Generated by whisper.cpp

[00:00] What would your story if you were to give your story of your life, what would your story include I really wanted answer
[00:05] I want to be thinking about that
[00:07] You know, what would you what would you put where you are right now?
[00:11] What would you put as the story of your life, you know, what are the things that would matter to you?
[00:16] As I'm as I'm reading Genesis chapter 4, you know, it's very much kind of like
[00:23] story format
[00:25] Right. I mean it's almost like a place because you have you know seen act one
[00:30] What is it act one seen one or seen one act one? I don't even know how it works
[00:34] But obviously I'm not a so that would be my daughter theater kid
[00:38] Hey, you know, my daughter would know but I'm not too good at that stuff. So
[00:41] You know you taught you see ad you see creation right at the store then you see but the you see the story of Adam
[00:48] Then we get the story of Eve and then we get the story of Adam and Eve in the garden
[00:52] Right the story of Adam and Eve sinning
[00:55] a
[00:56] No story of Adam Eve having children, right and then we get the story of their children
[01:02] Cain and April
[01:05] Adam and Eve story is tragic in some ways right because they're the ones that sin
[01:12] They have everything perfect and then they sin and then we talked about last time we were together
[01:16] We talked, you know members so the wind reap the whirlwind
[01:20] And so they sow sin and then we're gonna see the whirlwind of that sin the people caught up in it and especially their son
[01:27] But all of a most of chapter 4 is about their son the story of their son or sons
[01:37] And it is interesting right because in this story
[01:41] They have great hope at the beginning for their sons
[01:45] Remember remember God had told them that from your seed, right? There was gonna be basically a Savior somebody who's gonna kill sin
[01:51] And so they have hope that their children or they don't know that it's gonna be here, you know thousands of years later
[01:58] They think you know, they might think hey, this is it
[02:00] And so you can see by Eve's reaction to Cain when she has Cain her hope and her desire
[02:07] It's kind of quickly squashed right
[02:14] Cain's story is
[02:16] tragic
[02:19] But it gives us insight into our own lives and to our own story
[02:23] You're similar. Oh, that's that's a jump right because I mean, we know we know the story we're gonna go over it
[02:29] But we kind of know
[02:31] And to think wait, does our story have similarities to Cain's story?
[02:35] And I would say yes our story probably does in many cases
[02:40] And we know what happened last week we know that
[02:44] Cain and Abel were supposed to bring an offering to God
[02:48] And Cain brings one and Abel brings one
[02:51] But only Abel's is is accepted and Abel is accepted and Cain's isn't and right away. We see Cain has some heart issues
[02:57] He's angry very angry and so God in his mercy tries to warn Cain
[03:08] Because he knows what's coming. He sees Cain's lack of faith. He sees his pride
[03:15] He sees his jealousy. He sees his rage
[03:18] And so God says to him listen, if you do well, if you do what you're supposed to do
[03:25] Won't you be accepted Cain like don't you know that you will be accepted if you do what's right?
[03:35] And he says be careful though Cain because sin is crouching at your door and
[03:39] His desire is to have you you must resist it
[03:44] You must rule over this desire this jealousy this rage his anger that he has
[03:50] You wonder right at that moment
[03:54] Had he listened to God
[03:57] They fell on his knees
[03:59] Right and he cried out confessing his pride his jealousy his hatred his anger and
[04:05] Ask Yahweh to help him right to do what's right how the story might have turned out different
[04:12] Often our pride and that doesn't let us do that, right?
[04:17] We're in the midst of sin our prides rarely lets us then go confess our sin either to God or to others
[04:27] Cain doesn't do it
[04:29] And if it wasn't abundant and clear before it becomes abundantly clear today in this passage that Cain has a heart of sin
[04:37] When the heart of sin is at the forefront of this passage
[04:42] That's what I wrote down heart of sin number one heart of sin Genesis 4 8 9
[04:47] So what we're gonna do is just read the whole passage 8 through 16
[04:52] Then this is chapter 4 8 through 16 and then we'll break it down a little bit after that. All right
[04:56] Says this verse 8 chapter 4 Cain spoke to Abel his brother
[05:02] And when they were in the field Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him
[05:07] The Lord said to Cain where is Abel your brother?
[05:10] He said I do not know am I my brother's keeper
[05:14] And the Lord said what have you done?
[05:17] the voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground and now you are cursed from the ground which has opened his
[05:22] Mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand when you work the ground it shall no longer yield to you at strength
[05:28] You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth
[05:31] And Cain said to Lord my punishment is greater than I can bear
[05:35] Behold you have driven me today away from the ground and from your face. I shall be hidden
[05:40] I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth and whoever finds me will kill me
[05:45] The Lord sent him not so if anyone kills Cain vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold and the Lord put a mark on Cain
[05:51] Less than he who found him should attack him and then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord
[05:57] And settled in the land of Nod east of Eden father
[06:01] Thank you for this passage. Thank you for your word
[06:04] We just asked Lord that you would help us
[06:07] Soften our hearts to towards your word
[06:13] towards your commands
[06:15] Help us to know what we do not know
[06:18] Help us to grow help us to grow in love for our Savior Lord even through a passage like this
[06:25] We love in your name. We pray Amen
[06:28] Yes heart of sin
[06:32] Right
[06:34] Cain is angry
[06:36] violent
[06:38] And we know that he becomes like this right his offerings not accepted as already said
[06:42] We know why we talked about that last time is that he does that he lacks faith
[06:45] right, I
[06:48] Mean we know in Hebrews 11 for talks about Abel's was accepted because of his faith
[06:52] And he's in the faith Hall of Fame, right all of faith
[06:56] And so his response to not being accepted and seeing Abel's accepted
[07:02] You know, I was reading I read a story a guy that John he's a pastor bloom
[07:06] His name is and he writes and I think I've told this before he writes stories based on accounts like this
[07:12] You know, but he writes it in story format same facts
[07:14] But you know kind of writes it in the story and it's interesting
[07:17] But he he writes, you know, he had written and then he gives a little piece after it
[07:21] and so he had written that
[07:23] He imagines Cain had put all this time and effort into his offering this massive offering, you know
[07:29] And remember Cain is of the ground, right? He's basically a farmer. All right, and then you have you have
[07:37] Abel who is more about the animals right taking care of animals, right?
[07:41] and so
[07:43] Actually, I want to make sure I get that right. So I don't want to say anything. I'm not supposed to so just so
[07:47] You know it it
[07:49] Oops, let me go back to where I was. Yeah
[07:51] That a that Cain brought because Cain worked the ground and
[07:55] Obviously Abel worked, you know was kept his flock of different things different animals probably right?
[08:01] And so this guy says okay, probably brought this massive, you know of fruits and vegetables or whatever all this stuff
[08:09] And it was massive because but on the other hand, maybe he was stingy and he only brought something here
[08:12] Yeah, but it wasn't about what he brought. It was about his heart, right?
[08:16] And he was mad because you know able is you know, he's he brings the best
[08:20] He brings the first and he brings the fat which is also the best but it doesn't look like much
[08:24] You know
[08:26] He brought the first born of his flock and what is it? Maybe a sheep?
[08:29] You know, they're like that's what you bring
[08:31] And God accepts you and not me and so his rage builds and isn't it interesting that right in the beginning of first aid
[08:39] It says King King spoke to Abel his brother. There's this idea that he was like, hey brother
[08:44] And just talking to him like his brother
[08:50] Not necessarily out of hatred or anger. Although his heart would be
[08:55] His heart would say something different because then Cain spoke to Abel and when they were in the field like brother
[08:59] Come on. I'll show you something, you know, come on. Let's go. Let's take a look at this
[09:03] The King rose up against his brother Abel and killed him
[09:08] man, I
[09:11] Always think when I read that right off the bat like his parents, right?
[09:14] You know, I mean, this is their boys
[09:17] They basically lose two of their children in one shot
[09:20] now
[09:23] The one son is dead because the other son kills us
[09:26] Mm-hmm. I
[09:28] Mean the the pain and the suffering with it that we cannot imagine
[09:33] We read about it in news sometimes right nowadays and you're like what's going on?
[09:37] It happened here, right? The effects of sin are already taking place
[09:43] Adam and Eve sin and now it's passed down to their kids and now their son murders their other son
[09:52] So the wind greets the world in
[09:54] Cain's obviously is kills him in a jealous rage
[10:01] anger bitterness
[10:04] And it's interesting that this is you know, I mean so fast
[10:07] This is the first recorded act of violence of sin
[10:10] I think sin is the first time is mentioned in chapter four the word sin, right?
[10:15] And it illustrates right the the the depth
[10:21] Of depravity in human nature already I
[10:25] Mean
[10:29] Romans 5 12
[10:31] Says therefore just as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin
[10:35] And so death spread to all men because all sin
[10:38] And so we've we read that before but until like you understand it truly you get to this part and you're like, wow
[10:44] Like it really did
[10:46] right
[10:48] Sin got Adam and Eve sinned and then it was passed down to their kids and now one murders the other
[10:53] So he kills his brother
[10:58] You think
[11:04] Okay. Well, you know what happens like you kill you like
[11:08] But this is part of the story now forever
[11:11] All right, his story now includes murder
[11:16] But we know that God even then is is kind and gracious and merciful we'll see that later, but we think okay
[11:22] Well, if you know if he repents
[11:24] right
[11:26] God will show mercy on him even for that
[11:28] Surely he knows this he grew up with Adam and Eve
[11:32] These aren't these aren't a lot of times this is pictured as probably young, you know
[11:36] They're young boy, you know teenager and I don't think that's the case, right?
[11:39] First of all talks about having other people like he's afraid of his life
[11:41] He's mostly afraid of his life because of probably other family members that have already, you know
[11:45] They're probably older there, you know, and if you go into the genealogy, which we'll get into later on you see that
[11:51] You know, there's a good chance. They're probably over a hundred at this point. Yeah, and so
[11:56] And you know, obviously then the people he kills his brother who probably a lot of people love
[12:02] Care for and now other family members are like, oh, yeah. Okay, you know, so and we'll see that
[12:08] That's why he says I you know, I'm afraid people gonna want to kill me because you're like, oh where'd all these other people come from?
[12:13] That's God doesn't specify
[12:15] But if you get into genealogy, you see Seth is born and I don't want to spend a lot of time on this
[12:19] But Seth is born of Adam and Eve and he's born even later and you they'll show when he's born until then you can make
[12:25] Kind of some general assumptions about when how old Cain and Abel are based on this passage, you know, but we're regardless
[12:31] Cain kills his brother
[12:35] Rises up and kills him and I can see him just you know
[12:38] He murders his brother and he walks out and wherever he's at he goes
[12:43] And God comes to him much like God came to his mom and dad when they sin
[12:47] But the difference is a little the difference is kind of shocking really right because Adam and Eve were scared
[12:55] Right. They put on they put on some fig leaves or they're scared to face God the Father, right?
[13:01] Ain't doesn't have any such fear
[13:05] Look what he says
[13:08] God says Lord said to Cain where is Abel your brother? Obviously God's not asking him because he doesn't know
[13:13] God knows where his brother is
[13:15] But even in this there's mercy right? He's trying he wants
[13:18] Cain to admit to confess to repent. Where is your brother Abel Cain?
[13:24] Look at Cain's response
[13:27] First of all, he lies, right?
[13:30] He said I do not know. I
[13:33] Don't know. What am I my brother's keeper?
[13:37] I like it's it almost like shocks the soul, right?
[13:41] Like he he's having a conversation with God himself and God says, you know, where's your brother? He said
[13:47] I don't know. How am I supposed to know? All right, my my brother's keeper. I
[13:51] Mean
[13:56] If nothing else obviously the murder has his anger before that has but if nothing else
[14:02] This is almost even more shocking if possible than the murder itself, which is shocking
[14:07] That he stands before the living God and says, huh? What how do I know? Oh my my brother's keeper. I
[14:13] Mean he commits this first act of unimaginable violence
[14:21] And when God calls him out he lies and then like almost in God's face fits in his face that my brother's keeper. I
[14:29] Love which Charles Spurgeon says about this
[14:33] He says the cool impotence of Cain is an indication of the state of heart
[14:38] Which led up to murdering his brother and it was also part of the result of his having committed that terrible crime
[14:46] He would not have proceeded to the cruel deed of bloodshed if he had not first cast off the fear of God and been
[14:52] Ready to defy his maker
[14:54] So first what he does is cast off fear of God
[14:58] Somewhere this is before this
[15:01] He casts off the fear of God
[15:03] What Spurgeon saying is this is a direct fruit of Cain's inner heart rebellion against God I
[15:14] Don't care. He didn't care about what God required for an offering
[15:18] He didn't care that God that the able was his brother and God loved him
[15:22] He didn't care that even God is speaking to him now found out doesn't care right because it's about his heart what he wants
[15:31] And so he casts off the fear of God defies his maker
[15:33] And that's it
[15:35] This is why God is who he is right that point for me. You're dead, right?
[15:40] All right, just my boys know it. I was strict but more strict about anything was disrespect, right?
[15:47] And disrespect was just that was the game over right?
[15:52] I was like the one thing, you know, I could kind of some other things I could deal with you disrespect me or your mother
[15:58] you did
[16:01] I
[16:03] Mean it has there ever been disrespect as far as you know, voicing it against God as it is here
[16:09] Jude
[16:14] Says this it says, you know, he's Jude as you know, basically one chapter
[16:19] So Jude 111 it says woe to them they have taken the way of Cain and end this this chapter is basically about the sin
[16:26] And you know what's gonna happen to ungodly people and he says woe to them when any time you see woe in the Bible
[16:33] All right, that's not good. All right, well done. They have taken the way of Cain. They've rushed for proper
[16:38] Prophet and Balaam's error. They have been destroyed in chorus rebellion. It's just these people who are sinful
[16:43] Yeah
[16:46] And so we see Cain even in New Testament being spoken of as woe
[16:50] To you do not take the way of Cain
[16:56] And as I was reading this I was thinking, you know Cain
[16:58] Does what it seems right in the beginning right he's offering he's giving an offering to God you're thinking ah, you know
[17:09] How bad can that be?
[17:11] And God didn't look like he was mad at him because his offering was lack of faith and it was you know
[17:17] His own way it was really in pride, you know
[17:20] We know he's has a lot of pride because that's where jealousy and all this stuff comes from
[17:25] But God doesn't matter. He just says no, this isn't acceptable. But here's what you're gonna do
[17:30] You know you if you do what is right you will be accepted
[17:33] And so you look at a cane and go well, you know
[17:36] He didn't offer me but he lacked faith in his heart was far from God
[17:39] And I think don't we have many believers and I want to ask you when we talk about Cain's story
[17:44] His story is one of a heart of sin and rebellion and oftentimes in the church
[17:49] We have people whose story includes a heart of sin and rebellion
[17:52] But they come on Sundays and everything looks good on the outside
[17:55] Nothing can be farther from the truth
[17:59] In 2nd Timothy 3 5 says those talking about those who have a form of godliness
[18:07] But deny the power of God right they look good on the outside
[18:11] But on the inside there's nothing there
[18:17] And I'm always I'm always interested in Christians because as Christians we get worked up about you know when you hear about
[18:23] Atheists atheism or agnosticism or secular humanism, right?
[18:28] We get real like oh, you know because we know the truth and so then it makes us, you know
[18:32] Really mad and angry, but I would say that dead religion
[18:35] Ends up sending more people to hell than anything else
[18:41] Right people who look good. They think that they're doing right, but they're not they're far
[18:46] The hearts are far from God
[18:48] And so what does your story say about your heart
[18:54] Is it a heart of sin obviously all of us start we just talked about this all of us start with a heart of sin
[19:01] We looked at a lot a couple weeks ago, but God right who is rich in mercy
[19:06] And so but today's you do you have a heart of sin or
[19:13] You have a new heart based on the gospel based on Jesus Christ. I
[19:17] Think
[19:23] We can see our story
[19:26] Especially when we're around our families by ourselves
[19:29] You see where your heart is right because those are the people that will test your heart a lot
[19:33] Our family members your heart you'll see your heart at work
[19:38] Those of you who work outside the home
[19:42] Yeah, they see your heart and how it is for the lost
[19:46] You see your heart and what it truly is for those within
[19:52] The church those who are true believers who are brothers and sisters in Christ
[19:57] See because as Christians we can still murder we look at Cain and we go
[20:02] Yeah, you know, I know that doesn't that doesn't represent me. I would never do something like that. I'm not that violent
[20:09] Jesus has some interesting words in Matthew chapter 5, right?
[20:11] He says you have heard that it was said to those of old
[20:15] You shall not murder and whoever murders will be liable to judgment
[20:18] But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment
[20:22] Whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council
[20:24] And then at first John he they go John goes even farther when it with with these words and he says for this is
[20:32] The message this is first John
[20:34] 311 through 14
[20:37] He says for this is the message that you have heard from the beginning that we should love one another
[20:41] We should not be like Cain
[20:44] That's a first shot again, right? Cain gets brutalized in the New Testament
[20:48] Okay, but she should we should not be like Cain who was of the evil one and murdered his brother
[20:53] And why did he murder him because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous
[20:57] Do not be surprised brothers that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life because we love our brothers
[21:04] Whoever does not love abides in death everyone who hates his brother is a murderer
[21:09] And you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. Well, right
[21:13] First John's not messing or John's not messing around in first John, right? He said listen, don't be like Cain
[21:19] Right Cain was other evil one and murdered his brother. Why?
[21:23] But this these were evil his heart's evil his heart was full of sin
[21:27] He said oh by the way, everyone who hates his brother and sister in Christ
[21:31] And you find hatred and and discord among them, right?
[21:35] Cause you a murderer and so when we look at Cain and go that's not really me. Yeah
[21:41] We've all had that Christian right of Christian brother or sister. We're like, oh
[21:45] Right, right
[21:49] And say be careful
[21:51] Jesus identifies this this anger and hatred and and how we feel about our brothers sisters as murder
[21:59] And
[22:01] So it's very important for us as we think about
[22:08] Where we are is that to remember that if you are here today, you know, you have a heart of sin meaning, you know, you're in sin
[22:15] That unchecked sin grows
[22:19] It spreads
[22:22] right and
[22:23] It kind of kills off and Jesus kind of talks about this right in the seed and the good soil and all that
[22:29] He kind of thought that it chokes off righteousness
[22:31] And so we must guard our hearts
[22:35] Through some self-examination through prayer through the scripture and even Jesus remember with his disciples
[22:42] When he when he was at the Garden of Gethsemane, what does he say to them?
[22:45] He says this watch and pray so that you will not fall in temptation because the Spirit is willing with the flesh and weak
[22:52] So, what's your heart say about your story today?
[22:59] I
[23:01] Speaking of Cain's statement. I was wondering if you guys want to give me some thoughts on this
[23:08] He says, uh, he goes am I my brother's keeper meaning? I'm not my brother's keeper. Why are you asking me Lord?
[23:13] Why are you asking me? No, I don't know where he is. I'm not my brother's keeper
[23:18] When he asked God, he's not looking for a response from God. He's telling God with that response. I'm not my brother's keeper
[23:27] You
[23:29] Are we our brother's keeper
[23:31] What your thoughts on that
[23:34] What do you think about that
[23:37] Yeah, I mean I think we talked about it in James like I think it's James Ford
[23:44] Where it goes into like, you know
[23:46] But I'm proud your brother if they're in sin save them from death. So
[23:52] You're not your brother's keeper. Then you're not saving them from anything
[23:56] Can't confront them about anything
[23:58] That's good answer. Anybody else?
[24:00] That's good answer
[24:03] Obviously
[24:07] God can all God does the saving right? We are not our brother's keeper in that regard. We can't save anybody
[24:12] Well, we are a brother's keeper in other regards our sister keeper. I
[24:17] Think when we look at James, I was funny that you say that James was one of the responses that I have
[24:25] When we look at the one another statements in the Bible
[24:27] Right. What is there? I don't know over 50. I think one another love one another, you know, be kind to one another
[24:33] You've honored to one another there's this idea of you know caring for the person
[24:38] What about Jesus? Oh, right
[24:40] To love your neighbor. What as yourself?
[24:44] That was
[24:48] Okay, like we know what we feel about ourselves and we love our neighbor as we love ourselves
[24:54] And then besides the fact that Jesus himself look at his how he lived his life
[24:58] Always come back to Peter because Peter is one of my favorite characters
[25:04] Right. He loves and cared for Peter and he's trying to warn him on the final night, right?
[25:10] Satan watching Peter, right?
[25:12] Well, you have to pray right you're talking too much of all this stuff because Peters all in right
[25:19] He's like, no, you're gonna deny me why he's trying because he loves Peter and cares for him
[25:25] And that should be our default mode that we love and care for our brothers and sisters
[25:29] Kane then, you know
[25:35] He I wonder if Kane thought he got away with it though, right before God confronts him
[25:41] Who's there not that many people out, you know at that point in time who's gonna know
[25:47] Me somebody's gonna know right somebody killed him. I'm assuming he did. I don't know maybe he buried him
[25:52] But the blood swallowed it is, you know, the ground swallows blood. Maybe he buries and we don't know
[25:58] But let me read you what Spurgeon says because I just love it it's so great
[26:03] He says this perhaps Kane went his way dreaming that the terrible matter was all over
[26:09] He had done the deed and it could not be undone
[26:12] He had smitten the below written himself for the presence of one who was obnoxious to him and the blood had been swallowed up by
[26:18] The earth and there was an end to the business which need cause no further thought there was no machinery in those days
[26:23] No police
[26:26] Law and judges and gallows and therefore Kane had little or nothing to fear
[26:29] Strong and hail man with no one to punish him and no one to accuse or unbrae him
[26:34] except maybe his father and mother and those those possibly too bowed with grief and
[26:40] Too mindful of their own offense to show much resentment toward their firstborn
[26:44] He may therefore have imagined that the deed was speechless and silent and that now oblivion would cover his crime
[26:50] So that he might go his way as though the deed was never done
[26:54] It was not so however
[26:57] For though that blood was silent in the seared conscience of Kane. It had a voice elsewhere a
[27:02] mysterious voice went up beyond the skies it reached the ear of the invisible and moved the heart of eternal justice so that breaking through the
[27:09] Veil which can see conceals the infinite from man. God revealed himself and spoke to Kane
[27:14] What has thou done the voice of thy brothers blood cries unto me from the ground?
[27:18] Then Kane knew that the blood could not be idly spilt that murder would be avenged for there was a tongue in every drop of
[27:24] The vital essence was flowed from the murdered manhood
[27:27] Which prevailed with God so that he would interpose and hold a solemn inquest
[27:31] Kane
[27:35] Right and that brings us right to the consequence of sin
[27:39] We know that we have we see Kane in the heart of sin and we say in your story, what does your heart say about you?
[27:46] But it should be remembered and should we should be reminded always that there is a consequence of sin and for for for
[27:56] pain
[27:58] Let's read about it
[28:01] When the Lord said verse 10, what have you done?
[28:05] the voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground and
[28:08] Now you are cursed from the ground which has opened his mouth to receive your brother's blood from your mom from your hand
[28:15] When you work the ground it shall no longer yield to you at strength and you shall be a fugitive and wanderer on the earth
[28:23] So God hands down his punishment
[28:33] Remember Hebrews 4 13, right?
[28:35] No creature is hidden from his sight. All are naked exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account
[28:41] There is no secret sin
[28:44] My cane kind of thought maybe I can get away with this he walks away and God says
[28:50] The blood of your brother is crying out to me
[28:53] And he holds him to account
[28:58] We cannot hide sin from God
[29:03] And so today if you're here and you're you have a heart full of sin
[29:08] Then today is a great day to go to God and confess
[29:12] Because when we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
[29:17] We cannot hide sin from God
[29:20] Or
[29:24] Make excuses for our sin. We cannot ignore our sin. It must be brought
[29:31] the light of our Savior I
[29:33] Find it interesting that Cain is cursed and made a restless wanderer, right?
[29:39] It's kind of the the the the punishment kind of exiles Adam and Eve, right?
[29:46] They're gonna go work the ground as a but only even more so
[29:49] It escalates it
[29:52] And I wonder what his parents thought
[29:58] They've seen this play out before for themselves in sin
[30:01] Did they they knew that the sin that they that they started?
[30:05] Right, they sowed in sin and now they're reaping the whirlwind of
[30:10] that sin
[30:13] So if he becomes a fugitive and a wanderer I
[30:26] I mean imagine what
[30:28] Cain is thinking now at this point
[30:32] You are cursed from the ground which has opened this mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hands when you work the ground
[30:38] It will not it will no longer yield to you at strength. You shall be a fugitive and wander
[30:43] on the earth
[30:46] Man
[30:51] Again, you know you look at Adam and even had everything great, right?
[30:53] And then he said and now they're out of the garden that Cain and Abel seem to be doing all right
[30:59] No, yeah, they're working the ground, but they were working the ground and things are going and then he says now
[31:03] Do you think my way?
[31:05] This God thing is not working out for me. So
[31:07] This is now the consequences come
[31:11] right
[31:13] And I don't spend too much time on the consequence as much as the response to the consequence
[31:17] God obviously
[31:24] Holds him to account and we should remember that in our sins. There's consequences to our sin
[31:31] Consequences to your sin to my sin
[31:35] McCain said in verse 13
[31:38] Said to the Lord my punishment is greater than I can bear bear
[31:43] But hold you have driven me today away from the ground and from your face. I shall be hidden
[31:48] I shall be a fugitive and wander on the earth and whoever finds me will kill me
[31:52] I
[31:54] Wasn't it just just just like two minutes seconds, maybe I don't know it's written the conversation you go
[32:01] I don't know my brother's keeper. What are you asking me for? And now he's like
[32:06] This is more than I can bear. See the thing about Cain. He doesn't care
[32:12] But he still doesn't care all he cares now is about the consequence
[32:17] He doesn't fall on his knees right there and go. Yes Lord. I have sinned and against you only have my sin
[32:22] He never states that
[32:25] He's just upset with the consequence and isn't that awesome we sometimes don't we don't know we don't like the consequences
[32:31] I know as a kid, right
[32:33] Yeah, I'm not gonna use you. I hope you just use your example. Hope you don't mind
[32:37] All right, but you get in trouble
[32:39] Right. I probably don't think too much about what you did. You're thinking about what they're taking away, right?
[32:44] That's the worst part about it, right? I get that nobody likes the consequences of their mistakes, right?
[32:48] Yeah, that's exactly right that's perfect, right
[32:53] And Cain is the same way. He doesn't care that he's not sorry in any way what he did
[32:58] He's sorry that God called him out caught him and now
[33:01] He has to reap
[33:05] The consequences of his sin
[33:08] Becomes a fugitive wanderer
[33:13] You know
[33:15] This man that they thought was this parents thought might be the one
[33:19] And even that just in the hope that they had right look at verse one
[33:23] It says she conceived a more Cain saying I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord
[33:27] Enjoy now turns obviously to sorrow
[33:32] What is your response
[33:38] To the consequences of sin or being called out for sin
[33:43] Right whether it be through the Word of God calling you out for a Sunday morning message
[33:48] Or something that you listen to or somebody like a friend or a family member calling you out for sin
[33:54] Do you make excuses for it?
[33:57] Know your business what I do
[34:00] And if anybody is here has that conversation somebody says none of your business what I do now
[34:07] You can point back to this. Hey brothers keeper. All right
[34:09] Bring that up
[34:13] But he's devastated by his punishment not a sin right his focus is on his old self-preservation
[34:18] And again, it just continues to show Cain's heart it's a heart of sin
[34:24] So he says they're gonna kill me
[34:29] Look at God
[34:32] He says whoever finds me will kill me and then the Lord said in verse 15 not so
[34:38] If anyone kills Cain vengeance shall be taken 107 fold
[34:42] The Lord put a mark on Cain unless any who found him should attack him
[34:46] Now you're thinking yeah, it was me yeah, you might die you deserve it look what you did
[34:55] He says no pain
[34:58] Here nobody's gonna kill I'm gonna put a mark on you
[35:05] I
[35:07] Think one of the saddest things is
[35:13] That
[35:17] Cain had he had in the multiple times he had to repent had he repented his life would look very much different
[35:24] And I don't remember the quote but you know sin always stays longer than you intended it just continues to grow and it
[35:34] Ends up staying longer than you intended and the consequences are worse than you had probably even thought
[35:38] But what I love
[35:47] Is that when we see God's undeserved kindness towards Cain
[35:52] offering him protection and
[35:55] Grace and kindness even towards this murder
[35:57] defiant murderer
[36:00] We were reminded a Romans 5/8 in our lives
[36:04] But God shows his love for us that while we were still sinners Christ died for us
[36:15] So in our heart
[36:18] But we have a heart of sin and when we were running from God know maybe some of you get saved when you're younger
[36:23] And it's hard to understand a heart of sin because you know, you know, what are you doing when you're you know, eight years old?
[36:30] But you already have a heart you were born with a heart of sin
[36:32] And in that sin Christ died for us and all of our sin is then put on Christ
[36:40] So even though we see you know Cain do all this and then we get to where God in his mercy
[36:52] The mercy of God
[36:58] Saves Cain still
[37:00] We remember the work of Christ on the cross
[37:05] And remember that God
[37:10] But God who is rich in mercy
[37:14] That while we were yet sinners Christ died for us
[37:17] does that in
[37:20] Your story does that have meaning?
[37:24] In your story does it truly have meaning where it makes a difference in your life
[37:29] Like it could say like oh, yeah. Yeah has meaning but your life looks no different than the unsaved
[37:34] Your story is the same as it looks the same as those who are unsaved
[37:41] Thomas Watson said to till sin be bitter Christ will not be sweet
[37:51] Till sin be bitter in our lives that we hate our own sin Christ will never be sweet to us
[37:56] And my hope and I know I can kind of hammer this idea of mercy and God's grace throughout this whole passage
[38:08] chapter 3 and chapter 4
[38:10] Because we hear it so often I think sometimes it's just not real for us if we don't really get it
[38:17] But we often we don't get it because sin is not bitter to us and we sin
[38:21] But until sin be better bitter price will not be sweet
[38:28] Let me wrap up with this
[38:33] We look at the last verse
[38:38] so they can't Cain and
[38:40] Maybe the saddest verse of the whole thing then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord
[38:46] And settled in the land of Nod east of Eden
[38:49] Sin leads to isolation now Cain is away from the presence of the Lord
[39:00] That's the ultimate consequence of sin right separation from God
[39:08] Without Christ we are fully separated from a holy God
[39:14] Without Christ we're fully separated from a holy God
[39:19] Matthew Henny says those who forsake God will find themselves forsaken by him left to wander wander in spiritual darkness
[39:29] I love though. Once again, we can go to New Testament
[39:43] Because those of us who have put our faith in Christ in the finished work of Christ
[39:48] We read Ephesians
[39:52] 213 with great hope right it says this but now in Christ Jesus
[39:57] You who were once far off meaning far from God have been brought near by the blood of Christ
[40:07] As we looked at Cain who was far away from God, he's out gone from the presence of the Lord to wander the rest of his days
[40:14] His story though, it will continue somewhat in the next passage
[40:21] It's not great now, right? He's a wanderer. I thought about playing old song wanderer, you know, that's probably not appropriate
[40:30] Yeah, I don't think that's what that song means. I don't know
[40:34] So what when we read Ephesians we realize that Christ
[40:42] Reverses the separation that started in the garden
[40:47] And so let me ask you what is your story saying
[40:59] Do people know your story like if you claim Christ, do they know that story?
[41:04] Is
[41:07] It one of God's amazing grace and mercy
[41:10] But you can't like you have to tell people in some form some way
[41:15] Or do you have a form of godliness but deny the power of God
[41:20] You do the things that look right in front of people
[41:23] But outside of the people that know
[41:26] There's no indication your heart is far from God
[41:29] What I want to do in conclusion is this
[41:36] Right in a second. We're gonna
[41:38] Ethan's gonna play the last song let it play in the background a little bit
[41:42] It's really about our story because I really want you to think about your story and what it means in Christ
[41:50] Well, he's that song is playing I want you to read through 4 1 through 16 the story of Cain and Abel
[41:57] And remember that this is not just a story about murder
[42:03] When we think of Cain and Abel, that's usually where we go to write Cain murdered his brother Abel. Well, that's nice, right?
[42:10] But it's about the human heart's
[42:13] propensity to rebel against God
[42:16] rebel against his grace
[42:19] but
[42:21] Even in this passage
[42:24] We see the gospel shine brightly because we know what happens
[42:29] And so we look at the story of Cain. We look at his rebellion. We look at God's mercy and we go all
[42:35] It continues it never stopped. It was always there. Why because it's who he is
[42:41] He's merciful
[42:44] And what I want you to do again as we listen to the song and we would probably listen to the whole thing
[42:53] Well, we're gonna sing it. No, that's
[42:55] we're gonna sing it not because it's a
[42:57] Kind of a worship song but it's it's a heart
[43:00] I want you to examine your heart is what I hope for as you sing it
[43:03] After we're done reading to examine your heart. So what is my heart story about God saying?
[43:11] Is it true? Is it accurate or do I have a heart of Cain?
[43:14] Anyway, let's read this chapter either of you could play that song
[43:23] Read this chapter and say what does my heart say about me?
[43:28] Not the whole chapter sorry for one through sixteen or one through sixteen
[43:38] One of our prayers it should be as we're gonna stand and sing this song in a moment
[43:42] But one of our prayers is Charles Spurgeon said this again. He says save me Oh God
[43:47] From having my heart hammer to the hardness of steel by sin
[43:52] Daily keep me Oh Lord by your grace sensible and tender before you trembling at your word
[43:57] We want a story of grace and mercy
[44:02] right
[44:06] Christ and the change he has made in your life
[44:09] Now he's saved you
[44:12] From one life but saved you to God
[44:16] Removing the separation that was there. This is the prayer right to say is that Lord keep my heart soft
[44:23] Tender for you
[44:28] But as I read your word I tremble at it not because I'm afraid of what you might do
[44:33] We come up because of who you are and what you've already done
[44:35] Our story I pray doesn't mimic Cain in any way
[44:43] But that we truly can say this is my story this is my song
[44:50] Phrasing my Savior all the day long. Let's stand father. May our story reflect
[44:58] What your son has done in the hearts and lives of all those here
[45:03] May our heart reflect grace the mercy and kindness of Jesus
[45:12] May we sing Lord their hearts on thee
[45:17] This is our story. This is our song
[45:22] We praise you all today long for your words. We love you father. Amen
[45:28] [BLANK_AUDIO]