Are You Drifting

Heb. 2:1-3a

By David J. Nggs; Arranged by: M. Allen

 

FILING INFORMATION:

1999001

Subject: Christian attitude/actions

Preached originally: 01/03/1999 - Rapid City, SD

 

1.    Introduction.

A.      Drifting can be very dangerous because it can go completely unnoticed.

1 .   "To young men were fishing above a low dam on a river near their hometown.  As they were concentrating on catching fish, they were unaware that they had drifted until they were not far from the water flowing over the dam.  When they realized their situation, the current near the dam had become too powerful for them to keep their boat from going over.  Below the dam the water was dashing with strong force over great boulders and through crevices in the rocks.

2.    Caught by the swrling waters under the rocks, they never came to the surface.  After days of relentless searching, the divers finally found one body, and then, two or three days later, the other.  It was a sad occasion when these two young men lost their lives in the bloom of youth.  It was also a sad occasion - one tempered with hope and thanksgiving -- when I preached the funeral of one of them, the one whom I had baptized only a week before." (By Billy Norris, from Gospel Guide)

B.    Many Christians in their spiritual lives are drifting toward destruction.

 

II.        SOME THINGS WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT DRIFTING.

A. It requires no effort.

1.       Just stop oaring or tacking against the wind, one is free to drift.

2.       This is why the Hebrew writer said, 'We must give the more earnest heed."

B.    It is an unconscious process.

1.    It is possible to drift unawares.  Example, in a boat on a lake.  Strong rip

tides or undercurrents are often unnoticeable from the surface.             "k

2.    Many individual Christians have slowly drifted avvav.

3. Many churches have gradually drifted into error.

C.    We never drift upstream or against the tide.

1.       Christianity is like oaring upstream.

2.       When we stand still, we go backwards.  We must continue to grow - 2 Pet  2:2; Mat. 5:6

D.      The speed downstream increases.

1.       The dangers increase with the speed of the drift.  When we can hear the noise of the waterfall, it is already too late.

2.       When we lose sight of land, it is less possible to discover that we are drifting.

3.          As we move farther and farther from the Lord, we care less and less about what we do.

E. It is dangerous to others.

1.      A ship, just drifting, is a hazard to all other vessels at sea.  Ex

a. "derelicf'-- "a. something voluntarily abandoned; specific: a ship abandoned on high seas,

b.  a person in abandonment, ex. a person loosing his sense of duty, being negligent." (Webster)

2.  Parents who are just drifting, will soon loose golden opportunities to teach their children.  Eph. 6:4.

3.  Many are tossed to and fro and carried about by ever wind of doctrine.  Eph. 4:14

F.    It ends in shipwreck.

1.      How will the drifting vessel do when a storm comes?

2.      Heb. 2:1-3a

 

111.       SOME COMMON SIGNS OF DRIFTING.

A.      Less desire to study and meditate on the Word of God.

1.    The Bible is a unique book - a source of information that cannot be found anywhere else.

a.  Without God's revelation how could we truly know our origin, purpose, destiny?

2.    The Bible tells us how we can be saved from sin, its dreadful consequences, and how we can live the happiest, most useful lives.

3.    It is unfortunate when one who once gladly gave time to study of God's Word no longer has that interest.

B.Less desire to attend services and to worship God.

1.      OneshouldhavetheattitudeofthePsaimist-Psalml22:1

2.      The fact that the gladness, the desire to go, is no longer there is a strong warningthatwearedrifting.

C.    Less interest in taking the gospel to others.

1.      When one obeys the gospel, he knows God has blotted out his sins, made him a new creature in Christ, and he wants to tell the world about the gospel.  Acts 8:4; 1 Thess. 1:8

2.       When a Christian no longer, has the desire to take the message of salvation to others, he is drifting.

D. Less time and need for prayer.

1.       Jesus, wanting to communicate with His Father, often prayed.  Mark 1:35; 6:46

2.       This same desire is found in the hearts of children of God.  Jesus taught His disciples - Luke 18:1.

3.       When the Christian prays less and less, he is drifting more and more.

E. Greater thrill over worldly honors.

1.  Parents of a young man were excited beyond measure over a worldly honor he had received.  They had never demonstrated such emotion over spiritual matters.

a.     Within the passing time, the entire family had drifted beyond the point