The Dangers Of Apostasy!

43When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. (Matthew 12:43-45)

1. Our physical bodies are temples!

16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

 19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (2 Corinthians 6:16)

1For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2 Corinthians 5:1)

6But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:6)

5Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: (Hebrews 10:5)

QUOTING PSALMS 40:6 IN REFERENCE TO JESUS!

If this is the case and it is this also presents the truth that other things can inhabit the body, the temple, the house!

2. The devil influences mans soul by nature!

9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (Ephesians 2:1-3)

THIS IS WHERE WE START IN OUR TEXT ISNT IT!

43When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man,

Note that it is not just the mans spirit that is unclean!

There is another spirit because a man cannot lose his spirit from his body and remain alive physically!

You would be surprised what people have in them and what you are dealing with!

3. There are times when the enemy withdraws!

43When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man,

i. There is the possibility of the enemy withdrawing for seasons to deal with other things!

ii. But I know of a time when the enemy has no choice but to withdraw!

7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

There was light and the darkness comprehended it not! Where true light is darkness has to flee!

4. He does not sleep while he is gone!

43When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

He goes about doing what he must to find a place to dwell!

Let me talk to you about the dry places for but a moment!

Dry sinners!

Dry self-proclaimed christians!

Hypocrites and backbiters, slanderers and gossipers, fornicators and idolators, liars and drunkards!

Dry churches!

Dry Pharisees!

Dry Doctrines! NO ANNOINTING! FALSE DOCTRINES!

EVERYTHING THAT HAS NO TRUE GOSPEL DEW!

Ever wake in the morning and see the sun glistening on grass because it is wet with early morning dew?

5. When the temple is left empty he likes to return!

43When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out;

HERE IS THE DANGER!

and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

45Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. (Matthew 12:43-45)

THIS IS WHY ITS SO HARD TO GET A BACKSLIDER TO COME BACK! THIS IS WHY MOSTY BACKSLIDERS THAT HAVE BACKSLIDDEN AS ADULTS ARE SOMETIMES OF THE WORSE SORT!

6. Run to Jesus for safety and stay there He is the only shelter for the soul!