Sermon Central
-
Not A Slave? Think Again
Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Jun 22, 2017 (message contributor)
Paul says that you were a slave. Slavery is unfortunately still alive and well in our world. The story of a young girl named “Dodzi” is a common one in Ghana. Dodzi was orphaned at nine months and lived with her Grandmother, who served as her guardian. Her Grandmother had a lot on her plate as she was also taking care of eight other children by herself. At the age of 8, Dodzi was sold into slavery by her Grandmother. She was forced into the fishing slavery that was done on Lake Volta, which is the largest man-made reservoir in the world. She was forced to work on dangerous fishing boats, and did things like bailing out water, paddling the canoe, and to cast and pull in the fishing nets. Dodzi was also pressured into doing dangerous tasks, like untangling the nets while they were in the water. It would not be uncommon for children to die while doing this.
This poor girl was then forced to cook for her owners and to work non-stop around the clock. She even had a forced marriage with another slave against her will. But it gets worse for this poor girl. She had no way out, or no chance to escape. She was hopelessly stuck. Her masters were cruel and didn’t care for her one bit. Dodzi was under the threat of violence, and could be beaten and starved. She was a slave who lived according to her masters’ whims, will, and wishes.
The life of Dodzi is a reflection of our old spiritual life. Paul tells us that we were slaves to sin. As we learned last week, we inherited sin from our first parent, Adam, and we were born under its control. With sin as our master, we obeyed and served it. Our bodies, and all of our members, our eyes, fingers, toes, mouths, and minds, were offered to its service. We offered them for acts of impurity and lawlessness. This led to more impurity and lawlessness. It horribly snowballed out of control! We acted against God’s Holy and good commandments. Like Dodzi, we served our master.
And just as any slave gets a wage for the work that is done, we got a wage all right. The payment and wage of these acts was death. We lived a life that bore no good fruit or good wage. We took what we what got.
Similar to Dodzi, we had no way out. We could not free ourselves from sin, nor pay for our release. The price was too great. We could never do it! Worse yet, we could not run away or escape. We couldn’t even think about rebelling, for we were not strong enough to break sin’s control.
This was a tough life too. Our master, sin, didn’t care about us. It didn’t care about the destruction that hate, lust, theft, lying, or coveting could create for us or others. It was not sorry for the devastation that it caused. Sin’s friends, death and the devil, didn’t care either. In fact, they were just as ruthless and bad. We were slaves to sin. Paul says you were this, and this was your lot and life.
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
It Is In The Hours Of Loneliness That God Does ...
Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Feb 8, 2007
It is in the hours of loneliness that God does some of His greatest works. It was in the lonely dejection of Elijah that he heard God’s voice. It was in the wearying lonely path of faith that God came again to Abraham. It was in the lonely hours following failure that Peter found God. It ...read more
-
Child-Training PRO
Contributed by Herman Abrahams on Oct 2, 2004
PROVERBS 22:6 “The Hebrew word for train (h\aµnak_) means to dedicate…. H\aµnak_ seems to include the idea of setting aside, narrowing, or hedging in. The word is sometimes used in the sense of “start.” Child-training involves “narrowing” a child’s conduct away from evil and toward godliness and ...read more
-
Hans Christian Andersen's Tale Of "The Ugly ... PRO
Contributed by Bruce Willis on Dec 29, 2006
Hans Christian Andersen’s tale of “The Ugly Duckling” illustrates the truth that what you know and believe to be truth determines your behavior. Although hatched in the same nest as the other eggs, this “duckling” looked different. He was big and ugly, not soft and yellow like the other ...read more
-
A Roman Catholic Priest […] Was Making His Way ... PRO
Contributed by John Shearhart on Feb 8, 2007
“A Roman Catholic priest […] was making his way down [an] alley to his parked car, [when] a man suddenly emerged from the shadows, thrusting the muzzle of a revolver into his ribs demanding, ‘Hand me your wallet!’ Offering no word of protest, the priest immediately began to comply. As he reached ...read more
-
1997------- From Time To Time We Hear Statistics ... PRO
Contributed by Richard Mcnair on Nov 4, 2004
1997------- From time to time we hear statistics about how people first came into church membership. These figures trace back to the Institute for American Church Growth, which asked 10,000 people about their pilgrimage. What led them in? Answers were: Special need, 2 percent; Walk-in, 3 percent; ...read more
Related Sermons
-
Power Of Obedience
Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 25, 2017
Obedience is inherit in the relationship of man (as a created being) with God, the Creator. The New Covenant does not do away with the need for obedience to God. In fact, it supply the strength to live that way. Heaven will be a place of obedience to God.
-
Identity Series
Contributed by Matt Smith on Jan 3, 2013
From what do you get your identity? Is it in your career? Your Spouse? Your Looks? Maybe it is even something such as Your Ministry or how much you Read The Bible. In this message Pastor Matt Smith shows us through scripture that our primary identity
-
CÓmo Romper Las Maldiciones Generacionales
Contributed by James Dina on Jan 25, 2021
Una maldición generacional viene a través de la línea de sangre, y sólo puede ser cancelada por la sangre la sangre de Jesús.
-
Come See A Man
Contributed by Vernon Price on Apr 12, 2012
. WHEN WE DRINK FROM THE WORLD, WE ALWAYS THIRST AGAIN A. Temporary satisfaction is the norm - We live in a world full of temporary things! (groceries) - Temporary doesn't mean "bad" (Jesus gets tired, thirsty, hungry; vv.6-8) - The world offer
-
You Are Holy - Set Apart For A Purpose
Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 10, 2015
How do we become Holy? The Hebrew word translated Holy is Qodesh it means a sacred place or object set apart consecrated and dedicated to God. Beloved there is a vast difference between Holy and Purity.
