1. DRIFTING ARE YOU DRIFTING? Heb. 2:1-3a Intro.
Drifting can be very dangerous because it can go completely unnoticed.
1. "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 were not far from the water flowing over the dam. When they realized their situation, the current near the dam had become too powerful for them to keep their boat from going over. 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 or three days later, the other. It was a sad occasion when these two young men lost their lives in the bloom of youth. It was also a sad occasion -- one tempered with hope and thanksgiving -- when I preached the funeral of one of them, the one whom I had baptized only a week before." (By Billy Norris, from Gospel Guide)
B. Many Christians in their spiritual lives are drifting toward destruction.
***Our purpose today is to examine whether or not we are drifting, how to tell if we are, and what to do about it***

2. Facts About Drifting
Requires no effort It is an unconscious process Never drift upstream or against tide
II. SOME THINGS WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT DRIFTING.
IT REQUIRES NO EFFORT.
1. Just stop rowing or tacking against the wind, one is free to drift.
2. This is why the Hebrew writer said, "We must give the more earnest heed.“
B. IT IS AN UNCONSCIOUS PROCESS.
1. It is possible to drift unawares. Example, in a boat on a lake. Strong rip-tides or undercurrents are often unnoticeable from the surface.
2. Many individual Christians have slowly drifted away.
3. Many churches have gradually drifted into error.
C. WE NEVER DRIFT UPSTREAM OR AGAINST THE TIDE.
1. Christianity is like oaring upstream.
2. When we stand still, we go backwards. We must continue to grow –
2Pe 3:18 NKJV but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
2Pe 2:2 NKJV And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
***We also need to know that there is a change in speed as we drift along***

3. Facts About Drifting
Requires no effort It is an unconscious process Never drift upstream or against tide The speed downstream increases It is dangerous to others It ends in shipwreck
D. THE SPEED DOWNSTREAM INCREASES.
1. The dangers increase with the speed of the drift. When we can hear the noise of the waterfall, it is already too late.
2. When we lose sight of land, it is less possible to discover that we are drifting.
3. As we move farther and farther from the Lord, we care less and less about what we do.
E. IT IS DANGEROUS TO OTHERS.
1. A ship, just drifting, is a hazard to all other vessels at sea.
Ex. a "derelict" -- "a. something voluntarily abandoned; specific: a ship abandoned on high seas, b. a person in abandonment, ex. a person loosing his sense of duty, being negligent." (Webster)
2. Parents who are just drifting, will soon loose golden opportunities to teach their children. Eph. 6:4.
3. Many are tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine. Eph. 4:14
F. IT ENDS IN SHIPWRECK.
1. How will the drifting vessel do when a storm comes?
2. Heb. 2:1-3a
***This being the case, we need to know whether or not we are drifting…and how we can tell – some common signs of drifting***

4. Common Signs of Drifting
Less desire to study and meditate on Word Less desire to attend services
III. SOME COMMON SIGNS OF DRIFTING.
A. LESS DESIRE TO STUDY AND MEDITATE ON THE WORD OF GOD.
1. The Bible is a unique book -- a source of information that cannot be found anywhere else.
a. Without God's revelation how could we truly know our origin, purpose, destiny?
b. It is God’s Global Positioning System for the saint – without it no way to tell where we are.
c. Can you imagine a captain or pilot forgetting about his chart, compass or GPS???
2. The Bible tells us how we can be saved from sin, its dreadful consequences, and how we can live the happiest, most useful lives.
3. It is unfortunate when one who once gladly gave time to study of God's Word no longer has that interest.
B. LESS DESIRE TO ATTEND SERVICES AND TO WORSHIP GOD.
1. One should have the attitude of the Psalmist -- Psalm 122:1
2. The fact that the gladness, the desire to go, is no longer there is a strong warning that we are drifting.

5. Common Signs of Drifting
Less desire to study and meditate on Word Less desire to attend services Less Interest in taking gospel to others
C. LESS INTEREST IN TAKING THE GOSPEL TO OTHERS.
1. When one obeys the gospel, he knows God has blotted out his sins, made him a new creature in Christ, and he wants to tell the world about the gospel.
Act 8:4 NKJV Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
1Th 1:8 NKJV For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.
2. When a Christian no longer has the desire to take the message of salvation to others, he is drifting. ***But there is another sign, and that is a lack of desire to pray***

6. Common Signs of Drifting
Less desire to study and meditate on Word Less desire to attend services Less Interest in taking gospel to others Less time and need for prayer Greater thrill over worldly honors Greater enjoyment of worldly pleasures
D. LESS TIME AND NEED FOR PRAYER.
1. Jesus, wanting to communicate with His Father, often prayed. Mark 1:35; 6:46
2. This same desire is found in the hearts of children of God. Jesus taught His disciples – Luke 18:1.
3. When the Christian prays less and less, he is drifting more and more.
E. GREATER THRILL OVER WORLDLY HONORS.
1. Parents of a young man were excited beyond measure over a worldly honor he had received. They had never demonstrated such emotion over spiritual matters.
a. With passing time, the entire family had drifted beyond the point of no return.
b. 1 John 2:15-17
F. GREATER ENJOYMENT IN WORLDLY PLEASURES.
1. Paul referred to some who were "lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God." 2 Tim. 3:4
2. When we reach the point when we find more pleasure in some worldly activity than meeting with others to worship God, we definitely are spiritually adrift.
***Another sign is in our desire to spend time with the brethren***

7. Common Signs of Drifting
Less desire to study and meditate on Word Less desire to attend services Less Interest in taking gospel to others Less time and need for prayer Greater thrill over worldly honors Greater enjoyment of worldly pleasures Less desire to be with God’s people
G. LESS DESIRE TO BE WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
1. In a world where there is evil on every hand, Christians need to spend much time together so they can give and receive encouragement.
a. Consider what Jonathan did for David. 1 Sam. 23:16-18
Rom 14:19 NKJV Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
Eph 4:29 NKJV Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Heb 3:13 NKJV but exhort one another daily, while it is called "TODAY," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
3. When a Christian prefers the companionship of people of the world, rather than fellow Christians, his drifting may have him nigh to going over the dam to the rocks of spiritual destruction.
***So now that we know some signs, let us look at some ways of recovering ourselves if we are drifting***

8. Remedies for Drifting Keep rowing, patiently running – Heb 12.1
IV. SOME REMEDIES AGAINST DRIFTING.
CONTINUE STEADILY ROWING, OR KEEP PATIENTLY RUNNING. HEB. 12:1
It requires effort to live the Christian life.
2. Many love ease and the course of least resistance.
Amos 6:1 NKJV 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!
Rev 3:15-18 NKJV "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. (16) So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. (17) Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— (18) I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
3. Let's not lay aside our oars, but continue to be diligent.
1Co 15:58 NKJV Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
***But we have to watch out for signs of rip tides or undercurrents***

9. Remedies for Drifting
Keep rowing, patiently running – Heb 12.1 Guard against rip tides, undercurrents
B. GUARD AGAINST THE RIP-TIDES AND UNDERCURRENTS.
Guard against the undercurrent of temptation.
2. We have a carnal nature to reckon with.
1Pe 2:11 NKJV Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
3. Man's greatest enemy can be himself.
Rom 7:18-21 NKJV For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. (19) For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. (20) Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. (21) I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.
Rom 7:24 NKJV O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Rom 8:2 NKJV For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

10. Remedies for Drifting
Keep rowing, patiently running – Heb 12.1 Guard against rip tides, undercurrents Learn to go against the tide
C. LEARN TO GO AGAINST THE TIDE.
There are many tides to sweep us away.
Popularity, peer pressure, the praise of men.
b. Modernism, skepticism, humanism.
c. Denominationalism - false doctrines of all kinds.
d. Liberalism -- probably the greatest enemy of the church in our lifetime.
e. Neglect -- indifference, apathy, lack of interest and concern. When we neglect Bible study, worship, prayer, visiting, we will become weaker and weaker.
2. If we drift along with the majority, we certainty will be lost. Matt. 7:13-14
***We also need a good strong anchor!***

11. Remedies for Drifting
Keep rowing, patiently running – Heb 12.1 Guard against rip tides, undercurrents Learn to go against the tide Have a strong anchor
D. WE MUST HAVE STRONG ANCHORAGE.
We must be rooted and grounded in Christ.
Col 2:6-7 NKJV As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, (7) rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
2. Our minds must be anchored to the truth.
Eph 4:14-15 NKJV that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, (15) but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
3. We need an unshaken hope.
Heb 6:18-19 NKJV that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. (19) This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
4. We need to be rooted and grounded in love.
Eph 3:17 NKJV that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
***So what is your conclusion? Are you drifting?***

12. DRIFTING ARE YOU DRIFTING????? Conclusion
As an individual Christian, am I drifting?
Am I headed downstream? Have I forgotten about the great waterfall ahead? Am I oblivious to the rip-tides and undercurrents that can sweep me away?
2. If so, I need to anchor down. I need to be tied to the rock that cannot be moved.
B. Are we drifting as a church?
Have the tides of indifference and neglect swept us away? Have we lost our love for truth and slowly drifted into error. Are we nigh unto being vomited out of the Savior's mouth because of lukewarmness?
2. If so, we need to bring our ship back to the port.
3. Let us renew our allegiance and dedication.
4. Let us give the more earnest heed to the things we know are right. Heb. 2:1-3a