Danger of the Truth
Text:
Ezek. 33:30 Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still
are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses,
and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I
pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD.
31
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before
thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do
them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth
after their covetousness.
32
And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a
pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy
words, but they do them not.
33
And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.
Introduction.
The aim of this message is to seek compliance to Truth through committed lives as opposed to acknowledged truths in complacent lives.
Israel never denied God, they only ignored Him. Their worship became ritualistic and habitual. God became the 'background music' for their lives and desires. There is a big difference between habitual and purposeful Christian living.
Proposition;
To acknowledge Truth without that Truth being acted upon, is a deceptive danger.
I.
Consider the danger in only acknowledging these truths;
A.
The existence of God may comfort us that we aren't orphans, spinning through space on a doomed sphere, hurtling to eventual destruction in the collapse of a chaotic universe. However, that comfort is like the short beds and narrow blankets of Isa.28:20 For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.
IF HE IS GOD, WE MUST BE SUBJECT TO HIM!
B. So easy to go to sleep and freeze to death! God made the plan of salvation simple so that anyone might understand and be saved. Many are lulled into the comfortable sleep of death by Satan's version of the simplicity of salvation. He serves up his arrangement as soothing background music and they peacefully doze off only to wake up in hell! II Tim.4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
1.Something smacks of superstition in every verse of Satan’s' song: The 'magic' of a prepared prayer is seen as an 'open sesame' to heaven. So, with the signing of a card, the raising of a hand. Then for the 'intellectual' he sings the verse about historical or philosophical belief without any commitment. For the ritualistic, he has a whole series of 'sacraments'.

2. The elements of a REAL salvation is more like the thunder of Wagner's music.! When you are saved you will KNOW it!. To hear the Gospel, be convicted, to repent and Trust is a life-changing event. You can't sleep through it!
3.
The Devil's version of security is a travesty of 'Amazing Grace'
Rom.6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as
Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even
so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

C.
The seductive perversion of God's love. I Tim. 4:4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1.
"He loves you so much he will give you lots of other opportunities"
The Truth is, God's grace does have limits. Deut.32:41 If
I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I
will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.
A.
Toward the human race. Gen.6:5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it
grieved him at his heart.
7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
Rev.10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

B.
Toward Nations. [Even his chosen nation} Amos 7:8 And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more:
Amos 8:2 And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.
Ezek.8:18 Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.

c.
Toward individuals. In both salvation and in service, there is a point of NO RETURN.
Luke 13:7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also,
till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
Ecc.11:3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.
I Cor 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

D.
The Siren Song of the future Promises of God. Satan doesn't care how much you know about it as long as you don't prepare for it!
1. 'Rewards' are great, but some of the saved won't have any.I Cor.3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare
it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall
receive a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

2.No Tears in Heaven, may be a beautiful song but Rev.21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. takes place 1,000
years AFTER the resurrection and judgment seat of Christ!.
It is not sufficient that we just keep on breathing until we die or are raptured.
3. The Bride of Christ is wonderful teaching but remember that even the best wedding music doesn't make a marriage.