Lessons From A Failure
2 Tim 4:10; Eph 4:1-3

Introduction:
A. The general rule for a person that is intent on starting a 
   new business is to study other business like the one they 
   want to start. They study the methods of those that have 
   preceded them and use the methods of those who were success-
   ful.
B. The main business of a Christian is the Christian life. It 
   is the "vocation" that is above everything else that the 
   person might do. The gain of success in this business is 
   great. But the loss if it should fail is even greater.
C. In the New Testament, both the successes and the failures 
   are presented to us. Paul is an example of one of those that
   are successful. He always had others with him. Some were 
   preachers, such as Timothy and Titus. Others that were with
   him, we might not know just exactly what their duties were.
   But they were there, none the less.
D. During his first imprisonment at Rome, he had with him, 
   among other Demas (Col. 4:14). When Paul wrote to Philemon,
   he called Demas a fellow worker (Philemon 24). In the 2nd 
   imprisonment Paul was treated as a felon (2 Tim 2:9) and 
   writes of Demas for the last time (2 Tim 4:10). What a sad 
   commentary, "Demas has forsaken me." That means more than 
   just being separated. From this we can learn several 
   important lessons.

I. Freedom Of Human Will
   A. Demas acted voluntarily.
      1. Man has the power to make choices
      2. Deut 30:19; Matt 11:28; Rom 6:16
   B. We don't know what made him go away.
      1. He was exercising his own will.
      2. Perhaps it was divided allegiance and companionship -
         1 Cor. 15:33
      3. In our day, it could be Television, Computer, Movies,
         etc., anything that lures us away from God
      4. Many are charmed by the allurement of easy money.

II.Possibilities Of Apostasy
   A. Demas ceased to be what he had been as a Christian.
      1. Love of the world had come in
      2. To that extent he had apostatized
   B. The theory of the "Impossibility of Apostasy" is taught
      widely by most religions.
      1. But if man cannot fall
         a. He has lost his power of choice
         b. No freedom of will
      2. The Bible say man can fall
         a. Exek 18:24
         b. 1 Cor 10:12
         c. Heb 3:12-13

III.Apostasy Is Always Gradual
   A. No one goes astray all at once
      1. Change may take years
         a. So gradual that is is usually not noticed
      2. But there are certain symptoms
         a. Decides to find fault with everybody and everything
         b. Extreme sensitiveness
         c. Repeated absence from assemblies
         d. Lack of Bible study and prayer
   B. The time to check apostasy in these first stages

IV.Actions In Life Are Controlled More By Likes And Dislikes 
   Than By Reason, Judgment Or Revelation
   A. Demas still had sense of judgment
      1. As far as we know he still believed
   B. He simply allowed love of the world to grow until it 
      overbalanced his love for Christ.
      1. Then he forsook the Lord.
      2. "We know the right, approve it too
            Condemn the wrong, yet the wrong pursue"
      3. This saying solves many riddles
      4. It explains our inconsistencies
   C. Illustration of man drinking to the neglect of his family.
   D. All will agree that man's mental capabilities are far 
      superior to his physical
      1. But if there is a big game on TV, will stay home 
         instead of going to services
      2. If some attraction comes to town: will go there with 
         the crowd
   E. Many times those in the church are controlled more by 
      sentiment rather then the word.
      1. Many problems in the church, but questions of Immodest
         Dress or MDR cannot be discussed with many because of
         sentiment
      2. Giving is discussed as plain as baptism in the Bible 
         yet is controlled by personal desires
      3. It is the same with almost all endeavors

V. Taste Can Be Cultivated - Physically, Mentally, Morally
   A. Illustrations
      1. Certain kinds of foods
      2. Society
      3. Wicked or religious company
      4. Trashy or good literature
   B. Sin is usually abhorrent at first
      1. But one may so familiarize themselves with it
      2. Until its ugliness disappears
   C. When one enters the church, he is a babe
      1. Services cannot appeal to him as to one older in the 
         Lord
      2. But he cultivates that joy
      3. No earthly past times come before - Psa 84:10

Conclusion:
A. When we look at the examples of those who have gone before 
   us, we need to be careful about what we see, and how we 
   interpret the data given.
B. We have the ability to make a choice as to whether we will 
   follow those that were successful or those that failed. 
   Whatever we do, will determine our eternal existence.