The Road Of Doubt That Leads To The Ditch Of Unbelief Series

Warnings from Hebrews

The road of doubt that leads to the ditch of unbelief.

Bryan Crumpler

INTRO:

WE NEED TO LISTEN TO WARNINGS

Illustration of warnings

1. Americans are getting warned to death. Manufactures are growing increasingly wary of being sued when their products are misused, so they are attaching warning labels to hundreds of items.

For example, a Batman outfit bears this caveat: “Parents, please exercise caution—FOR PLAY ONLY. Mask and cape are not protective; cape does not enable user to fly.

2. Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities.

Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing reported, "Light, bearing on the starboard bow."

"Is it steady or moving astern?" the captain called out.

The lookout replied, "Steady, Captain," which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.

The captain then called to the signalman, "Signal that ship: ’We are on a collision course, advise you change course twenty degrees.’"

Back came the signal, "Advisable for you to change course twenty degrees."

The captain said, "Send: "I’m a captain, change course twenty degrees.’"

"I’m a seaman second-class," came the reply. "You had better change course twenty degrees."

By that time the captain was furious. He spat out, "Send: ’I’m a battleship. Change course twenty degrees.’"

Back came the flashing light, "I’m a lighthouse."

We changed course

A WARNING FOR OUR TIME

ILL>"Dr. E.M. Blaiklock, a longtime professor of classics at the University of New Zealand and a noted biblical historian, made the startling statement: ’Of all the centuries, the twentieth is most like the first.’ If that is true, it is evident that twentieth-century Christians should thoroughly understand first-century Christianity. All the New Testament books help us in this regard, but perhaps none so practically as Acts and Hebrews. Preeminently in these two books appear flesh-and-blood believers struggling to overcome the stranglehold of past traditions and adjust to the fresh movements of God in their fast-changing world. Readers of Hebrews in the twentieth century will identify with the first recipients of this letter when they see how they struggled to hold on to their faith in Jesus in the midst of growing world chaos and powerful cultural pressures to return to a more comfortable past."

I. A SOLUMN WARNING (V.7-9,12-15).

“Deceit leads to Doubt and Doubt in turn leads Deliberate Unbelief in turn leads to Disobedience which leads to Deadly Rebellion”

ILL> G. Campbell Morgan had already enjoyed some success as a preacher by the time he was 19 years old. But then he was attacked by doubts about the Bible. The writings of various scientists and agnostics disturbed him (e.g., Charles Darwin, John Tyndall, Thomas Huxley, and Herbert Spencer). As he read their books and listened to debates, Morgan became more and more perplexed. What did he do? He cancelled all preaching engagements, put all the books in a cupboard and locked the door, and went to the bookstore and bought a new Bible. He said to himself, "I am no longer sure that this is what my father claims it to be--the Word of God. But of this I am sure. If it be the Word of God, and if I come to it with an unprejudiced and open mind, it will bring assurance to my soul of itself." The result? "That Bible found me!" said Morgan. The new assurance in 1883 gave him the motivation for his preaching and teaching ministry. He devoted himself to the study and preaching of God’s Word

Give me the benefit of your convictions, if you have any; but keep your doubts to yourself, for I have enough of my own

A. Deceitfulness of Sin Vs 13

B. Doubt (Day of provocation ) vs 8

“to put a question where God has put a period.”

they had Seen the miracles , plagues, red sea

C. Deliberate Unbelief vs 12

Evil heart grows up in you

Unbelief is the path it follows

(I don’t see it that way)

D. Disobedience

“Deceit leads to Doubt and Doubt in turn leads Deliberate Unbelief in turn leads to Disobedience which leads to Deadly Rebellion”

II. A SHAMEFUL TESTIMONY (VS. 10).

A. Grieving the heart of God (v.10a).

1. The Lord can be grieved with our lives.

(Eph 4:30)

a) Grieved by our lack of faith.

b) Grieved with our failure to obey.

c) Grieved with our poor choices.

B. Going astray continually from God (v.10b)

1. Err = ðëáíÜù = to go astray, wander, roam about to go

astray, sin. ; to sever or fall away from the truth.