Cain and Abel

*What is it that you’re feeding in 2020 that you should be starving?

*Why not become something on purpose rather than becoming someone on accident?

Overview of Genesis 4:

Adam and Eve had Cain and later had another son, Abel. Abel kept the flocks, Cain worked the soil. It came time to give offerings to the Lord: Cain brought fruits he grew. Abel brought fat from the firstborn of his flock.

*Do you see the difference here? Abel’s offering was a sacrifice, his firstborn! There's only one firstborn in a flock. This was a HUGE sacrifice. Cain’s offering was his leftovers. Some fruit that he grew that was not special, significant, or priceless.

The Lord looked with favor on Abel but he did not look with favor on So Cain was so angry he could not hide it.

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*We aren’t given info on Cain’s actions prior to this. But we can assume that he didn’t all of a sudden offer God leftovers. People don't wake up one day and say, "I'm going to completely destroy my life and future with my decisions today." His decisions up to this point led him there. I’m sure it started small. Just like we start small. But one lie becomes another lie. One jerk comment becomes more, and they get harsher.You go too far with a boyfriend or girlfriend one time and it leads to going even further the next time or going even further with someone else. Going to one party and having one drink, leads to another party and two drinks, then three, then getting drunk and then you make even more worse decisions.

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God saw Cain and said why are you angry? What’s wrong with your face? If you had done the right thing you would be smiling. but you did the wrong thing and now sin is waiting to attack you like a lion. Sin wants to destroy you but don’t let it!

*Up until this time of reading and studying the story of Cain and Abel I saw Cain as a crazy murderer that I couldn’t relate to. But I realized we all started where Cain did. We don't just wake up as murderers, alcoholics, drug addicts, etc. In fact, there was no such thing as murder yet because no one had ever killed anyone before. Murder came into the world with Cain's hands. God even warned him! DON'T DO IT CAIN! But, his decisions led him up to the point of turning his back on God and completely changing the future of his life.

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*God sees you. He sees your attitude, your thoughts, your plans. He saw Cain’s. He even warned him, don’t let sin destroy you! God warns us all the time, don’t let sin destroy you! But sometimes we justify it being ok to do this little tiny thing that isn’t really a good choice but isn't "that bad." Little tiny things that weren't "that bad" are what got Cain to the point where just one more bad decision might just destroy his life.

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Cain asked Abel to go on a walk with him. When they got out to the field, Cain killed him. After, God asked Cain, “Where is Abel?” Cain said How should I know? Am I my brother’s keeper? Then God said: Why have you done this terrible thing? You killed your own brother and now his blood is calling out for me to punish you. You’re a farmer but guess what, land will never produce for you again.You’ll never have a home again and you will spend the rest of your life wandering from place to place.

*Right now, Cain is thinking about his life…How did that (his previous life) become this (his present situation)?! How did my little selfish decisions lead me down the path to killing my own brother?!

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Cain said: This punishment is too hard! You’re making me leave my home and live far away from you (At this time the people believed that God resided only at their land)I’ll have to wander around without a home and anyone could just kill meNo! God said. Anyone who kills you will be punished 7 times worse than I am punishing you.So God put a mark on Cain to warn everyone not to kill him.

*God, though broken hearted, chose to protect Cain. Even after what he did. He does this for us too.

Closing:

The bigger Jesus becomes in your life, the better you see your purpose in life. The more bad decisions you make, the further you get away from God’s purpose for your life.

Memorize this verse: John 3:30 He must become greater; I must become less.”

Research shows that you speak so many words in a week your words equal a 500 pg book. What book did you write last week? last year? Now...

What can you write next week? Next year? Who are you going to become?

Prayer:

God speak to us. Let your voice be the only voice we hear. God I pray that we all want only what you are a part of. That everything else fades away. If there is someone here tonight that needs to surrender their life to you I pray God that right now they say Here’s my life, have your way. That they say God if you’re not in it, I don’t want it.