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SERIES: STONE TABLETS IN A WIRELESS WORLD SERMON: C.HURCH S.CENE I.NVESTIGATION The 6th Commandment 9-16-18 By Pastor Heather Loving Exodus 20:1-18 (NIV) 1And God spoke all these words: 2“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3“You shall have no other gods before me. 4“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 8“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 12“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. 13“You shall not murder. 14“You shall not commit adultery. 15“You shall not steal. 16“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 17“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” 18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS EXERCISE: 1. Hold up pointer finger – point to the sky (no other gods) 2. Hold up two pointer fingers – have one bow before the other (no idols) 3. Hold up three fingers – place over mouth (don’t take God’s name in vain) 4. Hold up four fingers – place on cheek as if to nap (Sabbath rest) 5. Hold up five fingers – place hand over heart (honor parents) 6. Today’s Commandment: Hold up hand and make a gun – (don’t murder) 7. Hold up five fingers on one hand and the pointer and middle finger on the other and cross them to show they are bonded together (No adultery) 8. Hold up four fingers on both hands – using one hand grab the other (No stealing) 9. Hold up four fingers on one hand and five on the other – move the four up and down as they face the five to show that they are lying or bearing false witness about others (no lying) 10. Hold up four fingers on one hand and five on the other-move four up/down as they face the five (No lying).
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INTRO: Murder has become a central source of entertainment in our society (Books, TV shows, GamesApp’s, News) Many games involve choosing who to murder, who to let live, how to plot the murder, what technique to use and reward/bonus points for doing so. Even in secular circles we are beginning to realize the numbing effect on our society and how the value of a human life grows less and less. Having said that we feel badly for the loss of life around us but most breathe a sigh of relief because we don’t think the 6th commandment applies to us personally. We don’t view ourselves as “Murderers” right? As we’ve studied the other commandments and expanded our understanding of seeing not only the letter of the law, but the spirit & intent, we will go further in our examination of the commandment that most boast of having not violated. Today we will closely examine the 6th commandment and how it can be applied to us today, in everyday life. The Holy Spirit will guide us in this C.S.I. endeavor (Church Scene Investigation). We may discover some things that we did not expect in examining the evidence in our own hearts. We will look at this command as Jesus sees it-Law & Grace. THE PRINCIPAL BEHIND THE COMMANDMENT Examine the Facts & Misconceptions a. Murder is not defined as those who serve us in our Nation and communities such as Military personnel and law enforcement. Scriptures confirm that some are ordained of God as servants to serve, protect, uphold justice. This commandment is not directly speaking of accidental death or killing in wartime battles. In fact, Romans 13:1, 4, says there are those who are considered God’s ministers/servants executing His judgment on those who do evil: “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God… The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.” The goal is not the destruction of life, but its preservation. b. Murder is not defined in an act of true “Self-Defense.” Sometimes its painfully necessary to protect ourselves and our families from violent attack. c. Murder is not hunting/killing for food. d. Murder is not defined as allowing someone who is terminally ill to die (i.e. terminating treatment). This calls for constant vigilance because many (including some ‘experts’ and healthcare professionals don’t know the difference and often cross the line (such as assisted suicide). e. “Thou shall not murder” is the shortest verse in the Old Testament. The text in Hebrew is literally translated, “No murdering.” The word “murder” in its text is ratzach which can be used for any form of wrongful death. The word murder refers to unlawful and malicious or premeditated killing of one human being by another. f. Murder-Noah Webster 1928 “To kill a human being w/premeditated malice” God values human life and expresses that it should not be taken simply because of a man’s greed or hatred. Further, it is the unjust taking of a legally innocent life.
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Why is this command on the Top 10 List? What’s behind it? What does Jesus say about it? WE ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD Genesis 1:27 NLT “So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” Genesis 9:6 NKJV “Whoever sheds mans blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.” 1. Human life is sacred and precious to God. Most cultures have a law against murder. 2. He is the giver & sustainer of life & we are accountable to Him if we take someone’s life. 3. Every person you meet is an image bearer of God. Stamped as “Loved” by God with a soul and sense of sacredness about them. To murder is to assault the sacredness of the image of God. THE FIRST MURDER Genesis 4:6-8 NLT MURDER STATS FBI data shows that violent crime in the US, including homicide has increased. A total of 17,250 people were reported killed in the US in 2016 with the number of murders increasing by about 8.6% in comparison to 2015 OSBI-In 2017 there were 246 Homicides in Oklahoma. ; Violent crime incidents continue to increase. In May 2018, CNN recorded that 21 weeks into 2018, nationally there were 23 School shootings where someone was hurt or killed. While research records School shootings prior to Columbine in 1999, we have seen an increase in incidents which has warranted safety & security measures to protect even the youngest of students as well as staff. Some have tempers that are far beyond a “short fuse.” (road rage, waiting on our food…) SUICIDE Some of us have experienced the horror & pain of having someone close to you kill themselves. One statistic showed 44, 965 Americans die by suicide each year. Our resources are expanding to provide a safe place & partnerships for all ages to obtain help, but we still fall short. It’s not generally about the issue of Depression/Circumstance alone. You matter to God and to us! No matter how bleak things look, don’t harm yourself or end your life. You are NOT alone! We are here for you! Reach out till someone safe listens & grabs your hand & helps. Attack on the image bearers of God; Identity, Self-Worth. Don’t believe a lie! Good plans to prosper us, not harm us, and give us hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11) Our body is the temple of The Holy Spirit
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1 Corinthians 6:18,19 NLT “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy. He is a liar and a thief.
ABORTION Our culture is confused and conflicted about the protection of life. The Bible says so much about life! Psalm 139:13-16 NKJV “You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made I secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” Many believe this is a political issue that should not be discussed in the church, the truth is that abortion is the premeditated taking of a human life. If you have had an abortion or urged someone to get one, there is forgiveness, restoration and healing for you through Christ. Sadly, some have condemned people to such degree that many women shy away from getting help in choosing alternatives to abortion or reaching out after an abortion occurs. Some deal with grief, pain and guilt that it’s almost unbearable. If that is you, you are not alone! This is a safe house. God is the Life-giver and as Christians we follow Him in valuing and defending life. Comfort-God has those precious babies with Him. Example: Gianna Jessen. Born during a botched saline infusion abortion, she was born with cerebral palsy as a result of the lack of oxygen. Ms. Jessen was adopted and was informed of her the circumstances surrounding her birth at age 12. She asked, “Why do I have cerebral palsy?” Now, she is a well-known speaker, marathon runner and pro-life advocate, and has forgiven her Mother and shares with others the value of life and forgiveness. IS THERE FORGIVENESS FOR MURDER? YES! THROUGH CHRIST JESUS Sometimes we view murder as top ranking on the “Bad-O-Meter” We say, “Well, at least I haven’t murdered anyone.” We are going to look at that more but for now, let’s look at a few examples of those who have. Visual-Crime Scene File #1 1. Karla Faye Tucker; Excerpt from Interview w/Larry King. 1998, Karla was the first woman executed in Texas since the Civil war. TUCKER: Yeah. I mean, it was horrible. It was. And there are people out there who are in pain because -- I mean, every single day they have to think about that. They live it every day with birthdays and holidays, and maybe a smell that triggers a memory, so it's not -- I -- I realize that. I mean, I -- I think about them all the time. And I know that they're going through pain. ... KING: … It can't just be God? TUCKER: Yes, it can. It's called the joy of the Lord. I don't -when you have done something that I have done, like what I have done, and you have been 4
forgiven for it, and you're loved, that has a way of so changing you. I mean, I have experienced real love. I know what real love is. I know what forgiveness is, even when I did something so horrible. I know that because God forgave me and I accepted what Jesus did on the cross. When I leave here, I am going to go be with him.” During her execution some of her last words on Earth were, “…Everybody has been so good to me. I love all of you very much. I am going to be face to face with Jesus now. Warden Baggett, thank all of you so much. You have been so good to me. I love all of you very much. I will see you all when you get there. I will wait for you…” 2. Moses, David, Saul/Paul John 3:15, 16 NKJV “…that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life.” 1 Peter 3:18 NKJV “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit. Visual-Crime Scene File #2: THE CRIME OF DOING NOTHING AT ALL Luke 10:30-The man who was mugged, robbed, stripped, beaten and left for dead on the road. The passage says they left him “half dead.” It was a terrible crime not just at the hands of the robbers, but also at the Priest and Levite who saw him and passed him by. Like many stories Jesus told, this one was intended to wake up His audience. It’s hard to understand why they didn’t want to get involved but they made a conscious choice to pretend not to notice. In a way, the worst thing that happened to the victim was not getting mugged, but being rejected by spiritual leaders, too busy to save his life. “This commandment is violated not only when a person actually does evil, but also when he fails to do good to his neighbor, or has the opportunity but fails to protect, prevent and save…If you send a person away naked when you could clothe him, you let him freeze to death. If you see anyone suffer hunger and do not feed him, you let him starve…” –Martin Luther
The one who showed mercy was a “neighbor” to the man & Jesus told us to do likewise. Keeping the 6th commandments means more than not murdering anyone. It means loving our neighbor. Showing kindness to strangers & mercy to our enemies.
Let’s move from Mt. Sinai and Moses to another Mountain as Jesus gives us a broader application of murder than we are comfortable with.
Matthew 5:21,25 NKJV “21 “You have heard that it was said to those [a]of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother [b]without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And 5
whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’[c]shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, [d]‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of [e]hell fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer and you be thrown into prison.” Visual-Crime Scene File #3: HATRED IN THE HEART & VERBAL ASSASSINATION God looks at the heart! He sees clearly even beyond closed doors HATRED IN THE HEART Jesus gave this as the first illustration because most of the Scribes/Pharisees could boast about keeping it. “Hey, I have sin but not THAT sin. The sin of murder.” Jesus said, “But I say to you…” It begins with the heart issue, and often leads to murder in our mouths. Matthew 12:35 NKJV “…out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Angry without a cause. Idly. Rash & Smoldering anger. Envy, Jealousy. Cain stewed on anger, envy, jealousy before he physically slew Abel. Murder begins in the heart 1 John 3:15 NKJV “15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” Prejudice, Racism, Hatred Confessions of a former murderer…Hatred & Unforgiveness transformed by Love
MURDER IN OUR MOUTH/VERBAL ASSASSINATION Spoken animosity, Contempt, Condemnation. Our words carry weight whether online, face to face or spoken behind someone’s back “Raca”- worthless, derivative of spit upon. “Fool”-Blockhead, Stupid. There are so many outlets today in which we can pierce one another with our words with little regard for their life. Proverbs 12:18 NIV “Reckless words pierce like a sword but the words of the wise bring healing.” Even though the sixth commandment seems the “easiest” to keep, if we don’t kill with another with our deeds, we often dishonor one another as verbal assassins.
All of us say things that tear down, & are fault-finding & harmful at times but we need to be quick to repent, ask forgiveness. Not use our grace & liberty as an excuse. The question is not, “Will God strike me with a lightning bolt or throw me in Hell for calling someone stupid?” Thank God for His grace and mercy! But let’s ask ourselves the question, “Should a true believer continue to hold unrepentantly to such a murderous attitude?”
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Proverbs 18:21 NKJV “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, in our workplace, in the privacy of our homes our words have the power of life and death. Speak life to one another and about one another!
Visual-Crime Scene File #4: You & I I John 1:7 NLT “If we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.”
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We have all been guilty of lying, murderous thought/intents, adultery and more. Jesus forgives those who come to Him and justifies us through His blood. He calls us the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus. In Him there is no condemnation. Romans 8:1 NKJV “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. Jesus died on the cross, went to Hell, took the keys to death, Hell and the Grave. He died for you and me. If you’ve ever committed murder in any form-repent and believe in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sin. Choose life!
