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
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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.
WE CAN DO WITHOUT A LOT OF THINGS BUT WE CAN’T DO WITHOUT JESUS IN OUR LIFE. HE’S GOT TO BE THE CENTER OF OUR LIFE. DON’T YOU SIT THERE AND TELL ME CHRISTIANS AREN’T DROWNING IN DESTRUCTION. LOOK AT THE NUMBERS ON THE BOARD BEHIND ME. WEDNESDAY NIGHT OFFERING $43.00. OFFERING TODAY $371.00. SUNDAY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE 14. THERE IS 85 MEMBERS HERE AND IF EACH ONE OF YOU GAVE YOUR TEN PERCENT THIS CHURCH WOULD BE THRIVING. EVEN IF EVERYONE OF YOU GAVE $20.00 WHICH ISN’T EVEN CLOSE TO YOUR TEN PERCENT, THOSE FIGURES WOULD BE IN THE THOUSANDS. CHRISTIANS HAVE MORE THINGS ON THEIR MIND THAN GOD. THEIR BACKSLID OR THEIR LOST. CHRISTIANS CARE MORE ABOUT THEIR MONEY THAN THEY DO ABOUT GOD’S MONEY. THEY CARE MORE ABOUT THEIR HOUSE THAN THEY DO GOD’S HOUSE. THEY CARE MORE ABOUT THEIR WORK THAN THEY DO GOD’S WORK. YOU’RE LOOKING MORE AT THE MATERIAL THINGS IN YOUR LIFE THAN YOU ARE THE SPIRITUAL THINGS. IT’LL BRING YOU DOWN. IN THE BOOK OF PROVERBS 29 THE BIBLE SAYS THIS: “WHERE THERE IS NO VISION, THE PEOPLE PERISH.” WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT THE MATERIAL THINGS AND YOU LOSE YOUR VISION OF THE HEAVENLY THINGS, BLESS GOD YOU’LL START TO PERISH. YOU’LL SINK LIKE PETER DID EVERY TIME. YOU’LL START FEELING SAD INSTEAD OF GLAD. YOU’LL START FEELING DISCOURAGED INSTEAD OF ENCOURAGED. JOYCE SINGS A SONG CALLED HE’S ALL I NEED. HE IS ALL WE NEED. AMEN? VERSE 8 IN FIRST TIMOTHY SAYS HAVING FOOD AND RAINMENT LET US BE THEREWITH CONTENT. IT DOESN’T SAY ANYTHING ELSE. THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE NOT CONTENT TODAY. THEIR LOOKING AFTER THE MATERIAL THINGS INSTEAD OF THE SPIRITUAL THINGS. PAUL SAID IN GALATIANS 6:8 “FOR HE THAT SOWETH TO HIS FLESH REAP CORRUPTION; BUT HE THAT SOWETH TO THE SPIRIT SHALL OF THE SPIRIT REAP EVERLASTING LIFE.” THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE SOWING TO THE FLESH AND THEIR REAPING CORRUPTION. THEIR DROWNING IN THE DEVILS DESTRUCTION BECAUSE THEIR WORRYING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED. WHAT THEY HAVE NOW AND WHAT THEY WANT TO HAVE. ONE THING THAT YOU’LL LOSE WHEN YOU’RE DROWNING IN DESTRUCTION IS YOUR LOVE. IN MATTHEW 24:12 “AND BECAUSE INIQUITY SHALL ABOUND, THE LOVE OF MANY SHALL WAX COLD.” WHEN THEY START LOOKING AT THOSE NATURAL THINGS, THEY’LL LOSE THEIR LOVE. THEY WON’T LOVE THEIR PARENTS LIKE THEY SHOULD OR THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST. THEY WON’T LOVE A LOST AND A DYING WORLD LIKE THEIR SUPPOSED TO OR THE HOUSE OF GOD. THEY WON’T LOVE ATTENDING THE HOUSE OF GOD. THE BIBLE SAYS YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, ALL YOUR MIND AND ALL YOUR SOUL. THE DAY YOU STOP LOVING PEOPLE, YOU’RE NOT CHRIST LIKE. THE BIBLE TEACHES US TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES, TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
SECONDLY YOU’LL LOSE YOUR JOY, YOUR HAPPINESS. PROVERBS SAYS A MERRY HEART DOETH GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE BUT A BROKEN SPIRIT DRIETH THE BONES. A LOT OF CHRISTIANS TODAY HAVE BROKEN SPIRITS. HOW CAN YOU HAVE ANY JOY WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR LOVE. PEOPLE USED TO GET EXCITED ABOUT COMING TO GOD’S HOUSE.
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THEY USED TO GET EXCITED ABOUT WITNESSING TO LOST SOULS. EXCITED ABOUT SINGING THE PRAISES OF GOD. NOW THEIR GO AROUND WITH FROWNS ON THEIR FACES. WHEN JESUS SAVED ME I HAD NOTHING AND I STILL HAVE NOTHING BUT I DO HAVE JESUS CHRIST. WHEN GOD SAVED YOU, HE GAVE YOU SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT INSIDE. MATERIAL THINGS DO NOT MATTER. THESE BIG CHURCHES HAVE A LOT OF MATERIAL THINGS. JOYCE TALKED ABOUT IT IN SUNDAY SCHOOL TODAY. THEY HAVE BIG STEEPLES, CHOIR ROBES, CLASSES, NICE STEREO SYSTEMS. I’M REAL LEARY ABOUT THAT. THE BIBLE SAYS THEY SHALL GO WITH THEIR FLOCKS AND HERDS TO SEEK THE LORD AND THEY SHALL NOT FIND HIM FOR HE HATH WITHDRAWN HIMSELF FROM THEM. YOU DON’T HAVE TO HAVE FANCY ROBES TO WIN A LOST SOUL TO CHRIST. THESE BIG CHURCHES SPENDS THOUSANDS OF GOD’S MONEY UPKEEPING THE MATERIAL THINGS. IF CHRISTIANS WOULD READ THEIR BIBLE AND DEVOTE THEIR TIME TO GOD THEY WOULDN’T HAVE MARITAL PROBLEMS, THEY WOULDN’T NEED TO GO TO CLASSES OR PSYCHIATRISTS. TROUBLE IS WE HAVE A LOT OF CHRISTIANS WHO ARE EITHER BACKSLID OR THINK THEIR SAVED AND THEY AREN’T. MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN MARRIED 15 YEARS AND HAVE YET TO HAVE OUR FIRST ARGUMENT. WE STAY AS CLOSE TO GOD AS POSSIBLE. GOD IS IN YOUR HEART. IF YOU CAN’T FIND HIM IN YOUR OWN LIFE, DON’T EXPECT TO FIND HIM AT CHURCH. HAVE GOD WITH YOU EVERYDAY AND NOT JUST ON SUNDAYS.
IN EZEKIEL 7:25 “DESTRUCTION COMETH; AMD THEY SHALL SEEK PEACE, AND THERE SHALL BE NONE.” IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE PEACE THAT SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, HOW CAN YOU BE A GOOD CHRISTIAN? IF YOU DON’T HAVE LOVE, JOY AND PEACE IN YOU, HOW CAN YOU BE A GOOD CHRISTIAN? WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR TIME? HOW CAN WE BE CONTENT WITH SUCH THINGS AS WE HAVE? CONTENTMENT IS AN INNER PEACE THAT DOESN’T CHANGE NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTWARD CIRCUMSTANCES ARE. JESUS COME WALKING ON THE WATER AND SAID: “PEACE BE STILL.” IF YOU HAVE CHRIST, THERE CAN BE SOME PEACE. PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE. MY WIFE TOLD ME YESTERDAY THAT I DON’T SMILE ENOUGH. YOU KNOW SHE’S RIGHT. I GET TO LOOKING AT THIS WORLD AND IT’S HARD TO SMILE. I SEE THE TELEVISION AND HEAR THE NEWS ON THE RADIO. ALL IT IS, IS FILTH AND STUFF OF THE DEVIL. THE DEVILS MESSING UP PEOPLES LIVES BECAUSE THEIR LISTENING TO HIM INSTEAD OF GOD. BUT PRAISE GOD I HAVE SOMETHING ON THE INSIDE THAT MAKES ME NOT ONLY WANT TO SMILE BUT MAKES ME WANT TO LAUGH AND JUMP AND HOLLER. I THINK ABOUT THAT BOY IN THE BIBLE THAT HAD NEVER WALKED AND HE WAS IN FRONT OF THE TEMPLE EXPECTING ALMS AND PETER SAID: “SILVER AND GOLD HAVE I NONE BUT WHAT I HAVE, I GIVE UNTO THEE. IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, RISE AND WALK.” PETER WAS THE TREASURER. PEOPLE CAME WANTING MONEY ALL THE TIME. PETER SAID I HAVE NO MONEY. YOU KNOW WHY HE DIDN’T HAVE ANY MONEY? BECAUSE IT WAS GOD’S MONEY. THAT OLD BOY ROSE AND WALKED. THEY SEEN THAT OLD BOY WALKING, LEAPING AND PRAISING GOD. IF YOU GET EVERYTHING RIGHT WITH GOD YOU’LL SHOUT AND YOU’LL LEAP AND YOU’LL JUMP FOR JOY AND SING THE PRAISES OF GOD ONCE IN A WHILE.
MATERIAL THINGS CAN NEVER BRING CONTENTMENT TO YOUR LIFE. THEY’LL NEVER BRING YOU PEACE. MATERIAL THINGS WILL NEVER LAST.
IN HEBREWS 11:24 “BY FAITH MOSES, WHEN HE WAS COME TO YEARS, REFUSED TO BE CALLED THE SON OF PHARAOH’S DAUGHTER. CHOOSING RATHER TO SUFFER AFFLICTION WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD, THAN TO ENJOY THE PLEASURES OF SIN FOR A SEASON.”
THIRDLY, MATERIAL THINGS WILL LEAD YOU TO SIN. THEY’LL CAUSE YOU TO SIN EVERY TIME. WE OUGHT TO DO LIKE JESUS DID AND SAY TO THE DEVIL, GET THEE HENCE. WE NEED TO FLEE THE DEVIL AND FOLLOW AFTER GOD. A LOT OF CHRISTIANS ARE DOING IT BACKWARDS. THEIR FLEEING FROM GOD AND FOLLOWING AFTER THE DEVIL. JAMES SAID IF ANY MAN BE A FRIEND OF THE WORLD HE IS AN ENEMY OF GOD.
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WE’RE SUPPOSED TO TRUST GOD. IF YOU TRUST HIM, YOU’LL NOT WORRY ABOUT MATERIAL THINGS. HE COULD COME BACK RIGHT NOW AND CALL YOU HOME. IF YOU’RE SAVED THEN YOU’RE ALL RIGHT. DON’T TRUST IN THE WORLD. TRUST IN YOUR SAVIOR! YOUR CHRISTIAN WALK WITH THE LORD IS SO FAR FROM WHERE IT SHOULD BE.
YOU’VE GOT SO MUCH GOING ON IN YOUR NATURAL LIFE THAT YOU CAN NOT CONCENTRATE ON GOD. I WORK ON MY JOB 40 HOURS A WEEK OR MORE. I COME HOME AND HELP OUT WITH FAMILY AND CUTTING GRASS. THEN SUNDAYS I’M IN CHURCH ALL DAY. WORSHIPPING GOD IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH IN SUNDAY SCHOOL, MORNING WORSHIP, EVENING WORSHIP AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT SERVICE. IT’S LIKE YOUR WHOLE IS FILLED UP BUT I WONDER IS YOUR WHOLE SOUL FILLED UP? LET ME SAY THIS AND WE’LL CLOSE. BE CONTENT WITH SUCH THINGS AS YOU HAVE. YEARS AGO A PERSON IN THE CHURCH WOULD GET SICK AND THE ELDERLY WOMEN WOULD COOK THEM DINNER. WE’RE LIVING IN THE YOUNG GENERATION DON’T DO THAT. NOW A DAYS THEY WON’T EVEN GO VISIT YOU IN THE HOSPITAL. IF GOD MADE YOU A GOOD COOK, ARE YOU DOING IT FOR HIS GLORY? YOU CAN DO THAT. GOD’S GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME TALENT TO USE. ASK GOD THIS QUESTION: GOD WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU? GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER. HE LOVES YOU WHEN YOU GIVE GOOD THINGS TO OTHERS. HE’LL ALWAYS PAY YOU BACK. MORE THAN WHAT YOU HAD IN THE BEGINNING.
IN GALATIANS 5:22 THERE’S NINE FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD. THE FIRST THREE SAYS “THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, AND PEACE.” THAT’S THE THREE WE COVERED TODAY. ISN’T IT A SHAME WE’RE TRUSTING IN THE MATERIAL THINGS AND LOSING OUT ON THE SPIRITUAL THINGS. NOW LET ME SHARE THIS LAST VERSE. IT’S IN SECOND CORINTHIANS 3:5-10 “NOT THAT WE ARE SUFFICIENT OF OURSELVES TO THINK ANY THING AS OF OURSELVES; BUT OUR SUFFICIENCY IS OF GOD.” I LIKE WHAT PAUL SAID IN SECOND CORINTHIANS 4:7 “WE HAVE THIS TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS, THAT THE EXCELLENCY OF THE POWER MAY BE OF GOD, AND NOT OF US. WE ARE TROUBLED ON EVERY SIDE, YET NOT DISTRESSED; WE ARE PERPLEXED, BUT NOT IN DESPAIR; PERSECUTED, BUT NOT FORSAKEN; CAST DOWN, BUT NOT DESTROYED. ALWAYS BEARING ABOUT IN THE BODY THE DYING OF THE LORD JESUS, THAT THE LIFE ALSO OF JESUS MIGHT BE MADE MANIFEST IN OUR BODY.”
LET US PRAY: LORD, FORGIVE ME. PLEASE GIVE ME BACK THE THINGS I NEED IN MY SPIRITUAL LIFE. HELP ME TO REALIZE THAT I DON’T NEED THESE MATERIAL THINGS. REMIND ME THAT I CAN’T TAKE THEM WITH ME WHEN I LEAVE THIS WORLD AND THEY SERVE NO EARTHLY PURPOSE BUT TO DISTRACT ME FROM DOING YOU WILL. IN JESUS NAME I PRAY.
