NORTH YORK CHURCH OF CHRIST

Aug. 11, 2019
Pastor Roger R. Marcos

How is Physical Death Related to Spiritual Death?"

The Bible has a great deal to say about death and, more importantly, what happens after death. Physical death and spiritual death are both a separation of one thing from another. Physical death is the separation of the soul from the body, and spiritual death is the separation of the soul from God. When understood in that way, the two concepts are very closely related, and both physical death and spiritual death are reflected in the very first references to death

Your decision today, both big and small, determine the direction your life will take tomorrow. Craig Groeschel

For the last weekend, Camp result is always been a successful one. I really appreciated your support the ministry a year to year camping 151 campers and 5 souls accepted the Lord Jesus.

Today, I will speak a topic which I believe you never hear yet, for sure upon hearing and understand this topic will push you to think because I wanted to show of some causes of SPIRITUAL DEATH AND HOW WE CAN PREVENT IT.

Spiritual Dead.

We were dead in sin but when we obeyed the Gospel we became alive through Christ.

Rom. 6:11 “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Eph. 2:1 “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins”

According to Jn. 3:5 when we are baptized, we are born again - of water and spirit, and made alive unto God

We Can Fall from Grace - or Die Spiritually.

Sardis - Revelation 3:1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, But You Are Dead.”

They had the reputation of being alive, but in reality they were dead

This is spiritual death rather than spiritual life.

Hymenaeus and Alexander - 1 Timothy 1:19-20 “made shipwreck of their faith”

1 Timothy 5:6 “But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives”

Pleasure - to satisfy the lust of the flesh

N.E.B. = “Is as good as dead” Dead = loss of spiritual life

When Physical Death Occurs it Leaves A Marks.

A crushed skull indicates a fatal blow to the head - stabbing indicates murder has taken place.

An autopsy can be performed on one who has died.

Postmortem Examination - an examination of a body after death to determine the cause of death.

Three Benefits of an Autopsy

1. Clears up the mystery of the death - shows what caused the death
2. Shows what damage was done to the body by the thing that caused the death
3. Teaches us how to live longer and better by what the doctors learn from the autopsy.

Spiritually speaking, a dead faith in a Christian leaves it mark on the soul

A Spiritual Autopsy can also be Beneficial:

• It shows what caused someone to die spiritually
• Shows the damage done to the Soul by Sin
• Shows us how to avoid the same fate.

In our spiritual autopsy, here are some things that have caused death

I. THICK SKULLED.

These are members who died because of a thick skull.

They died spiritually because they were “without understanding” Romans 1:31

They could have learned about God and His commandments, but they didn’t want to learn

They closed their eyes and stopped their ears to keep from learning the truth - Matt. 13:13-15

They preferred to be ignorant - willful ignorance - therefore they would not be responsible for doing anything in the church, or so they reasoned.

When we have no desire to understand, the devil snatches the seed of God out of our heart.

That is exactly what Jesus taught in the parable of the sower. Matthew 13:19 “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.”

2 Tim. 3:7 “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

The message of God will not penetrate into the mind of a thick-skulled person

The Cure could have been reading God’s Holy Word and communicating with Him thru prayer and some other religious gathering.

1 Timothy 4:13 young Timothy was encouraged to read the Word “Till I come, give attendance to reading”

James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and it shall be given him.”

If we hunger and thirst after righteousness, the Bible says in Matt. 5:6 that we will be filled or find satisfaction.

We have to open our eyes and ears and daily communicate with God in order to not become thick skulled

II. WORN JAWBONE.

Some members have died spiritually because of a jawbone worn extremely at the joints

This death was caused by Acute Verbosity- The Quality of Using More Words than Needed.

in Ecclesiastes 3:7 “there is a time to keep silence, and a time to speak”

Proverbs 10:19 “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.”

This death could have been prevented if the person had listened to Solomon and James

Ecclesiastes 5:2 “Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.”

James 1:19 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”

We often reverse the order, “We are quick to speak and slow to hear and swift to anger.”

Eph. 4:29 “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

Many spiritual deaths are caused by a worn out jawbone because our tongue can destroy our soul!

III. BROKEN NECK.

Some skeletons are found with a broken neck why?

This is caused from continuously looking backward to the things already done and in the past.

Grudges: Destroy marriages, Break Up Families, Ruin Friendship, Split Churches

Many people will not forget about the things already done for so many years.

We hold grudges in our heart which should have been forgotten - Mark 11:25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses” “forgive” = lay aside, leave, remit.

We remember the sins we have committed and let these hold us back now Sometimes we look back to the good we have done and think that is enough to keep us pure in the sight of God forever!

Some look back to the world, and even begin to live as they did before they became a Christian.

Philippians 3:13 “but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead”

Cure

Instead of looking back we should do as Paul said.

Phil. 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as Your Soul Prospers.” - 3 John 2