LEST WE DRIFT

Heb. 2:1-3

INTRODUCTION:

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).

I.      THREE MAJOR CAUSES OF DRIFTING.

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).

II.     WHEN WE DRIFT FROM THE WORD,

        WHAT ELSE DO WE DRIFT FROM?

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).

III.    WHEN WE DRIFT WHERE DO WE GO?

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).

CONCLUSION:

A.      IT TAKES STRENGTH NOT TO DRIFT (1 Cor. 16:13).

B.      WE MUST TAKE HEED (Heb. 2:1).