When Sin Gets Mixed In

I decided a few years ago, if you have a Bible, turn to Genesis chapter 3.

Genesis 3 · chapter mention

Genesis chapter 3, I decided a few years ago that I was going to try a casserole.

Genesis 3 · chapter mention

And I started mixing up the ingredients and getting them together.

And it called for paprika, two teaspoons of paprika.

So I reached in the spice rack and grabbed the red stuff.

And I like, you know, paprika don't have much of a flavor, so you need a heaping.

So I made them heaping, teaspoon, tablespoon, something like that.

Put them in there and mixed it up.

And found out that the red stuff was not paprika.

It was cayenne pepper.

And that dog never begged for food again.

So...

One thing good about recipes, if you go by them, it will work out good.

If you don't, well, it may not.

And when God made the earth, he made it right.

He made it perfect.

And he backed up day after day and looked at what he had done that day and said, it's good.

When he created us to interact with each other, as well as in this world, it was a right mix.

He did it right.

I mean, when the Lord does something, he does it right.

The problem wasn't until we came into the picture.

And when we came into the picture, the minute we came in, maybe not the minute, but shortly thereafter, we tried to do it our way.

And not his way.

And that's when problems arose.

And that's what Adam and Eve did.

And I said we did that because we do the same things when we choose our way over his way.

And the ramifications of that are tremendous.

Sin always causes a lot more damage than you think it will.

It always will.

And in our passage today, the Lord is continuing to deliver the curses or the ramifications of sin.

Continuing to tell them what would happen to them because they've sinned.

It does not only affect the snake, and we talked about that last week.

It affects all of us.

And it's a horrible ripple effect that takes place.

Not only when sin started, but as it continues.

And I want you to see some of that today.

It's in Genesis chapter 3, beginning in verse 16.

Genesis 3 · chapter mention

It says this.

To the woman, he said, this is the Lord speaking.

I will surely multiply your pain in childbirth.

In pain you shall bring forth children.

Your desire shall be for your husband.

And he shall rule over you.

And to Adam, he said, because you've listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you,

you shall not eat of it.

Cursed is the ground because of you.

In pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life.

Thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you.

And you shall eat the plants of the field.

By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread.

Till you return to the ground.

For out of it you were taken.

For you are dust.

And to dust you shall return.

God intended for a shameless couple

to live in a perfect garden

and procreate

and manage that garden

and to be blessed.

Freedom

and contentment

were to mark

their lives.

And with a right relationship with God

all other relationships

will be good

but sin got mixed in.

And when sin got mixed in

unnecessary difficulties

come along the way with that.

These curses that we look at

beginning in verse 14

that we talked about last week

through 19

explain

what now has taken place.

We talked about the curse of the serpent last week

and the fact that there will always be a battle

between those influenced by Satan

and the people of God.

We will always have a battle

between evil forces

and

people of God.

There's always going to be that struggle.

There will be many battles lost

along the way

and there will be many battles won.

But be assured that the war

has been won by Christ.

And we can claim victory

and we can live victoriously

if we claim that victory.

And if we live as God instructed us to live.

However, not only do we have

an eternal victory in Christ

we can also have daily victory

in the spiritual battles that we face.

And we need to be victorious in those things.

Losing sinful battles

staying entrenched in

unnecessary sinful struggles

being chained down to

spiritual strongholds

that we have the ability in Christ

if you're a Christian today

if you've surrendered your life

to the Lord Jesus Christ

you have the ability

in Christ

and by the Spirit of God

to walk away

from sin

that is

completely uncalled for

in your life

and that cause

a mess

and the ramifications

that enter into our lives

when sin is mixed in

are huge.

The effects of our sins

saturate all of our lives

and those curses

are examples

that encompass

much more

than we first notice

when we read them.

And so I want you to see

how it affects us.

When sin

whether it be our sin

or whether it be

somebody else's sin

when sin enters in

when it gets mixed in

our blessings

will come

with burdens.

Our blessings

will become some burdens.

To the woman

he said

I will surely

multiply your pain

in childbirth

in pain

you shall bring forth

children.

The birth of a child

is a glorious experience.

The anticipation

of that child

fills us with joy

and yet

what should be

a glorious experience

is instead one

of agonizing pain

for mom.

a new mother

still grateful

when that child

comes

for a child

is a blessing

of God

yet

with that blessing

the burden

of delivery

can be horrifying

pain.

The scripture

does not say

that pain

comes from sin

that particular

pain comes from sin.

It's obvious

why it hurts.

it does say

that that pain

will be greatly

increased

and that speaks

of a couple

of things.

No doubt about it

it speaks to an

increase

of physical

pain

that should serve

as a reminder

to us

of how our burdens

come with blessings

due to sin.

however

it also

surely speaks

of pain

that comes

well after

the delivery.

I was told

when Abby

was born

our first child

you will never

sleep soundly

again.

I went

what?

And I thought

they were talking

about sleepless

nights of a baby

is what I thought

they were talking

about.

And we were

blessed that our

children slept

through the night

early on

both of them.

We thought it was

excellent parenting

until they woke up

and then we realized

it wasn't that.

But anyway

but we were

blessed with that

however

that's not what

they were talking

about.

I got a child

on the road

right now.

I checked

their location

right before

I got up.

and I'll be

honest with you

while somebody

walks up here

for the closing

prayer and I'm

standing in the

back I'll probably

check and see

where she is

again.

I'll never

sleep soundly

again.

How can you

ever fully

rest again

with children

with grandchildren

in your life?

I mean you're

to raise them

protect them

guide them

provide for them

all the while

they are

to put it

nicely

individuals

you know

the burden

of raising

a child

the right

way

the godly

way

is an

awesome

and imperfect

responsibility.

The necessity

of disciplining

a child

prudently

is weighty

and it's

tough

we live

in a more

permissive

society

today

and one

that somewhat

condemns

discipline

in that

way

and so it

makes it

that much

more difficult

when scripture

tells us

to make sure

that we raise

a child

where they know

where they're

supposed to go

in the way

that they

ought to go

the leading

of a child

properly

is daily

and it is

sometimes

difficult

there's no

doubt about

that

most of the

pain of

parenthood

will come

later in

life

and it

will well

surpass

any previous

felt

physical

pain

and that's

easier for

me to say

than over

half the

room

I understand

that

but why

is that

because of

sin

the pain

of Genesis

Genesis 3:16

3 verse

16

that first

part

speaks of

an injuring

or a grieving

type pain

it speaks

of a nagging

pain

that continues

it is in

fact the pain

of mixed

blessings

there are

wonderful

highlights

in life

but due

to sin

due to

our sin

due to

other people's

sin

we'll never

be free

from the

hindering

that sin

causes

and I thank

God for the

blessings in

life

I believe

that if we

took the time

and we opened

up that we

could have a

testimony time

this morning

speaking of the

goodness of God

that could

absolutely amaze

us if people

would open up

and share

the goodness

of God

and how God

has blessed

our lives

and given

us so much

at the same

time

I promise

you

there is

pain

on every

pew

every pew

has got

something

they're dealing

with

always keep

that in mind

when you walk

in this room

and we're

blessed to have

the opportunity

to worship

together

we put on

our best

face

man we

even took

a bath

you know

either last

night or this

morning to

come to church

you know

tried to get

the wrinkles

out of our

clothes and

do the best

we could

to get here

but the reality

is

there's pain

on every

pew

there is

and we need

to be gracious

to one another

we need to be

welcoming to

one another

we need to be

helpful to

one another

I believe

that's some

of the struggle

that is talked

about

in this passage

we have

burdens

and rather

directly or

indirectly

those burdens

come back

to sin

they come back

to sin

now I want to

correct what I

put on that

screen a few

moments ago

if you'll go

back

it says our

blessings

will become

burdens

I didn't mean

that

our blessings

will come

with burdens

you'll still

have blessings

and those

blessings

won't be

burdens

but with

those blessings

will come

burdens

second thing

is this

when sin

whether it's

our sin

or other

sin

but let's

be real

it's both

of them

when that

gets mixed

in together

our relationships

will be

marked

with rivalry

it says

in the

second part

of verse

16

your desire

shall be

contrary

to your

husband

but he

shall rule

over you

the second

part of

this verse

is

difficult

and it

speaks to

the difficulty

that comes

in marriage

due to

individual

sin

this verse

is often

either

misunderstood

or ignored

so what is

it saying

it is saying

that the

cohesive

complementarian

nature of

women made

for man

excuse me

women made

from man

and for

man

cleaving to

each other

as Genesis 2

points out

letting nothing

come interrupt

that at all

is going to be

difficult

that's what this

passage says

that's going to

be difficult

God's saying

that now

that relationship

is going to be

strained

she will love

him and he

will lead her

but it's not

going to be

smooth

because sin

has entered

into that

dumb stuff

is going to

come into

it

because of

sin

we're going to

listen to the

world

for one

and we're

going to

value our

own opinion

number two

and sometimes

we listen to

the world

more than we

do God

and sometimes

we value

our opinion

more than

we do God

and the

desire

that is

spoken of

here

will become

distorted

the lead

of men

will lack

the lordship

of Christ

and they

will attempt

to lord

themselves

which will

not go well

at the house

men

it won't

she will

steal the

bliss

excuse me

sin will

steal the

bliss

y'all are

pitiful

y'all are

pitiful

that's the

sin I'm

talking about

you know

how many

times I've

prayed over

this lord

just let me

through this

thing

okay

lord just get

me through

it and y'all

ain't a bit

of help

so much for

praying for

you pastor

but anyway

sin will

steal the

bliss and

sometimes that

comes from

her and

sometimes that

comes from

him

it'll steal

the mutuality

of that

marriage

listen God

made us to

work together

and selfish

sin

destroys that

that

that

that can be

wrong toward

each other

and that

obviously causes

difficulty

however what

is often

missed is

when there is

sin in our

individual lives

we often

think that

there's sin

in our

life that

we can

somehow

compartmentalize

and not let

that sin

affect anybody

else

it's just

my deal

it's just

something I

got to deal

with

and friend

that's not

true

yes you have

to deal

with your

sin but

don't ever

think that

it's so

separated and

compartmentalized

away from

everything else

that it

don't affect

other people

because it

does

first John

describes the

common sins

as the

desires of

the flesh

the desires

of the eyes

and the

pride of

life

and when

we fall

for those

it affects

other people

it affects

especially

affects those

in our own

home

it especially

of those

in the home

it especially

affects

our mate

and there's a

strain that

comes with

that

and that's

what this

passage is

talking about

on one

side you

have love

and desire

on the other

side you

have authority

and I want

to be clear

about something

okay

when it

says your

desire shall

be contrary

to your

husband but

he shall

rule over

you

this is

not

ordaining

a marital

order here

this speaks

of a curse

this is a

result of

sin

somehow

leadership

can become

some kind

of ruling

and that's

not the same

thing

you can lead

a family

without ruling

over a family

but when sin

enters in

that's going

to happen

there's going

to be

conflict

that comes

along the

way

and that

combo

of

love

and desire

and authority

issues

all those

things

is not

good

and it's

real

there's a

rivalry

that takes

place

and husband

and wife

start looking

out for

themselves

instead of

looking out

for each

other

and that

does not

work

and marital

bliss

will leave

you fast

I want

you to

understand

that in

Genesis

Genesis 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2

they went

from being

naked

and ashamed

to in

Genesis

Genesis 3 · chapter mention

chapter 3

they are

covered

and pointing

fingers

at each

other

that quickly

because of

sin

and God

says

this ain't

going to be

easy

marriage

is not

easy

it's much

more difficult

when our

individual

sins of

pride

and selfishness

are mixed

into that

a successful

marriage

is when

two are

in it

together

committing

to each

other

forgiving

one another

looking past

the other's

actions

in the

difficult

times

and listening

to their

hearts

and the

constrained

times

the apostle

Paul said

it's a

mystery

he said

it's a

mystery

and he said

it's a

profound

mystery

and then

he speaks

of doing

it the

right way

he says

in Ephesians

Ephesians 5:33

chapter 5

verse 33

he says

let each

one of you

love his

wife as

himself

and let

the wife

see that

she respects

her husband

that's not

always easy

because our

relationship

will be

marked

by rivalry

and right

here in

the third

chapter of

a very

large book

with 66

books in

it

it's already

telling us

that

folks

so what

do we

do

we become

well aware

of the

challenge

that is

upon us

and number

two

we respond

correctly

do we

get it done

100% of the

time

by no means

we don't

so be

reminded

that there

will be

difficulty

along the

way

and that

we're to

work at

that difficulty

and make

it better

not only

that

but he

says this

when sin

gets mixed

in

our

prosperity

will be

accompanied

with pain

he says

in verse

17 through

19

and Adam

he said

because you

have listened

to the voice

of your

wife

and have

eaten of

the tree

of which

I commanded

you

you shall

not eat

of it

cursed

is the

ground

because

of you

in pain

you shall

eat

of it

all the

days of

your life

thorns

and thistles

it shall

bring forth

for you

and you

shall eat

the plants

of the

field

by the

sweat

of your

face

you shall

eat

bread

till you

return

to the

ground

for out

of it

you were

taken

for you

are dust

and the

dust

you shall

return

we have

an opportunity

in our

lives

to be

productive

prosperous

people

I'm not

talking about

fame or

glory

I'm talking

about lives

of purpose

lives of

meaning

lives of

direction

we have

that opportunity

but nothing

interrupts our

productivity

nothing hurts

our potential

nothing hinders

our purpose

more than

individual sin

can

nothing will

come in the

way much

more than

that

verse 17

and 18

speaks of

the most

basic example

of productivity

it really

applies to

all that we

do however

because when

sin enters

in

opportunities

are lost

when sin

enters in

productivity

is slowed

vitality

is

struggling

and the

prosperity

is restricted

this garden

of vibrance

and vitality

is gone

and now

thorns

cause toil

and thistles

cause turmoil

in our lives

we're now

at odds

with the

ground

the very

place that

man came

from

we're now

at odds

with it

because of

sin

thorns

and thistles

here serve

as God's

illustration

to us

of the pain

and the toil

that sin

causes

and now

due to sin

life will be

lived

by what he

says in

verse 19

by the sweat

of our face

I want you

to think

about this

our mistakes

make our

rose bushes

have thorns

and I mean

that both

physically

from what he

said

but I mean

that much

more spiritually

the things

that ought to

be rosy

in our life

become thorny

because of

sin

our sin

makes our

lives more

difficult

why is life

such a struggle

of sinfulness

is what it is

it invades

all of our

lives

every part

of it

it invades

our soul

and there's

a spiritual

battle that

takes place

and the

serpent

is ever

pursuing

he didn't

stop in the

garden

he's ever

pursuing

they're now

relational

battles

sin even

invades

how we

survive

we face

struggles

until we

turn to the

ground

but I want

you to be

clear about

something

we will

never be

able to

live our

lives

to what

God

intended

for us

to be

if we

are sinful

if we

are selfish

if we

have

hindering

strongholds

in our

lives

and that's

what this

warns us

of

so what

can we

do about

it

stop

living our

own

lives

stop

leading

our

own

lives

you can't

handle it

I can't

handle it

we gotta let

the Lord

lead our

lives

we've got

to submit

ourselves

to God

and let

him lead

we'll never

be sufficient

we'll always

have

difficulties

and that

would really

stink

if that's

where I

had to

end today

but thank

God

we don't

stop there

because God

knew all

of our

sin

God knows

the messes

they cause

he knew

all of that

when Christ

went to the

cross

and when

Christ died

for our sins

and because

of Christ

thank God

this is not

all there

is

and because

of Christ

we don't

have to

stay in

sinful

patterns

we don't

have to

continue to

live like

that

we're still

gonna feel

some junk

that comes

from it

because we're

surrounded by

it folks

I mean

we're

surrounded

by it

if you

win victory

over a

stronghold

in your

life

and you

walk away

from something

that you

need to

walk away

from

you'll

still have

difficulty

in your

life

because

you're

surrounded

by folks

if not

with that

problem

some other

problem

we can

be surrounded

by it

but we

don't have

to be

guilty

of it

we don't

have to

fall for

it

we don't

have to

stay

in sinful

patterns

that hurt

we don't

have to

stay in

sinful

patterns

that strain

we don't

have to

stay in

sinful

patterns

that cause

difficulty

and because

of Christ

we can

now have

harmony

those thorns

of our

those thorns

that our

sin caused

let me tell you

what else

those thorns

did

it was

those thorns

that he

brought about

in a curse

of sin

that they

made

the Lord's

crown out

of

and placed

it on

his head

as he

went to

the cross

what does

that have

to do

with it

because he

went because

of our

sin

he died

for our

sins

he died

to take

the ramifications

of all those

things away

from us

to help

us to walk

away from

that

we're free

from all

of that

we're only

free from

that in

him

we're only

free from

that if we

continue to

surrender our

lives to

him

and I

believe that's

a daily

deal and

Jesus agrees

with me on

that

we got to

deny ourselves

daily

we can walk

free from

that we

have hope

even when

sin is mixed

in we have

hope because

of him

and so let's

live our lives

for him

let's ease

the difficulty

that we face

in this

sin torn

world

the world

needs

Jesus

folks

have you

picked up

on that

yet

we're in

desperate

need of

the Lord

but you

know what

you know

who needs

Jesus

it ain't

all those

folks out

there

I mean

it is

but it's

not just

them

it's right

here

we all

need

Christ

in our

lives

and if

you've

never

asked the

Lord

Jesus

to forgive

you of

your sins

and to

come into

your life

and to

cleanse

you

and to

change

you

I got

news for

you

you're

missing

out

on the

best

thing

that you

could ever

have

is the

forgiveness

of God

the eternal

life that he

gives

the way that he

changes our

lives

is powerful

if you will

bow your heads

and close your

eyes for just a

moment

you may be

here and you

know you're

a Christian

but the reality

is there's sinful

strongholds in your

life that you need

to give over to

the Lord

let's first look

inside ourselves

and see what's

going on with us

what do we need

to deal with

and then when we

do that

let's think

about those

others that

we have burdens

for that struggle

that we need

to have a

prayer commitment

to pray

for them

God would

strengthen

them

God would

give them

all they

need

maybe you're

here and you

got a sinful

burden you need

to lay before

the Lord

you can do

that where you

are you can do

it at this

altar

maybe you're

here and God's

drawing you to

this church you

feel like this

is the place

where God would

have you to

plant your life

and I encourage

you to come

I'll be happy to

guide you in that

process

maybe you've made

a private decision

for the Lord but

you've never been

baptized as a believer

you've never

surrendered publicly

let others know

what God's done

in your heart

privately

we'd love to

guide you in that

too

I have no way

of knowing what

God's doing in

your heart and

life right now

I don't know

but I'll tell

you you can

trust him

you can trust

him

he'll save

you

he'll cleanse

you

he'll lead

you

he'll guide

you

if you'll

just follow

him

Lord Jesus

I ask

that you'll

lead us

today

to simply

be obedient

to do

exactly what

you'd have

us to do

right now

oh God

I pray

in Jesus

precious name

amen