Temple Baptist Church - 6-9-2024
Proverbs 7:6-13
Introduction:
A. Satan’s Devices are things that are knowable to the believer. We need not be ignorant of them.
2 Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
B. Satan cannot destroy our salvation; therefore, he tries to destroy our testimonies and lives, rendering us saved but useless!
C. Satan uses circumstances but his main weapon it the believer’s flesh. We still have an old nature that is depraved. The Apostle Paul, one of the greatest Christians who ever lived said, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” (Romans 7:18)
D. In the context of Romans 7:18, we find the man of God not doing what he knew to do that was right but often doing the things that he knew to be wrong. Why? A question to be answered.
E. Too often, the believer suffers from self-enticement. Not to our verses for this morning:
1. We find a “simple one” who was a “youth.” A young man void of understanding.
2. This young man knew who the harlot was and where she lived. These things are ones of common knowledge. We would call it a “Red Light District.”
3. He advanced from the “street near her corner” to “the way to her house.”
4. He did so 3 times: in the “twilight”, in the “evening”, and in the black and dark night. Three chances to make the proper choice and failed to do so.
5. It is now nighttime, and she is “without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.”
6. She “caught him, and kissed him” with an “impudent face.”
7. Here, we need to go no further.
F. Defilement! I would dare to say that every adult in this congregation this morning, as I made that statement, could think of someone who has destroyed their testimony and usefulness through sinfulness.
G. There are many that we once went to church with that are now back out in the “world” with testimonies that are permanently tarnished. Some are men that have ruined their service because of their love for strange women. Some are men who went back to a life of alcohol or drugs.
H. Many times, Satan knows our weaknesses because we “telegraph” them. He is not omniscient and, therefore, must rely upon what information that we give him.
J. In these last perilous times, people are exposed to so many things that defile the mind and body. In times past, most people who lived in sin remained “out of the spotlight” because their sin was not acceptable to people in general. Today, the things that were once hidden are not publicized and acceptable by society.
K. This morning, I want to name just a few of the things that you and I will face when we go out those doors and into our “Jerusalem” that may defile us.
1. The Defilement Of Compromised Situations – Satan Will Offer You Opportunities For Compromise - 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
a. This verse does not speak of evil but merely the appearance of evil.
1 Peter 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
b. We must have good conversation (lifestyle) that cannot be compromised.
Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
c. You must be “above board” with your testimony in order to stave off false accusation. STAY AWAY FROM POTENTIALLY COMPROMISED SITUATIONS!
2. The Defilement Of An Uncontrolled Tongue – Satan Will Cause You To Say Things That You Will Later Regret - James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
a. Never leave your tongue in gear when your brain is idling. Be careful little tongue what you say!
Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
b. God gave you two ears and one tongue. This should be all the warning that you need. Hear twice as much as you speak!
Titus 2:8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
3. The Defilement Of A Bitter Spirit – Satan Will Lead Others To Say And Do Things To Hurt You And Tempt You To REACT! - Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
a. The grace of God is sufficient to quench bitterness. There will be things done that you do not understand or are unfair. People can be both wicked and hateful.
b. Each of us have a choice to be made at this point: we can be bitter or we can be better.
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
4. The Defilement Of Fleshly Allurement – Satan Will Place A Woman (or a man) In Your Life To Entice You To Commit Adultery - Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
a. This is not just a “man thing” and ladies should take extra care not to get too friendly with men other than their husbands. There is so much interaction between men and women in our day because of lack of fidelity in marriage and closeness in workplaces.
5. The Defilement Of Fornication – Satan Will Certainly Compromise The Purity Of Our Youth In The Area Of Sexual Impurity - Genesis 34:2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.
1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
6. The Defilement Of Sinful Habits – Satan Has Made Sinful Habits Both Appealing And Easily Accessible - 1 Corinthians 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
(One good “Rule Of Thumb” is to never start something that you are going to have to quit! Smoking, cursing, drinking, drugs, pornography, etc.)
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
7. The Defilement Of Evil Thinking - Mark 7:20-23 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving [is] nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Conclusion: How do I keep myself from both physical and physical defilement?
The Protection Of A Purposed Heart - Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
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