illustrations

[irishman]

Poison is a slow killer. Many times, when one poisons another, it is over a long period of time, with increasing amounts added each time. Often the victim becomes ill and doesn't know what's wrong until they have consumed way too much poison into their system. They say that anti-freeze is sweet to the taste, but very deadly. This poison is particularly deceptive because of the sweetness of it; it can easily be added to soft drinks without detection. Satan is wily; he too has his poison; many times it is a slow working poison, but it too is very deadly. Sin can appear "sweet" and even be somewhat delicious, but in the end it brings forth death. The attractiveness serves as an enticement, and traps the unwary victim; he becomes sick, and slowly begins to rot away until there is nothing left inside him. Sin is deadly; it is a poison to the spirit, and we would be wise to stay as far away from it as we can.

[Covenanter]

Only yesterday I spoke of rat poison - that works best when mixed with wholesome food.

Sing to the Lord - Modern songs may be Scriptural - but are poison when served up with rock music.

God is love - but I heard a respected "Christian" leader, on our radio's "Thought for the Day" say he'd been to a wedding - surely God delights in the love of a couple - but this couple were both male.

Christ died for sinners - therefore he died for everybody regardless of repentance.

[irishman]

OBject lesson: Bring a magnifying glass to class; explain how Bible study magnifies the Scriptures as the magnifying glass magnifies writing. (Pass the glass around). Explain that the letters are magnified with the glass, but the meaning is magnified in Bible study.



A magnifying glass enlarges words, making them easier to read; The Holy Spirit magnifies His Word, and gives us the "bigger picture". We should search the word diligently, and use the magnifying power of the Holy Spirit to open it up to us. The more the magnification, the better the understanding.

[irishman]

Illustration:
Have you ever run into a giant spiders web? I have. I have felt the pull of the web that could slow down a big man. The strength of the web is phenomenal; it is as strong as a small cord, and very “sticky”. Imagine with me a moment if you will, that you could stretch a web across a chasm in several layers that get closer and closer together as they descend to the bottom of the chasm. You could take a large truck, and drive it off the top of the cliff and each layer would slow it down a little more until by the time it hit the land below, it would land softly on its wheels. That is the strength of the web. Satan weaves webs in a similar way; he ensnares us and we become entangled in his web until there is no getting out because it is too strong for us. When we fall into his web, he is in control, and we cannot escape on our own, but thank God that Jesus can cut through the layers of webbing and set us free.

[irishman]

If a man works for his master, he merits his wages, and is given his pay check because of debt. But suppose that laborer becomes ill and cannot work, yet the master sends his pay check just the same. That would be according to grace, a gift of generosity. Thus it is to him that “worketh not.” There is no use in our trying to work for wages from God, because we are sin-sick, unable to work and merit justification before Him. To trust God, who hath made Himself known as the Justifier of the ungodly, is our only hope. If you are ever going to know Him as your Justifier, my unsaved friend, you will have to know Him as the One who deals with the ungodly.