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Ten Things We Are Not to Do – Guided by God’s Word

Introduction

The Word of God gives us “Do Not” commands not to limit our joy but to protect our souls. Just as a loving parent tells a child “Don’t touch the stove” for their safety, God warns us about things that can harm our faith, steal our peace, and damage our witness.

Today, we will explore ten “Do Not” instructions from Scripture—each one a guardrail to keep us on God’s path.

1. FRET NOT – Psalm 37:7–8

"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way… Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil."

• Meaning: Don’t let worry, jealousy, or comparison steal your peace.
• Illustration: A man spends so much time looking over his fence at his neighbor’s garden that his own goes to weeds.
• Bible Example: Joseph didn’t fret when wrongfully imprisoned; he trusted God’s timing.
• Takeaway: Fretfulness drains joy and distracts us from God’s blessings.

2. FORSAKE NOT MY LAW – Proverbs 4:2

"For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law."

• Meaning: Never abandon God’s Word as your guide for life.
• Illustration: A sailor who tosses away his compass on calm waters will be lost when storms come.
• Bible Example: Josiah rediscovered the Law and brought revival (2 Kings 22).
• Takeaway: God’s Word is not optional; it’s survival.

3. FORGET NOT TO DO GOOD – Hebrews 13:16

"But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

• Meaning: Doing good should be a constant habit, not an occasional gesture.
• Illustration: The Good Samaritan stopped to help a wounded man while others walked by.
• Takeaway: Every missed opportunity to do good is a missed opportunity to shine for Christ.

4. FAINT NOT – Galatians 6:9

"Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

• Meaning: Don’t give up before your harvest arrives.
• Illustration: A miner quits digging just three feet from a gold vein.
• Bible Example: Hannah prayed for years before Samuel was born.
• Takeaway: Keep sowing—your “due season” is coming.

5. FEAR NOT – Isaiah 43:1

"Fear not: for I have redeemed thee… thou art mine."

• Meaning: Fear shrinks faith. God’s ownership of us is our courage.
• Illustration: A child clings to their father’s hand in a crowd without fear of getting lost.
• Bible Example: David faced Goliath without fear because he trusted God.
• Takeaway: When you know who you belong to, fear loses its grip.

6. FORBID HIM NOT – Luke 9:50

"Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us."

• Meaning: Don’t block others who are working for God, even if they do it differently.
• Illustration: Two farmers drawing water from the same river shouldn’t cut each other off.
• Bible Example: Moses told Joshua not to stop Eldad and Medad from prophesying.
• Takeaway: God’s Kingdom is bigger than our personal preferences.

7. FOLLOW NOT A MULTITUDE TO DO EVIL – Exodus 23:2

"Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil."

• Meaning: Don’t be influenced by the crowd when they’re wrong.
• Illustration: Peer pressure led Aaron to make the golden calf when the people demanded it.

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Sermon Title:

“Trusting God with What You Have Left”

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1–7 (KJV)

Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen...

Introduction:

Sometimes life puts you in a corner—when the bills are due, the grief is real, the debt is heavy, and the future is uncertain. This is where trust becomes more than a word. It becomes a lifeline.

In our passage today, a “certain woman” teaches us what it means to trust God when there’s nothing left but faith and a pot of oil.

7 Power-Packed Points with Deeper Insight, Illustrations, and Application

1. Cry Out to the Right Source

“Now there cried a certain woman…” (v.1)

• She didn’t cry to her neighbors, the king, or Facebook. She cried to the prophet—the man of God.
• Trust begins where human resources end and divine intervention begins.
• She took her problem to someone who could get a prayer through.

Illustration:
There’s a story of a woman whose husband died unexpectedly. She didn’t have insurance, was about to lose her home, and sat crying at her kitchen table. But she remembered her grandmother’s words: “When you’re in trouble, take it to Jesus.”She got on her knees and prayed. That same day, a stranger knocked, offering a job that paid double what she needed.

🛑 Application: When you're in crisis, stop dialing people who can’t fix it. God’s hotline is open 24/7.

2. Acknowledge the Reality, but Don’t Deny the Possibility

“My husband is dead... and the creditor is coming...”

• She didn’t sugarcoat the facts: grief, debt, and fear were real.
• But she still came with hope—because faith doesn’t ignore reality, it invites God into it.

Deeper Insight:
You can be spiritual and still be overwhelmed. You can fear God and still face creditors. But you must never lose your hope in God’s power.

3. God Often Begins with a Question

“What shall I do for thee? What do you have in the house?” (v.2)

• God will always ask you, “What do YOU have?” before He releases what HE has.
• She underestimated her pot of oil—but God didn't.

🛑 Application:
Your “little” is enough in the right hands. You may think it’s not much, but God specializes in small things—a staff in Moses' hand, a sling in David’s, a pot of oil in a widow’s.

Illustration:
A little boy had one lunch, but it became the miracle meal for thousands (John 6). All because he gave what he had.

4. Trust Obeys Even When It Doesn’t Understand

“Go, borrow vessels… shut the door… pour out…” (vv.3–4)

• The instructions sounded odd: “Borrow empty vessels and start pouring.”
• But faith is obedience in motion, even when it doesn’t make sense.
• She didn’t argue or hesitate—she trusted and obeyed.

Deeper Insight:
Your miracle is often locked behind an instruction. Don’t delay your oil by debating God’s method.

🛑 Application:
Sometimes trusting God means doing things that don’t make logical sense—but make spiritual sense.

5. Trust Requires You to Make Room

“Borrow not a few…” (v.3)

• Elish

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"Trusting God Until He Comes"

Scripture Focus: Proverbs 3:5–6, Jude 1:20, Revelation 22:20
Theme: Trust

Introduction:

In uncertain times, trusting God is not optional—it is essential. Trust is what keeps us going when things don’t make sense. It’s what fuels our prayers, steadies our emotions, and anchors our souls. This message encourages us to trust God not just for today, but until He comes—whether to change our situation or return in glory.

Illustration: A child learning to walk looks back to the parent for reassurance before taking each step. The steps are uncertain, but the trust is strong. In the same way, believers must keep walking forward by faith, looking to the Father until Christ returns.

🔑 Point 1: Trust God’s Timing, Not Your Own

📖 Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

God doesn’t move on our clock. He is not rushed by our deadlines or distracted by our impatience. His timing is perfect, even when it seems delayed.

📖 Bible Example: Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for the promised son, Isaac. They tried to “help” God by rushing the process with Hagar—but that caused generational conflict. God fulfilled His promise in His time, not theirs.

Illustration: A cake taken out of the oven too early looks done on the outside but is mush on the inside. Trusting God’s timing ensures we’re fully ready for the blessings He has prepared.

Takeaway: Don’t rush the promise—rest in God’s pace.

🔑 Point 2: Trust Even When You Don’t Understand

📖 Proverbs 3:5 – “Lean not unto thine own understanding…”

There are moments when life just doesn’t make sense. God’s ways often defy human logic. That’s when trust must step in.

📖 Bible Example: Job lost everything—his health, wealth, and children. He didn’t get an explanation, but he still declared, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15).

Story: A young boy held his father’s hand as they crossed a busy street. Blindfolded for a trust exercise, the boy said, “I can’t see anything!” His father replied, “But I can. That’s what matters.”

Takeaway: Trust doesn’t mean you understand—it means you believe God does.

🔑 Point 3: Trust in the Storms of Life

📖 Mark 4:39-40 – “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said... Peace, be still.”

Storms are part of life—financial storms, emotional storms, spiritual storms. But the presence of a storm does not mean the absence of God.

📖 Bible Example: The disciples panicked in the boat while Jesus was asleep. They forgot the storm was subject to Him. He rebuked the wind and their fear.

Illustration: A palm tree bends in the storm but doesn't break because of deep roots. We must be rooted in trust so that the storms don't uproot us.

Takeaway: Jesus may not stop every storm immediately, but He’s always in the boat with you.

🔑 Point 4: Trust Through Trials and Temptations

📖 James 1:2–4 – “Count it all joy… knowing that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

Trials refine us. They don’t come to destroy us but to develop us. Trusting God during trials means believing there is purpose in the pain.

📖 Bible Example: Joseph went from the pit to Potiphar’s house, from prison to the palace. Through it all, he trusted that God was with him. He to

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Sermon Title:

“What’s Done in the Dark Will Be Brought to the Light”
Key Scripture: Luke 12:2-3 (KJV)

“For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.”

I. Introduction: The Power of Hidden Things

• Begin with a flashlight illustration: In total darkness, a small light reveals everything. Hidden things cannot remain hidden when light is present.
• Quote: “Secrets are like seeds—they always grow and break through the surface.”
• Explain the truth: God sees everything. While we may fool people, we can never fool God.

II. Biblical Examples of Hidden Deeds Exposed

1. Achan’s Secret Sin (Joshua 7:1–26)

• Achan took forbidden items after Jericho’s fall and hid them in his tent.
• His actions brought defeat upon Israel.
• God exposed him, and the consequences were tragic for him and his family.

Lesson: Hidden sin doesn’t just affect you—it affects your household and community.

2. David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11–12)

• David tried to cover up his sin with Bathsheba by having her husband Uriah killed.
• God sent Nathan the prophet to confront David.
• Though forgiven, David faced consequences.

Lesson: Even “a man after God’s own heart” can fall—but God’s light still shines on sin to bring repentance.

3. Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1–11)

• Lied to the Holy Spirit about the money they gave.
• Thought they could get away with it.
• God revealed the truth and brought immediate judgment.

Lesson: Lying to God’s people is lying to God—and God exposes deceit.

III. Modern-Day Examples (Outside the Bible)

1. Politicians and Scandals

• Watergate scandal: President Nixon tried to cover up political espionage—eventually exposed and led to resignation.
• Illustration: “The cover-up is often worse than the crime.”

2. Church Leaders and Secret Lives

• High-profile ministers have fallen due to hidden moral failures.
• What was whispered in the back office is shouted on the news.

Lesson: A public fall is often the result of a long private compromise.

3. Illustration: A Hidden Leak

• A man noticed a small stain on his ceiling but ignored it. Months later, his roof collapsed during a storm.

Moral: Hidden issues never stay hidden—they grow and demand attention.

IV. Why Does God Expose What’s in the Dark?

1. To Bring Us to Repentance

1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us…”

2. To Heal Us

James 5:16 – “Confess your faults one to another… that ye may be healed.”

3. To Protect Others

• God exposes things to stop cycles of abuse, lies, and destruction.

4. To Reveal His Glory

When someone comes clean and God restores them, it becomes a testimony of His grace.

V. How to Walk in the Light

1. Be Honest with God and Yourself

Psalm 139:23-24 – “Search me, O God…”

2. Live Transparently

• Let your yes be yes and your no be no.
• Practice accountability.

3. Confess Quickly and Fully

• Don’t wait for exposure—confession brings freedom.

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Sermon Title:

“Injustice in High Places : The Power, the Payback, and the Praise”
Text: Habakkuk 2:6–14

I. THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE (Habakkuk 2:6)

Key Point: God empowers the oppressed to use their voices for truth and justice.

Scripture Insight:
God’s response to Habakkuk begins with a “woe”—a divine warning.
In Habakkuk 2:6, God warns:

“Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion!”
Paraphrased: Woe to the thief who thinks his wealth will protect him—his greed will become his grave.

Where else do we see “woe” statements?
Jesus also used them in Matthew 23, speaking seven woes to the scribes and Pharisees—religious leaders who abused power and neglected justice. God consistently warns those who exploit others—religious or political, ancient or modern.

Illustration:
Think of the voices that once trembled but now roar: From Martin Luther King Jr.’s "I Have a Dream" to Malala Yousafzai’s speech at the U.N. after surviving a gunshot to the head for seeking education. The power of the people is ignited when God places His Word in their mouths.

Application Question:
What injustice is God calling you to speak up against?

II. DESTROYED BY THEIR OWN DEVICES (Habakkuk 2:6–11)

Key Point: Injustice boomerangs—what oppressors do to others comes back to them.

Paraphrased “woes”:

• Habakkuk 2:6: Woe to the greedy thief—your victims will rise against you.
• Verse 9: Woe to the schemer who builds safety through corruption—your very walls will cry out against you.
• Verse 12: Woe to the empire built on bloodshed—your foundations are soaked in injustice, and they will crumble.

Question: Why is Israel being attacked by its enemies (v. 8)?
Answer: Because they too were guilty of bloodshed and violence, and God allowed them to be judged by the very methods they once allowed or ignored. This is a hard truth: sometimes, God uses our enemies to expose and correct our own injustices.

Bible Tie-In:

“All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword” – Matthew 26:52

Modern Example:
In the Watergate scandal, President Nixon authorized secret wiretaps to spy on opponents—ironically, it was the evidence from those very wiretaps that brought about his resignation. The sword he drew became the sword he fell on.

Reflection Question:
Have you seen someone undone by the same tactics they used to harm others?

III. GOD WILL GET THE GLORY (Habakkuk 2:12–14)

Key Point: In the end, God’s justice and glory will reign.

What promise does God mention in verse 14?

“For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”
Answer: The promise is that no matter how dark injustice gets, God’s glory will be known and seen everywhere—completely, thoroughly, eternally.

Illustration:
Think of the fall of apartheid in South Africa—after decades of racial oppression, truth and reconciliation prevailed. Justice may have taken time, but God’s glory outlived every tyrant.

DISCUSS THE MEANING: APPLICATION TO OUR LIVES

1. Why is it important to maintain hope that God will punish injustice?

Because if we lose hope in God’s justice, we may try to take revenge ourselves—or wor

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