-
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
PowerPoint Transitions
+ New Slide
> Transition In
X Transition Out
______________________________________________________
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
+
- 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?
+
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?
7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
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