The Bible’s warnings of apostasy are widely ignored. n What is apostasy? (2 Thess 2: 3) – “falling away”
The Bible’s warnings of apostasy are widely ignored. n apostasy – a falling away, defection, apostasy; in the Bible namely, from the true religion: Acts 21: 21; 2 Thess. 2: 3; (Josh. 22: 22; 2 Chr. 29: 19; 33: 19); Jer. 2: 19 - Thayer’s Lexicon
The Bible’s warnings of apostasy are widely ignored. n apostasy – as a condition resulting from changing loyalties revolt, desertion; as a religious technical term; (1) apostasy, rebellion (2 TH 2. 3); (2) defection, abandonment (AC 21. 21) - Freiberg Lexicon
The Bible’s warnings of apostasy are widely ignored. n A “Changing of loyalties” is a good description of the term. (Jer 2: 19)
The Bible’s warnings of apostasy are widely ignored. n Jeremiah 2: 19 (NKJV) - Your own wickedness will correct you, And your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing That you have forsaken the Lord your God, And the fear of Me is not in you, ” Says the Lord GOD of hosts.
The Bible’s warnings of apostasy are widely ignored. n This is a falling away from God and a rejection of His character. (Jer 2: 11 -13)
The Bible’s warnings of apostasy are widely ignored. n Jeremiah 2: 11 -13 (NKJV) - Has a nation changed its gods, Which are not gods? But My people have changed their Glory For what does not profit. 12 Be astonished, O heavens, at this, And be horribly afraid; Be very desolate, ” says the Lord. 13 “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns —broken cisterns that can hold no water.
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy n From the very beginning of the nation Moses spoke plainly (Deut 28)
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy From the very beginning of the nation Moses spoke plainly (Deut 28) n Moses repeatedly and with great detail spoke of the consequences of disobedience. (Deut 28: 15 -24) n
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy n Deuteronomy 28: 15 -24 (NKJV) - “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: 16 “Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country.
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy n 17 “Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 18 “Cursed shall be the fruit of your body and the produce of your land, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. 19 “Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out.
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy n 20 “The Lord will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you set your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings in which you have forsaken Me. 21 The Lord will make the plague cling to you until He has consumed you from the land which you are going to possess.
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy n 22 The Lord will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with severe burning fever, with the sword, with scorching, and with mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish. 23 And your heavens which are over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you shall be iron.
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy n 24 The Lord will change the rain of your land to powder and dust; from the heaven it shall come down on you until you are destroyed.
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy n Even before they had a king Moses spoke of a future captivity of God’s people and their king. (Deut 28: 36 -37)
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy n Deuteronomy 28: 36 -37 (NKJV) - “The Lord will bring you and the king whom you set over you to a nation which neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you shall serve other gods—wood and stone. 37 And you shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all nations where the Lord will drive you.
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy n God wanted the nations to know and for us in the New Testament era to know. (Deut 29: 20 -28; 1 Cor 10: 11)
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy n Deuteronomy 29: 20 -28 (NKJV) - “The Lord would not spare him; for then the anger of the Lord and His jealousy would burn against that man, and every curse that is written in this book would settle on him, and the Lord would blot out his name from under heaven.
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy n 21 And the Lord would separate him from all the tribes of Israel for adversity, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this Book of the Law, 22 so that the coming generation of your children who rise up after you, and the foreigner who comes from a far land, would say, when they see the plagues of that land the sicknesses which the Lord has laid on it:
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy n 23 ‘The whole land is brimstone, salt, and burning; it is not sown, nor does it bear, nor does any grass grow there, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which the Lord overthrew in His anger and His wrath. ’ 24 All nations would say, ‘Why has the Lord done so to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean? ’
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy n 25 Then people would say: ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt; 26 for they went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods that they did not know and that He had not given to them.
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy n 27 Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against this land, to bring on it every curse that is written in this book. 28 And the Lord uprooted them from their land in anger, in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day. ’
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy n 1 Corinthians 10: 11 (NKJV) - Now £all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy n God warned Israel through Solomon when the temple was built. (2 Chron 6: 36 -40)
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy n 2 Chronicles 6: 36 -40 (NKJV) - “When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive to a land far or near; 37 yet when they come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, and have committed wickedness’;
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy n 38 and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been carried captive, and pray toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and toward the temple which I have built for Your name:
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy n 39 then hear from heaven Your dwelling place their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive Your people who have sinned against You. 40 Now, my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and let Your ears be attentive to the prayer made in this place.
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy n Note the simplicity of how to avoid apostasy. Be humble, repent and pray and listen!
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy n God wanted all their heart and soul if they wanted to be His people.
God’s Prophets gave great emphasis to warn of apostasy God wanted all their heart and soul if they wanted to be His people. n This involved a relationship with God where people knew His nature and sought His fellowship. Pray was a good barometer of where their hearts were at. n
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n Social pressure may be Satan’s most effective tool. (Lk 9: 26)
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n Luke 9: 26 (NKJV) - For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n By serving God they were very different than the nations around them.
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n God gave Israel what they needed and not what they wanted.
Israel was influenced by the nations around them God gave Israel what they needed and not what they wanted. n Because of this Israel often was overtaken militarily by a better organized and better equipped foe from a worldly stand point. n
Israel was influenced by the nations around them God gave Israel what they needed and not what they wanted. n Because of this Israel often was overtaken militarily by a better organized and better equipped foe from a worldly stand point. n These times of suffering were actually for their good so that they might have the one thing that the other nations did not have - a relationship with God! n
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n During the time of the Judges we see that very thing happening. (Judges 2: 7 -23)
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n Judges 2: 7 -23 (NKJV) - So the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord which He had done for Israel. 8 Now Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died when he was one hundred and ten years old.
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n 9 And they buried him within the border of his inheritance at Timnath Heres, in the mountains of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaash. 10 When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel.
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n 11 Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals; 12 and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger.
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n 13 They forsook the Lord and served Baal and the £Ashtoreths. 14 And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies.
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n 15 Wherever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for calamity, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed. 16 Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them.
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n 17 Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they played the harlot with other gods, and bowed down to them. They turned quickly from the way in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the Lord; they did not do so.
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n 18 And when the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed them and harassed them.
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n 19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, by following other gods, to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way.
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n 20 Then the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel; and He said, “Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers, and has not heeded My voice, 21 I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died,
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n 22 so that through them I may test Israel, whether they will keep the ways of the Lord, to walk in them as their fathers kept them, or not. ” 23 Therefore the Lord left those nations, without driving them out immediately; nor did He deliver them into the hand of Joshua.
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n Even when they were faithful they did not establish a genuine faith in their children. (Judges 2: 10)
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n Judges 2: 10 (NKJV) - When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel.
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n Historians have commented on the 3 rd generation effect upon the church.
Israel was influenced by the nations around them Historians have commented on the 3 rd generation effect upon the church. n One of the great weapons we have against apostasy is our homes! n
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n The day came where Israel rejected God’s wisdom for centralized power in a king.
Israel was influenced by the nations around them The day came where Israel rejected God’s wisdom for centralized power in a king. n Samuel’s own failure in his home provided opportunity for Israel to request a king. (1 Sam 8: 4 -5) n
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n 1 Samuel 8: 4 -5 (NKJV) - Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5 and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. ”
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n God explained that it was a rejection of God Himself. (1 Sam 8: 7)
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n 1 Samuel 8: 7 (NKJV) - And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n Centralization and a trust in human wisdom and power is a prime element in all apostasy. God’s ways will not work to them! (Isa 55: 10 -11)
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n Isaiah 55: 10 -11 (NKJV) - “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Israel was influenced by the nations around them n The problem with centralization is that the nation will go in the direction of the choices of one man or a few men.
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n There were mostly bad kings in the history of God’s people.
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy There were mostly bad kings in the history of God’s people. n Bad kings would set examples for the people. n
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy There were mostly bad kings in the history of God’s people. n Bad kings would set examples for the people. n Saul needed to show the people how to trust God and not for Saul to bend to the whims of the people. (1 Sam 15: 20 -23) n
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n 1 Samuel 15: 20 -23 (NKJV) - And Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal. ”
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n 22 So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king. ”
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n Even king David did things that weakened the people of God. (2 Sam 12: 14)
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n 2 Samuel 12: 14 (NKJV) - However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die. ”
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n Solomon’s sin led to a divided nation.
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n All of the “reasoning” about strength in centralization was shown empty.
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy All of the “reasoning” about strength in centralization was shown empty. n Still, Jeroboam gave shallow reasoning to follow idols and the people followed without questions. (1 Kings 12: 28 -30) n
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n 1 Kings 12: 28 -30 (NKJV) - Therefore the king asked advice, made two calves of gold, and said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt!” 29 And he set up one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. 30 Now this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan.
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n Jeroboam was like all of Israel’s kings (Northern Kingdom) in that they hid their real agenda and motives from the people. (1 Kings 12: 25 -27)
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n 1 Kings 12: 25 -27 (NKJV) - Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and dwelt there. Also he went out from there and built Penuel. 26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom may return to the house of David:
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n 27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah. ”
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n Jeroboam attached God’s name to an idol and the people followed!
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy Jeroboam attached God’s name to an idol and the people followed! n The actions and steps that the kings took had a cumulative effect. n
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n Apostasy is likened to drifting. It takes time but small steps will cover a lot of space given time!
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy is likened to drifting. It takes time but small steps will cover a lot of space given time! n This is why God has given a written revelation and on occasions prophets to Israel. The reception of the message depended on the hearts of the hearers. n
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n The people had learned to defer guilt and responsibility to their leaders. (Jer 5: 30 -31, Mt 15: 13)
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n Jeremiah 5: 30 -31 (NKJV) - “An astonishing and horrible thing Has been committed in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n Matthew 15: 13 (NKJV) - But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n Manasseh took Israel past the tipping point. (2 Kgs 21: 1 -6, 9, 16)
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n 2 Kings 21: 1 -6 (NKJV) - Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. 2 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n 3 For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; he raised up altars for Baal, and made a £wooden image, as Ahab king of Israel had done; and he worshiped all £the host of heaven and served them. 4 He also built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem I will put My name. ”
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n 5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. 6 Also he made his son pass through the fire, practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft, and consulted spiritists and mediums. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n 2 Kings 21: 9 (NKJV) - But they paid no attention, and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel.
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n 2 Kings 21: 16 (NKJV) - Moreover Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides his sin by which he made Judah sin, in doing evil in the sight of the Lord.
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n He set up idols in the temple! Where was the protest from the people?
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy He set up idols in the temple! Where was the protest from the people? n He killed his own children in the worship of Idols. n
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy He set up idols in the temple! Where was the protest from the people? n He killed his own children in the worship of Idols. n Isaiah was likely killed by Manasseh. n
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy He set up idols in the temple! Where was the protest from the people? n He killed his own children in the worship of Idols. n Isaiah was likely killed by Manasseh. n n Even though Manasseh later repented, he had established things in the heart of Israel that would continue to be handed down through generations.
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n Years after Manasseh’s death his evil influence resulted in Israel’s captivity. (Jer 15: 1 -4)
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n Jeremiah 15: 1 -4 (NKJV) - Then the Lord said to me, “Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My mind would not be favorable toward this people. Cast them out of My sight, and let them go forth.
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n 2 And it shall be, if they say to you, ‘Where should we go? ’ then you shall tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Such as are for death, to death; And such as are for the sword, to the sword; And such as are for the famine, to the famine; And such as are for the captivity, to the captivity. ”’
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n 3 “And I will appoint over them four forms of destruction, ” says the Lord: “the sword to slay, the dogs to drag, the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. 4 I will hand them over to trouble, to all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem.
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n Questions to consider:
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy Questions to consider: n 1. Are we being constantly warned of apostasy? Why or why not? (Acts 20: 29 -31) n
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy Questions to consider: n 1. Are we being constantly warned of apostasy? Why or why not? (Acts 20: 29 -31) n 2. How can we be guilty of giving our responsibility to others (centralization)? n
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy Questions to consider: n 1. Are we being constantly warned of apostasy? Why or why not? (Acts 20: 29 -31) n 2. How can we be guilty of giving our responsibility to others (centralization)? n 3. How can you tell when people are following religious leaders rather than God? n
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy n 4. How can we build a faith in our children where they can stand in a day of apostasy?
How the kings led Israel into Apostasy 4. How can we build a faith in our children where they can stand in a day of apostasy? n 5. Make a list of trends leading to an apostasy. n
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