Danger Is Never Far From Complacency Amos 6:1 “Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, And trust in Mount Samaria, Notable persons in the chief nation, To whom the house of Israel comes!” ○ :7-8 “Therefore they shall now go captive as the first of the captives, And those who recline at banquets shall be removed. 8 The Lord G OD has sworn by Himself, The L ORD God of hosts says: “I abhor the pride of Jacob, And hate his palaces; Therefore I will deliver up the city, And all that is in it.”  2Kings 18:9-12

The Israelites  They relaxed their upholding of God’s law  They gave into peer pressure  They were punished for forgetting God

The Church The church experienced quick and exciting growth!  Acts 2:44-47, 42; 6:1,7; 8:3-4  Many churches forgot the Lord ○ Galatians 1:6 “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel.”  1Timothy 1:6, some “strayed”

 Revelation the church at Ephesus, had left their first love (2:4) Pergamos had members who believed in false doctrine and practiced immorality (2:14-15) Thyatira also in believing false doctrine and practicing immorality (2:20) Sardis was “dead” even though it appeared alive (3:1-6) Laodiceans became comfortable in this world with things and were lukewarm (3:16-18)

Nature Abhors a Vacuum  1John 5:21 “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” Philippians 3:18-19 “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.”  1Corinthians 10:14 “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

God Knows We Need Reminders  He left instructions for us. Jude 3 “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” Acts 20:32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” James 1:21 “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

God Knows We Need Reminders  He left memorials to remember Him by.  Assembling with the Brethren-Acts 20:7, Hebrews 10:24-25  The Lord’s Supper-1Corinthians 11:  Baptism-Romans 6:4

God always will care and provide for His people, AS LONG AS THEY REMEMBER HIM! Hebrews 2:1-3 “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.”