Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Proverbs 29:1

In front of every unsaved person, there is a deadline. When crossed, you will be broken beyond repair.

Proverbs 29:1 reads: “He, that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” There are four thoughts to draw from this passage, so that we may never know the hopelessness of being broken beyond repair.

God deals with sinners over and over again, convicting us in loving patience. He speaks to us through the Holy Spirit and through sickness, through sorrow and heartache. God also speaks through His believers and through Scripture. But sometimes, when God convicts, we still rebel. (“He, that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck…”) A stiffened neck represents the refusal of God’s conviction.

Sometimes people harden their necks to the Gospel by procrastination. Postponing salvation is detrimental for three reasons: If you wait until tomorrow, you’ll lose tonight; something worse may come tomorrow, or tomorrow may not come.

Another way people harden their necks is by pride; many are afraid of what other people will think if they confess their sins.

But, as Adrian Rogers says, “The church is nothing but a society of sinners who've finally realized it and banded themselves together to do something about it.”

People also harden their necks because of worldly pleasures. They are afraid to give their hearts to Jesus because they are afraid of what they will have to give up. They forget that the only things God asks us to give up are things that hurt us.

When man rebels against God’s convictions and reaches that deadline, he will face sudden destruction.

His mind will be destroyed through strong delusion; because he has refused the truth, he will believe lies.

His spirit will be destroyed through spiritual desertion; the Holy Spirit will withdraw Himself from a rebellious man.

His body will be destroyed through sudden death.

Then he will face a settled condition (“...and that without remedy.”). Once he has crossed the deadline, judgment begins; there is no turning back. Once he is in hell, he is broken beyond repair.

What a powerful reminder to come to Jesus while we can.

Apply it to your life

This is the day to be saved. It is the day to listen to God’s conviction, give up your stubborn rebellion and change the settled condition, before it’s too late.