ALL FLAME | SCOTT SILCOX
1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, and you must rule over it.” 8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. - Genesis 4:1-8
1. God's fire never falls on perfect people. It falls on surrendered sacrifices.
+ The first thing humanity does...is worship.
+ The first thing God does...is pursue.
+ The Garden was lost...but access to God was not.
2. Faith is usually inherited before it is chosen.
+ What story are your children hearing from you?
+ Is your faith becoming their foundation?
+ What is your Faith “orIgin story” and are you telling it?
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction (evidence, testimony) of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. - Hebrews 11:1-4
3. Faith Is a Posture Before It's an Action.
+ Our calendars preach.
+ Our bank statements preach.
+ Our attention preaches.
Whatever comes first...reveals who we trust most.
1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, and you must rule over it.” 8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. - Genesis 4:1-8
4. God Always Makes the First Move.
+ “Why are you angry?”
+ “why is youR face fallen?”
+ "If you do well...will you not be accepted?"
Don't confuse an unacceptable sacrifice with an unavailable God.
1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, and you must rule over it.” 8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. - Genesis 4:1-8
5. Sin is personified."Sin is crouching at the door. It’s desire is for you..."
+ Sin is the soul's decision to live independent of God.
+ Grounds for murder: Casual worship. Unchecked comparison.
Hidden resentment. UnrepentANT anger.
- Sin distorts our view of God.
- which distorts our view of ourselves.
- which ultimately distorts our view of others.
