Dangers We Face Alton Bailey

Link to transcription, outline, summary, etc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ijOF0p64WZn0lAsAUNQdogvYSDjSkFo-o4os_YAY8CM/edit?usp=sharing # Dangers Christians Face # Dangers Christians Face ## Introduction I'll speak to you in a few moments concerning some dangers that we as Christians face, and some thoughts on these. I believe that Satan spends over 90% of his time in the church, because in [Acts 2:47](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2%3A47&version=NKJV), he knows that that's where the saved are. And the Lord added to the church daily those that were being saved, and if you're Satan and you know you're condemned to eternal hell, where would you spend your time? You want to take as many of us with him as he can. And so I want to talk to you just a few moments on some dangers that we as Christians face in our lives today. The definition of danger is, according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is an exposure to harm or risk. Who brings about this religious or spiritual danger? Satan. He's the one that does this. He even tried to tempt Jesus, you remember, in [Matthew chapter 4](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+4&version=NKJV). Who does he use? He uses other people. In [Genesis 3](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3&version=NKJV), he came as a serpent, but after he came as a serpent, he no longer came in that manner. He used man. He uses people like me, people like you. That's who he uses to spew forth his lies, his deceptions. How can we defend ourselves? We go to the book, just like Wade did concerning [1 Corinthians 11](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+11&version=NKJV). We go to the book to find the answers of what God wants us to do. Satan is limited in his powers that we can't overcome if we will use God's word and apply it to our lives. ## The Danger of Apostasy Well, the first thought I want to talk about is apostasy. Apostasy. That's a word that we don't use that much in our everyday language, but according to American Heritage Dictionary, the word apostasy is an abandonment of one's religious faith. Have you ever known someone to quit the Lord in their latter years? It's just mind-boggling to me. But we have to be on guard, and we have to encourage people. Look what the Hebrew writer says in [Hebrews chapter 12](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12&version=NKJV). If you will turn to that, I just picked up the New King James Version, so Hebrews chapter 12, and I want to go down to verse 12, beginning New King James Version. It says, Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, but make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. I think of the words where it says strengthen the hands that hang down. Have you ever been so tired you just can't hardly even pick your hands up? They're just hanging down. That can happen spiritually, and that can happen. What about our knees? Have you ever been so tired you feel like your knees are just going to buckle under you? So when we come together as a congregation, we're to strengthen those hands that hang down spiritually. Because you don't want apostasy to happen to anyone where they give up the faith. I mean, I've seen this happen, and you probably have too. And recently, a lady, I was talking with her, 87 years old, faithful for years. And I talked to her, and she said, I want you to come and see me. And I did. Don and I both did. She said, I'm leaving the Church of Christ. She has children that have a denominational background, belief. Her husband, who was a faithful Christian, he had died. And so what did she do? She's gone with her children. She departed the faith. And she said, I don't want to hear it. She knows. She knows. And that's called apostasy. She abandoned her religious faith. Notice what Jesus said in [Matthew chapter 10](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+10&version=NKJV). In Matthew chapter 10, Jesus said, beginning in verse 34, He said, do not think I came, I came to this earth to bring peace. He said, I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. Now this word of God, it's a double-edged sword. You know, that's like, I think Brother Keeble said, it'll cut you a coming and a going. He said, I didn't come to this earth to bring peace. He came to this earth. You have to take it in his context, what Jesus is talking about. He came to this earth to teach his word. And this word will make you either better or bitter. Notice what he says. Verse 35. For I have come to set a man against his father and a daughter against her mother. You know, I've come to set the younger against the older. That's really what we're not taught, is it? We're taught to honor our father and mother. If it comes to the gospel though, you're to go with the Lord. He said, a daughter against her mother and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man's enemies will be those of what? His own household. I had a lady call me. Her mother was a faithful Christian. Died a faithful Christian. She was young. She had just gotten married. And so what she tried to do, she tried to compromise. So I was preaching this congregation and we started at nine o'clock and he would come with her. He was a denominational belief. And his uncle was actually a preacher at this denomination. So they would come because we met early. The denomination met later. And so they would come and be with us. And then he would get so angry listening at the gospel. Well, wasn't long. Then they'd leave and they'd go hear his uncle preach. They wanted to start their family. She called me one night of crying. She said, I'm leaving. I'm going with him. We're going to have children and we don't want our children pulled between one religious belief and another. Isn't that what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 10, 34 and 35? Set a son against his father. Daughter against her mother. Apostasy. False doctrine was being taught at the denomination. In [1 Timothy chapter 4](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+4&version=NKJV), beginning in verse 1, the New King James version, speaking of the Holy Spirit. Now the spirit, Paul says to Timothy, the Holy Spirit expressly says that in latter times, some will depart from the faith. Isn't that apostasy? Given heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. Notice what Paul said. Now, if you look in the context of 1 Timothy chapter 4, go with me to 1 Timothy chapter and this will give us where Timothy was at when Paul gave him this instruction. Look in verse 3 of [1 Timothy 1](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+1&version=NKJV). Paul says to Timothy, as I urged you, when I went into Macedonia, remain in Ephesus. So Timothy was where? He was in Ephesus. Okay, now turn with me to [Acts chapter 20](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+20&version=NKJV). Apostasy happens within the church. It can often do that if we're not careful. In Acts chapter 20, you know where I'm probably going with this. What does Paul do? Verse 27. Well, let's just go to verse 26, the paragraph. Therefore, Acts 20 verse 26. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you. Who? These elders of Ephesus at Miletus. I'm not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore, take heed to yourselves and to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God, which he, Jesus, purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves, even the elders, men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Apostasy can happen even within a congregation and even amongst elders. We have to be careful concerning that. False doctrine can be taught. How do we determine if something being taught is false or not? The book. The book determines. We're to search out the scripture. We don't turn there, but [Nehemiah chapter 8](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah+8&version=NKJV), [Nehemiah chapter 9](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah+9&version=NKJV). You think about back at this time. It says there was a scribe and a priest. His name was Ezra. We know it says there in verse 1 that he was a scribe of Nehemiah 8. In verse 2, he was also called as a priest. Ezra read from before the square. He went out to the square. This is recorded for us in Nehemiah chapter 8 and verse 3, and he was up on a platform and he read the law of Moses. He read the word of God. Notice what it says in verse 2. It said he read from it before the square, which was in front of the water gate from early morning to midday. So he read from early morning to midday. That's a few hours in the presence of men and women and those who could understand and all the people were attentive to the book of the law. [Ezra 7:24](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra+7%3A24&version=NKJV), when Don and I visited Washington DC, we visited other places in Philadelphia concerning the history. Ezra 7 and verse 24 according to our historical documents is why churches are not taxed. In [Acts 15](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+15&version=NKJV), the disciples accepted God's truth concerning circumcision. You remember verse 1? They met together. They didn't want any apostasy to take place. They met and they discussed the matter of circumcision. So there is a difficulty. I mean, there's a concern concerning apostasy. In [2 Timothy chapter 4](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+4&version=NKJV) verses 2 through 5, the New King James Version, Paul is seen to die. He is so concerned about the gospel. It appears to me if Paul gives Timothy an instruction to remain at Ephesus in 1 Timothy 1 and verse 3, he would remain there until he was given other instructions. We know in chapter 4 of 2 Timothy, he gave him some new instructions, didn't he? So what he says here in verse 2 of this last chapter, he said, Timothy, you preach the word. Be ready in season and out of season. You convince, you rebuke, you exhort with all long-suffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine. Well, I think he's referring to Ephesus because Paul had already told him in Acts 20 that some even among the elders would decline. In 2 Timothy is a letter that was written after Acts. The book of Acts. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables. Peter warned against apostasy. In [2 Peter 2](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+2&version=NKJV), beginning in verse 1, but there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, Peter says. We know that he's writing to the same people that he wrote the letter of 1 Peter because 2 Peter chapter 3 and verse 1 verified that. And even as there will be false teachers among you who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, that means opinions, variances, bearing away from the word of God, heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them and bring on themselves swift destruction, and many will follow their destructive ways because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words for a long time their judgment has not been idle and their destruction does not slumber. They're active at teaching false doctrine. ## The Danger of Compromise Well, another thought. Danger of compromise. Compromise. Paul didn't yield to compromise concerning circumcision, didn't he? You know, these guys come up from Jerusalem up to Antioch and, you know, in Acts chapter 15 where even one of the Pharisees said it was important or necessary to circumcise one to be a Christian. Paul didn't yield one minute to that. Paul even mentions here in [Galatians 2](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+2&version=NKJV) and verse 3 beginning, Paul at Jerusalem he said, yet not even Titus who was with me being a Greek was compelled to be circumcised. So Titus was a Gentile and he wasn't compelled to be circumcised and this occurred because of the false brethren secretly brought in who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty, Paul said, to the churches of Galatia which we have in Christ Jesus that they might bring us into bondage to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. We cannot compromise. In fact, Paul said in [2 Corinthians 6:14](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+6%3A14&version=NKJV) beginning, do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. We cannot compromise the gospel of Jesus. ## The Danger of Worldliness Another thought is worldliness. Worldliness. I understand there's 168 hours in a week. Most congregations spend three, four hours per week together. So that means over 96% of our time is outside the doors of this building. The world out there doesn't think the way we're thinking in here. They think differently. Can worldliness sneak into our private lives? Yes. Can it sneak into a congregation? Yes. James warns us not to be overly friendly with the world. [James 4:4](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+4%3A4&version=NKJV), Adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? You cannot compromise the word of God. Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. In [James 4:1](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+4%3A1&version=NKJV), the latter part of the verse, James says, do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You know, it's getting so now, a lot of congregations or churches, I know one in our county that puts on recreation, they put on feeding people and that kind of thing, they're bringing in worldliness into the assemblies. In [1 John 2:15](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2%3A15&version=NKJV), again, something familiar probably to most all of us, New King James version, do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father, talking about God, but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it. But he who does the will of God abides forever. You know, the prodigal son, he thought the world is worth that, and he went off, didn't he, until he ran out of money, and then he come back, didn't he? There's a danger in worldliness. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed, [Romans 12:2](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A2&version=NKJV). Be changed. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe, and we have to be more mature in God's word. ## The Danger of Materialism A danger of another thought is materialism. Seeking the things of this world, that's what worldliness is. The rich young ruler had a problem with materialism, didn't he? In [Matthew 19](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+19&version=NKJV), beginning of verse 20, the young man said to Jesus, all these things I've kept from my youth, talking about those of the law of Moses, what do I still lack? And Jesus said to him, if you want to be perfect, if you want to be complete, you go and sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me. You know, Jesus did this, didn't he? He was in the glories of heaven. You can't get any richer than that. And what did he do? He gave that up. He became poor. So we could be rich spiritually. So when the young man heard what Jesus taught him, he went away sorrowful for he had great riches. ## The Danger of Spiritual Malnutrition Another thought is malnutrition. Malnutrition. There's a danger in that. We need to study God's word. We need to, in [2 Peter 3:18](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+3%3A18&version=NKJV), grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And then these false teachers, when they do come in, we will pick up on it quickly. I've experienced, I've not done that lesson here, but the AD 70 doctrine. I don't know whether you've heard of that or not. It came from Texas, the one that I encountered. And so what did it do? They call it the AD 70 doctrine. They call it, what that is, is they think, they teach that Christ, these are non-institutional groups, they teach that Christ came back a second time in AD 70 when Jerusalem was destroyed. Well, ask them, okay, if he came back in AD 70, why did we partake of the Lord's Supper? Didn't Jesus teach us to partake until he comes again? See, I don't know what profit they get out of this eschatology. So we have to make sure we study and we do not have spiritual malnutrition so you will know what the word of God is. You know, the Hebrew writer says in [Hebrews 5:12](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+5%3A12&version=KJV), beginning in the King James version, for though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God. And you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. God expects spiritual growth, doesn't he? In 2 Peter 3 verse 18, but grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Spirituality in this life, we're either growing or we're dying. And if we're, if you don't, your faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. If we put God's word aside, then we'll develop a spiritual malnutrition. ## Overcoming These Dangers There are many dangers concerning that Christian's faith, but we can overcome. Jesus died on the cross. He ascended into heaven. The power is in him and we can overcome all the temptations, [1 Peter 5:8](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+5%3A8&version=NKJV), of Satan. Notice in [1 Corinthians 10:13](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+10%3A13&version=NKJV) in closing, no temptation has overtaken you except such as common to man. But God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you're able. But with the temptation will also make the way of escape that you may be able to bear. God will never allow us not to be able to bear temptation. We may have to do like Joseph did down in Egypt. We may have to run and flee, but God will make a way of escape for us. Dangers that Christians face. It's sad to see older Christians quit the Lord and go back into the ways of the world. Most of the time it's because of family that that happens. If you're here this morning and you're not a Christian, we beseech you to become a Christian. As we often say, you won't take any sin to heaven with you. We have to use Jesus' blood here. That's why he died. He was rich in heaven. He became poor so we could be rich spiritually. And he's accomplished what he came to the earth to do.