Encourages believers to stand firm in faith amidst trials, guided by God's Word, and to shine Christ's light in a world growing colder towards truth.
Hello, dear friends, I am so grateful to be with you today, gathered as a family of believers, united in Christ. We are here to seek God's wisdom, to glean from His Word, and to find solace in His promises. It's a joy to be in fellowship with you, to share the same hope, and to face life's trials with the same faith.
Today, we are going to dive into the depths of 2 Timothy 3:1-10. The Apostle Paul, writing to his young protégé, Timothy, warns him about the difficult times to come. He outlines the challenges that the faithful will face in a world growing colder towards God's truth. But he also provides a roadmap for how to navigate these perilous times.
Let's read together:
"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me."
A call to action: He tells Timothy to avoid those who live in such a way, to steer clear of their influence. But more than that, he encourages Timothy to continue in what he has learned and firmly believed. This is a call to perseverance, to steadfastness in the face of adversity.
The nature of the times we live in: It's easy to look around and feel discouraged, to feel like the world is spiraling out of control. But Paul reminds us that these times were anticipated. They are not a surprise to God. And if they are not a surprise to God, then we can trust that He has a plan and a purpose in them. We can trust that He is still sovereign, even when the world seems to be in chaos.
Our response to these times: Paul calls us to avoid those who live contrary to God's ways. This doesn't mean we isolate ourselves completely from the world. After all, we are called to be salt and light. But it does mean that we should be careful about who we allow to influence us. We should surround ourselves with those who will encourage us in our faith, not lead us away from it.
Holding fast to what we have learned: In a world that is constantly changing, it can be tempting to compromise our beliefs to fit in. But Paul encourages us to stand firm. To hold fast to the truths we have learned from Scripture. To continue in what we have learned and firmly believed. This is where the strength to persevere comes from.
Our perseverance is not in vain: Paul assures us that those who oppose the truth will not get very far. Their folly will be plain to all. This is a reminder that in the end, truth prevails. God's Word stands firm. And so, we can press on, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Not a pretty picture: It's a sobering reminder of the perversion that can take hold when we turn our backs on God's truth ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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