Introduction: This morning, we want to look at sin. Specifically, how sin affects a person. This is to help us, just like going to a doctor and him getting right to the cause of the problem.

What is Sin? “Sin is the transgression of the law” according to I John 3:4. Also, “to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” James 4:17. Also, “all unrighteousness is sin” I John 5:17. Sin is falling short of God’s righteousness.

Sin in the life of a person Will:

1. Destroy his Body- Psalm 38:1-7 “neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin”. Have you seen people that have lived a “fast life” in sin? They look way older than they really are, sin does it. David’s bones vs3, his head vs 4, his flesh vs 5, his loins vs 7. Sex-STD, drinking, smoking, and drugs will all do this. I Corinthians 11:30 “many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep”.

2. Affect his Joy- Psalm 51:12-13 As we have seen from the life of David, after he committed his sin against God by committing a sexual sin with Bathsheba and then having her husband Uriah killed to cover up the sin, this caused David to loose his Joy in life. Sin has consequences, one being the lack of Joy produced by the Holy Spirit of God in our lives- Galatians 5:22. Instead of having Joy the person has guilt, shame, regret, unworthiness, etc.

3. Mute his Prayers- Psalm 66:18 “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me”. John 9:31 “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth”. ACTS Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. Keep a short account with God and always confess your sins to God- I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us form all unrighteousness”.

4. Entangle him with Cords- Proverbs 5:22 “His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins”. Isaiah 58:6 “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness”. Sin will grab a person and will make him dance at his will just like a puppeteer. People will say about a sin “I can quit any time if I want to”- but when those cords grab you, it’s way harder than you imagine.

5. Cause Separation From God- Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear”. Ephesians 4:30 “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption”. Our relationship with God needs to be a good one not a separated one.

6. Withold God’s Blessings- Jeremiah 5:25 “Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you”. James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning”. All good things come from God and when we have sin in our lives, it withholds good things from God. You don’t want to get to heaven one day and realize that you missed out on many blessings from God because you wouldn’t quit your sin.

7. Cloud his Judgment- Hebrews 3:13 “lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin”. Sin will deceive a person into thinking that it’s okay to continue in sin without any consequences. It will make people think that it’s okay. Romans 6:15 “What the? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid”. People will say “it’s just a cigarette, how bad can it be”. It goes from a cigarette, to alcohol, to hard and addicting drugs. Nothing bad can happen by going to the bar (high school girl died on her first day out).

8. Speed up his Death- James 1:15 “Then when lust ha

Introduction: In this passage of scripture we see how the local church functions in comparison to the Body of Christ and we can learn four basic things found in the scriptures. These are types or similarities found in the Body of Christ and the Local church. We are not Baptist Briders.

I. Each Member has a Different Function- Vs 14-20

· Vs 14- The church is made up of many members, not just one. Everyone is significant and important to God and has a gift to exercise.

· Proverbs 20:12 “The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them”.

· Vs 15-17- Each members has their proper function. The foot may not be as gifted as the hand but they’re both a part of the body.

· I Corinthians 12:4-7 “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit”.

· I Corinthians 3:5 “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?”

· Vs 20- Many members yet it is still only one Body- the Body of Christ. The same is true about a local church- it’s many members yet only one local church.

· UNITY IS THE KEY- People will divide what God wants together.

· People will say of others- They’re unimportant, insignificant, inadequate, ungifted, less able, less gifted, less worthy, less capable.

· I Corinthians 3:1-4 “are ye not carnal”.

· God- Ephesians 4:3-6 when there is unity God is ONE and we are in Him.

II. No one Member should tell Another He has No Need of Him- Vs 21 Every Believer is needed in the Body of Christ just like they’re needed in the Local Church.

· This is a sharp rebuke to those who try dominate or impose their will upon a church.

· Don’t take the Preeminence- 3 John 9-11 People today want to run a church, that’s not the way it works.

· Jesus Christ should have the preeminence- Colossians 1:14, 18 “and he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence”.

III. Each Member’s Contribution is Important- Vs 22-24

· The Less honorable or feeble are needed in the Body just as much as those that appear to be more important- I Corinthians 1:27-29 “but God hath chosen the foolish, weak, base, despised, things which are not”.

· No I in Team- Two are Better than one- Ecclesiastes 4:9 “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour”.

· Honour Each Other- Romans 13:7 “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour”. (to esteem them).

IV. Each Member Should Care for Each Other- Vs 25-27

· No Schism- (division) Romans 12:3-5, 10- Different personalities, abilities, Capabilities, gifts. Don’t be so critical of others.

· The Same Care- Ephesians 4:3-4, 13, 16 “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”.

Conclusion: There are many local churches but not many that are doing what God says to do. If we follow what the Bible says to do, God will be magnified, glorified, and please with us.

Exodus 3:1-10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

Introduction: Moses was called by God to lead God’s children from Egypt unto the promised land, the land flowing with milk and honey. There is no doubt that as you look at the life of Moses that you can see that he was faithful to God, that he was a great leader, that he had great courage to face Pharaoh, and that he had a great faith toward God and even a fear of God. Those things are very evident however, at the same time, you cannot miss the excuses that Moses made to God when God called him.

There are many teenagers and adults alike that attend teen conference, missions conference, retreats, that have been called by God to do something specific and for whatever reason, they make excuses. I hope we can see the life of Moses and his excuses and be helped with our own specific calling and the excuses that we may be inclined to make.

Moses made excuses regarding his calling by:

I. Questioning God’s Choice- Exodus 3:11- “And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Moses here essentially questioned himself and his calling of God. What can make you question God’s calling in your life? Your past and your future.

II. By Questioning The Response of People- Exodus 4:1- “But, behold, they will not believe me, nor harken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.”

A. Will Not Believe- Moses was already looking unto the future and assuming that the children of God would not believe that it was truly of God.

B. Will Not Harken- {Harken- to listen or give respectful attention.} To assume that people will not listen to God’s Holy Word is a mistake. 1. Who are we to place a limit on God’s power? 2. Who are we to assume that God cannot change people of their ways? Later on in Exodus 4:29-31, after Moses doubted, it tuns out that “the people believed”. Moses was wrong in assuming that they would not believe or harken and he was wrong in predicting that they would not believe or harken.

III. By questioning with Questions- Exodus 3:13- “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them. The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?”

IV. Questioning God’s Equipping- Exodus 4:10-12- “I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” “have not I the LORD?”. “Now therefore go.”

1 Corinthians 1:26- For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called;” I find it interesting that God calls imperfect people who have a desire to serve Him and devote themselves to God. 1 Corinthians 1:27- But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; People who have it all together and are perfect in speech, education, family, etc, USUALLY have no need for God.

When God calls, He will have others teach you:

A. Faithful Men and Women- Discipleship. Titus 2- Aged men and the aged women teaching the younger. That’s how we learn, that’s how God teaches us.

B. Pastors and Teachers- Ephesians 4:11-12- “and he gave some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”.

If God has called you to do a specific thing or to a specific people, He will equip you with the right training.

Conclusion: