Desertion in the Lord’s Army

Clark Sims

• Judas Iscariot

• Judas Iscariot

• Benedict Arnold

• Judas Iscariot

• Benedict Arnold

• Johnny Damon

Our enemy

“Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (First Peter 5:8).

A Christian…At War?

• Ephesians 6:11-20

• Second Timothy 2:3-4

• “Let me out!”– The grass is greener on the other

side.– The prodigal son illustrates this group

(Luke 15).– While Christians have hard times,

those who “want out” don’t realize how good they really have it!

– The devil makes the world look better than it is (First John 2:16).

• “I can’t take it anymore!”– Faithful for awhile, but don’t last

through the trials of life.– We must endure!– If all members (and little children) of 9th

Avenue were here, we would have 415 in attendance—with no visitors!!!!!!!!!

– Revelation 2:10—what does it mean?– Who can you encourage to “last” or

even to “reenlist?”

No Fence-Straddling Allowed!

•Revelation 3:15-16

•Matthew 12:30

•Mark 14:3-9, “what she could”

•The rich young ruler only lacked ONE thing, but

that was too much!

•Matthew 7:21

No Fence-Straddling Allowed!

•“No man can serve two masters…You cannot

serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).

•First Kings 18:21, “If the Lord is God, follow

[serve] Him!”

No one becomes a deserter unless he/she chooses to leave!

•Why will we have a good attendance on Sunday morning, and far fewer at other times? A choice!

•Why will Christians begin to look for more “exciting” worship? A choice!

•Why will Christians begin to teach that those in other religious groups are saved? A choice!

God’s Promise

1.You have a choice to stay with Him or to leave.

2.If you choose to leave, you can repent and return.

3.If you choose to stay, there will still be temptations.

4.God “will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able” to bear (First Corinthians 10:13).