Thou Has Destroyed Thyself
by Clennie C. Johns, Jr.
Preached 08/83 at Van Buren and 04/74 at Salem  in Kentucky

Intro.  The man who throws himself away seldom likes where he lands.  Israel threw herself away but didn't like where she landed.    Many have done likewise today but have not realized what the trouble is.  Man is his own worst enemy.  He stands in his own sunshine and casts many dark shadows.  We dig our own pitfalls, determine our own downfalls.  We make our beds that are hard to lie upon.  Consciences are made that are hard to live with.  We may shape our own destinies.  We are the ones who balance or unbalance the scales in the final analysis.  It's said that when looking for someone to blame don't turn your head when you pass your mirror.  It is not what in life might come to us, but what in life we might become, and how in life we might overcome, that will decide our life's outcomes.
     Israel is to blame for her failures (Hosea 14:1; 7:2; 8:7; 10:13).   According to Gal. 6:7-9-- We "reap what we sow."  In Proverbs 6:27 the question is asked "Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?"  Like Lot's wife we enslave ourselves.  Paul states, "Bui God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you."  Intentionally or unintentionally, Lot's wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt. [i.e. Boy in Sunday School: "My mother looked back (while driving) and turned into a telephone pole."]

 

 

I. OUR SINS WILL DESTROY US.
   1. Prov. 8:36-"But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul."
   2. Isa. 59:1-2- We sin and separate ourselves from God.
   3. Prov. 13:15- "Good understanding giveth favor, but the way of the transgressor
       is hard."  Also-- "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not."
   4. Sin will destroy us but we don't have to give consent.  Prov. 1; 1 Cor. 10:13.
   5. Israel, though told she had destroyed herself, was also told "But in me is
       thine help."  We don't have to let sin destroy us.
   6. Lean heavily upon Him.  Phil. 2:13- "For it is God which worketh in you both to
       will and to do of his good pleasure."
   7. "Repent and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, so iniquity shall not
       be your ruin."  Ezekiel 18:30.
       a. Israel further questioned: "Why will ye die, O house of Israel?" Ezek 18:31.
   8. Why will anyone die in his iniquities?  Matt. 24:12- "And because iniquity shall
       abound, the love of many shall wax cold."
   9. Judas went to his own place.  Acts 1:25.  He determined the place in which he
       would occupy in eternity.
  10. We have to meet a record being kept which will determine where we will
       spend eternity.  Let's not let sin destroy us.

 

 

II. OUR ATTITUDES CAN DESTROY US.  Attitude determines altitude.
    1. A penny for your thoughts.  Better eternity for your thoughts.
    2. For as he thinketh in his heart so is he.." Prov. 23:7.
    3. Man's position in life will be determined by his disposition.  Attitudes can
       destroy us.  We are happy, or miserable or optimistic or pesimistic, kind or
       unkind, forgiving or unforgiving, harbor malice or display mercy, all depending
       on our attitude.
   4. Certainly, attitudes of resentment, bitterness, hate, retaliation, envy, can
       certainly destroy a man.

 

 

III. OUR WORDS CAN DESTROY US.
     1. A passage that frightens: Matt. 12:36-37.
     2. Listen to the words of Solomon. Prov. 29:20- "Seest thou a man that is hasty
         in his words  There is more hope for a fool than of him."
     3. Oh how careful we ought to be in the words we speak.
     4. A timie to keep silent, and a time to speak.  Eccl. 3:1,7.  Work with hands,
        do or mind our business.
     5. For that reason we ought to "Study to be quiet."  1 Thess. 4:11.
     6. Be no hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of
        fools."  Eccl. 7:9.  Eph. 4:26-27- "Be ye angry and sin not.  Neither give
        place to the devil."
     7. Anger: One letter short of danger.
     8. Anger: An acid that destroys the vessel.
     9. James 1:19-20- "Wherefore my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to
        hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.   For the wrath of man worketh not the
        righteousness of God.
        See Prov. 16:32.

 

 

IV. OUR PRIDE CAN DESTROY US.
     1. Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Prov. 16:18.
     2. The Lord will destroy the house of the proud.  Prov. 15:25.
     3. A man's pride shall bring him low.  Prov. 29:23.
     4. God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.  James 4:6.
     5. Matt. 13:12.  Man's' pride can certainly destroy him.

 

 

V. OUR PREJUDICE CAN DESTROY US.
     1. Jesus said of some-- Matt. 13:15.
    2. Prejudice blinds man.
    3. But their minds were blinded--2 Cor. 3:14 (Israel).
    4. Making up mind and not listening can bring destruction.

 

 

VI. IGNORANCE CAN DESTROY US.  Sunday School teacher about boy's picture of
     a cowboy going into a saloon--boy: "Yes, but he isn't going to drink just to
     shoot an indian."
     1. My people are destroyed fo lack of knowledge- Hosea 4:6.
     2. If Satan can keep us away from a knowledge of God, he can keep us away
         from God.
     3. Jesus said some had taken away the key of knowledge. Luke 11:52.
     4. Thess. 1:7-8; 2 Tim. 2:15; Acts 17:30.

VII. INSINCERITY CAN DESTROY US.
       1. Hypocrisy has been the downfall of many.  Lack of integrity will ultimately
           bring great defeat.  Matt. 15:8- "This people draweth noghj..."
       2. Insincere in doing alms. Matt. 6:1-2.  Already received their reward.

 

 

VIII. INDIFFERENCE TO WHAT THE LORD HAS SAID WILL CERTAINLY
         DESTROY US.
       1. Indifference to the gospel commands.   Born again?  Really???
       2. Indifference to righteous living.