"LET NO MAN...."
- INTRODUCTION-- It is strange how topics for sermons come to the preacher. I
have received my best ideas from listening to other preachers. But my ideas are not
imitations of theirs....they come from some simple statement, or by allusions to
Scripture that arouse my curiosity. This happened this week, in fact. The preacher
on that occasion was preaching on prayer, but he read a passage of Scripture that
had the phrase, "Let no man...."
- LESSON--
- The phrase, "Let no man," carries a message in itself, regardless of what we are
not to let that man do.
- It implies that other persons may desire to do something that is not beneficial
to you.
- It is an imperative phrase, a commandment to take preventive action.
- It implies that the command to prevent applies to ALL men.
- My computer Bible program called up instantly every place in the ASV where
the phrase "Let no man" appears.
- I will not use all the references for our lesson tonight, even though I agree
with them, as an act of submission to the will of God.
- One I most certainly agree with is found in Proverbs 28:17, which says, "A
man who is laden with the guilt of human blood will be a fugitive until death; let no
one support him." (NASB)
- In modern political environments, it is the liberal tendency to coddle
murderers, even those who do not show remorse.
- Solomon's divinely endorsed command is "Let no man support him."
- We will select other references that will contribute most to spiritiual growth.
- Some of them command opposition to men who would harm our souls.
- Opposition to those who would bind the Old Law on us. Colossians 2:13
17 "And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of
your flesh, you, I say, did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all
our trespasses; 14 having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was
against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out that way, nailing it
to the cross; 15 having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a
show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
- 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect
of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day: 17 which are a shadow of
the things to come; but the body is Christ's."
- Opposition on those who would impose useless human doctrines.
Colossians 2:18-23 "Let no man rob you of your prize by a voluntary
humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he
hath seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast the Head,
from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and
bands, increasing with the increase of God. 20 If ye died with Christ from the
rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject
yourselves to ordinances, 21 Handle not, nor taste, nor touch 22 (all which
things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and doctrines of men? 23
Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and
severity to the body; but are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh."
- Oposition to those who would teach false moral precepts. Ephesians 5:5-8
"For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor
covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ
and God. 6 Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these
things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Be not ye
therefore partakers with them; 8 For ye were once darkness, but are now light in
the Lord: walk as children of light."
- Opposition to those who would teach wrong things about the second
coming of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 "Now we beseech you, brethren,
touching the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto
him; 2 to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be
troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of
the Lord is just at hand; 3 let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not
be, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of
perdition, 4 he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or
that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as
God."
- Opposition to those who would practice a deviant righteousness. 1
John 3:7-10 "My little children, let no man lead you astray: he that doeth
righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous: 8 he that doeth sin is of the
devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. To this end was the Son of God
manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is begotten
of God doeth no sin, because his seed abideth in him: and he cannot sin, because
he is begotten of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the
children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he
that loveth not his brother."
- Opposition to those who would despise the proclamation of truth. Titus
2:11-15 "For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12
instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we
should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world; 13 looking for
the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour
Jesus Christ; 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all
iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good
works.
- 15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no man
despise thee."
- Other examples of this phrase show a need for men to correct themselves.
- Correcting our human tendency to shift blame for our sins. James 1:13-15
"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot
be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man: 14 but each man is
tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then the lust,
when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is fullgrown, bringeth
forth death."
- Correcting our human tendency to be selfish. 1 Corinthians 10:24-33 "Let
no man seek his own, but each his neighbor's good. 25 Whatsoever is sold in
the shambles, eat, asking no question for conscience' sake, 26 for the earth is the
Lord's, and the fulness thereof. 27 If one of them that believe not biddeth you to a
feast, and ye are disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no
question for conscience' sake. 28 But if any man say unto you, This hath been
offered in sacrifice, eat not, for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: 29
conscience, I say, not thine own, but the other's; for why is my liberty judged by
another conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I evil spoken of for
that for which I give thanks? 31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever
ye do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no occasions of stumbling, either to Jews,
or to Greeks, or to the church of God: 33 even as I also please all men in all things,
not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved."
- Correcting our human tendency to parade our egos. 1 Corinthians 3:18
20 "Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinketh that he is wise among you
in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom
of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He that taketh the wise in
their craftiness: 20 and again, The Lord knoweth the reasonings of the wise that
they are vain."
- APPLICATION-- These verses commend the principles of stubborn resistance to the
wrong influences of others, and strong efforts to correct our faults. Christian
independence from men seeking to defile us takes its lead from dependence on the
Word and Will of God. We are expected to exert our will against the evils promoted
by men through total submission to the Will of God.