TEXT:  Luke 21:34-36

INTRODUCTION:

A.      OFTEN WARNED TO TAKE HEED.

B.      PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY EMPHASIZED.

          1.       Everyone will give answer( Rom. 14:12;  2 Cor. 5:10 ).

          2.       The standard?( Acts 17:30-31 ).

          3.       The depth of that judgment( Heb. 4:12-13 ).

C.      SO WE SHOULD TAKE HEED UNTO OURSELVES.

I.      LEST THE HEART BE OVERCHARGED WITH SURFEITING.

A.      SURFEITING, "Excess, overindulgence."  Webster.  Intemperance.

B.      PAUL'S REASONING BEFORE FELIX( Acts 24:25 ).

C.      EXCESS CAN COST US EVERYTHING( 1 Cor. 9:25-27 ).

D.      SURFEITING COMES FROM HAVING THE WRONG FOCUS( Phil. 3:18-19 ).

II.     WITH DRUNKENNESS.

A.      DRUNKENNESS CONDEMNED( 1 Pet. 4:3-4 ).

B.      SO IS ACTING AS THOUGH DRUNK:

          1.       Silly and irreverent( Eph. 5:3-5 ).

          2.       We are to be "sober"( Titus 2:1-8 ) "Reverent in demeanor."

          3.       Dependable and responsible are qualities deriving from this.

III.    THE CARES OF THIS LIFE.

A.      THERE IS COMPETITION FOR OUR COMMITMENT( Matt. 6:24 ).

B.      GOD IS LOST ON THOSE WHO WILL NOT LOOK AWAY FROM THE

          WORLD( Mark 4:19 ).

C.      WE ARE SOLDIERS IN A WAR FOR OUR SOULS( 2 Tim. 2:3-4 ).

D.      MAKE THE CHOICE( 1 John 2:15-17 )

IV.   LEST THAT DAY COME ON YOU SUDDENLY AS A SNARE.

A.      1 Thess. 5:1-4.  WHEN YOU DON'T EXPECT.

B.      Matt. 24:42-44.  "WATCH THEREFORE!"

C.      "AT EVERY SEASON"( Luke 21:36 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      IF WE LOSE OUR SOULS, WHAT WILL WE HAVE?( Matt. 16:25-26 ).

B.      WE NEED TO TAKE HEED TO OURSELVES.