Introduction:

A. God’s people reached a time in which Samuel was old, his children were apostate, and they desired to have leadership like their heathen neighbors (I Samuel 8:5).

1. Notice God’s reaction (vs. 7-9).

a. When you go after sinful things you are not rejecting the messenger, you are rejecting God.
b. Samuel’s protest was not heard, just like people do not observe messages from faithful preachers today.  Unfaithful Christians today say: “Ha, that is just what the preacher said…” - “I know Brian is opposed to that, ha, ha!”.  What a striking resemblance those individuals should see with themselves and disobedient Israel.

2. The people wanted a king regardless of what God and Samuel said so they could “be like the nations” (vs. 19-20).
3. God let it occur (vs. 21-22), but Hosea later reveals a point that is very relative to His permission: Hosea 13:11
4. Saul would be the king and he would fail (I Samuel 15:1-3; 9; 24-26).

a. Saul would decide to please men more than God.
b. Notice what Paul said about that: Galatians 1:10

B. God realized that the intermingling of His people with the heathen nations would have impact on their obedience (Deuteronomy 7:1-6).

1. The warning was clear (Joshua 24:20-22).
2. Notice what the next generation did (Judges 2:10-13).
3. Ezra preached repentance demanding that God’s people separate themselves from the heathens (Ezra 10:10-12; cf. Nehemiah 9:2; 13:3).
4. Here is our point driven home (Psalms 106:34-47).

C. We need to learn from these lessons of old and apply them today to stop the departures around about us from sneaking in.

1. Romans 15:4
2. We need to be imitators of Christ, the approved Biblical examples we have, and faithful followers of Christ, not “neighboring religions” (I Corinthians 11:1).
 

D. Why do lessons from the nation of Israel need to be applied to the church?

1. Israel was God’s holy nation (Exodus 19:5-6).
2. We (the saved making up the church) are God’s holy nation of today (I Peter 2:9).
 

A. God sent prophets speaking of remaining in the “old paths”:

1. Jeremiah 6:16
2. The only message of change was for man to turn back to God (Matthew 3:8, 4:17, Acts 26:20, etc.).
3. Any other change, such as a new law, would have to be from God – not man (Revelation 22:18-19).
4. We know with all surety that the New Testament word of Jesus Christ will NEVER change (Matthew 24:35), therefore all messages of change are another doctrine that is cursed (Galatians 1:8-9).

B. The word of God teaches us to remain in the truth, and for us not to plot new courses:

1. I Corinthians 15:1-2
2. II Thessalonians 3:14
3. II Timothy 1:13
4. II Timothy 2:2
5. II John v. 9
6. Proverbs 23:23

A. Erring brethren over the years have adapted luring activities and plans to get people into to attend like: busing, VBS, youth groups, clubs, singing groups, singles clubs, boys scout troops, choirs, “church” sporting events, edutainment, etc.

1. Saving souls in the New Testament occurred through the preaching of God’s word, not gimmicks:

a. Romans 1:16
b. Acts 5:42
c. James 1:21

2. Jesus made a clarifying statement to those whom followed for the food (John 6:26-27).
3. Once these liberal congregations start these things they have to keep them and even employ different and more entertaining ideas.

B. Erring brethren have changed worship to include women preachers, praise teams, testimonies, etc.

1. We must worship God according to His requirements, not what feels good (John 4:24).

a. Leviticus 10:1-2
b. Luke 6:46

2. Women leading in worship via serving, being part of a praise team, giving testimonies, etc. is a violation of the scriptures (I Corinthians 14:34-35 and I Timothy 2:11-12).

C. Erring brethren have become like the denominations in their teaching about the church.

1. Brent Hunter (Director of Development at FC) just preached at the Case and Spring Church of Christ in Weatherford, TX the weekend of 7/11 – 7/13 2003 that we should not be using the name church of Christ because people don’t like to hear it.  He talked of preaching more on Christ not the church.  How can you separate the two (Colossians 1:18)?

a. Who’s church then is it (Matthew 16:18)?
b. Matthew 24:14
c. Acts 8:12
d. Acts 28:30-31
e. I Corinthians 1:18 CF. Acts 20:28 and Ephesians 5:25
f. Could you imagine Noah preaching about the flood and not telling them that there was a vessel of salvation (CF. Ephesians 5:23 and Acts 2:47)?

D. False teachers have taken the “accentuate the positive eliminate the negative” idea of preaching.

1. 2/3 negative 1/3 positive (II Timothy 4:2 / CF. Jeremiah 1:10).
2. How much of the Bible would these guys eliminate?

A. Jesus is our King (I Timothy 6:14-15).

1. Although our King was not treated as a King (Matthew 27:29).
2.  Nor was our King accepted by “religious leaders” (Mark 8:31).
3. Our King was willing to die for others to be saved (Romans 5:6-9).

B. Our King gave us a kingdom that cannot be moved (Hebrews 12:28).

1. The kingdom is everlasting (II Peter 1:11).
2. It will be delivered to the Father to remain in Heaven (I Corinthians 15:24-28).

C. Since we have the greatest King, who has done so much on our behalf, we must be willing to keep those things committed to our trust pure (Jude 3).

A. Departure from truth is what formed denominationalism as was clearly condemned in the N.T. (I Corinthians 1:10-13).
B. We have a King, a Kingdom, and a set of laws to govern us.  We need to be offended when others try to change that which gives us freedom from sin!
C. To church is made up of Christians (I Corinthians 12:27).

1. As Christians, we must realize that evil communication corrupts good manners (I Corinthians 15:33).
2. We must keep ourselves from every form of evil (I Thessalonians 5:22).
3. We cannot allow denominations to rub off on us!
4. Denominationalism promotes apostasy.  Do you hate every false way (Psalms 119:104), or do you contribute in any way to it’s growth (I.E. Supporting the Salvation Army, events in the setting of denominationalism, etc.)?

 

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2003 by Brian A. Yeager may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.