When Good

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When Good People Do Nothing
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In the ongoing battle between good and evil, it
is seldom the numbers that determine the winner
Evil has been triumphant in many areas and in
many eras of human history
In many instances, evil has been victorious even
though the majority opposed it
3
In many instances, the side of right has overcome
tremendous odds to be triumphant
4
Israel in Egypt
Gideons Army (Judges 7)
David Goliath (I Samuel 17)
Elijah Prophets of Baal (I Kings 18)
5
In many instances, the side of right has overcome
tremendous odds to be triumphant
Gods people have always been in the minority
against the forces of evil
Evil is having a field day in American society
today
6
Most often, evil dictates the day and rules
because good men fail to do their part
Its always wrong to do nothing when something
needs to be done
If the advancement of such things as evolution,
abortion, homosexuality and other such matters
has taught us anything, it has taught us that much
7
Most Americans believe in God
Most Americans do not approve of abortion
Most Americans do not uphold homosexuality
However, because those who do uphold such things
support their cause, again the majority is
overruled
8
What has happened? Good people who hold to
wholesome values have done little or nothing, and
evil rules the day
We can see the same trend within the church-
false teachers, although many times in the
minority, have their way, disrupt unity and cause
turmoil and division because otherwise good
people say nothing and do nothing in opposition
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What occurs when good people do nothing?
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When Good People Do Nothing
They Get Nothing Good Done
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To be good, one must do good
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As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good
unto all men, especially unto them who are of the
household of faith. Galatians 610
13
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath
appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present
world Looking for that blessed hope, and the
glorious appearing of the great God and our
Saviour Jesus Christ Who gave himself for us,
that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and
purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of
good works. Titus 211-14
14
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus unto good works, which God hath before
ordained that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 210
15
Charge them that are rich in this world, that
they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain
riches, but in the living God, who giveth us
richly all things to enjoy That they do good,
that they be rich in good works, ready to
distribute, willing to communicate I
Timothy 617, 18
16
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of
praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of
our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do
good and to communicate forget not for with such
sacrifices God is well pleased. Hebrews
1315, 16
17
For he that will love life, and see good days,
let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his
lips that they speak no guile Let him eschew
evil, and do good let him seek peace, and ensue
it. I Peter 310, 11
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Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter
Fear God, and keep his commandments for this is
the whole duty of man.
Ecclesiastes 1213
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To be good, one must do good
Remember the one-talent man
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But he that had received one went and digged in
the earth, and hid his lord's money.
Matthew 2518
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To be good, one must do good
Remember the one-talent man
He didnt do any outright evil he didnt steal
the money he was entrusted with he didnt use it
in an immoral way
He simply did nothing-
and nothing was done!
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He did nothing when something needed to be done!
He did nothing good and, therefore, nothing good
was done
Because of that he was condemned
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His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked
and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap
where I sowed not, and gather where I have not
strawed Thou oughtest therefore to have put my
money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I
should have received mine own with usury.
Matthew 2526, 27
24
Too many Christians are doing nothing!
Too many stand idly by and are mere spectators,
sitting on the sidelines instead of participating
in the good work
If good wins, they join in the celebration,
though they did nothing to help produce the
victory
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If evil is victorious, they complain long and
loud, though their own apathy helped produce the
defeat of right
We should learn from the Lords thoughts
regarding the unproductive fig tree
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And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to
it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only,
and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee
henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree
withered away. Matthew 2119
27
If evil is victorious, they complain long and
loud, though their own apathy helped produce the
defeat of right
We should learn from the Lords thoughts
regarding the unproductive fig tree
And, from His parable of the fruitless fig tree
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He spake also this parable A certain man had a
fig tree planted in his vineyard and he came and
sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said
he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold,
these three years I come seeking fruit on this
fig tree, and find none cut it down why
cumbereth it the ground?
Luke 136, 7
29
I am the true vine, and my Father is the
husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not
fruit he taketh away and every branch that
beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring
forth more fruit. John
151, 2
30
The good men in the parable of the good
Samaritan did nothing (Luke 10)
If left up to those two supposed righteous men
nothing good would have been done, because they
did nothing at all
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When Good People Do Nothing
They Help Evil To Triumph
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Was it not the lack of good men that prevented
the sparing of Sodom and Gomorrah?
God commands those who are good not just to avoid
evil, but to actively oppose it!
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And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works
of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Ephesians 511
34
Was it not the lack of good men that prevented
the sparing of Sodom and Gomorrah?
God commands those who are good not just to avoid
evil, but to actively oppose it!
Those who do nothing about evil help evil to
prevail
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All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is
that good men do nothing. -Edmund Burke
Elijah challenged the people to decide between
God and the wicked (Ahab, Jezebel and Baal)
But, the people remained silent and inactive
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And Elijah came unto all the people, and said,
How long halt ye between two opinions? if the
LORD be God, follow him but if Baal, then follow
him. And the people answered him not a word.
I Kings 1821
37
What should have been a resounding defeat of evil
turned out to be a great discouragement for a
courageous man of God
When our voices are mute for good they echo
loudly for evil
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When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely
die and thou givest him not warning, nor
speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way,
to save his life the same wicked man shall die
in his iniquity but his blood will I require at
thine hand. Ezekiel 1821
39
What should have been a resounding defeat of evil
turned out to be a great discouragement for a
courageous man of God
When our voices are mute for good they echo
loudly for evil
The church at Pergamos stands as a great example
to us in this regard
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But I have a few things against thee, because
thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of
Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock
before the children of Israel, to eat things
sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of
the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent or
else I will come unto thee quickly, and will
fight against them with the sword of my
mouth. Revelation 214-16
41
Notice that the church was told to repent even
though they didnt hold to these false doctrines
They were told to repent because they did nothing
about and said nothing against these matters
Their silence and stagnation allowed evil to
prevail-
and Christ told them to stop it!
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When Good People Do Nothing
They Are No Longer Good
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We stop being what God wants us to be when we
stop doing what God wants us to do
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Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and
doeth it not, to him it is sin.
James 417
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We stop being what God wants us to be when we
stop doing what God wants us to do
Too many have the idea that good is merely the
absence of doing wrong
A person is not merely good because he has done
no evil
A good person is actively involved in good
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For he that will love life, and see good days,
let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his
lips that they speak no guile Let him eschew
evil, and do good let him seek peace, and ensue
it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the
righteous, and his ears are open unto their
prayers but the face of the Lord is against them
that do evil. I Peter 310-12
47
Reuben knew of his brothers plot to kill Joseph,
and devised a plan to deliver him
48
And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of
their hands and said, Let us not kill him. And
Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast
him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and
lay no hand upon him that he might rid him out
of their hands, to deliver him to his father
again. Genesis 3721, 22
49
Reuben knew of his brothers plot to kill Joseph,
and devised a plan to deliver him
In Reubens absence, the brothers sold Joseph
into slavery
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Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen and
they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit,
and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty
pieces of silver and they brought Joseph into
Egypt. And Reuben returned unto the pit and,
behold, Joseph was not in the pit and he rent
his clothes. And he returned unto his brethren,
and said, The child is not and I, whither shall
I go? Genesis 3728-30
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Reuben knew of his brothers plot to kill Joseph,
and devised a plan to deliver him
In Reubens absence, the brothers sold Joseph
into slavery
However, instead of attempting to correct the
wrong, Reuben conspired with them
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And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of
the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood And
they sent the coat of many colours, and they
brought it to their father and said, This have
we found know now whether it be thy son's coat
or no. Genesis 3731, 32
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Reuben knew of his brothers plot to kill Joseph,
and devised a plan to deliver him
In Reubens absence, the brothers sold Joseph
into slavery
However, instead of attempting to correct the
wrong, Reuben conspired with them
This decision continued to haunt him
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But bring your youngest brother unto me so shall
your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And
they did so. And they said one to another, We are
verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we
saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us,
and we would not hear therefore is this distress
come upon us. And Reuben answered them, saying,
Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against
the child and ye would not hear? therefore,
behold, also his blood is required.
Genesis 4220-22
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Obadiah condemned the Edomites for doing nothing
when evil befell their relatives, the Jews
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And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed,
to the end that every one of the mount of Esau
may be cut off by slaughter. For thy violence
against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee,
and thou shalt be cut off for ever. In the day
that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day
that the strangers carried away captive his
forces, and foreigners entered into his gates,
and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as
one of them. Obadiah 9-11
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Obadiah condemned the Edomites for doing nothing
when evil befell their relatives, the Jews
As all will, they reaped what they had sown
58
Be not deceived God is not mocked for
whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the
flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the
Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
And let us not be weary in well doing for in due
season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Galatians 67-9
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Obadiah condemned the Edomites for doing nothing
when evil befell their relatives, the Jews
As all will, they reaped what they had sown
Otherwise good people cease being good when
they do nothing at all
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He made no mistakes he took no wrong turns, He
never fumbled the ball. He never went down neath
the weight of the load, He simply did nothing at
all.
He lost no hard fight in defense of the right, He
never bled with his back to the wall, He never
felt faint in his climb to the light, He simply
did nothing at all.
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So death came nigh, life had slipped by, He
feared for the judgment hall. And when asked why,
he said with a sigh, Ive done nothing at all.
O, God will pardon your blunders, my friends, Or
regard with pity your fall, But the one great
sell, that surely means hell, Is simply to do
nothing at all.
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When Good People Do Nothing
They Get Nothing Good Done
They Help Evil To Triumph
They Are No Longer Good
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(No Transcript)
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-Thoughts from an article by Ed DeVault an
outline from an unknown source