T 20 Eating From a Poisoned Pot 2

T 20 Eating From a Poisoned Pot 2 Kings 4: 40 1

Have you ever… I 19 Have you ever had a really bad meal? What made it bad? Taste? Company? Made you physically sick? 2

2 Kings 4: 38 -41 38 Elisha now returned to Gilgal, and there was a famine in the land. One day as the group of prophets was seated before him, he said to his servant, “Put a large pot on the fire, and make some stew for the rest of the group. ” 39 One of the young men went out into the field to gather herbs and came back with a pocketful of wild gourds. He shredded them and put them into the pot without realizing they were poisonous. 40 Some of the stew was served to the men. But after they had eaten a bite or two they cried out, “Man of God, there’s poison in this stew!” So they would not eat it. 41 Elisha said, “Bring me some flour. ” Then he threw it into the pot and said, “Now it’s all right; go ahead and eat. ” And then it did not harm them. 3

Practical Lessons O 9 All herbs were good except one Wild Gourds Poisoned All The Good 1 Corinthians 5: 6 Do you not know that a little leavens the whole lump? A little leavens the lump, a little poisons the pot… 4

Practical Lessons All herbs were good except one E 22 Wild Gourds Poisoned All The Good 1 Corinthians 5: 6; 5: 33 And this is shown to be true in evil associations. 1 Corinthians 5: 33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits. ” Acts 14: 2 Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. 5

Poison Gourds of Today Bad Reading Literature Some “Books” Need to be Burned Acts 19: 19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. 6 R 10

Practical Lessons Social Poison “Adult” movies and TV T 7 1 Tim 4: 12 -16; 1 Pet 5: 8; Phil 4: 8 1 Timothy 4: 12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

Practical Lessons L 6 Social Poison “Adult” movies and TV 1 Tim 4: 12 -16; 1 Pet 5: 8; Phil 4: 8 Philippians 4: 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. 8

Practical Lessons E 12 Social Poison Any addiction 1 Thes 5: 21 -22; Isa 5: 11, 22; Prov 23: 29 -30 Isaiah 5: 11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning, That they may follow intoxicating drink; Who continue until night, till wine inflames them! Isaiah 5: 22 Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink, 9

Practical Lessons H 15 Social Poison Any addiction 1 Thes 5: 21 -22; Isa 5: 11, 22; Prov 23: 29 -30 Proverbs 23: 29 -30 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine. 10

Practical Lessons L 21 Social Poison Modern dance Gal 5: 19 -21; 1 Cor 15: 33; 1 Thess 5: 21 -22 Galatians 5: 19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 11

Poison Gourds of Today T 2 Religious Poison Denominationalism The general denominational concept that one does not have to be baptized to be saved. Baptism not essential (Rom 6: 3 -5; Acts 2: 38) Acts 2: 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 12

Poison Gourds of Today Religious Poison Denominationalism Y 13 The "can't fall" theory. Can’t fall from grace (Gal 5: 4; Rom 11: 22) Galatians 5: 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. Romans 11: 22 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. 13

Poison Gourds of Today Religious Poison Denominationalism R 11 Church membership not essential (Eph 1: 22, 23; 5: 23) Ephesians 1: 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 5: 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 14

Poison Gourds of Today U 3 Religious Poison Changed the Truth Into a Lie Romans 1: 24 -25; Hebrews 5: 9 Romans 1: 24 -25 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Hebrews 5: 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 15

Poison Gourds of Today Religious Poison in the church Hypocrites T 8 1 Peter 2: 1 -2 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 16

Poison Gourds of Today S 1 Religious Poison in the church Lack of Development Heb 5: 12 -14; Rom 12: 11; Rev 3: 16 Hebrews 5: 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 17

Poison Gourds of Today Religious Poison in the church Disinterest or Indifference H 14 Heb 5: 12 -14; Rom 12: 11; Rev 3: 16 Romans 12: 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; Revelation 3: 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 18

Poison Gourds of Today W 5 Religious Poison in the church False love 1 John 2: 15 -17; Rom 12: 1 -2 1 John 2: 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 19

Poison Gourds of Today Religious Poison in the church Worldliness U 17 1 John 2: 15 -17; Rom 12: 1 -2 Romans 12: 1 -2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 20

What are we shaping? Aarons golden calf And what we’ve shaped U 17 Exodus 32: 2 So Aaron said, “Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me. ” 3 All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. Exodus 32: 24 So I told them, ‘Whoever has gold jewelry, take it off. ’ When they brought it to me, I simply threw it into the fire— and out came this calf!”

Conclusion & Prayer F 4 The poison remains until some neutralizing influence comes into play. 2 Kings 4: 41; 1 Corinthians 5: 6 2 Kings 4: 41 Elisha said, “Bring me some flour. ” Then he threw it into the pot and said, “Now it’s all right; go ahead and eat. ” And then it did not harm them. 1 Corinthians 5: 6 Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 22

Conclusion & Prayer E 18 Purge Out the Old Leven This poison must be purged by the gospel. Romans 1: 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith. ” 23

Conclusion & Prayer Puzzle Answer The truth will set you free John 8: 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. ” Prayer 24

25