DESTRUCTION OF ONE'S FAITH
Heb. 6:4-8
By David Riggs
Intro.
A. All of us have known people who have given up their faith.
B. There are multiple causes which lead people away from
faithfulness.
C. If we could identify some of those causes, it would (1) enable
us to assist in restoring people to their faith; (2) strengthen
us so that we will not fall from our own steadfastness.
I. WE LIST SOME OF THE CAUSES THAT DESTROY A PERSON'S FAITH.
A. Personal characteristics often lead people astray.
1. Pride.
a. One sins and is unwilling to repent or change his evil
ways.
b. One is given too much responsibility or authority and it
destroys him. 1 Tim. 3:6.
c. Consider Prov. 11:2; Rom. 12:3
2. Stubbornness.
a. Some will not turn from their stubborn ways. Judges
2:19; 1 Sam. 15:23
b. All human beings seem to have a dose of stubbornness
but some have the full bottle.
3. Worldly Ambition.
a. It was a problem among the disciples: Luke 22:24-27
b. Being a Christian often conflicts with one's worldly
desires and goals.
c. Worldly ambition can crowd out our spiritual activities
and concerns.
d. The carnal mind is enmity against God.
4. Greed.
a. Remember Judas, and Ananias and Sapphira.
b. One who is greedy for money cannot be an elder. 1 Tim.
3:3; 1 Pet. 5:2
B. Personal Experiences.
1. Tragedy.
a. There is a certain amount of tragedy in everyone's life.
Eccl. 7:14
(1) Although it occurs in everyone's life, some cannot
deal with it when it hits them.
b. They lose health, wealth, a loved one, etc., and blame
God.
(1) There was a certain preacher whose wife died,
leaving him with four children to raise.
(a) He said he was tempted to blame God and,
thus, turn from God.
(b) However, he overcame, later remarried, and
continues to preach the gospel to this day.
c. After Job had lost all, he said, "The Lord gave, and the
Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord."
Job 1:21
d. No matter how hard the trial, we can overcome. 1 Cor.
10:13
(1) Let us never turn from God when tragedy strikes,
but turn to God
2. Relationships with fellow Christians.
a. Some Christians are trying, aggravating, hard to get
along with, etc.
(1) Paul spoke of "false" brethren. 2 Cor. 11:26
(2) Some hated Paul and wanted to add affliction to his
bonds. Phil. 1:16
b. Let us not become angry at what people say or do, but
do our best to love all, even those who are bitterly
opposed to us. Matthew 5:43-48.
c. Let us never retaliate and use the same tactics they use.
Psalm 15:3.
3. Relationships with family.
a. Family should be an influence for good; however, this is
certainly not always the case.
(1) Micah showed that some relatives are not to be
trusted. Micah 7:5-6
(2) As Micah did, we can always trust the Lord. Micah
7:7
b. Relatives can be one of the strongest determining
factors in keeping one's faith or giving up one's faith.
c. Whether others remain faithful or not, let us always do
what God requires of us. Col. 3:18-21
4. False teachers.
a. The apostles warned us of false teachers. 2 Pet. 2:1
b. Some preachers have great influence and power.
(1) Some can be "church bosses." 3 John 9
(2) Some become fascinated with and begin to teach
"unusual" theories.
c. Often, when a false teacher is exposed, some become
discouraged and give up their faith.
(1) We should put our faith in the message, not in the
messenger.
(2) Let us continue to strive for the faith of the
gospel. Phil. 1:27
5. Worldliness.
a. Worldliness appears in many different packages.
(1) It can range from attraction to materialism to the
vilest of sins.
b. When one's desires for the world outweigh his desires
to please God, he will self-destruct spiritually.
(1) It is not the ship in the water, but the water in the
ship that causes it to sink. Likewise, it not the
Christian in the world, but the world in the
Christian that destroys him.
(2) Anyone who turns back to the world is not fit for
the kingdom of God.
(3) Anyone who is the friend of the world is the enemy
of God. James 4:4
(4) We have escaped the pollutions of the world. Let
us not be again entangled in them. 2 Pet. 2:20; Gal.
5:1
6. Fail to trust the promises of God. Heb. 3:17-4:2
a. That generation died in the wilderness because they
failed to trust God's promises.
(1) God had promised He would give them the land.
(2) Instead of believing God, they believed ten evil
spies.
b. God has given us exceeding great and precious
promises.
(1) Let us fully and completely put our trust in His
promises. Let us never be moved away from the
hope of the gospel. Col. 1:23
Concl.
A. As we have seen, one's faith can be destroyed for a multitude
of reasons.
1. Certainly, there would never be a legitimate reason for
losing one's faith.
B. The consequence of the destruction of one's faith is the
destruction of one's soul.
1. Let us be on guard. 1 Cor. 16:13
2. Let us stand fast in the Lord. Phil. 4:1