This is a prayer of David that should be the prayer of every child of God. In vv. 1-4 he declares his faithfulness and commitment to obedience to God. In vs. 5 he prays for God to “keep him on track” (“hold up my goings”) in order that he would not waver, and slip, and fall. God’s people do not usually go away from Christ all at once. It happens over time. Someone said, “Church members are like old cars. They usually miss a lot before they quit altogether.” In my years of being a pastor I have found that to be all too true. Their departure usually starts by missing Wednesday evening (if they ever came to that at all),then Sunday night, and finally Sunday morning. And, based on current day attendance figures, I would say that most who have been saved any length of time will have to admit that they are not as close to Christ and as faithful to His church as they once were (if they are saved at all). In Romans 7:15-17 Paul is writing of his own struggles with the flesh, sometimes becoming things he didn’t want to become. He said: “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. (16) If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. (17) Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me." Here is what he was saying: “I do not understand what is going on. I am confused. Somehow I do not seem to do the things I know to do and need to do. And the very things that I hate, things which my own conscious condemns, that is what I do.” And in vs. 18 he contrasts his “desire” (as a saved man) and his “doing” (in the flesh). Desire - “ . . . for to will is present with me . . . ” (I want to do what God wants). Doing - “but how to perform that which is good I find not.” (I just don’t seem to ‘get around to it’ when it comes to living for Christ.) Do you ever feel that way sometimes? So he says in vv. 19-20: “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. (20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” If this could happen to a faithful servant of the Lord like Paul, we are not immune! In God’s Word, in the book of Hebrews we are given 5 warnings to help us avoid becoming what we don't want to become. How does this happen?

I. DRIFTING (INDIFFERENCE) -- HEBREWS 2:1.

II. DOUBTING (INSTABILITY) -- HEBREWS 3:5-6, 14.

III. DISOBEDIENCE (INSOLENCE) -- HEBREWS 4:6,11.

IV. DEFICIENCY (INATTENTION) -- HEBREWS 6:1-3.

V. DIRECTION (INFLUENCE) -- HEBREWS 13:9.