Preached at Faith Baptist Church
    By Pastor Steven Mays

    WARNING SIGNS OF A DYING CHURCH OR CHRISTIAN LIFE

    TEXT. REV. 3:2

    Rev 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

    THINK WITH ME FOR JUST A SECOND ABOUT ALL THE EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES WE ARE AWARE OF?

      • PHYSICALS
      • CHOLESTEROL CHECKS
      • HEART MONITORS
      • AIR DEFENSE -- RADAR'S OF EVERY TYPE
      • SATELLITES
      • COMMUNICATIONS LISTENING
      • SPY'S
      • WARNING LIGHTS IN YOUR CARS
      • OIL LUBE PLACES
      • EYES, EARS, NERVES, ETC.

    IN OUR TEXT THE LORD SAID YOUR ABOUT ready to die, AND HE THEN TOLD THEM TO STRENGTHEN THE THINGS THAT REMAIN, AND BE WATCHFUL......

    1. Ps 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

    2. 1Co 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

    3. 2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

    IN OTHER PLACES IN SCRIPTURE WE ARE GIVEN OTHER VERSES LIKE.....

    THAT ARE GIVEN TO CALL FOLKS ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT SOME THINGS ARE DYING, AND ARE IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE ATTENTION OR DEATH WILL FOLLOW. TONIGHT I WANT TO FOLLOW THAT THOUGHT AND LOOK AT SIGNS OF A DYING CHURCH, OR SIGNS OF A DYING CHRISTIAN.

    I. CLOSED EYES

    OUR EYES GET CLOSED TO THE PEOPLE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, AT THE STORE, TO THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE AROUND US. WE LOOK BUT ONLY TO SELF AND WHAT WE WANT AND NOT OUT TO WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS.

    LUKE 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

    FOLKS THIS EXEMPLIFIES CHRISTIANITY.

    II. CLOSED EARS

    Pr 20:12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

    WE QUIT LISTENING TO WHAT THE STILL SMALL VOICE OF GOD IS SAYING. WE HEAR THE VOICE OF THE WORLD, WORK, AND OUR WEARY SELVES, BUT NOT THE WORDS OF HIM WHO IS WORTHY TO SPEAK AND HAVE US AT HIS BECK AND CALL.

    1. Re 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

    2. Re 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

    3. Re 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

    4. Re 2:29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

    5. Re 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

    6. Re 3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

    7. Re 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

    8. Re 13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

    III. CLOSED MOUTHS

    Ac 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

    Ac 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

    WHAT A SHAME IT IS WHEN OUR MOUTHS ARE NOT TESTIFYING OF OUR SALVATION AND THE SAVIOR WHO MADE IT ALL POSSIBLE. BUT MAY I SAY THE CRIES OF THE DYING ARE MOST GENERALLY OF SUFFERING AND REMORSE AND REGRET, AND SUCH, NOT OF VICTORY, AND PRAISE, AND CONCERN FOR OTHERS.

    IV. CLOSED HEARTS

    Ac 28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

    IS YOUR HEART SOFT TOWARDS THE THINGS OF GOD? HOW LOUD DOES GOD HAVE TO SPEAK TO ATTAIN YOUR ATTENTION? WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO MOVE YOU?


    Heart Problems
    are killing a lot of Church's.




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