Warning #1 - Drifting

Introduction:

Pledge:

Passage:

English Standard Version Chapter 2

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution,

3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,

4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Pray

I don’t know if you are like me but I like reading a passage of scripture (Pericope) in multiple translations.

I also liked reading scripture in the Paraphrased bible by Eugene Peterson (“The Message”)

I liked how he elaborated this pericope!

Listen to how he puts it .....

Read Hebrews Chapter 2:1-4 from the Message:

The Message Chapter 2

It’s crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we’ve heard so that we don’t drift off. If the old message delivered by the angels was valid and nobody got away with anything, do you think we can risk neglecting this latest message, this magnificent salvation? First of all, it was delivered in person by the Master, then accurately passed on to us by those who heard it from him. All the while God was validating it with gifts through the Holy Spirit, all sorts of signs and miracles, as he saw fit.

I hope what it did for you was help you better understand what the intent of this warning was about.

Segway:

Illustration: Shelly and her sister drifting down the Summersville Dam.

Their intent was to go to the Lake and spend time floating and relaxing in and on the water.

They were on a 4 person round raft. (Cup holders in the center along with a cooler)

They were on a 4 person round raft. (Cup holders in the center along with a cooler)

Some people may not know this but Dam’s have a current.

My wife and her sisters were ones who didn’t know this.

They believed they would stay in one location.

After a few hours of laughter, chatter, and world problem solving the discovered they were not where they started.

Unaware of their drifting ..... not recognizing their view had changed ..... they were unaware of being pulled down stream by the current .....

Due to the fact they were getting hungry and the sun was starting to go down, to their surprise, they came to realize they were about 2 mile down the lake.

They needed to start the trek back upstream.

This was not going to be easy due to the current being a lot stronger than they realized and they did not have paddles.

After many unsuccessful attempts they were exhausted and were no further back up stream than when they started.

They flagged down a family in a pontoon boat.

They asked if they could throw them a line and catch a ride back up stream.

The mother shout out, “Sorry we are not allow to tow anyone!”

The mother was hesitant only because they rented the Pontoon and was instructed to not pull people. (Didn’t want to loose her deposit I guess)

But they heard the dad say to the mother, “If that was you guys wouldn’t you want someone to pull you back up stream?”

There are at least 3 lesson’s we can learn from this story .....

Remember, most bodies of water have currents!

Pay attention to your surroundings!

If you do find yourself paddling upstream (against) the current and you see a family on a boat going by, ask the dad and not the mom!

My wife and her sisters found themselves in this situation because of one thing ...... THEY BEGAN TO DRIFT!

Looking at this passage of scripture this morning let me read again “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.”

Title: Warning #1

Body:

In reading verse 1 there is a word that is used but needs to be explained.

That word is “heard”

The author states that they must pay close attention to what they have heard. (HEARD WHAT?)

What he is referencing is found in Chapter 1:1-14

What is it that these people have heard already and are being reminded of in this verse?

They are being reminded of what has already been stated about “CHRIST!” (WHO HE IS!)

(1:2a He is the Mouthpiece of God)

(1:2b He is the imprint of God’s nature)

(1:3 He is their Redeemer)

(1:4 He is Higher than Angels - He is the Son of God)

(1:13 He is their intercessor)

This is what they have heard. This is what they are being remind of!

Now, when you jump into Chapter 2:1 we see the word, “Therefore.”

This pericope (Define what this words means) starts of with 2 Greek words: DIA and HOUTOS (root)

It would read more specifically “Because of this ...”

But whats interesting is that these two words are “prepositional and demonstrative.”

Demonstrative is a singling out of an object or person, and often acts as an adjective, modifying a noun.

If you are like me I may have just lost some of you.

A demonstrative pronoun singles out an object or person, and often acts as an adjective, modifying a noun. For example, in the sentence “That dog is vicious,” the demonstrative pronoun “that” modifies the noun “dog.”

Let me give you an example of demonstrative pronoun: For example, in the sentence “That dog is vicious,” the demonstrative pronoun “that” modifies the noun “dog.”

Heiser, M. S., & Setterholm, V. M. (2013; 2013). Glossary of Morpho-Syntactic Database Terminology. Lexham Press.

It indicates a deduction drawn either from a statement to be made or from a previous statement (as here, though vv. 2–4 will give additional evidence).

PAUSE:

It indicates, more strongly than the commoner διό, 3:7 etc.) a deduction drawn either from a statement to be made (as in 9:15), or from a previous statement (as here, though vv. 2–4 will give additional evidence

I see the “deer in the headlight look” staring back at me.

Our son Logan had a young girl who liked him back in high school.

After doing some research on this young lady (Momma did all the foot work on this) I sat Logan down and stated this, “Logan, your mother and I have discovered some things about this young lady. THEREFORE, (Because of this information) you will not be aloud to date her!”

“We Must” - Stating: “It’s Necessary!”

I love what “the Message” bible says - “It’s Crucial!”

This is an exhortation! (Command or demand)

“Pay much closer attention”

This gives you this feel of something my Wife and I encountered with our Son Lucas when he was younger.

We were concerned about his hearing.

Took him to a ENT to have him checked out.

The doctor came out and said, “I have good news and bad news”

Good news is, “Lucas doesn’t not have a hearing problem.”

The bad news is, “He does have a listening problem.”

The author writes, “Pay much closer attention” what he is saying is ....

Not just, “Pay Attention” but “Pay much closer attention.”

Illustration: Clean and Extra Clean

The author is stating ....

I know we have “heard this” but we need to “listen to it.”

“To what we have heard” - to what we have ALREADY heard!

What does he mean?

He is talking about what has already been revealed to them in the OT

Through the Angels and the prophets (Vs 4) “while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles”

And what has been lived out through Jesus and revealed through the Holy Spirit (Vs 3) “It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard”

So to recap what has been revealed to us this morning (SO FAR) ....

Because of this (Chapter 1 “Who Christ is!”) It is necessary (It’s crucial) that we listen (not just hear) to what we have read (OT) and seen lived out in front of us (Jesus, his disciples, and now the Holy Spirit).

Climax:

WHY?

“LEST WE DRIFT AWAY.”

Warning #1 is about Drifting Away!

There are good things about drifting!

It doesn’t require effort or energy.

It’s easy!

How many of you been to a LAZY RIVER at a water park?

You get to enjoy the view.

Path of least resistance.

Being propelled by an outside source.

Not costing you anything financially.

There are bad things about drifting!

Has no goal!

Has no learning benefits!

It doesn’t bring out the best in you!

It doesn’t challenge us!

It doesn’t bring about an intentional outcome!

3 Effected areas:

In our relationships (marriages, friends)

It takes effort to have a great marriage

Whats your vision for your marriage?

It takes effort to have a best friend

In our parenting

We cannot be drifting as we are raising our children.

We need to be in our kids business

Tell the time we took Logans door off the hinge. He wanted privacy (My House)

We did TEXT CHECKS (MY PHONE)

I’ll never forget the time our kids came to us asking if they could get an allowance.

I told them they already get one ...... I allow them to ....... Fill in the blank

If we are not careful we can start to drift in our parenting.

But the one area that is talked about in this passage of scripture, the WARNING the author heads to the reader, is in regards to their .........

Spiritual walk

In our parenting

I hope what it did for you was help you better understand what the intent of this warning was about.In our parenting

What we are reading in this passage of scripture is a warning about drifting in our WALK WITH GOD!

Conclusion:

2 things we need to address in the conclusion of this message this morning:

How do we know we have drifted?

What will Keep us from Drifting in the future?

How do we know we have been drifting?

Our Scenery has changed and we didn’t even realize it.

The majority of our time, we are no longer hanging out with our godly friends

Isolating ourselves or hanging with unchurch

Not focused on Godly things?

Worldly things have become more important.

Philippians 4:8 warns us of this .....

English Standard Version Chapter 4

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

2. What will keep us from drifting?

Remembering what God has done! (What He has done!)

Seeking Him out daily: Daily Devotionals (Who God is!)

Not Just hearing but Listening (What God wants to do!)

Has God been speaking to you?

Have you been drifting?

Maybe you have been drifting and you didn’t even know it until this morning!

Whatever the case may be, I would like to encourage you to stop drifting.

Let’s get on board with what the lord wants in your life.