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The Fruit Of Apathy "To the angel of the church in
Ephesus write: --- The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand,
---the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands,
says this: --- 'I know your deeds and your toil and your perseverance,
and that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to the test those who
call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be
false; --- and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's
sake, and have not grown weary. --- BUT I have this against you, that
you have left your first love. --- Remember therefore from where you
have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; --- Or else
I am coming to you, --- and will remove your lampstand
out of its place --- Unless you repent. --- Yet this you do have, that
you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans,
which I also hate. --- He who has an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. --- To him who
overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, --- which is in the
Paradise of God." (Rev. 2:1-7) From the beginning in writing
these articles, I have done all that I know how to do (within the
guidelines of God's word), to present material that would not come
across as "negative". --- Still, at the same time to bring forth
lessons that would fit the need of the moment and be pleasing to my
Lord. --- But I suppose if a man is striving to remain true to God and
to his brethren; --- every so often there must of necessity come a time
when the message he is compelled to bring becomes almost too grievous
to bear. --- Consequently, the message I bring for your prayerful
consideration at this time, if I had my "rathers",
I would just as soon not!! --- But the word of Almighty God says I must. Never the less, some will
appreciate it and say, "Amen!" --- Some I'm sure will snarl and get all
riled up; ---And then there'll be some who will just apathetically
shrug it off as just another opinionated sermon. --- But strangely
enough, it is primarily to this third category of "indifferent ones"
this lesson is designed for. You say, --- "Now hold on bro.
Earl, --- If I was so indifferent, I wouldn't even be attending
services where I worship!" --- "The very fact I'm taking the time and
effort to be there PROVES I'm interested!" ---
Sure,
it proves something alright; --- It proves for some of you at
least that when you come in on Sunday morning, you come in late for
Bible class, if at all; --- You show no interest in participation,
partly because you have not studied the lesson, and partly because
you're never there often enough to even know where the class is, in the
lesson. --- You sit through the sermon with a blank stare, or a painted
"church-anity" smile. --- You head out the
door, into the parking lot and home just as fast as your legs will
carry you, --- hoping every step of the way that
no zealous brother or sister will stop you and ask about your soul's
condition. --- You have no intention what so ever of meeting with your
brethren or having anything to do with them until the next time you
decide to show up on Sunday morning!! --- And so the apathetic cycle
goes; --- But do you know what's really pathetic about the whole thing?
--- You expect that one day God will just usher you right in to heaven;
--- "well done, good and faithful servant, you were faithful in a few
things (like warming a pew on Sunday morning), so therefore, I will put
you in charge of many things; --- enter in to the joy of your Master!" You might say, --- "That's some
pretty harsh accusations!" --- Yes, it most certainly is, I agree!! ---
But you see; --- sometimes members of the church can be like mules! ---
Reminds me of the old farmer who sold his prize plow mule to a young
farmer for $200.00; --- A week later the young farmer demanded his
money back; --- "I can't get that ornery critter to do anything, he
said. --- The old farmer walks over, doubles up his big ham fist and
"POW", right between that mule's eyes, (buckled the poor mule's knees);
--- Then gets behind the mule and commands; --- "Getty up, old Kate";
--- And off they went, no more trouble! --- The old farmer said;
"Anytime you want a mule to do something, you first have to get his
attention!!" So now that I've got your
attention, I would like to draw your attention to a very profound
statement the apostle Paul made to the church in Corinth; --- (1 Cor.
4:21) "What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, --- or with
love and a spirit of gentleness?" --- Paul is saying; --- "It's entirely up to
you brethren and your attitude; --- your cooperation and willingness to
take to heart and submit to the things of the Spirit." Continuing in his second letter
to the same brethren in (2 Cor. 13:10); --- "For this reason I am
writing these things while absent, --- so that when present I need not
use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me
for building up and not for tearing down." --- Was Paul authorized by
the Holy Spirit to use some sharpness or severity toward the brethren?
--- Of course he was, if need be! --- The whole idea behind the
salvation of men's souls and the establishment of the Lord's church
was EDIFICATION; --- Building up, NOT destruction!! --- But this did
not rule out possible use of discipline of the severest nature, when
members started letting Satan manipulate them rather than God!!
--- So Paul says, "I don't want to use such tactics, but if I have
to I will! --- (Vs. 11) Paul's concluding remarks; ---"Finally,
brethren, rejoice, be made complete, (Or, Put yourselves in order) be
comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; AND (a conditional term)
the God of love and peace will be with you." Now, why do you suppose the Lord
would authorize Paul (and preachers in general), to ever use severe and
sharp tactics in their teaching and preaching? --- OR --- Why would a farmer hit his mule??
--- Because of mule-headedness in the case of the farmer; --- But
likewise, because of stubborn rebellious men in the case of Paul! ---
That's precisely what Paul has reference to in his letter to the young
preacher, Titus. (Tit. 1:9f); --- "holding fast the faithful word which
is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to
exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. --- For
there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially
those of the circumcision, who must be silenced --- because they are
upsetting whole families, --- (another way of saying, 'A little leaven
leavens the whole lump' --- 1 Cor. 5:6-7) --- teaching things they
ought not to teach for sake of sordid gain. One of themselves, a
prophet of their own, said, 'Cretans are always liars, evil beasts,
lazy gluttons.' --- This testimony is true. --- For this cause
reprove them severely ---(WHY?) so that they may be sound in the faith," Now, all the above is merely by
way of introduction. --- Earlier, I started this lesson which is
primarily designed for those weaker ones who may have allowed
themselves to become spiritually lazy, or indifferent; --- And thus the
title: --- "The Fruit Of Apathy"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. The English word apathy,
comes from two Greek words: Apo = without, and pathos = feeling (without feeling); Webster says;
--- "Apathy is that state of mind without emotion; --- lack of
interest; --- a listless condition; --- and indifference." --- That is,
one who demonstrates a lack of interest, or an indifferent attitude
toward some thing, person or place, is
said to be apathetic. His or her's
disposition is; --- "Who cares?" --- And sad to say, we've got some
members of the body of Christ who fit that description. --- And they're
not hard to spot.--- Jesus
said; --- "You shall know them by their fruits." (Mt. 7:20) --- Paul
put it thusly; (1 Cor. 2:11) --- "For who among men knows the thoughts
(attitude) of a man, except the spirit of the man, which is in him?"
--- Could it be so, that YOU, dear brother or sister might find
yourself in this category, sometimes?? 2. The church in Ephesus (as described in the
Scripture reading above), --- Is described as being very
methodical and mechanical and yes, --- Scriptural in all they set out
to do; --- Yet, the sum total of all their work was denounced by the
Lord Himself as being --- without their first love!! --- They were fast
approaching a state of apostasy!! --- And for their care less,
nonchalant attitude, they were told to REPENT and do their first deeds;
--- or else!! 3. Paul told the Corinthians; --- "I'm afraid
that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, --- and I
may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and have not
repented --- " (2 Cor. 12:21) --- Back in the old testament days, God
said to the weeping prophet Jeremiah, concerning the Israelites
who (like the Ephesians), had left their first love; --- (When you
get the chance, please go back and read (Jer. 1-2). Beginning in
(Jer. 1:17) God spoke to Jeremiah saying; --- "Now, gird up your loins,
and arise, and speak to My
people all which I command you!! --- Do not be dismayed before
them, --- lest I dismay you before them." So Jeremiah, knowing what was
good for him; --- Says, starting in (Jer. 2:1-2); --- "Now the word of
the Lord came to me saying, --- 'Go and proclaim in the ears of
Jerusalem, saying, --- Thus says the Lord', --- 'I remember
concerning you the devotion of your youth, --- the love of your
betrothals, --- your following after Me in
the wilderness, through a land not sown." --- God says; that at one
time, "Israel was holy to the Lord!" God was in love with Israel; ---
And Israel was in love with God. --- It was a love match made in
heaven!! --- But Israel left their first love! --- The honeymoon's
over!! Skip on over
to the last part of (Jer. 2:11f) --- "But My people have changed; ---
they have changed their glory for that which does not profit! --- Be
appalled, O heavens, at this, --- and shudder, be very desolate,'
---declares the Lord." --- (Vs. 14) continues; --- "Is Israel a slave?
--- Or is he a home-born servant? --- Why has he become a prey?" --- (Vs. 17-19) adds; ---
"Have you not done this to yourself, by forsaking the Lord your God,
when He led you in the way? --- But now what are you doing on the road
to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Nile? --- Or what are you doing on
the road to Assyria, to drink of the waters of the Euphrates? --- Your
own wickedness will correct you, --- And your apostasies will
reprove you; --- Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter for
you to forsake the Lord your God, --- And the dread of Me is not in
you, declares the Lord God of hosts!" God
asks; --- "Why are you on the road to Egypt? --- When you should be on
the road that leads to that land which flows with milk and honey!!
--- Because you, My chosen ones have become unconcerned; ---
You've become apathetic! --- You've left your first love, --- Your fear
for Me has gone, --- And O how I weep and mourn You have
committed spiritual adultery!!" 4. And we can read in (Rev. 2:) where the Ephesian
church fell into the same rut! --- Not too long before Paul died, he
had to remind these same brethren in (Eph. 4:17f); --- "This I say
therefore, and affirm together with the
Lord, --- that you no longer walk just as the Gentiles also walk, in
the futility of their mind, --- being darkened in their understanding,
--- excluded (alienated) from the life of God, --- (WHY?) --- because of the ignorance that is in them; ---
(WHY?) --- because of the hardness of their
heart; --- (Hear it now!) --- and they, having become CALLOUS --- (KJV
says, - having become PAST FEELING!), --- have given themselves over to
sensuality, greedy for the practice of every kind of impurity." The
Gentiles/alien sinners remained lost because of IGNORANCE, --- brought
on by HARDENED HEARTS, brought on by APATHY
toward God, His word and His church!! --- Not only did they sin against
God, but they lusted for it, --- they were greedy for it!! --- Thus,
becoming futile in all their thinking! --- And Paul says; ---"You
Christians? --- You did not learn Christ in this manner! --- And you
are no longer to walk as the Gentiles walk!!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. I suppose, one of the most difficult,
if not impossible individuals to try to teach and bring back to God is
a man or woman who maintains an indifferent, lukewarm, apathetic
attitude!! --- The bitter fruits of apathy somehow do not seem to move
or change the stoical, relentless, insensitive indifference of those
poor souls who are caught up in it's
cold grip! --- Of all the sinful conditions which would describe those
who have departed from Jesus Christ and His word; --- the state of
apathy is by far the most difficult to correct!! Now I would like to
bring for your consideration three or four conditions or "fruits" which
grow from the seed of apathy! --- Hopefully, it will help us to see and
impress on our minds the seriousness of this terrible and sad disease.
--- Brethren, we must examine ourselves and properly diagnose the
illness; --- before we can start to administer God's strong medicine
and be healed. --- And first of all; --- The fruit of apathy: Weakens The Preaching of the gospel: --- An apathetic group of people could sit
Brothers
and sisters, there's not one shred of doubt in my mind, that
indifference toward the preaching and teaching of the word of God has
brought about the downfall of congregation after congregation all over
this land! --- And the effectiveness of sound preaching is all but
destroyed in way too many places!! --- Will you so callously stand by
and let YOUR congregation be next?? --- Please remember the words of
our Lord; ---"Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent
and do the deeds you did at first; --- Or else I am coming to you, ---
and will remove your lampstand out of its
place --- Unless you repent. (Rev. 2:5) (2) The fruit of apathy discourages the
work of the church: --- You go back and take another look at the Ephesian church; --- Those brethren were going
about with such meticulous precision; --- striking down error and false
teachers every time they tried to get a toe hold; --- Yet, when it came
down to the shear thrill of serving and honoring Jehovah God, --- there
was absolutely no love or joy or excitement in the accomplishments of
their labor!! --- " If I have all faith, so
as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. --- And if
I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body
to be burned, but do not have love, --- it profits me nothing." (1 Cor.
13:2-3) --- And Jesus said these people left their first love!
I'll not take time to go into all aspects of the work of the
church (Song leaders, elders and deacons for instance), But Bible class
teachers for example find great difficulty in building zeal and
enthusiasm to study and present interesting materials for class
participation, when for the most part few care little or nothing
about what is being taught, or why it’s being taught. --- Many have
demonstrated a shameful disregard for Bible classes; --- either showing
up unprepared, or else in the case of some; --- they just quit coming
at all!! --- How many times have we seen attempts at having meaningful
men's or ladies Bible classes, only to sadly watch them as they grow
extinct? ---We see all too often the same with teen age classes as they
too, bite the dust!! --- There's no excuse under God's sun for such
gross indifference on the part of those who wear the name, Christian!!
I knew of one congregation where the brethren came together and being
as they had no eldership, they all agreed as an expedient to have this
one brother to make certain assignments (building clean up, Lord's
table preparation etc.), and just a few weeks later asked to be
relieved of this duty. WHY? --- The fruits of apathy, indifference and
unconcern had taken over the hearts of God's people, --- that's why!!
--- Some of us need to fall on our faces before Almighty God in humble
repentance; --- Begging His forgiveness!!
Brethren, I tell you, --- Time is so important; --- Life is too short;
--- Souls are too precious; --- Judgment is too sure; Eternity is too
long; --- And heaven is much too wonderful to miss!! --- You and I
cannot afford to taste the forbidden fruit of apathy!! --- "Therefore,
my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the
work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord."
(1 Cor. 15:58) (3) Another
obvious fruit of apathy;--- It encourages false teachers and
false doctrine: --- When that flame of love grows dim and
the hearts of men and women become cooled down and hardened; ---
When Christians, bought and paid for by the priceless, precious
blood of the very Son of God stray away from their first love; ---
Apathy opens the door for all sorts of overzealous radicals and
false teachers and preachers along with their various false doctrines!!
Beloved, the best soil, the most fertile soil in the world for Satan
and his demons to come and sow their devilish tares; --- is the heart
of that Christian who is past feeling; --- Who is no longer concerned
with seeking after truth and righteousness; --- let alone seeking to
save the lost!! --- This of course was one of Paul's chief concerns as
he instructed young Timothy in (2 Tim. 4:2-4); --- "Preach the word;
--- be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with
great patience and instruction. --- (WHY?) --- For the time will come when
they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears
tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to
their own desires, --- and will turn away their ears from the truth and
will turn aside to myths." --- The list is endless but just one more
and I'll quit. (4) Causes
spiritual paralysis: --- Earlier I referred to apathy as being
a "forbidden fruit"; --- But not only is it forbidden and therefore
sinful, but it is a deadly fruit which must be avoided as surely
as you would avoid drinking strychnine poison!! --- It is by far
more deadly because this fruit causes spiritual paralysis, --- It
will cause the one foolish enough to taste it to become
a "spiritual quadriplegic"; --- Not just a paraplegic, but
you will become totally helpless to do anything spiritually or
Scripturally acceptable to God; --- because your heart will be
insensitive and calloused to anything of a spiritual nature!
What was it the apostle Paul told the Corinthians? --- "But
a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for
they are foolishness to him; --- and he cannot understand them,
because they are spiritually appraised." (1 Cor. 2:14) The term,
"natural man" as used here means unspiritual, or void
of spirit. --- Or, as it were; --- one who had been stricken with
spiritual paralysis!! --- Not only is the apathetic church member
headed down the corridors of hell (unless he repents); --- But
what's even sadder, --- his or her children, relatives, friends and
associates will have no opportunity as far as
the apathetic church member is concerned to learn and obey the gospel
of our dear Lord!! --- And that my friends, is what so terribly
tragic. --- There will be NO LOVE IN HELL!!
****Are YOU playing "Russian Roulette" with the devil's
dynamite???**** Jesus said; --- "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline;
therefore be zealous and repent. --- 'Behold, I stand at the door and
knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to
him and will dine with him, and he with Me. --- He who overcomes, I
will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame
and sat down with My Father on His throne. --- He who has an ear, let
him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' " (Rev. 3:19-22)
Submitted in the reverence for God and love for His own;
Earl Wilburn Any questions or comments more than welcome: ewilburn@austin.rr.com |