Signs of Spiritual CancerSigns of Spiritual Cancer

RED FLAGSRED FLAGSFor this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

1 Cor. 11:30

• 7 warning signs of cancer7 warning signs of cancer1.1. unusual bleedingunusual bleeding2.2. sore that does not healsore that does not heal3.3. change in restroom habitschange in restroom habits4.4. lump in the bodylump in the body5.5. nagging coughnagging cough6.6. change in moleschange in moles7.7. difficulty swallowingdifficulty swallowing

• Seven warning signs of cancerSeven warning signs of cancer• Men - 51% lifetime chance of cancerMen - 51% lifetime chance of cancer• Women - 36% lifetime riskWomen - 36% lifetime risk• Warning signs are “red flags”Warning signs are “red flags”• Examine “red flags” of spiritual cancerExamine “red flags” of spiritual cancer

2 TIM. 2:16-182 TIM. 2:16-18 But shun profane and idle babblings, for But shun profane and idle babblings, for

they will increase to more ungodliness. they will increase to more ungodliness. (17) And their message will spread like (17) And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, (18) who have strayed this sort, (18) who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.overthrow the faith of some.

LOSS OF APPETITELOSS OF APPETITEFOR GOD’S WORDFOR GOD’S WORD

• Soul lives by it, MATTHEW 4:4Soul lives by it, MATTHEW 4:4

But He answered But He answered and said, It is and said, It is written, Man shall written, Man shall not live by bread not live by bread alone, but by alone, but by every word that every word that proceeds out of proceeds out of the mouth of God.the mouth of God.

But He answered But He answered and said, It is and said, It is written, Man shall written, Man shall not live by bread not live by bread alone, but by alone, but by every word that every word that proceeds out of proceeds out of the mouth of God.the mouth of God.

• Soul lives by it, MATTHEW 4:4.Soul lives by it, MATTHEW 4:4.• More necessary than physical food, More necessary than physical food,

JOB 23:12.JOB 23:12.

I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food..

I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food..

• Soul lives by it, MATTHEW 4:4.Soul lives by it, MATTHEW 4:4.• More necessary than physical food, More necessary than physical food,

JOB 23:12JOB 23:12• God’s words are sweet, PSALM God’s words are sweet, PSALM

119:103119:103

NEGLECTING THENEGLECTING THEPOWER OF PRAYERPOWER OF PRAYER

• We need daily prayer, 1 THESS. 5:17We need daily prayer, 1 THESS. 5:17• Make requests known to God, Make requests known to God,

PHILIPPIANS 4:6PHILIPPIANS 4:6

• We need daily prayer, 1 THESS. 5:17We need daily prayer, 1 THESS. 5:17• Make requests known to God, Make requests known to God,

PHILIPPIANS 4:6PHILIPPIANS 4:6• We receive wisdom, JAMES 1:5-6We receive wisdom, JAMES 1:5-6

If any of you lacks If any of you lacks wisdomwisdom, let him , let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. tossed by the wind.

• We need daily prayer, 1 THESS. 5:17We need daily prayer, 1 THESS. 5:17• Make requests known to God, Make requests known to God,

PHILIPPIANS 4:6PHILIPPIANS 4:6• We receive wisdom, JAMES 1:5-6We receive wisdom, JAMES 1:5-6• We receive strength, COLOSSIANS We receive strength, COLOSSIANS

1:9-111:9-11

FAILING TO ASSEMBLEFAILING TO ASSEMBLEWITH THE SAINTSWITH THE SAINTS

not forsaking the not forsaking the assembling of assembling of ourselves together, ourselves together, as is the manner of as is the manner of some, but some, but exhorting one exhorting one another, and so another, and so much the more as much the more as you see the Day you see the Day approachingapproaching

not forsaking the not forsaking the assembling of assembling of ourselves together, ourselves together, as is the manner of as is the manner of some, but some, but exhorting one exhorting one another, and so another, and so much the more as much the more as you see the Day you see the Day approachingapproaching

• We are to provoke one another to We are to provoke one another to higher service, HEBREWS 10:24higher service, HEBREWS 10:24

And let us And let us consider one consider one another in another in order to stir up order to stir up love and good love and good works...works...

And let us And let us consider one consider one another in another in order to stir up order to stir up love and good love and good works...works...

• We are to provoke one another to We are to provoke one another to higher service, HEBREWS 10:24higher service, HEBREWS 10:24• We are to encourage one another, We are to encourage one another,

HEBREWS 3:13HEBREWS 3:13

And let us And let us consider one consider one another to another to provoke unto provoke unto love and to love and to good works:good works:

And let us And let us consider one consider one another to another to provoke unto provoke unto love and to love and to good works:good works:

But exhort one But exhort one another daily, another daily, while it is called while it is called Today; lest any of Today; lest any of you be hardened you be hardened through the through the deceitfulness of deceitfulness of sin.sin.

But exhort one But exhort one another daily, another daily, while it is called while it is called Today; lest any of Today; lest any of you be hardened you be hardened through the through the deceitfulness of deceitfulness of sin.sin.

• We are to provoke one another to We are to provoke one another to higher service, HEBREWS 10:24higher service, HEBREWS 10:24• We are to exhort one another, We are to exhort one another,

HEBREWS 3:13HEBREWS 3:13• How encouraging are empty pews?How encouraging are empty pews?

NO INVOLVEMENTNO INVOLVEMENTIN CHURCH WORKIN CHURCH WORK

• We ALL have work to do, EPHESIANS We ALL have work to do, EPHESIANS 4:164:16

from whom the whole body, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what joined and knit together by what every joint suppliesevery joint supplies, , according to according to the effective working by which the effective working by which every part does its shareevery part does its share, causes , causes growth of the body for the growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. edifying of itself in love.

from whom the whole body, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what joined and knit together by what every joint suppliesevery joint supplies, , according to according to the effective working by which the effective working by which every part does its shareevery part does its share, causes , causes growth of the body for the growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. edifying of itself in love.

• We ALL have work to do, EPHESIANS We ALL have work to do, EPHESIANS 4:164:16• If everyone worked like you, what If everyone worked like you, what

would get done?would get done?• If all were involved like you, how If all were involved like you, how

many would be involved?many would be involved?

A CRITICAL SPIRITA CRITICAL SPIRIT

• Some Christians will do little or Some Christians will do little or nothing.nothing.• BUT- they will criticizeBUT- they will criticize• Sanballat and Tobiah, NEH. 4:2-3 Sanballat and Tobiah, NEH. 4:2-3

• Some Christians will do little or Some Christians will do little or nothing.nothing.• BUT- they will criticizeBUT- they will criticize• Sanballat and Tobiah, NEH. 4:2-3Sanballat and Tobiah, NEH. 4:2-3• How many times have you heard:How many times have you heard:–Why did THEY do it like that?Why did THEY do it like that?–THEY didn’t do a very good job.THEY didn’t do a very good job.

LACK OF REGARDLACK OF REGARDFOR THE TRUTHFOR THE TRUTH

• Perverted truth destroys, Perverted truth destroys, GALATIANS 1:6-8.GALATIANS 1:6-8.

• Perverted truth destroys, Perverted truth destroys, GALATIANS 1:6-8.GALATIANS 1:6-8.• We must contend for the truth, We must contend for the truth,

JUDE 3JUDE 3

……it was needful for it was needful for me to write to you, me to write to you, and exhort you that and exhort you that you should you should earnestly contend earnestly contend for the faith which for the faith which was once delivered was once delivered to the saints.to the saints.

LACK OF SPIRITUALLACK OF SPIRITUALCONCERN FOR OTHERSCONCERN FOR OTHERS

• David was alone, PSALM 142:4David was alone, PSALM 142:4

Look on my right Look on my right hand and see, For hand and see, For there is no one there is no one who acknowledges who acknowledges me; Refuge has me; Refuge has failed me; No one failed me; No one cares for my soul.cares for my soul.

Look on my right Look on my right hand and see, For hand and see, For there is no one there is no one who acknowledges who acknowledges me; Refuge has me; Refuge has failed me; No one failed me; No one cares for my soul.cares for my soul.

• David was alone, PSALM 142:4David was alone, PSALM 142:4• There are many lonely people.There are many lonely people.• Many are looking for a better life.Many are looking for a better life.• We must “get out of self” and first We must “get out of self” and first

desire to help, ROMANS 10:1-2.desire to help, ROMANS 10:1-2.

RED FLAGS OF SPIRITUAL CANCERRED FLAGS OF SPIRITUAL CANCER

– Loss of appetite for God’s WordLoss of appetite for God’s Word– Neglecting the power of prayerNeglecting the power of prayer– Failure to assemble with saintsFailure to assemble with saints– Not involved in church workNot involved in church work– Critical spiritCritical spirit– Lack of regard for truthLack of regard for truth– Lack of spiritual concern for othersLack of spiritual concern for others

In Christ = SAVED

Baptized (Gal.3:27)

Confess (Rom.10:10)

Hear (Rom.10:17)

Believe (Jn.8:24)

Repent (Lk.13:3)