Sunday Evening - 12/30/18

“I’ll tell you a story. The Archbishop of Canterbury in the year 1675 was acquainted with Mr. Butterton the [actor]. One day the Archbishop . . . said to Butterton . . . ‘pray inform me Mr. Butterton, what is the reason you actors on stage can affect your congregations with speaking of things imaginary, as if they were real, while we in church speak of things real, which our congregations only receive as if they were imaginary?’ ‘Why my Lord,’ says Butterton, ‘the reason is very plain. We actors on stage speak of things imaginary, as if they were real and you in the pulpit speak of things real as if they were imaginary.’” “Therefore,” added Whitefield, ‘I will bawl [shout loudly], I will not be a velvet-mouthed preacher.” (Ibid., 239–240)

What would you say to a friend coming to stay in Fairbanks who told you they were going to stay in the Polaris Hotel? They said that they found a brochure about the hotel. It boasted about being the tallest building in Fairbanks with 11 stories and a deck on top for viewing the aurora.

You make look up and find the details to be true, but you would add the personal input that it is now a condemned, filthy, run-down eye sore.

The boast of being a great hotel was not maintained

At the end of chapter 2 Timothy was instructed about patiently teaching and instructing false teachers and those misled by them with the hopes of them turning back to the truth and being spared. While this can be happening, Paul proceeds to characterize the declining nature of those who adhere to false teaching. The vice list of sins that Paul gives is not pretty. Possibly the most alarming thing about the list is that it is said to characterize those who profess godliness.

So how should the listener in 2018 pay attention to this description? To pay attention casually can be disastrous, for it is end of the one who thinks he is godly that is being described here. To sit in fear over concern of how easy it is to fall away would be looking at things from a limited perspective- for, as we saw earlier, God knows and is able to keep those who are His. To sit and mourn over the condition of the last days would be appropriate at times, but it would ignore the fact that it is also the day of salvation.

If we are looking at demise of those who merely profess godliness, we would be wise to heed what led to this condition. God’s truth is always going to be challenging and changing us. It is easily to settle for truth that makes us comfortable.

Godliness Is More Than a Profession

The false leaders characterized by those in the last days who have misplaced affections. (v.v 1-4)

* * When Paul lists sins in Romans 1, it is included in the section that culminates with the gift of righteousness being available through Christ.

* This lists seems to reflect a growing increase of hardness. When we get to verse 5, we see the false leaders in Ephesus professing godliness while these vices are coming out in their lives.

* Apostacy has starting points- this lists starts and ends with love that is on the wrong thing. All kinds of defections take place when love is centered on the wrong thing. I think of Christ's method of exposing the heart of the Pharisees in Mt. 19. They acted piously by using Scripture to say that Moses permitted divorce. In His answer to them, Jesus unveils their heart that does not want God's ways for marriage given in creation nor do they want to abide by the narrow restriction for divorce given in the law. They are rebelling against God's ways.

* The love of money is shown to be the desire that brings about all other kinds of evil in 1 Timothy 6:10.

* Apostacy has a trail of choices and hardening consequences- when love is self-centered. People become unforgiving and slanderous toward others. They begin to loose the ability to say "no" to temptation. Brutal has the idea of savage/animal like. The sad thing is that one is conceited in this condition.

Guard your affections

So how do I know if I am loving self, money, or pleasure to much?

What kind of defense goes on in your mind for the things that you want to do but are unsure of? Do you use Scripture even to justify some of the things you do?

Will this purchase, time use, pleasure be useful in loving God and others? Am I enjoying the gifts that God has given me without demanding that I have them? Their are certain activities that can refresh us in loving God and others- relax, recreation, etc.

All desires for things should point us to the fact that desires can ultimately be met outside of this world.

“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”

This kind of thinking can be uncomfortable. It is easy to profess a godliness that accommodates our style of living.

The false leaders develop into the above living because they deny the source of godliness (v.v 5- 6a)

TRUE GODLINESS IS RESOURCED. It must come from something outside of the person- God and His truth. Professed godliness is imitation apart from the resource. It has a form of godliness that leads to ones own selfish gain.*

1 Timothy 6:5–6 NKJV

useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

Emphasize the denial of the source of godliness. Point to chapter 1

Call out for God’s power for unselfish living

May we not be professors who act unworried, skillful in parenting, etc May we seek help from others.

It is easier to justify or not try something than to admit need and seek for help. We easily want results from God rather than a journey with God.

Put up picture of weightlifter

False teaching spreads among vulnerable people- women in particular here (v. 6b-7)

* Weak women- a critical term used of women. This is not lessening of women. It is descriptive of the women in this context who are gullible. The context of 1 Timothy 2 may add light to this where the women are disrupting in the church by drawing attention to themselves with their apparrel and attempting to exercise authority. The context of 1 Timothy 5 may add to this as well. There the young widows are being busybodies from house to house. The Pastoral epistles hold out an alternative high view of woman who live up to the high calling of godliness in the home, service toward the saints and afflicted, hope in God, and teaching of other women.

* These women are also susceptible to the false teaching because of the load of past sins. This has a tie to 1 Timothy 1:5. It is so vital to maintain a pure heart, clear conscience, and sincere faith. Maintenance is not a self-effort.

* These women also are led about by various desires. They do not have the fortitude to resist "harmful impulses" (Towner) Impulsive

They also are curious in their learning without discernment

Keep on growing in the roles God has given you

To my sisters in Christ, I would say that the world is offering you an identity that is tied to how you look and perform. Your beauty is in your faith in God manifested in good works. You carry out noble role when you do this in the high and noble setting God has placed you.

As the proverbs goes: a beautiful woman without discretion is like a ring in a pig’s snout. A ring adorning someone who is already beautiful is the better picture of a women whose beauty reflects inward godliness.

There is beauty in a tongue that gives words of grace, a mom who is involved with Christ in working through conflict among children to point them to Christ. There is beauty in a lady whose hope is set on God. When your family is struggling, when you are criticized by others, when you are pressed to live for the approval of others, may you run to Christ and pour out your hurt. Rejoice in His unfailing care and provision.

False leaders are conceited about progress (v.v. 8-9)

* They are identified with men who withstood God's work. These names have been traditionally passed down for the men who withstood Moses before Pharaoh. They counter-acted against the displays of God's power before Pharaoh with their own tricks.

* They are noted for opposing the truth

* Their choices have led to minds that are unable to discern truth

* They are disqualified and unapproved by God. Their relationship with God does not exist.

Paul uses the term from 2:16- they will not advance far. They will deceive people, but they themselves will not be able to continue. They have and end Just like those who resisted Moses.

Keep crying after wisdom

Matthew 7:21 NKJV

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

He now distinguishes between real professors and fake professors on the narrow way. The main distinction is that one is just talk. The other goes beyond profession to obedience.