Bible Verses
'So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.
Hebrews 2:1 NIV
INTRODUCTION:
Harvard University began as a school to equip pastors and ministers in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. St. Luke’s Medical Center was also founded by Christian Missionaries in the Philippines to help poor people and by helping them share the love of Jesus to the people. Today, the above-mentioned institutions drifted away from their founding purposes. What happened?
What about the United States of America? It is a common knowledge that it was founded with the Judeo-Christian Values and belief in the sovereign God.
How many Christians today are like the above institutions. Many drift away from their original purpose and calling along the highway of life.
CAUSES OF DRIFTING AWAY FROM THE FAITH
I – DISCONNECTION
'The people saw that a long time had passed and Moses had not come down from the mountain. So they gathered around Aaron and said, “Moses led us out of Egypt, but we don’t know what has happened to him. Make us gods who will lead us.”'
Exodus 32:1NCV
As long as the people of Israel were under the leadership of Moses, they follow the will of the Lord. But when Moses was disconnected with them for 40 days, they started to disobey God and build their own god. Vacuum in leadership is one of the reasons why people drift away from faith. Godly leaders are very important. Let us pray that God send godly leaders in our church, schools, companies and government to become the instrument of righteousness and blessing
When Joseph died, the vacuum in spiritual leadership in Egypt was created and the new king who did not know about Joseph’s accomplishment and contribution to their country started to persecute the people of God.
'Then a new king began to rule Egypt, who did not know who Joseph was. This king said to his people, “Look! The people of Israel are too many and too strong for us to handle! If we don’t make plans against them, the number of their people will grow even more. Then if there is a war, they might join our enemies and fight us and escape from the country!”'
Exodus 1:8-10 NCV
You see, the absence of God’s righteous leader who will provide the light and influence even in the majority of unbelieving people created havoc and chaos even the suffering of many innocent people for more than 400 years in Egypt. This kind of unbearable suffering has just ended when God called Moses who is arguably the best leader during the Old Testament.
Like Joseph, Daniel, Moses and many other heroes of faith, it is our responsibility to be the carrier of the light of Jesus in our own generation. Because if we will not do our part, many people will be affected and probably suffer because no men of God stand on the gap and carry the light of Jesus.
II – DECEPTION
'Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. '
Ephesians 4:14 NIV
Today, it takes spiritual maturity and devotion to the Word of God to spiritually discern the wide-spread of deceptions and lies circulating in social media. But the Word of God has already warned us that this perilous time will come when the enemy of our faith will use the weapon of deception so that even the elect will drift away if they will not be careful and faithful in their faith.
'For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time. '
Mark 13:22-23 NIV
Wolves in sheep clothing are rampant today. They are destroying the church and creating divisions. They are sowing the seed of rebellion and hates among the people of God and they are spreading the false teaching of self-centeredness though their feel-good gospel forgetting the Berean example of Christianity.
“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” Acts 17:11
Brethren, I warned you today that we are living in the period of deception. If we will not be careful using the full armor of God mentioned in the book of Ephesians, we will become victim and start to drift away from faith.
'For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. '
Ephesians 6:12-13 NIV
III – DESERTION
' Demas fell in love with this present world and has deserted me, going off to Thessalonica…
2 Timothy 4:10 GNT
Demas was a missionary with a great companion the caliber of St. Paul. But along the way, he deserted Paul and reason is because he fell in love with the offer of material world.
We must not be surprised to see a once passionate believer who drifted away from faith and decided to live a life away from the church and fellowship of God’s people. Why? Because it is already prophesied in Mathew Chapter 24.
'Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved. '
Matthew 24:12-13
This kind of decision is truly impractical, unreasonable and even foolish. Because by doing so, this man is swapping the eternal with temporary, the valuable with worthless, and life in exchange of death.
'What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? '
Mark 8:36-37
My friend, the only treasure that is worth living and dying for is our relationship with Jesus our savior. Jesus said:
'If you are ashamed of me and my words while living among sinful and faithless people, then I, the Son of Man, will also be ashamed of you when I make my appearance with my holy messengers in the glorious splendor of my Father!” '
Mark 8:38 TPT
IV – DOUBT (LACK OF FAITH)
'Just make sure you ask empowered by confident faith without doubting that you will receive. For the ambivalent person believes one minute and doubts the next. Being undecided makes you become like the rough seas driven and tossed by the wind. You’re up one minute and tossed down the next. When you are half-hearted and wavering it leaves you unstable. Can you really expect to receive anything from the Lord when you’re in that condition? When you are half-hearted and wavering it leaves you unstable. Can you really expect to receive anything from the Lord when you’re in that condition?'
James (Jacob) 1:6-8TPT
When you stop believing, you will drift away. You will be like a wave tossed by the wind. You will be unstable and the bible said that you will receive nothing. Why because faith is very important with God.
'And without faith living within us it would be impossible to please God. For we come to God in faith knowing that he is real and that he rewards the faith of those who passionately seek him.'
Hebrews 11:6TPT
V – DOING NOTHING
All that’s necessary for a life of drift is to relax, to do nothing, to cease struggling & to submit to the worldly influences within us and around us!” - Anonymous
CONCLUSION:
'So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. '
Colossians 2:6-7 NIV
