"But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1)
What do we know about this great falling away?
(Matthew 24:10; Hebrews 3:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:3)
APOSTASY / FALLING AWAY - Apostasy is the formal disaffiliation from, an abandonment of, or renunciation of a religion by a person. It is the total rejection of Christianity by a person who, having at one time professed the Christian faith, publicly rejects it.
REASONS FOR FALLING AWAY
1.) AFFLICTION – Calamity, Tragedy, Poverty (Psalm 73:2,13-14; Matthew 27:46; Luke 23:46; 2 Cor 4:16-17)
2.) NO SUFFICIENT FOUNDATION / KNOWLEDGE OF GODS WORD (2 Timothy 2:15; Romans 10:17)
3.) LOVE OF THE WORLD
The love of money causes apostasy (1 Timothy 6:10)
The love of self more than Jesus causes apostasy (Luke 9:23, Mark 8:34, Luke 14:27)
Loving others such as mother, father, friend, etc. more than Jesus, causes apostasy
4.) DECEPTION OF FALSE DOCTRINES AND TEACHERS (John 4:1; Matthew 7:15; 1 Timothy 4:1)
5.) PARASITIC SINS (Hebrews 12:1)
6.) DISILLUSIONMENT BY THE CHURCH AND LEADERS (Matthew 24:10-12)
7.) SUFFERINGS AND PERSECUTION (Revelation 2:10; Matthew 24:9-10; Mark 4:17; 1 Kings 12:25 – 33
HOW TO AVOID FALLING AWAY
A.) GET GROUNDED IN THE WORD (Matthew 4:4; Psalm 119:159)
B.) GET GROUNDED IN PRAYER
C.) GET GROUNDED IN DISCIPLESHIP
D.) GET GROUNDED IN THE BLESSED HOPE (Titus 2:13; Romans 8:1; Job 19:25-27)
Conclusion: 1 Corinthians 10:12; Philippians 2:12; Ephesians 5:27; Hebrews 10:35–36
“But let us encourage one another, and all the more as you SEE the DAY APPROACHING” (Hebrews 10:25)