Sermon Central
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The Neglect Of Spiritual Growth
Contributed by Dennis Deese on Aug 5, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: Christianity involves more than believing and knowing it also involves living and obeying.
"THE NEGLECT OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH"
Dr. Dennis Deese - www.dennisdeese.com
Christianity involves more than believing and knowing it also involves living and obeying. You can’t just believe and know the facts you must obey God’s word as well - for your own good and God’s glory.
We know that a spiritually undisciplined Christian life will ultimately lead to the abandonment of Jesus, but there is even more involved in it than that.
We are going to peek into a door of a broad range of consequences. I want us to consider three (3) possibilities. None of which (generally speaking) happen overnight or instantly - each over a process of time and through a number of different events.
I. HERESY - John 6:68, Hebrews 12:15, I Corinthians 5:1-2, 5-8, 11.
*Apostate To become a heretic means that you replace the truth of God’s doctrine with the lies of Satan. To become at variance with fundamental Bible truth.
1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would [no doubt] have continued with us: but [they went out], that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
II. SIN - John 6:66, I Timothy 1:18-20
*Reproach To disgrace His Grace. What does God do in the event of habitual sin?
1 Timothy 1:18-20 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
A. He lovingly warns or cautions us (John 6:67) Hebrews 12:5
I believe this message, along with the others in this series, is a part of the process God uses to help us.
B. He lovingly disciplines us (Hebrews 12:6-11)
1. Silence (prodigal son) allows us to reap what we’ve sown. Galatians 6:1 ff.
Psalms 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
2 Action (Hebrews 12:6-11)
III. DEATH - Hebrews *12:9, 16-17;
*Reprobate - Not in the same sense as the lost (Roman 1:24-32) but in respect to usefulness. Something ruined and thus unsuitable or unable to fulfill your purpose in life.
1 John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin [which is] not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.
1 Corinthians 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us?ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
