In the following sermon, Wes Humble preaches on Christian love. It is an
encouraging exhortatory sermon worthy of reading.
May God bless,
Carl
my website -- http://www.nettally.com/saints/
my blog -- http://www.anniemayhem.com/cgi-bin/wordpress/
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Killing Our Hatred With A Life Of Love
by Wes Humble
"Do not murder." Exodus 20:13
One American is shot, stabbed, beaten, or strangled to death every minute.
It seems that no matter where you turn in our society, or even our world,
there are murders. It's on the television and movies as fiction. It's on
the
streets and next door as a brutal reality. With a murder rate of 10 in
every
100,000, your chances of being murdered are far greater than your chances
of
dying in an airplane or automobile crash. Murder is a crime against God
and
against one's fellow man.
The 6th Commandment says, "Do not murder." While all murder is killing,
not
all killing in murder. Murder is more than just taking a life! Murder can
be
defined as the premeditated and intentional taking of another human life.
Accidental killing would not be classified as murder. Take an example from
the Bible. In Numbers 35:11-28, God gave Israel regulations for "Cities of
Refuge." These were cities to which someone who had unintentionally killed
another human could flee to avoid the "avenger of blood." If you were
involved in an automobile accident and accidentally killed another human,
then you would not be a murderer.
Capital punishment would not be considered murder. God, in his Word lays
down the principle that for certain offences, man has the right to
terminate
another human life, Gen. 9:6; Num. 35:16-18, Lev. 24:17. Whether or not
you
personally agree with capital punishment or not, it is plain to see that
the
Bible authorizes it in cases of murder.
Killings that take place in the exercise of "just war" would not be
classified as murder. Throughout the history of the world, nations have
had
to defend their borders or other weaker nations against aggressive
enemies.
Even God, at various times, has ordered His people onto the field of
battle.
Those who kill in "just war" are not murderers.
I spent a little time this week talking with a veteran who faithfully
fought
in a war that brought no glory but I gained some real insights into the
struggles of those who fight so bravely to defend freedom and oppose evil.
Most of us will never know the struggle of veteran's who responded to the
call of duty, and did what they were asked to do to defend our country or
the freedom and rights of others. For some of them the memories and the
haunting nagging questions are worse than being there in the first place.
We
should raise our awareness to this.
Killings that are the product of self-defense cannot be classified as
murder. Often, police officers must kill in the line of duty. Homeowners
may
have to kill an intruder to protect home and family. These people are not
murderers. Sometimes, people are attacked and must defend themselves. When
they kill the attacker in the process, they are not classified as a
murderer. We live in a world where for some people murder is a way of
life.
Current cultural trends have even embraced murder as a form of
entertainment. Grand Theft Auto and other games like it have made taking a
life insignificant. Movies like Kill Bill glorify and even wrap humor
around
the taking of another's life. The Dixie Chicks did the same with their
controversial song, Earl's gotta die.
We are fascinated by those who kill. Scot Peterson became a household
word,
thanks to the media who decided to focus on his killing of his wife and
unborn child. For the last two days all attention has been focused on the
BTK killer in Kansas being caught. This church going, public employee, guy
next door man appears to be responsible for murders that go all the way
back
to the 70's. We are surrounded with it and live in a world where murder
has
become a way of life. Terrorism is the murder of innocent lives.
In light of all of that what does this commandment mean for you and me?
How
does this apply to our lives? Let's take a closer look at murder today.
1. Murder intrudes into God's business
A. God Controls Man's Entrance Into Life - When man first appeared on this
planet, it was at the command of God - Gen. 1:27. The evolutionists tell
us
that man evolved from some lower life form. That, in fact, life began on
some primordial beach where somehow, some lifeless blob of protoplasm
somehow began to live. This little living blob somehow began to change and
eventually all the life on the earth came from these humble beginnings.
God's Word, however, has a different version of these events! Notice what
God did in Genesis 2:7, (Note that man was made in the image of God.).
Look
at what David thought of the origins of human life, "
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I
praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are
wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I
was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of
the
earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were
written in your book before one of them came to be." Psa. 139:13-16.
It is plain from these verses that mankind is the product of the creative
genius of Almighty God. Since God controls the entrance of man into life,
it
stands to reason that.
B. God Controls The Exit Of Man From Life - We must concede that God
Himself
is in control of life.
"Man's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and
have set limits he cannot exceed." Job 14:5 "The fear of the LORD adds
length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short." Proverbs
10:27;
By the same token, obedience to the Lord will lengthen a man's days upon
the
earth. However, these things are also subject to the sovereignty of God.
No
man has the right to deliberately and intentionally end the life of
another,
unless it is for those things already mentioned. God is the giver of human
life and He alone must be the taker of human life. When we take it upon
ourselves to take the life of another, we have placed ourselves in the
place
of God. We have tried to assume His position and power. We have tried to
step into an area in which we have absolutely no business.
Not only does murder Intrude In to God's Business...
2. Murder interrupts a human life
Murder can be carried out in many ways. Allow me to take just a few
minutes
to catalogue some of them for you.
A. A Definition Of Murder - "The unlawful and malicious or premeditated
killing of one human being by another." Webster's New World College
Dictionary. That is what murder is. Now, what are some of the ways it can
be
committed?
B. A Description Of Murder
Physical Murder - This is the killing of another human being. Murder has a
history as long as that of the world itself. In Genesis 4:8, The first
murder is recorded. In this verse, Cain deliberately and with malice, took
the life of his brother Abel. It was not a killing of self-defense, it was
pure murder.
Since that day, the history of the world is marked by a constant string of
murders. Thank God, we live in an area where many have never been touched
by
the icy hand of murder. However, some have been.
Personal Murder - We call this act suicide. I know that some lives in this
room have been impacted deeply by the suicide of a loved one. It leaves
emotional scars that never fully heal. Therefore, I want to handle this
portion of the message with extreme tenderness. When a person is driven to
suicide, it is often the result of circumstances just getting out of hand.
They feel overwhelmed and unable to cope any longer with their lives and
they decide to end it. When they do this, they leave in their wake other
destroyed lives. It is a selfish way to leave the world. Not only is it
selfish, it is also sinful. Just as no man has the right to murder
another,
no man has the right to murder self. These things are the sole right of
God
Himself. We live in a time when every 90 minutes a teenager tries to take
his/her life. Every 30 minutes one succeeds! When a person resorts to
suicide, they are failing to avail themselves of the grace of God. They
are
refusing to allow the Lord to give them the support and the comfort they
are
in need of.
There is another side to Personal Murder, a side of which far more are
guilty. How often has a doctor told someone, "If you don't stop this or
that, then you will die?" And, how often has that person chosen to go
right
on with their bad habits and died? Whether it is over in a moment, or
whether it takes years, the results are the same. Even suicide can be a
slow
process.
Physician Assisted Murder - Here I am referring to what is called
Euthanasia
or "mercy killing." This form of death has been brought to the American
public's attention by the activities of a Dr. Jack Kavorkian, also known
as
"Dr. Death." He would help terminally ill persons, or those who are in
extreme pain, end their lives. He did this with the aid of a "suicide
machine."
While we think this is barbaric, some countries around the world have
legalized physician-assisted suicide. It is possible to go to the doctor
and
be put to death in the office. The day is coming when it will happen here
too. The burden of health care for the aged, for the infirm, for the dying
will be the catalyst that pushes "mercy killings" into acceptability and
into law!
Pre-natal Murder - I am referring to abortion! According to the Bible,
life
begins at the very moment of conception, Psa. 139:13-16; Jer. 1:5; Luke
1:41. Yet, our society seem to view the unborn human as just so much waste
material to be thrown away at the mother's convenience. Since abortion on
demand was legalized in the US, there have been over 37 million abortions
performed in this country. Somewhere around 4,300 per day, or 1 every 20
seconds! Pro-death advocates claim that the mother deserves the right to
choose. In my opinion, the choice was made when someone decided to have
sex.
Abortion is murder! It ends a human life, and that is the domain of
Almighty
God. When a country refuses to respect and protect the lives of it's most
helpless citizens, no one is truly safe.
1. Murder Intrudes Into God's Business
2. Murder Interrupts A Human Life
3. Murder involves more than killing
A. Murder Involves The Element Of Justice - Murder carries with it a
penalty. Jesus states that murders will be punished. Some, it seems, have
gotten away with murder. They will, however, face God one day and He will
render perfect justice.
Others have been caught, tried and convicted. Some of these are in prison
and other have and will pay with their lives. This is part of murder. Many
murderers have received Jesus as their Savior, yet they will still die for
their crime. Is this fair? Yes it is! Carla Faye Tucker in Texas - She
murdered 2 people while high on drugs and was sentenced to die. She was
saved and became a model Christian and prisoner. Many thought she should
have her sentence commuted. Yet she was executed just a couple of months
ago. There is a price on murder! Ill. Rom. 13:4.
And now we come to the heart of this message. You see when all you read
into
this commandment is do not murder it really rolls off of us because most
of
us in this room would never consider randomly taking another's life.
Murder
is not an option. It is not a temptation. In fact, I thought seriously of
combining a couple of these commandments into one sermon. But then I took
another look at this commandment. You see Jesus had something to say about
all of these commandments. In the New Testament we find that he did not
abolish them but he strengthens them by further describing what they mean.
B. Murder Involves The Element Of Judgment - It is possible to murder
another human being and not shed an ounce of blood, or even take their
life.
Murder can happen in the heart and mind and never find manifestation in
reality. However, in the Lord's eyes, the murderer is just as guilty.
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not
murder,[a]
and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that
anyone who is angry with his brother[a]will be subject to judgment. Again,
anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,[b]' is answerable to the Sanhedrin.
But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Matt. 5:21-22.
These verses teach a truth that we don't often pay attention to.
Dallas Willard, in his book The Divine Conspiracy, writes about anger and
defines it as so deadly that Jesus needed to censure it. "Most people
carry
a supply of anger around with them. Perhaps it comes along with that,
"quiet
desperation: that, according to Henry David Thoreau, characterizes the
life
of most people. Increasingly, now, the desperation is not so quiet."
"Why would people embrace anger and indulge it?" Why would people wear
their
anger like some badge of honor while it radiates real and potential harm
to
themselves and others?
Listen very carefully, "anger indulged, instead of simply waved off,
always
has in it an element of self-righteousness and vanity. Find a person who
has
embraced anger and you will find a person with a wounded ego."
"Anger and contempt are the twin scourges of the earth. Once you see those
emotions for what they are, the constant stream of human disasters that
history and life bring before us can also be seen for what they are: the
natural outcome of human choice, of people choosing to be angry and
contemptuous."
You see the foundational truth of this commandment is about the sanctity
of
every human life. That is why contempt is even worse than anger. Contempt
is
a studied degradation of another, and it is more pervasive in life than
anger. Contempt is never justifiable or good.
The term "raca" was very common in Jesus day. This Aramaic term was used
to
express contempt for someone. The essence of this word was to say to
someone, I don't care whether you are hurt or not. I don't care if you
live
or die. The effect of contempt is to push someone aside, exclude them,
leave
them out or isolated. All people want to be included. We want to feel that
we belong.
C.S. Lewis, in The Inner Ring, comments that, "in all men's lives at
certain
periods, and in many men's lives at all periods between infancy and
extreme
old age, one of the most dominant elements is the desire to be inside the
local Ring and the terror of being left outside."
To belong is the vital need based in the spiritual nature of every human
being. But Jesus takes this even a step future. The word fool, in Jesus
words, was reflective of any expression that combined anger and contempt.
It
represents words spoken with anger and malice. To just not use the word
fool
is to miss the spirit of Jesus law. We have plenty of other expressions in
our vocabularies that allow us to go ahead and do what he was condemning.
Willard, "To brand someone "fool" in the biblical sense was a violation of
the soul so devastating, of such great harm, that, as Jesus saw, it would
justify consigning the offender to the smoldering garbage dump of human
existence, gehenna. It combines all that is evil in anger as well as
contempt. It is not possible for people with such attitudes toward others
to
live in the movements of God's kingdom, for they are totally out of
harmony
with it."
Murder is more than an act of the flesh, it is an attitude of the heart.
Let's stop here for a moment as we come to the end of this sermon. I want
us
to reflect on some questions.
Have I murdered anybody by my words?
Have I allowed my actions or words to be filled with contempt or malice
toward a relative or neighbor or acquaintances?
Have I arrogantly shown contempt for others on the highway, in the store,
at
the gas station, or at work.
Have I struggled to love someone who is not loving back?
Have I held this struggle up in the light of the cross?
How do we insulate ourselves against breaking this commandment? The
solution
is simple. All we need do is practice God's plan for unconditional love
and
absolute forgiveness of others.
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as
in
Christ God forgave you." Eph. 4:32. If there has been a murderous spirit
in
your heart, that needs to be repented of right now. Whoever you are angry
at
needs to be forgiven and that anger released. It is far better to suffer
some injury than to be guilty of murder, even if it is only hurting you.
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