THE FALLING AWAY

1 John 2:19 “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”

How could someone claim to be a child of God yet turn away from what he or she once claimed to be true?

Yet, John makes it clear that if someone is really part of a church, if someone is really part of the body of Christ, he or she will remain and not leave. John is straightforward about the subject, yet many in the church cannot come to the point to say about someone who falls away what John said under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

The Bible calls that falling away apostasy, and literally, a person that falls completely away, that turns his or her back completely on what he or she once claimed to be true is not and never was truly saved, and once they totally give themselves over to apostasy, they will not be saved because to be saved, Jesus would have to die for them again, and that is not happening. Here is you some scriptural evidence of that. Hebrews 6:4-6.

Hebrews 6:4–6 “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”

We do a disservice to a person when we treat that person like a Christian even though he or she never darkens the door of the church, never grows in the faith, and never serves Christ, or Christ’s body, the church.

In the New Testament, an obvious sign of someone’s new birth is serving and contributing spiritually, physically, financially, and emotionally to a local church. During this age, Christ is working in this world through His body which is the church, and if you are not serving a local church, I will be honest with you. I question whether or not you are in the body, and you need to pay careful attention to what I am saying today.

I know some, hopefully not you, that say that they can serve the Lord at home, and you can, but that does not alleviate your responsibility to serve Him in a local church. You cannot show me in the New Testament where the Bible says you do not have to be involved in a local church. Most of the New Testament consists of letters written to churches.

It is the great falling away, and church rolls are full of people who have turned away from what they once claimed to be true.

Jesus, in one of His parables, tells us how the falling takes place, so let’s see what Jesus says about how a person falls away from the truth.

I. Devilish Distraction

Isaiah 55:11 “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

Every time God’s Word is proclaimed it accomplishes one of two things. It will either soften one’s heart to the message, or it will harden one’s heart to the message.

God’s Word accomplishes one of those two things every time it is proclaimed.

At a point in His ministry on earth, Jesus began teaching in parables to reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, and His parables were targeted.

Matthew 13:10–11 “And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”

The parables were targeted to the disciples so they would understand the Kingdom of God which brings us to the Parable of the Sower.

Matthew 13:3–4 “And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:”

Let me tell you what some of the elements in this parable represent.

Initially, the sower was Jesus Christ. IN a general sense, the sower is the one who sows the seed in particular the preacher or pastor.

The seed in this parable is the gospel message, the Word of God. The fowls represent the Devil or demons who operate under the authority of the Devil.

It is my responsibility to sow the seed, and in every congregation, that seed is sowed into one of four types of hearts.

The first type of heart is the heart that is distracted by the devil. Jesus calls that heart the way side.

In the New Testament, the way side was a hard almost concrete-like walking path at the end of the rows. The seeds could never penetrate the way side because it was just too hard. There are some here today that no matter what I say the seed is not going to penetrate their hearts, and Jesus tells us why. Remember, God’s Word will always accomplish one of two purposes. It will either soften your heart or harden your heart.

Jesus tells us why the seeds will not or cannot penetrate the way side. He says the fowls come and devour the seed, and I want you to know He is not talking about physical birds. He is talking about the devil or demons.

Revelation 18:2 “And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, And is become the habitation of devils, And the hold of every foul spirit, And a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.”

Jesus says that the devil or demonic influences operating under Satan’s authority come and steal the seed. Let me tell you what happens using Jimmy Anderson as an example.

I start sowing the seed, and Jimmy Anderson hears what I am saying, but he is not listening to what I am saying nor is he listening to the Holy Spirit, and the devil comes, and Jimmy starts thinking about everything under the sun, and by the time I am finished sowing the seed, Jimmy has no recollection of what I said because the devil has devoured the seed I sowed, and Jimmy has missed out on the message the Holy Spirit had for him. Notice how Jesus explains the parable.

Matthew 13:19 “When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.”

If you have trouble understanding or remembering the seed as it is sown, it is because the Devil is stealing the seed that I sowed.

When I start sowing the seed, the Holy Spirit wants to cultivate that seed in your heart, and you need to actively listen to what is being said, and if you actively listen, you will be receptive to the Holy Spirit.

What do you think happens to you in church? I dare say all of us can attest to this.

The sleepiest many of us get is when we are at church listening to the preacher. Right or wrong? Why?

The hungriest many of us get is when we are at church listening to the preacher. Right or wrong? Why?

The most uncomfortable many of us get is at church listening to the preacher. Right or wrong? Why?

The most distracted many of us get is at church listening to the preacher. Right or wrong? Why?

People feel the greatest urge to go to the bathroom when the preacher is preaching. Right or wrong? Why?

I will tell you why. The Devil is stealing the seed and replacing the seed with those thoughts. We can go to Busch Stadium and be engaged for three hours watching a baseball game in the most uncomfortable seats ever and never lose focus or concentration. Kids, you sat in a float at Dyersburg in 25 degree weather for 2 hours and never had to go to the bathroom, so why do you have to go so much during preaching service? The Devil is convincing you it is an emergency, and older folks, if you are actively listening as the seed is being sown, why are you distracted by someone going to the bathroom?

The Devil is stealing the seed. It is the devilish distraction so many face, and it leads to a falling away.

II. Emotional Erosion

The second type of heart here this morning is the heart that is moved by emotions but not by substance.

Matthew 13:5–6 “Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.”

Matthew 13:20–21 “But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.”

This type of heart is moved with joy when he or she hears the message, and everything they do in the church for a while is motivated by that emotional experience, but emotions can only carry you so far.

Because the seed of the gospel does not take deep root in the good soil of the heart, these people only last a little while in the church. Emotions do not last. Substance does.

Jesus says people whose knowledge of Him is based upon an emotional experience will die or fall away as soon as tribulation and persecution come. Dear friend, you better be careful not to be deceived by emotional experiences.

Matthew 22:37–38 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.”

The first commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. It is that kind of love that will not be shaken by tribulation and persecution. That is the danger of the prosperity gospel. God never promised you that when you got saved that your life would be marked by health and wealth. As a matter of fact, the opposite is true.

2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

In boldness, let me say this.

If you are not experiencing persecution and tribulation, you are either not living for Christ, or you are lost. Jesus says those whose knowledge of God is based upon emotions will be offended, will be turned away by tribulation and persecution. Those, if they are saved, will never grow in the faith because the roots never take hold.

The gospel falls into the stony places of their hearts. Some of you have been coming to church for many years. Many of you have called yourself a Christian for many years. Are you growing in the faith? If you are not, the seed fell into the stony places of your heart and did not take hold, and you are one tribulation away from falling away.

Dear friend, some persecution and tribulation cannot be faced apart from the Word of God which becomes real to you because the seed was planted in good soil and was cultivated by the Holy Spirit.

III. Fleshly Failures

The third type of heart here today is the heart that is receptive to the seed, but the cares of this world keep the seed from growing.

Matthew 13:7 “And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:”

Matthew 13:22 “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.”

In particular, Jesus says the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word causing unfruitfulness.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Devil knows what he is doing. He has convinced so many, and some in this sanctuary I guarantee you, that happiness depends upon a bank account and possessions, and the church, gospel, and families have suffered because so many of the younger couples in the church who should be taking over in leadership roles have been deceived by the pursuit of the dollar.

Jesus says seeking financial success robs a Christian of his or her fruitfulness.

It is not a sin to have a lot of money, but it is a sin for that money or the desire to have it dictate every decision you make. Dear friend, I wished every young Christian would learn the value of a promise God has made to all Christians. Here is the promise.

Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

IV. Fruitful Followers

The fourth heart here today is the heart that resists the devil, the heart whose knowledge of God is based upon substance and not emotions, the heart that is not choked by the cares of this world. It is the heart that bears the fruit of a Christian.

Matthew 13:8 “But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.”

Matthew 13:23 “But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

The person with this type of heart will be fruitful. The seed will produce a bountiful harvest in that person’s heart. The Law of the Harvest will be in full effect as abundant fruit springs forth from the seed taking root.

Notice what Jesus says. An indication that your heart is right with God is that you hear and understand. In other words, you are on guard watching for the one who is coming against you to steal the seed.

Let me ask you a silly question. ‘

When you sow a seed, what is the visible evidence of that seed producing?

If I plant a watermelon seed, proof of that seed producing is when I start seeing those watermelons. Right or wrong?

As a Christian, proof that your heart is right with God is the fruit the Spirit bears in your life.

I want you to pay careful attention to what that fruit is. If the Spirit is not producing these fruits in your life, something is wrong somewhere.

Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Let me ask you a serious question, and I want you to actively listen to this question because I am going to ask you to do something in a minute.

Are these fruits visible in your life? If they are not, the Devil has either stolen the seed, your knowledge of God is not based on substance, or the cares of this world has choked the seed from growing?

What do I want you to do? Now, this is serious.

2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

You owe it to your eternal destiny to know if you are in the faith. If you honestly ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you if you are in the faith, the Holy Spirit will do it. You need to know. If you are not in the faith, the Holy Spirit will let you know.

If you are not in the faith, the Holy Spirit will tell you that you need to be saved unless you want to become one of those apostates that I mentioned at the beginning of this sermon.

Romans 10:9–10 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

If you are in the faith but the Spirit is not producing in your life the fruit you know He should be producing in your life, you have sin in your life that you need to confess and repent of.

1 John 1:5–7 “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

When a Christian sins, he or she is walking in darkness. Can any seed grow without light?

If you honestly examine yourself, the Holy Spirit will tell you what you need to do unless your eternal destiny does not matter, and unless you want to continue without bearing any fruit.