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  FROM BELLY TO CARDS OR DICE
  by Thomas Brooks
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Summary: This sermon warns against the dangers of luxury and self-
indulgence, emphasizing that these sins lead people away from God and
towards hell.

Topics: "Spiritual Ruin", "Luxury"
Scripture References: Luke 7:25, Luke 16:19, Luke 16:22

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DESCRIPTION
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Thomas Brooks emphasizes the dangers of luxury as a sin that is
particularly prevalent in society, warning that it is a God-dishonoring
and soul-damning behavior that can lead individuals away from salvation.
He cites biblical examples, such as the rich man in Luke, to illustrate
that those who indulge in luxury are often far from true repentance and
faith in Christ. Brooks argues that luxurious living is incompatible
with the teachings of Jesus and suggests that such individuals may not
genuinely be Christians. He highlights the rarity of reformation among
the luxurious, contrasting their lifestyle with the call to holiness and
self-denial. Ultimately, he warns that a life of luxury leads to
spiritual ruin and separation from God.

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CONTENT
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"Those who wear expensive clothes and indulge

in luxury are in palaces." Luke 7:25

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and

fine linen and lived in luxury every day." Luke 16:19

"The rich man also died and was buried. In hell,

where he was in torment," Luke 16:22-23

Luxury is one of the great darling sins of our age and day!

It is a very God-dishonoring sin, and a God-provoking sin,

and a soul-damning sin! It shuts them out from all the glory

of heaven--and tumbles them down to the lowest hell!

Look! no luxurious person shall enter into heaven. Of all

sorts of sinners--the luxurious sinner is most rarely reformed.

The adulterer may become chaste, the thief may become

an honest man, the swearer may obtain a sanctified tongue;

but how rare is it to see a luxurious person repent, break off

his sins, close with Christ, and walk to heaven!

Of such professors who live and wallow in luxury and

intemperance, if we compare Christ's laws and their

lives together, I think we may confidently conclude,

that they are not Christians. Panormitan, a heathen,

having read the 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters of Matthew,

and comparing those rules of Christ with the loose and

luxurious lives of professing Christians; concluded that

those people were not Christians.

Chrysostom preferred brute beasts before luxurious

people; for the beast goes from belly to labor; when

the luxurious person goes from belly to bed, or from

belly to cards or dice, if not to something worse!

"You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You

have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter." James 5:5

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/thomas-brooks/from-belly-to-cards-or-dice/
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