Overcoming The "Church" In The Last Days

Overcoming the Church in the Last Days

Text: 2 Timothy 3:1-17; 4:1-8; Revelation 3:15-19

TEXT:

2 Timothy 3:1-17, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was. 10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra-- what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

INTRODUCTION:

Our text this morning is part of a second letter that Paul wrote to Timothy a second letter. In Chapter 3, he is warning Timothy about what is going to happen to people in the last days, just before Christ’s return.

TRANSISTION: So, as we begin: Just sit back, fasten your seatbelt, make sure your trays are in their upright position, turn off all electronic equipment (including cell phones), and let’s put this message to flight!

Did you know that we are overcomers? More that conquerors? Listen to what Romans 8:37 says, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Next in I John 5:4 is says, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith.” Being that we are more than conquerors and overcomers, let’s go back and break apart our text this morning.

ILLUSTRATION: Dr. George Sweeting once estimated that "more than a fourth of the Bible is predictive prophecy...Both the Old and New Testaments are full of promises about the return of Jesus Christ. Over 1800 references appear in the O.T., and seventeen O.T. books give prominence to this theme. Of the 260 chapters in the N.T., there are more than 300 references to the Lord’s return--one out of every 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 N.T. books refer to this great event...For every prophecy on the first coming of Christ, there are 8 on Christ’s second coming."

The title of my message today is, Overcoming the Church in the Last Days. I’m going to, Lord willing, unveil what I’m talking over the next several minutes. Let’s pray (Prayer).

ILLUSTRATION: At an intersection, the green light changes to yellow;

 At the theater the house lights flash;

 In the Battalion Tactical Operations Center a Warning Order comes down from Brigade;

 At the airport terminal the boarding call comes over the intercom;

 At a railroad crossing the lights begin to flash;

 In a small Midwestern town the tornado siren screams;

 On the football field the two minute warning sounds;

 In the cargo bay of a C-140 a red-light comes on;

 In the Desert of Judea, a voice of one calling in the wilderness is heard declaring, "Prepare the way of the Lord."

What do each of these have in common? They are signs or warnings that we need to prepare ourselves for what is about to happen.

I.IN 2ND TIMOTHY 3:1-9; 13, WE HAVE WARNING SIGNS OF THINGS TO COME. (read vss. 1-9; 14).

A. Look at what Paul is saying here in verse 1 (read it again).

B. The NKJV says, “But know this. Look at how other versions say it.

1. But understand this (ESV); You should know this (NIV); Remember (TEV); You may as well know this too (TLB); and finally, Don’t be naïve (TMSG)