Take Responsibility For Yourself

Subtitled: Stop Playing the “Blame Game”

Part Two

Take Responsibility For Yourself

Subtitled: Stop Playing the “Blame Game”

Part Two

Gen 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Gen 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

Gen 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Gen 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

Gen 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Gen 3:11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

Gen 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Gen 3:11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

Gen 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

Gen 3:13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Gen 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

Gen 3:13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Six Areas In Which We Play the Blame Game

1. The Tendency to Blame Other People

2. The Tendency to Blame God

3. The Tendency to blame the Devil

Six Areas In Which We Play the Blame Game

1. The Tendency to Blame Other People

2. The Tendency to Blame God

3. The Tendency to blame the Devil

4. The Tendency to Blame Circumstances

5. The Tendency to blame our “sickness” or mental condition

6. The Tendency to blame our ethnicity or so called orientation

4. The Tendency to Blame Circumstances

5. The Tendency to blame our “sickness” or mental condition

6. The Tendency to blame our ethnicity or so called orientation

1. The Tendency to Blame Other People

1. The Tendency to Blame Other People

2. The Tendency to Blame God2. The Tendency to Blame God

a) God Doesn’t Care About You Anyway

a) God Doesn’t Care About You Anyway

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Pet. 5:7). “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Pet. 5:7).

b) If God doesn’t want you to do it then He can stop you. After all, He already knows what you’re going to

do anyway.

b) If God doesn’t want you to do it then He can stop you. After all, He already knows what you’re going to

do anyway.

Matt. 26:34: Jesus said unto him [Peter], Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Matt. 26:34: Jesus said unto him [Peter], Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Matt. 26:40: And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Matt. 26:41: Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Matt. 26:40: And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Matt. 26:41: Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

c) I prayed and asked God to deliver me from this sin, but I am still struggling, so it is not my fault.

c) I prayed and asked God to deliver me from this sin, but I am still struggling, so it is not my fault.

James 4:7: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

d) God is the one who gave me these desires in the first place (for

sex, etc.)

d) God is the one who gave me these desires in the first place (for

sex, etc.)

e) God is in control and may use my sin for some greater good.

e) God is in control and may use my sin for some greater good.

Calvinist Loraine Boettner is one of many who promote this idea when he writes, “God so controls the thoughts and wills of men that they freely and willingly do what He has planned for them to do.” (God, Revelation And Authority)

Calvinist Loraine Boettner is one of many who promote this idea when he writes, “God so controls the thoughts and wills of men that they freely and willingly do what He has planned for them to do.” (God, Revelation And Authority)

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Rom. 8:28; KJV)

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Rom. 8:28; KJV)

“If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15; see also 1 John 5:2, 3; 2 John 6).

“If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15; see also 1 John 5:2, 3; 2 John 6).

f) God in His providence provided me this opportunity

f) God in His providence provided me this opportunity

1Sam. 23:7: And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars. 1Sam. 23:8: And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

1Sam. 23:7: And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars. 1Sam. 23:8: And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

“And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand” (1 Sam. 23:14).

“And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand” (1 Sam. 23:14).

1Cor. 10:13: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1Cor. 10:13: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

g) I may not be one of the elect so I may as well enjoy myself.

g) I may not be one of the elect so I may as well enjoy myself.

3. The Tendency to blame the Devil3. The Tendency to blame the Devil

a) The devil tricked me, so it is not my fault

a) The devil tricked me, so it is not my fault

Gen 3:13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Gen 3:13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Gen 3:13 Then the LORD God asked the woman, "How could you do such a thing?""The serpent tricked me," she replied. "That's why I ate it." (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Gen 3:13 Then the LORD God asked the woman, "How could you do such a thing?""The serpent tricked me," she replied. "That's why I ate it." (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

b) The devil tempted me. What was I to do? I’m weak

b) The devil tempted me. What was I to do? I’m weak

Satan and his minions are behind most temptations. One of his titles is “the Tempter” (1 Thess. 3:4, 5; Matt. 4:1-3; 1 Cor. 7:3), but he is not fully responsible, James says, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (James 1:14).

Satan and his minions are behind most temptations. One of his titles is “the Tempter” (1 Thess. 3:4, 5; Matt. 4:1-3; 1 Cor. 7:3), but he is not fully responsible, James says, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (James 1:14).

c) I can’t help myself.c) I can’t help myself.

Flip Wilson coined a popular phrase, “the devil made me do it.” Flip Wilson coined a popular phrase, “the devil made me do it.”

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16).

Yielding is a voluntary action.

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16).

Yielding is a voluntary action.

d) My sin is the result of demonism. I need deliverance before I can stop

sinning.

d) My sin is the result of demonism. I need deliverance before I can stop

sinning.

“Devil possession” is not an excuse to sin: “The devil has been sinning since the beginning. The person who continues to sin belongs to the devil. The Son of God (Christ) came for this: to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8; Easy to Read Version)

“Devil possession” is not an excuse to sin: “The devil has been sinning since the beginning. The person who continues to sin belongs to the devil. The Son of God (Christ) came for this: to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8; Easy to Read Version)

Others “possessed by the devil but held Culpable

•Elymas (Acts 13:8-13)

•Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10)

•Judas (Luke 22:3-6, 47-48; Matt. 27:1-5)

Others “possessed by the devil but held Culpable

•Elymas (Acts 13:8-13)

•Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10)

•Judas (Luke 22:3-6, 47-48; Matt. 27:1-5)

Others “possessed by the devil but held Culpable (Cont)

•Saul (1 Sam. 16:14; see also 16:16; 19:9 as well as Judges 9:23 and Psalm 78:49)

Others “possessed by the devil but held Culpable (Cont)

•Saul (1 Sam. 16:14; see also 16:16; 19:9 as well as Judges 9:23 and Psalm 78:49)

e) I am under a generational curse because of an unknown sin of my ancestors. This is why I do what I

do.

e) I am under a generational curse because of an unknown sin of my ancestors. This is why I do what I

do.

Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

4. The Tendency to Blame Circumstances

4. The Tendency to Blame Circumstances

a) Menstrual cycle (period), old and cranky, tired, menopause, been

through a lot lately, etc.

a) Menstrual cycle (period), old and cranky, tired, menopause, been

through a lot lately, etc.

Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

According to Webster's dictionary the word “tribulation” means “a trying experience.”

According to Webster's dictionary the word “tribulation” means “a trying experience.”

b) I grew up in a bad neighborhoodb) I grew up in a bad neighborhood

c) Due to this situation you have no choice but to (lie, cheat, etc.) or else

you might lose your (job, spouse, home, etc.)

c) Due to this situation you have no choice but to (lie, cheat, etc.) or else

you might lose your (job, spouse, home, etc.)

d) I have no choice – it’s a part of my job.

d) I have no choice – it’s a part of my job.

e) It’s okay to hang out here. You won’t get tempted. You’re strong.e) It’s okay to hang out here. You won’t get tempted. You’re strong.

5. The Tendency to blame our “sickness” or mental condition5. The Tendency to blame our “sickness” or mental condition

6. The Tendency to blame our ethnicity or so called orientation6. The Tendency to blame our

ethnicity or so called orientation