ARE YOU JUSTIFYING EVIL?

ARE YOU JUSTIFYING EVIL?

Text: Acts 7:54-59
Memory verse:
ā€Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But such as keep the law contend with them.ā€œ
ā€­ā€­Proverbsā€¬ ā€­28ā€¬:ā€­4ā€¬ ā€­NKJVā€¬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 didnā€™t 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 ā€­ā€­(Actsā€¬ ā€­7ā€¬:ā€­58ā€¬). He didnā€™t throw a stone, yet he was guilty! He approved of the evil that others were doing by helping them. ā€œAnd 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 ā€˜And I was in complete agreement..ā€™ while the CEV says ā€˜I 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 itā€™s just for business and the believer doesnā€™t 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 donā€™t 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 ā€œā€¦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.

Todayā€™s declarations
1. I am not wicked because I donā€™t approve of, agree with, or cheer up evil deeds, but I contend with them.
2. I donā€™t sell, buy, or give to others what I know as evil,Ā sinful,Ā orĀ bad.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng