August 21, 2022
Leaving Faith Behind
- Matt Nickoson
Sermon Notes
The stark reality for all of us is we are likely to turn out like our parents.
Genesis 4:15-16 NIV
"But the Lord said to him, 'Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.' Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden."
Genesis 4:23-24 NIV
"Lamech said to his wives, 'Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me. If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.'"
The stark reality for all of us is we are likely to turn out like our parents, but we don’t have to.
Ezekiel 18:3-4 NIV
"As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die."
Ezekiel 18:5,9 NIV
"Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right… He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign Lord."
Ezekiel 18:10-13 NIV
"Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these other things (though the father has done none of them): “He eats at the mountain shrines. He defiles his neighbor’s wife. He oppresses the poor and needy. He commits robbery. He does not return what he took in pledge. He looks to the idols. He does detestable things. He lends at interest and takes a profit. Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he is to be put to death; his blood will be on his own head."
The stark reality for all of us is we are likely to turn out like our parents, but that can be a good thing too.
Genesis 4:26 NIV
"…At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord."
Genesis 5:21-24 NIV
"When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away."
Hebrews 11:5 NIV
"By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: 'He could not be found, because God had taken him away.' For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God."
Hebrews 11:6 NIV
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
Without faith it is impossible to please God.
To have faith means to believe God exists.
To have faith means to live your life according to all He has revealed about Himself.
"He rewards those who seek Him."
Jeremiah 29:13 NIV
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Zephaniah 2:3 NIV
"Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger."
Proverbs 8:17 NIV
"I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me."
Proverbs 28:5 NIV
"Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully."