Slow Drift Syndrome

Introduction

Read the Word:

1 Timothy 3:16 NLT

Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory.

1 Timothy 4:1–10 NIV

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

Prayer

frog pic

The 'Boiling Frog' syndrome is based on an urban legend (or fable) describing a frog being slowly boiled alive. The premise is simple: if a frog is suddenly put into a pot of boiling water, it will jump out and save itself from impending death. But if the water is gradually heated up…the frog won’t know it’s in trouble until its too late.

Today’s message is entitled “Slow Drift Syndrome,” the gradual drifting away from a vibrant and living relationship with Christ to a shallow or nonexistent one.

Imagine yourself in a room with bright green wallpaper. Now you walk into an adjoining room where the walls are still green, but imperceptibly bluer. You enter a third room, imperceptibly bluer than the second. After passing through 50 rooms, each ever-so slightly bluer than the last, someone hands you a sample of the wallpaper from the first room. You are astonished by by how green it is. Suddenly you realize that the room you are now in is not green at all! It is blue.

Drifting away from Jesus can be such a gradual process that we don’t even know it’s happening. Subtle influences can slowly edge us away from a pure, biblical relationship with Christ to no relationship at all.

Indiana Jones Clip

Some replace their faith in Christ’s saving work on their behalf with religious or spiritual practices. Some even embrace the idea that if they deny their fleshly appetites, and try hard enough, that will make them more spiritual. This is known as asceticism. Others replace God with nothing…they just gradually slip into a state of unbelief, or atheism, or they simply try to pretend nothing is out of place

Paul’s instructions in 1 Timothy 4 remind Timothy and the church at Ephesus to be on guard against anything that threatened their relationship with Jesus — a relationship based upon salvation by grace.

By turning your attention to Jesus, who He is, and what He has done, you will not fall prey to "Slow Drift Syndrome"

Transitional: To stay in a close relationship with Jesus, you’ve got to watch what your doing and who you choose to believe

WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO BELIEVE INFLUENCES EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE

1 Timothy 4:1–2 NIV

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.

Later times — the time between Jesus’ resurrection and His second coming — now is part of that time frame

Beware beliefs and practices that slowly move your focus from Jesus to something else

Some of the elders in Ephesus had drifted away from their original faith in the simple Gospel —

Now they were peddling “Christian” asceticism as the path to true spirituality.

1 Timothy 4:3–5 NLT

They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth. Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.

God’s design for marriage is perfect

God does call some people to be single — but that is the exception, not the rule

They taught that any sexual relationship, even with one’s spouse, is sinful — some said they were okay with the extinction of humanity

One woman…one man - joined in holy matrimony, is God’s plan.

God’s provisions are perfect when recieved with a thankful heart

“everything God created is good…nothing to be rejected if it is received with a thankful heart”

Colossians 2:20–22 NIV

Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.

If some teacher insists that you should remain single or you have to fast a certain amount of time, etc., they are false teachers

Fasting is good, when it is done for the right motive

Doing these things to be more spiritual is a dead end street.

Application

The principle here applies to more areas than just marriage or your diet

When ANYTHING or ANYONE gets in the path of your close relationship with Christ, it is evil…demonic…coming from hypocritical liars.

“in later times, some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared, as with a hot iron”

demonic — from hypocritical liars --- they are double liars

In Ephesus…it was certain pagan and other teachings! What is it for us?

Reject Anything - whether it is false teaching or an unbiblical philosophy that has gotten into your spirit — Reject Anything that causes you to drift away from Jesus and/or abandon your faith

Transitional: Sometimes we convince ourselves that we can be a Christian without following Jesus’ path for us.

WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO PRACTICE INFLUENCES EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE

1 Timothy 4:6–10 NIV

If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

Train yourself to be godly

practice spiritual disciplines with the right motive — to know Jesus better — to serve Him — to learn His voice — to learn how to discern between false and true teaching, etc.

Put Your hope in the living God

When we grow in our relationship with the Lord, our hope is anchored and unwavering, because we know He is our Savior and that one day we will dwell with Him forever

Prayer

Communion: Pastor Steve