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.
“I asked your disciples to cast it out but they couldn’t but if you can do anything . . . . help my unbelief.” Mark 9
What has led you into doubt?
The Weed of Wavering
Wavering is like being tossed. When you take your eyes of Christ – you are like Peter while walking on the waters – looking at the waves rather than the Lord.
Romans 4:19-21 (Abraham) Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. [20] Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, [21] being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
How was he strengthened? By waiting for God, and praising God through the process. He learned through his mistakes (Ishmael), and saw the promises fulfilled (Isaac).
You are always in the process of discipleship – as long as you don’t give way to doubt!
The Weed of Withdrawal
Sadly, many a Christian have done the unthinkable and completely turned away. Over small conflicts, bad habits, or just laziness – they have changed teams.
It doesn’t matter how you start – it matters how you finish! You’ve had a marvelous experience with God in the past – GREAT! Now you have to maintain it.
- Some think that what they did in the beginning of their relationship with God will justify what they DON’T do at the end of their life with Christ.
Where weeds need only neglect . . .
What do plants need?
1. Seeds and Feed – the Word.
a. What is an effective fertilizer?
b. Manure – it’s not pleasant – but it’s effective.
c. The Word is our Fertilizer.
i. Faith comes by hearing – and hearing the Word of God.
d. Psalm 1 –
i. Blessed is the man who does not walk . . . but his delight is on the law of His God and on that law he does meditate both day and night . . .”
e. Are you a heard it all? “Pastor, I’ve heard it all before.” Like people on the plane.
f. Are you a know it all? “Pastor, that’s your interpretation.”
g. It reads from verse 1: Pay attention to what you have heard.
i. The Preaching of the Word must be heard regularly.
ii. So much of preaching is reminding.
iii. One thing that the Word does is “weed out” what the enemy likes to slip in.
2. Water – The Holy Spirit.
a. Have you neglected your salvation by rejecting the leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit in your life?
b. Galatians 3:3 “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?”
c. It is the Spirit that gives us insight into the deep things of God.
d. 1 Cor. 2:10 The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
3. Pruning - Discipline.
a. Jesus said: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. [2] He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. John 15:1-2
b. You need to prune your habits.
i. What do you need to let go?
ii. What needs to stay?
4. TCL – Tender Loving Care
a. Fellowship.
b. Corny church events that get people together.
i. Our events will never match the kind of events the world can offer you.
ii. BUT Jesus comes to our events!
c. STAY ACTIVE IN THE LIFE OF YOUR CHURCH!
i. Too many disciples still wearing diapers. Always complaining, always arguing, always needling.
ii. I’m always amused when people who skip church for 7 weeks say, “Why didn’t anyone call me?” The church didn’t go anywhere – you did – why not call us? Even if you are just calling to say, “I’m sick.” Or “I’m sick of church.”
iii. The Fellowship of the Saints.
iv. Some like to skip out – and get moving.
d. Prayer and Praise
e. Share your faith.
i. Have you become indifferent to the lost?
ii. Do you see unsaved people as your enemy instead of your mission field?
iii. It’s invigorating!
Neglect may seem harmless, but it can be the end of us!
Steve Irwin was best known for the wildly popular, wildly dangerous antics on "Crocodile Hunter," his long-running television program. During the 14 years that the documentary was on the air, Irwin survived countless snake bites, being chased up a tree by a deadly komodo dragon, being spat in the face by a red spitting cobra, and being pulled into the water by a massive crocodile. At the time of his death, he was in the Great Barrier Reef to film a documentary on the ocean’s deadliest creatures.
Ironically, it was one of the ocean’s least harmful creatures that delivered Irwin’s fatal blow. Due to poor weather, his team had stopped filming for the "Ocean’s Deadliest" series, and so Irwin decided to do some work for a children’s show that was to be hosted by his 8-year-old daughter, Bindi.
While swimming with his cameraman, he came across a 5-foot-wide stingray and began to follow along behind it. Stingrays are often called the "pussycats of the sea" because of their docile nature. In fact, they can be hand-fed by tourists on excursions from cruise-liners. Unfortunately, Irwin reportedly got a little too close to the animal, which thrust its poisonous, barbed tail upward in a defensive reflex. The 10-inch, serrated barb went into Irwin’s chest and pierced his heart.
He was only the 17th person in the entire world known to be killed by a stingray.
It may seem like a small issue – to neglect our salvation – by making little compromises over a long period of time – but after a while – it could be the end of us.
