SF543 - TIMELESS TRUTHS FOR TERRIBLE TIMES (2 Timothy 3 1-9)
SF543
TIMELESS TRUTHS FOR TERRIBLE TIMES
2 Timothy 3:1-9
INTRODUCTION
These are “Terrible Times!
Great Men are saying that these are indeed the Last days...
“I believe with my heart and soul that the sands of time are running low for this generation...we are living in the shadows of the end of an age...Jesus Christ is coming soon!” Adrian Rogers
“...We are living in those very last, very significant days just before Jesus Christ is going to come again.” Jerry Vines
Our job is to discover what our posture is to be in these days so that we might take as many to heaven with us as is possible!
We will be looking at contemporary issues in the days to come...
Many are mentioned in theses verses
Outline:
The certainty of terrible times
The characteristics of terrible times
The commands concerning terrible times
1A. THE CERTAINTY OF TERRIBLE TIMES (1)
1B. These are Determined Days
“The last days”
(Matthew 24:12) And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
2B. These are Dangerous Days
“Terrible” = Matt 8:28, demon possessed men...
“violent” = fierce, untamed
Lady in Detroit thrown from the bridge.
Man attacked a police officer at the city police station this week.
2A. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF TERRIBLE TIMES (2-9)
19 characteristics listed here....
1B. Self Centered Philosophy (2a)
“Lovers of self” =me-ism
“Lovers of money” = covetous
We ignore God, use people and love things
“Boastful, proud” = “we are strutting to hell thinking we are too good to be damned” Adrian Rogers
2B. Self Serving Relationships (2b-3a)
“Abusive” = blasphemy, bitter words
“Disobedient to parents” = We have a generation of students who know nothing of authority or discipline...
“Ungrateful” = No sense of dependance on the assistance of others
“Unholy” = no reverence for sacred things
“Without love” = without natural affection; literally without family love - Murder of our own children! This would also include perverted love..
“Unforgiving” = truce breakers - throw away marriages
3B. Self Gratifying Lifestyle (3b-4)
“Slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of good...” = our land is filled with violence and hatred.
News report this week concerning the robbery of accident victims.
“Treacherous” = betrayer, traitor.
“Rash” = headstrong, acting without careful thought
“Conceited” = puffed up
“Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (4)
4B. Self Exalting Religion (5-9)
“Having a form of godliness...” (5) = Form without force, religion with reality
“weak-willed “= creature of impulse; liberated women who have thrown off all authority
“Loaded down with sins” = burdened down with sin, that is why people are searching for relief everywhere.
“All kinds of desire” = a longing (espec. for what is forbidden):..
“Always learning...”(7) Knowledge may increase but not truth
Verse 8 = Imitators of God’s miracles will come
2A. THE COMMANDS CONCERNING TERRIBLE TIMES
1B. Stay Separate (5)
Get out of liberal churches!
(2 Thessalonians 3:14) If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed.
(Romans 16:17) I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.
(1 Corinthians 5:11) But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
(2 John 1:10) If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.
2B. Stay Faithful
(Hebrews 10:25) Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another‑‑and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
3B. Stay True (10-13)
If you are not being persecuted, it is because you are not living godly!
Don’t be deceived
4B. Stay Right (14-16)
Remember what you have learned... (14-15)
God has given us His Word so that we might know what to do (16)
“Teaching” = what is right
“Rebuking” = what is not right
“Correcting” = how to get right
“Training”... = how to stay right
APPLICATION
(Titus 2:14) who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
(1 Peter 2:9) But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.