Introduction:

1. I do not believe any Christian would set out deliberately to cause another person lost or saved to sin.
No believer would try set a snare (the meaning of stumbling block) in order to trip up or confusion who was seeking to come to the Lord.

No believer would intentionally lead a fellow Christian away from truth and spirituality.

No Christian parent would intentionally lead their children to rebel against God and not believe the Bible is true.

No Saved wife or husband would deliberately do things to cause their lost spouse to not come to Christ.

No true believer would deliberately and intentionally plan to deny the Lord Jesus and teach others to openly sin against God.

2. Would you say that these are correct statements?
I believe most would agree that the Christian is concerned in his mind for others and would like to see the lost saved and Christians growing in the Lord, living more abundant lives as they grow closer to the Lord and further from sin!

3. However, have you considered that you may unwittingly be doing one or all of these destructive things and leading others away from Christ by the way your life. You could be a stumbling block others.
I think that every Christian wants to bring others to Christ and live a life that would bring glory to Christ.

The Christian life is one of growing and maturing and learning. The person who honestly wants to live for Christ and be a blessing to others will continually be examining and evaluating himself to see where he can improve his testimony.

Have you considered that you have a great influence on those around you?

Have you contemplated that your influence and testimony for the Lord is not governed by your sincerity or desire to see others come to Christ, but by actually how you live your life?

I. WE ARE TO "BE AN EXAMPLE". I Timothy 4:12.
A. Paul giving instruction to young Timothy, told him to BE an EXAMPLE.
1. "Be" is an action verb. To be requires action on our part.

2. Verse 6, says he would be a good example as a young preacher if he put the folks he ministered to in remembrance of the need of faith, correct doctrine and turn from sin in their lives.

3. Paul in Verse 11, says that Timothy, as a preacher, is to "command and teach these to the church".

4. Then he says, do not let your youth or inexperience deter you from this and then he tells Timothy he is to practice what he preaches.

Be an example in to the believers in word, conduct, in love, in your spirit, in faith and in purity.

Further he said, you give much attention to reading the Bible and the doctrines (teaching) you find.

5. Verse 16, Paul is saying to Timothy, that if you do, you will greatly grow spiritually yourself and you will led others that will hear you.

B. This is instruction to every believer!
1. There are two kinds of examples that each of us are and no one is excluded!
a. You are an example by what you do.
b. Your are an example by what you do NOT do.
c. The two actually can be seen as together and summed up by this way. As a professing believer in Christ Jesus, and a child of God the way you live reflects on Christ Jesus and the genuineness of how others perceive the Gospel to be. Christians stand as examples of what a true Christian is.

ILLUS: There is a bumper sticker sometimes seen on the back of cars that says, "Christians are not perfect, they are just forgiven." That is absolutely true, but I hope the intent of the bumper sticker was not to make an excuse for a believer not addressing sin in his life.

C. First let look at things we do.
1. In Romans 14:13, Paul tells the believers at Roman to make a deliberate effort to judge themselves to see if any thing they did would put a stumbling block in a brothers way.

Why, would God give us this instruction about the possibility of believers actually being a stumbling block to others? The answer is obvious...we can be if we are not careful.

2. The context in Romans 14 is in the eating of meat by Gentiles that had been sacrificed to idols. It was a common practice for the meat that was offered to idols in pagan temples to be sold in the public meat markets. The pagan temples ran meat markets selling the meat that had been offered in sacrifice to the idol of that temple. Therefore much of the meat available came from the butcher shops of the pagan temples.

3. Paul is saying that the meat was not tainted by being offered to a idol that did not exist, yet if it offended an fellow believer to eat meat that came from the shops of pagan idols, then it was not right for them to buy the meat, when it would destroy our testimony before our brother in the Lord.

4. The problem had two sides:

Some Christians in Rome, probably Jewish believers, were greatly offended that any Christian would eat meat that had been offered to idols.

Others, understood idols were nothing and did not see that buying this meat as doing anything wrong. Paul says do not let this practice destroy the faith, (work of God) in someone else's life.

The rule Paul instructs is simply this: If what you do offends and causes other to be mislead or to stumble in coming to the Christ or to the truth, then you do not do it.

You may have the perfect right or liberty to do the thing, but if it may cause a brother spiritual harm...give up your liberty for the other's spiritual good.

1 Corinthians 10:23 says, "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not."

In other words there are things we can do that would not be sinful within themselves, but are not expedient meaning they are not profitable. Other things do not edify which means to lift up a brother. This should be considered all that we do. We are to ask ourselves, "Does this have any value and does it help my brother or hinder him."

5. This is the problem?

If a person thought it wrong to eat the meat, and you lead him to eat it anyway you would be leading a brother to sin.

C. Paul addresses the same issue with the Corinthians. (I Cor. 8:9)
1."But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak." (1 Cor. 8:9)

2. "Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend." (1 Corinthians 8:13)

3. This is the attitude and actions of a person who is truly living for the Lord and truly concerned about the seeing others come to Christ.

"If it offends my brother, I will not do it, even to the end of the world, I will not offend or cause someone to stumble"

4. "Abstain from ALL appearance of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:22)

5. Self examination is the rule for believers is the Bible.

"But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup." (1 Corinthians 11:28)

"For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." 1 Corinthians 11:31)

II. HOW DO WE CAUSE OTHERS TO STUMBLE?
A. Malachi 2:8, God rebuked the priests of Israel because by the sin in their lives they had led the nation of Israel to sin.
1. Christians are priests of God to a lost and dying world.
"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9.)

2. Peter further strongly speaks to believers in admonishing them to live for the Lord, and to turn completely from sin.
READ Verses 1 Peter 2:11-12.

Why is it so important!!??

READ Titus 1:15-2:8!

Paul tells young Titus, to exhort, the aged men, aged women, young women, young men, and servants.

Did you note that the aged men and women, are to be teachers of these good things to the younger men and women?

3. Peter makes the same plea to husbands and wives:

"Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives" (1 Peter 3:1)

The word "conversation" means one's manner or conduct of life.
"Likewise you husbands, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered" (1 Peter 3:7)

How we live our lives effects whether God answers our prayers or not. It effects whether we are an effective witness for the Lord, or a stumbling block to those around us.

Are you praying for a lost love one? Are you living for the Lord?

B. It is sin to do anything apart from faith.

1. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that we cannot please God apart from faith.

2. Romans 14:23 says in regard to these gray areas, "And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin."

3. Paul is saying before we act we should know that what we are doing is correct. If we are doubtful and go ahead not knowing what if it is right then that is sin because it is not of faith.

4. This is often referred to at "doubtful things." We are told by the Lord to live by the principles of the word of God. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says we are to "Abstain from all appearance of evil." We then better be sure that all we do is considered in light of the word of God and know that what we do is correct and therefore pleasing to God.

III. WHAT WE DON'T DO SETS AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS.
ILLUS: A young mother was saved when I pastored in Beaver, Utah. She had never been to church in her life, never read the Bible. Yet, her neighbors were a godly retired couple and she for many years witnessed to her. Finally, she came to church and heard the preaching of God's word and was saved. It was a joy to see her growing as a Christian! She loved the truth. She had heart trouble, and the doctors told her she must stop smoking. She had a 2-3 year old daughter at that time. She talked about her concern for the example she was setting before her daughter and the Sunday School class she helped with. She was having a hard time quitting smoking. In a prayer meeting I was taking requests. Tearfully, she stood and ask for prayer, she expressed how hard it was for her. Then she just blurted it out that she knew it was wrong, but every time she got close to quitting, three members of our church came to her mind who smoked and she used them to justify what she knew was wrong.

Folks, these church members were a example to her, in fact they were a bad example and a stumbling block.
Another, young mother, came from a hard back ground, was really struggling with living for Christ, because of her background. She was honestly trying. All of a sudden she just stopped growing spiritually and started going down hill. Later she shared with me how she was also was trying to quit smoking. One day she visited one of the trustees of our church who smoked but hid it from everyone. She mentioned how she was trying to quit and he told her smoking was OK there wasn't anything in the Bible that condemned smoking, and he then offered her a cigarette. That was the straw that broke the camels back and it caused her to give up and she backslid and stopped growing.

This trustee of the church prided himself in his knowledge of the Bible, yet he over looked 1 Cor. 6:19-20 (Our body the temple of God) and the principle of not putting a stumbling block in front of a weaker believer. This man took me to task several times when I mentioned smoking as sinful or a bad testimony for Christians. He wrongly insisted that there was nothing wrong with it and he had to the liberty to smoke. The fact was even if he was correct about smoking not being wrong (which is not true) he greatly sinned against God and other people by his poor testimony.

The lady in the first illustration overcame the bad example of fellow believers and overcame this problem in her life. Later her testimony helped win her husband and daughter to the Lord. Sadly, the second lady to this day is not serving the Lord. Smoking was only one of many sins which she yielded too and in a short time left her husband. Her children all turned out bad and the last I heard one was in prison. Folks, it is important that we live for the Lord and the souls of men will be influenced by what we do whether we want them to or not.

ILLUS: When I pastored in Virginia I tried repeatedly to win the husband of one of our members to Christ. He was a nice man and we were friends. He was bitter however because he had worked years for a deacon in the church and said the man cheated him, lived the life of a hypocrite. He told me of many things sinful things the deacon did. He said it made him mad to see him all dressed up on Sunday acting like a wonderful Christian when he knew by the sinful things in his life that it was a lie. I was never able to win him to the Lord and he died after I left that church lost in his sins. You cannot blame the deacon completely, but he was a stumbling block to this man. I cannot say for sure, but maybe this man could have been saved had he not been so poorly lived before by this professing Christian.

A. READ: Hebrews 10:24-25.

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

1. The writer to the Hebrews says some did not attend services. READ verse 23-24.

2. Note that by our example of attending the services of our church, we:

a. Provoke one another to love and good works. b. We exhort...which means to lift up one another.
ILLUS: Jack Gassaway a pastor friend in Asheville, NC. He worked in one of the factories in Asheville. Later God called him to preach. He said several years after he left his job and was pastoring his first church a man came up to him in a revival he was attending. He told Brother Jack he probably did not know him but they worked in same factory, and for a number of years he watched Jack's life. The man was not a Christian, but several years after Jack left the factory the man was saved. He told Jack, that one things that helped him come to Christ was Jack's testimony over many years. Jack was a witness to this man and did not know it.

CONCLUSION:
1. We are to be on our guard. Surely, no true Christian would want to harm or stand in the way of someone coming to Christ or living a godly life. Surely, no true Christian would want to be a stumbling block to someone else who is struggling with some sin or struggling with salvation. That would never be our deliberate intention. However, we when we are not faithful, when we ignore the God's principles, when we disregard our witness for Christ....we are sinning against God and aiding the Devil. Dear friend, dear brother or sister, "Is this not true?"

You see we represent Christ. What a wonderful privilege we have been given to carry His name and share Him with others. Matt. 5:13, says we are the salt of the earth. But salt that is not salty is worthless, and fit only to be cast out and thrown in the dirt.

Read: 2 Peter 3:11-18. Verse 17 seeks to help us and says "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness."

2. There maybe those here this morning who need first of all to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior?

3. There maybe those who would be honest enough to privately between you and God, ask God to help you overcome every sin in you life?

You would say to our loving God, yes, I maybe have not in the past been the example to others I need to be.....but with God's help I am determined now to live for the Lord. From this hour on I determine to fight sin with all my heart.

Would you pray with me, "Dear Lord, I claim your promise to not allow me to be tempted more than I can resist, help me to overcome that which is wrong in my life. Help me dear Lord to keep the commitment that I have just made and always be mindful of my testimony before others."

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