Cain & Abel provide us great lessons•Ancient, familiar story•Abel: shepherd – good•Cain: farmer – evil

God admonished Cain, Gen. 4:7•If you do well, will you not be accepted•If you do not do well, sin lies at the door•Its desire is for you, but you should rule over it

Do not be like Cain!

Cain was not accepted•The Lord respected Abel, not Cain, Heb. 11:4•Cain reacted sinfully to God’s rejection

God blesses those who do well•Israel to be blessed, Deut. 28:1-13•Those who fear, Ecc. 8:12, 13•The righteous, Isa. 3:10, 11•Those who seek glory, Rom. 2:7-11

God is no respecter of persons•No partiality, Acts 10:34, 35•Different from respect of men, 1 Cor. 1:26-29­Educated vs. simple­Rich vs. poor­Great things vs. small things

In our best interest to do well, Phil. 4:8, 9•Life of peace now•Life eternal later

Cain gave sin an opportunity to grow•Sinned by not doing well, Jas. 4:17•Became very angry & dwelt on it•Open door for sin, 1 Jn. 3:10-12

If we do not do well, sin will triumph over us•Saul’s fear of man led to “foolishness”•David’s lust led to adultery & murder•Ahab’s covetousness led to murder & theft•Ananias’ pride led to lies & death

Sin is a disease the spreads & gets worse,Isa. 1:4-6•Like leaven, 1 Cor. 5:6•Like cancer, 2 Tim. 2:17, 18•Worse & worse, 2 Tim. 3:13

One sin will lead us to another•Fear of men – abandon the Lord, false religion•Lust of flesh – sexual immorality, betrayal•Covetousness – theft, blind eye to evil•Pride – lies about our good deeds

God warned Cain•Told Cain he had a choice•Cain chose to let sin rule over him

Sin’s desire is for us•Devil seeks to devour us, 1 Pt. 5:8, 9•Hearts can be weighed down, Lk. 21:34-36•Lured away, Jas. 1:13-15

We can rule over sin•God expects it, 1 Jn. 2:1•Obedient & victorious, Rom. 6:15, 16•We have a choice, Rom. 12:1, 2