Preached at Straightway Bible Church on Aug 18, 2013.  Below you will find the study notes I handed out. Our infant son (Kaleb, 7 weeks old) was crying out in obvious pain and distress. I went to him, only to find him pulling his own hair over and over. On the one hand, it was funny and pitiful. On the other hand, it was foolish but Kaleb didn’t know better. I realized that this is exactly a picture of what happens when we choose to sin. (Click here to see the entire series of “The Book of James – Practical Faith”)

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Here are the study notes:

Pulling Your Own Hair – A Lesson About Sin From a Baby

Brent Riggs – www.seriousfaith.com

• The Frustration of Sin –  A Lesson Learned from Kaleb (a 7 week old baby)
  • Kaleb was crying, almost screaming in frustration and discomfort, pulling his own hair, causing his own pain and consequences; over and over again

  This is how we are about sin…

  • We choose to sin; We do it to ourselves; We cause our own pain; The desire comes from within us – James 1: 12-18
  • Then we “cry” and complain and scream and get frustrated over the consequences; Kaleb doesn’t understand what he is doing, WE SHOULD

  7 Losses When a Christian Pulls His Own Hair (Sins)

  1. The loss of light and truth: 1 John 1:6 (NKJV)  6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
  2. The loss of fellowship: 1 John 1:7 (NKJV) 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin
  3. The loss of joy:  (Jesus spoke truth and taught us not to sin so that…) John 15:11 (NKJV)  “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
  4. The loss of righteousness: 1 John 3:7–8a (NKJV) 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning.
  5. The loss of love: 1 John 2:15–17 (NKJV) 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
  6. The loss of confidence: 1 John 3:19–21 (NKJV)  19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.
  7. The possible loss of health and even physical life:   1Corinthians 11:30 (NKJV) 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

  Next time you are tempted to sin, remember you are pulling your own spiritual hair and causing your own pain, frustration and consequences. Galatians 6:7 (NKJV)  7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.