Lest We Drift
A. “DRIFT” (asv), “SLIP” (kjv). NAUTICAL TERM, IN THE CURRENT.
B. NEARLY ALL DEPARTURES FROM GOD ARE GRADUAL – INADVERTENT.
1. Israel had a good start (Ex. 19:8).
2. But the forgot (Psa. 106:13; Jer. 2:32).
A. IGNORANCE.
1. The curse of Israel (Hos. 4:6-10).
2. The Sadducees (Matt. 22:29).
3. Only the truth can make us free (John 8:32).
4. But we must hear and learn the truth (John 6:44-45).
B. INDIFFERENCE.
1. The Laodiceans (Rev. 3:15-16).
2. Warning to the Hebrews (Heb. 10:28-30).
3. How can we be so indifferent?
Picture Jesus on the cross.
C. INVOLVEMENTS.
1. The Lord must come first (Matt. 6:24, 33).
2. Can we be distracted? (Matt. 13:7, 22; 2 Tim. 2:3-4).
D. WE MUST TAKE HEED … IT CAN HAPPEN TO ME (Heb. 4:1).
A. WE DRIFT FROM THE PROPER AUTHORITY.
1. To please God we must accept his authority (Jer. 10:23).
2. How does God direct us? (Psa. 119:105).
3. That word is our standard of judgment (John 12:48).
4. The word of God is the apostle’s teaching (Luke 10:16).
B. WE DRIFT FROM ALL MORAL STANDARDS.
1. Gen. 6:5. Could this be said of our generation?
2. New Morality or No Morality. Situation ethics.
3. Rom. 1:18-32. The refusal to acknowledge God and result.
4. God’s plea (2 Cor. 6:17 – 7:1).
C. WE DRIFT FROM SOUND DOCTRINE.
1. Paul’s warning (2 Tim. 1:13-14; 4:3-4).
2. Does it make a difference what one believes? Is there an “unsound” doctrine?
(Matt. 15:7-9, 12-14).
D. WE DRIFT FROM THE GREAT SALVATION (Heb. 2:3).
1. Great because of its price (1 Pet. 1:18-19).
2. Great because of its reward (John 6:68).
3. No other hope (Acts 4:12).
A. WE GO AFTER MATERIAL THINGS (Luke 12:15; Matt. 6:19-20; 16:24).
B. WE DRIFT INTO DENOMINATIONALISM.
1. Common perception accepts it. “Go with the flow.”
2. But (John 17:20-21; 1 Cor. 1:10-13).
3. The “flow” is always downward (Matt. 7:13-14).
C. WE DRIFT INTO LIBERALISM, CONDONING AND PRACTICING ERROR.
1. 2 John 9. “Whosoever goeth onward.”
2. 2 John 10-11. “Receive him not” (Rom. 16:17-18).
3. You don’t drift closer (2 Tim. 2:16-18).
A. IT TAKES STRENGTH NOT TO DRIFT (1 Cor. 16:13).
B. WE MUST TAKE HEED (Heb. 2:1).