2 Samuel 11:1-7 (NIV) 1 In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. 2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, "Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" 4 Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home. 5 The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, "I am pregnant." 6 So David sent this word to Joab: "Send me Uriah the Hittite." And Joab sent him to David.
THE PROGRESSION OF SIN
1. David let his guard down.
2. David was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
3. David made room for sin.
James 1:13-15 (NIV) 13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
THE PENALTY OF SIN
1. Sin displeases God
2 Samuel 11:27 (NIV) But the thing David had done displeased the LORD.
2. Sin is Destructive
1. DESTRUCTIVE TO US:
Psalms 51:3 Sin is always before me!
“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” -unknown
2. DESTRUCTIVE TO OTHERS:
PREVENTION OF SIN
1. Stay Ready
“Don't be hanging out on rooftops when you should be at war.”
“Don’t the victory in your past become the defeat of your future.”
1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) Be sober, be vigilant; your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
2. Don't excuse “little” issues-
“You can't love God & Love sin and you can’t Love sin & love God.” -Mike Bickle
Galatians 6:7-8 (NIV) 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
3. Stay Tender
“Not feeling bad when you sin is far worse than feeling bad about it!”
Psalm 51:7-12 (NIV) Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
4. Be Redemption Focused.
Ephesians 1:7 (NIV) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
Focussing on our Redemption is the greatest prevention against sin.
1 John 2:1 (NIV) My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.