The Chain Must Be Broken

Hello Ladies,

This is Celia C. Tillman, bringing you greetings and encouragement from the Honey-Comb of Praises.

Our lesson on last month was entitled, WHY DO WE WEEP? Many of us weep over the devastation or destruction of Sin and the consequences it leaves behind. However, our lesson for this month is, The CHAIN MUST BE BROKEN. Ladies I am speaking of the Chain of Sin and the only way it can be broken is by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Mankind has no excuse to continue this life of sin because God sent a worthy sacrifice from Heaven and to die for the entire human race. This Jesus Christ, the only begotten of his father came redeeming, and breaking every chain of sin that leads to a spiritual separation from God.

What is Sin? Sin is a violation of God’s law and his precepts, meaning his rules, principles, and standard of living of how we should live before him. Sin is also any action or conduct that comes between us and our relationship with God. Ladies, a prime example were Adam and Eve, who had a wonderful relationship with God in the beginning but they listen to unwise counsel. God provided a beautiful home, (Genesis 2:8; vs15) and also gave instructions to the man and said, “Of every tree in the garden you may eat but the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you may not to eat of it: for the day you eat of it you will surely die,” (Genesis 2:16-17). Also the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the tree in the garden: But the fruit of the tree in the mist, of the garden, God hath said you shall not eat of it, neither touch it, lest you die,” (Genesis 3:2-3). The serpent said, “Ye shall not die,” (Genesis 3:4). The serpent called God a liar and God cannot lie,(Hebrew 6:18). God is IMMUTABLE, meaning he is unchanging and not capable of any alteration.

Ladies lying is a sin and God will not tolerate it. Jesus said that Satan was a murderer from the beginning; a liar and no truth can be found in him; he even speaks lies because he is the father of all lies, (John 8:44). Ladies, when we tell lies we are “partners in crime” with Satan. Satan is deceitful and cunning, and has all kinds of tricks to lure those of us who are weak. How do we become strong against Satan? We must continue to study God’s word, be strong in the power of his might, and not leave any part of our armor off because, if we do, we will be unable to win the war against Satan, (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Adam and Eve, this husband and wife, were evicted (driven out) of their beautiful home because of disobedience. All of us will give account to God for our own sins. The serpent, Adam and Eve were punished by God, (Genesis 3:12-19).

Sin is a destroyer, and it has caused many men to fall, however, even nations, countries, cities, and families have been uprooted and displaced or destroyed because of it. Satan doesn’t love God, and he surely doesn’t love us.

The wise man Solomon said, “A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome or disgusting and cometh to shame,” (Proverb 13:5); “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach or disgrace to any people,” (Proverb 14:34). Ladies, we cannot stress enough how God hates sin.

Ladies, none of us can say that we have never sinned because the Bibles teaches that all have sinned and come short or missed the mark of the glory of God, (Romans 3: 23). You know Ladies, God treats us much better than we deserved because of Christ Jesus he accept us and set us free from our sins. God sent Christ to be our sin sacrifice, and offered his life blood upon the cross so that by faith in him we could come to God who was patient with us. God accepted the Jews and the Gentiles not because of the law but through faith in Christ, (Romans 3:24-29). Paul asked a question, “Should we continue in sin that grace may abound or increase? God forbid. If we are dead to sin, how can we go on sinning? If we shared in Jesus’ death by being baptized we should be raised to life. The person we use to be was nailed to the cross and this was done that we no longer serve sin and it has no power over us. We know the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord,” (Roman 6:1-23).

Sin is all around us. It is in our homes, in the Church where we worship, the communities where we live, and on our jobs where we work. Crime is on the rise, and the young and old alike are looking for love in all the wrong places. Also there are many who have become insensitive to the feeling of others, and they break into houses; steal and sometimes the intruder or thief kills the innocent ones.

Ladies, there is nothing new under the sun, and what is happening now has already happen before. The wise man Solomon warns his son of the danger of evil company. He said, “My Son if sinners entice you to do evil don’t listen to them. If they say come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk (hide) or harm the innocent without a cause. Let us gang up on them and kill them just for the fun of it. We will take their belongings and fill our own houses. Come and go with us and we will divide the money among us. My Son walk not in the way with them, or do what they do for they are in a hurry to commit some crime and even kill,” (Proverb 1:10-16). Read also verses 17-19. Oh, what wisdom, coming from the wise man Solomon. He was instructing his son to stay away from evil men who are quick to turn his heart away from the precepts of God. However, this wisdom that Solomon is teaching, if one is listening and take heed, will supply practical advice for everyday living, in the home, in society, in politic,

At school and at work, however Solomon is stressing that evil communication can destroy ones character, or even can cause one life. Ladies if we hang around the wrong crowd, or let our children do so it will corrupt us, “Be not deceived: evil communication corrupt good manners,” (I Corinthians 15:33).

According to the FBI, it is said that crime is a social problem and many of the motivations between crimes committed can include things such as lack of police funding, issues with armed robberies, gang-related violence and more. Ladies I will not argue with what has been said by the FBI but mankind has been rebelling against God ever since the world began. People were breaking into houses, stealing, lying and even committing murder. They said then as they say now, “There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devises, and we will everyone do the imagination of his evil heart,” (Jeremiah 18:12).

Ladies, God is a God of exactness and he will not tolerate Sin and disobedience. We must realize who Satan is, and he is surely not our friend. He is the author of “ingenuity,” meaning he is the author and creator of being clever, devising methods of turning the hearts (minds) of men and women away from God. We can’t handle Satan by ourselves but we must stay alert and study God’s word, (II Timothy 2:15); always uphold righteousness with truth and love.

When it comes to political matters, the world is always listening and watching to see where we stand on issues that have become controversial. We must always be for righteousness, and not for party loyalty because of family tradition. We should always look for people of integrity (honesty). The Bible teach that “By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked,” (Proverb 11:11). We, as Christians, should never endorse leader that are corrupt and wicked but those of wisdom, and vision to move forward in righteousness, (Proverb 29:18).

Many years ago, (fifty years or more), Marshall Keeble, a well known pioneer of a preacher, once said, “If we ever needed that Great Physician at any age of the world it is now. The whole world, everybody is sick, sin sick, and they need a Physician.” This statement is as true today, as it was fifty years or more ago. Jesus is that doctor, who can heal the Sin sick soul.

Today, modern technology has become a way of life for some of us, and our live are dependent upon it. The Internet has improved communication; is easy to access important data at anytime and anywhere. However, the internet has become a hindrance to many because it is being used to lure the innocent into ungodliness, thieves are finding ways to break into ones bank account stealing money. Sex Trafficking has become a big money making business. They lure their victims through various apps

Such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Even our televisions and newspapers are filled with reports of murder, robbery, child abuse, terrorism, vile language, drunkenness, and homosexuality. Our children shows that were once clean and wholesome have become dirty and unwholesome. The commercials that are shown on our TV’s are filled with sex gestures to get you to buy a certain product. Ladies the Chain of Sin gets longer and longer.

Ladies our modeling should be perfected in Christ Jesus, who walked not after the flesh but after the Spirit. One of many models should be DISCREETNESS, the quality of showing good judgment and restraint in speech and behavior. I have been in the presence of many learned and educated women but some have no control of their actions. It is so sad when we come to the Lord’s house and see that same behavior among so called Christian women. What good is it when we can quote scriptures, and be in the worship service every time the doors are opened but lack self control of how we use our tongue, (Proverb 15:2, the wise use wisdom but fools speak foolishness). Ladies, we teach the way we live and we are living “epistle” (letters) written in our hearts, known and read of all men, II Corinthians 3:2-3).

CHASTENESS: is another model that Christian women should possess. It is the state or quality of being pure, virtuous; undefiled; pure and simple in taste and style. The way we dress is another chain that needs to broken. Ladies we must be very selective of how we dress and be careful that we are not sending the wrong messages to others, in wearing provocative clothing; however, modesty is our inward and outward manifestation to God, (I Pete 3:2-4). Ladies, again let us not be like those over there in (Jeremiah 18:12) who said, “There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devises, and we will everyone do the imagination of his evil heart.” We should not be like Adam and Eve of whom God was displeased of them sewing fig leaves to cover themselves when they learned they were naked, (Genesis 3:7) but instead he made them coats of skin and clothed them, (Genesis 3:21). Ladies “Skimpy” dress is no way modest to God and he took upon himself to clothed Adam and Eve.