Tough Words

1
Tough Words

• Some

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Tough Words?

• Big English words?
• Floccinaucinihilipilification
• Meaning do or make nothing, very little,
  insignificant
• Big Bible Words?
• Jonathelemrechokim (Ps. 561, title, KJV)
• Mahershalalhashbaz (Is. 81, KJV)

3
NO one of the toughest words of all

• NO is hard to pronounce
• When everyone wants you to say yes
• When it looks good/pleasing to the eyes
• When it appears threatening to utter

4
Examples of Failure to Say NO

• Adam Eve (Gen. 36)
• Contrast Daniel (Dan. 18)
• Young Prophet (1 Kin. 1315-19)
• Contrast 1 Kin. 137-9
• David (2 Sam. 11)
• Contrast Joseph Gen. 397-10
• Improperly Dressed Woman (Prov. 710)
• Contrast Vashti (Esth. 110, 11)

5
NO

• Is a test of your character
• Requires a big person to utter such a small word
  properly
• Is required at times if we are going to obey God
  rather than man (Acts 529)
• Is a barricade to keep the righteous from
  traveling down the path of evil and doom (Prov.
  110-19)

6
IF

• If CORE MEANING a conjunction used to
  indicated the circumstances that would have to
  exist in order for an event to happen (Encarta
  Dictionary)

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IF one of the BIGGEST words

• Is there a word that has bigger impact?
• Is there a word more consequential?

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Consequential Impact of IF in Scripture

• Are you strong?
• Pr 2410, If you faint in the day of adversity,
  Your strength is small
• Lazy and hungry?
• 2 Thess. 310, . . . If anyone will not work,
  neither shall he eat
• Are you a hard-worker
• Ec 1010 If the ax is dull, And one does not
  sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength
  But wisdom brings success

9
Consequential Impact of IF in Scripture

• Love father and mother more than Christ?
• Luke 1426, If anyone comes to Me and does not
  hate his father and mother, wife and children,
  brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also,
  he cannot be My disciple
• Do you love Christ?
• John 1415, If you love Me, keep My commandments

10
Consequential Impact of IF in Scripture

• Do you want Gods goodness?
• Romans 1122, Therefore consider the goodness
  and severity of God on those who fell, severity
  but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His
  goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off

11
Consequential Impact of IF in Scripture

• Do you want forgiven?
• Matt. 614, For if you forgive men their
  trespasses, your heavenly Father will also
  forgive you
• 1 John 17, But if we walk in the light as He is
  in the light, we have fellowship with one
  another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son
  cleanses us from all sin.
• Non-Christians must first repent and be baptized
  into the death of Christ (Rom. 63, 4)
• Christian must repent and confess sin (1 Jn. 19)

12
Consequential Impact of IF in Scripture

• Do you want to be a new creation?
• 2 Cor. 517, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
  he is a new creation old things have passed
  away behold, all things have become new
• Baptism is into Christ (Gal. 327)
• Do you think you can be righteous by the law of
  Moses?
• Gal. 221, I do not set aside the grace of God
  for if righteousness comes through the law, then
  Christ died in vain

13
Consequential Impact of IF in Scripture

• Is your faith futile?
• 1 Cor. 1517, And if Christ is not risen, your
  faith is futile you are still in your sins!
• Do you want to avoid being destroyed by God?
• If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will
  destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which
  temple you are (1 Cor. 317)

14
Consequential Impact of IF in Scripture

• Do you want to grow as a Christian and secure
  heaven?

• 2 Peter 15-11

15
Consequential Impact of IF in Scripture

• For if these things are yours and abound, you
  will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the
  knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (v. 8)

• 2 Peter 15-11

Brotherly Kindness
Knowledge
Faith
Perseverance
Self-Control
Love
Virtue
Godliness
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WHAT ABOUT YOU?

• IF NO

• Continue to live in sin?
• Play church
• Are you going to be less this year than last?
• OR
• Are you ready to stop living for the devil?
• Are you ready to get serious about religion?
• Are you ready to be more this year than last?