Listen to the Message
Genesis 4:1-6
There's a trend toward disorder.
So what can we do about it?
We can avoid going down the wrong path ourselves.
Our attitudes can lead us in the direction of order.
#1. Cain's life began to unravel when he decided that God wasn't worthy of his best.
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What was wrong with Cain's offering?
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"The best of the first fruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God." (Exodus 23:19)
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It's that Abel's offering was a firstborn offering.
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God deserves our very best, but that's more than Cain was willing to give.
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God was not first in Cain's life.
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If God isn't first in your life, whatever is first will ultimately wreck you.
#2. As far as Cain was concerned, everything was all about Cain.
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We see in Cain a profound sense of entitlement.
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That's how all-about-me-ism clouds your perspective.
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Everyone else is the problem.
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You can't do your job adequately if you make everything about you.
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He is Lord, He is ruler, He's the boss.
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"The greatest act of faith is when a man decides he is not God."
#3. Cain's undoing was that he refused to make an effort to make himself better.
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God doesn't appear to be angry about it, but, strangely, Cain was.
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It was basically the equivalent of if you won't let me win, I won't play.
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7 "...sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it."
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Our tendency toward sin must be taken seriously.
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Cain refused to make an effort to make himself better.
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When you stop tending the ground what do you get?
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You have an obligation to till your ground and make it the best it can be.
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"Its not all about me, Jesus. It's all about you."
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He refused to put God first and give God his best.
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God is looking for us to do the right thing.
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To make my life an offering that is pleasing to you.