Sermon Central
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The World Says, "If It Feels Good, Do ...
Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Jan 16, 2010 (message contributor)
The world says, “If it feels good, do it!” and “The ends justify the means.” As a result, we have to be extra alert. It reminds me of God’s message to Sardis in the Book of Revelation. God kept having to tell them to be alert and that must have poured salt into their wounds. You see Sardis was a town that thought it was invincible. It wasn’t, though. Herodotus (In Book 1, Section 84) told about the Telmassians claiming that if King Meles would carry a young lion all the way around the wall, it would magically make the entire city into an impregnable fortress that would never fall. The king carried the lion around the wall, but there was one spot he thought was totally secure because it was on top of a cliff. He didn’t bother to carry the lion by there. Much later, a soldier stood guard on the wall as the city was under siege. It was hot and his helmet fell off and part of the way down the cliff. Rather than face his commanding officers, he climbed partially down the cliff and retrieved the helmet. But the besieging troops saw him do it and realized that the cliff was scalable. Guess where they infiltrated the city and caused the city to fall from within? They sent men up that cliff and exploited Sardis’ weakness.
Paul is speaking to believers who are tempted to compromise. Instead of loving each other, they just want to get along. And when we aren’t actively loving, we are lulled into complacency. We’re in danger of being infiltrated while we’re asleep and being destroyed from within. This verse isn’t talking about being asleep in the sense that some people believe you are when you’re dead (I don’t believe that, but some do.), but it’s talking about believers who have gotten too comfortable, who are too at home in the world.
Related Sermon Illustrations
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Two Oars
Contributed by Dylan Potter on Aug 22, 2003
Two Oars A familiar story tells of an old Scotsman who operated a rowboat to transport passengers. On one oar he had written the word Faith, while the other bore the word Works. The point of the story, of course, is that pulling on either oar alone would simply make ...read more
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The Late Vance Havner's Wife Was Also Named ... PRO
Contributed by Thomas Black on Feb 2, 2005
The late Vance Havner’s wife was also named Sarah. Shortly after her untimely death, Warren Wiersbe met him at Moody Bible Institute, and expressed his condolences with the simple words, "I’m sorry to hear you lost your wife." Dr. Havner smiled and replied, "Son, when you know where something is, ...read more
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Chuck Swindoll In His Book Dropping Your Guard ... PRO
Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jul 31, 2003
Chuck Swindoll in his book Dropping Your Guard has to this to say about the importance of relationships with in the Body of Christ: Before anyone can ever be convinced of the value of involvement and mutuality, that person must come to terms with the consequences of isolationism. The fact is, we ...read more
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Rick Warren In His Book The Purpose Driven Life ... PRO
Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jul 31, 2003
Rick Warren in his book The Purpose Driven Life says, “Life is all about love!” “Because God is love, the most important lesson he wants you to learn on earth is how to love. It is in loving that we are most like him, so love is the foundation of every command he has given us; ...read more
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Leslie Parrot Has This To Say About Friendship ... PRO
Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jul 31, 2003
Leslie Parrot has this to say about friendship from the book Relationships: Friends make the ordinary-running errands or eating lunch, for example-extraordinarily fun. And good friends ease our pain and lighten our heavy load….Not only are friends good for the soul but for the body as well. ...read more
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