As taught at Bible study 6_29_21
In The Last Days…
In 2 Timothy 3:1-2,
Paul wrote Timothy a
list of signs that would be evident that the last days were upon us.... He said
PERILOUS Times SHALL come….
*Perilous times = reducing of strength, it will wear a person out physically,
mentally, and even wear on a person spiritually.
Why? Revelation 12:12
….woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For
the devil is come
down unto you, having great
wrath, because he knoweth that he hath
but a short time.
This passage of Scripture continues to
reveal how the devil went after the
woman which brought forth the man
child….the woman being Israel and
the man child referring to the Messiah,
Jesus Christ.
Vs 15 - And the serpent cast out of his mouth water
as a flood after the
woman that he might cause
her to be carried away of the flood…
***Major flooding happened in Israel on Jan 9, 2020.
Vs 16 – …And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up
the flood….
Vs 17 – And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went
to make war
with the remnant of her
seed, which (1) Keep the commandments of God,
AND (2) Have the testimony of
Jesus Christ < = The Church!>
We are in the Last Days
and heading for the Last of the Last Days rapidly!
The devil knows this
and doesn’t want us or our families to be saved.
That’s why he’s coming
after you and me…the Bride of Christ
Signs that show us we’re in and have been in the Last Days…
1.
Lovers of self =
Look around and you will see evidence abounding of people who are so obsessed
and in love with their own self.
It is evident on social
media with the often selfies (different from sharing an outing or event),
You can see and tell it
by the poses and/or puckered lips,
the self praise
(different from sharing an accomplishment)
they are seeking the ‘likes’,
approval and praise of others.
Often fishing for
compliments and admiration
The posts that are shared about 'needing to love yourself more'
are not of
God and anti Biblical. The Bible
NEVER instructs us to ‘love ourself’ but it
does instruct to ‘love our neighbor
AS ourself’ (Mk 12:31)
“Loving yourself” is steeped in pride under the guise of ‘self
esteem’
****The devil also
loved himself = kicked out of heaven
Lovers or self is centered around “MY feelings, MY wants, MY
desires, MY needs”
It is all about
‘my, me, and mine’
Unfortunately, it’s crept into the Church as well - You can
identify it when you hear phrases such as….
(Post by James E. White)
‘I want to go where ‘I’ am fed’ (instead of where we can
learn to feed ourselves, and learn how to help
feed others)
‘I need to be ministered to’ (as if ministry in the life of
the Christian is
something that happens to
us, instead of something we make happen
through us for others)
‘I didn’t get anything out of worship service’ (worship service
is not about
YOU! It is about US giving worship and
praise TO JESUS! The purpose is not what WE get out of it, but
rather what GOD gets out of it)
‘That wasn’t very moving’ (If we’re not moved by the service
that is our own fault. And the bigger question to ponder is whether
GOD was moved by us and our response and worship? )
Where did this type thinking come from? Certainly not from Jesus. He was our example. His focus wasn’t on being ministered to but
rather ministering to others.
“I did not come
to be served, but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for many” “Whoever wants to be
first must become last” “Whoever
wants to be great among you
must become the servant of all” “Not my will but thine be done” <Mt 20:25-28, Luke 22:42>
We’ve raised a
generation who only worship God when they ‘feel’ it. True worship is revealed
when you come to church and worship God even when you don’t ‘feel’ it.
Lovers of self will
desire the concert atmosphere with the fog machines, colored lights, giving
‘ambiance’, and the motivational preachers who make them feel good rather than
the old fashioned brush arbor dirt floors that were covered with tears of true
heart felt repentance with a humble preacher without all the fancy words and
fluff just reaching with concern and care for your souls.
One of the greatest downfalls of the modern church is that we’ve
replaced “that convicts me” with “that offends me”
Lovers of self want to know what God and the church can do for
them rather than what they can do for the Church and for God.
2. covetous = people are jealous and want what others have without
working hard to achieve it.
They think a person
shouldn't have something better than they have not
considering or caring how
hard the other person has worked to achieve it.
This is the core
problem with socialism. It is covetousness.
Covetous people will
steal what others have if they want it bad enough
Covetous people will
vandalize what someone else has out of jealousy
Covetous people are
‘sue happy’ and will often look for a reason to take
someone to court and sue
them for gain.
3. Boasters = love to brag on self, family, or anything that brings
attention to self.
(This spirit is
different from posting an accomplishment of a family member or your own).
Pride is the root of
it.
Sometimes the motive
can be to get a "one up" on someone else.
I knew a guy who used
to always say “I can do that!” no matter how difficult the task was.
It goes hand in hand
with being a lover of self
4. Proud = trying to appear to be above others. “Look
at me!”
They consider theirself better
or more spiritual than another.
They will look or talk
condescending toward others.
They’re not humble.
Won't receive
correction or instruction from the pastor – some in the past
have even felt they were
over the pastor.
*pride and rebellion were the two
things that caused satan's downfall ...
guard your heart against it.
5. Blasphemers - not afraid to speak
against God. His Holy Name is only a cuss word to them.
6. Disobedient to parents –
Isaiah 3:12 As for My
people, children are their oppressors (to harass, tyrannize), and women rule
(have dominion) over them. O My people,
they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of the paths.
We know that children are naturally going to test boundaries and
disobey but we are living in a time like no other.
Children (young or
grown) today will blatantly disobey and (continue to
disobey) no matter what
consequences are placed on them.
They will smart off and
talk back to adults,
They lack respect and
feel that the world revolves around them.
Disney promotes it with sitcoms that portray the parents as
bumbling idiots while the super intelligent minors have to step in and direct
and correct their parents.
It is a spirit of
rebellion.
1 Sam 15:23 – Rebellion
is as the sin of witchcraft….
Disney/sitcoms are
teaching your children witchcraft and rebellion.
Cover your children's
hearts and minds with prayer and monitor closely
what they watch.
It’s out of Biblical order.
Pray and work to get the homes back in order.
7. unthankful - the mindset of many today is that they are owed whatever
is done for them.
You don't hear 'thank
you' very often.
Say ‘you should’ve
brought ____’ instead of being grateful for what’s there
It is human nature to
focus on the negative instead of the positive. Too many focus on what they
don't have instead of what they do have.
Israel fell into the
same negative trap in the wilderness –
instead of being thankful for the
manna, they whined
about
missing the foods they enjoyed in Egypt;
forgetting about the slavery and
cruelty they endured.
It brought God's wrath.
We need to always remember to be thankful.
8. unholy (wicked) - We are seeing that spirit of lawlessness and
ungodliness grow and spread throughout our country and world.
Wickedness is abounding
and is glorified and promoted through movies.
Evil
is called good and good is called evil.
New
shows “Wicked” and “Lucifer” glorifying the unholy and evil.
Sin is glorified and excused while the holy and righteous are condemned
Pray to hear God's
voice.
Pray that you and your
loved ones are not drawn into a spirit of strong
delusion.
9. without natural affection (hardhearted).
The Bible warns that
because iniquity (sin, wickedness) shall abound, the
love of many shall wax
cold. <Mt 24:12>
Sadly, we are seeing
that today.
People used to care
about each other.
Even had compassion on
strangers. Now, no one really knows their neighbor.
Random drive by
shootings occur often.
You can see and feel
the hate coming from a stranger's eyes.
Mother’s kill their
babies in the womb.
There are parents who
abuse the very children they are to nurture and
love....no natural
affection.
Why? Because people no
longer care about another person.
Which stems back to ‘Lovers of self’ which comes from prayerlessness, God's Word is s no longer in the homes or read like it used to be, people spend more time watching entertainment than they do spending time with Jesus.
When
their love for Jesus grows cold so does their care for fellow humans.
Jesus needs to become the center of our homes and nation once again.
10.
trucebreakers - do not keep their agreements or promises.
"I know I
originally said I would but...."
or "that's not
what I meant. I really was meaning...."
“I know I agreed to
_____ but this is different” or “Not what I meant”
Their word means
nothing.
People will boldly lie
without flinching. I’ve watched it.
11. false
accusers (slanderer).
People kill another person's reputation with gossip and backbiting...on purpose with malice and the intent to cause others to look disgustedly at the person being slandered.
You want a good study on the tongue? Read the book of James.
There are strong
warnings within that book.
If a person appears to
be religious but cannot Bridle their tongue (control
what comes out of their
mouth) James said that their religion is vain and
they're only deceiving
their self. (1:26)
James 3:6 says the
tongue defileth the whole body and is set on fire of hell.
Pretty strong warning. We
need to Guard the tongue!
If you've slipped,
don't make excuses – (lovers of self will excuse it away and not feel they did anything
wrong by gossiping and slandering someone)
A person who truly loves and
wants to please God will repent and make
things right.
Jesus is coming soon!
We want our hearts to be right so we can make it.
12.
incontinent (without self control).
This is why we need to
get a handle on children's outbursts and tantrums,
teaching them a better way to express their frustrations so they do not grow to become adults who continue to throw tantrums, bully others, and be violent as we've seen occurring in our country over the last year.
These are works of the
flesh. We need to have the fruit of the spirit.
13. fierce -
Strong's defines this word as savage. Intense raging anger.
This is a spirit
of strong hate that will cause a person to do another person
harm or even kill
them.
As bad as we’ve
seen it happening in our country and world, it will get worse as the coming of Jesus
draws even closer.
Jesus warned in
Mt 24::6-10,12 – they will deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you, and ye
shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be
offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate
one another….and because
iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall
wax cold.
That’s intense
anger and hate. We’ve seen a small
example of it over the last year.
14. Despisers
of those that are good –
Isaiah 5:20 issues a
warning to them that call evil good and good evil;
that put Darkness for light and light for Darkness; that put bitter for sweet and Sweet for bitter.
We are seeing this
happening more and more.
the Bible warns about a
spirit of strong delusion that will come up on those
who will not receive the truth but have
pleasure in unrighteousness. (2
Thess 2:10-12)
They will believe a lie
and think it is truth and truth is a lie to them.
Guard your hearts and
Minds through prayer. Buy the Truth and sell it not!
15. Traitors – a person who betrays a friend, family,
country, principle, etc
Have you ever had someone you
THOUGHT was a friend but then you find
out they stabbed you in
the back? Paul warned about it here in
this
passage and Jesus warned
it would happen as well in Matthew 24:10
Many shall be offended and shall
betray one another and shall hate one
another.
There’s been a lot of hate
developing in the hearts of people over past year
Hate that has led to loss of
friendships. You feel the animosity
because you
may not see eye to eye on
topics.
16. Heady – meaning Rash, acting hastily without due
consideration of others or
consequences.
Much of
this points back to Lovers of self.
We all need to work on (self included)
thinking before we act or speak
17. Highminded – meaning = inflated with self conceit; lifted
up with pride
A Self conceited person will trample over
other people’s feelings, emotions,
and even destroy them in
the process of trying to obtain what they want.
They only care about theirself,
their own desires, their own ambitions
Again, we see how this points back to a motive from being a
lover of self.
Lucifer was lifted up in self-conceit which led to his
fall.
Repentance means unlearning
all the self-conceit and self-will that we have been training ourselves into…it
means killing part of yourself, under-going a kind of death. – CS Lewis
18. Lovers
of pleasure more than lovers of God –
When a person will watch 4-10
hours of tv and movies but only spend 5 mins
reading the Bible and
praying -
When a person will miss church
to go to the lake or a ball game -
When a person scolls quickly on
by the posts and topics about God and the
Bible but likes and
lingers on the posts about food and fun….
God’s born again blood
bought children have become drunk on entertainment!
*Posts about movies and having Movie marathons
*read/watch love novels and romance movies – even Christian
*like a post about food quicker then they’ll like a post
about Scripture
*Entertain me! Make
me smile! Make me laugh! Don’t upset me!
*Even in church – too many want
motivational preacher and music that
appeals to them
rather than to HIM
*Concert stage and theatrical lights creating
‘ambiance’
*DRUNK ON ENTERTAINMENT!
Entertainment will not save
your soul! Feel good preaching will not save your soul!
It’s ok to laugh and have fun
– The Bible says the joy of the Lord is our strength!
We shouldn’t be solemn,
somber so called Christians that walks around looking like we just lost our
best friend –
we should have a smile on our
face and joy in our heart because we are living for the King of Kings who is
one day going to take us to heaven with Him!
But when pleasure is partaken
of more than the things of God,
When you want to hear ear pleasing sermons that make you feel warm and fuzzy
But don’t want to hear or won’t listen to and heed the messages warning to turn
from sin.
we’re in danger of loving
pleasure more than loving God!
19. Having
a form of godliness, but denying (refusing) the power thereof
Appear
to live for God but they refuse to walk in the power thereof.
They talk spiritual but they don’t walk spiritual
Too many are refusing to walk in and operate in the power of the Holy Ghost
God wants to use each and
every one of us. Yet there are too many
with the unbiblical, wrong mindset that “God only talks to the high up big wigs
of Pentecost, but not to little ol’ me or you”
“God only uses the big names of Pentecost to operate in the Gifts of the
Spirit but not little ol’ me or you”
That is having a form of
godliness but denying the power thereof!
God didn’t save us for us to
be a pretty pew flower the rest of our life!
He is looking for willing vessels that He can operate and work through!
But it takes denying the
flesh through fasting, prayer, and reading the Bible consistently. The opposite of lovers of self.
Do you love yourself more
than you love God?
Do you love pleasures more
than you love God?
We are not to ‘love ourself’
Rather we are told to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and
strength. And secondly, we are told to
love others as we love ourselves.
We have no trouble loving
ourself. We do have a struggle with loving God and loving others more than
ourself.
We are
in perilous times!!!
Our adversary the devil is
like a roaring lion walking about seeking, looking for who he can devour…
…who he can wear out, who he
can wear down, and get them to sin, to walk away from God, and turn back to the
things of the world. (1 Peter 5:8)
If he can wear us out and get us to give up,
he’s got us AND more than likely he’ll get your children and grandchilren, too.
The Bible warns us to
stay sober and be vigilant – stay alert!
Keep watching and aware of what is going on spiritually around us. Don’t
become drunk on the things of this world!
*Can’t drink of the
Lord’s cup and the cup of devils – you cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table
and of the table of devils. (1 Cor 10:21)
You can’t do the things
we just discussed in 2 Timothy 3 and still live for God.
You can’t be doing the
things listed as the works of the flesh and still make it to heaven.
*Because
you can’t serve 2 masters (Mt 6:24)
*We
can’t live for the devil all week long through what they watch and listen
to then go to church and
want God’s blessings.
*It
provokes him to jealousy! (1 Cor 10:22)
Jesus is coming soon!
We want to be ready
Cleanse your heart of
anything that is displeasing to God – repentance.
Tighten up where you
need to tighten up
Release things out of
your life that need to be let go of
Living for Jesus isn’t
hard….living for the world is with it’s hangovers, crashes, and nicotine
withdrawals.
One day, we’re going to
hear him say either “Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter in!”
OR we’re going to hear
“depart from me, I never knew you!”
We want to hear Him say
“Well done, enter in!”
But we have to cast off
the works of the flesh
Anything that Paul
mentioned here in his letter of admonition to Timothy needs to be cast off and
changed.
And we need to obey His Will and His Word in order to hear those words in the end.
1 Cor 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye
stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye
know that YOUR LABOR IS NOT IN VAIN IN THE LORD.
Living for Jesus –
totally wholly consecrated to HIM will be worth it all in the end!
What are you unwilling
to give up for Jesus compared to the price He paid on Calvary?
We are in the Last
Days. Will whatever you didn’t want to
give up be worth it in the end?
No comments:
Post a Comment