The One Thing That Changes

The One Thing That Changes Everything Genesis 4:1-16

• There is a lot of that we can gather from today’s text but we only have a few minutes
• Man has been kicked out of Eden, and the curse is in full effect due to sinning against God 
•  Adam and Eve have their first child – Cain whom we learn that he worked the ground – He was a farmer – the cursed ground that in Genesis — said that there will be toil – Resistance from the ground 
• Then they have their second child – Abel whom we learn took care of the livestock 
• They both present an offering to the Lord, one is accepted but the other is not 
• Cain is not happy about his little brothers offering been accepted and his been rejected, so he kills him 
• God tries to have a conversation with Cain but just like his father Adam, he does not take responsibility
• He is cursed and at the same time protected with a mark to ensure that he is not a target for everyone 
• We see that he moves away from his family and starts his own family in the land of Nod 

If you do what is right

• Vs. 7 (Amp) If you do well [believing Me and doing what is acceptable and pleasing to Me], will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well [but ignore My instruction], sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you [to overpower you], but you must master it.”
• From here can see that God had already given Cain instructions- the Bible does not tell us what the instructions are but clearly, we can see that Cain did not follow them 
• If you don’t do well and ignore my instruction – then sin is ready to come in and take over in an instant 
• He offered a sacrifice to the Lord without following the instruction hence they were rejected 
• It is true today as it was them – Proverbs 21:3( Nkjv)- To do righteousness and justice
  Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice
• Occasionally, there are times when an opportunity is presented to us and our next move determines major future decision in our life and sometime the rest of our lives 
• There is a book called The One Thing and it asks this main question – “What’s the ONE thing I can do, such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary
• This was that moment for Cain; IF you obey my instruction – won’t you be accepted? – There are no tricks from the Lord – Obey my commandments 
• We see the same thing happed to Cains parent – Their one thing was stay away from what was forbidden  
• If Cain would have listened to this one thing – then, his sacrifice would have been accepted, and he wouldn’t have killed his little brother 
• Its interesting because we don’t see God commending him for the hard work against the curse ground to a point that he actually had something to offer 
• The man had worked hard, ( growing up in Kenya ) tilled, natured the ground and brought forth a harvest yet- It was a “Sacrifice”, yet it was not accepted 
• The Bible says in Psalm 127:1 (NLT) – Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.
• This makes me wonder, what have I been doing in vain, knowingly or unknowingly thinking and trying to prove to others that I have a boatful harvest only to have my work rejected by the Lord 
• 1 Corinthians 3:13 (NLT) But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value  – It will pass or fail – one grade 
• Vs 6 (Amp)  And the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you so angry? And why do you look annoyed?

• It is interesting how much effort we put in getting annoyed, complaining, pointing fingers, trying to develop a farsad trying so hard to get accepted by people – yet the One thing is still true to this day – If you follow my instruction -says the Lord- won’t you be accepted 
• We all want to be accepted, and good news, God has already accepted us – stop coming to him with your past rejection expectation

• Joshua 1:8(NLT) – Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

• What was not accepted – Cain brought produce – We don’t even have any details- mangoes, bananas, kale ?? no details 
• What was accepted – Abel brought – First born and their fat portions – Specific 
• This evening, what are you offering the Lord – He is a specific God and if your praise, your prayers, your time for Him is not specific and as instructed in the Bible, your offering will not be accepted 

The Attack

• A few years ago – Kenya  – Pastor Shelly and Jay – The coolest thing you can see when on safari is an animal hunting 
• It is amazing how these animal coordinate – how they talk to each other and plan attacks ( y’all I will be on this corner, you chase them, and I will distract them from this side- and when they are confused and running, let’s get that weak one 
• Anyhu, we see this Cheetah, and it’s already been hunting – we can see the gazelles at a distance away and the Cheetah is crouching on the ground – watching and moving slowly to what seemed like an hour or more 
• We came in a little after it had been plotting the attack – We stuck there for an hour and were like, lets go and come back 
• Almost as soon as we left we hear over the radio, she got it – We missed it and now all I have is staged picture of a Cheetah and a dead gazelle – Next time we are not leaving ..LOL
• As I read this I can help but remember that scene – “If you don’t do right- Sin in crouching at the door – Its desire is for you 
• The enemy is patient – Just like the Cheetah- he will wait for hours, days, months and years to find an opportunity. At that moment you choose not to do right !
• What a sad moment that if we don’t keep our hands up –we will be caught an aware and get that knock out 
• What is the one thing that you can do today in your life that by doing it – everything else will be easier or unnecessary
• Most of us are distracted and we don’t see the devil advancing slowly – crouching 
• The attacking animal knows the wind direction, the temperature, the distance of attack – he is calculated 
• Even the enemy knows that if you are  intentional, alert and aware- he cannot win 
• Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous.[a] Be strong

• 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NLT) You must rule over Sin – God is warning Cain and saying – there is an imminent threat coming after you soul – if you don’t do something – The ruler of your heard will be overthrown 

• If you don’t stop desiring those things: going to that place, flirting with that person, looking at those videos and images, consumed by those things – you will lose this battle 

• The Bible says that “ Vs 8 ( Amp) – Cain talked with Abel his brother [about what God had said]. And when they were [alone, working] in the field, Cain [a]attacked Abel his brother and killed him

• Most of us don’t fall into sin – trip into sin- when we don’t master the instruction given, we become slaves to sin 
• Cain doesn’t just attack his little brother, as a matter of fact, they talked about what God had said and then he plots when they can be alone and kills him 

• James 1:14–15 (NLT) – Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

• This evening what desires have you given over to the enemy – He is ready to create a detailed destruction plan for you – Power points/Emoji’s  and everything 
• We cannot let sin rule over us – Stay within the rules written for you in the Bible – Stop thinking that some don’t apply to you! 
• Some of you are like, I have not killed anyone yet- that true…Yet
• But how many times have you destroyed someone’s character/relationship in the hope of being accepted 
• Check this out: Even after Cain killed his little brother- that did not have any effect on how he initially felt- it didn’t solve his lack of acceptance – As a matter of fact – it made it worse 
• What is the One thing that you can do – no matter where you are today, such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary
• If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted?

Cause and effect 

• The definition of cause and effect is – the relationship between an action (the cause) and what happens as a result of that action (the effect).
• The Bible version is IF >> THEN 
• Now that you have killed your little brother – what’s next?

• Vs 9 (Amp)- Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he [lied and] said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

• First – God is P.A.T.I.E.N.T – I would not allow my kids to answer me like that …duuude!!!

• The Lord replied, But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!

• God is all knowing and he knows our intention no matter how dismissful we are or hidden they are 

• Psalm 139:1–4(NLT) – O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
  2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
  3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. 4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.

• Cain is cursed, alienated, and the ground joins the fight against him even more so 
• Romans 6:23(NLT) – For the wages of sin is death
• We all have a choice – to live in the confines of the law of God or face consequences 

• What is easier – Obey the instruction given – or live with these consequences?

• I wish we could weigh the cost of our decision or lack of them – then we would fight to stay far away from sin 
• This evening, I want to remind you that you cannot win on your own 

• 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT) – The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure

• Our God is very merciful and we see this right here – Even after Cain did not listen to God, even after killing his little brother, even after he is rude to God, even after he lies, even after he is judged and handed the verdict 
• Cain does not apologize; he pleads for his own quality of life and God still shows him mercy 
• What a merciful God we serve 
• This evening don’t test the Lord – “you forgave Cain” – I will not listen to your instruction and expect forgiveness 

• Exodus 33:19 (NLT) – The Lord replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh,[a] before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.

• Remember: The One Thing That Changes Everything – The power of a single right choice (like Cain was told: “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?”).

• What is that one thing starting today,  that by doing it – You will stay in Gods will?
• David already made that choice and is very vocal about it: 
• Psalm 119:11 (NLT)- I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you
• Psalm 119:16 (NLT) – I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word
• Psalm 119:93 (NLT) – I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life
• Psalm 119:44 (NLT) – I will keep on obeying your instructions forever and ever
• Go ahead and make that choice today!