021914: What Is This You Have Done To Us?

Message: What is this you have done to us?

I.                    Introduction

a.       Our goal this year is to see you get more rooted in Christ as we grow together

b.       One way we are doing this rooting is through sermons about questions found in the Bible.

II.                 Body

a.       Last week we looked at the question: What have you done to me?  We talked about how our sin doesn’t just hurt us, but those around us as well.

b.       In the story, Abraham had his wife lie to a king about their relationship, saying they were merely brother and sister.  This hurt Abimelech and his household…but tonight we will look at one other person that was affected by this sin.

c.       Genesis 26:1, 6-11 – “Now there was a famine in the land —besides the earlier famine of Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar…^.So Isaac stayed in Gerar. When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” because he was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful.” When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from a window and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah.  So Abimelech summoned Isaac and said, “She is really your wife! Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac answered him, “Because I thought I might lose my life on account of her.” Then Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us?  One of the men might well have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.” So Abimelech gave orders to all the people: “Anyone who molests this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”

d.       The question of the night is: What is this you have done to us?

                                                             a.      The answer isn’t all that important on this one, but rather the principle it teaches us is: Just because they have, doesn’t mean you have to

e.       When Parent’s Sin

                                                             a.      Isaac and Rebekah follow in the footsteps of Abraham and Sarah, his parents and her in-laws…they sin in exactly the same way, claiming sisterhood/brotherhood rather than being married…they lie.

                                                             b.      They are caught before anyone else sins by touching her, thankfully sparing others from the pain of sin…

                                                             c.      Here is the sad truth…we all have parents or guardians, and they are not perfect. 

                                                             d.      Some are abusive, some are addicted to drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, some lie, some are crude or crass, some watch or look at porn, some are lazy, some are angry, some are violent, some are selfish, some date one man after another or sleep with one woman after another.

                                                             e.      Parents don’t always set a good example for us, and many times we walk right behind them, following in their footsteps.  We become abusive, addicted, liars, crude, look at porn, lazy, angry, violent, selfish, and promiscuous. 

                                                              f.      It is follow the leader but it leads only to destruction. 

f.        Just because they have, doesn’t mean you have to

                                                             a.      Some of you have parents that are horrible examples for you in many areas, but the good news is this:  Just because they have, doesn’t mean you have to.

                                                             b.      You don’t have to follow them in their sin, you can walk your own path, that ends with you being loving, self-controlled, honest, pure, hard-working, gentle, patient, selfless, and faithful.

                                                             c.      But you have to decide that you don’t want to follow that path that leads to destruction and start following a different leader.

III.               Conclusion

a.       Freedom comes through Christ, following his footsteps, rather than your parents

b.       Galatians 5:1 – “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

                                                             a.      Freedom comes through only one, Jesus.  Without him you will always be stuck, imprisoned by the sins of your parents, led around like an ox to do the will of what you have seen them demonstrate to you.

c.       Galatians 5:22-23a – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

                                                             a.      When we follow in Christ’s footsteps, rather than our parents, we will find ourselves allowing the Holy Spirit to gain control over our lives.  Rather than the ugliness that once was part of our walk, we are instead shown to have other traits: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

d.       How many of you would rather have a life filled with those kind of things rather than what you have seen your parents demonstrate?  Then it is time to turn your life over to Jesus and start to follow him, allowing him to reshape you from the inside out.

e.       Pray