[Genesis 4:1-16]

Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the Lord’s help, I have produced a man!”  Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected. “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected?  You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.

Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” “I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?” But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood. No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.” Cain replied to the Lord, “My punishment is too great for me to bear!  You have
banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!” The Lord replied, “No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him.  So Cain left the Lord’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

A few signs you might just have a Villain heart.

#1 You think God owes you something.

[Hebrews 11:4a]
It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s
offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his
gifts.

God doesn’t see worship apart from the worshiper.

#2 You resent the Abels in your life.

John Piper “The human heart is easily angered by people who are making progress where we are falling short.”

Cain was mad when he should have been meek.

#3 You minimize the size of your sin.

If you don’t become a victor over your sin you are going to become a victim of your sin.

There’s no such thing as a safe lion, and there’s no such thing as a small sin.

#4 You refuse to see God’s grace in your life.

All you can see is the hard stuff, the bad things, the hurt and pain…
– All you see are your financial struggles
– The hurt from your past
– The relational dysfunction

And you’re blind to all of the blessings and grace God has given you.
– The air in your lungs
– Your health
– The roof over your head
– The food in your belly

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Application Questions

1. 1. What stood out to you from this message and why?
   2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?
   3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?
   4. How will this message change how you act at home, work and in your relationships?