Tickets to Hell : Part 3
INTRODUCTION.
A. In last week’s lesson we showed three types of “tickets” which would send a person to eternal torment in hell.
1. Ticket: Lack of Bible Study.
2. Ticket: Covetousness.
B. With this lesson, we will consider two more “tickets” to hell.
C. Important note: Repentance is possible. If one of these sins has a hold of you, you can repent, ask God to forgive you and turn away from that sin. Just because you possess a “ticket” now, does not mean that you cannot change. You can change your path today.
I. TICKET: APATHY
A. According to the Webster's dictionary, apathy is “1. lack of emotion; 2. lack of interest; listless condition; indifference.” Some synonyms for apathy would be impassiveness, indifference, lethargy, and unconcern.
B. The specific area of apathy for which we must be on guard is spiritual apathy. Spiritual apathy is seen in one’s lack of interest in spiritual areas. For instance:
1. Lack of interest in the church.
2. Lack of interest in studying God’s Word.
3. Lack of interest in prayer.
4. Lack of interest in Heaven and Hell.
C. Spiritual apathy can be manifested in several different ways.
1. A decrease in attendance at the Sunday evening service could be a sign of spiritual apathy.
2. Not attending Bible classes at all could be a sign of spiritual apathy.
3. A lack of interest shown toward visitors could be a sign of spiritual apathy.
4. A lack of support for local gospel meetings could be a sign of spiritual apathy.
D. Reasons why apathy is a sin.
1. Reason #1: Apathy weakens and destroys a local congregation.
a. When Christians grow apathetic, they allow the Lord’s work to go undone. When this happens, the local church will slowly weaken to the point of destruction. For example:
(1) Neglecting the services can and will discourage the weaker members who are struggling to stay faithful.
(2) Failing to encourage our weaker brethren or discouraged brethren will weaken the church.
(3) Neglecting Bible studies and other scriptural avenues of exhortation and encouragement will weaken the local church.
b. Christians are to be working to build up the church. We are not to be tearing it down.
(1) “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” (Romans 14:19, NKJV)
(2) “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.” (1 Corinthians 10:23, NKJV)
(3) “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, NKJV)
c. If we fail to edify, build up the local church, then we stand guilty of weakening the local church.
2. Reason # 2: Apathy causes spiritual needs to go unmet.
a. The lost of the world have spiritual needs to which we are to be attending.
(1) The gospel is God’s power of salvation. (Romans 1:16)
(2) A person cannot be converted without being properly taught the gospel of Christ. This need resulted in the command of Jesus to go teach the gospel to the world. (Mark 16:15,16; Matthew 28:18-20)
(3) The gospel is the only means through which God draws men. (John 6:44-45)
(4) We must be taking the gospel to the lost. However, when apathy develops within our minds, then the work of taking the gospel to the lost stops.
b. The weaker brethren have needs to which we are to be attending.
(1) The weaker Christians need the help of the stronger brethren. (I Thessalonians 5:14)
(2) Christians who are caught up in sin need members who are spiritually minded working to help restore them to the Lord.
(a) Galatians 6:1
(b) James 5:19-20
(3) If a stronger brother fails to help the weaker brother, he then stands in violation of the word of God.
c. When apathy develops, both the needs of the lost and the needs of the weaker brethren go unmet. As a result, souls may be lost if someone else does not take up the torch from where we have dropped it.
3. Reason # 3: Apathy causes a Christian to no longer put God first.
a. Spiritual indifference occurs because something or someone has taken priority over God in a Christian's life.
b. Christians are to seek first the kingdom of God. (Matthew 6:33) You cannot seek first the kingdom of God and, at the same time, place God second in your life.
c. To show the degree to which we are to place God first in our loves, consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 10:37-38.
d. Consider also the parable of the wedding feast. (Luke 14:15-35)
E. Apathy will cause us to miss the great salvation. (Hebrews 2:1-5)
1. In this passage, the writer asks the question, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?”
a. The writer was talking about escaping the “just reward” given to every transgression and disobedience.
b. Neglecting one’s salvation would cause that person to transgress the word of God, disobeying His commands.
2. What does it mean to neglect the great salvation?
a. The Greek word translated as “neglect” is ameleo {am-el-eh’-o}.
(1) “to be careless of, to neglect” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)
(2) “to be careless of:– make light of, neglect, be negligent, not regard.” (The new Strong's dictionary of Hebrew and Greek words)
b. How do we neglect or treat carelessly our great salvation?
(1) By not studying our Bibles. (2 Timothy 2:15)
(2) By not watching out for the devil. (1 Peter 5:8-9)
(3) By not escaping temptations. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
(4) By not seeking first the kingdom of God. (Matthew 6:33)
(5) By not doing the commands of the Lord. (Matthew 7:21)
CONCLUSION.
A. Remember: Do way with . . .
1. Sexual sins
2. Sins of anger
3. Sins committed when being unloving.
4. Sins brought on by not studying your Bible.
5. Sins brought on the spirit of covetousness or materialism.
6. Sins brought on by apathy.
B. Are you desiring to go to Heaven, then serve the heavenly Father.
1. If you are not yet a Christian, a child of God, then become one this morning by turning to Jesus Christ and obeying His gospel’s call to salvation.
2. If you are a Christian, but you have not been serving God. Maybe you are in possession of some of the tickets to hell, then it is high time to repent and ask God to forgive. Then walk the path that leads to heaven and avoid the path that leads to eternity in hell.
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Tickets to Hell : Part 3 -- October 5, 2003 -- File # - 1360
by John M. Duvall -- Lawton, OK