Landmine Of Neglect Series

Landmines of Life

7 Landmines from the Book of Hebrews.

A Landmine . . .

- A tool of the enemy.

- Leads to your ultimate destruction.

- Undetectable without close observation.

- Doesn’t need maintenance and can last for several decades.

I learned this week that due to the large number of wars in which landmines were used so commonly, there are more than 100-million landmines located in 70 countries around the world, according to OneWorld International.

There are landmines in the Christian life that if we are not careful – we will fall into. Some of the landmines we are going to look at are methodical and slow acting. They settle in over time – like an attitude, or a sinful habit. Some of the landmines are quick and once they strike – they do unspeakable damage to the Body of Christ.

We have to avoid the landmines. The writer of the book of Hebrews exhorted the believers of his day to continue on in the faith. Hebrews has been called a long sermon rather than a letter or a book in the Bible.

Landmine #1

The Landmine of Neglecting your Salvation.

Hebrews 2:1-3 We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. [2] For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, [3] how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.

IMPORTANT: Not talking about rejecting salvation – it is talking about neglecting it. He’s talking to Christians.

Why is it a great salvation???

- The price of our redemption has been paid through the expensive blood.

- The penalty of our sin has been met.

- The one who makes the offer is great!

Have you neglected your salvation?

More spiritual problems are caused by neglect than perhaps by any other failure on our part.

NOT EVERY PROBLEM WE FACE IS THE DEVIL’S DOING! Most of our problems are our own fault because of years of neglecting the Word of God.

We avoid neglecting our salvation “so that we do not drift away.”

You either a drifter or a determine disciple.

How did Israel drift away?

Solomon – was the height of the nation of Israel. Everything was great and the nation was blessed. But we tend to look at that time frame through rose colored glasses.

Solomon’s time – great increase and success and blessing. But they forgot what the blessing was for.

Compare 1 Kings 6/7; 11 and Deut 17:14

Solomon introduced:

- Slavery.

- Severe taxation and labor practices.

- Sexual infidelity and adultery.

- Self-serving Possessions (13 years to build his palace only 7 on the Temple)

Neglect: It’s the difference between weeds and plants. Plants only grow when they are cared for and watered. Weeds grow only when they are neglected and left alone. Weeds in your life with Christ can grow if you have not maintained and cultivated the salvation of Christ in your life.

Neglect = Negative.

Neglected things become disrespected things.

A house that is neglected is a disgrace to the owner – a detriment to the neighborhood, and an embarrassment to the occupant. So too your salvation – if neglected can become an embarrassment to your church in the company of the people you are called to reach for Christ.

Neglected things become rejected things.

If you neglect something – it deteriorates. The natural order for created things is depreciation. Things left to alone lose their value, and eventually are condemned and must be torn down, thrown out, or discarded.

Salvation that is not cultivated leads to arrogance and apathy. And the end result if fruitlessness and a cutting away.

Romans 11:22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.

Neglected things become unredeemable things.

When you neglect something long enough – it can reach a place where you don’t even want to go near it. You ever just let the laundry pile up? And you get to the point where you see the pile and it gets to a point where you just don’t even want to look at it any longer?

Weeds only need neglect.

The progression:

The Weed of Worry

Worry begins where trust in God ends.

Worry comes in when Faith isn’t activated.

Proverbs 12:25 An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.

What are you not trusting God for?

The Weed of Weak Faith

Once we see that worry just leads to more worry and less dependence upon God – we weaken our faith.