Spiritual Anemia
TEXT
: 1 Cor. 11:30INTRODUCTION
:A. MANY THINGS RIGHT & WRONG WITH THE CHURCH – ANEMIA.
B. WHAT IS ANEMIA – Greek derivitive, "no blood."
1. Def.: "A condition in which the red corpuscles of the blood are reduced in
number, or deficient hemoglobin."
2. Symptoms: "Palor, shortness of breath and palpitation of the heart."
3. Sometimes a synonym for weakness.
C. SPIRITUAL ANEMIA IS VERY DANGEROUS.
I.
POSSIBILITY OF SPIRITUAL ANEMIA.A. NT CHURCH HAD WEAK MEMBERS( Rom. 15:1; 1 Cor. 11:30; 1 Thess. 5:14 ).
B. OTHER TERMS DESCRIBE THE ANEMIC CHRISTIAN:
1. Divided allegiances, no conviction ( Matt. 6:24 ).
2. Slow of pace, no purpose ( Gal. 5:7 ).
3. Lukewarm ( Rev. 3:10 ).
C. WEAKNESS OF FAITH OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG PERSONALITY.
D. SPIRITUAL IMMATURIY ( 1 Cor. 3:1; Heb. 5:11-12 ).
II.
SYMPTOMS OF SPIRITUAL ANEMIA.A. WEAK IN RESISTANCE.
1. To temptation ( Eph. 6:10,16 ). Offers excuse that all are weak.
2. To error ( Eph. 4:14 ). Ashamed or ignorant of truth – blows back and forth.
3. To offenses ( Eph. 4:2 ). Thin blood and skin go together.
B. WEAK IN APPETITE ( Matt. 5:6; 1 Pet. 2:1-2 ).
1. Babies and milk – Toddlers after first exposure to sweets.
2. Anemic Christian has appetite for other things – ballgames, movies, TV.
3. No appreciation for
a. Strong meat – First principles only – hates to chew ( Heb. 5:12-14 ).
b. Distinctive preaching – Must be positive, not negative.
c. Admonitions to study – too weak to come to the table.
C. WEAK IN EXERCISE.
1. Spiritual exercise is essential ( 1 Tim. 4:8; Heb. 5:14 ).
2. Anemic Christian gets plenty of exercise elsewhere – too busy to serve.
3. Too busy, too tired, entangled.
D. WEAK IN ESTIMATE OF ONE’S ABILITY.
1, Overestimates ( Rom. 12:3 ).
2. Underestimates ( Phil. 2:13; 4:13 ).
E. WEAK IN CONSCIENCE.
1. Ignorant of God’s will ( 1 Cor. 8:7 ).
2. Unconcerned for others ( 1 Cor. 8:13 ).
III.
PROPER TREATMENT.A. NOT TO DESPISE ( 1 Cor. 9:22; Rom. 15:1 ).
B. WE ARE TO BEAR WITH THEM AND ADMONISH ( 2 Thess. 3:15; Gal. 6:1 ).
C. THE ATTITUDE OF JESUS.
1. He understands that we start as babies ( 1 Pet. 2:1-2 ).
2. He expects to grow ( Heb. 5:12; Eph. 4:11-14 ).
CONCLUSION
:A. IF WE ARE ANEMIC WE NEED TO REALIZE THE DANGER.
B. WE NEED TO BE CONSIOUS OF OTHERS’ NEEDS.