SUNDAY INDOOR LECTURE                                  13TH AUGUST, 2017.

TOPIC:      ABSTAIN FROM ALL APPEARANCE OF EVIL.

TEXTS:     PROV. 4:14-15, I THESS. 5:22, ACTS 15:19-20.

1        Introduction:

This lesson is intended to caution, remind and encourage the Christian to shun and avoid any act or activity which is patently evil by nature and offensive to God. Sometimes we may be lured into evil whether consciously or unconsciously.

In Prov. 4:14-15: Solomon says “Enter not into the part of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it and pass away”

I Thess. 5:22 “Abstain from all appearance of evil” David reminds us of the great benefit and blessing that follow those that abhor and avoid evil. Psalm 1:1-4: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so; but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away”.

2.       THE CONCEPT OF EVIL AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

The word evil is from the Greek word Kakos, which stands for whatever is evil in character. It denotes what is useless, incapable, bad as opposed to that which is kind, gracious, serviceable. Evil therefore is destructive and injurious, and sin before God. Gal. 5:19-22, I John 3:7-10. Our recent study of the kings of Israel has taught us many lessons on the consequences of doing evil. Evil never goes unpunished, except you repent and sincerely  ask God for forgiveness.

The Oxford Dictionary defines Evil to include the following:

• Morally objectionable behavior. Gal. 38:7-10 – e.g. the conduct of Onan.
• That which causes harm or destruction: Gen. 4:8-11 (the killing of Abel by Cain). 2 Sam. 11:14-17, (David and Uriah), I Kgs 21:1-14 (Ahab, Naboth and Jezebel).
• The quality of being morally wrong in principle or practice it. The observance of certain customs and traditions. Practice of killing twins, disinheriting widows and subjecting them to humiliation on the death of their husbands.
• Having the nature of evil – like Judas Iscariot in John 12:3-6 and Diotrophes in 3 John vs. 9-11.
• Having or exerting a malignant influence. I.e. the role played by Herodias in the murder and beheading of John the Baptist – Mark 6:17-26.

3.       THE NEED TO ABSTAIN

To Abstain is to:

• Keep or withhold one self.
• Refrain from something, to for bear or keep from doing especially an indulgence of passion or appetite.
• To fast.
• To hinder, keep back, withhold.

Its synonyms includes to deny oneself, forbear, forgo, give up, refrain, relinquish and withhold. Therefore to abstain from doing an evil conduct and or act requires a high level of self discipline. It requires the sustenance of a state of self control. I Cor. 9:27 and constant examination. 2 Cor. 13:5. It is the ability to keep in control that which can lead us into temptation i.e. the control of the use of the tongue. The Bible says control the tongue. Jas. 1:26, be slow to speak James 1:19, speak with grace Gal. 4:6, speak with wisdom. ps. 37:30; 3:13-18, speak with kindness, Ps. 3:26, be example in speech – I Tim. 4:12, let speech be seasoned with salt. Col. 4:6. To abstain requires not just ordinary will power, but the grace of God, for carnality often pushes us to do evil and not good. Rom. 7:14-21, Gal. 2:20-21. The simple reason we find it difficult to abstain from evil is because we either want to please ourselves or others and not God.

Christians are therefore adviced that it is the will of God that we abstain from evil. I Thess. 4:3-4 and fleshly lusts that war against the soul. I Pet. 2:11. Note the advice of James in Acts 15:19-20.

4.       WHAT PROPELS CHRISTIANS TO EVIL

Our lusts and emotions propel and lead us to sin.

James 1:13 “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man”. vs. 14 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed”.

vs. 15 “Then when lust had conceived, it bringeth forth sin, and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death”.

vs. 16 “Do not err, my beloved brother”.

Every Christian therefore should be able to put in place safety and control measures to be able to abstain from all appearance of evil. Our Lord Jesus advised on the safe approach to this: we must control our appetite, our desires and our emotions to succeed on this. Matt. 5:29-30, Col. 3:1-2

5.       SOME EVIL THAT EASILY BESET US.

Heb. 12:1 “wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us”.

These sins easily beset us:

• Lying. God detests lying. Prov. 12:22, Col. 3:9-10.
• Cheating – God hates cheating. Prov. 11:1, Amos 8:5-6, Mal. 3:5, Acts 5:1-10, James 5:4.
• Domestic abuse/violence of whatever nature or character. Wife beating and battering.
• Fraud of every kind particularly the fraud that relates to denial of conjugal rights between husband and wife. I Cor. 7:5.
• Abuse of the tongue – James 3:2-10
• Hatred – I John 3:15, 4:20-21

6.       CONCLUSION:

The compelling reasons to abstain from evil.

Since evil includes the quality of being morally wrong in principle or practice, the compelling reasons to abstain from evil are as follows:

• Doing wrong is always wrong despite our efforts to excuse our actions. Gen. 3:6-13.
• Doing wrong is always wrong; even if we don’t get caught God sees all. Prov.15:3, Heb. 4:13.
• Doing wrong is always wrong, even if we do something for some perceived good cause – All sin is transgression of the law. I John 3:4.
• Doing wrong is always wrong, even if others are doing worse things. Prov. 24:9.
• Doing wrong is always wrong, even if it does not bother our conscience, for sometimes conscience can be trained or educated to accept wrong. I Tim. 4:1-2, Eph. 4:17-19, Some
• Things done in sincerity could be sinful before God – I Sam. 15:20-24, Gal. 6:7.
• Doing wrong will always remain wrong, even if it is commonly acceptable by the majority. “Thou shall not follow a multitude to do evil. Exod. 23:2.

7.       It is never right to do wrong, no matter what the majority might say. Isa. 5:20: James 4:17 “Therefore, to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin”.

May God bless you all in Jesus name, Amen.

Teacher: Bro. Godwin Okoro