LITTLE BY LITTLE (Heb. 3:13; Tim. 4:2)

1. From the two verses just read, we find some key points for today’s world.

2. First, there is something called “sin” (the breaking of God’s laws).

3. Second, sin is “deceitful.” Third, sin is “hardening.”

4. Paul’s letter to Timothy brings to us another important thought.

5. 1 Tim. 4:2 says a conscience can become “seared.”

6. By using these two passages we discover that sin is a process.

7. It can work little by little until it has a strong grip on people.

WE FIND EXAMPLES OF THIS IN BOTH THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS AS WELL AS NATIONS.

a) All of us know that Jonah was sent to Nineveh.

b) His nation wide message was “repent or everyone will be destroyed in 40 days.”

c) We know the facts of this story, but what led to those facts?

2) What caused Nineveh to become so corrupt that it had only 40 days to change?

3) The answer to this question is found in the third chapter of the Bible.

a) Gen. 3 (which I am not turning to) tells us about Satan and Eve.

b) Satan did not say to Eve, “eat the fruit.”

c) Perhaps he realized that such an approach would have been too direct.

d) Eve was drawn into temptation little by little.

e) Gen. 3:1 says Satan spoke about God and what He had said.

f) The devil knew better than to try and deny God’s existence.

4) Satan recognized the reality of God as well as the fact that God had given commands.

5) The devil presented sin to Eve in increments.

6) Pretty soon, he had helped the first two people sin.

a) Most of the wickedness we read about the Old Testament happened in increments.

b) People did not wake up one day and say, “We are going to be absolutely evil.”

c) Perverseness and sin most often come gradually or in several steps (phases).

7) Sin’s gradual nature can be compared to an addictive drug.

8) It is introduced, people get to taste it, and much of it is enjoyable.

9) That taste is only a taste, and since it is pleasurable, there is a desire for more.

10) People often think just a little more will be okay, but it rarely stops with a little more.

a) One of the books in my library is known as the “Big Book.”

b) It is a sort of text-book for A.A. groups that is read at AA meetings.

c) Much of what is in this book is stories from alcoholics.

d) If you have ever wondered what this type of life is like, this book will tell you.

11) I want to share a story from p. 395 of this volume (the housewife who drank at home).

12) Here are some direct quotes from this story:

a) “I was never a heavy social drinker.”

b) During a particular time of stress “I resorted to using alcohol in my home.”

c) This woman had definite intentions—she was someone who believed in moderation.

d) In her mind she had good intentions.

e) She simply wanted “a means of temporary release and of getting a little extra sleep.”

f) She felt alcohol would help her clear her mind, sleep, and relax—meet important needs.

13) Some of her additional statements are also revealing. Consider this one.

14) “From one or two drinks of an afternoon or evening, my intake mounted.
It “mounted fast,” and it “wasn’t long before I was drinking all day.”

15) What happened with her alcohol intake? It started off small and gradually increased.

16) I used alcohol for an illustration, but a dozen other items could replace it.

17) Sin eventually gets a hold on people or a nation, and it becomes addictive.

18) Right now we are seeing this with the so-called “gay marriages.”

19) Little by little we have seen social and religious barriers torn down.

20) God is mocked on t.v. Christians are portrayed as right wing extremists.

21) Morals have been attacked on all front.

22) When it comes to what is commonly known as “gay rights,” this is also a battlefield.

23) It is not uncommon to find this topic on prime time television.

24) It has been in the newspaper, discussed on radio, and openly debated.

25) Prime television shows have turned it into comedy.

26) Now people are openly receiving marriage licenses for it.

27) Gradual sin and acceptance of wrong has brought us to this point.

28)

29) This type of thing has happened before, and the Bible warns us about it.

30) Eventually standards can lowered so far man says, “I am the ruler maker.”

31) The light from God becomes so dim men are in darkness and they don’t realize it.

32) God and His will are eventually tossed out and man becomes his own deity.

33) When people pursue this type of path a good Bible verse is Prov. 30:20.

a) This is one of those verses you read and think, “Is that really in the Bible?”

b) Could a writer of God’s word really have said such a thing?

c) This verse is a shocking passage, but it sets forth a very important principle.

34) Here is what the Proverb writer said – Prov. 30:20 – READ.

35) This verse speaks of act that justifies divorce, but the transgressor is not bothered by it.

36) The one who commits this deed says, “no problem. It is not anything to worry about.”

37) It is no more an issue that wiping a couple crumbs from the lips.

38) This is a hardened heart and a conscience which has been seared.

39) It is a perfect illustration of Heb. 3:13.

40) The light that should be in the mind and life because of God’s word has been turned out.

41) Doctors tell us about hardening of the arteries.

42) That is a serious medical condition that requires treatment.

43) In the spiritual realm hearts can be hardened just like human arteries.

a) Morals can gradually decline.

b) Belief in God and His standards for man can be reduced little by little.

c) Personal good and what the Bible describes as righteousness can deteriorate.

44) When this happens in the world it is bad.

45) Such can also happen to members of the church.

46) Mt. 26:25 makes reference to “Judas,” one of the twelve.

47) In this verse it is also said that Judas was the betrayer.

48) Jesus spoke of His betrayal and then Judas said, “Is it I?”

49) This man’s sin had grown so deep he could put this question to the Lord.

50) The light that should have been in his life had faded where it was almost impossible to see.

51) Sin hardens individuals and nations.

a) Think back to another Bible story, that of Joseph.

b) We know how Joseph had dreams and his dreams angered family members.

c) What does Gen. 37 tell us about Joseph’s brothers?

52) His brothers were willing to kill him, apparently with no remorse.

53) Instead of doing this they finally agreed to put him a pit.

54) Gen. 37:25 says that while he was in this hole his brother “sat down to eat.”

55) I can only wonder if they didn’t stare at him, down in a hole, while they ate a meal.

56) This is about as cold hearted and unfeeling as one can imagine.

57) Where was the pained conscience?

58) Where was the sense of right and wrong? What about regret and sorrow?

a) Sin had so hardened most of the family Joseph became a commodity.

b) He was sold to some folks who happened to be passing by.

c) Then those boys went home and lied to their dad.

d) They allowed their father to believe their brother was dead.

59) God tells us sin gets a hold on people and they become hardened.

60) This helps explain how Nineveh got to the point where it had to repent or perish.

61) At the present time our nation is going through a time of great decision.

62) In the coming months some choices are going to be made about sin.

63) We have already become desensitized to a lot that is wrong.

64) In 5 years, America might be unrecognizable unless people start thinking correctly.

65) We need to be the kind of light that is described over and over again in the New Testament.

66) In this part of the building we have three banks of artificial lights.

67) When the announcements were given, all three banks were on and at their fullest intensity.

68) If you look up, you will see that two thirds of our lighting is off.

69) Little by little two thirds of our artificial lighting was removed.

70) Did you notice, or did the dimness come so gradually you couldn’t detect the change?

a) This is the way that sin operates.

b) Satan can let it “creep up” on us as individuals or even in a nation.

c) God warns us to watch out.

71) Consider what He said through Paul in Rom. 12:1 – quote.

72) Phil. 2:15 says the world is crooked but we are to be “without blemish” and “lights.”

73) God presents a clear contrast in His word between light and darkness.

74) Heaven is not interested in Christians who have turned down their light.

75) Jesus said to His people, “don’t put your light under a bushel.”

76) Righteousness, Godliness, virtue and holiness are what He calls for from His people.

77) These qualities need to be presented to the world.

78) One of the biggest challenges to being a Christian right now is being a light for God and right.

79) We have a world full of people who are trying to dim and even cut off spiritual light.

80) In times like this I cannot but help think of Motel 6 and their advertising campaign.

81) Most of us know how their ads end: “we’ll keep the light on for you.”

82) This is an outstanding thought for Christians.

83) People are trying to shut out the light of God and His word, but we are going to keep the light on.

84) We are going to pay the electricity bill (price) to show people what is right.

85) Doing that is going to make some people uncomfortable.

86) This is God’s charge to us during this time in history.

87) Will we do it?