DO NOT NEGLECT YOURSELF

1 Tim 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the
hands of the presbytery.

Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the
Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Deut 6:12 Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the
house of bondage.

I. DO NOT NEGLECT YOUR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW THE TRUTH.

A. Study, listen, and consider.
1. John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then
are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

2. Rom 10:13-14 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall
they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have
not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

3. John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

B. The willingness to study and to change indicates the nobility of the honest heart
1. Acts 17:10-12 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who
coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica,
in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily,
whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which
were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

C. The dedicated Christian realizes the value of the sum total of God’s word.
1. Acts 20:27-32
27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you
overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and
day with tears.
32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up,
and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

2. 2 Peter 1:3-5
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the
knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the
divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

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 D. The lack of knowledge is a neglect the leads to destruction.
1. 2 Thess 1:7-9 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from
heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that
obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from
the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

II. DO NOT NEGLECT YOUR FAITH.

A. Continue stedfastly in true doctrine.
1. Acts 2:42-47
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in
prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat
their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as
should be saved.

B. Encourage the faith of others.

1. Acts 14:21-22 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they
returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and
exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the
kingdom of God.

2. 1 Tim 3:14-15 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long,
that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of
the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

3. Col 3:16-17 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And
whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the
Father by him.

III. DO NOT NEGLECT TO GROW.

A. We must have a hunger for the word.
1. 1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

2. 2 Thess 2:8-12
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall
destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of
the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

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 B. We must realize that neglect makes us weak.
1. Heb 5:12-14
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first
principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. Emphasize
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses
exercised to discern both good and evil.

C. Do not neglect to teach others.

1. 2 Tim 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou
to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

IV. DO NOT NEGLECT TO PRAY.

A. Prayer should be a constant part of our lives.
1. 1 Thess 5:17-18 Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus concerning you.

B. Pray for the spread of the gospel.

1. Eph 6:18-20 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto
with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me,
that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an
ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

2. Col 4:2-3 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us,
that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in
bonds:

Invitation: Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess Christ as the Son of God, Be Immersed for the remission of
sins, and then grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, remaining faithful until death.

If you are a Christian and have sinned publicly, then you are invited to remove your
separation from God by public repentance so that prayers can be offered with you and for you.