Apostasy
April 28, 2013 Morning Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: We must not abandon following Jesus; He leads to life.
Focus Passage: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Supplemental Passage: But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NASB)
Introduction: How do you boil a live frog? If you put him in a pot of boiling water, he just jumps out. The way to do it is to sit him in a nice comfortable pot of lukewarm water and turn on the fire underneath. As the water warms up gradually, he doesn’t realize it. He will end up boiling alive. Apostasy is much the same. Seldom does someone go from a fully committed Christ follower to an apostate overnight. It is a gradual turning away. Each and every day we must evaluate our walk with Jesus to make sure we are following Him.
Definition of APOSTASY
1: renunciation of a religious faith
2: abandonment of a previous loyalty : defection
(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apostasy)
I. Apostasy of a nation
a. In the case of the USA: it is gradual
b. We get prayer out of schools, then out of gathering points
c. We change definitions of sin: abortion, homosexuality
d. We condemn people for telling the truth
II. Apostasy of a denomination
a. In the cases of several denominations: it is gradual
b. Fear of offending becoming the driving force
c. They stop singing blood songs
d. They don’t mention the “Blood of Christ”
e. They don’t talk about Hell
f. They open their doors to homosexual and lesbian priests and ministers
g. They stop telling the Truth
III. Apostasy of a person
a. In the case of most people: it is gradual
b. They stop reading the Bible
c. They stop attending Sunday School and/or prayer meeting
d. They turn church into a social event
e. They get bitter and grumpy, but still attend church
f. They never speak up in Truth for fear of offending someone
g. They always speak up to get something off their chest no matter who it hurts
h. They stop following Jesus and only have the appearance of being a Christian
i. They become a tool of Satan within the church, if they stay in church
j. If they stop going to church, they become apathetic or angry towards God
Invitation: How do you boil a live frog? How do you quit following Jesus? Heed the words of Paul, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5 NASB)
