Strengthening The Hands of The Wicked (II)

Ezekiel 13:17-23

As Christians…

Fight against the world’s ways•Not envy sinners (Proverbs 23:17)•Abstain from sin

(1 Thessalonians 5:22)

Must Not …

Strengthen the hands of sinners•By sinning with them

(Ezekiel 13:22; Acts 5:11)•Upholding them in their sin

(Obadiah 10-15; Acts 7:58)•Other ways …

Failing To Confront Sin

Risk the confrontation•Isaiah and Israel (Isaiah 58:1)•Ezekiel and Israel (Ezekiel 3:16-21)

Failing To Confront Sin

Turns one away from God•Achan (Joshua 7)•Church at Pergamum

(Revelation 2:12-16)•Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-23)•Corinth (1 Corinthians 5:1-8)

Failing To Confront Sin

Leaves “blood on our hands”•Not Paul (Acts 20:26, 27)•Confronted Peter (Galatians 2:11-14)•Confront elders when necessary

(1 Timothy 5:19, 20)

Failing To Confront Sin

Sin too often tolerated•Worldliness•False views of fellowship•Must stand up for the Truth•Fail to be a good influence

Teaching Things That Lead To Sin

Never cause another to sin•Legitimate use of Romans 14•Similar teaching elsewhere

(1 Corinthians 8:1-13)

Teaching Things That Lead To Sin

Through false teaching•“What the individual can do, the

church can do”•Has divided churches•“Alien sinner not amenable to

Christ’s teaching on marriage”•Leads to adultery (Matthew 19:9)

Teaching Things That Lead To Sin

Partiality toward false teachers•Influential can be fellowshipped•Remember Paul rebuked Peter

(Galatians 2:11-14)•Not to show partiality

(Romans 2:11; 1 Timothy 5:21)

Teaching Things That Lead To Sin

Problem in the church today•Not to call certain people false

teachers•This strengthens the hands of the

wicked (Philippians 3:18, 19)

Hindering Truth

Bible examples•Pharaoh’s magicians

(Exodus 7:11, 22; 8:7, 18)•Elymas, the sorcerer (Acts 13:6-10)•Jews (Acts 13:42, 44-46, 50; 14:2)

Hindering Truth

Many reasons and methods•Some motivated by envy, malice,

or pride (Colossians 3:8)•Truth hindered by gossiping,

whispering, spreading rumors, etc.

Hindering Truth

The faithful are slandered•Paul (Romans 3:8)•Faithful brethren (3 John 9, 10)

Hindering Truth

Successful tool of Satan•Based on second hand information•Verify what others teach•Alexander the coppersmith

(2 Timothy 4:14, 15)

Conclusion

Do not lead others into sin Let’s not strengthen the hands of

the wicked