Beware of Falling Away

Beware of Falling Away 

by David Brenneman 

"But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,  by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer. In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.  It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.  For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers." 1 Timothy 4:1-10.

Do you guard your heart and mind?

Do you at all suit up in beginning your day?  

Do you simply believe everything taught in a church setting without searching it out in the Scriptures?

Beware of face value thinking.  We need to be in our Bibles daily, not on e every 7 days. 

We need to be in prayer not just once or maybe 3 times a day, but as often as the need presents itself.

There's no time to get lax about living the Christian life.  

Everything taught in a Life Group, Sunday School class, Adult Bible Fellowship class...ought to be firmly rooted in the Bible. Searched out to see if these things taught are so. Just as the example of the Berean Church gave.

Read the opening chapters of the book of Revelation. The letters to the Churches.  The very direct admonitions straight from Jesus. 

What's the point in "enjoying life" if you're disappointing your Savior?

What's the point in "enjoying life" if you're not living life in accordance with the Word of God?

What does it say?  What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? 

Someone recently posted a picture with a reference to needing oil for their lamps. This was a reference to the parable of the women who were prudent and those who were not at the coming of the Bridegroom. 

We do not and should not live life with our guard down. 

It's a lie of the devil to say we have time.  That this little thing isn't hurting me or anyone when it's clear that God's Word says He would not approve.

Are you among those falling or have fallen away from the faith?  Turn and come back before its too late!

My friend who came to Christ very shortly before she passed expressed a lifetime of regret at not knowing how to come back to Jesus.  She learned extremely fast that even she was one step away. Jesus met her there in that hospice place...in an instant. 

We allow ourselves to be dulled and become insensitive to the teachings of the Spirit of God at times.  That the sermon was for someone else. That we don't have the time. That life's too busy to stop n pray.

Do you not realize you are not promised a today?

Do you not realize that your next breath is filled with the grace of God?  Grace is God's unmeritted favor.  You did nothing to earn it, quite the contrary, you absolutely didn't earn it. You and I, apart from the sealing of the Spirit of God concerning salvation in Christ Jesus...deserve death.  Our ability to breathe is a gift from God.  

Are you going to squander that gift or use it in ways that grow you in Christ and bring honor and glory to your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ?

Do you fill your waking hours avoiding your Bible?

Or in full bluntness...are you in reality...avoiding your Savior because you're afraid of what it is He's telling you?

Falling away is to become numb to.

It's to be desensitized to the things of God that should be energizing our lives.

Isaiah had his sins forgiven and his only response to a need for someone was to cry out "here am I, send me!".

Self examination is critical in seeing where we are in our growing in Christ Jesus.  Looking at where our time goes. Looking at what our minds dwell on.  Looking at what we've allowed to take root in our hearts and discovering what needs to go. 

My Dear Reader...seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. 

Start your day and continue in your day with your Savior.  Be in prayer.

Let go of sins that so easily entangle.  Set your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. 

You're never going to be asked by Jesus how well you represented the company you worked for.

You're not going to be asked about how well you represented anyone or anything but on how you represented your Savior and Lord to a lost world. 

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.