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THINGS WE MUST NOT DO

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    The Bible contains what some refer to as “Thou shalt nots.”

1.      Exodus 20:3

 

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

 

2.      Exodus 20:13

 

Thou shalt not kill.

 

3.      Exodus 20:14

 

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

 

B.       In our lesson today, we are going to be looking at some other “Thou shalt nots.”  We will study them under the title:  “Things We Must Not Do.”

 

I.                   WE MUST NOT GROW DISCOURAGED

 

A.    One of Satan’s tools is to put discouragement into the hearts of God’s people.

 

B.      Dictionary.com defines “discouraged” as:  “to deprive of courage, hope, or confidence.”

1.      A person is down instead of being up.

2.      A person is depressed instead of being joyful.

3.      A person is lethargic instead of being active.

4.      A person is negative instead of being positive.

5.      A person is withdrawn instead of being outgoing.

 

C.     There are numerous instances of God’s people being discourage in the Bible.

1.      Israel was discouraged by the report of the ten spies and their report about the Promised Land.

2.      Elijah was discouraged when Jezebel sought to take his life.

3.      The people of Israel were discouraged when they returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity.

4.      The apostles were discouraged when Jesus was taken and crucified.

 

D.    Four ways to keep from getting discouraged.

1.      Look unto Jesus (Heb. 12:2-3).

 

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be weary and faint in your minds.

 

2.      Learn from God’s Word (Acts 20:32).

 

And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

3.      Listen to our brothers and sisters in Christ (Heb. 3:12-13).

 

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

 

4.      Lean on God in prayer (Heb. 4:16).

 

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

 

II.                WE MUST NOT QUIT

 

A.    The word “quit” means to stop, cease, or discontinue.”  It also means “to give up.” 

1.      That second definition is a reality check. 

2.      Can you imagine a Christian giving up?

 

B.      We were told about a church that ceased to exist on one occasion. 

1.      The last service was held.  The doors were locked.  And, no one returned.

2.      Several years later some Christians entered into the building and found the Lord’s Supper sitting out just as it had been left the day they quit.

 

C.     Quit should not be part of the Christian’s vocabulary.

1.      Quitting makes us losers, and with God we cannot be losers (Rom. 8:31).

 

What shall we then say to these things?  If God be for us, who can be against us?

 

2.      Quitting means that precious souls are lost (Mark 8:37).

 

Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

 

3.      Quitting means that the efforts of those of the past have gone to waste (I Cor. 3:10).

 

According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon.  But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

 

4.      Quitting means that God is not glorified (Matt. 5:16; I Cor. 6:20).

 

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

III.             WE MUST NOT BECOME COMPLACENT

 

A.    Complacent: 

1.      Dictionary.com:  to be pleased with one’s situation

2.      Synonyms:  smug, unbothered, untroubled

 

B.      There are many churches that have grown complacent.

1.      They like things the way they are.

2.      They do not want anything to change.

3.      Anyone who tries to change things is looked upon with suspicion and opposed.

4.      There is little, if any, concern for the next generation.

C.     The church in Laodicea had grown complacent.

1.      Their attitude (Rev. 3:17a)

 

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing…

 

2.      Their actual condition (Rev. 3:17b)

 

…and knowest thou not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

 

3.      Their assessment (Rev. 3:15-16)

 

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:  I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

 

D.    In order to not grow complacent, we must

1.      Know the Lord’s will (Eph. 5:17).

 

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

 

2.      Set goals to accomplish His will (Heb. 12:13a).

 

And make straight paths for thy feet…

 

3.      Seek doors of opportunity (I Cor. 16:8-9).

 

But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.  For a great door, and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

 

4.      Labor together to meet our goals (I Cor. 3:8-9).

 

Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one:  and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.  For we are labourers together with God:  ye are God’s hubandry, ye are God’s building.

 

IV.             WE MUST NOT CEASE PREACHING THE TRUTH

 

A.    Truth is valuable thing, but it is also a highly controversial and deeply hated thing by some (John 3:19).

 

B.      Truth always does its job (Isa. 55:11).

 

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:  it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it.

 

1.      We often think that the only thing truth is supposed to do it to set men free from sins (John 8:24).

2.      Truth, however, is also designed to cut deep into the heart and convict the sinner of sin.  The sinner does not always like this (Ex., the Jews, Acts 7:54).

 

When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

 

C.     Just because truth does not always produce converts, does not mean that we should cease preaching the truth.

1.      The Jews did not like the message of Peter and John, but they did not cease preaching the truth.

a.      The regulation (Acts 4:18)

 

And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

 

b.      The response (Acts 4:19,20)

 

But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

 

c.       The request (Acts 4:29)

 

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings:  and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word.

 

2.      We must be like these bold proclaimers of God’s Word.  We cannot cease to preach the truth just because some men may not like it.

a.      Psalm 40:9

 

I have preached righteousness in the great congregation:  lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest.

 

b.      II Timothy 4:2

 

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 

V.                WE MUST NOT CEASE TO PRAY

 

A.    For the child of God, prayer is a resource.

For the child of God, prayer is a weapon.

For the child of God, prayer is a refuge.

For the child of God, prayer is a remedy.

For the child of God, prayer is an alignment.

 

B.      For some reason, it is easy for forget to pray.

For some reason, it is easy to doubt the power of prayer.

For some reason, it is easy to believe Satan’s lies about prayer.

 

C.     But, we must never cease to pray.

1.      Jesus teaches us to keep praying (Luke 18:1).

 

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.

 

2.      Paul also teaches us to keep praying.

a.      Colossians 4:2

 

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.

b.      I Thessalonians 5:17.

 

Pray without ceasing.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Christianity is a religion that possesses its “Thou shalt nots.”

 

B.      We have looked at five “thou shalt nots” in today’s lesson.

1.      Thou shalt not be discouraged.

2.      Thou shalt not quit.

3.      Thou shalt not become complacent.

4.      Thou shalt not cease preaching the truth.

5.      Thou shalt not cease to pray.

 

C.     Question:  Are these “thou shalt nots” that bad.  I do not think so.  They are absolutely essential to our faithfulness and to our ultimate salvation.