Grow or Die
Grow or Die
Jeremiah 5:1-4 Romans 1:18……
Intro: continue with the subject change, the world needs to see change in the church, we are called to be different, in character, speech, our lifestyles should not mirror the world.
The word of God warns us that there will be perilous times, men will be lovers of themselves more than lovers of God. God is no longer on the throne of their hearts. Compromised the word of God putting others, things activities before God. “these people praise me with their mouths but their heart is far from me”
Anything taking precedence over the word of God is an idol.
There is no easy Christian life with no commitments. Looking for an easy time will not find it in the ministry,
“if any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”
Break the bondage of excuses and reasoning
Jeremiah 5:3 O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.
(economic decline, floods, twisters, diseases, swine ful, mother against father, daughter, against, son against father,
Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Romans 1:29 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Romans 1:30 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Imitate the enemy: Judges 2:2-3 And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.
Ephesians 5:11, 1 Corinthians 10:21
The first step away from the Lord is friendship.. James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
The second step is love of the world…1 John 2:15
Motion with no action…Micah 6:6-8 Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Sin is deceptive…Romans 7:11, Ephesians 4:22
Progressive…..Hosea 13:2
Christians should detest sin…Psalm 101:3
Enslaves, demands more and more of your will….Romans 7:18-19
The Effects of sin:…lack of peace of mind Isaiah 57:20-21 20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.