Sunday Sermons
Strengthening the Family - Part 6
By Pastor Dave Wilson
Nov 12, 2007, 11:35

Strengthening the Family - Part 6
Predators of the Family!

Predator: 1: One that preys, destroys, or devours

1) Predator #1: Internal: Selfcenteredness!

Matthew 12:35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

Mark 7:20b… "What comes out of a man is what makes him `unclean.' v21 For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, v22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. v23 All these evils come from inside and make a man `unclean.' "

A) Contributing factors to living selfishly:
1. Socially acceptable!

2. Role models!

3. Easy access to stimulants!

God’s design…

1. Spiritual
2. Emotional
3. Physical

Man’s design…

1. Physical
2. Emotional
3. Spiritual?

1. Do I hunger after God?
2. Does God’s Word govern my life?
3. Do I grieve over sin?
4. How quickly do I repent when I see my wrong?
5. Am I sensitive to the Spirit’s prompt in me?
6. Do I obey?
7. Is my faith growing?
Return to these questions regularly and ask God to help you every morning to run the race.

2) Predator #2: External: Worldliness!

A) What is “worldliness”? Simply livin’ life like
everyone else. (James 4:4-5)

When you just live like everyone else, your life and the fruits of your life will look like everyone else’s:
1. Constant busyness/Tyranny of the urgent.
2. Noise/distractions/entertainment.
3. Unspiritual thinking.

* The world’s system is a medium where love cannot survive, much less thrive! (I John 2:15-17)

* Loving like Jesus loves, IN THIS WORLD’S SYSTEM, is like trying to swim in playdoh!

B) The opposite of worldliness is holiness, which is simply being set apart, or different! (I Peter 1:14-16, John 15:18-21)
1. Instead of busyness, we are called to give our TIME to relationships, which leads to Love!
2. Instead of noise, we are called to silence and solitude, which lead to depth and passion!
3. Instead of unspiritual thinking, we are called to
KNOW and OBEY wisdom from God’s Word,
which leads to happy and harmonious lives!


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