Lovers of their own selves, Covetous
Preparing For Perilous Times • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 10 viewsNotes
Transcript
2 Timothy 3:1–8 (KJV 1900)
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Perilous times shall come - this is not in reference to Paul’s days
The blessings of God’s word giving us insight in what is going to come
God has warned down through the ages
The children of Issachar were given insight
We should have understanding and a heart to understand
our family needs to be prepared
Our children need to be prepared
1Ki 3:9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding (to hear) heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
The angels were sent to Lot to get him out of
Our time to shine is now
Let your light so shine
It’s during our moments of persecution that our lights should shine
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
The darker it is the brighter we should shine
Sometimes people just get discouraged and hide when it gets dark
We are not to cower
be reclusive
1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, And the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And gross darkness the people: But the Lord shall arise upon thee, And his glory shall be seen upon thee.
3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, And kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Don’t stop growing
Don’t stop serving
Don’t stop Loving
2 Timothy 3:1–2 (KJV 1900)
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Unprecedented brokenness
Never before seen problems
Unprecedented persecution
lovers of their own selves = fond of self, that is, selfish: - lover of own self.
selfish
self consumed or self absorbed
In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a hunter from Thespiae in Boeotia who was known for his beauty. According to Tzetzes, he rejected all romantic advances, eventually falling in love with his own reflection in a pool of water, staring at it for the remainder of his life. After he died, in his place sprouted a flower bearing his name.
The character of Narcissus is the origin of the term narcissism, a fixation with oneself.
A cautionary tale of self absorbed
unhealthy extreme fondness of oneself
Attracted to yourself, have feelings for yourself more than others
Jesus explained the answer in:
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
The Cross is a death sentence
Following = imitation, Jesus gave to others more than to himself
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
I die daily
Dead to sins
Self is dead
Not I’m dying = I’m dead
1. Answer the Call to Love God With All
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
2. Answer the Call to Love Others As Yourself
Matthew 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Be interested in others
Be consumed with others lives
How much love do we show others.
People will go where they feel loved.
What if we were genuinely concerned about others?
How is your spouse
How is your job
How are your children
How is your time with the Lord
How Can I Protect Myself From the Peril Of Becoming A Lover Of Myself
Ask The Lord To Teach You How To Love Others Deeply And Provide Needs
What project can you do to help someone in need?
Do we go weeks without helping someone without any thought of benefit to ourself?
Decide and plan to be a blessing
Schedule your time
Budget your money
Use your talents
Pray that our church can be a church that helps and loves others.
We must manage our life so we can show love to others.
Visiting others
Calling others
Can we decide I will be a need provider when an opportunity arrises
2. Ask The Lord To Give You The Needed Wisdom To Show Love and Provide Needs
Pray: Lord show me opportunities and I will provide with your wisdom and power.
Say: My Life should shine the Love of Christ to others.
Opportunities to shine are available, do they not connect with our heart because we are not ready?
Do opportunities not connect because we are so focused on ourselves
God, give me insight into the lives of others Lord to show show them your love.
Do not quench the Spirit when He prompts you to act.
Encouragement
A word of love
A note letting someone know you’re praying
3. Ask The Lord To Take Away A Judgmental Or A Critical Heart.
A Judgmental heart will misdiagnose the needs of others and will hinder us from loving others.
A negative view of others
A elevated view of ourselves
A judgmental spirit quenches the Holy Spirit
A judgmental spirit is rooted in pride and pride quenches the Holy Spirit
4. Understand Everyone Has A Need.
What if I can meet that need.
What if you can meet that need.
Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Jas 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Edify = Completed; fully built
From foundation to finish
I am to be one that is building you to bring you to a completed structure
Thoughtful words
encouragement
Follow = let this lead you
5. What Do You Have To Build And Help Others.
Everyone has gifts
Everyone has talents
Everyone who is saved and born again have a supernatural empowering to be a member that helps the other members of the church.
Treasures to not be hoarded but given.
Energies not to be focused on ourself but others
6. Remember God Has Assigned You To A Special Work.
I know God has a calling on my life
not just as the pastor of this church
not just as the husband of my wife
not just as the father of my children
God has a calling to invest in others everyday through love and filling the needs of others
2 Timothy 3:1–5 (KJV 1900)
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Covetous =
The flesh is never content
Are you satisfied with what is given to you
Inordinate or excessive affection for money, things, stuff
“Well I don’t have anything” - You can still be in love with stuff
This word used for covetous is found in one other place in the Bible:
Luk 16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
Luk 16:12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
Luk 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
The Law and the Kingdom of God
Luk 16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
Always wanting more
A lover of self is connected to coveteousness
1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV 1900)
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
We could get there
Growing in grace giving
It is infancy to struggle with giving to the Lord
Covetousness = an uncontrollable desire to have more
Love of money = an abnormal focus on money and material possessions.
Possessed by possessions
10 Trust not in oppression, And become not vain in robbery: If riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
It doesn’t satisfy
Take it from Solomon
If that’s what you love it can never satisfy
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Where is my heart? Where my treasure goes.
There is a way to store treasure in heaven
Investing in the body of Christ
Let’s ask the Lord to help keep us from being lovers of self
Die to self
Live for the Lord and others
Be a bestower of blessings