In the midst of perilous times, believers must stand strong as a fearless church, relying on God's wisdom and strength to navigate the challenges of the world.
Good morning, church family! Today, we're diving into a topic that is so relevant for the times we are living in. Our world seems to be in turmoil, and as believers, we need to understand how to navigate these perilous times. We'll be exploring 2 Timothy 3:1, discussing the need to stand strong and how to overcome weakness in our knees.
I recently came across a quote from A.W. Tozer that I believe perfectly encapsulates what we'll be discussing today. Tozer said, "A scared world needs a fearless church." Friends, we are called to be that fearless church in these trying times. Let's read our main text for today, 2 Timothy 3:1:
As we begin to explore the concept of understanding perilous times, we need to understand that the Bible has much to say about the challenges and difficulties that will arise in the last days. The term "perilous times" in 2 Timothy 3:1 comes from the Greek word "chalepos," which means hard to bear, troublesome, or dangerous. It's clear that the Apostle Paul was warning Timothy, and by extension, all believers, about the challenging and treacherous times that would come upon the earth.
One aspect of understanding perilous times is recognizing the signs of the times. Jesus Himself spoke about the signs that would precede His return in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. These signs include wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, and an increase in false prophets and false Christs. As we look around our world today, it's evident that we are witnessing many of these signs unfolding before our eyes. The increase in natural disasters, the rise of terrorism, and the prevalence of false teachings all point to the fact that we are living in perilous times.
Another aspect of understanding perilous times is recognizing the spiritual battle that is taking place behind the scenes. Ephesians 6:12 tells us that "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." The chaos and turmoil we see in our world are not merely the result of human actions or decisions; they are the manifestations of a spiritual battle that is raging in the heavenly realms. As believers, we must be aware of this spiritual dimension and be prepared to engage in spiritual warfare through prayer, fasting, and the study of God's Word.
Understanding perilous times also involves recognizing the moral decline that accompanies these times. In 2 Timothy 3:2-5, Paul goes on to describe the characteristics of people in the last days. He says that they will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, and having a form of godliness but denying its power. This description paints a vivid picture of the moral decay that will be prevalent in the last days, and it's not difficult to see how our society increasingly reflects these characteristics.
In addition to the moral decline, understanding perilous times involves recognizing the spiritual deception that will be rampant in these days. Jesus warned in Matthew 24:24 that "false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." We must be on guard against the many false teachings and doctrines that are infiltrating the church and leading many astray. The Apostle Paul also warned in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 that "the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." As believers, we must be grounded in the truth of God's Word and be discerning in what we accept as truth.
Understanding perilous times also requires us to recognize the role of the church in these times. As the body of Christ, we are called to be salt and light in a dark and decaying world (Matthew 5:13-16). We are to be a fearless church that boldly proclaims the truth of the gospel, even in the face of opposition and persecution. In John 16:33, Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." As believers, we can take courage in the fact that Jesus has already won the victory, and we are called to stand firm in our faith and be a beacon of hope in these perilous times.
Finally, understanding perilous times involves recognizing the urgency of the hour. Romans 13:11-12 tells us, "And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now, our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light." As believers, we must be aware of the urgency of the times in which we live and be diligent in sharing the gospel with those who are lost and perishing.
As we follow Jesus, we need to stand strong in Him … especially in the face of the perilous times we are experiencing ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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