The Value Of Life Part 2

Rock the law of God is the prohibition against taking hundreds of people are killed every year. Each of our major cities. Life is cheap and gets cheaper when convicted killers never paid the price. God commanded from the Moody Church in Chicago.

This is running to win sir whose clear teaching process.

Make it across the finish line.

Estimates are these days. Enlightened people find the idea of capital punishment cruel and sadistic date. You're absolutely right and I need to add this word that often times people have been put to death wrong. They have been falsely accused. That's why I think it is so very very important that in our legal system. People be given every legitimate opportunity to defend themselves and to be defended by our laws. That being said, if we have absolute proof that someone has been a murderer unless there's some kind of extenuating circumstances, he should be put to death and what that does is it shows that value of human life, the 10 Commandments are very relevant for today and they are far deeper and deeper even coming to the human heart than most people realize.

I've written a book entitled why holiness matters. The 10 Commandments Jesus and you if you ask why Jesus is involved well. He actually gives us 1/11 commandment why holiness matters. The 10 Commandments Jesus and you for your gift of any amount good RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 now as I have said frequently in this series, let us go once again to sign I were God speaks. For example, you'll recall the case of the parent. Jesus is born in Bethlehem and Herod, when he sees that a delegation is going to Bethlehem to find out about this person that's been born. He says tell me about it when you find out the information and send me word that I may go and worship him. What a liar.

Why was it that Herod hated Jesus, it's because Jesus was a threat to him. Jesus was being born is the King of the Jews and Eric thought that he might be without a job. Jesus might make Herod look bad. And that's why Herod hated Christ, and intended to kill him and he and his heart was a murderer, even though he didn't pull it off.

You know those of you who are in business know that out there in the world its doggy dog there all kinds of people there who want to make you look bad and make themselves look good so that they can step on you to get a promotion and will do everything that they possibly can to do.

You win. How it's easy to hate people like that resentment begins to build up and you begin to say if I could kill him.

I would watch it.

Everyone who hates is a murderer, even if you hate your brother you're a murderer, not to mention the people that are in the world. There's another reason not only because there are people who get in our way, but also because perhaps we met people that have hurt us. They purchase and so we want to retaliate there something within us that says we want to even the score. We want to make sure that this person will not get away Scott free. And so if you had a mother that rejected you and a father who beat you up if you have a spouse that has done, you win.

That is a lie to you that is betrayed you there. Again, the resentments and the hurts to grow and that's why most murders that are take place here in the city of Chicago.

They are family affairs, usually at some relatives, some resent somebody who I received an inheritance and that there's somebody else that wants to chisel you out of what's coming to you and the resentment and the anger and the court cases and all these things begin to develop and you just can't see how people can be so unreasonable.

And there's something within you that says I will do them in. No matter what it costs. So you have a situation of some relatives that are related to someone whom I know where a man was so angry at his wife, who had taken the kids from him that he shot her and shot all the children in the car and then turned the gun on himself and committed suicide when he was saying is I am so full of resentment and hatred that I will kill you to make sure that you are rubbed out. Even if I end up doing it to myself.

After but the text says again if you hate your murderer, the Christian doesn't have to hate you know why because he's got somebody else to take care of his injustices. That's what it says in Romans chapter 12 on something to preach a message on the how to respond when you're under attack and the text will be that 12 chapter of Romans don't have time to turn to it because we have only a certain amount of time today but that there in that passage, Paul says do not avenge yourselves, he says never pay back evil for evil, if possible, live peaceably never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God is in Romans chapter 12 verse 19 if you're trying to find it. Notice never take your own revenge, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, vengeance is mine, I will recompense as the Lord God says I will fight your case, I'm good be the one is going to settle the score followers carefully got one's faith in our lives right.

The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God. When you harbor bitterness in your life and you want to even the score. It is an indication of a lack of faith. You are not trusting the judge of all the earth to do right and to settle the matter you're taking it into your hands and that's lack of faith there something within us that says yeah but I want to make sure that he's not going to get off Scott free and I'm going to do it for God how the taxes leave room for the wrath of God to trust God to do it. Don't think that every score is going to be settled on this earth. There have been people who have given their lives trying to settle scores to make sure that before they died. It would be even and are still not sure whether or not it is the text says leave room for the wrath of God. Vengeance is mine. I'm going to straighten it out.

You say yeah but one of this person confesses his sin before he dies and goes to heaven and then still is Scott know some of your laughing, but to I know someone who said that to me when I pointed this text out to them. They said yeah but you know my father, whom they hated very much this girl did and she had some reason to hate him humanly speaking, when I told her that she had to get rid of all of that hatred in it and explained to her how to release those feelings so that she could be free.

Her response was yeah but you know what my dad's a Christian.

And so he's going to go to heaven and he's gonna live there in bliss. She said I'd like to see him burn in hell you think somebody can hate that deeply you'd better believe that there are people who hate that deeply. What about somebody who confesses his sin. Just before he goes to heaven so he gets off Scott free. My dear friend, will you remember that there is no such thing in all the Bible that teaches that somehow justice is not going to be brought to every single situation and even the person who confesses his sin, the reason that he is released is because Jesus absorb the cost of that hurt that you've experienced as a child because of a father was loving to God is going to bring justice to every situation of life. He is going to make sure that every single sin is paid for. Somehow, either by the person who committed it or the Christ who died and absorbed it but one way or another. Justice is going to be brought to every situation of life and because of that you do not have to be a murderer in your heart you can release the feelings of bitterness. You can choose to forgive.

Forgiveness is not an emotion and you can even forgive those who have died if you've got to do it.

Don't forget there for their benefit that may be too late for your own your own benefit. Forgiveness is something good that you do for yourself.

Not to mention the good that it does for the other person text says clearly and I wish that sometimes people come up and say what you know, it's very clear to what does the Greeks say. Unfortunately, the Greek says what the English says that the person who hates is a murderer person who hates is a murderer. Do we have some murders here. Maybe we get a few more to stand now and were only on my second point. One way to murder is with the hand of the second way to murder is with the heart 1/3 way to murder and will only refer to it tend not to expound on it is with the mouth with the mouth. James says in chapter 3 says some of you are speaking evil. One of another, and he says out of the same mouth is proceeding a blessing and cursing you cursed during the week you say bad things about people who are believers or others. You are gossipers you are taking people's character and you are lowering the opinion that people have of others in the sight of other people and you are doing that and then you come to church and using holy, holy, holy, and crown him with many crowns and James is wait a moment out of the same mouth blessing and cursing should not come pieces that is sinful. He says you are eating in your devouring one another.

You are consuming one another because of your your speech and the way you're speaking about other people and you are demeaning them in the eyes of others because of what say and that to that to his character assassination that to use murder if you please. There's a final way that we can murder and that is by neglect by neglect just by neglecting people by not being involved is not that we hate anybody is not that we speak evil of anybody. It's just that we stand idly by while other people are being led off to slaughter. This can happen very subtly can happen.

Certainly, if with her lack of concern regarding abortion are lactose. Being willing to speak when we have opportunity to speak and let it be known where we stand it that can happen by slum landlord expecting people to pay money and he knows that they are in poverty and he keeps raising the rent and he's making money on the backs of the poor, bringing about a slow death is not that he hates anyone is just that he loves himself and all that he can see as his own needs and he's trampling on other people to get ahead. That's another way that we can commit murder. I think that the priest and the Levite who walked by on the other side when that man was bleeding there on the way to Jericho, in some sense participated in that crime and in heart.

They were one with the robber who had brought about unwillingness to get involved was if you've read the book during the girl nobody loved with all of that heartache of a girl who was rejected and hated by her mother and went through successive orphanages. Some of you know the story. Interestingly enough, she told me one day because it was my privilege to write that book incidentally with her and to receive that information that was written perhaps six or eight years ago, but it's interesting that she told me as an adult she said I went back to the place where I was reared and where I was left in the apartment alone and where I was locked up and where I was beaten as a five or six-year-old girl and she said I found out that it was just across from a very fine evangelical church she did know that when she was five or six but she knows that now as an adult I want to blame that church because God knows that there might be that kind of blood on our own hands. I use it only as an illustration of the fact that were living in areas where there may be that kind of abuse and that kind of hurt and it's not that we hate anybody is not that were involved were not contributing to it is just and we walk by and pretend it doesn't exist.

We don't reach out a hand to help those who are being dragged off to hurt and to slaughter you say will Pastor Luther if you've preached a message now that almost seems to imply that human life has some kind of a supreme value to it will not that high a value not had that high value know that there are other values that are more important than humanlike human life is very important, but there are some that are more important. For example, you should be more important in my life. Your life should be more important to me than my own Bible says in first John 315 we looked at the text. The very next verse says because Jesus laid down his life for us. We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren with the Bible is really saying I hate to say it because it's so powerful and so many vast implications, but I should be willing to die for you. If push came to shove, if it wasn't the difference between me dying are you dying I should say will I'm going to do it before you get too excited about that. Remember, you ought to be willing to die for me to and will have an argument as to who can die for one another. That's what the Bible says we ought to lay down our lives for one another and then of course not only that, but worship and obedience to God is more important than human life. That's what you have martyrs because the Bible says in the book of Revelation. They loved not to their life to the point of death. In other words, they didn't hang onto it and say I refuse to die, refused it. I'll do absolutely anything, so that I won't have to die. No, what did the martyrs do they sit here I am, shoot me killed me.

Send the wild beasts do whatever you want. I refuse to deny Jesus Christ and they receive special recognition in heaven they received a martyrs crown. Why, because then they realize that there is some thing in life more important than physical life and that is obedience to God and because of that obedience to God. God singles the mountain gives them special recognition and that even though I'm not looking forward to such a thing. I would say this the dying for Christ is the greatest honor that we could probably have can think of any other way to go.

Really, if you've got to go would be nice to go standing true to the Savior. Now God says that you human life is important because say he gives that scientists can't put it together. They have all the elements there. They maybe even have created some cells there may be some debate about that but no scientist is ever yet created a single cell that it is able to reap itself how God has to give that spark of life right. It comes from God.

God is the author of life, but did you know that the same God who gives physical life and speaks and creates an is the same God who gives what the Bible talks about as spiritual life and just as we can't cooperate with God in the giving of physical life, only he can give it so we cannot cooperate with God in the granting of eternal life. It is a miracle that has absolutely no human agencies involved along with it a it is the miracle of the new birth. Whatever it is that we call it the granting of eternal life is a miracle that has to be done by the same sovereign God who gives physical life. He only grants spiritual life. The only part that we have and ideas we respond to God and he grants us the ability to believe and to trust him. And when that takes place we experience the miracle but the miracle is wholly totally completely of God. Today I have the gift of eternal life because I believed on Jesus Christ and many of you have the gift of eternal life because you also have believed on him, but undoubtedly in a congregation like this. There are many of you who do not have that gift though you may be religious. You've never experienced the miracle in the heart. The giving of eternal life. And once you receive that eternal life. Then, of course, even though you will lose your physical life is all of us must in one way or another. We then go on to live eternally with God forever and ever.

DL Moody said to his friends.

He says one of these days you're going to read in the newspapers DL Moody is dad said don't believe it at that moment. He said I'm going to be more alive than I've ever been. That's right that's right that's good theology. The newspapers say DL Moody is dad but DL Moody is more alive than he's ever been because he received not only physical life, but he received spiritual life that God is able to give to those that believe in the trust we become his children forever. Thou shalt do no murder since Scripture because your valuable but eternal life is more valuable than physical life.

Let's pray father we ask today that you will help us not to be murderers, either by the hand by the heart by the mouth or just by neglect. We pray that you might enable us to positively value human beings made in the image of God. Special, unique, gifted, put together by the sovereign creator old father we pray that you might help all of us to obey your commands pray in Jesus name my friend today. Let me ask you a question are you blessed as a result of the ministry of running to win. Do you find that these messages are help or perhaps they are a rebuke instruction. These messages can be yours. The 10 Commandments series and you can play them again and again share them with your friends. Maybe you've heard some of these messages in the series, but not all of them and you'd like to hear them from beginning to end. For gift of any amount. These messages can be yours. Here's what you do go to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 ask for the series of messages titled the 10 Commandments I need to say that in the world that is lost its way. We need these moral anchors to recognize who we are in the presence of God and to respond properly if you're interested in the 10 Commandments and I hope that you are because I think they will be of benefit to you. This series of messages go to RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 thanks in advance for your generosity as together we are making a difference.

It's time again for you to ask Pastor looks or a question you may have about the Bible or the Christian life. The role of women in the church. Some denominations or doing them.

Others prohibit them from even speaking. Jesse has this question about a controversial topic, should women preach or take the position of pastors and elders. First Timothy chapter 2 says a woman should learn in quietness and full submission.

I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man. She must be silent but some people told me that Paul said this in first Timothy because the women at that time were not educated.

Is this true Pastor looks or how do you understand this or Jesse. Thanks so much for asking a question that leads us right into the midst of some controversy but I shall give you the answer which I believe is consistent with Scripture and consistent with my conscience in interpreting Scripture. I think that the Bible means what it says that women should learn in quietness, certainly, and they should learn in submission and women should not teach men so in answer to your question, I don't think that they should become pastors, at least in the role of proclaiming the word of God. They should not become preachers to the congregation nor elders.

I think that is clear from Scripture, and that it is not true that the reason Paul writes this is because the women were not educated. Interestingly, when you read the passage Paul roots. This not in the contemporary issues regarding education goes right back to Genesis right back to Adam and Eve and shows that this is based on what happened there. So I think this is truth meant for the whole church.

Now Jesse.

Having said that I need to say very quickly, but often times our churches have prevented women from serving in places where they can serve.

I believe that women can teach other women. They can certainly teach children here at the Moody church. We have women who read the Scripture oftentimes also in our morning service, they can serve as deaconesses they can assure they can serve communion. There are many many different ways in which women can serve in the church so we need to keep the balance, but to be an elder. I believe that that is a male role. Hope this helps. Jesse God bless you. I know that there are differences about this and we need to be tolerant and understand each other some wise counsel once again from Dr. Erwin looks or if you'd like to hear your question answered. Go to our website@rtwoffer.com and click on ask Pastor Luther or call us at 1-888-218-9337 that's 1-888-218-9337 you can write to us running to win 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614 long ago, God gave the 10 Commandments is a blueprint for living. Our failure to follow commandment number six is a bring reason for the dismal state of many homes next time I'm running to win the key to having a happy and stable family. Don't miss her when losers insights into another of the 10 Commandments honor your father and your mother and Christ the when we fail to do this. Running to win is all about helping you understand God's roadmap for your race of life. This is Dave Hollister running to win is sponsored Moody church