6th May 2018 - Scoffing Makes Fetters Stronger - Charles Banna
Scoffing Makes Fetters Stronger - Charles Banna For more sermons, please visit www.cfcindia.com
Summary
The sermon uses the example of Jesus healing a woman on the Sabbath to discuss the hypocrisy of those who restrict God's work. The speaker emphasizes that God's power and grace are always present to free us from bondage, just as Jesus freed the woman. The central message is that God works in ways we cannot see, making a way where there seems to be no way.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
The progression of ungodliness in Psalm 1The speaker reads Psalm 1:1, highlighting the progression from walking in the counsel of the wicked, to standing in the path of sinners, to sitting in the seat of scoffers.Psalm 1:1
Two categories of scoffers in the BibleScoffers are often either foolish young people who mock God's authorities and prophets, or proud, wealthy individuals who arrogance lead them to reject things they do not understand.
God's patience with scoffers and impending judgmentReferencing 2 Chronicles, Noah's ark, and Sodom and Gomorrah, the speaker warns that God sends messengers to warn people, but persistent scoffing eventually leads to inescapable judgment.
Fetters become stronger through ongoing scoffingThe speaker quotes Isaiah 28:22, warning believers not to carry on as scoffers because doing so makes their spiritual fetters and bondages stronger every day.Isaiah 28:22
The connection between money, stewardship, and scoffingIn Luke 16, the Pharisees who loved money scoffed at Jesus' teaching on faithful stewardship, demonstrating how materialism hardens hearts against spiritual truth.Luke 16:14
Peter's warning about mockers in the last daysApostle Peter warns that mockers will come in the last days following their own lusts, questioning Christ's return while ignoring past divine judgments like Noah's flood.2 Peter 3:3
The evils of scoffing and spiritual progressionReflecting on the evils of scoffing, Stephen reiterates that moving from walking with the godly to sitting with mockers creates a self-confident heart that has no use for God.Psalm 1:1
Lot's gradual separation from Abraham and GodLot chose the valley of Jordan and separated himself from Abraham, eventually settling in Sodom where he became comfortable among the ungodly.
Lot sitting in the gate of SodomLot sat in the gate of Sodom among the city's big shots and scoffers, losing his spiritual authority and failing to lead his household in honoring God.Genesis 19:1
Scoffing at God's warning of destructionWhen Lot warned his future sons-in-law to flee the city before its destruction, they thought he was joking and laughed at him just like the other scoffers.
A final exhortation to stand firm in graceConcluding with Peter's warning, the speaker urges believers to stay on guard against unprincipled men, avoid being carried away by error, and grow in the grace of Jesus Christ.2 Peter 3:17–18
