The Pleasures of Sin

 

 

“Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.”

Hebrews 11:25

Sin is a Choice

  1. Moses refused Pharaoh’s court and treasures to seek God and His reward by faith (Heb 11:24-26).
    1. He made his choice when he was 40 years old and eminently successful (Acts 7:20-23).
    2. He valued suffering affliction with God’s people greater than the temporary pleasures of sin.
    3. He valued the reproach of Christ greater riches and opportunity than the treasures of Egypt.
    4. He respected the promises and rewards of God, which he believed with simple faith (11:6).
  2. Adam and Eve made a choice (Gen 3:1-6 cp I Tim 2:14) – a terrible choice. Adam was not deceived.
  3. Lot chose the lush and prosperous plains of Jordan, which included Sodom (Genesis 13:10-13).
  4. Joseph made choice to honor God over temporary pleasures on a distant business trip (Gen 39:7-10).
  5. Achan made a choice to look, to consider, to lust, and to take (Joshua 7:20-21). What a high price!
  6. Ruth chose to leave country, language, relatives, religion, and security for Naomi (Ruth 1:6-18).
  7. David made choice to stay at home, take a walk, look, consider, inquire, and take (II Samuel 11:2-5).
  8. Daniel made choice not to defile himself with the king’s portion (Daniel 1:8-21). Does God reward?
  9. Ananias and Sapphira chose to misrepresent their giving to Peter and the church (Acts 5:1-11).
  10. We make many choices each day what we will or will not do, what we will or will not say, or think.

Sin has Pleasure

  1. There was sinful pleasure in abundance for Moses, if he chose Pharaoh’s court and treasures.
  2. I should not be an honest preacher of the word, if I foolishly denied that sin has its pleasures.
  3. Men (and women) do not aggressively pursue sin for its pain, punishment, and consequences.
  4. The old man can only see and promote the pleasure; the new man sees only the pain and judgment.
  5. Eve surely enjoyed many pleasing thoughts from the three types of sin taking the fruit (Gen 3:6).
  6. Delilah gave pleasure no doubt to Samson, else why was he so taken by her (Judges 16:4).
  7. Fornication surely has its forbidden pleasure with horrible results to follow (Proverbs 9:13-17).
  8. When you are in great need or trouble, it is sweet to deceive others to obtain your choice (Pro 20:17).
  9. The Prodigal had a great time in a far country wasting his estate with riotous living (Luke 15:13).
  10. Herod made a choice out of political expediency to kill James and to take Peter (Acts 12:1-4).

Sin’s Pleasure is Limited

  1. It is only for a season (Heb 11:25). If you sinned your whole life with pleasure, hell is much longer.
  2. Jesus would ask, If you gained the whole world but lost your own soul, is it worth it (Mark 8:36)?
  3. How shall we compare the lives and pleasures of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-28)?
  4. What shall we think of the rich fool (Luke 12:16-21)? Are there any like him today? Present?
  5. You cannot even boast of tomorrow, for you know not what a day shall bring forth (James 4:14).
  6. The triumph of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment (Job 20:4-7).
  7. It only pleases the flesh for a very short time; it leaves the spirit empty, guilty, vexed, and confused.
  8. Did Adam and Eve even get a second bite? Or were they instantly disappointed, shocked, and naked?
  9. How long did Judas enjoy his silver? Not long. His death was not pretty (Matt 27:3-10; Acts 1:18).
  10. How long is ungodly and wicked sex pleasant? Drinking? Partying? Lying? Covetous ambition? Anger? Envy? Child training? Stealing? Hatred?
  11. It does not satisfy. It teases and deceives with shallow pleasure. And then you wonder why so empty.

Sin has Natural Consequences

  1. The wicked flatters himself in his sinful deceit until he finds his choice to be hateful (Psalm 36:1-2).
  2. Consider the suicides, divorces, drugs, and therapies among the successful and popular of our nation.
  3. Consider examples of foolish animals led to the slaughter or caught in traps (Pro 7:22-23; Eccl 9:12).
  4. Drunkenness?! The drunkard gets sick, shames himself, kills a child with a car, wastes his money, wastes his time, loses his memory, loses his job, has a hangover, and builds a horrible addiction.
  5. An affair?! The adulterer destroys four souls, two marriages, and two families forever. Believe it.
  6. It destroys boldness and leaves the wicked fleeing from nothing but his own guilt and fear (Pr 28:1).
  7. The flattery of a strange woman is wonderful, but her end is bitter and painful (Pro 5:3-13; 9:13-18).
  8. Consider David’s warning to Solomon about the attraction and destruction of adultery (Pr 7:20-35).
  9. It flatters the deceitful heart to fantasize against reality thus creating great discontentment.
  10. Consider Romans 6:21 and Paul’s rhetorical and ridiculing question about sin and its fruit.
  11. Consider Amnon. A great lesson is here. How long the pleasure? What happened (II Sam 13:1-39)?
  12. If you neglect your spiritual life, you will suffer for it. You will have a lean soul that is pain itself.
  13. If you neglect your children, you will suffer for it (Proverbs 29:15; 17:25; I Kings 1:6).
  14. If you neglect your marriage, you will suffer for it. Some hate themselves (Eph 5:28-29; Ec 4:9-12).

Sin has Spiritual Consequences

  1. It gives place to the Devil, who then gains an opening in your life for destruction (Eph 4:27).
    1. The Devil’s only purpose in your life is to destroy your soul (I Peter 5:8; II Timothy 2:26).
    2. When you are a raving lunatic among the tombs, then he will finally leave you (Mk 5:1-13).
  2. It grieves and quenches the Holy Spirit of the Living God (Eph 4:30; I Thess 5:19).
    1. You lose power and might to choose righteousness (I Tim 4:2; II Tim 2:17; Eph 3:14-19).
    2. You lose all desire for confession and repentance (Heb 3:12-13 cp II Tim 2:25-26).
    3. Your soul is left empty, dry, lean, and painful (Psalm 51:8; 106:15).
    4. You lose your hope and confidence of eternal life (Ps 51:12; I John 3:24; II Pet 1:8-11).
    5. You lose your joy of the Lord and His salvation (Ps 51:12).
    6. Your prayers will be hindered by neglecting your spouse (I Pet 3:7; Mal 2:11-16; Rom 8:26).
    7. It vexes your new man, who is deeply offended by the hypocrisy and sin (II Peter 2:7-8).
  3. It brings the supernatural judgment of God into your life.
    1. He is a Rewarder in a good way (Heb 11:6), and He is a Rewarder in a bad way (Ps 18:26).
    2. The way of transgressors is hard (Prov 13:15). God’s chastening is not something to ignore.
      1. Consider the judgments on David, a man after God’s own heart (II Sam 12:10-14).
      2. Moses begged repeatedly for mercy to see Canaan, but his one offence was enough.
      3. Eli did not restrain his sons, so God took away his family in most painful process.
      4. If you can sin and not be chastened, then you are a reprobate (Hebrews 12:5-11).
    3. He blows on your other efforts (Hag 1:5-6). Sin in one area defiles all areas (Hag 2:10-14).
  4. It takes away the Presence and Fellowship of God.
    1. Instead of peace and fellowship, you have guilt and desertion (Psalm 51:14; I John 1:4-9).
    2. You separate His ear from your prayers and His arm from your deliverance (Isaiah 59:1-2).
  5. It is the way to hell.
    1. For the Lord will send His waves, billows, and terrors to buffet your soul (Ps 88:4-9,14-18).
    2. He can leave you with the demons of hell to torment your soul and afflict you (I Cor 5:5).

Choose Jesus Christ and righteous regardless of the cost and zealously reject the pleasures of sin.

  1. He offers an abundant life with joy and peace; only rebellion hinders you (John 10:10; 14:27; 15:11).
  2. Jesus Christ chose you in love for an eternal inheritance. How shall we choose sin (II Cor 5:14-15).
  3. There is also an eternal reward that far outweighs any sacrifice or affliction here (II Cor 4:17-18).
  4. We walk by faith, not by sight (II Cor 5:7). This is how the elders obtained a good report (Heb 11:2).
  5. One view of His glory and holiness turns every sinful choice into miserable guilt (Is 6:1-8; Lu 5:8).
  6. It is possible to meet the Lord Jesus Christ with joy and confidence rather than shame (I John 2:28).
  7. Remember the flood. Everything you desire will be melted with fervent heart (II Pet 3:5-6,11,14,17).
  8. This is how the Lord and we measure love. What will you give in exchange for Him (Luke 14:26)?
  9. Try to keep your life by choosing sin, you lose it; lose it for Him, and you will find it (Matt 10:39).
  10. If you are not born again by the Spirit of God, then no man has any hope for you but sin’s pleasures.
  11. If you are born again by the Spirit of God, you can only be happy by choosing Jesus Christ over sin.