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Lest We Drift Away. Hebrews 2:1-3. The Danger of Drifting. Lest We Drift Away. Introduction. People can drift away – Heb 2:1; Gal 5:4 - Causes of drifting away – 2 Sam 11; Heb 2:3 Signs that one is drifting away – 1 John 2:15-17 What to do . . . .
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Lest We Drift Away Hebrews 2:1-3 The Danger of Drifting W. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04
Lest We Drift Away Introduction • People can drift away – Heb 2:1; Gal 5:4 - • Causes of drifting away – 2 Sam 11; Heb 2:3 • Signs that one is drifting away – 1 John 2:15-17 • What to do . . . Apostasy doesn’t happen over night! W. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04
Lest We Drift Away People can drift away • Peter warns us – 2 Peter 2:20-22 • James warns us – James 5:19,20 • Paul warns us – Hebrews 3:12-14; 6:11,12 • John warns us – Rev 2-3 If apostasy were impossible – then why all the warnings against it? W. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04
Lest We Drift Away People can drift away Some things we should know about drifting • Requires no effort - Heb 2:1 • An unconscious process - Rev 3:17 • We never drift upstream - Mat 7:13,14 • Speed downstream increases – 2 Pt 2:20 • Drifting is dangerous to others – Mal 2:8; • Ends in shipwreck – 1 Tim 1:19 W. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04
Lest We Drift Away Causes of drifting away David is and example of one who drifted away from God 2 Sam 11 • Idleness – 2 Sam 11:1 • Through the eyes a thought entered - 2 Sam 11:2 • He entertained the thought – 2 Sam 11:2,3 • He acted upon the thought - 2 Sam 11:4 • Because of prideful shame he attempted to cover up his sin - 2 Sam 11:5-27 • Nathaniel points the finger – 2 Sam 12:7 • David repents – 2 Sam 12:13 • David suffers life-long consequences - 2 Sam 12:10-12,14 W. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04
Lest We Drift Away Signs of drifting away • Diminished love for truth & increased love for entertainment – Ps 1:1-3 • Diminished engagement in prayer & and increased love for the world – Luke 18:1; 1 John 2:15-17 • Diminished desire to be with Christians – Ps 122:1 • Diminished desire to share the gospel – Acts 4:20; 8:4; 1 The 1:8 • Diminished spiritual mindedness – Col 3:1,2; Rom 8:1-6 Here are some warning signs that can help us identify Drifting W. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04
Lest We Drift Away Preventatives The scriptures teach us things to do that will keep us from drifting • Keep rowing – 1 Peter 1:5-10; Phili 3:12-15; Mark 13:33 • Watch out for undercurrents – 1 Cor 10:13; Mat 26:41; 1 Cor 15:33 • Expect to go against the tide – Mat 7:13,14; 2 Peter 2:1 • We must have strong anchorage – Col. 2:6,7; Eph 4:14,15; Eph 3:16-18; Heb 6:18,19 W. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04
Lest We Drift Away Conclusion • A Real Danger • We must focus on stopping apostasy at its source • Recognize the warning signs - Can we see any of these in ourselves? • Bible Study • Prayer • Attendance • Evangelism • Spiritual Growth • Salvation Apostasy doesn’t happen over night! NEGLECTING W. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04
Lest We Drift Away Conclusion • It is time to stop drifting – Hebrews 2:1-3 (NKJV) Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. [2] For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, [3] how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, W. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04
Lest We Drift Away Conclusion • It is time to stop drifting – 1 Cor. 15:58 (NKJV) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. W. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04