Sermon Notes

Here are my rough sermon notes on the Sixth Commandment, thou shall not kill.
I only wish I had more time to clean them up for you.

The 6th Commandment"You shall not murder.
Exodus 20:13



Anger has been said to be drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. Much of what I engage in is the dealing with people whom are unforgiving or angry. I can personally share that anger is a gremlin to the soul. Maybe even a thorn in your flesh.

As we look at what is being said here it is more than mechanics of doing law, its about the heart. This is a great occupation of the chief end of man, to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. 2 Cor 5:17 reveals that those in Christ have a new nature. God evidences His grace by making us workers of grace. Scripture proves over and over that if we do not show forgiveness or grace, we ourselves are not of God.
• Pharisee and publican John 17
• Woman at the well receiving grace
• Woman washing Jesus feet with hair and tears, receiving grace.
• Servant whom was forgiven yet imprisoned one with a lesser due, did not receive grace.
• 1 John teaches if we do not love than we are not of God.

WARNING: Those who do not give grace are those who do not find grace.

Here is the rub, when we are attacked, wronged, mistreated, it is ultimately a test of our Christianity. We must rely upon Him, not our old nature.
Vengeance is Mine says the Lord, I will repay.

1. Let me give you the context of the nature of God….
'You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of a hired man are not to remain with you all night until morning. 'You shall not curse a deaf man, nor place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall revere your God; I am the LORD. 'You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly. 'You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people, and you are not to act against the life of your neighbor; I am the LORD. 'You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him. 'You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:13-18

God is not just proclaiming a morality of action, He is condemning any heart that seeks self reprisal.
• Partiality
• Care for the blind
• Foolish treatment of the deaf, taunting them
• Judging by deferment when you should act
• Hatred
• Bearing vengeance or grudge.

But heart matters matter
• Revere God
• Judgment shall have no injustice
• Reprove your neighbor as a help
• Love your neighbor.

Curing the heart shows the presence of God.
Our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees (Legalism)
All this has much to do with His kingdom, not of this world.
Sanctification process is the on going daily renewing of the mind and becoming Christ like. Morality is not the objective, it is Christlikeness.
Take steps of prevention, be proactive. Know the joy of the Lord.

Gospel hope
2. Leave no room for fault MECHANICS
No room for name calling, even in the heart
We give an account for every idle word
Make amends quickly
As much is possible on your account.

Murder, Anger, Name calling are all guilty, we will one day give an answer for it.
"You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. "Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. "Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent. Matthew 5:21-26

RACA was a quasi cussing

Gospel Example
3. Christ is our example HOPE IN CHRIST, as He works in our new nature

"You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. "If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. "Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. "Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. "For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? "If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:38-48



So what does this all say about the nature of God?
He is holy, willing to forgive, and He loves.
His love is to be reflected in His children. It reveals to a lost and dying world His great power to change us and give us humility through sanctification. He changes our hypocrisy and gives us the joy of knowing by experience the greatness of loving someone unto forgiveness.
The chief end of man is to enjoy God and glorify Him forever. You can not do that without loving your neighbor and enemies.


Romans 12 talks of being transformed by the renewing of the mind.
Verses of meditation to overcome anger

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32

For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Colossians 3:6-8

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. ames 1:19-22





ANTHEM
FROM JOHN PIPER
Avoid- avoid those things which give rise to temptation
No- When temptation strikes, refuse it. Say NO and refuse to give thoughts to it.
Turn- turn away from the temptation and to the promises of God. Here is where scripture memory is the key to success.
Hold- Hold to the promises of God by remembering His faithfulness to you on the Cross and in the past
Enjoy- Enjoy the satisfaction of walking with Christ, worship Him in His provision.
Move- Move to an activity that will keep your mind away from the temptation.