Always Abounding - Spring 2020

many churches is an apathy, and this apathy
can exist in a variety of ways. One way is an
apathy toward sin. Suddenly what was sin
is no longer sin, or, maybe it’s sin “as long
as it’s someone else’s—I’ve got
a good excuse about this sin in
my life. It’s where I was born,
or the home I was raised in,
etc.” Eventually apathy toward
sin will result in the destruction
of a church.
Apathy toward service for
God may also bring on the
destruction of a church. God
has saved us so that we can
serve Him. I’m thankful for the
example of the apostle Paul. In Acts 9, he
was known as Saul of Tarsus, we read how
he came down the road to Damascus and
met the Lord. He was saved! When he was
first confronted, he asked, “Who art thou,
Lord?” The answer came back, “I am Jesus.”
He quickly came to know who Jesus was, and
trusted Him as his Saviour. Then in the very
next verse, Saul asks, “Lord, what wilt thou
have me to do?”
When we realize what great things the
Lord has done for us, we just want to do
something for Him. But in time, apathy tries
to enter into our life of service in one way
or another. I like Romans 12:11 where the
Bible tells us not to be slothful in business,
but to be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.
Are you still fervent in your ministry where
you are serving the Lord? Are you still
fervent in spirit? Does it still excite you to
have that opportunity to stand before a class
of boys and girls and teach them the Word
of God? Do you remember how it was when
you were first given that opportunity? Do
you still have that love for your ministry? An
apathetic attitude towards ministries and
souls may very well bring about the decline,
destruction, and even death of a church. Our
main business is still to reach the lost with
the gospel, isn’t it? The business of reaching
the lost is still on the heart of God, and when
it’s not on our heart—when it’s not on my
heart—it will bring decline, destruction, and
potential death of the local church.
How about an
apathy, or just a simple disregard,
for the Scriptures? The resurrected
Lord appeared to two men as they
walked along the road to Emmaus.
He walked and talked with them,
and when their eyes were opened,
they knew who He was. What did
they say? “Did not our heart burn
within us, while he talked with us by
the way, and while he opened to us
the scriptures?” I’m not saying that we are
not having our time of devotions, but are
we coming away with absolutely nothing,
without our hearts being stirred? Maybe we
are just checking off a list. “Well, I did that.”
This is the A of apathy.
What about the C?
C could represent a couple areas. For
instance, it could refer to the contamination
of sin. That could certainly cause the decline,
destruction, and death of a local church.
Sin in the Bible is compared to leaven, and
a little leaven leavens the whole lump.
Sin in the camp affects the entire camp or
congregation.
C could also stand for compromise. The
sin of compromise brings about the decline,
destruction, and death of a church. Some
churches today are selling out to false
doctrine, while others to fleshly desires,
which both bring destruction.
Now some of you, if you were paying
attention, said, “Wait a second! He skipped
over the B.” I did indeed leave it out—
intentionally. Follow along with me. Proverbs
6:16-19 says, “These six things doth the
LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination
4 | ALWAYS ABOUNDING