24 The fear of the wicked will come upon him, And the desir

1
The Law of Unintended Consequences

• The fool laughs at
  consequences.
• (Ecc 74-6)

2
The Law of Unintended Consequences

• Ecclesiastes 74-6 - The heart of the wise is in
  the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is
  in the house of mirth. 5 It is better to hear the
  rebuke of the wise Than for a man to hear the
  song of fools. 6 For like the crackling of thorns
  under a pot, So is the laughter of the fool. This
  also is vanity.

3
The Law of Unintended Consequences

• The fool laughs at
  consequences.
• (Ecc 74-6)
• This world is filled with this wisdom!
• Consider the other side of
  the beer commercials?

4
The Law of Unintended Consequences

• The fool laughs at
  consequences.
• (Ecc 74-6)
• This world is filled with this wisdom!
• Consider the other side of
  the beer commercials?
• One can have God centered goals and suffer.

5
The Law of Unintended Consequences

• The fool laughs at
  consequences.
• (Ecc 74-6)
• This world is filled with this wisdom!
• Consider the other side of
  the beer commercials?
• One can have God centered goals and suffer.
• They may suffer because of a lack of wisdom.
  (Prov 1021-25 Jas 15-6)

6
The Law of Unintended Consequences

• Proverbs 1021-25 - The lips of the righteous
  feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom. 22
  The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He
  adds no sorrow with it. 23 To do evil is like
  sport to a fool, But a man of understanding has
  wisdom.

7
The Law of Unintended Consequences

• 24 The fear of the wicked will come upon him, And
  the desire of the righteous will be granted. 25
  When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no
  more, But the righteous has an everlasting
  foundation.

8
The Law of Unintended Consequences

• James 15 - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him
  ask of God, who gives to all liberally and
  without reproach, and it will be given to him.

9
The Law of Unintended Consequences

• Our government has often demonstrated this
  principle!

10
The Law of Unintended Consequences

• Our government has often demonstrated this
  principle!
• What was welfare designed to
  do? What did we get?

11
The Law of Unintended Consequences

• Our government has often demonstrated this
  principle!
• What was welfare designed to
  do? What did we get?
• What was no-fault divorce
  designed to do? What did we get?

12
The Law of Unintended Consequences

• Our government has often demonstrated this
  principle!
• What was welfare designed to
  do? What did we get?
• What was no-fault divorce
  designed to do? What did we get?
• How many have mourned over a child that has left
  the Lord?

13
The Law of Unintended Consequences

• Our government has often demonstrated this
  principle!
• What was welfare designed to
  do? What did we get?
• What was no-fault divorce
  designed to do? What did we get?
• How many have mourned over a child that has left
  the Lord?
• Or from a church that has departed from Gods
  way?

14
The Law of Unintended Consequences

• Your goals may have been reasonable.

15
The Law of Unintended Consequences

• Your goals may have been
  reasonable.
• Your motives may be good.

16
The Law of Unintended Consequences

• Your goals may have been
  reasonable.
• Your motives may be good.
• You may have been
  encouraged by others.

17
The Law of Unintended Consequences

• Your goals may have been
  reasonable.
• Your motives may be good.
• You may have been
  encouraged by others.
• This lesson is not a judge about every specific
  consequence.

18
Can We know the consequences?

• We cannot anticipate all consequences.

19
Can We know the consequences?

• We cannot anticipate all consequences.
• Did Solomon understand? (Ecc 117 210-11)

20
Can We know the consequences?

• Ecclesiastes 117 - And I set my heart to know
  wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived
  that this also is grasping for the wind.

21
Can We know the consequences?

• Ecclesiastes 210-11 - Whatever my eyes desired
  I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my
  heart from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in
  all my labor And this was my reward from all my
  labor. 11 Then I looked on all the works that my
  hands had done And on the labor in which I had
  toiled And indeed all was vanity and grasping
  for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.

22
Can We know the consequences?

• We cannot anticipate all consequences.
• Did Solomon understand? (Ecc 117 210-11)
• If he had known he would have taken another path!
  (1 Kings 114, 9, 11)

23
Can We know the consequences?

• 1 Kings 114 - For it was so, when Solomon was
  old, that his wives turned his heart after other
  gods and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his
  God, as was the heart of his father David

24
Can We know the consequences?

• 1 Kings 119 - So the LORD became angry with
  Solomon, because his heart had turned from the
  LORD God of Israel, who had appeared to him
  twice,

25
Can We know the consequences?

• 1 Kings 1111 - Therefore the LORD said to
  Solomon, Because you have done this, and have
  not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I
  have commanded you, I will surely tear the
  kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.

26
Can We know the consequences?

• We cannot anticipate all consequences.
• Did Solomon understand? (Ecc 117 210-11)
• If he had known he would have taken another path!
  (1 Kings 114, 9, 11)
• We can know what Solomon
  did not know!

27
Can We know the consequences?

• We cannot anticipate all consequences.
• Did Solomon understand? (Ecc 117 210-11)
• If he had known he would have taken another path!
  (1 Kings 114, 9, 11)
• We can know what Solomon
  did not know!
• How many exemplify this?
  Judas, Achan, 10 spies?

28
Can We know the consequences?

• Satan can use our fear of consequence. (Heb
  214-15)

29
Can We know the consequences?

• Hebrews 214-15 - Inasmuch then as the children
  have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself
  likewise shared in the same, that through death
  He might destroy him who had the power of death,
  that is, the devil, 15 and release those who
  through fear of death were all their lifetime
  subject to bondage.

30
Can We know the consequences?

• Satan can use our fear of consequence. (Heb
  214-15)
• What did the spies fear?

31
Can We know the consequences?

• Satan can use our fear of consequence. (Heb
  214-15)
• What did the spies fear?
• What did the one talent man fear?

32
Can We know the consequences?

• Satan can use our fear of consequence. (Heb
  214-15)
• What did the spies fear?
• What did the one talent man fear?
• What did the Jews fear? (John
  1148-50)

33
Can We know the consequences?

• John 1148-50 - If we let Him alone like this,
  everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will
  come and take away both our place and nation. 49
  And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that
  year, said to them, You know nothing at all, 50
  nor do you consider that it is expedient for us
  that one man should die for the people, and not
  that the whole nation should perish.

34
Can We know the consequences?

• Satan can use our fear of consequence. (Heb
  214-15)
• What did the spies fear?
• What did the one talent man fear?
• What did the Jews fear? (John
  1148-50)
• God wants us to be
  concerned. (Gal 67-8)

35
Can We know the consequences?

• Galatians 67-8 - Do not be deceived, God is not
  mocked for whatever a man sows, that he will
  also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of
  the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the
  Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

36
Can We know the consequences?

• God does not tell us all possible consequences.

37
Can We know the consequences?

• God does not tell us all possible consequences.
• He does however tell us the path to take! (Psa
  3723-25)

38
Can We know the consequences?

• Psalm 3723-25 - The steps of a good man are
  ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.
  24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast
  down For the LORD upholds him with His hand. 25
  I have been young, and now am old Yet I have not
  seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants
  begging bread.

39
Can We know the consequences?

• How should we help members
  overcome
• boredom?

40
Can We know the consequences?

• How should we help members
  overcome
• boredom?
• Consider Pat Boone.

41
Can We know the consequences?

• How should we help members
  overcome
• boredom?
• Consider Pat Boone.
• "Church services seem completely out of context
  with the world we live in the other six days "of
  the week." (p. 18).

42
Can We know the consequences?

• How should we help members
  overcome
• boredom?
• Consider Pat Boone.
• "Church services seem completely out of context
  with the world we live in the other six days "of
  the week." (p. 18).
• "Sure, we'd go to church, but my children would
  have to punch me to keep me awake." (p. 19).

43
Can We know the consequences?

• How should we help members
  overcome
• boredom?
• Consider Pat Boone.
• "When we sit down in a church service, we know
  somebody is going to preach a sermon. We know
  we're going to sing songs we've sung many times
  before. We've done this so many years that we can
  predict what the next move will be without
  opening our eyes." (p. 19).

44
Can We know the consequences?

• How should we help members
  overcome
• boredom?
• Consider Pat Boone.
• "When we sit down in a church service, we know
  somebody is going to preach a sermon. We know
  we're going to sing songs we've sung many times
  before. We've done this so many years that we can
  predict what the next move will be without
  opening our eyes." (p. 19).
• "I had many friends who said, "I just dont get
  anything out of church.'" (p. 19).

45
Can We know the consequences?

• How should we help members
  overcome
• boredom?
• Consider Pat Boone.
• Do we seek the root problem or deal with the
  symptom?

46
Can We know the consequences?

• How should we help members
  overcome
• boredom?
• Consider Pat Boone.
• Do we seek the root problem or deal with the
  symptom?
• What has been the effect of contemporary
  worship? (Jn 424)

47
Can We know the consequences?

• John 424 - God is Spirit, and those who worship
  Him must worship in spirit and truth.

48
Can We know the consequences?

• How should we help members
  overcome
• boredom?
• Consider Pat Boone.
• Do we seek the root problem or deal with the
  symptom?
• What has been the effect of contemporary
  worship? (Jn 424)
• How do we reach the lost?

49
Can We know the consequences?

• Some have decided to
• address the symptom
  of numbers.

50
Can We know the consequences?

• Some have decided to
• address the symptom
  of numbers.
• What is lacking? (2 Cor 510-11)

51
Can We know the consequences?

• 2 Corinthians 510-11 - For we must all appear
  before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one
  may receive the things done in the body,
  according to what he has done, whether good or
  bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the
  Lord, we persuade men but we are well known to
  God, and I also trust are well known in your
  consciences.

52
Can We know the consequences?

• Some have decided to
• address the symptom
  of numbers.
• What is lacking? (2 Cor 510-11)
• What have these conversions brought?

53
Can We know the consequences?

• Some have decided to
• address the symptom
  of numbers.
• What is lacking? (2 Cor 510-11)
• What have these conversions brought?
• How do we deal with problems and possible
  division?

54
Can We know the consequences?

• How do we deal with
  division?

55
Can We know the consequences?

• How do we deal with
  division?
• Consider the solution
• of one leader

56
Can We know the consequences?

• How do we deal with
  division?
• Consider the solution
• of one leader
• Heresy is better than schism, the Episcopal
  bishop of Virginia said yesterday in a speech
  that gently chided church conservatives for
  imperiling the unity of the country's largest
  diocese over the consecration of the
  denomination's first homosexual bishop last
  November.

57
Can We know the consequences?

• How do we deal with
  division?
• Consider the solution
• of one leader
• "If you must make a choice between heresy and
  schism, always choose heresy," said the Rt. Rev.
  Peter J. Lee to 500 Episcopalians meeting for the
  annual diocesan council at the Hyatt Regency in
  Reston. Washington Times 1/31/2004

58
Can We know the consequences?

• How do we deal with
  division?
• Consider the solution
• of one leader
• What is the consequence of heresy? (Gal 519-21)

59
Can We know the consequences?

• Galatians 519-21 - Now the works of the flesh
  are evident, which are adultery, fornication,
  uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery,
  hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of
  wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
  21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the
  like of which I tell you beforehand, just as I
  also told you in time past, that those who
  practice such things will not inherit the kingdom
  of God.

60
Can We know the consequences?

• How do we deal with
  division?
• Consider the solution
• of one leader
• What is the consequence of heresy? (Gal 519-21)
• There is nothing humorous about the word heretic
  or hell.

61
Can We know the consequences?

• How do we build faith in our Children? (Prov 226)

62
Can We know the consequences?

• Proverbs 226 - Train up a child in the way he
  should go, And when he is old he will not depart
  from it.

63
Can We know the consequences?

• How do we build faith in our Children? (Prov
  226)
• Did God want Israel
• to avoid ridicule?

64
Can We know the consequences?

• How do we build faith in our Children? (Prov
  226)
• Did God want Israel
• to avoid ridicule?
• He counted on it! (Gen 4631-34 Mt 511-12)

65
Can We know the consequences?

• Genesis 4631-34 - Then Joseph said to his
  brothers and to his fathers household, I will
  go up and tell Pharaoh, and say to him, My
  brothers and those of my fathers house, who were
  in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 And
  the men are shepherds, for their occupation has
  been to feed livestock and they have brought
  their flocks, their herds, and all that they
  have.

66
Can We know the consequences?

• 33 So it shall be, when Pharaoh calls you and
  says, What is your occupation? 34 that you
  shall say, Your servants occupation has been
  with livestock from our youth even till now, both
  we and also our fathers, that you may dwell in
  the land of Goshen for every shepherd is an
  abomination to the Egyptians.

67
Can We know the consequences?

• Matthew 511-12 - Blessed are you when they
  revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of
  evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice
  and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward
  in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets
  who were before you.

68
Can We know the consequences?

• How do we build faith in our Children? (Prov
  226)
• Did God want Israel
• to avoid ridicule?
• He counted on it! (Gen 4631-34 Mt 511-12)
• How do we Deal with fellowship?

69
Can We know the consequences?

• How do we build faith in our Children? (Prov
  226)
• Did God want Israel
• to avoid ridicule?
• He counted on it! (Gen 4631-34 Mt 511-12)
• How do we Deal with fellowship?
• Some seek a human catechism.

70
Can We know the consequences?

• How do we build faith in our Children? (Prov
  226)
• Did God want Israel
• to avoid ridicule?
• He counted on it! (Gen 4631-34 Mt 511-12)
• How do we Deal with fellowship?
• Some seek a human catechism.
• Should we seeking peace at any price? (Rom
  1617-18)

71
Can We know the consequences?

• How do we build faith in our Children? Believers
  who are motivated by legalism are always anxious
  to know what is expected of them. They want to do
  only what is necessary to make themselves look
  respectable. They crave specific rules so they
  can know precisely how to behave. They plod along
  hoping that someday their efforts will pay off.
  According to the New Testament such people are
  legalists they are using the law to establish
  their righteousness.

72
Can We know the consequences?

• Romans 1617-18 - Now I urge you, brethren, note
  those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary
  to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid
  them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our
  Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by
  smooth words and flattering speech deceive the
  hearts of the simple.

73
Can We avoid the consequences?

• Seek the wisdom of God!
  (Rom 828 Mt 1128-29)

74
Can We avoid the consequences?

• Romans 828 - And we know that all things work
  together for good to those who love God, to those
  who are the called according to His purpose.

75
Can We avoid the consequences?

• Matthew 1128-29 - Come to Me, all you who labor
  and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29
  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am
  gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest
  for your souls.

76
Can We avoid the consequences?

• Seek the wisdom of God!
  (Rom 828 Mt 1128-29)
• Fight the temptation of pride.
• (1 Cor 126-31 1 Cor 81-2)

77
Can We avoid the consequences?

• 1 Corinthians 126-31 - For you see your calling,
  brethren, that not many wise according to the
  flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are
  called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things
  of the world to put to shame the wise, and God
  has chosen the weak things of the world to put to
  shame the things which are mighty

78
Can We avoid the consequences?

• 28 and the base things of the world and the
  things which are despised God has chosen, and the
  things which are not, to bring to nothing the
  things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in
  His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ
  Jesus, who became for us wisdom from Godand
  righteousness and sanctification and
  redemption31 that, as it is written, He who
  glories, let him glory in the Lord.

79
Can We avoid the consequences?

• We need to watch our hearts when we look down on
  other churches and consider ourselves as the only
  ones who are thinking.

80
Can We avoid the consequences?

• With more blessings come more temptations towards
  pride. (1 Cor 81-2)

81
Can We avoid the consequences?

• 1 Corinthians 81-2 - Now concerning things
  offered to idols We know that we all have
  knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.
  2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he
  knows nothing yet as he ought to know.

82
Can We avoid the consequences?

• Seek the wisdom of God!
  (Rom 828 Mt 1128-29)
• Fight the temptation of pride.
• (1 Cor 126-31 1 Cor 81-2)
• When we trust in God and his wisdom there will be
  blessed consequences.

83
Can We avoid the consequences?

• Hebrews 135-6 - Let your conduct be without
  covetousness be content with such things as you
  have. For He Himself has said, I will never
  leave you nor forsake you. 6 So we may boldly
  say The Lord is my helper I will not fear.
  What can man do to me?

84
Can We avoid the consequences?

• Will my children be hurt if they take a stand
  alone? What does faith say?

85
Can We avoid the consequences?

• Gods best work comes in our weaknesses if we
  will let Him. (2 Cor 127-10)

86
Can We avoid the consequences?

• 2 Corinthians 127-10 - And lest I should be
  exalted above measure by the abundance of the
  revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to
  me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be
  exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I
  pleaded with the Lord three times that it might
  depart from me.

87
Can We avoid the consequences?

• 9 And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for
  you, for My strength is made perfect in
  weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather
  boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ
  may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in
  infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in
  persecutions, in distresses, for Christs sake.
  For when I am weak, then I am strong.

88
Can We avoid the consequences?

• Are you living in the peace of God or in the
  blindness of human wisdom?