“Not a Hoof Shall be Left Behind” – Ex 10:26s

Those who follow God have learned when compromise cannot be allowed.

• Moses gave God’s demand to Pharaoh and he wanted to negotiate. (Ex 10:24-27)

Those who follow God have learned when compromise cannot be allowed.

• Exodus 10:24-27 - Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, "Go, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be kept back. Let your little ones also go with you." 25 But Moses said, "You must also give us sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God

Our God gives perfect gifts

• 26 "Our livestock also shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind. For we must take some of them to serve the LORD our God, and even we do not know with what we must serve the LORD until we arrive there." 27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go.

Those who follow God have learned when compromise cannot be allowed.

• When God speaks man simply stands upon God’s word without change.

• This is the difference between a living faith and worldly religion.

• The world will think of us as very strange and often call us stubborn.

• Trusting God involves learning to walk by faith against the majority.

Those who follow God have learned when compromise cannot be allowed.

• God’s directions are simple and within our ability to practice.

• The greatest challenge we will find in this changing world is the pressure and shame placed upon us through our relationships. (Gal 1:10; 5:11; 6:12)

Those who follow God have learned when compromise cannot be allowed.

• Galatians 1:10 - For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

Those who follow God have learned when compromise cannot be allowed.

• Galatians 5:11 - And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.

Those who follow God have learned when compromise cannot be allowed.

• Galatians 6:12 - As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

Those who follow God have learned when compromise cannot be allowed.

• The challenge of our future growth will come in our choosing to be conformed or to be transformed. (Rom 12:1-2)

Those who follow God have learned when compromise cannot be allowed.

• Romans 12:1-2 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Those who follow God have learned when compromise cannot be allowed.

• Does the world consider you strange?

We must be without compromise in being truthful and in speaking the truth

• The foundation of Christianity is truth. (Jn 8:31-32)

We must be without compromise in being truthful and in speaking the truth

• John 8:31-32 - Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

We must be without compromise in being truthful and in speaking the truth

• The first step to being able to hear is honesty. (Lk 8:15)

We must be without compromise in being truthful and in speaking the truth

• Luke 8:15 - "But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

We must be without compromise in being truthful and in speaking the truth

• Truth is hated by a world that wants no absolutes. Pilate’s heart wanted one thing while his mind knew what was true. (Jn 18:37-38)

We must be without compromise in being truthful and in speaking the truth

• John 18:37-38 - Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice

We must be without compromise in being truthful and in speaking the truth

• 38 Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no fault in Him at all.

We must be without compromise in being truthful and in speaking the truth

• This dark world hates the light!• God wanted Israel to speak the truth and

suffer for it!• Consider Joseph’s advice to his family

about speaking the truth to Pharaoh! (Gen 46:31-34)

We must be without compromise in being truthful and in speaking the truth

• Genesis 46:31-34 - Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, "I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and say to him, 'My brothers and those of my father's 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.'

We must be without compromise in being truthful and in speaking the truth

• 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."

We must be without compromise in being truthful and in speaking the truth

• Some today would say this was a mistake. Just hide the truth and reveal it a cow at a time! What would the Egyptians think about this approach?

• The pain brought on by the truth is a process God uses to develop His people!

• God used Daniel to mold His people to start over after the apostasy.

We must be without compromise in being truthful and in speaking the truth

• Daniel was taken to a foreign land and could be killed for any failure.

• Daniel took a stand on what food and drink he would partake of. (Dan 1:8-10)

We must be without compromise in being truthful and in speaking the truth

• Daniel 1:8-10 - But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.

We must be without compromise in being truthful and in speaking the truth

• 10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king."

We must be without compromise in being truthful and in speaking the truth

• What if he reasoned: “This is just a small matter and after all brethren disagree on many things.” Or

• “We will never have influence with others if we are so radical!” or

• “While the traditional thinking of the Jews was to avoid certain foods we can serve God by a casual worship that includes cultural changes!”

We must be without compromise in being truthful and in speaking the truth

• Daniel’s supervisor respected Daniel and risked his life for him. We know the rest of the story!

We must be without compromise in resisting sin.

• We need to know God’s will and also to seek wisdom in fighting sin. (Heb 12:1-3)

We must be without compromise in resisting sin.

• Hebrews 12:1-3 - Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

We must be without compromise in resisting sin.

• 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

We must be without compromise in resisting sin.

• Sin can become a snare that engulfs your whole life.

• Those who do not fight sin seriously will suffer many things.

• “But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints.” (Eph 5:3)

We must be without compromise in resisting sin.

• Ephesians 5:3 - But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;

We must be without compromise in resisting sin.

• How do you win such a fight? Is it just a matter of willpower?

• Peter learned the hard way when he tried just to proclaim he would never forsake the Lord! Where did he fail?

• We must keep a mind filled with a hatred of sin. (Heb 1:9; Jude 21-23)

We must be without compromise in resisting sin.

• Hebrews 1:9 - You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions."

We must be without compromise in resisting sin.

• Jude 21-23 - keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

We must be without compromise in resisting sin.

• What would wisdom teach us? … • about associations (dating)? … • about circumstances? …. • about mannerisms and language? …. • about dress?

We must be without compromise in resisting sin.

• Married couples must be vigilant and not overconfident. (Heb 13:4)

We must be without compromise in resisting sin.

• Hebrews 13:4 - Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

We must be without compromise in resisting sin.

• “10 Ways to be Unfaithful to Your Mate and not even know it”

• 1. Flirting • 2. Confiding in the opposite gender • 3. Spending time alone with someone else• 4. Talking negatively about your mate • 5. Chatting on the Internet with someone

of the opposite sex

We must be without compromise in resisting sin.

• 6. Dressing to attract the attention of someone other than your spouse 7. Not being a willing sexual partner with your spouse.

• God’s Wisdom may make you to appear as “odd” but you are standing!

We must be without compromise in remaining in the authority of Christ

• Why do churches of Christ exist? We believe that we should go back and simply be the church found in the New Testament.

• We imitate Jesus in limiting our practices and teaching to only what God has revealed. (Jn 7:16-17; 8:28-32; 12:48-50)

We must be without compromise in remaining in the authority of Christ

• John 7:16-17 - Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 "If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.

We must be without compromise in remaining in the authority of Christ

• John 8:28-32 - Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29 "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him." 30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.

We must be without compromise in remaining in the authority of Christ

• 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

We must be without compromise in remaining in the authority of Christ

• John 12:48-50 - "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him -- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49 "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.

We must be without compromise in remaining in the authority of Christ

• 50 "And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak."

We must be without compromise in remaining in the authority of Christ

• What happens when we commit to having “book, chapter and verse” for all that we teach and practice? (1 Pt 4:11; Col 3:17)

We must be without compromise in remaining in the authority of Christ

• 1 Peter 4:11 - If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

We must be without compromise in remaining in the authority of Christ

• Colossians 3:17 - And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

We must be without compromise in remaining in the authority of Christ

• We will have a simple, God-centered worship.

• How and when do we partake of the Lord’s Supper? (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 16:2)

We must be without compromise in remaining in the authority of Christ

• Acts 20:7 - Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

We must be without compromise in remaining in the authority of Christ

• 1 Corinthians 16:2 - On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

We must be without compromise in remaining in the authority of Christ

• How do we raise money for the local church?

• How shall we praise God in worship?• How shall we use the money taken on the

first day of the week? • Consider a recent request to use our

parking lot to raise money. We appear strange to many!

We must be without compromise in our loyalty in putting God first

• We are faced with daily choices in how we spend our money and time. (Mt 6:33)

We must be without compromise in our loyalty in putting God first

• Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

We must be without compromise in our loyalty in putting God first

• It is easy to become focused on our desires and give God the scrapes. (Rev 3:15-16)

We must be without compromise in our loyalty in putting God first

• Revelation 3:15-16 - "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

We must be without compromise in our loyalty in putting God first

• Some simply have not thought things through!

• How should we regard one service of the church? - “It’s just one service!”

• Do I have to attend on Wednesday night when I am out of town?

• How should I treat a voluntary recreation event when there is a conflict?

We must be without compromise in our loyalty in putting God first

• Consider what some parents have done. (Ex. Football and basketball playoffs)

• These have proven to be great teachers to our children. Is this too radical?

• I will not accept deliverance from the ridicule of the world. (Heb 11:35)

We must be without compromise in our loyalty in putting God first

• Hebrews 11:35 - Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.