Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04 1. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04 2 People can drift away – Heb 2:1; Gal 5:4 - Causes.

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04

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Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04

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People can drift People can drift away – Heb 2:1; Gal away – Heb 2:1; Gal 5:4 -5:4 -

Causes of drifting Causes of drifting away – 2 Sam 11; away – 2 Sam 11; Heb 2:3Heb 2:3

Signs that one is Signs that one is drifting away – 1 drifting away – 1 John 2:15-17John 2:15-17

What to do . . . What to do . . .

Apostasy

doesn’t happen

over night!

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04

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Peter warns us – 2 Peter warns us – 2 Peter 2:20-22Peter 2:20-22

James warns us – James warns us – James 5:19,20James 5:19,20

Paul warns us – Paul warns us – Hebrews 3:12-14; Hebrews 3:12-14; 6:11,126:11,12

John warns us – Rev John warns us – Rev 2-32-3

If apostasy

were impossible – then why all

the warnings against

it?

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04

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Requires no effort - Heb 2:1Requires no effort - Heb 2:1

An unconscious process - Rev An unconscious process - Rev 3:173:17

We never drift upstream - Mat We never drift upstream - Mat 7:13,147:13,14

Speed downstream increases – 2 Speed downstream increases – 2 Pt 2:20Pt 2:20

Drifting is dangerous to others – Drifting is dangerous to others – Mal 2:8; Mal 2:8;

Ends in shipwreck – 1 Tim 1:19Ends in shipwreck – 1 Tim 1:19

Some things

we should know about

drifting

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04

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Idleness – 2 Sam 11:1Idleness – 2 Sam 11:1 Through the eyes a thought entered - 2 Through the eyes a thought entered - 2

Sam 11:2Sam 11:2 He entertained the thought – 2 Sam He entertained the thought – 2 Sam

11:2,311:2,3 He acted upon the thought - 2 Sam He acted upon the thought - 2 Sam

11:411:4 Because of prideful shame he Because of prideful shame he

attempted to cover up his sin - 2 Sam attempted to cover up his sin - 2 Sam 11:5-2711:5-27

Nathaniel points the finger – 2 Sam Nathaniel points the finger – 2 Sam 12:712:7

David repents – 2 Sam 12:13David repents – 2 Sam 12:13 David suffers life-long consequences - David suffers life-long consequences -

2 Sam 12:10-12,142 Sam 12:10-12,14

David is and

example of one who

drifted away from God

2 Sam 11

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04

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Diminished love for truth & increased Diminished love for truth & increased love for entertainment – Ps 1:1-3love for entertainment – Ps 1:1-3

Diminished engagement in prayer & Diminished engagement in prayer & and increased love for the world – Luke and increased love for the world – Luke 18:1; 1 John 2:15-1718:1; 1 John 2:15-17

Diminished desire to be with Christians Diminished desire to be with Christians – Ps 122:1– Ps 122:1

Diminished desire to share the gospel – Diminished desire to share the gospel – Acts 4:20; 8:4; 1 The 1:8 Acts 4:20; 8:4; 1 The 1:8

Diminished spiritual mindedness – Col Diminished spiritual mindedness – Col 3:1,2; Rom 8:1-63:1,2; Rom 8:1-6

Here are some

warning signs

that can help us identify Drifting

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04

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Keep rowingKeep rowing – 1 Peter 1:5-10; – 1 Peter 1:5-10; Phili 3:12-15; Mark 13:33Phili 3:12-15; Mark 13:33

Watch out for undercurrentsWatch out for undercurrents – 1 Cor 10:13; Mat 26:41; 1 Cor – 1 Cor 10:13; Mat 26:41; 1 Cor 15:3315:33

Expect to go against the tideExpect to go against the tide – Mat 7:13,14; 2 Peter 2:1– Mat 7:13,14; 2 Peter 2:1

We must have strong We must have strong anchorageanchorage – Col. 2:6,7; Eph – Col. 2:6,7; Eph 4:14,15; Eph 3:16-18; Heb 4:14,15; Eph 3:16-18; Heb 6:18,196:18,19

The scriptures teach

us things to do that

will keep us from drifting

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04

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A Real A Real DangerDanger

We must We must focus on focus on stopping stopping apostasy at apostasy at its sourceits source

Recognize Recognize the warning the warning signs - signs - Can Can we see any of we see any of these in these in ourselves?ourselves?

Apostasy

doesn’t happen

over night!

Bible Bible Study Study

PrayerPrayer

Attendance Attendance

EvangelismEvangelism

Spiritual Spiritual GrowthGrowth

Salvation Salvation

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04

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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,

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04

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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.

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04

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