HOW TO AVOID A SPIRITUAL VIRUS
Text: Hebrews 12:14-17
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.
We spent millions of dollars developing vaccines to avoid contracting viruses that are harmful to our bodies. Computer hackers and even small time PC operators like myself spend money buying virus protections for our PC and laptops, but what about our Spirits, how do we vaccinate, or protect our Spirits from contracting a virus? The four don’ts to avoid spiritual viruses
1.DON’T be unfriendly; “A man of many companions may come to ruin but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Prov. 18:24
a. Unfriendly Christians are loners, they bring down criticism to themselves and are a discouragement to others
b. Friendliness shows God’s love. It shows warmth and acceptance, tells people you are welcomed here. Helps the body grow
c. Friendliness releases God’s power, it creates a desire in others to receive Christ as Savior too.
2. DON’T be unforgiving; “If you forgive others their sins Your Heavenly Father will also forgive you of yours.” Matt. 6;14
a. If we don’t forgive how can we expect God to forgive us.
b. We must forgive others in our heart although they do not ask for or want our forgiveness. There is no room for resentment in the life of a growing Christian. (Story of how forgiveness developed into a full time help in ministry of Paul)
c. Forgiveness erases bondage and guilt. It brings joy, peace, love and spiritual growth. Name one good thing to come from unforgiveness.
3. DON’T be unfaithful; “Be faithful even to the point of death and I will give you the crown of life.” Rev. 2:10 Jesus to the Church of Smyrna.
a. Many Christians are not faithful to God or his cause. We put God first in all things. Jesus said Seek first the kingdom of God and all its righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.
b. Faithfulness inspires confidence in the message, shows the power of God in the lives of Christians bringing others to Christ. When we are not faithful it tells the world we don’t take serious the message.
c. The Faithful will receive the “Crown of Life”
4. DON’T be unfruitful; “He who abides in me and I in him shall bear much fruit.” (John 15:5)
a. Many Christians are unfruitful. They never win others to Christ. Their interest is centered on themselves. What does a man profit if he gain the whole world and lose his soul.
b. We must be concerned for others. Help the needy, feed the hungry, pray for the unsaved, and we must care. “When I was hungry you fed me, naked you clothed me, in prison and visited me, sick and cared for me. When did we see you hungry, sick, in prison or naked, whenever you did this for the least of these my brothers you did it for me.”
c. Spiritual success means winning the lost to Christ. We must witness to the lost, encouraging them to come to Christ.
To avoid a Spiritual virus we must not be unfriendly, unforgiving, unfaithful, or unfruitful
