Roots by the River

There is another temptation that is more present than sexual temptation that does not seem so evil. After all it is the last commandment and it is not stealing or committing adultery; it is only wanting to steal or commit adultery. "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." Exodus 20:17 Jesus spoke to this in Matthew 5:27. You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' According to Jesus when you have violated the Tenth Commandment you have already violated the Seventh. The Tenth Commandment defines greed and greed is one of the signs of advanced depravity in Romans 1. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. Romans 1:29 Do your own study of greed in the Luke 12:15, Ephesians 5:3, 5, Colossians 3:5, 2 Peter 2:...

We can easily recognize sexual temptation. It is very present in life, in pictures, advertisements, fiction and ritual. We are told how to handle these temptations. RUN! Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22 This is how Joseph handled it. He ran. She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. Genesis 39:12

1. You may have figured this out that many “born again” Christians have not been born again. How do we know? There are two basic reasons: • They do not show the evidence of life in Christ • They are later truly born again and the evidence then immediately is apparent. 2. You may also have realized that there are Christians, real ones, who live like unbelievers. How can we tell the difference between the believer and the unbeliever? It is difficult, but here is the basic evidence. • The unbeliever can enjoy his sin. • The believer cannot enjoy his sin. Even if not caught by the culture, he is always caught by God and disciplined by God! And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as...

Forty-five years ago Lyndon Johnson was President of the United States. Art Buchwald wrote the following: “As soon as the President finished his State of the Union speech, I was ordered to get some public reaction. So I immediately called my father in Forest Hills, New York, and asked him what he thought of all the things the President wanted to do (The Great Society). “If he’s got the money,” my father said, “let him go ahead.” “I don’t think he has the money, Pop.” “I knew there was a catch to it.”

Here is a description of a politician between 900 and 1000 BC. It is in 2 Samuel 15:1-6. Absalom was not a good guy. He used promises and flattery. Sometimes this happens in the church too. People are bought with promises, lies and flattery. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. Acts 20:29-31 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. 1 Thessaloni...

If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:9-11, 18 This glory is a glory which is given to men. The one glory faded; in fact it looks as if it had no glory at all in comparison with the surpassing glory, a glory which lasts. This glory which lasts is ever increasing. We as believers have more glory than Moses as long as we keep our hearts and faces unveiled to reflect God’s glory.