Deuteronomy 8:11
The sermon warns that prosperity can lead to spiritual peril by causing people to forget God and trust in their wealth instead.
Chuck Smith warns about the national peril that arises from forgetting God, especially during times of prosperity. He emphasizes that while people often fear external threats, the true danger lies in the complacency that comes with abundance, leading to misplaced trust in wealth and personal achievements. Smith highlights the importance of recognizing God's role in our success and warns against the temptation to credit ourselves for our prosperity. He calls for a return to acknowledging God in all aspects of life, especially as society increasingly strays from biblical values.
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"A TIME OF NATIONAL PERIL"
I. GOD'S WARNING OF THE PERIL TO COME.
A. We are sometimes prone to ignore God's warnings.
1. We feel they don't apply to us.
2. God never warns us needlessly.
3. The place where we will fail is the place we were warned about.
B. The peril was not where they expected it.
1. Not in the conquering of the land.
a. This is the aspect they had feared.
1. The high-walled cities.
2. The giants that dwelled in the land.
b. They knew that they could not conquer this land without the help
of God.
1. Thus, their own acknowledged weakness was their place of
strength.
2. "When I am weak then I am strong. God's strength is
perfected in my weakness."
3. "I will glory in my weakness that the power of Christ
might be revealed in me."
2. Not in the development of the land.
a. They may have feared invasion by some of the great nations while
they were still in the developmental state.
C. The peril would come with prosperity.
1. "When you have eaten and are full."
2. Living in beautiful homes.
3. Large herds and flocks.
4. Comfortable bank account.
II. THE PERIL.
A. Forgetting God.
1. We are forced to trust in God, when we have nothing else to trust in.
2. It is so easy to transfer our trust from God to our bank account or
retirement plan.
a. That's why more poor people serve the Lord than rich.
b. How hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom
of heaven.
c. "Not many rich" some but not many.
B. Misplaced credit, "My power, my might has gotten me this wealth."
1. I am soon conducting success seminars.
2. Taking bows for God.
3. Accepting the glory that belongs to Him.
C. Walking after other gods.
III. OUR NATION IS IN GREAT PERIL TODAY
A. We have conquered and developed the land and we are one of the richest lands in
the world.
1. We teach our children to bow their knees to:
a. Democratic form of government.
b. The free enterprise system.
2. We have forgotten God, and that it was God who made us great.
a. Constitutional rights are being made a mockery by our courts.
1. Right to engage in any kind of perverted activity you
might consent to.
2. Right to use filthy language.
3. No right to worship God or pray in public buildings.
4. Right to have gay clubs and witchcraft classes in
public schools.
5. No right to have Bible club.
B. God's testimony against them: "You shall surely perish."
Sermon Outline
- I points: - '{''A'': ''We are sometimes prone to ignore God''s warnings.'', ''B'': ''The peril was not where they expected it.'', ''C'': ''The peril would come with prosperity.''}' - GOD'S WARNING OF THE PERIL TO COME
- II points: - '{''A'': ''Forgetting God.'', ''B'': ''Misplaced credit.'', ''C'': ''Walking after other gods.''}' - THE PERIL
- III points: - '{''A'': ''We have conquered and developed the land.'', ''B'': ''God''s testimony against them.''}' - OUR NATION IS IN GREAT PERIL TODAY
Key Quotes
“When I am weak then I am strong. God's strength is perfected in my weakness.” — Chuck Smith
“I will glory in my weakness that the power of Christ might be revealed in me.” — Chuck Smith
“You shall surely perish.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- Reflect on where you place your trust and ensure it is in God rather than material wealth.
- Recognize the importance of God's warnings in your life and respond to them.
- Teach the next generation the significance of relying on God in times of prosperity.