"THE SEASON OF FALL"
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season"
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As students of God's word and knowing human behavior, Solomon observed
that there is a predetermined season for everything and a fixed time for every
happening.
The Apostle Paul told Timothy to, "Preach the word; [preach the truth] be
instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and
doctrine" (2 Tim 4:2).
The truth of God's ways are always needed whether men realize it or not. It is
the shepherd's [Elders] duty to "feed the flock of God" according to 1 Pet 5:2, and to
set it an example. Elders are given advise, "Who then is a faithful and wise servant,
whom his Lord has made ruler over His household, to give them meat in due season?"
(Matt 24:45-46). Give them spiritual food at the proper appointed time, "Blessed is
that servant, whom His Lord when He cometh shall find so doing."
Fall is the start of the season people in God's churches fall away! Is this why,
the season before winter sets in is called fall? It's the Elders job to warn God's
people of the season we are in!
We are told through the record of the New Testament era of God's church,
some were more zealous than others in finishing their part in the work of God. Not
everyone of that time remained faithful, and it would appear that the few instead of
the many continued to preach the gospel of God's truth.
Our Lord thinking of the Laodican era, said, ".... I have this against you, that
you have left your first love" (Rev 2:4).
Jesus Christ has much to say to His church, along with instructions about what
we should be doing. There are somber warnings for us written down in the Bible for
our guidance. We must not take lightly the job that has been entrusted to us. We are
to go where God leads us, and do what He inspires us to do- and doing all of this
with ever increasing zeal, and knowing that we are fulfilling what ever our part is.
Ten years ago I read a short article of an event where two fisherman lost their
lives because of, letting their boat drift. The article read: Two young men were
fishing above a low dam on a river near their hometown. As they were concentrating
on catching fish, they were unaware that they had drifted until they realized their
situation. The current near the dam had become too powerful for them to keep their
boat from going over the dam. Below the dam the water was dashing with strong
force over great boulders and through crevices in the rocks caught by the swirling
waters under the rocks. They never came to the surface, after days of relentless
searching. The divers finally found one body, and then two. The story ended by
saying - these young men lost their lives in the bloom of youth
The danger of drifting is not limited to the physical realm. It is also dangerous
for the spiritual realm! We are now in a period of time between the Last Great Day
of 2012 and Passover and Day's of Unleavened Bread 2013! That is six months
without an annual Sabbath. Six months of testing our obedience and faith. Six
months of testing our loyalty to God's truth. Satan's world has many tides and under
- currents to sweep us away!
The Apostle Paul makes a comment in Phil 2: about working out our own
salvation with fear and trembling. "Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always
obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out
your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which works in you both
to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Phil 2:12-13).
God gives us each year six months of being on our own. He is watching each
of us individually to see if we can stay and obey the navigational course. He and His
word has put us on notice! There is a warning that is being given us in the book of
Hebrews. "Wherefore we ought to give the more earnest heed [more whole-hearted
attention] to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip"
(Heb 2:1). Or we should drift away from them!
Sadly, it is not uncommon for God's called bride to be, to drift toward
destruction! When you think about it drifting is one of the easiest and most pleasant
means of locomotion. Maybe you have experienced drifting on a raft, or on a inter-tube or maybe in a boat, while fishing.
Spiritual, this means of travel can become risky, dangerous and deceptive. We
might ask, how is that? We just read about the two fishermen that were gliding down
a river, they had the feeling of well-being and contentment, they were relaxed and
probably a little drowsy, having the warm sun shining down on them. Their smooth
glide downstream was hardly discernible as the boat moved down the river. To them
it seemed, to remain motionless because the water was moving with the boat and the
appearance was deceiving.
Play being a inspector for a moment! Ask yourselves, "Am I spiritually
drifting? Would I recognize it, if I were? There is danger ahead for anyone of us if
we drift away from God and His words of truth.
There are 6 things we should know about drifting. One, drifting requires no
effort. If a person stops oaring or tracking against the wind or current, the boat, raft,
or inter-tube will begin to drift freely. The same is true for God's people, you and me!
That's why it is said in Heb. 2:1, "We must give the more earnest heed." The Good
News Bible reads, "We must hold on all the more firmly to the truth we have heard,
so that we will not be carried away." Meaning =drift into unchartered waters.
Two, the second thing we should know about drifting is it is an unconscious
process making it possible to drift unaware. When sitting in a boat, or riding on a
raft undercurrents are often un-noticed from the surface. The same is true in the
spiritual realm, many God has called have slowly drifted away because the
undercurrent of Satan took them off course and away from the truth. Many called and
Churches of God have gradually drifted into error, Going back to keeping Sunday,
keeping Christmas and Easter. Eating unclean food, buying and selling on God's
Sabbath. Ignoring God's set appointed Holy Day times, by following the
postponements rules set by Hillel II for the Jewish Hebrew Calendar! Many have
stopped teaching God's laws. There are Elders teaching and practicing themselves,
Jewish fables, and saying whatever they bind on earth God will bind in heaven.
There are many churches and groups of people that have gradually drifted into these
errors. They are finding themselves far removed from what God in His word teaches.
Third point, when drifting, it is never upstream or against the tide. Our
faithfulness to God should be like paddling a boat upstream or swimming upstream.
Going against the smooth popular flow of man the Apostle Peter tells us, seven things
we must constantly be adding to our faith, so we don't just drift. The first one is
virtue, then faith, supplied with moral excellence, knowledge understanding of God
ways, building Godly character, temperance self control, patience, steadfast
perseverance under adversity, godliness, reverence toward God the Father and Christ,
brotherly kindness, love of the brethren, charity [agape love] out going concern from
the heart, not agapaho love, self righteous - soft - syrupy - social sense love. Verse
8, in 2 Peter 1 states "For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that
you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that
he was purged from his old sins. [from his old ways]. Wherefore the rather, brethren,
give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you
shall never fall." Stumble by drifting!!
Peter continues to enlighten us in Chapter 3, verse 18. "But grow in grace, and
in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now
and for ever."
The moment a person stops growing spiritually they stagnate then start drifting,
going where ever the wind, current, or main stream drives them. Usually back to the
old man status again where they came from before they were given God's Holy
Spirit.
Point four: the speed downstream always increases. It seems to never fail,
dangers increase with the speed of the drift. When someone hears the noise of the
waterfall it is already to late- like it was for those fisherman. When someone loses
sight of land it is more difficult to discern that they are drifting. When someone
moves farther and farther from the study and practice of God's word they care less
and less about God's truth and about what they do.
The Apostle Paul knew people would have this problem, that's why he told
Timothy, "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to
be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of Truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). Spiritually, the
Churches of God cannot be ashamed of practicing and teaching God's truth.
Point five, drifting is dangerous to others! A ship that is drifting is going to
be a hazard to all other vessels. Just as God's called who are casually drifting are on
a collision coarse with disaster. Paul sends a strong warning to God's elect, by
advising them to not be tossed around like a wave on every wind of doctrines. "That
we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every
wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in
wait to deceive" (Eph 4:14).
When God calls us to active service, three dangers must be avoided. 1).
Immaturity; 2). Instability; 3). And gullibility. The first one - immaturity, are
believers who never become involved in aggressive study of God's word. They will
never emerge from being immature. God calls them spiritual children. They are un-developed through lack of Godly exercise, to remove the old man. "For when for the
time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again which be the
first principles of the oracles of God; [not mans traditions] and are become such as
have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that uses milk is un-skillful
in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongs to them that
are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern
both good and evil" (Heb. 5:12-14).
Next to avoid is- instability, since Mr. Armstrong's death, and the Laodician
era set in, many unstable persons have become religious gypsies. Running and going
to and fro, from one appealing church to another appealing church, displaying loyalty
to no church! They are lacking steadfastness, patience, endurance and stability, that
is in the foundation of God's word- His utterances of truth.
Read how Jude labeled these disloyal Laodiceans- that are neither hot or cold.
"These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding
themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees
whose fruit wither, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves
of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the
blackness of darkness for ever" (Jude 12-13). Who could possibly want to be labeled
like that?
Notice what James says about this subject, "But let him ask in faith, nothing
wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and
tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A
double minded man is unstable in all his ways" (James 1:6-8).
The third danger to avoid, is gullibility. This happens when a person is
carried about with every wind of doctrine. They become impressed with smooth
articulating sermons. They think that - that person must be a true servant of God's
word. If they had been keeping up with the study of God's word, they would be able
to see through error and deceitful - adding to and taking away of God's word of
truth. [2 Tim 2:15]
In Isaiah 30, the Lord sends a woe to those who will not obey His words. "This
is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord:
which say to the seers, see not; and to the prophets, prophesy not unto us right things,
speak unto us smooth things [soft things], prophesy deceits" (Isa 30:9-10). We are
not to preach error, like its OK to change God's laws, its OK to postpone God's
annual Holy Days, its OK to buy and sell on God's Sabbaths! There have even been
ministers telling people to move to the desert because this is where Christ is going to
return. Christ tells us, "Wherefore if they shall say unto you, behold, He is in the
Desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not" (Matt
24:26). We need to take Christ at His word!
Point six- lawlessness ends in a ship wreck. A boat or raft - adrift will crash,
just as those who drift spiritually, through their own neglect will not escape from just
punishment. Observe verse 10 of Jeremiah 14, what the house of Israel was told.
"Thus saith the Lord unto this people, you have loved to wander, they have not
refrained their feet, therefore the Lord doth not accept them; He will now remember
their iniquity, and visit their sins." We need to be on guard against any one that
might encourage us to relocate our living quarters because they say this is where
Jesus Christ is going to return.
The danger of drifting is real or there would be no need to warn against it! Ask
yourself, as I have to, "Am I drifting?" What are some common signs of drifting
? One is: when we diminish our desire to study and pray! We would all agree God's
word is a unique book. It is a source of information not found anywhere else.
Without God's revelation how could we know our origin, our purpose or destiny?
The Bible tells us of what sin is and its dreadful consequences! Also, how
keeping God's law will save us from those consequences. It provides positive
direction for living happy useful lives and warns those that are living unstable lives.
The Psalms tells us, "Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the
ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his
delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And
he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his
season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper. The
ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind drives away" (Psa 1:1- 4).
In contrast to a tree, the chaff has no roots, No fixed place for stability. Same
with the ungodly, they are attached to nothing, they lack stability, they resemble a
tumbleweed drifting around wherever the wind takes them. They cannot endure to
stay grounded in truth and feed upon God's sound doctrine! That is not a freedom -
worth possessing! Continuing with verse 5, "Therefore the ungodly shall not stand
in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows
the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish" (Psa. 1:5-6).
When a person loses their desire to study and live by God's word they are
drifting. What can be done to help that lost desire? Draw close to God by fasting and
develop a sincere, earnest prayer to God on your knees daily! Fasting and prayer
will help anchor that problem. But remember? When praying or fasting do not give
God instructions! Just report daily for duty! Also remember "a lot of kneeling will
keep you in good standing!"
Christ shows us a good example in Mark! There we will see that Jesus rose
early in the morning to spend time in prayer. "And in the morning, rising up a great
while before day, He [Christ] went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there
prayed" (Mark 1:35). One of the outstanding characteristics of Jesus Christ was that
He prayed often and effectively. That is an example we need to heed. Keeping close
contact with God in prayer- puts the brakes on drifting, helps us to stay on the right
course. Christ informs us, in Luke 18:1, "..... that men ought always to pray, and not
to faint."
Another common sign of drifting is: diminishing our desire to talk or be with
one another. We find in Malachi 3, the chapter where the question is asked, "Will a
man rob God?" Is found a saying in verse 16-18, "Then they that feared the Lord
spoke often one to another: And the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of
Remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought
upon His name. And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I
make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares His own son that serves
Him. Then shall you return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked,
between him that serves God and him that serves Him not."
Malachi, God's messenger is encouraging those who are endeavoring to do
what is right by being concerned with helping one another. Edifying one another!
Edify means: To enlighten; To instruct; inform of a fact or situation; give spiritual
insight. We find the term edify used in Romans 14:19, starting with verse 17, "For
the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in
the Holy Spirit. For he that in these things serve Christ is acceptable to God, and
approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and
things wherewith one may edify another." Each one of us have a responsibility to
help support one another to build a strong Godly relationship. Such edification
should occur daily. "But exhort one another daily, while it is called to day; lest any
of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of
Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; while it is
said, to day if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, [become bitter] as in
the provocation" (Heb 3:13-15).
Solomon, whose theme is mans reasoning, wrote, "Two are better than one;
because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up
his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he has not another to help
him up" (Eccl 4:9-10).
The right kind of friendships worships together. Practicing God's truth together
strengthens us. While the wrong kind leads to drifting - going off course! And
eventually crashing as the fishermen did on the rocks below the dam.
To Recap
There are four concepts to think about; if we are to have a strong anchorage!
Against drifting. We are to ".... have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast,
and which entereth into that within the veil" (Heb 6:19).
One: we must be rooted in God's word and grounded in His faith. Paul tells
us, "As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in Him:
rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught,
abounding therein with thanksgiving" (Col 2:6-7). Two: our minds must be anchored
in truth and not drifting with every wind of doctrine. "That we henceforth be no more
children, tossed to and fro, And carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the
sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But
speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head,
even Christ" (Eph 4:14-15). Three: we must have an unshakable hope and not a
hope that's adrift. "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and
stead fast, and which enters into that within the veil" (Heb 6: 19). The fourth
concept to think about is: we are to be rooted and grounded in love- agape love,
God's outgoing love! Not some sanctimonious- self - righteous, syrupy love like we
can witness from Sunday keeping churches. But having Godly love, that Christ wants
to grant us. "That He [Jesus Christ] would grant you, according to the riches of His
glory, to be strengthened with might by His spirit in the inner man; that Christ may
dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [agape
love]" (Eph 3:16-17). Loyal love of out going concern.
Each of us need to ask ourselves, "Are we rooted and grounded Or are we
drifting, and going with the flow?"
The danger of drifting is real. We would be foolish to say otherwise. We
would be arrogant to say it could not happen to me! Ask yourself, "Are there signs
of drifting in my life?" Honestly ask yourself this question. Has my desire to study
God's word and pray daily diminishing? Is my desire to be with God's people on the
Sabbath not what it has been in the past? Have I lost my desire to help others to
understand God's truth?
If in any way we must admit we are drifting, then we need to study, pray and
fast for encouragement to anchor our drifting. We also need "to give earnest heed
to what we have been taught" as warned by Paul in Heb.2:1, "Therefore we ought to
give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we
should let them slip" Our salvation through Christ's sacrifice is simply too great for
us to neglect it and let it drift away!
James Russell