Matters of Life and Death X

Larry Siegle
10/27/24 - Sun AM

Link to sermon video: Matters of Life and Death X - L Siegle

Matters of Life and Death X

“THE Practical Perspectives”

(Deut. 30:16-20)

Series:  Matters of Life and Death

Thesis:  Learning to understand and appreciate what God has set before each of us.

INTRODUCTION

1.    The title of this series is Matters of Life and Death

2.    This is the tenth installment in the series, the title of this specific message is, “THE Practical Perspectives”.

        a.     We are exploring what happens to a person when he dies?

        b.    What does the Bible teach about life after death?

        c.     What does the Bible teach about Hell?

        d.    What about the immortality of the human soul?

        e.     What about Heaven?

MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH IN DAILY REALITY

1.    The daily reality of ‘Matters of Life and Death’ is measured each day by what takes place between the moment of our

        birth and the time when we pass from this life.

        a.     It is the hyphen between the two dates—when we were born and when we died that describes the extent to

               which we have made a difference in the world around us (James 4:13-16; I Chron. 29:15; Psa 78:39)

               1)    What are we doing during this short span of time to make the world a better place for our friends, our

                       families, our children, our grandchildren?

               2)    We cannot afford to ignore the decay and decline that takes place in our country, and in our communities

                       that will have a negative effect on the coming ‘generations’

2.    As believers we have the responsibility of laying a ‘foundation’ of righteousness that will have a positive effect on

        future ‘generations’ (Rom. 13:1-7)

        a.     As people who live within a free country that allows each of us to have a part in shaping the future through the

               use of elected leaders, it is our privilege to participate by ‘voting’ into office those we believe will be best for

               ourselves and for the country in the future.

               1)    We cannot afford to become distracted by all of the emotional rhetoric and nonsense we are hearing from

                       the news media.

               2)    We cannot afford to simply vote based upon a ‘straight party ticket’—it is not about democrats or

               republicans—it is about the individual person who stands before each of us.

               a)    With regard to those issues with respect to morality—not based upon the ‘current trends’ of what is

                       considered ‘right’ or ‘wrong’—but based upon whether or not the person is someone God would be

                       pleased with as it pertains to moral issues (the Bible is not some outdated book, because human nature

                       has not changed)

               b)    With regard to those issues related to peace and security and the state of chaos in our world today—

                       wars, conflicts, the threat of a WWIII, where does a candidate stand on keeping our families and our

                       children safe and protected and how can the international situations be resolved?

               c)     With regard to those issues related to social issues including taxation, public assistance for those who

                       are poor or in need, how to strengthen the lives of people so they can live and find some prosperity in

                       our country—unemployment, social security, financial responsibility and accountability.

               d)    With regard to those issues related to the increase in crime and violence in our neighborhoods.  Here in

                       Warren, there are people going door-to-door and trying to get people to open the door to scam them

                       out of money, or to do harm to them.

               e)    With regard to those issues related to millions of people migrating into the United States without the

                       proper documentation, creating problems within the national infrastructure.

               f)     With regard to local school boards, and the teaching and values that are shaping and molding our

                       children—teachers have a tremendous responsibility in the time they spend with the children.

        b.    On November 4, when we go out to the voting places, it should be after having spent considerable time in prayer

               and contemplation of who it is that best reflects godly values in those areas just mentioned.

1.    We are living in a “world” and “society” that has changed over the past 50 or 60 years.

        a.     Like a ‘deadly virus’ the philosophy of postmodernism has ‘infected’ almost every area of our lives—especially as

               it relates to the ability to determine truth from error, and right from wrong (Isa. 5:7-26)

        b.    The standard of judgment is related to how we lived our lives (Psa 28:3-5; Isa 59:18, 19; Lam 3:64-66)

        c.     The ‘separation’ of the righteous and the wicked on the day of judgment was based upon what they had done or

               not done (Matt. 13:49; 16:27; Job 34:11)

               1)    Our thoughts, words and actions (Matt. 12:37; Prov. 18:21; Gal. 6:6-10)

THE GOD WHO TRANSFORMS PEOPLE “OUT OF DEATH” AND “INTO LIFE”  

1.    Jesus promised to raise believers “out of death” and “into life” (John 5:24).

2.    There must be a  “renewing of the mind” to cleanse us from the pollution of what we hear and see in the world

        around us (Rom. 12:1, 2).

3.    The evidence of being “renewed” in the spirit of our minds (Eph. 4:23; Col. 3:10)

4.    God will produce within us, the “fruit” of the Spirit (Gal. 5:17-24)