The Process of Apostasy

1 Thessalonians 5:15-23 (KJV) “ 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.“

This is walking in the faith… walking in the power of the gospel with the Holy Spirit producing fruit in us. This is our walk… and it is empowered by God, and comes when we present ourselves a living sacrifice and empty our fleshly nature out, and let the Holy Spirit fill us back up.

Live right and treat others both in the church and in the world the right way overcoming evil with good and not act like those who do not have Jesus or eternal life. You have a higher calling.
Rejoice evermore – we were created to worship God; this gives your life meaning – does it have it?
Pray without ceasing – keep a spirit of prayer – talk and walk with God and listen and be led.
QUENCH NOT THE SPIRIT – if you fail to do any of these things, then you will throw water on the fires of God in your life. You grieve Him and the power fades in your life and the FRUIT STOPS!
Despise not prophesyings – live in the Word and be led by the Spirit – it is a supernatural walk.
Prove all things – don’t just swallow anything, but be led of God and compare it with the Word.
Abstain from the very appearance of evil. Don’t try to figure out how much worldliness that you can get away with… if you can drink or go here or there – something is wrong in your heart if you are doing that already, and you have replace your first love of Jesus with something in the world already. It destroys your walk with God and your witness to this world… even the appearance of evil.
WHEN WE WALK THIS WAY, then God empowers us and gives us the fruit of the Spirit !

Romans 12:1-2 (KJV) “ 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. “

You are either praying and submitting to God, or you are walking a fleshly walk and losing your walk with God. You are either presenting yourself a living sacrifice, or you are sacrificing the presence of God in your life. You will reap what you sow and you receive from the one that you follow.

If someone backslides like the Prodigal Son, then they will be chastened by the Lord until they return to the Father. Understand this, God is the perfect parent and if you grieve the Holy Spirit, expect that the things that you do in your flesh to lead to your own pain and problems… this is called chastening.

Plus, the fruit of the Spirit immediately disappears. This is chastening, and the best way to know if what you are going through is a trial of your faith – or an attack of the enemy, or if it is chastening from God. If the fruit has dried up and the love, and goodness, and gentleness, and faith, and hope, and peace, and joy has dried up in you, then God is correcting you and it is time to repent!