Community Revival- The Falling Away

Community Revival 08 5/5/08

The Falling Away

2 Th 2:1-3 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first,

The phrase “the falling away” (hēg apostasia, Gk.) may be translated “the apostasy.” This is a combination of a preposition meaning

“from” or “away from” and the verb “to stand.”

The composite word means literally a “standing away from.”[1]

By this apostasy we are not to understand a defection in the state, or from civil government,

but in spiritual or religious matters,

from sound doctrine,

instituted worship and church government,

and a holy life.

The apostle speaks of a very great apostasy,

That will be very general, gradual, and

will give occasion to the revelation of rise of antichrist, that man of sin.

This is a revolt, a departure, an abandoning of a position once held.

This rebellion, which will take place within the professing church,

will be a departure from the truth that God has revealed in His Word.

Apostasy has characterized the church almost from its inception, but Paul referred to a specific distinguishable apostasy that will come in the time just prior to the Lords’ return and the revealing of the Antichrist

Before “the day of Christ [the Lord]” there will occur a marked falling away of professed believers holding to sound biblical doctrine.

1 Ti 4:1-2 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

V1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith,

V1 giving heed to deceiving spirits

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de•ceive \di-ˈsēv\ vb

de•ceived; de•ceiv•ing [ME, fr. AF deceivre, fr. L decipere, fr. de- + capere to take — more at heave] vt 13c

1 archaic : ensnare

2 a obs : to be false to

b archaic : to fail to fulfill

3 obs : cheat

4 : to cause to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid

5 archaic : to while away vi : to practice deceit also : to give a false impression 〈appearances can deceive〉 — de•ceiv•er n — de•ceiv•ing•ly \-ˈsē-viŋ-lē\ adv

syn deceive, mislead, delude, beguile mean to lead astray or frustrate usu. by underhandedness.

deceive implies imposing a false idea or belief that causes ignorance, bewilderment, or helplessness 〈tried to deceive me about the cost〉.

mislead implies a leading astray that may or may not be intentional 〈I was misled by the confusing sign〉.

delude implies deceiving so thoroughly as to obscure the truth 〈we were deluded into thinking we were safe〉.

beguile stresses the use of charm and persuasion in deceiving 〈was beguiled

seducing spirits—working in the heretical teachers. 1Jn 4:2, 3, 6, “the spirit of error,” opposed to “the spirit of truth,” “the Spirit” which “speaketh” in the true prophets against them.[2]

seducing spirits, men who pretend to have the Spirit (of God), but are not really guided by the Holy Spirit, [3]

2 Co 11:13-15 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

1 Jn. 4:1. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

V1 giving heed to doctrines of demons,

doctrines of devils—literally “teachings of (that is suggested by) demons.” Jam 3:15, “wisdom … devilish”; 2Co 11:15, “Satan’s ministers.”[4]

Jas 3:15 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

Christian Yoga

Transcendental Meditation –

Contemplative Prayer

Walking the labyrinth

All is God & God is all

All roads lead to God

You just need to learn to love yourself

Discover the god – the Christ in you because you are god

If you can conceive it you can achieve it

Mother Earth Gal.4:26

Combining the religions of the world will bring world peace

Php 3:18-19 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are  the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame— who set their mind on earthly things.

V2 speaking lies in hypocrisy,

1 Ki 22:19-23 19 Then Micaiah (mi-ka-i’-ah) said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left. 20 And the Lord said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ 22 The Lord said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the Lord said, ‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.’ 23 Therefore look! The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has declared disaster against you.”

Re 16:13-14 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

V2 having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

Conscience Literally, the Greek word means “to know with.”

To know ones’ self

The idea is that the conscience is

a moral faculty of perception which operates within the human spirit to aid man in decision making.

However, never does the conscience operate in splendid isolation.

Rather, it operates within a context.

If that context is the world,

then the conscience becomes distorted and is only partially, if at all, reliable,

being “seared with a hot iron” and, therefore, insensitive to the things of God.

If, on the other hand, the conscience functions within the context of the word of God and the Holy Spirit’s application of that word in various situations,

then the conscience becomes an invaluable assistant to the man who seeks a spiritual walk.[5]

Ro 8:6 6 For to be 2carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

V1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith,

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de•part \di-ˈpärt, dē-\ vb

[ME, to divide, part company, fr. AF departir, fr. de- + partir to divide, fr. L partire, fr. part-, pars part] vi 13c

1 a : to go away : leave

b : die

2 : to turn aside : deviate vt : to go away from : leave syn see swerve

2 Co 13:5 5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you 2are disqualified (do not stand the test)

Test ourselves to see if we are or our church is departing from the faith,

Test ourselves to see if we are or our church is deviating from the faith

Test ourselves to see if we are or our church is leaving the faith