Drowning In Destruction

SEPTEMBER 9, 2001-----------WESTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH

PASTOR: TERRY VAUGHAN

SERMON TITLE: DROWNING INTO DESTRUCTION.......PAGE 1 OF 4

JOHN 3:16-18 “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. FOR GOD SENT NOT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD; BUT THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED. HE THAT BELIEVETH ON HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED: BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, BECAUSE HE HATH NOT BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.”

TURN IN YOUR BIBLES TO FIRST TIMOTHY 6:6-12 “BUT GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN. FOR WE BROUGHT NOTHING INTO THIS WORLD, AND IT IS CERTAIN WE CAN CARRY NOTHING OUT. AND HAVING FOOD AND RAINMENT LET US BE THEREWITH CONTENT. BUT THEY THAT WILL BE RICH FALL INTO TEMPTATION AND A SNARE, AND INTO MANY FOOLISH AND HURTFUL LUSTS, WHICH DROWN MEN IN DESTRUCTION AND PERDITION. FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL: WHICH WHILE SOME COVETED AFTER, THEY HAVE ERRED FROM THE FAITH, AND PIERCED THEMSELVES THROUGH WITH MANY SORROWS. BUT THOU, O MAN OF GOD, FLEE THESE THINGS; AND FOLLOW AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS, GODLINESS, FAITH, LOVE, PATIENCE, MEEKNESS. FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH, LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE, WHEREUNTO THOU ART ALSO CALLED, AND HAST PROFESSED A GOOD PROFESSION BEFORE MANY WITNESSES.”

I WANT TO PREACH TO YOU ON DROWNING IN DESTRUCTION. I FEEL LIKE WE’RE LIVING IN A DAY AND TIME WHERE THERE IS A GREAT FALLING AWAY. THAT’S WHAT THE WORD OF GOD SAID WOULD COME AND I BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT HAS COME. WE’RE LIVING IN AN AGE WHEN CHRISTIANS DON’T TO BE AS SERIOUS ABOUT GOD AS GOD IS SERIOUS ABOUT THEM. GOD LOVES YOU TODAY. HE SENT HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON TO DIE ON THE CROSS FOR YOUR SINS AND IF YOU’D ACCEPT HIM INTO YOUR HEART HE SAID HE’D SAVE YOU. BUT THERE’S A LOT OF CHRISTIANS DROWNING IN DESTRUCTION TODAY BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY ARE LIVING. REMEMBER THE SCRIPTURE IN MATTHEW 14 WHERE JESUS WAS THERE WALKING ON THE WATER AND PETER WAS THERE IN THE SHIP AND PETER SAID LORD IF IT BE THOU, BID ME COME UNTO THEE. JESUS SAID COME AND PETER BEGAN TO WALK ON THE WATER. I’M GLAD WHEN YOU HAVE JESUS IN YOUR HEART, ON YOUR MIND AND IN YOUR SOUL, YOU CAN WALK ON THE WATER WITH HIM. WHEN PETER TOOK HIS EYES OF JESUS THE BIBLE SAYS HE BEGAN TO SINK. INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON JESUS HE BEGAN TO LOOK AT THE WAVES AND THE WINDS. THERE’S A LOT OF CHRISTIANS TODAY THAT I BELIEVE ARE ON THEIR WAY DOWN. I BELIEVE THEIR SINKING BECAUSE OF THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD. I WANT YOU TO KNOW TODAY THAT CHRIST IS ABLE TO KEEP THAT WHICH HE HAS COMMITTED UNTO HIMSELF. BUT THERE’S A LOT OF CHRISTIANS THAT ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE MATERIAL THINGS INSTEAD OF THE SPIRITUAL THINGS. THANK GOD JOB SAID: “NAKED CAME I INTO MY MOTHERS WOMB AND NAKED SHALL I RETURN TITHER. THE LORD GIVETH AND THE LORD TAKETH AWAY.” THERE’S A LOT OF CHRISTIANS THAT’S NOT LOOKING AT WHAT THEY ALREADY HAVE. BUT THEIR LOOKING AT WHAT THEIR DESIRING TO HAVE. THAT’S THE WAY THE DEVIL WILL GET YOU DOWN. I THINK ABOUT MATTHEW 4 WHEN THE OLD DEVIL TEMPTED JESUS THERE IN THE WILDERNESS. THE DEVIL TOOK HIM UP TO A GREAT HIGH MOUNTAIN AND SHOWED HIM ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD AND HE SAID ALL THESE THINGS WILL I GIVE YOU IF YOU’LL FALL DOWN AND WORSHIP ME. THERE’S A LOT OF CHRISTIANS IN THAT POSITION TODAY. THERE UP ON THE DEVILS MOUNTAIN AND HE’S PAINTING A PRETTY PICTURE FOR THEM AND HE’S TRYING TO TELL THEM EVERYTHING’S ALL RIGHT IN THEIR LIFE. BUT I GOT NEWS FOR YOU TODAY, IF YOU AIN’T GOT JESUS, YOU’RE LOST

DROWNING IN DESTRUCTION.....PAGE 2 OF 4

TODAY. THERE’S A LOT OF CHRISTIANS THAT ARE LOOKING AT THE MATERIAL THINGS INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT THE SPIRITUAL THINGS. THE DEVIL WILL SHOW YOU WHAT YOU THINK YOU NEED AND WHEN YOU CAN’T GET IT, YOU’RE GOING TO GET DEPRESSED. THAT’S WHAT THE DEVIL WANTS YOU TO FEEL. THE DEVIL PAINTS A PRETTY PICTURE BUT YOU’RE THE ONE WHO SUFFERS FOR IT. HE HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE TRICKED. I WANT TO REMIND YOU OF WHAT PAUL SAID IN PHILIPPIANS 3:7 “BUT WHAT THINGS WERE GAIN TO ME, THOSE THINGS I COUNTED LOSS FOR CHRIST.” WE CAN DO WITHOUT A LOT OF THINGS, CAN’T WE? I LIKE THE STORY I READ THE OTHER DAY ABOUT THIS MAN THAT WAS WATCHING HIS NEIGHBOR. HE SAID HE HAD THE HOUSE FOR SALE AND PEOPLE WAS MOVING IN AND THEY HAD NICE FURNITURE, NICE CARS, LOTS OF KIDS WITH THE BEST TOYS MONEY COULD BUY. HE GOT UP AND WENT OVER AND INTRODUCED HIMSELF AND TOLD THEM IF THEY EVER NEEDED ANYTHING TO COME SEE HIM AND HE’D TELL THEM HOW TO LIVE THEIR LIFE.