CONSEQUENCES OF SIN
“Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been very guilty, and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to humiliation, as it is this day" (Ezra 9:7 NKJV).
Here in our verse, Ezra is confessing the sins of the people. In his confession, he gives four distinct consequences of sin which come upon people in every age - the sword, slavery, spoil, and shame.
Sword - “To the sword.” The sword speaks of death and many Israelites were killed because of their sin. Sin kills. In Rom. 6:23 we read, “The wages of sin is death.” Sin promises to be the life of the party, but nothing is a greater kill-joy than sin.
Slavery - “To captivity.” Because of their sins, the Israelites were taken captives by foreign nations. Captivity speaks of slavery. Sin does not bring freedom, but always enslaves. It is a pitiful sight to see people enslaved by evil habits. Many folks claim they are free to do whatever they want and are not restricted as Christians are restricted. Yet, they are the ones who are bound and enslaved by sin.
Spoil - “To plunder.” The word translated “to plunder” means spoil, prey. It is the booty which an army takes from a defeated enemy. Israel had been stripped of its wealth and possessions by the enemy because of sin. The application here is that sin takes from us the things of value. It takes away valuable character. It takes away spiritual blessings. Sin promises great gain but it only robs us; it especially makes us barren for eternity.
(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)
Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)
Quotation of the Week
“True repentance means not only a heart broken for sin but also from sin!”
Anonymous
Word Study
Do business
In Luke 19:13 we read, “So He called ten of His servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, do business till I come” (NKJV).
Do business is the Greek word pragmateuomai (πραγματεύομαι = prag-mat-yoo'-om-ahee). Pragmateuomai generally means to be busy or to occupy oneself in anything. It is conducting business, especially that of a banker or trader. Pragmateuomai is derived from root pragma which gives us our English word pragmatic which means dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations. In context the servants are to be pragmatic in their handling of their master’s money.
Further, pragmateuomai is an aorist imperative, which means it is a command. The idea is to do this now, don’t delay. Therefore believers in Christ are to be busy, occupied with the task we have each been assigned, without hesitation especially since the Lord’s return could happen any day. It is the opposite of being a busybody.
Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus
Old Testament Prophecy – Messiah would preach to the poor, brokenhearted, and captives (Isa. 61:1)
New Testament Fulfillment – Luke 4:17-21; Matt. 11:5
Bible Facts
The Bible states that intense sorrow or stress is harmful to your health (Prov. 18:14; Mark 14:34). Researchers have studied individuals with no prior medical problems who showed symptoms of stress cardiomyopathy including chest pain, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, and even heart failure - following a stressful incident .
Bible Quiz
What is the name of the mountain on which Noah’s ark came to rest?
**Answer to last week’s trivia: Who was responsible for raising Esther after her parents had died? Mordecai (Esther 2:5-7).
That’s in the Bible
"Fullness of time”
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law” (Gal. 4:4 KJV).
“Fullness of time” - The expression “fullness of time” refers to the appointed or right time. The coming of the Lord Jesus on the world scene was not by chance. His coming was under the strategic timing providentially set aside by God. His coming was not too early and it was not too late. He was born of a particular person, at a particular time, in a particular way (incarnation), and under a particular system (the law). The world had been wonderfully prepared for the Lord’s coming. Guided by a sovereign God, historical events worked in harmony to prepare the world for the arrival on earth of the Savior of mankind.
Did You Know - Christian History
John Albert Broadus was born in 1827 in Culpeper County, Virginia. He was an American Baptist pastor and President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
John A. Broadus was famed as a preacher able to present the truths of the Bible so simply that the simplest listeners could understand them.
After becoming a Christian at sixteen, John witnessed, taught Sunday school, lived out his faith and gained what education he could. He had planned to become a doctor. However, a sermon on Christ’s parable of the talents convinced him he should study to become a minister.
Although he often filled pulpits, preached at conferences and to troops during the Civil War, his life’s work was as a professor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, in which he taught homiletics (the art of preaching). He often told his students, “If you forget everything else I have told you, don’t forget to treat the Scripture in a commonsense way.” Just how conscientious he was is shown by the fact that he once revised his entire course notes for a single blind student.
John stressed the importance of preaching: “We know that preaching deserves the highest excellence since it is the chosen instrument of the Savior of the world, who Himself came preaching.” He studied the sermons of the most effective preachers to learn how they should be put together. Working hard on his own sermons, he wore a path in the grass near the school, pacing as he fixed key points in mind. He learned what many pastors never learn, to preach so as to persuade listeners to take spiritual action based on the truths presented.
John Albert Broadus died March 16, 1895. True to his word, he had done all in his power to keep the seminary alive and it lives today. His Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew is one of his better-known writings and his book On the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons was widely used as a textbook for decades.
A Little Humor
As one of his first official duty, Pastor John had to visit his parishioners. All went well until he knocked on the door of the Jones. It was obvious that someone was home, but no one came to the door. Finally, Pastor John took out one of his cards and wrote on the back, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock,” Rev. 3:20. On Sunday his card found its way into the offering plate. Below his message was the following notation, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself” Gen. 310.
Thought Provoking Church Sign
“Sin deceives, defiles, deadens, and destroys!”
