Sermon Central
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Strengthening Sagging Hearts
Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Mar 1, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: Sagging Hearts 1. It’s Growth 2. Its Cause 3. It’s Result 4. It’s Evidence 5. It’s Remedy
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The Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas
- Women purchase approximately 85% of all valentines.
- 180 million red roses sold
- Flower sales $397 million
- In February 2006, Jewelry stores sold
$2.6 billion worth of merchandise
- 36 Million heart shape candy boxes
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- Our hearts at this time of year turn to
love – Buying the best
> 3 dozen roes $214.99
> Romantic Collection - bear, balloon,
chocolate $119.97 ,
> 12 roses with hugs (bear) $59.99
> One dozen with vase - $49.99
> Heart shape Godiva chocolate $65.oo
- What about our lives?
- Are we like an abandon building with
sagging floors
- Can’t be trusted or you go through
- Beams underneath rotten, missing or I
nfested with bugs
- Is this a picture of our lives?
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> Galatians 3:1
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
> Galatians 5:7
7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
> Hebrews 3:12
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
+ 1. The Growth Of Sagging Hearts
- Whatever occupies the chief place in our hearts & lives that takes the place of God will cause our heart to sag
- Sagging Hearts are not a crises
- It is a process
- A gradual sliding down the hill of
“Holiness Unto The Lord”
- A sliding into the low valley (basement) of the old- self-life
> X - I Jn 2:15-17
> Un-watchfulness ---- Neglect of Secret Fellowship - Trust in God
> I Jn 2:15-17 - Lust of the Flesh
Lust of the Eyes
Pride of Life
> X - LOT ----- Lust of the flesh
- Gen 13:5
> X - SAMSON - Pride of life
- Jud. 16:4-20
> X- DAVID ---- Lust of the flesh
- II Sam 11.1
+ 2. Cause Of A Sagging
Heart
> LOT - Worldly association in
business or companionship
> SAMSON - Un-equally yoked with
unbelievers
> DAVID - Harboring unclean thoughts
or feelings
- Lot & Samson Refused to make
confession after having sinned
- Only David - II Sam. 12:13
+ 3. Results Of Sagging Hearts
- LOT - Emptiness
> X - Gen. 19:30
- SAMSON - Humility
> X - Jud. 16 21-24
- DAVID - Pain
> II Sam 12.10-12
+ 4. Evidence of a
Sagging Heart – PSALMS 51
> v. 2-3 - Attracted to world pleasure
> v. 6 - Neglect of the Word
> v. 8 - Poor Christian Fellowship
> v. 10 - Discontent and fault-finding
> v. 12 - Satisfied with present
attainments in Sp. things
> v. 13 - Unconcern for Unsaved
> v. 17 - Little desire for prayer
+ 5. The Remedy For A
Sagging Heart
- Back to the old house
> Return - Take a look at what has been
abandon
> Recognize - Examine
> Repent - The Rot has to go
> Renounce - Replace with new sound
beams
> Restore - Relationship with Christ
