01-20-08-pm

VILLAINS OF THE BIBLE—WK2

THE SHADY PEOPLE WE LIKE TO DISLIKE

Pastor Jeff Summers

Evangelical Free Church of Mount Shasta

WEEK 2 | CAIN

GENESIS 4:1-16

WHO IS CAIN?

Cain is the first BORN. (4:1)

Cain is the first MURDERER. (4:8)

Cain is the first WANDERER. (4:10-12)

WHAT WERE CAIN’S MISTAKES?

1) Cain made an UNACCEPTABLE offering. (4:2-5)

· Not up to God’s STANDARDS

· Improper SACRIFICE

· Improper ATTITUDE

2) Cain’s response was UNHOLY. (4:5-7, 9)

Proverbs 21:27

²⁷The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with evil intent!

3) Cain took UNHEALTHY action. (4:7-8)

GENESIS 9:5-6 (as told to Noah following the flood—about repopulating the earth)

⁵ And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man.

⁶ "Whoever sheds the blood of man,
       by man shall his blood be shed;
       for in the image of God
       has God made man.

WHY IS CAIN A VILLAIN?

Cain became a villain because he allowed his UNGODLY ATTITUDES to lead him to UNHOLY ACTION.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

ATTITUDE is everything

HEBREWS 11:4

4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

Admit MISTAKES.

JUDE 8, 10-11

8In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings.… 10Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals—these are the very things that destroy them.

11Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error; they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion.

PROVERBS 21:21

²¹ He who pursues righteousness and love
finds life, prosperity and honor.

Allow LOVE to rule

1 JOHN 3:11-12

11This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous.

THIS WEEK:

1) Take notice and note the moments where you allow LOVE TO RULE your life this week. Ask yourself: How did this impact my relationship with God? How did it touch the lives of others?

2) ADMIT YOUR MISTAKES. When you wrong someone—tell them. When you approach God haphazardly or half-heartedly—admit it. When you hurt your husband, wife, or children—apologize and make it right. Let confession be your first steps to pursuing a life marked by righteousness.

3) ADJUST YOUR ATTITUDE. Take time each day to prepare your heart and mind to worship God. Worship during the day through your work, conversations, rest, etc. Also prepare for worshipping with other believers—that you might come with the right attitude—an attitude of GIVING rather than GETTING.

New International Version (NIV)