Scriptures: (for study and Pastors PowerPoint) Amos 4:6, Hosea 4:17, James 3:6, John 5:16, Matthew 12:22-33, Matthew 7:21-23, Numbers 16:29-34, Proverbs 29:1
Summary: This is one sermon in a retelling of a famous historic sermon that shook continents. This particular sermon is a retelling of Evangelist, J. Harold Smith’s epic sermon, “God’s Three Deadlines.”
(Slide 2:) What are deadlines?
( slide 3) the latest time or date by which something should be completed.
Examples of deadlines:
- Financial obligations: Paying bills, taxes, or loan payments.
- Education: Submitting assignments, taking exams, or applying to colleges.
- Health: Doctor’s appointments, medication schedules, or fitness goals.
- Personal projects: Writing a book, painting a picture, or learning a new skill.
- Travel: Departure dates, travel arrangements, or booking accommodations.
- Relationships: Birthdays, anniversaries, or other special events.
- Self-improvement: Setting personal goals and deadlines for achieving them.
God’s Three Deadlines.
1. The Unpardonable Sin –
2. Sinning Away Your Day of Grace –
3. Sin Unto Death
First, we must realize that God looks at sin differently than we see sin. We seem to want more judgment and society does not pardon heinous crimes.
(Slide4)
Sergeant Cory Maynard was murdered.
West Virginia State Police, West Virginia
June 2, 2023 (approximate date)
CORY MAYNARD
Sergeant Cory Maynard was shot and killed while responding to a shooting call in the Beech Creek area of Mingo County at about 3:30 pm.
The subject opened fire on responding officers, fatally wounding Sergeant Maynard. The man fled the scene but was captured approximately six hours later.
Sergeant Maynard had served with the West Virginia State Police for over 15 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Let’s look at another example:
How about a crime close to my home? In Elkview? does the name Gavin Smith ring a bell?
(Slide 5, 6, 7)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — A teenager from Elkview, West Virginia who shot and killed four members of his family in 2020 was sentenced on Tuesday to the maximum time in prison.
Gavin Smith, 18, was found guilty during a trial in December of first-degree murder for the deaths of his stepfather, Daniel Dale Long, 37, mother, Risa Mae Saunders, 39, and brother, Jameson Long, 3. He was also found guilty of second-degree murder for the shooting death of his other brother, Gage Ripley, 12.
Yet, if anyone of these wretched people would repent of their sin – they would find that there is still Room at the Cross…Christ’s blood is yet able to atone for their sins. Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacey, Child Abusers, Murderers – – Yet – any if any of these criminals would give their heart to Jesus – their sins would be forgiven.
1. God’s first deadliest deadline is: What is the The Unpardonable Sin.
There are 66 Books of the Bible – and the most horrific words found in this Book is this: “Shall never be forgiven!”
, specifically referencing blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Jesus says in Matthew 12:32 and Mark 3:29 that such a sin will not be forgiven, either in this life or the life to come.
Elaboration: (Slide 8)
- Matthew 12:32:“Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.”
- Mark 3:29:“But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.”
What does it mean?
- Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is described as a persistent, hard-hearted rejection of the Gospel, an obstinate resistance to God’s grace, persistent unbelief, and an ongoing, continuous rejection of the Holy Spirit
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TRAN: What part of the body commits this sin? Is it the arm, the leg, the hand?
A. Tongue.
“The tongue is a fire…[it] is placed among the parts of our bodies; it pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell” (James 3:6).
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Example of blasphemy in scripture? Can we consider the sons of Korah?
B. Sons of Korah.
(Slide 9) Read on your own time and for sake of time right now we are going to just mention as a reference, Numbers 16:29-34.
They were saying – “God is not on his side – who is he to speak for God? He is a fraud!”
In Numbers 16:29-34, Moses challenges Korah, Dathan, and Abiram to die a normal death if their claim of being sent by the Lord is true. If the Lord were to do something new and the earth swallows them, they would know they had rejected the Lord. Moses’ words are fulfilled immediately as the ground splits open, and Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their families are swallowed alive, along with their belongings. The Israelites nearby flee in fear, believing the earth might swallow them too.
Numbers 16:29-34 in detail:
- 29: If these men die a natural death, the Lord has not sent me.
- 30: If the Lord creates a new thing and the earth swallows them, you will know they have rejected the Lord.
- 31: As Moses finishes speaking, the ground splits under them.
- 32: The earth swallows them, their families, and all their possessions.
- 33: They are buried alive in the pit, and everything they owned is swallowed with them.
- 34: The Israelites around them flee, fearing the earth will swallow them too.
Today, It would be better for you to take a hold of rattle snake & let his fangs invade your body with poison – than to continue the disrespect of God by dishonoring those who speak for the Lord. To speak against God’s servants is to be in danger of crossing God’s Deadline.
Jesus Christ walked this earth – the God-man – full of the Holy Spirit – the One who takes away the sin of the world. If you come to church & ascribe Jesus as a fraud – or the message his preachers who proclaim God’s Word in the power of the Holy Spirit to be not of God – – it will never be forgiven.
2. God second deadliest deadline is: Sinning away your day of grace.
Read, Proverbs 29:1. “…without a remedy.” This sin can be committed by a preacher – or the preacher’s best friend. This sin can be committed by the best of church members, a tither…a good person.
I am convinced that we have some very friendly people here – who are without Christ. There are people who are good church members – without Christ. You can be a member of the Hissom Family – but, you are not following Christ. Overall, the vast majority of our members have an appetite for spiritual things.
We do have people who identify themselves as being members, but do not attend regularly; they are not interested in spiritual things. They are nice people; they are pleasant people; but, they are unconcerned about the things of God.
Some people make no effort to come & worship on any regular basis. It is likely – that this majority of church members are in the process of sinning away their day of grace. They will come for funerals, business meetings, musicals – but not for prayer. Those who are unconcerned about spiritual things – may be sinning away their day of grace.
APP: We rationalize: “Well, what I’m doing is not against the law!”
Whose law are you referencing? God’s Law requires Christ’s blood to cover your sin! Many church people quickly jump to the argument that we are not under the Law! Yes, those “in Christ” are redeemed from being under the Law.
But, Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice & I know them & they follow Me.”
Too many folks are following the Crowd – not Christ!
Too many folks Are trusting in their your church membership!
Too many folks– are trusting in some words they heard from someone who has laid them astray!
(Slide 10)
Read, Matthew 7:21-23. “…I never knew you…”
Are you following Jesus?
Is your life one that is on the path of Jesus Christ?
If not – you are sinning away your day of grace.
TRAN: God says, “My Spirit will not always strive with the spirit of man.” (Genesis 6:3)
There is a day – when God will give up on you. Jesus intercedes for those who are His – “believers.” But – those who do not follow Him – will spend eternity in hell.
Example: while on Vacation at Summerville Campground – an older man told me that when he was younger – he felt that he should surrender to Christ. But, he refused. I urged him to come to Christ, but – he could not. He said, “I know I should give my life to Jesus – but – I simply have lost all my desire or care to do it.”
(Slide 11). In Hosea 4:17, God said “Ephriam is joined to his idols – let him alone.”
There comes a place in one’s life – when God will just leave you alone.
Jesus spoke of the people in Nazareth, “They could not believe.”
Not “would not” –
but “could not…believe.”
God says of those who have sinned away there day of grace: “Then shall they call – & I will not answer.”
Poem: Joseph Addison Alexander:
There is a time – we know not when – a place we know not where. That marks the destiny of men – from glory to despair. There is a line – by us unseen – which crosses every path. A hidden boundary between – God’s mercy – & His wrath.
ILL: I preached a funeral up in the town of Clay: where some rough men were in attendance. As soon as I said, “…the Lord Jesus Christ…” one man stood up & heckled me. He said, “I don’t believe in Jesus or Hell.” I looked right at that big, tough man & said, “Some day – you will.” I don’t know what happened to that man; but, I know what will happen to him. I believe he had already sinned away his day of grace. I felt no impulse to reach out to him. – I sensed the Holy Spirit telling me, “Leave him alone.”
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Are you saved?
Perhaps you have had people say to you….
“I go to church; I married a good church-person; my grandfather was a preacher; my mom taught Sunday School; I grew up in church; I’m better than most Christians…”
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3. Now let us look at the third deadliest deadline: .Sin unto death.
Read, (slide 12)
Amos 4:6 New International Version
6 “I gave you empty stomachs in every city
and lack of bread in every town,
yet you have not returned to me,”
declares the Lord.
If we harbor unconfessed sin – God will not always tolerate us! If you have given your life to Christ & then live a life a sin – born again believer: God will let your earthly life be given over to Satan!
Read, 1 Cor. 5:5, “…turn that one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord.” What is the sin in your life that you are harboring? Tithing? Resentment? Internet Porn or sexual addiction? Substance abuse? Temper? Spirit of Judgment?
Example: It is a miserable commentary of our Christian culture that approximately 2/3’s of our churches memberships don’t even come to church.
When you step over God’s deadline there are some holy & horrible things that are set into motion.
God signs you over to the devil.
You can call me to pray – but those prayers will be too late!
God says, “I’m signing his death warrant
the – I AM – is giving his earthly body to Satan to harm & kill him as he pleases.”
I am sure that there are people here physically, some watching and listening by Facebook, and some here reading this lesson
-who are planning to hang onto their sin. And – if you leave here today – unrepentant – you just may be steeping over God’s deadline in your life.
Maybe you are planning to lie about your income tax return;
maybe you are planning to divorce your spouse as soon as your children are grown;
maybe there is that secret sin that you plan to continue in;
maybe you have decided that you are going to attend those godless parties on Fridays or Saturdays & praising God with an unclean vessel on Sundays.
If you have sin in your heart – God knows about it! God may be signing that death warrant this very morning.
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Does God have His pen in hand – ready to sign your death warrant?
You say, “Preacher, I’m saved! I’ll go to heaven.” Yes…if you have accepted Christ as your Savior – you will go to heaven; but, without reward. Scripture calls it “saved…as by fire.” (I understand this is tough to swallow and you question me if it’s true here is the scripture you need to turn too: 1 Corinthians 3:15.) ( Slide 13)
• Blaspheming of the Holy Spirit: That sin of the tongue. Ascribing the work of the Holy Spirit to be of the devil. And you are damned forever.
• Sinning away your day of grace: You don’t have to speak a word, just harden your heart – stiffen your neck. Just like cement hardening – and the Spirit of God takes His flight – never to knock on your heart’s door again. And you are damned forever.
• Sin unto death: Committed only by a born-again believer. When a person commits a sin and refuses to repent – God reserves the right to put our bodies to death. God may send people to warn and/or encourage that person to repent – to return to the will of God – but they refuse to repent of their sin. God will chasten you & discipline you – until you repent. And if you do not come back to God – the number of your days on this earth will be taken from you. Christian, there is a “sin unto death.”
CONCLUSION: (Your Homework Questions)
1. Are you ready to do business with God?
2. If you are a child of God – are you ready to become honest to God?
3. Has your conduct, your character, your conversation been what it should be?
4. Are you about to step over – one of God’s Three Deadlines?
3. Sin Unto Death: The sin of a believer who will die prematurely.
