okay Joshua chapter 7 and let's just have a look at verse 1 again Joshua
chapter 7 verse 1 but the children of Israel committed a trespass in the
accursed thing for Achan the son of Carmi the son of Zabdai the son of Zerah
of the tribe of Judah took of the accursed thing and the anger of the Lord
was kindled against the children of Israel and the title of my sermon today is
selfish sins that hurt others selfish sins that hurt others so what's going on
here in Joshua chapter 6 basically they surrounded Jericho Joshua has given them
some really clear instructions if you look at chapter 6 and verse 17 chapter
6 and verse 17 says and the city shall be accursed even it and all that are
therein to the Lord only Rahab the harlot shall live she and all that are
with her in the house because she hid the messages that we sent and ye in any
wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing lest ye make yourselves accursed
when you take of the accursed thing and make the camp of Israel a curse and
trouble it but all the silver and gold and vessels of brass and iron are
consecrated unto the Lord they shall come into the treasury of the Lord so
the city is accursed or basically doomed to destruction misery and verse 17 said
said there that the city the city and all that are therein shall be accursed
verse 18 he says to keep from anything in the city or basically you and the
camp of Israel shall be accursed in verse 19 says that all the valuables
that'll be put into the Lord's Treasury they're pretty clear instructions aren't
they okay verse 18 said lest ye make yourselves accursed when you take of the
accursed thing and make the camp of Israel a curse and trouble it now after
this they shout the wall collapses if you remember the story they save Rahab
and they burn the city okay it's a great victory things are looking good for them
at this point but Akan he didn't care did he didn't care about God's
Commandments he didn't care about the repercussions for him or anyone else he
couldn't resist and just in case you're wondering this wasn't an accident this
wasn't just as you know something that happened he wasn't quite sure the
instructions turn to Joshua chapter 7 again in verse 20 Joshua chapter 7 and
verse 20 and it says so this is when he's rumbled and Akan answered Joshua
and said indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel and thus and thus
have I done when I saw among the spores of goodly Babylonish garment and 200
shekels of silver and a wedge of gold of 50 shekels weight then I coveted them
and took them and behold they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent and
the silver under it so basically he's coveted them he's taken them and then
stayed there during the scouting trip to AI they've stayed there during this the
brief battle that happened at AI as well so this isn't something that he just
kind of oh he made this error he kept it guy and he buried it now I don't know
about you I reckon it was probably the goodly Babylonish garment that did it
now and I was looking at look at thinking about this I was thinking it's
kind of it sounds to me like this was some high-end some high-end clothing
this goodly Babylonish garment yeah and and I think in and I started looking at
this I was looking at what's our high-end suits that we have now has
anyone ever looked into this stuff and I try and pretend that you can afford any
of it but you know you know there's stuff out there now there's something
ridiculous where it's like three quarter of a million it's just because it's not
studied with a load of diamonds so I was looking at the top ten suits but there's
that one which does seem to sell a lot ninety thousand nine thousand dollars
sorry ninety thousand dollars for this kind of very high-end suit which all
these these guys wearing ninety thousand yet and this is what you get for ninety
thousand dollars if anyone is thinking they want to save up for this okay so so
this is designed by a fashion designer Alexander Omosu no doubt he's probably a
sodomite this suit is designed with a help of three unique fabrics one from
Vicuna a South American animal I think I've said that right that looks like a
llama and shears wool every three years wool made from the fur of Arctic musk
ox also known as the world's most expensive wool as well as pashmina
sourced from the eponymous Himalayan goats truly international in its
statement it takes more than 80 hours 5,000 stitches to make it so the price
of the suit additionally goes up thanks to its 918 karat gold and is it pave or
pave set diamond buttons okay so this is this is stuff that these like oil
tycoons and these kind of these big celebrities like to wear going out in
and I mean that's something else isn't it but what a waste of money absolute
colossal waste of money you'd be embarrassed wearing that wouldn't you
you should be embarrassed way something like that I mean you could spend that
on some better things in a suit apparently it lasts a long time but well
so anyway I think it's a Babylonish garment that really probably done him
and then he just added on the money at the same time but he's taking the
garment and it is a small fortune what he's taken as well here but look what
happens because of his selfishness so remember 618 warned and make the camp of
Israel a curse and trouble here and I was thinking about this story in the two
different areas of Aiken's life that was affected by a selfishness so there's two
clear areas that affected and and let's be honest most sin is is probably most
sin is selfish to some degree really isn't it okay most sin is but when you
know full well the effect it will have on everyone around you that's another
level isn't it when you know full well the massive negative effects can have on
people around you then then we're talking now we're talking extreme
selfishness here and just just remember again John Joshua 7 1 it said but the
children of Israel committed trespass in the cursive thing for Aiken the son of
Carmine son of Zabdai son of zero of the tribe of Judah took of the accursed
thing and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel
so number one here in these two areas is selfish sins that hurt our people okay
selfish sins that hurt our people so God made it clear didn't he that would
affect the people okay God made it really clear there it did affect the
people and notice how he holds the children of Israel collectively
responsible does he hold some collective collectively responsible here and the
anger of the Lord was kindled against all of them okay not just Aiken now why
is that why was it kindled against everyone um it could just be that he
warned them as a people and therefore his punishment was on them as a people
we see this sort of thing don't we throughout the Old Testament where
people as a whole are punished for the sins of the children of Israel but maybe
maybe there was already maybe there's a covetous problem covetous problem
amongst the people maybe it hadn't been preached hard enough maybe maybe and I
would say here to the point where you're stealing that amount when you've been
told not to I think there's probably already a sign wasn't there with Aiken
I'd imagine there must have been a side so I must have it I doubt that was a
first thing you've done which showed is his covetous selfish selfishness I kind
of think of it like rats you know they say when you see one rat there's
probably already an infestation yeah and in the same way once you're to the
point where you're you're stealing when you've been given that clear warning and
burying it in in the ground under your tent I think there was probably already
some signs of that but either way Aiken would have probably become more of a
problem in the future wouldn't he his covetousness his selfishness I'm sure it
would have affected them greatly affected people around him affected the
children of Israel even more and we'll look at the results so have a look at
chapter 7 of verse 4 says so there went up visit with the people about 3,000 men
and they fled before the men of Ai and the men of Ai smote to them about 13
six men for they chased him from before the gate even unto Sheba him and smoked
them in the going down wherefore the hearts of the people melted and became
as water and Joshua rent his clothes and fell to the earth upon his face before
the ark of the Lord until the event I'd he and the elders of Israel and put dust
upon their heads so his sin caused about 36 men to die says about that his it
causes people to turn from these mighty destroyers of Jericho to basically a
trembling mess didn't it and Joshua and the other leads of Israel to end up
basically face first in the mud okay and and when it comes to us our selfishness
it hurts our people doesn't it it hurts our people our church that is and it
hurts our leaders and we can all be selfish can't we everyone here we all
we all have the ability some more than others to be selfish but as a church as
a church we should be trying our best not to shouldn't we as a church we should
we should be trying our utmost not to be selfish like and especially not to that
degree turn of Philippians chapter 2
and this is Paul talking to the to the church at Philippi so Philippians chapter
2 and from verse 3 he said let nothing be done through strife or vain glory but
in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves look not
every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others so it's
not about our own vain glory is it we should be humble we should be lifting
each other up above ourselves in our mind shouldn't we that's how we should
behaving in a church we want to be focusing on each other individually and
also collectively by having a heart for our church shouldn't we okay that's how
we should be behaving and and like in Joshua 7 as a church we can get cursed
collectively we can also get blessed collectively can't we as a church as
well now you have to know 1st Corinthians 14 12 says even so ye for as
much as you're zealous of spiritual gifts seek that ye may excel to the
edifying of the church it's all about the church we went through this with the
book of Corinthians even our spiritual gifts really it's all about edifying the
church okay because that's where it all starts that's where it's all based
around isn't it the church now my prayer here is that everyone here genuinely
wants this church to succeed okay that's what I pray for that everyone in this
church wants it to succeed and aren't just selfishly ticking a box for
themselves here waiting for something better maybe seeking their own vainglory
somehow through the church or worse maybe hoping for its downfall and I
really hope that's not the case I hope that's not going on here but because
there are there are people around this country there are people around this
country that want this to fail you know that there are people there are
Christians around this country that want this to fail they're so-called NIFB
believe in Christians around this country that do want this to fail you
don't understand that yeah for a few different reasons there maybe it's
because it really challenges them all that preaching move close to a church
you know change your life where the church is you know you know it's not
about the job it's not about the house it's not about the family you know
family friends and everything in that area come down get close to a church and
then it well wait a second as a church here now I can't just be an online
Christian anymore and claim it's just because there's no churches around I've
got to make that decision and people they they want it to fail because they
don't want that because the truth is a lot easier sitting at home isn't it on
YouTube seeing I eat like like they say eating chips off your chest that's the
truth isn't it because it's much easier than turning up week in week out and
work and doing the work that goes into a church because we all should be here
work for the church shouldn't we and there are people around this world that
want this church to fail as well there are people around this world that want
this church to fail that's the truth and if you're if you're trying to if you are
trying to selflessly serve this church then you'll not only want it to succeed
but you'll hopefully be praying for myself praying for pastor Thompson
pray for others in the church praying for people that have problems that have
issues that might affect the church we should all be praying for each other we
should all want this church church to succeed you'll also be promoting the
church to others won't you inviting others along yeah that's what you'll be
doing if you want this church church to succeed you'll want it to grow be kind
of loving to everyone here wouldn't we that's how we should all be kind of
loving to each other but look as a church all sin all sin is going to
affect us but I believe I believe there are certain specific sins that will
particularly hurt this church and particularly hurt churches in general
and these are just some this isn't you know an exhaustive list these are just
some off the top of my head so let's start with Aiken's example so Aiken's
example was covetousness wasn't it okay which is a strong or inordinate desire
so inordinate desire to of obtaining and possessing some supposed good usually in
a bad sense applied to an inordinate desire of wealth or avarice which is
agreed for riches okay usually focuses around money and there's a reason that
the first Corinthians 5 commands us to kick people out who are covetous isn't
there okay there's a reason you don't have to turn Luke 12 15 Jesus said and
he said unto them take heed and beware of covetousness for a man's life
consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth he said take
heed and beware okay that's a serious warning isn't it take heed beware of
covetousness because it's bad enough that this society encourages it
everywhere doesn't it every step half the adverts are just encouraging you to
covet things everywhere you go it's encouraging you to covet wealth covet
riches covet other stuff things in life and it is everywhere isn't it and it's
bad enough but we're coming we're coming here to get away from a lot of
those of those those effects of the world aren't we and then we come into
this church and we don't want to have it here either do we as well because it's
bad enough trying to keep away from it and keep your mind clean with
covetousness and then you come in a church and it and it spreads doesn't it
people who are covetous it's catchy it spreads and more people talk about money
and stuff and things and more it starts to affect those around them and sadly as
we see here often leads to theft doesn't it theft of some sort or another theft
from people theft from could be even we've seen it theft from a church
haven't we before and that's where covetous leads Aiken said didn't he that
he he coveted them and took them he coveted then he took them and it starts
with the covetousness and I'm not going to go on a you know that you could
preach you could preach sermon after sermon out of this this chapter and you
could preach a lot of covetousness but I want to hit through a few different
things that I think affect us some hundred nineteen thirty six out of
Turner says incline my heart unto thy testimonies and not to covetousness and
that's the answer isn't it is to get your heart right on the things they've
got get your heart right on the Word of God and away from that covetousness and
when you feel that when you feel that get back to the Word of God get those
those verses which make it clear you know not not to covet that man's life
consists of not only in you know in his possessions the abundance of things
that's not that's not what we should be seeking is it we should be seeking the
things of God okay but another one that's similar to that is envy envy
similar isn't it okay and and envy is to fill uneasiness mortification or
discontent at the site of superior excellence reputational happiness
enjoyed by another to repine another's prosperity to fret or grieve oneself for
the real or supposed superiority of another and a hate him on that account
and the main difference between envy and coveting is that envy is a feeling
of discontent and resentment based on someone else's possessions ability
status whilst coveting is wishing longing or craving for something that
belongs someone else okay so basically envy always creates negative emotions
towards that person okay Galatians 5 26 says let us not be desirous of
vainglory provoking one another envying one another okay and there's there's
quite a few verse in the Bible that's saying similar things because it's a big
problem isn't it envious of someone's car people get that don't they get envy
someone's car their house their spouse popularity maybe envious of this person
in the church they just seem more popular than me and they start to hate
on them because of it their looks maybe you know get and I think maybe that
might be more of a female thing I don't know maybe maybe some guys get a bit
like that as well but they you know you see that don't you see that amongst
women they start to get envious of the looks maybe of another lady and then
they but they don't go I just so wish I look no they start to hate them they
start to hate other things and find other things to hate their job maybe
they're envious of that guy's job he's got a good job he's earning more he's
got it easy he's got more respect their role in the church it could be as well
envious of people's roles in the church I'm not just talking about my role here
other people's roles other things people do they get envious of even their
faith envious of just someone who's a stronger Christian so instead of instead
of saying you know I need to work hard to be a better Christian instead it's
you know one of those you know so holy you know oh yeah just showing off
because you know they can't really necessarily finger what it is but that
and it comes from envy does it they start a hate on them and it you can see
how damaging that could be to a church can't you okay how damaging and it's
rarely left is just an emotion so it's rarely left it's just oh well I just
hate that person I'll keep it quiet I'll work my way through it
Proverbs 27 4 says wrath is cruel and anger is outrageous but who is able to
stand before envy what a great verse I know I've read it before but but who is
able to stand before it's so destructive isn't it it's so destructive more so
than the than the court than the wrath and the anger which is cool and
outrageous who's able to stand before it because it results a lot of the time
in attacks slandering other problems like that doesn't it that's where envy
leads to because it's such an emotional thing and it often results in another
point which really affects churches is gossip doesn't it often results in goth
gossip again you'd have to turn to Proverbs 16 28 says a froward man so
if strife and a whisperer separated chief friends and we should be chief
friends here shouldn't we we should be chief friends here and a whisperer
separated that gossiping feels good though doesn't it truthfully gossiping
feels good to many people they feel good with it because you're lifting yourself
up against the person you're gossiping about really you're gossiping about
something and you're basically saying I wouldn't behave like that no I wouldn't
talk like that I wouldn't do what they did I wouldn't behave or be like that
person there and that's what you're doing when you're gossiping you lift
yourself up and all sorts of problems in church are caused by gossip aren't they
all sorts of problems and gossiping is a funny thing where I think for many
people they kind of know they've been gossiped about I don't know if you've
ever been gossiped about you kind of just there's just there's an air around
there's this is feeling there's the the odd look the odd comment you just you
kind of know sometimes and that can make people in a church feel unwelcome just
feel like they're being gossiped about often results in false witness doesn't
it because it's not in front of two or three witnesses it's just being spread
around little things little comments people feeling aggrieved don't they
start to feel aggrieved the ones who are doing the gossiping a lot of the time or
that they've heard something they start to feel angry at people and it's a play
thing for division causes isn't it so people that want to actively cause
division in a church gossips a great way of doing that and it causes schisms
doesn't it causes schisms but first Corinthians 12 25 says that there should
be no schism in the body but that the members should have the same care one
for another so we don't want the schisms but but gossip causes that it
always does doesn't it you're always going to end up with some form of
division caused by that even if it's just that someone's been gossiped about
to you and you just start to feel a bit drawn away from that person don't you
and it's not necessarily it's not always the truth is it so in a church if it's
important come and see the leadership if it's not don't gossip about it it's
pretty simple isn't it simple rule of thumb there and now gossip often comes
from the next point the next one that's destructive is pride isn't it like I
said it often comes from pride Proverbs 13 10 says only by pride cometh
contention but with a well-advised wisdom you see contention anywhere in
life and there'll be pride around it won't there there'll be some sort of
pride that's caused it that's that's been involved in it okay and and pride
for people in churches cause all sorts of problems don't they prideful people
cause all sorts of problems some people just feel insecure random because some
people do a good job when they're prideful of making people feel rubbish
because they're puffed up they're bragging they're talking about you know
how great they are or and you get that a lot don't you with the prideful and
people just start to feel wow they're really you know they're pretty they've
really got it sorted you know and people start to feel insecure around the prideful
sometimes which often then causes counter pride doesn't it you get the
old counter pride where then when someone's lifting themselves out you get
sucked into trying to lift yourself up back you know people do do that don't
they so a lot of the time when you get a prideful person there's a few more
around him and they hang around each other and they're all just so puffed up
and puffing themselves up and everything else Romans 12 3 says for I say through
the grace given unto me to every man that is among you not to think of
himself more highly than he ought to think but to think soberly according as
God has dealt to every man the measure of faith let's think soberly sensibly
when it comes to ourselves yeah okay we should shouldn't we because really it
can be pretty sad when you meet those puffed up people and you're looking at
thinking really come on and and I'm not talking about people in this channel not
trying to hear mark anyway because you get it on the door a lot don't you how
many people you knock on the door you're not gonna door and you ask him you know
what you got to do to go to heaven and and the answer is be a good person you
know and they think they're going to heaven because they they claim to be a
good person and look at this person and come on you know and it's sad isn't it
and we get it all over the place you get it in place of work and all these
puffed up these people you just looking at you were thinking really how how do
you get there you know and we should we should think soberly about ourselves
shouldn't we and if we're all just that little bit more humble I think in
general you can sort out a lot of the division a lot of the gossip a lot of
the envy and all of that if you just humble yourself you know okay the the
product because the other problem with the private is they often won't submit
to leadership of rules will they that's the truth they won't submit to rules in
the church and they won't submit to leadership because they think too much
of themselves because they think that they're above that they're above to
submitting to what they're told to do they're above falling in into line
that's the truth isn't it but the problem is it does it just affect the
leader and and again a great verse you don't have to turn there we've got loads
of verse today Hebrews 13 17 says obey them that have the rule over you and
submit yourselves for they watch for yourselves as they that must give a
count that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable
for you and that's you plural isn't it and that's if you have prideful people
that are just causing grief causing problems for the leadership of a church
because they just can't do as they're told they can't submit they can't just
follow it affects the whole church because the leaders end doing it with
grief aren't they and they're constantly trying to deal with a prideful people
the prideful person that's what that affects everyone in the church so it's
more than just oh well I just don't want to listen to that but I don't want to
submit to leadership no in the end you just affect everyone else now okay it
can also be pride then I sound like linking these up I'm quite proud of this
now I'm joking okay that could also be pride that causes another on the selfish
sins list okay forsaking the assembling of ourselves together okay and that is a
selfish sin forsaking the assembling of ourselves together turn to Hebrews 10
turn to Hebrews chapter 10
and verse 24 says and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to
good works not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as a manner of
some is but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the day
approaching because ultimately it's selfishness isn't it it's selfishness
because of that here this is one of kind of the go-to verses for like a clear
verse saying don't forsake basically come in a church and and what's it say
it says let us just before that let us consider one another to provoke unto
love and to good works so like us I preach the other week one of the big
reasons for coming to church is to help each other is to provoke each other to
exhort each other it's not just to come to see what I can get from church it's
not just well or just because I've got to go to church not just to come to go
well what am I going to get from the preacher this week you're coming to
church to also encourage exhort each other and it is selfish not coming
therefore isn't it when you see verses like this it's a selfish sin to not come
to church we're not just at church for ourselves we're not just at church for
ourselves we're here to help each other we're here to encourage each other verse
24 says and let us consider one another okay that's a selfless act isn't it to
consider one another verse 25 says not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together as a manner of summaries but exhorting one another okay that that can
like I said before that could just be from turning up can't it just be from
turning up if we turned up here and there was ten people here that's
probably not going to exhort the people here that were here when it was 50 60
you know and the rest of it yeah and and that's the truth is just turning up just
being part of those numbers for us to look and go well yeah we have 50 we had
this it makes a difference it really does okay and that's that's every
service you know and that could be that could be discouraging when you when
you're in one service it's busy and then you're in another and there's 30 people
in there okay and not just for me for everyone in here as well just turning up
let alone the fact that you could pray for each other that you could be there
when we're singing together and we're all singing like we said before what a
difference that makes you know and and again what you know we're in Psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs we're trying to encourage exhort each other we're
trying to we're trying to teach each other aren't we through that as well and
when it's being belted out and you think about those words and and like I said
just being here and being there for each other makes a big difference it's
selfish not to turn up to church and and I'm not talking about those those of you
that have really really proper proper reasons but when it's not when it's just
I don't really fancy it I don't know I'm a bit tired or something else ain't a
reason not to turn up to church we're here to help each other aren't we okay
and that's a selfless act isn't it that's how we should be we're here to
worship God as well aren't we we're here to worship God God who gave his life for
us and then I don't know he wants to see what's the singing to me once it's
worshiping him he wants us at church doesn't he okay to serve God to help
each other now these are the selfish sins that I think affect the church that
came to my mind this week okay and it there and there are many more we could
all probably think of some if you want to you know write them down at the end
of the service on the back of your bulletin preach another service preach
another servant on it in a few weeks but turn turn back to Joshua 7 Joshua chapter
7 and verse 24 says in Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of
Zerah and the silver and the garment and the wedge of gold and his sons and
his daughters and his oxen and his asses and his sheep and his tent and all that
he had and they brought them unto the valley of Achor and Joshua said why has
thou troubled us the Lord shall trouble thee this day and all Israel stoned him
with stones and burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones
and they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day so the Lord turned
up turned from the fierceness of his anger wherefore the name of that place
was called the valley of Achor and to this day okay so selfish sins that hurt
our family okay selfish sins that hurt our families point number two that's a
pretty brutal ending isn't it for Achan and his family that's pretty brutal why
did the whole family die you wonder that when you read this why the whole family
died were Joshua and Israel out of line here do you think when they out of line
well look at verse 15 look at Joshua chapter 7 and verse 15 where God's
commands and it shall be that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall
be burnt with fire he and all that he had because he had transgressed the
covenant of the Lord and because he has walked fully in Israel so God commanded
Joshua to burn him and all that he has with fire okay God commanded that that
included his family yeah include his family the children of Israel if you
look back at verse 25 it looks like they chose to stone him first says in all
Israel stoned him with stones and burned them with fire after they had stoned them
with stones looks like they went a bit easy on him maybe I don't know maybe
that's what God expected anyway but they stoned him with stones first look at
verse 13 here okay verse 13 to see why it says up sanctify the people and say
sanctify yourselves against tomorrow for thus saith the Lord God of Israel there
is an accursed thing in the midst of thee our Israel thou canst not stand
before thine enemies until you take away the curt the accursed thing from among
you so there would have been worst reap worse repercussions for the people I
think had this continued yeah it would have got worse and a harsh punishment
dissuades people from repeating sins doesn't it okay and if only our country
understood that a harsh punishment the sort of punishments that God wanted us
to give people for certain sins certain crimes would stop people doing that and
even when people don't care about the effect on their people I think when it
comes to your families it can be a different matter can't it so even when
you don't care about your church you don't care about your people maybe when
it comes to your family it might change things a little bit also though
families have a habit don't they of partaking in sin together okay families
have a families have a habit partaking since good he buried didn't he buried a
lot of gold there silver the old designer suit he buried all that in the
earth in the midst of his tent do you think that his family had no idea I
think his family had no idea he's just come back from battle and he's digging
holes you know do you think oh yeah that's just what that does he just goes
back and has a little dig doing a bit of gardening in the middle of the tent okay
let's be honest I think they knew what was going on didn't they um it with his
sons at all do you think maybe they're involved though maybe they're involved
so his sons and daughters here that like I said they're at least I think they
were witness to what he did maybe they're involved maybe they're with him
at the time that he stole it and by the way just if you're wondering they're not
necessarily children are they didn't say that they were children if you look back
to verse I think it's verse 24 it says it says and his daughters and his sorry
and his sons and his daughters and his oxen his asses no mention of a wife here
either but they weren't necessarily children maybe these were these were
responsible adults here his daughters and his sons either way though maybe
they would have repeated the sin maybe they would have repeated the sin had he
got away with it lightly had they got away with being part of it as well but
whatever the truth and we're only really we're kind of guessing here a can
selfish sin had a devastating effect on his family yeah okay had a devastating
effect in his family all got stoned they all got burned and and I was thinking
there about some specific selfish sins that hurt our families too so let's
start off with the obvious one again so the major sin of this of this story is
covetousness isn't it but I'm just going to quickly go over this we've already
looked at it but it does hurt families as well as churches okay covetousness
obviously hurts hurts families you think of the discontent wives who are just
focusing on wealth instead of the things of God there are aren't there though
there are women out there that instead of you know focusing on training up
their kids focusing on on the things of God focusing on looking after their
their husbands focusing on worshiping God focusing on living for God all they
can think about is the things and the stuff and the money and and how else
they're going to get that to the point where they're trying to take on you know
extra jobs and everything else when they don't necessarily need it because that
happens isn't it you know and and oh just just you know not got to get more
stuff more things more money what about husbands chasing money when with food
and raiment they should be content shouldn't they husbands are just chasing
the extra money okay it's one thing yeah we should provide shouldn't we we should
provide for our families that's clear we don't want to be worse than an infidel
we should provide for families but we shouldn't be trying to chase a mega
mega rich then our family's going to pot our kids don't have a say hardly at all
because we're just trying to get more and more cash and more more stuff and
more more things our wives are all my single women single mums because we're
never there we're never around now we should earn and we should work and for
some we need you know some jobs you need to work the extra hours but but there's
a difference between that and then just being covetous and trying to get as much
money as you can and there's a fine line between being a diligent worker isn't
there and just trying to chase the big money and and with covetousness as well
I've seen it really destroy families because that can be a big problem where
where my wives feel like they're on their own and or otherwise where men
feel they're just inferior because their wives are putting so much pressure on
them for more money and more cash where they feel like they're a failure because
they don't earn the big money but what about what about gambling as well that
comes from covetousness doesn't it and I know people who have literally destroyed
the whole lives so give a couple of old friends I was talking to actually an old
friend recently who's telling me that eventually his his partner it is this
young lady it turned out and they you know sadly they do have kids and and the
whole thing was a mess it turned out should be stealing money off him for a
gambling addiction and it had gone into the thousands of thousands of pounds and
she's now trying to pay it back and they're just what a mess and he's now
moved off to another side of the world left the kids just just terrible an old
friend who I know who his his his wife used to have to take his bank card and
take and have all his money transferred straight out of his bank into her bank
account with every paycheck because he couldn't like one day be online poker
and and it was it I mean it was again just destructive the lack of respect
there what what it was just a mess of a family and just because of the that that
just desire that crave that covetousness because that's what it is isn't it okay
we are well it's you know they've got this particular synagogue not even sin
the world would call it like it's some sort of mental health thing the gambling
that's their thing you know they need some help no they need to deal with a
covetousness don't they need to deal with a cup because they're coveting
money that's what they're doing yes I know it becomes addictive a covetousness
does become addictive doesn't it but really they need to deal with the
covetousness in Luke 12 13 it says and one of the company said unto master
speak to my brother that he divide the inheritance with me and how many
families fall out over money over inheritance again I was thinking about
someone else I know who who's they basically somehow I mean she's telling
you this as if it's just you know they did the right thing her and her sister
decided that because her other brother and sister weren't helping their mum
enough towards the end of a dementia that they basically got the will
rewritten and just cut them out you know so if she's just like yeah I mean they
you know the last couple of years they never even saw her blah blah one of them
was a Jehovah's Witness so kind of but yeah they just never saw and never saw
mum so you know how why should they why should they get any so we just they just
got the mum to change the will while she you know while she was at the early
stages of dementia and and this goes on throughout the world doesn't it
families falling out over money cash lending etc destroys families and then
what happens with it all kids learn to worship money too don't they kids learn
to worship money if you're just constantly talking about money constantly
craving money constantly going on about money your kids become covetous as well
that destroys them so covetousness does destroy families but here's a few others
so how about disobeying the commandments for marriage how about
that disobeying the commandments that go hand in hand with marriage so let's
start for once we're going to start with the men with this and you know this
can't be preached enough okay this honestly can't be preached enough
because in this day and age in this world and it's I mean we're hearing the
complete opposite aren't we everywhere so even if this was preached every week
because the the family really that I mean in here we've got majority families
anyway and this isn't having a go at anyone that's not not a family at this
church but you know it really makes a difference isn't it we've got kids
they're the future and this massively this is one of the big problems in
families so turn to Ephesians 5 Ephesians chapter 5 like I said we're
going to start with the men while you turn there Colossians 3 19 says husbands
love your wives and be not bitter against them 1st Peter 3 7 tells us to
give honour unto the wives and Ephesians 5 25 says husbands love your
wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it that's a
clear command isn't it how clear a command is that it's repeated time and
time again love your wives be not bitter against them give honour unto them love
them as Christ loved the church okay there are no ifs there are there there's
no ifs where or if she submits if she's a good Christian wife if she does what
you think she should do there are no ifs there are no buts are there there are no
buts there at all love your wife and it's so easy it's so clear and it's
something we do and it's not the world's mushy love well if only I could love her
she just you know we've fallen out of love and the rest of it that's a load of
rubbish you you actively love you choose to love you choose not to love and God
made it clear to love your wives and how many problems in families are caused
by men not loving their wives how many how many relationships are destroyed how
many because men choose not to they choose to not love their wives and then
they start going down the route of well she's not submitting she's not maybe if
you loved her she might actually submit to you ever thought about that maybe if
you just loved her regardless yeah because it's it's a clear command it's
not just well you should you should try this is what you should try and do
depends if she ticks the boxes no love your wives love your wives it's simple
says in verse 26 that he might sanctify and cleanse it with a washing of water
by the word that he might present it to himself a glorious church and this is
obviously talk about how we should be with our wives not having spot or wrinkle
or any such thing but it should be holy and without blemish so all men to love
their wives as their own bodies that's not very selfish that is it he that
loveth his wife loveth himself for no man ever yet hated his own flesh but
nourishes and cherishes it even as the Lord the church and it's basically
giving us what is the selfishness that we you know and we do we all should
obviously we should look after and take care of ourselves but we should be
putting that onto our wives and it's and that's what it is it selfishness it's
selfishness to not love your wife because not only does it affect your
wife not only does it destroy your your marriage but it affects your kids as
well and I would say it also affects your church on top of that as well when
you see guys walking around or just lauding it or trying to act like you
know they're so high and mighty because they snap their fingers at their wife
and I'm not saying that happens here but I bet it does in churches where men are
trying to puff their chest out act like there's something that's special but but
why aren't they showing them the love their wife should submit yeah we'll see
that in a second why should submit but where's the love because trying to
degrade your wife in front of people doesn't sound very loving to me and I'm
not saying it's degrading for her to submit but when you're talking down or
when you're talking rude to them that's not that's not loving huh how's that
loving your wife okay and and again this is a problem this is a problem that
affects families I think the world over anyway it does it's not oh well it's not
just a problem for Christians because everyone in the world over was just so
selfish aren't we too busy loving ourselves and not loving loving those
people that God has put in our life those people that we vowed to God told
we shouldn't really make that's good but we do don't we because on our wedding
day we're vowing to God to love her to honor her to cherish her so aren't we
doing it okay we should all do it but but what about you wives though you
wives let's stay in Ephesians 5 Colossians 3 18 says wives submit
yourselves unto your own husbands as it is fit in the Lord first Peter 3 1 says
likewise ye wives be in subjection to your own husbands Ephesians 5 verse 22
wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord wives submit
unto your own husbands be in subjection to your own husbands submit yourselves
unto your own husbands as unto the Lord I would hope you every single save
Christian will want to submit themselves unto the Lord yeah and that's how you
should to your husband that's pretty clear isn't it and the irony the irony
that wives are commanded to submit to their own husbands but the majority of
women in this world and sadly the majority of Christians probably too
would prefer to submit to someone else's husband in the workplace wouldn't they
they would prefer to submit to someone else's husband in the workplace and for
some women it's still probably a bit bit of a pull right now because for some
they've maybe only been saved a few years and they've come out from all of
that to where they still feel slightly inferior I was talking to a family
member yesterday who who is only recently saved who is at home and he's
just feeling that pressure that pressure from the people so what do you do for
work from the other mums at the school game so what do you do oh so so are you
going to be using the extra 30 hours or whatever childcare because so you can go
back to work you know and and what's your job what's your career and and
she's feeling that well maybe I should do something I'm saying that hell no
you shouldn't be doing anything look after you look after your kids and look
after your husband because that's what the Bible says doesn't it don't go and
submit yourself someone else's husband and it's ironic isn't it because that's
where so many problems come from as well verse 23 said for the husband is ahead
of the wife even as Christ is ahead of the church and he is a savior of the
body therefore as a church is subject unto Christ so let the wise be to their
husbands in everything everything wives everything that's pretty again if I'm
not just read that in everything not a world just a pair well he's not right
about that one no I'm not gonna do that no submit to them that's what the Bible
says and it doesn't just say it once says it three times because I think that
maybe there's a point that it's trying to be hammered home isn't there three
times if only you cared more for God's commandment then you might actually be
happy okay and again I hope everyone here is doing it if you're not then I
hope this is preaching to you and if it isn't I hope it's preaching to any of
you kids here when you grow up because you're probably going to be attacked
with this even more this liberal nonsense is brainwash that somehow
you're going to be a happier woman when you're submitting to some man in the
workplace and not to your husband but the Bible doesn't say that it's
selfishness it's selfishness not to it's selfish about it's selfish towards your
husband whether he's loving you or not and it's selfish towards your kids as
well because not only does it destroy what could be a happy marriage which
affects the house but your kids learn it too don't they your kids they soak it up
they put and young and there are I reckon the world over there are young
ladies that think that a man will love them you know as they're getting
together because he gives them maybe slightly more attention than their
selfish dad gave their mums you know then there are people probably the world
over that have gotten bad marriages just because the benchmark what they were
growing up looking at was such a poor example so anything just even slightly
well what a loving guy because he remembered my name or something else and
and because people do they get the examples off their parents don't they
or young men that think that a lady will be a good submissive wife just
because she hasn't started bossing them around yet because her dad was just
getting bossed around left right and center by their mum you know and again
they shouldn't be doing that should they shouldn't be doing it the Bible says
clearly to submit in everything and we do don't we do often end up repeating
our parents behavior we do we a lot of people repeat their parents sins don't
they and not only do you do you destroy your own chance of happiness but your
spouses and also your kids and maybe their kids and their kids etc cuz then
it becomes this chain event just break it break that chain who's to say they're
gonna break that chain right because they the pressure is gonna be even worse
on them the pressure on our parents and most people here were probably unsafe
parents was a lot less than the pressure on us and it's gonna get worse and worse
isn't it I mean by the way the world's gone let's we suddenly see some massive
change it's gonna get worse and worse and worse to the point where our kids
are gonna have and their kids are gonna have some real real pressure aren't they
okay and while we're on the subject of husbands and wives let's just quickly
hit probably the most destructive thing adultery okay adultery what a wicked sin
what a wicked selfish sin that's why Leviticus 20 10 says and the man that
committeth adultery with another man's wife even he that committeth adultery
with his neighbor's wife the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put
to death I had a lady email me about our church and was so stressed out about
some of our beliefs a little while back she was saying so so are you saying you
think that I should have been put to death because I had an affair said yes
yes you should have done but we're not the ones that are gonna do it but yes
you should have done it I'll tell you and what I said to his had that been
hanging over you I doubt you would have commit committed an affair I hope you
wouldn't otherwise you're really wicked if you still would have done and then
got put to death for it it wrecks lives doesn't it absolutely wrecks lives wrecks
families and it's pure selfishness isn't it pure selfishness oh I just fell out
of love oh they just you know gave more to me that I was you know that the wife
it was better for her that I moved on I'll funny that because you didn't move
on first did you but one of the reasons Ephesians 5 22 Colossians 3 18 first
Peter 3 1 that we've just looked at talks about submitting to your own
husband doesn't it about submitting to your own husband because sir sending
your wife out to the workplace as some male boss is asking for trouble isn't it
he's asking for trouble getting your wife to submit to another man day in day
out is a big problem isn't it okay that's where so many affairs come from
they come from the workplace don't they they come from that day in day out and
then getting them to submit to some other man when the when the Bible says
to submit to your own husband's but in the same way though men employing or
having some lady submit to you in one way or another is asking for trouble
isn't it it's asking for trouble people that are employing women to submit to
them in the workplace that's that's the problem because if the Bible says for
the women not to do that why are you encouraging oh well she's unsaved oh
well you know she wants a job no you're asking for trouble and with this yet
look and again I hope no one has this problem but men don't even entertain the
thought because it always starts with a thought doesn't it it all the second you
have that fool then that's a hard place to come back for but sorry to come back
from it starts with a thought doesn't it it's that thought in the mind even just
such as that that fleeting thought oh if only or something else it starts with
that and and all these stupid worldly terms like it's somehow just an innocent
a wandering eye they call oh he's just he's got a bit of a wandering eye you
know oh you know well I just look but I don't touch you know or oh well if I if
I wasn't married you know they come out you get these men that come out with
that sort of rubbish don't they but it's wicked isn't it you're not fooling
anyone who are you fooling that means that you want you would love that idea
if only you had the chance that's what that means isn't it okay in Matthew 5 28
Jesus said but I sent you that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her
have committed adultery with her already in his heart so if you're looking on
women if you're lusting after women however much you tell yourself well I
wouldn't ever do anything I say you're an adulterer you're an adulterer in
your heart you're a whoremonger you're an adulterer and that applies to you
women too though that applies to all you women as well oh if only he was more
like that man if only he was more like that what's what's the difference it's
the same isn't it yeah they might not be so much on the looks and stuff that that
the men sadly are led by but a lot of these women they do or or I bet he
doesn't treat his wife like that I bet there are women that say that I hope
there's no women here that say that I bet oh you know I bet brother so-and-so
does it treat his wife like that I bet that person does it what's that what's
that if it's not looking on a man to lust after him in some way or another
isn't it okay and that's wicked cut that out stop looking at other men stop stop
comparing your man with other men there's a name for women like that as
one in the Bible isn't it whores because that's what you're doing you're being a
whore you're comparing your man to other to other men you're talking about other
men it's wicked but we live in a wicked world don't we where adultery adultery
is probably more common than a faithful marriage I reckon I don't know how you
know I know divorce is massive and a big part of that is adultery but I would say
adultery is probably more common than a faithful marriage now I reckon in this
country is sadly there's not really that many marriages it seems anymore either
in a world where are in a in a country where our pervert Prime Minister is
shacked up shacked up with his girlfriend in 10 Downing Street what
sort of a message is that given out to our country and what about that what
was his name what's that little rat called the recent one his cock Matt his
cock who everyone seemed to care more about the fact that he was breaking
quarantine rules than the fact that he was having an affair like where have we
got and I think that was seemed to be on purpose wasn't it it's like
everything was about oh well everyone's you know he needs to apologize for
breaking like the social distancing it's like the guy's married and she was
married it's like oh yeah by the way they were married yeah oh wow what how
far apart isn't it what a massive difference yeah
stonem stonem just for the record we're not saying keep an eye out for that
buzzer okay but okay but we're on we're on at parents here on at husbands and
wives here in the family but let's get on at you kids too yeah let's get on at
you kids because I don't think there's probably enough preaching at kids so
selfish sins that hurt families children that won't obey their parents children
you might be thinking well what is it that our job to tell our kids this do
you need to preach that well no because the Bible tells them to obey their
parents it's talking to the kids there okay so I think you kids need to listen
to some preaching from the Bible telling you to obey your parents oh well I've
got it sorted brother in don't you worry that you know take heed he you think if
he standeth yeah take heed lest he fall because you know kids can quickly change
kids could quickly change and Amy preach as much as we need preaching don't they
okay kids need preaching turn to Ephesians chapter 6 Ephesians chapter 6
and verse 1 children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right honor thy
father and mother which is the first commandment with promise that it may be
well with thee and that now mayest live long on the earth so firstly for all of
you that are selfish little brats look at me right now I know you all selfish
little brats you should have looked at the floor okay I got ya okay so everyone
here every child here although I don't think you looked actually grace my
little sweetheart everyone here every one of you kids is a selfish little brat
okay and the Bible says to honor to and that's to respect to treat with with
submission to do your duty to do as you're told isn't it okay honor now now
listen this is what I'm saying for those of you that are selfish verse 3 says
that it may be well with you that it may be well with you so if you want a happy
and long life what it says there if you want a happy and long life then you
should obey your parents that you should honor honor your parents yeah okay
that's that's pretty obvious there isn't it guys I think even the youngest kids
here could probably get this this from here it says here honor thy father and
mother that's mummy and daddy okay honor thy mummy and daddy which is the first
commandment with promise that's a rule that's an order from God saying then
that it may be well with thee that means it's going to be okay with you
guys and that that may as live long on the earth that means that you're gonna
live for a long time okay that's that's pretty good isn't it okay so it doesn't
matter even if you're selfish it's good for you turn to Colossians 3 20 Colossians
chapter 3 verse 20 says children obey your parents in all things for this is
well pleasing unto the Lord okay kids here's a question answer how many
things did God tell you to obey your parents in first one isn't selfish there
we go Joshua all things all things did it say some things no all things obey
your parents in all things not just the things that you agree with and some of
you older kids start you start to get your own ideas that you know best don't
you not just the things that you agree with not just the things that you can't
get away with how about that not just the things he said all things all things
and if not for your parents say how about to please the Lord that's the
first first non selfish reason how about to please the Lord because what did he
say here he said there children obey your parents in all things for this is
well pleasing unto the Lord you know the Lord is kids the Lord that died on a
cross so that your naughty rebellious selves can go to heaven instead of hell
yeah you know that place heaven that's a good one hell's a bad one yeah he died
on a cross for every single one of you he died on a cross for every single one
of you and it's well pleasing to him when you do what your parents tell you
yeah it's not that it's well pleasing to your parents it is I hope it is but it's
well pleasing to the Lord why don't we want to please him kids say and I tell
you what you want to please him if you want to get through this what can be a
tough life you want to please God or how about though because your behavior
affects your brothers and sisters how about that because it does doesn't it
all us parents can see that when one starts playing up often it starts
affecting the other ones they start repeating it they start copying it the
younger ones that could be hard can't it because the older one doesn't always
have that behavior bad behavior to copy so as long as you can kind of put a good
show on in front of them you might get a good older kid then when you suck it in
one after another after they start to copy the other kids behavior don't they
okay and and if you want if you want a happy house you want you want a happy
family you want and I'm not I don't want to go too much on the on the guilt
factor but you want happy parents as well kids obey obey obey your parents
that's what that's what the Bible says to please God and it will affect your
family if you don't and you know what it does cause stress in the home and it
can destroy homes wayward kids problem children kids that the won't do as
they're told kids that are constantly just running battles with parents will
destroy homes won't it destroy families gets between husbands and wives doesn't
it often it does gets between and don't be like that kids don't be like that you
don't want to do that do you know again it shouldn't be out of guilt it should
be because you want to obey the Lord because you want to obey your parents
because you want to be you want to be a good child you want to help your home
you want to help your home to thrive yeah okay children obey your parents and
you know for sake of time that's probably for me that's just a few
obvious ones there's so many other sins aren't there so many other sins you can
think of you know drug and alcohol abuse and all sorts of things but they're for
me common sins common sins that will affect the Christian household that I
think that affect and the other ones that affect our church affect our
families and there are many more like I said but being less selfish is probably
something we can all work on isn't there isn't it yeah every single person could
work on being less so how do we work on that so I think that maybe if we just if
we stop to think about the effect the effect our selfishness has on everyone
else around us stop to think about the effect it has on our church effect it
hasn't our family those that we we should and that we do love and care for
that should help shouldn't it get down and pray get down and get on your knees
and pray to God pray to God that you just fulfill his will get that self that
selfish attitude out and just pray that you just you be what what he wants you
to be that you desire the things he wants you to desire focus on pleasing
God and then I think we can all everyone here can make well I think positively
make changes in their life with this yeah on that let's pray
Emily father I thank you for your word thank you thank you for for that clear
example of a can and just how that selfish desire that selfish lust selfish
covetousness just destroys destroys people destroys families out how what
you think about that what you think about people just is that disobeying
your clear Commandments and help us to to apply that in our lives help us to
be more more selfless in our lives help us to want our church to thrive and that
that means by cutting out those those sins that will massively affect you
effect it help us to want our families to follow that's all of us kids included
and again to just cut out those sins which just make make a difference and
destroy the family unit and all those that I haven't mentioned as well all
those other things sins just help us to cut these out of our lives and to get
right with you Lord and help us to now have a have a good afternoon please help
us to just get many people saved this afternoon to go preach preach the gospel
clearly soundly and and just to do your will today and and and the rest of the
days following this week in Jesus name we pray amen