The Best of What's Around

I. Laziness

A. What excuses do we create in our minds that hinder us from accomplishing our tasks

1. I just want to sleep

2. I’ll do it tomorrow

3. I don’t have time

4. Too busy

B. Let’s look at how our heart and mind work. We need to realize that “our heart exploits our mind to justify what the heart wants.”

1. Our deepest desires will precede the rational functioning of our minds and incline the mind to perceive and think in a way that makes the desires seem right…*Justify*

a) Doing things for the sake of community

b) Not working because you’re using the time to find yourself

2. Proverbs 22:13 “The Sluggard says, ‘there is a lion outside; I will be slain in the streets!”

a) Basically, the sluggard desires to stay home, which delays him from working, exercising, etc.

1) There’s no good reason to stay home

2) He uses his mind to create unreal circumstances to justify his desire

3. Deception can cause 2 things

a) Moral depravity, or a depraved mind

1) Romans 1:28-32

2) 2 Timothy 3:1-9

b) Mental Derangement

1) Deceiving others

2) Deceiving ourselves by continuous deception that even we start to believe our own lies

4. Proverbs 26:16

a) “The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can give a discreet answer.”

1) Laziness makes us ignorant of our ignorance and resistant to the truth that exposes our laziness.

2) Even if 7 wise men came to the sluggard and said, “There is no lion in the street,” the sluggard still thinks there is, because in his own eyes there is a lion.

· If he admits that there is not a lion, his laziness will be exposed for what it is.

3) Last night we talked bout this in a relatable sense. We decided that a good example would be someone who has a goal, and for arguments sake we’ll use the job issue. If I were to tell you that I wanted to go get a certain job, but if I walk outside the monster from Cloverfield would attack me, you would think that I was crazy. However, I’ve decided that that is what my excuse will be and won’t back down, because I’m prideful.

5. Warning-----Romans 1:18-23.

a) We’ll call this the Wrath of God on the unrighteous.

II. Sexual Sin

A. Proverbs 22:14(follows after the verse dealing with the sluggard)

1. Proverbs 5:3-4. This is how the adulteress snares you into her pit, and how you are destroyed because of it.

B. 10 Steps toward sexual sin

1. Falling in love with the present world

a) 2 Timothy 4:10

1) Demas used to be a part of the ministry as Colossians 4:14 points out

2) The world had become too attractive to him so he forsook his leadership role.

b) Luke 20:46 and Luke 8:14

1) Successful leadership exposes the leader more and more to alluring forces

2. Loss of horror at offending the majesty of God’s holiness through sin

a) 2 Samuel 12:7-10

1) We turn the gospel of grace into leniency, “Grace will abound.”

2) Perfectly innocent and good things may need to be sacrificed for the sake of vigilance against sin.

· Not going to lunch with that female coworker alone when you’re in a relationship.

· Can’t happen where someone has lost his horror at offending the holiness of God

3. Sense of immunity from accountability and authority

a) 3 John 9

1) As you begin to fall in love with your power and prestige, you begin to secure your “gains” by developing immunity from accountability and authority

· Leaders of our church are involved in homegroups

· Driscoll doesn’t travel alone. May be more expensive, but is worth the price to stay accountable

4. Succumbing to itching ears as love of truth evaporates

a) 2 Timothy 4:3-4

1) Once the love of truth is weakened, integrity has no leg stand on

2) We start rationalizing and compromising our own beliefs in order to suit our own needs. This can lead to the satisfying of our sexual desires

b) WARNING 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10

5. A vanishing attention to scripture

a) 2 Timothy 3:16-17

1) If we are not reading scripture, we can’t be doing the things that the scripture says

2) Effects on sexuality: Loose and sloppy handling of scripture leads to loose and sloppy living

6. Growing disregard for spiritual good of his followers

a) 1 Kings 14:15-16

1) The incentive not to sin diminishes as a disregard for the people takes over

2) The more we start to love what “we’ve” accomplished, the less we will love those that we should

3) The vigilance to guard ourselves from sin for their sake(being above reproach) will vanish, and sexual immorality will not seem as dreadful as it once did

7. Disregard for the biblical mystery of marriage

a) Ephesians 5:31-32

1) The deepest biblical meaning of marriage has to do with Christ and how he is portrayed to the world.

8. Compartmentalizing

a) 1 Timothy 3:2-5

1) Be above reproach in all areas, not just around the body of believers

9. Sense of being above the necessity of suffering and self-denial

a) 2 Timothy 2:3-6

1) As teachers and as Christians, we will need to take our share of suffering

10. Giving in to self pity under pressures of loneliness of leadership

a) The more we try to get sympathy, the more we are inclined to reward ourselves with unusual and ungodly treats

1) 2 Timothy 4:16-17

· The Lord is beside you, even when all else desert you

III.Wrap up and supplemental verses

A. Encouragement

1. Romans 12:9-11

a) Boredom and apathy have taken deep root in America and can easily do the same in us.

1) Fight against intrusions of apathy, boredom, laziness and indifference

2) Get in the word and let the Lord of glory speak life and energy and hope into your spirit

3) BOIL IN THE SPIRIT

B. Supplemental verses (The verses will align with the same number in the 10 steps toward sexual sin above)

1. God must be our portion

a) 1 John 2:15 and 17

b) James 4:4

c) Psalm 4:7

d) Psalm 73:25-26

2. Our acts toward God

a) Psalm 51:4

b) Habakkuk 1:13

c) Proverbs 15:9

d) Psalm 11:5

e) Psalm 29:2

f) Isaiah 29:19

3. Submit to counsel/ mentors

a) Proverbs 15:22

4. Cultivate a love for truth

a) Luke 16:10

b) Mark 12:14

5. Memorize Scripture

a) 2 Timothy 2:15

b) Psalm 1:2

c) Psalm 119:11

6. Pray for others

a) 1 Thessalonians 3:12

b) Hebrews 10:24

7. Ephesians 5:32

8. Everything is woven together for God’s glory

a) 1 Corinthians 10:31

b) Colossians 3:17

9. SUFFER

a) Acts 14:22

b) Luke 9:58

c) Romans 8:17-30

d) Romans 8:23

10. Self-Pity is unbelief

a) Mark 10:29-30