Spiritual Danger
Introduction:
Check-ups are preformed on cars, houses, and people.
They want to see how they are doing. Then they can make
adjustments if needed. A far greater need is for a spiritual
check-up. (II Corinthians 13:5) “Examine yourselves as
to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know
yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are
disqualified.” NKJV Many are in the process of dying
spiritually. (Jude 23) “but others save with fear,
pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the
flesh.” NKJV There are those who are dangerously close to
fiery destruction which awaits them. God’s Word points out symptoms
or danger signs of dying spiritually. Just as a medical doctor asks
us about our symptoms to diagnose our physical problems, the Bible
lists warning signs for us to look out for. This is so serious that
it should make us nervous.
Body:
Brother Turner lists Seven “Danger Signs” to look out
for.
1.
Story of the Cross No Longer Moves You
A.
Some believe it’s foolishness. (I Corinthians
1:18) “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those
who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of
God.” NKJV
B.
It should continue to motivate us as it did at first.
(Acts 2:36-38) “ ‘Therefore let all the house of Israel know
assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both
Lord and Christ.’ Now when they heard this they were cut to the
heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and
brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and
let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit.’ ” NKJV The Lord’s Supper helps us remember it.
C.
Are you bored when Calvary is preached? Eyes tear up
when you hear of the crucified Saviour? If this doesn’t move you,
something’s seriously wrong!
2.
Have You Left Your First Love?
A.
We obey Him and His Word because we love Him.
John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commands.”
B.
The church at Ephesus had left its first love.
(Revelation 2:4-5) “Nevertheless I have this against you, that
you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you
have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to
you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place – unless you
repent.” NKJV Initial zeal and commitment now gone. Are you
now just serving out of habit, routine, or ritual? Your heart
wasn’t in it. Why do you worship and obey God? Be honest! Are you
as zealous as you once were? Are you in the process of leaving your
first love? May we not fool ourselves.
3.
Do Church Services Bore You?
A.
Do you constantly look at your watch? You just can’t
wait for dismissal prayer? “I just don’t get anything out of
services anymore.” Are you like the Jews who just couldn’t wait for
Sabbath to be over so they could get back to doing what they really
liked?
B.
Some blame it on the preacher. “He’s just not very
interesting.” Remember he is supposed to be a spokesman of God –
when the Word is read, it is God speaking. Some of us can’t sit for
thirty minutes in a building without complaining; yet we can watch a
sporting event for hours on end. Something is very wrong! Be
careful. Don’t forget Matthew 6:33! “But seek first the
kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be
added to you.” NKJV
4.
You Have No Interest in Saving Souls.
A.
Have you stopped teaching the gospel? Are you
ashamed of it?
B.
Do you think it’s just the job of the preacher and
elders? Let someone else do it. Do you not tell friends and family
the Good News? The Great Commission is for all. (Mark
16:15-16) “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is
baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be
condemned.” NKJV
C.
Christ came to seek and save the lost. (Luke
19:10) “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that
which was lost.” NKJV We need to be like Him. Don’t forget
James 5:19-20. “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the
truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a
sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and
cover a multitude of sins.” NKJV “It is a danger sign if you
are not interested in saving souls.”
5.
Do Things of the World Satisfy You?
A.
Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:14) “Now the
ones that fell among thorns are those who when they have heard, go
out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and
bring no fruit to maturity.” NKJV Things of the world can lead
us away from God. (James 1:14-16) “But each one is
tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then,
when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it
is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved
brethren.” NKJV
B.
The world was too great an attraction for Demas.
(II Timothy 4:10) “For Demas has forsaken me, having loved
this present world. . .” NKJV
C.
Where do you find satisfaction? Christ or world?
6.
Are You Fooling Yourself?
A.
The most deadly disease is the one you can’t detect.
We can fall into the trap of thinking all is well. (Matthew
7:22-23) “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have
we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and
done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I
never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” NKJV
B.
Do you think God is “too loving” to punish your
“little sins?” (Ezekiel 18:4) “Behold, all souls are
Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul the son is Mine;
The soul who sins shall die.” NKJV
C.
James describes a man who hears the Word and assumes
all is well. But he doesn’t allow the Word to sink deeply into his
heart and stay there.
(James 1:22-24) “But be doers of the word, and
not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of
the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face
in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately
forgets what kind of man he was.” NKJV
7.
Failing to Do What You Know You Should Do
(James 4:17) “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does
not do it, to him it is sin.” NKJV Remember Ezekiel 18:4.
“Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the
soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die.” NKJV
Many know they need to respond, but don’t. Many know they need to
confess wrongs, but don’t. Many know they need to teach the lost,
but don’t. Many know they need to give more, but don’t. Many know
they need to get involved, but don’t.
Danger signs!
Conclusion:
Many are on the road to spiritual death. They need
to be restored and revived. (Psalm 85:4-7) “Restore us, O God
of our salvation, And cause Your anger toward us to cease. Will You
be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all
generations? Will You not revive us again, That Your people may
rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, Lord, And grant us Your
salvation.” NKJV
Invitation:
Be honest. Examine yourself.
Sermon
information from J. J. Turner
Bobby Stafford
March 6, 2016
