Performed: Friday 19th August 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbvrvrelDUo&feature=share
"But if men are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction, he tells them what they have done-- that they have sinned arrogantly. He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil. If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge." ~
Job 36:8-12 (NIV)
INTRODUCTION
First of all, I want to introduce the roles that are being portrayed here in our first drama act:
Jeremy – Jesus
Patrick – Satan (Pride)
Joel – Greed
Stanley – Envy
Ivana – Anger
Arabelle – Lust
Annette – Gluttony
Wai San – Sloth
Myself
– I represent everyone who has suffered under the weight of sins and
was set free by the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ
Together, we make up the OCF Melbourne City drama team, which is called “Drama-Mama” according to Jeremy.
Our
purpose is to worship God through various means, which include singing,
dancing and acting. Anyone can be part of the drama team and everyone
who participate in the drama team hold the same responsibility and
leadership. There is no supervisor, manager or leader of the drama team
besides God.
MAIN
As you
probably have noticed, our first drama act is based on the Seven Deadly
Sins, which originated from the Catholic Church with Pope St. Gregory
the Great and St. John Cassian. However, it is really more of a guide
for spiritual progress than a doctrine. Therefore, it is not reserved
exclusively for Catholics but applies to all Christians in general.
As
a matter of fact, you cannot find a complete list of all the sins in
one place in the Bible. The Bible covers all these sins in different
books. So the list of the Seven Deadly Sins is really just a condensed
version of what the Bible already stated clearly throughout.
So
how did people come up with Seven Deadly Sins and not eight or nine?
King Solomon stated that the Lord specifically regards “six things that
the Lord hateth, and the seventh His soul detesteth”:
Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
A false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
The rest of the Seven Deadly Sins is also mentioned in:
Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
Idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
And
envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before,
that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Looking
at the Seven Deadly Sins, we must not forget that there is another
matching list that is the Seven Godly Virtues. Let me introduce you to
the sins and virtues in their traditional order:
Seven Deadly Sins and Seven Godly Virtues
Pride - Humility
Greed - Generosity
Envy - Kindness
Anger - Patience
Lust - Chastity
Gluttony - Temperance
Sloth - Diligence
. . .
Pride
– is an excessive confidence in an individual's own abilities that
interferes with the individual's acknowledgment and understanding of the
grace of God.
Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Humility
Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
. . .
Greed
– is the overwhelming desire to gain wealth. It places the love of
physical objects above the love of people and the love of God.
Luke 12:15
Then
he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of
greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his
possessions."
Generosity
2 Corinthians 9:11
You
will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
. . .
Envy – is a feeling
of discontentment created by witnessing or hearing of the advantage,
benefit, prosperity, gain, or success of others.
James 3:16
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
Kindness
Act 4:9-10
If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed,
Then
know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the
dead, that this man stands before you healed.
. . .
Anger – is the rejection of love. It occurs when man chooses not to forgive and it leads to fury and sometimes to wrath.
Ephesians 4:26
In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
Patience
Ecclesiastes 7:8
The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.
. . .
Lust
– is an excessive sexual appetite that results in one seeking immediate
or ruthless satisfaction. It places the love of other people above the
love of God.
Numbers 15:39
You
will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the
commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute
yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes.
Chastity
Ephesians 5:3
But
among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any
kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's
holy people.
. . .
Gluttony –
is the excessive desire for food or drink. It can cause direct physical
harm to the body, which is supposed to be the temple of God.
Proverbs 23:1-2
When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you,
And put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.
Temperance
Romans 13:14
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
. . .
Sloth
– is the procrastination or evading of either physical or spiritual
work. It causes man to become complacent and unwilling to carry out the
service of God.
Romans 12:11
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Diligence
Hebrews 6:11
We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.
. . .
Why do we make such a big deal out of the sins and virtues anyway?
James 2:10
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Before
knowing God, we experience many temptations. In our walks with God, we
experience the heaviest temptations. This is all because the devil tries
to pull us away from God.
“Did you know that demons
tremble at the name of Jesus? Satan is defeated, this is a visual
example of how demons have to flee when you repent and come to Jesus.
The Power of God is real!”
CONCLUSION
For this Semester, I just want to ask you:
Do you want to be free?
Strip
away everything that is holding you back. Lift all your troubles and
worries to the Lord. He came to set the captives free.
Let all Glory be unto God. Amen.
