“This Year You Shall Die”

Text:  Jeremiah 28:16

INTRODUCTION:

A.      EXPLAIN THE CONTEXT OF JEREMIAH’S STATEMENT( Jer. 28 ).

B.      IF THIS STATEMENT WAS MADE TO YOU, HOW WOULD YOU REACT?

          1.       Not many days left in 1999!

          2.       What would you do?  What would you change?

I. TOWARD GOD?

A.      WOULD YOU HONOR AND RESPECT GOD MORE?

          ( Rev. 4:10, 11;  7:12; 19:1;  1 Tim. 1:17 ).  TWO ATTITUDES:

          1.       Neh. 8:4-5.  They stood up.

          2.       Mal. 1:6-8,  11-13.  Polluted bread.

          3.       Why have I started wearing a tie on Wednesday night?  He deserves better.

B.      LOVE GOD MORE?( Matt. 22:37;  Matt. 10:37 ).

C.      RESOLVE TO OBEY HIM BETTER?( 1 John 5:2-3;  Luke 6:46 ).

II.     ATTITUDE TOWARD THE CHURCH.

A.      WOULD YOUR PARTICIPATE MORE IN THE WORK?

          ( Acts 8:4;  1 Cor. 12:20-22;  Eph. 4:12-16 ).

B.      WOULD YOU TREASURE THE FELLOWSHIP OF YOUR BRETHREN?

          1.       In the work( Heb. 10:25;  James 4:17 ).

          2.       In your association?( Rom. 12:9-10 )

C.      WOULD THE CHURCH BE IN YOUR THINKING AT ALL?( Acts 20:28 ).

III.    TOWARD SIN.

A.      GOD HATES SIN, ALL SIN( Deut. 25:16 ).

B.      WE ARE TO HATE SIN, TOO( Prov. 8:13;  Prov. 29:27;  Psa. 119:128 ).

C.      THE BIBLE IS WHAT GOD GIVES US TO HELP US OVERCOME SIN

          ( Psa. 119:11;  Rom. 10:17;  Rom. 14:23 ).

D.      IF YOU HAD BEEN TOLD YOU WOULD DIE THIS YEAR, WOULD YOU:

          1.       Put off repentance?( 2 Cor. 6:1-2:  Rom. 6:1-2;  12;  Heb. 3:12-13 ).

          2.       Not even try to right the wrongs we have done?( Luke 19:8 ).

          3.       Go into denial about the fruits of our deeds?

                   ( Jer. 5:12, 13;  6:14;  Gal. 6:7-8;  2 Thess. 1:7-9 ).

          3.       Begin to live carefully, taking heed?( Eph. 5:15;  1 Cor. 10:12;  1 Pet. 5:8 ).

IV.   THE POSSIBILITY OF DEATH IS ALWAYS WITH US!

A.      EACH OF US IS LIVING UNDER A DEATH SENTENCE ( Ecc. 8:8 ).

B.      NO MAN HAS A GUARANTEE OF ANOTHER DAY( James 4:14, 15 ).

C.      JUDGMENT WILL COME UPON US AS A THIEF( 2 Peter 3:9-11 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      IF GOD TOLD YOU THAT YOU WOULD DIE THIS YEAR, WHAT WOULD

          YOU DO?

          1.       Are you a child of God?

          2.       Have you been faithful?

B.      WHY NOT GET READY NOW?( 2 Cor. 6:1-2 ).