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Scripture Reading:  Psalm 94:1-15

Desensitized!

Intro.

1.  Dentists use a numbing agents to desensitize nerves.

2.  Satan uses devises to desensitize Christians of sin & error.  (2 Cor. 2:11)

3.  “…to make emotionally insensitive or callous; specifically : to extinguish an emotional response (as of fear, anxiety, or guilt) to stimuli that formerly induced it” (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary).

4.  Alan Wolfe:  “Far from living in a world elsewhere, the faithful in the United States are remarkably like everyone else.” He goes on to say that religion in the United States “has never existed in practice the way it is supposed to exist in theory” and that in the battle between faith and culture, “American culture has triumphed.”  (How We Actually Live Our Faith)

5.  God’s people can (are becoming, already are) desensitized to sin…souls are being lost! – Jer. 6:15; 1 Tim. 4:2; Heb. 3:12-13

I.  WHY DO WE BECOME DESENSITIZED TO SIN & ERROR?

  A.  Lack of Knowledge – Hosea 4:6.

    1.  Some have not learned or been taught what is sin.

    2.  Cure:  Teach…and learn! – cf. Eph. 4:20-21; Heb. 5:12-14.

  B.  Fail to Put Off the Old Man – Eph. 4:17-24.

    1.  Remain “past feeling” concerning sin!

    2.  Cure:  Transform mind to conform to God’s will – Rom. 12:1-2.

  C.  Influence of Worldly People & Things – 1 Cor. 15:33 (Prov. 6:27).

    1.  Music, fashion, TV, movies, books, magazines, language, values…

    2.  Cure:  Beware the deceitfulness of sin – Heb. 3:13. 

      a.  Don’t love the world (1 Jno. 2:15-17).

      b.  Don’t pitch our tents toward Sodom!  (Gen. 13:12)

  D.  Complacency Toward God’s Will in Our Lives – Zeph. 1:12.

    1.  Lack of faith in what God says about sin & error.

    2.  Cure:  Wake up & don’t be indifferent! – Rom. 13:11-12

  E.   Obstinate Rebellion Against the Will of God – Heb. 3:7-11.

    1.  Willful sin – Heb. 10:26-27.

    2.  Cure:  Fear God & obey Him – Heb. 10:31 (Prov. 1:7; 9:10).

II.  RENEW OUR SENSITIVITY TOWARD:

  A.  Immodest Dress – 1 Tim. 2:9-10; cf. Prov. 7:10; Jer. 8:12.

    1.  Modest (kosmios) - “Orderly, well-arranged, decent...” - (Vine).
      a.  “Respectable, honorable” (Arndt & Gingrich);  1 Tim 3:2.
      b.  Used by 1st century writers to contrast with revealing clothes.
    2.  Shamefastness (aidos) “Propriety” (NKJV) - “A sense of shame, modesty”- (Vine).
      a.  “That modesty which is ‘fast’ rooted in the character.”
      b.  Word was used in Gk. for opposite of “promiscuous” (ability to blush, Jer. 6:15).
    3.  Sobriety (sophrosune) - “Soundness of mind...sound judgment.”
      a.  “It is that habitual inner self-government, with its constant rein on all the passions and desires, which would hinder the temptation to these from arising...” (Vine).  (discreet, Tit. 2:5)
      b.  Free from the intoxicants of worldly values and lusts.

    4.  Application:  Revealing blouses, dresses, short shorts, skin-tight pants, etc.

    5.  We must see immodest dress as shameful (not attractive), as indecent (not cute)!

  B.  Profanity – Eph. 4:29.

    1.  Euphemism:  “the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensively blunt or harsh” (Webster’s).

    2.  Includes: 

      -Gee:  “euphemism for Jesus” (Merriam-Webster Online).

      -Gosh:  “euphemism for God; used as a mild oath or to express surprise.”

      -Golly:  “euphemism for God; used as a mild oath or to express surprise.”

      -Lordy:  “Oh, Lord.”

      -Darn:  “to curse, damn.”

      -Dang:  “damn (used euphemistically).”

      -Shoot:  “euphemism for sh_t – used to express annoyance or surprise.”

      -Blast(ed):  “(euphemistically) to curse, damn.”

      -Blue blazes:  “slang; hell.”

      -Dog gone:  “God da_n.”

    3.  Speech should be:  sound (Tit. 2:8); gracious & seasoned (Col. 4:6); truth in love (Eph. 4:15); boldness (2 Cor. 3:12); as the oracles of God (1 Pet. 4:11). – All this can be done without cursing or using euphemistic curse words!

  C.  Fornication (Adultery, homosexuality) – 1 Cor. 6:9-10.

    1.  Adultery & premarital sex is commonplace on TV, etc.

    2.  Entertainment industry for past 10-15 years has gradually introduced homosexuality into our living rooms.

    3.  Flee fornication! – 1 Cor. 6:18

  D.  Doctrinal Error – 2 Tim. 4:3-4.

    1.  “Truth is relative…nobody agrees on everything…everybody does some things without Bible authority…stop judging others…etc.”

    2.  Christ continues to teach us to maintain purity of doctrine & lives – Gal. 1:6-10; Rom. 16:17; 2 Jno. 9-11.

  E.   Lost Souls – Matt. 9:36-38.

    1.  We must be touched by the tragedy of lost souls before we will try to help save them! 

    2.  We value many other things higher than the soul!  Matt. 16:26

Conclusion

     When we become desensitized to the world & its sins & to God’s truth we will surely be lost!  (cf. Jno. 17:14-19)