The O.T. Part I-"Caining" You

Sunday Night Bible Study Recap
4/23/2006
Genesis 4:1-15

If you missed Sunday night, then you missed a great game of 500 with the guys and you missed a fun start to the new Bible Study series "The O.T."

We played a team game where each team had to figure out clues and bring the correct item to me. Team 1 won with 17 points, Team 2 had 15 and Team 3 had 9. If you weren't there, then you missed some hard core rhyming thrown down by yours truly. Here's a small smattering of clues that were given during the game...(feel free to freestyle 80's style along with me!)

Lazy givers and poor handed wrappers deposit and deliver handles and laughter...yo!

Any idea...it's a GIFT BAG!

OK, here's another one.

You must keep it low or others may know your ear for Clay from that American Idol show...Word!

Have you gotten that one...HEADPHONES of course (that would be "earbuds" for the iPod generation)

What's that? You say you want to hear one more? OK...you asked for it!

If hanging, spinning, reflecting, speeding, surely this you will be needing...homie G!

A CD (although "Myth Busters" proved that hanging a CD on the rearview mirror really does not reflect the cops radar away from the car...go figure...and e-mail idea "proven to work" actually didn't...make sure you send this to 341 people in the next 5 seconds or your head will explode).

Following this stimulating game of rhyme and running, Christie wowed us with her "story time" picture book presentation of the story of Adam and Eve as a little background to the story we looked at...the story of Cain and Able.

If you don't know the story of Cain and Able, go to your bookshelf, find a Bible, dust it off, open it up to Genesis (that's the first book), find the big number 4 and the little number 1 and start reading.

Cain and Able were the sons of Adam and Eve (that made them brothers). Cain was a farmer (he grew plants) and Able was a shepherd (he grew sheep). They both brought and offering to God. Able brought a first born spotless sheep and Cain brought some fruits and veggies. Able's offering was accepted, but Cain's was not.

"Why", you ask, was Cain's offering not accepted? There's only speculation, but apparently he didn't present the offering up to God's expectations. His veggies may not have been the best. He may have kept some for himself first. He may have even dropped them and stepped on a couple on the way. Probably, though, Cain just had the wrong heart attitude in presenting his offering.

We see this wrong heart attitude in Cain's response when God tells him that the offering he brought just didn't cut it. Genesis 4:3-5 says that Cain's countenance/face fell. He got upset.

And God said, "Too bad. You stink. Take your veggies and go pout."

NO!

God said, "Hang on there Cain. Don't get too upset. Make it right. You know what I expect from you, now go do it...or else."

Or else WHAT!

Or else, Satan is waiting for you and will lead you in to sin.

(Enter music...) "Dum, dum, dummmmmm"

1 Peter 5:8 warns us exactly what God warned Cain...Satan is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. In this case he devours Cain (as we will see) but daily we walk right back into the same traps he's laid for us, and he eats us up!

So, God warns Cain, and Cain does what? He KILLS his brother. That ought to solve his problems.

Well, obviously God was not happy with Cain, punished him, and sent him away. But he did send him with love and protection. Despite God's love, Cain still had to face the consequences of his sin.

So, what can we learn about this true story from THOUSANDS of years ago?

1. God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.
2. God knows our weaknesses and wants to protect us from sin.
3. Satan knows our weaknesses and wants to lead us to sin.
4. If we reject God's provided protection from sin, we will sin.
5. There is definite consequence for sin.
6. God still loves us, even when he has to punish us.

So, what about you. Are you Cain or Able? Are you bringing an offering (Romans 12:1-2-a sacrificed life) that is pleasing and acceptable to God? Are you allowing Satan room in your life by walking around dissapointed in yourself all the time? Surrender it to JESUS! He's the only truly worthy sacrifice, and he did it for you so that you would not have to live under the curse and consequence of sin any more, but so that you could live in abundant life!

So, I ask again:
Are you Cain, or ar you Able?