The SIN OF DEFRAUDING

There is way too much fraud in our world today. There is also too many people defrauding others. When someone uses the term "DEFRAUD" what do you think of? Usually you think of MONEY, right? Well, I thought about that and looked up how many times the word DEFRAUD shows up in the King James Bible, and it was interesting what I found, as it doesn't always talk about money. First mention: Lev 19:13 Thou shalt not DEFRAUD thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. This applies to the JEWS in the Old Testament. Here it does speak of of defrauding one's NEIGHBOR of his money or his wages. How about you? Have you ever defrauded anyone of their wages? Or do you know anyone or maybe I should say, any "organization," that tries to defraud you of your wages? Defrauding one's neighbor is not only sin against them, but is sin against GOD! Second mention: Mark 10:19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, DEFRAUD not, Honour thy father and mother. Here we see Jesus speaking about some of the ten commandments. "Defraud not" is mentioned with them. This has to do with taking away something that doesn't belong to you! If that's not a verse about private property, I don't know what is! Notice how DEFRAUDING is put right between DON'T LIE and HONOR YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER. Could it be that those who usually defraud others are often disobedient children who have lied to their parents, and then learned how to lie for the rest of their lives? Could it be that lying and disrespect are the root of defrauding? Third mention: 1 Cor 6:8 Nay, ye do wrong, and DEFRAUD, and that your brethren. Here's a very sad verse. Paul is talking to CHRISTIANS, and he says they are DEFRAUDING other Christians. How horrible! You would think if there is anyone you could trust in this world it'd be another Christian, but not so! Sometimes Christians are the worst people in the world. Why is this? I believe it's because of two reasons: 1. They aren't really CHRISTIANS, as they have never truly been born again, or 2. They are Christians, but they are very worldly, carnal, and backslidden. Which one are you? It's not too late to repent. If you've defrauded another Christian, why not make it right? Give back to them what you've stolen, or apologize to them for what evil you've done to them. 'Cause if you don't, you'll have to give account to God for it at the Judgment Seat of Christ! 1 Cor 7:5 DEFRAUD ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. This verse deals with the marriage relationship. It says that husband and wife should not DEFRAUD one another SEXUALLY. That is to say, they both need to be willing to give their body to their spouse when it comes to the act of SEX. The only way not to is to consent to fast and pray together instead of having sex. Now, I've got a question, "How many Christians actually practice this today?" As a Missionary Evangelist, I've traveled all over and met a lot of ministers of the Gospel. Very few of them practice this as they travel all over preaching without their wives. In fact, they certainly don't FAST, as most of them are "Gospel blimps." (i.e They are a bunch of fat cows!) I've been blessed to take my wife with me everywhere I go. Only once we had to separate for three weeks while I went to preach in California without her. During that time we both fasted, just as the verse tells us to. So why don't other ministers do the same? There's been so many preachers and pastors fall into the sin of adultery, pornography, fornication, and more. Usually, it all starts with the sin of defrauding their wife, or their wife defrauding them sexually. That then leads to one of the spouses leaving and finding another to fulfill their needs. These things ought not to be so! Fifth mention: 1 Th 4:6 That no man go beyond and DEFRAUD his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. Again, this verse is written to Christians. We are told they should not only "defraud" other brothers, but they should not go "beyond" in doing so. That is to say plotting and planning how to defraud another brother in Christ. We then read of the reprocussions of defrauding another brother in Christ. The Bible says THE LORD is the AVENGER of all defrauders! Paul further says he has "forewarned" and "testified" about the importance of not DEFRAUDING anyone. So how about it? Are you guilty of the sin of DEFRAUDING? As a minister of the Gospel, I've been defrauded many times by other Christians. Sometimes in offerings (monetarily), other times in lack of prayers, other times in others gossiping about me, and lying about me and my ministry, which has led to others believing lies about me and loss of support. But I forgive them all, and put it in God's hands. I only hope they will realize their sin of DEFRAUDING, and repent, for if they don't, one day they will give account to God. Paul says in 1 Cor 6:7, "Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather SUFFER YOURSELVES TO BE DEFRAUDED?" We should never get bitter when someone defrauds us. We should rather "suffer" it, knowing God will one day right the wrongs against us. How about you? Have you learned how to forgive? Or do you still harbor bitterness in your heart against someone who has defrauded you? The prophet Samuel had a great testimony. In 1 Sam. 12:3 he states, "Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I DEFRAUDED? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you." The Children of Israel responded in 1 Sam. 12:4, "And they said, THOU HAST NOT DEFRAUDED US, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand." What an excellent testimony to have! Paul too boldly stated in 2 Cor 7:2 "Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, WE HAVE DEFRAUDED NO MAN." Paul was a true Christian! He defrauded no one! Once again, how about you? Are you a DEFRAUDER or a DEFRAUDEE? If you've defrauded someone that's a heinous sin! And, you need to REPENT and make it right! If you have been defrauded, how have you taken it? Do you harbour bitterness, or have you forgiven? Don't let the sin of anyone else make you fall into sin yourself. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. (Heb 12:14-15)