “contrary to the teaching” • “not serving our Lord Christ” • We are to watch out for “those who cause…” • Internal AND External?

  8. Wisdom and Innocence • We are called to be wise about what is good. • Great…how? • We are called to be innocent about what is evil. (KJV = “simple”) • Isn’t this “gullible?” Are we not being warned about naiveté?

  9. The Winning Equation • “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” • Victory is assured through study of winning strategy, not losing folly. • Imagine a football coach drilling his team on losing plays as a strategy to win!

  10. But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—

  11. -- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5

  12. Sound Familiar? • Know anybody with any of these traits? • Having nothing to do with them, as in “nothing?” • We are the light of the world. (Matt 5:14) • Yet, there needs to be a wall of separation from these practices. • WDJD? (What did Jesus do?)

  13. See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. Hebrews 3:12-14

  14. Hardened by Sin • We are warned not to be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. • The “black hole” of sinful behavior. • “Missionary” friendships. • “Counseling” people with disputes. • ALWAYS the proper response: • Turn to God. Consult His Word.

  15. Our Original Conviction • We are implored to “hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.” • Perhaps this is why Christ so emphasized child-likeness as a secret weapon. • (Matthew 18:3)

  16. Conclusion Are you holding fast to your original conviction? Are you simple-minded about evil? Are you pouring all of your “research” time into good?

  17. BONUS VERSES You adulterers and adulteresses, don’t you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4

  18. Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Galatians 6:7-8

  19. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire. Galatians 5:16-17

  20. That servant, who knew his lord’s will, and didn’t prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes, but he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked. Luke 12:47-48

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