ALMOST

1. ALMOST

2. Agrippa Acts 26:28 "King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.'' Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian.'' Agrippa replied to Paul, "In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian." Felix is a better example of almost being persuaded. Acts 24:25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.'' Maybe tonight you will not almost be persuade, but persuaded all the way.

3. Psalms 73:2 But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped. Backsliding is Biblical expression. It is real condition. Jeremiah used the term 13 times. Hosea used it 3 times. It is also alluded to in The New Testament. John 6:66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

4. Galatians 5:4, 7 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? Luke 9:62 Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." Matthew 5:13 You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men.

5. II Peter 2:20-22 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit,'' and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.'' The Laodiceans were a whole church that had backslid, Revelation 3:14 -18.

6. What Causes People To Backslide? Doubts The Psalmist envied the world and doubted. Psalms 73:3 For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. Christians must put their trust in the Lord and not waver. Psalms 37:3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Hebrews 3:12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;

7. Evil Associates I Corinthians 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? I Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits.'' We should be examples to them. Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Too often we allow them to influence us.

8. Love Of The World II Timothy 4:10 For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica. I John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

9. James 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Failure To Go Forward Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

10. I Corinthians 15:58 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. Cares Of This World Matthew 13:22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. There is a lot of demands on our time, but God must come first. Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

11. Discouragement This is one of Satan’s greatest tools. Illness Domestic Problems Financial Setbacks James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

12. II Corinthians 4:16-17 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us. Hebrew 4:9, 11 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.

13. HAVE YOUR FEET SLIPPED? IF SO, DON’T BE ALMOST PERSUADE TO MAKE IT RIGHT

14. Given by David Hamlin on 10-25-09 pm Hollister, Missouri church of Christwww.hollisterchurchofchrist.org