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Hebrews 3:12-14 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,

A.The Hebrew writer warned those to whom he wrote about the deceitfulness of sin. B.Involvement in sin deceives its victims. C.It hardens the heart and can result in a heart that cannot or is very difficult to penetrate. 1. Just think of the alcoholic – there had to be the FIRST drink. 2. The drug addict – there had to be the FIRST “hit.” 3. And, the chronic gambler – there had to be the FIRST bet! 4. The couple who have a child outside of marriage had to make the decision to have sex before they married. D.All victims of sin were deceived by it! E.They didn’t expect the results that it produced. F.What will sin do?

A.The first drink of alcohol, the first “high,” the first bet, is as far as many planned to go! B.But all who end up as chronic alcoholics, drug addicts and chronic gamblers had to take that first step. C.Involvement in one sin often leads to involvement in other sins and usually and the consequences come in a packaged deal (2 Sam. 11 & 12).

A.Those who fall victim are blinded by the pleasure of the first drink, the first high or the first win (Heb. 11:25). B.It gave them so much pleasure the first time that they are “sucked in” and are overcome by the temporary pleasure, going after it again and again and again. C.Many think, “just one more time won’t hurt.” D.They intended to only drink alcohol to be social, or smoke marijuana socially or to place a bet just “once in a while,” then they find themselves entangled and overcome, thus deceived and unable to resist its urge (2 Pet. 2:20).

A.Many never consider the consequences of their sinful actions? 1. How many alcoholics planned on killing an innocent person with a motor vehicle? 2. How many drug addicts planned on contacting AIDS or stealing to support their habit? 3. How many thought one night of sex could have produced pregnancy or a std that would affect the rest of their lives. 4. How many considered the physical pain, mental suffering, wrecked marriages, neglected children, broken homes and lives that are destroyed by their involvement in sin. 5. And most importantly, how many consider the fact that their souls are at stake (Acts 5:1-10)? B.True are these words, “...but the way of transgressors is hard” (Prov. 13:15).

A.Satan wants you to believe you have strayed so far that you could never find your way back to God. B.There are probably many who have done worse things than you, who have returned to God. 1. Rahab was a prostitute but she changed and was in the lineage of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

2. David committed adultery and had an innocent man killed and yet he became “a man after God’s own heart.” 1 Kings 15:5 because David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. 3. Saul persecuted the church and had Christians put to death and yet he became an apostle of the Lord and wrote more of the New Testament letters than any other writer. Acts 22:4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women,

C.What have you done that is so bad, God will not forgive? D.Matthew12:31 "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. E.Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.

A.Some might think "this can’t happen to me...I'm a good Christian and I don’t take part in such!” But what about brethren who smoke or look at pornographic material? B.What about those who dabble in the lottery? C.What about those who dress immodestly, not giving a thought that they could cause someone to lust and sin as result of their immodesty?

D.What about those who are involved in adultery and fornication, religious error and compromise etc. (See Gal. 5:19-21)? E.Can these sins take you farther than you wanted or intended to go, keep you longer than you wanted to stay, and cost you more than you wanted to pay? F.Any sin that is not confessed and repented of will cost you your soul (Rom. 6:23)!

G.Heed the words of the Psalmist: Psalm 1:1- 2 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. H.Let us also heed the words of truth spoken by Solomon: Proverbs 4:14-15 Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. 15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on.

I.1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

TONIGHT’S SERMON FOURFOLD INCENTIVE TO JOY