1 Don Mc Clain W 65 th St

1 Don Mc. Clain W. 65 th St church of Christ 9/4/04

2 Apostasy doesn’t happen over night! Don Mc. Clain * 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 W. 65 th St church of Christ 9/4/04

3 If apostasy were impossibl e – then why all the warnings Don Mc. Clain * 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 W. 65 th St church of Christ 9/4/04 * John warns us – Rev 2

4 Some things we should know about drifting Don Mc. Clain * 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 W. 65 th St church of Christ 9/4/04 2: 8;

5 David is and example of one who drifted away from God 2 Sam 11 Don Mc. Clain * 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 9/4/04 Sam W. 65 th St church of-Christ 12: 10 -12, 14

6 Here are some warning signs that can help us identify Drifting Don Mc. Clain *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; W. 65 th St church of Christ 9/4/04 Rom 8: 1 -6

7 The scriptures teach us things to do that will keep us from drifting Don Mc. Clain *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. 65 th St church of Christ 9/4/04

8 * A Real Danger Apostasy doesn’t happen over night! Don Mc. Clain *We must focus on stopping apostasy at its source *Recognize the warning signs Can we see any of these in ourselves? * Bible Study * Prayer * Attendanc e * Evangelis m * Spiritual W. 65 th St church of Christ 9/4/04

9 * It is time to stop drifting – Don Mc. Clain 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. 65 th St church of Christ 9/4/04

10 * 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 Mc. Clain W. 65 th St church of Christ 9/4/04

11 Don Mc. Clain W. 65 th St church of Christ 9/4/04