Text: Acts 7:54-59
Memory verse:
āThose who forsake the law praise the wicked, But such as keep the law contend with them.ā
āāProverbsā¬ ā28ā¬:ā4ā¬ āNKJVā¬ā¬
Some years ago, during the military era, some officers were convicted of treason and were sentenced along with the coup plotters for allowing their facilities to be used for the plot. Many wondered then why they should be sentenced since they didnāt actually participate in it!
Similarly, so many are guilty of sins they never considered as sins. According to our text today, Saul was not involved in stoning and directly killing Stephen but was responsible for keeping the clothes of those who stoned him āā(Actsā¬ ā7ā¬:ā58ā¬). He didnāt throw a stone, yet he was guilty! He approved of the evil that others were doing by helping them. āAnd when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.ā (Acts 22:20 NIV). ā ā¦I stood there giving my approvalā. The NLT says āAnd I was in complete agreement..ā while the CEV says āI stood there and cheered them onā¦ā
You may not necessarily be directly involved in an evil action but as long as you give approval or agree with what they are doing, either in words or actions; or even cheer them on while they are committing the evil, then you are a partaker of the sin and you are just as guilty!
Some brethren have argued that it is not sinful for a believer to run a beer parlour since itās just for business and the believer doesnāt drink any beer or alcohol! What an ignorance! You have approved of their sins, and you are guilty! How can you lead people to hell, and you still think you will be justified before God? You are making money but blood money! The same thing applies to the believers who run brothels as businesses.
Likewise, you are also a partaker. When you buy or sell items you know that are stolen or are kept in your custody; when you buy indecent clothes that you donāt wear yourself for others! Some even claim they buy them because they are cheap! As a parent, school proprietor, school head or teacher, do you facilitate or approve examination malpractice?
Those who support evil are wicked and are backsliders (Prov 28:4).
There is a curse of God on those āā¦who call evil good, and good evil, justifying the wicked. (Isa 5:20; Prov 17:15).
Friends, are you approving evil or justifying the wicked in any way? Repent today.
Prayer points
1. Father, I repent of any way I have been approving or justifying evil and I ask for forgiveness in Jesusā name.
2. Father, please open the eyes of all believers who are caught in this deception and set them free today, in Jesusā name.
Todayās declarations
1. I am not wicked because I donāt approve of, agree with, or cheer up evil deeds, but I contend with them.
2. I donāt sell, buy, or give to others what I know as evil,Ā sinful,Ā orĀ bad.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng