SermonMultiplying Evil
An all-creatures Bible Message

Multiplying Evil

A Sermon Delivered to
The Compassion Internet Church

13 August 2017

Frank L. Hoffman, Pastor

Scripture References

Matthew 14:1-12
Romans 1:20
Romans 10:1-15
James 2:19

Multiplying evil is unfortunately what most people in this world want to do, or at least that’s the way they live.

They fail to recognize that they cannot have one foot in the world and one foot in heaven, and still expect to get into heaven with the Lord.

Jesus commands us in Matthew 5:48 that we are to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect, which requires total commitment, and why we are constantly bringing this to our attention.

Evil multiplies evil, but also righteousness multiplies righteousness, and trying to mix the two together never works; and unfortunately far too many people continue to try mixing evil with righteousness, and all they end up doing is multiplying evil and further corrupting themselves and God’s creation.

In Matthew 14:1-12, we can see the results of how this multiplying evil is in the world…

1. At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus,

2. and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead; and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him."

Herod is very typical of many people throughout the ages until today. They are multiplying evil and believe myths and superstitions but, for some reason, they won’t believe the truth, which seems to be the way the devil wants us to live.

3. For when Herod had John arrested, he bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.

4. For John had been saying to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."

We hope we can all see that Herod is really multiplying evil, and just wants to hide the truth, but it also shows that he is being haunted by his evil actions, which may well have prompted his thinking that Jesus was the reincarnated John.

5. And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they regarded him as a prophet.

Fear is always the opposite of love, and the very fact that Herod has fear is proof that he lacks the heavenly love and will of God.

6. But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod.

7. Thereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.

We always wonder what kind of dance Herodias’ daughter did that prompted Herod to make such an ungodly oath.

8. And having been prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist."

Evil really runs in the family, and it is a perfect example of how they are multiplying evil.

Far too many people in positions of power think that they can get away with almost anything, including murder.

9. And although he was grieved, the king commanded it to be given because of his oaths, and because of his dinner guests.

Herod’s oath to his daughter was evil, and the daughter’s request was evil as was her mother’s request; they are multiplying evil.

10. And he sent and had John beheaded in the prison.

11. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl; and she brought it to her mother.

Is this just what the dinner guests would want served as the main course?

Evil begets evil!

This is also the same kind of evil that causes billions of animals to suffer and die every year to satisfy human greed and gluttony.

12. And his disciples came and took away the body and buried it; and they went and reported to Jesus.
NASB

With these things in mind, let’s look at Romans 10:1-15…

1. Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.

Salvation comes with a soft and repentant heart, mind, soul and spirit that are attuned to the unction of the Holy Spirit.

2. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.

3. For not knowing about God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

This is because they try to get into heaven through their own knowledge, rather than waiting upon the Lord, and allowing Him to make us into the people He wants us to be.

4. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

In other words, Christ’s teachings point us to living in the heavenly will of God and rejecting the hard of heart ways of this corrupt world.

The heavenly will of God is always based upon love and peace, so if anything lacks love or is in any way violent, it cannot be from God, and must be in the corrupt and evil ways of this world.

This should make it easy to reject the corrupt ways of this world, but most people don’t seem to want to, for they seem to want the corrupt things and ways of this world such as eating animal flesh and by-products.

5. For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness.

6. But the righteousness based on faith speaks thus, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' (that is, to bring Christ down),

7. or 'Who will descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)."

In other words, we need to live in righteousness in the heavenly will of God, which is above the Law and the corrupt ways of this world; we need to be the peacemaking children of God.

We need to stop multiplying evil.

8. But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" — that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,

9. that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved;

It is really more than confessing with our mouth, for anyone can mouth words; it also requires that we believe in our heart, mind, soul, and spirit.

10. for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

The two must work together.

11. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed."

Before we go on, let’s think about what we are told in James 2:19…

19. You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
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James is clarifying a very important point; belief is a passive word, but faith is active.

It requires more than just belief; we must act upon our belief by faith, which the demons don’t do, if we want to be saved from the corrupt and evil world.

12. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call upon Him;

13. for "Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved."

What Paul is saying is that such people are acting upon their belief.

14. How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

God created us with a soul and spirit so that we can “tune in” to God’s spiritual realm, when we are willing to do so.

Everyone has the ability to recognize the difference between the evil of this world and the righteousness of God, or at least what we observe here on earth.

Think about what Paul teaches us in Romans 1:20…

20. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
NASB

In other words, we really don’t need to be shown or taught anything about God, for we are able to observe that there must be a higher power than ourselves.

It is when we recognize this fact, and call out by faith that the Holy Spirit will guide us to both Jesus and the Father.

15. And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!"
NASB

This may also be true, but let’s not forget that the Holy Spirit can send us out to preach the truth, or even just tell the truth about our need to stop multiplying evil, and to live in the heavenly will of God.

We can bring God’s kingdom to earth as it is in heaven where there is no pain, or suffering, or death, if we want to.

We can!

Amen.

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