How To Know If You Are Dying

Introduction

I. The word "checkup" is a popular word in our vocabulary. 

    A. Our cars need checkups.

    B. Our houses need termite checkups ever so often.

    C. Our bank books need checkups frequently.

    D. And, a general medical exam is known as a checkup. 


II. There is also a need for a spiritual checkup.

    A. Paul said, "examine yourselves..."  (2 Cor. 13:5).

    B. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your spiritual temperament?

    C. How much stronger are you now than when you became a Christian, 
	   or are you stronger...?  or, 

    D. Have you begun to feel like you are losing your salvation?

    E. Many Christians are in the process of dying spiritually.

 
III. Therefore, in this lesson I want to talk about dying.,

    A. I know this is not a very pleasant though, but we must 
       examine ourselves spiritually to be sure that we do not have 
       any of the symptoms of dying spiritually.

    B. There are some signs that can be an indication that we are 
       in trouble spiritually. 

         1. These are like the "Seven Signs of Cancer".

              a) "Any unusual bleeding or discharge from the body openings. 

              b) A lump or thickening in the breast.

              c) A sore that doesn't heal.

              d) Persistent change in bowel or bladder habits. 

              e) Persistent hoarseness or cough.

              f) Lasting indigestion, or difficulty in swallowing.

              g) Any change in a wart or mole on your body."

         2. Every time I read these "Seven Warning Signs" they make 
            me a bit nervous. 

    C.  I want to share with you "Seven Danger Signs of Dying Spiritually". 

         1. This is far more serious than physical cancer.

         2. As children of God, we must be careful about our 
            "spiritual health". 

         3. These 7 Signs can help you know if you are dying 
            spiritually after you have been born again. (BOARD)

         4. Let's take them up one at a time.


Body
I.   The Story Of The Cross No Longer Moves You.

      A. Some view it as foolishness.
           1. But it is God's power unto salvation (Rom. 1:16).
           2. It must be preached to every creature (Mk. 16:15, 16).

      B. You obeyed the gospel because the story of the cross moved you. 
           1. It must continue to motivate us.
Acts 4:12 - "Neither is there salvation in any other: for 
there is none other name..."
           2. The Lord's Supper helps us to remember it. 
I Cor. 11:24-27 – "And when he had given thanks, he brake [it], 
and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this 
do in remembrance of me.  After the same manner also [he took] 
the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new 
testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink [it], in 
remembrance of me.  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink 
this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.  Wherefore 
whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink [this] cup of the Lord, 
unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord."
                a. There is nothing more important to the Christian than 
                   his thoughts during this time of communion.
                b. It is a sin to not think about the sacrifice that was made, 
                   during communion, and we should be moved by the story.
 
      C. For many the story…has become no more than mere academic knowledge.
           1. They are bored when it is preached on - they have lost
              all excitement. 
           2. They are not moved when they hear a great sermon on it 
              nor when they take the Lord's Supper.
           3. The story of the cross as prophesied in Isaiah 53 moved
               the Eunich.  
Acts 8:26-39 - And the angel of the Lord spake unto 
Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down 
from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.  And he arose and went: and, 
behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace 
queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had 
come to Jerusalem for to worship,  Was returning, and sitting in his chariot 
read Esaias the prophet.  Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and 
join thyself to this chariot.  And Philip ran thither to [him], and heard him 
read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 
And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired 
Philip that he would come up and sit with him.  The place of the scripture 
which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a 
lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:  In his 
humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his 
generation? for his life is taken from the earth.  And the eunuch answered 
Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, 
or of some other man?  Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the 
same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.  And as they went on [their] 
way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, [here is] 
water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?  And Philip said, If thou 
believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I 
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot 
to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the 
eunuch; and he baptized him.  And when they were come up out of the 
water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw 
him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
      D. If the story of the cross no longer moves you it is a danger 
         sign - something is wrong with you!

II.  Have You Left Your First Love?

      A. We obey the commands of Jesus because we love him.
John 14:15 - "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
           1. This was true in the beginning of our Christian life.
           2. But now, after a period of time, many no longer move out of love.
  
      B. Like the church at Ephesus they have left their first love.
           1. 
Rev. 2:4 - "Never-the-less I have somewhat against thee, 
because thou has left thy first love."
            2. Just serving out of habit.
      C. If you have left or are in the process of leaving your first 
         love, you are in serious spiritual trouble.
           1. This will take great honesty of heart to admit.
           2. But we must not fool ourselves!

III.     Do Church (worship) Services Bore You?

      A. Do you feel like you just can't wait until the dismissal prayer?
           1. Many feel this way at every service.
           2. Like the Jews in O.T. times, they cry, 
"When will the sabbath be over."  Amos 8:5
      B. Some blame their boredom on the preacher.
           1. They say, "He just isn't interesting."
           2. It is true, preachers can get boring, especially when 
              they dwell constantly on the same thing, but it is 
              certainly not always preacher' fault.
           3. Preaching is a part of the worship and if you make an effort to 
              be interested you'll get something from most any sermon. 
      C. The point is, you may be dying spiritually if worship 
         services perpetually bore you. 


IV.     You Don't Have Any Interest In Saving Souls (Evangelism) 

      A. Perhaps you had it at one time but something has happened to it.

           1. You haven't attempted to teach the gospel for years and 
              lately your motivation to do so is at an all time low. 
           2.  Some begin to act as if they are ashamed. 

      B. Some think it is the "job" of the preacher or elders.
           1. "Let them do it," attitude.
           2. Won't "life a finger" to tell friends, neighbors, or family.

      C. This is not a Christ-like attitude.
           1. 
Luke 19:10 - “For the Son of man is come to seek that which was lost.”
           2. Christ gave the great commission...  
"Go ye into all the world..." (Mk. 16:15,16) 
           3. Angels in heaven rejoice when a sinner repents and we must too!

      D. It is a warning sign if you don't like to see the lost saved. 


V. Do The Things Of The World Attract You?

      A. It is possible for one to let the things of the world lead 
         him away from the Lord. 
           1. 
Luke 8:13-14 - "They on the rock are they, which, when 
they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no 
root, which for a while believe, and in time of 
temptation fall away.  And that which fell among thorns 
are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are 
choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, 
and bring no fruit to perfection."
           2. James tells us each man is tempted and drawn away by his
              own lusts (James 1:14-17).

      B. We must present our bodies a living sacrifice to God.
           1. 
Rom. 12:1-2 - "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the 
mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living 
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your 
reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: 
but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that 
ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and 
perfect, will of God."
           2. Paul tell us (Col. 1:11-13) that we are “called out of 
              darkness into light.”

      C. Worldliness was a problem with Demas - causing him to forsake Paul... 

      D. If worldliness attracts you and satisfies you to the extent 
         that you have begun to neglect your Christian duties, you 
         are dying spiritually. 

VI.     Are You Fooling Yourself?  

      A. The most deadly "cancer" is the undetectable kind.
            1. The Christian can fall into the trap of thinking all is well.
            2. But we must take "heed less we fall."
     
      B. Some think that God is "too loving" to punish.
            1. This is wrong when viewed in light of plain Bible passages. 
            2. True, God is "love" and is merciful, but He is also 
               "just" and to be just He MUST punish the evil doer.
 
      C. A Christian is dying if he is trying to fool himself that 
         all is well when he knows it is not. 

VII.    Are You Failing To Do What You Know You Should Do?

      A. Most Christians know what God's will is for their life.
            1. Yet, they drift from day to day without doing it. Why?
            2. Many are planning to get involved "someday".

      B. James wrote, 
"To Him, therefore, that knoweth to do good and 
doeth it not, to him it is sin."  (James 4:17)
              1. Many know they need to respond, but don't or will not.
              2. Many know they need to give more, but don't.

      C. Whatever it be, it is a danger sign to fail to do what you 
         know should be done. 

Conclusion
I.   What Should I Do If I suspect That I have One Or More 
     Of These "Seven Danger Signs of Cancer?"

     A. Common sense tells us that one should go to the doctor to 
        find out - if caught in the eerily stage it can be cured.

     B. One should do the same if he has one or more of the 
        "7 Danger Signs of Dying Spiritually". 
          1. God is our spiritual doctor and if we go to Him we can be 
             cured or saved from dying. 
          2. He is waiting and ready for us to come to Him.

II.   These Warning Signs Will Do Us No Good Unless We Seek To Recognize 
      Them and Make The Proper Application and Correction In Our Lives.

      A. To do so we must be honest with ourselves and have a genuine 
         desire to know the truth about our condition and to go to heaven.