1 The Path To Destruction! 13-03-2016 Matthew 7:21 23 21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? 23 And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! (NKJV) Jesus makes this radical statement, scary to say the least! It is made in context relative to the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, and in reference to the religious leaders and teachers of His day, as well as for all who would teach. Many of them were doing supernatural works, and yet were not doing the will of the Father, but rather, doing their own will. They were twisting the scriptures and leading God s people astray. The word lawless is not talking about sin as we understand it, but rather a people rebellious to God s principles that govern relationships and matters of the Kingdom. They were workers of iniquity! They were lawless, submitting to illegitimate authority and expressing such. These are went out ones, individuals who claim to be in submission to Christ and His government, but are not. Disconnected from the local Church and it s authority, associating with the Church only in order to take from it what they can. Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. (NKJV) 1 Thessalonians 5:12 13 12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. (NIV84) NEVER ASSOCIATE WITH ANY MINISTRY THAT IS DISCONNECTED FROM THE LOCAL CHURCH, OR WHO TEACHES YOU HAVE NO NEED TO SUBMIT TO OR BE A PART OF A LOCAL CHURCH! 2 Peter 2:1-3 But there were also lying prophets among the people then, just as there will be lying religious teachers among you. They ll smuggle in destructive divisions, pitting you against each other - biting the hand of the One who gave them a chance to have their lives back! They ve put themselves on a fast downhill slide to destruction, but not before they recruit a crowd of mixed-up followers who can t tell right from wrong. They give the way of truth a bad name. They re only out for themselves. They ll say anything, anything, that sounds good to exploit you. They won t, of course, get by with it. They ll come to a bad end, for God has never just stood by and let that kind of thing go on. (THE MESSAGE) 2 Peter 3:14 18 14 16 So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace. Interpret our Master s patient restraint for what it is: salvation. Our good brother Paul, who was given much wisdom in these matters, refers to this in all his letters, and has written you essentially the same thing. Some things Paul writes are difficult to understand. Irresponsible people who don t know what they are talking about twist them every which way. They do it to the rest of the Scriptures, too, destroying themselves as they do it. 17 18 But you, friends, are well-warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.
2 If people knew they were on the path to destruction, they would do something about it. However, many are blinded to this path. It is wide and seems right in their own eyes. Over the years I have seen many sincere men and woman violate God s Truth, which is His Word and revealed will! They bring great destruction to themselves, their families, ministries and God s precious people. Below are some of the steps on the path to destruction. If you find yourself at any of these steps, now is the time to deal with it! 1. INGRATITUDE Hebrews 6:9 10 9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. (KJV) An attitude of ingratitude is considered in scripture as unrighteousness. To forget the kindness, love, care, provision, support etc that one has shown another is the ultimate expression of an ungrateful heart! People who fail to acknowledge, forget and fail to remember the many kindnesses God and man have shown to them is considered evil in scripture! Webster s Dictionary defines Ingratitude as: Forgetfulness of, or poor return for, kindness received. It can also be defined as not appreciating or valuing what you have, or have been given. Unexpressed gratitude is also ingratitude! 2 Chronicles 32:24 25 24 About this time King Hezekiah fell ill and almost died. He prayed, and the Lord gave him a sign that he would recover. 25 But Hezekiah was too proud to show gratitude for what the Lord had done for him, and Judah and Jerusalem suffered for it. (GNB) An attitude of ingratitude will always lead to an independent spirit. 2. AN INDEPENDENT SPIRIT Acts 15:24 25 24 We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them! 25 So we decided, having come to complete agreement, to send you official representatives, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul (NLT) A person, who becomes independent, becomes autonomous within the team and is independent from the government of the local Church. The rules, protocol, principles and instructions no longer apply. The fruit and attitude of an independent spirit will always be bad. Independent people, are a sovereign entity in their skewed perceptions. As sovereign, they are above all human authority, they will not submit to the spiritual guidance of the church. They lean on the understanding that they are accountable to God alone, but even in this they have deceived themselves! In their pride they have only made themselves accountable to God on their own terms and according to their own views of God's law. Even though His human instruments are not perfect, this does not absolve us from responsible submission. Even Paul, when he encountered Christ, had a man endorse his ministry in Acts 9 as well as after 14 years of revelation submitted such to the leaders at Jerusalem. God has never worked independently of His Body. Independent people have always taken offence!
3 3. OFFENCE Luke 17:1 5 Then He said to the disciples, It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, I repent, you shall forgive him. 5 And the apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith. (NKJV) To take offence is to take the bait of satan. The word offence literally means the bait for a trap, the trap itself. When offence comes your way because of malice, God will deal with it, but people can even take offence at the Word and leaders, because of the condition of their own hearts. Luke 7:18 23 18 Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things. 19 And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another? 20 When the men had come to Him, they said, John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another? 21 And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. 22 Jesus answered and said to them, Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. 23 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me. (NKJV) John had been the forerunner of Jesus claiming that He was the Messiah. He even recognized this truth in his mother s womb and yet, at the end of his ministry he became offended at Jesus success and now questions wether Jesus really is the Messiah! Offended people will always become passive, where they used to be involved in the life of the Church, they are no longer involved and begin to isolate themselves. 4. PASSIVITY Jeremiah 48:10 Cursed are those who refuse to do the Lord s work, who hold back their swords from shedding blood! (NLT) A person who has taken offence will become passive disconnected, uninvolved. They sit and observe and are uninvolved and unconcerned and eventually become critical. The passive persons brings a great curse upon their lives. (Judges 5) 5. PASSIVE PEOPLE BECOME CRITICAL Numbers 12:1 4 While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he had married a Cushite woman. 2 They said, Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn t he spoken through us, too? But the Lord heard them. (NLT) Because they are disconnected and uninvolved within the local Church they notice and magnify all the faults. They analyze everything and focus on all the deficiencies and faults in the ministry. If you look at the ministry through critical eyes, you will only see the imperfections and love begins to depart. Eyes of love always see something good and as a result produce hope for the future.
4 6. THE POLITICAL STAGE 2 Samuel 15:2 4 2 He got up early every morning and went out to the gate of the city. When people brought a case to the king for judgment, Absalom would ask where in Israel they were from, and they would tell him their tribe. 3 Then Absalom would say, You ve really got a strong case here! It s too bad the king doesn t have anyone to hear it. 4 I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice! (NLT) Like politicians, critical people will try and get others involved in their ideas, philosophies, factions, groups, opinions etc. concerning THEIR ministry. They sympathize with the people suggesting that the leader is unbothered concerning their needs. He is unapproachable and doesn t care! 1 Corinthians 11:18 19 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. (NKJV) 7. DECEPTION 1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits. (NKJV) If they weren t deceived, they would not continue into the realm of destruction by violating biblical principles and wrong teaching. 8.OPEN REBELLION Numbers 16:1 15 One day Korah son of Izhar, a descendant of Kohath son of Levi, conspired with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, from the tribe of Reuben. 2 They incited a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 other leaders of the community, all prominent members of the assembly. 3 They united against Moses and Aaron and said, You have gone too far! The whole community of Israel has been set apart by the Lord, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of the Lord s people? 4 When Moses heard what they were saying, he fell face down on the ground. 5 Then he said to Korah and his followers, Tomorrow morning the Lord will show us who belongs to him* and who is holy. The Lord will allow only those whom he selects to enter his own presence. 6 Korah, you and all your followers must prepare your incense burners. 7 Light fires in them tomorrow, and burn incense before the Lord. Then we will see whom the Lord chooses as his holy one. You Levites are the ones who have gone too far! 8 Then Moses spoke again to Korah: Now listen, you Levites! 9 Does it seem insignificant to you that the God of Israel has chosen you from among all the community of Israel to be near him so you can serve in the Lord s Tabernacle and stand before the people to minister to them? 10 Korah, he has already given this special ministry to you and your fellow Levites. Are you now demanding the priesthood as well? 11 The Lord is the one you and your followers are really revolting against! For who is Aaron that you are complaining about him? 12 Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they replied, We refuse to come before you! 13 Isn t it enough that you brought us out of Egypt, a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us here in this wilderness, and that you now treat us like your subjects? 14 What s more, you haven t brought us into another land flowing with milk and honey. You haven t given us a new homeland with fields and vineyards. Are you trying to fool these men?* We will not come. 15
5 Then Moses became very angry and said to the Lord, Do not accept their grain offerings! I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, and I have never hurt a single one of them. (NLT) They now openly resist and fight against authority! 9. DESTRUCTION Numbers 16:19 33 19 Meanwhile, Korah had stirred up the entire community against Moses and Aaron, and they all gathered at the Tabernacle entrance. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to the whole community, 20 and the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 21 Get away from all these people so that I may instantly destroy them! 22 But Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground. O God, they pleaded, you are the God who gives breath to all creatures. Must you be angry with all the people when only one man sins? 23 And the Lord said to Moses, 24 Then tell all the people to get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. 25 So Moses got up and rushed over to the tents of Dathan and Abiram, followed by the elders of Israel. 26 Quick! he told the people. Get away from the tents of these wicked men, and don t touch anything that belongs to them. If you do, you will be destroyed for their sins. 27 So all the people stood back from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Then Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the entrances of their tents, together with their wives and children and little ones. 28 And Moses said, This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things that I have done for I have not done them on my own. 29 If these men die a natural death, or if nothing unusual happens, then the Lord has not sent me. 30 But if the Lord does something entirely new and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them and all their belongings, and they go down alive into the grave,* then you will know that these men have shown contempt for the Lord. 31 He had hardly finished speaking the words when the ground suddenly split open beneath them. 32 The earth opened its mouth and swallowed the men, along with their households and all their followers who were standing with them, and everything they owned. 33 So they went down alive into the grave, along with all their belongings. The earth closed over them, and they all vanished from among the people of Israel. (NLT) Rebellion always brings death and destruction!