GOING TOO FAR

Psalm 78:1-22

Pastor Rick Jackson

Years ago, at our house found a snake skin so we knew we had one around. A little later we saw him right past our deck. A 5-foot yellow rat snake. I put him in some bushes away from the house and Clydie was fine with that. Then later Clydie was sitting on the deck repotting some plants and she looked up and the snake was on the deck drinking water out of the dog’s bowl- not 5’ from where Clydie was sitting! Minutes later the snake lived out at Crosby Lake Cemetery near the pond. Why? It went too far.

Nations go too far. The unsaved go too far. Saved people go too far. God is longsuffering but there comes a point where God just will not put up with it anymore.

 

 I. WHEN A NATION GOES TOO FAR

 

1. It Becomes a Reproach [Proverbs 14:34] Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

 

2. It Becomes Cursed [Joshua 6:16-18]

And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city. And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.

 

3. It Becomes an Example [Deuteronomy 28:37]

 

And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.

1 Kings 9:7 Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:

 

 II. WHEN THE HEATHEN GO TOO FAR

 

1. Life Becomes Hard [Proverbs 13:15] Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

 

2. Life Becomes Hopeless [Genesis 6:3]

 

And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

 

3. Life Becomes Death [Rev. 20:14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

 

III. WHEN THE CHRISTIAN GOES TOO FAR

 

1. There are Serious Consequences [Heb. 12:5-14]

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed

 

2. There are Spiritual Consequences [Ps. 51:12, 1 Corinthians 9:27] Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway

 

3. There are Physical Consequences [1 Cor. 11:30-32]

For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.