PRODUCERS of a HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT-I—2Timothy 3:1-9
Attention:
Pacific Herring live off of coast of US from Baja CA to AK.
They eat Plankton(microscopic drifters).
For various reasons, plankton ‘bloom’, increasing their numbers exponentially.
This feeds the herring, one of the favorite foods of the penguin.
When in great numbers, & when threatened, the school takes on a dense writhing, spherical shape, making them easy prey for predators.
A Herring ‘ball’ can be the size of a football field.
Penguins attack the ball from below & gulls from above.
Whales take mouthfuls of them.
Their own behavior produces a hostile future.
Likewise, man’s behavior(that which lies within every man) guarantees a Hostile Environment.
Need:
We live in a country of great corporate & personal wealth.
?Why do people/things seem to be getting worse with times?
?Why is the world getting worse/colder/violent? I’m gonna fix this.
Self-protection/Isolation/Anonymity/Introversion/Antisocial/Aloof/Perversions/Indulgence/Alignments/Identification/Worldliness/Self-help
A Distortion of relationships at all & various levels
Isolated/Alone/Separated/Useless/Powerless/Fearful/Inept/Depressed/Devil-may-care
The last days will be characterized by a hostile(antagonistic) environment.
The Apostle Paul, revealed to Timothy that a hostile(antagonistic) environment will characterize the last days.
A hostile(antagonistic) environment will characterize the last days.
Why will hostility/antagonism characterize the last days?
Producers of a hostile(antagonistic) environment.
“Perilous/Difficult”—calepov—Hard to do, to take, to approach; Hard to bear, troublesome, dangerous.
1—A hostile(antagonistic) environment is produced by, a Distortion of…
SELF(:2a)
Explanation:(:2a)
:2—“For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”
“Lovers of themselves”—filautov—Loving one’s self; Too intent on one’s interests, selfish.
Hedonism—‘The pursuit of pleasure; sensual self-indulgence’ as the goal of life.
Intelligencia—Air of Condescension-Superiority-Patronization
Argumentation:
Eph. 5:28-29—“So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes & cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.”
Rom. 15:1-3—“We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, & not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.””
Rom. 12:2-3—“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good & acceptable & perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”
Prov. 26:12—“Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
Eccl. 7:16—“Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself?”
Mat. 18:3-6—“& said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted & become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. “Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, & he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”
2Cor. 12:7-10—“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Php. 2:3-5—“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,”
Jas. 4:6-7—“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil & he will flee from you.”
Tit. 2:6-8—“Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.”
Illustration:
MTV & VH1/Rappers-Hip Hop/Videos & public appearances/Body language/Self-consumed/Distortion of Self
Buy for self to the exclusion of others/Parents who neglect their children for cigs, booze or drugs/Distortion of Self
?What happens when a generation raises the next to be Lovers of Self?
Application:
?You guilty of Distorting SELF?
If so, then you are contributing to a Hostile Environment….
!Can be overcome in Christ!
2—A(n) hostile(antagonistic) environment is produced by…
A Distortion of WEALTH(:2b)
Explanation:(:2b)
:2—“For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”
“Lovers of Money/Covetous”—filargurov—Loving money, avarice, covetous. Lit. ‘Lovers of silver(argurov).’
Argumentation:
2Chron. 1:11-12—“And God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, & you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life--but have asked wisdom & knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king-- “wisdom & knowledge are granted to you; & I will give you riches & wealth & honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.””
Jer. 15:13—“Your wealth & your treasures I will give as plunder without price, Because of all your sins, Throughout your territories.”
Ezek. 19:14-15—“ “Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you,” says the Lord GOD. “But you trusted in your own beauty, played the harlot because of your fame, & poured out your harlotry on everyone passing by who would have it.”
Rev. 3:17-19—To Laodicea—“Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, & have need of nothing’--& do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, & naked--“I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; & white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; & anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. “As many as I love, I rebuke & chasten. Therefore be zealous & repent.”
Titus 1:7—“For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,”
1Tim. 6:9-10—“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation & a snare, & into many foolish & harmful lusts which drown men in destruction & perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, & pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
Lu 16:13—“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one & love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one & despise the other. You cannot serve God & mammon.”
Mat. 6:21—“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Illustration:
Again....MTV & VH1/Rappers-Hip Hop/Videos & public appearances/Body language/Money-consumed/Money their savior from the ghetto/Distortion of WEALTH
We have $3000 purses, $1000 watches, $500 sneakers
Application:
?You guilty of Distorting Wealth?
If so, then you are contributing to a Hostile Environment….
!Can be overcome in Christ!
3—A(n) hostile(antagonistic) environment is determined by…
A Distortion of ACHIEVEMENT/Ability(:2c)
Explanation:(:2c)
:2—“For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”
“Boasters”—alazwn—An empty pretender.
—Along with Loving themselves comes bragging on one’s acheivements.
—A difference between knowing, appreciating & using your ability vs. pretentiously parading/openly declaring your genius/prowess.
—An attitude difference.
—A braggart has built into his ability a tendency to level the field to his advantage.
Argumentation:
—Christians—On mission trip: On-the-one-hand—The braggart goes to Costa Rica because he can—On-the-other-hand,—Someone else who cannot go but is called to the mission.
Mat. 6:2, 5, 16—“Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues & in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward....“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues & on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.”....“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.”
Isa. 40:29-31—“He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint & be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run & not be weary, They shall walk & not faint.”
Zec. 4:6—“So he answered & said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.”
Isa. 30:1-3—“Woe to the rebellious children,” says the LORD, “Who take counsel, but not of Me, And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, That they may add sin to sin; Who walk to go down to Egypt, And have not asked My advice, To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, And to trust in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore the strength of Pharaoh Shall be your shame, And trust in the shadow of Egypt Shall be your humiliation.”
The Red Sea Crossing—?By any ability of men?
Fall of Jericho—?By any ability of men?
1Co 2:1-5—“And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ & Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, & in much trembling. And my speech & my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit & of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
2Co 10:3-6 “3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments & every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, & being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”
Lu 18:10-14—““Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee & the other a tax collector. “The Pharisee stood & prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ “And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, & he who humbles himself will be exalted.””
Illustration:
Resume´s/Remove negatives/Shorter the better/No Blemishes-Credit-Family-Church-Impersonal/Distortion of Achievement/Ability
Politicians/Running for office/
Mechanic/Who do you trust?—Humble or Braggart/Humble, because he is concerned about your satisfaction rather than his ability/Sifford’s—they do a good job!
Application:
? You guilty of Distorting Achievement?
If so, then you are contributing to a Hostile Environment….
!Can be overcome in Christ!
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Pacific Herring/Behavior guarantees a hostile environment
Action:
A hostile(antagonistic) environment is determined by a distortion of….
SELF(:2a)
WEALTH(:2b)
ACHIEVEMENT/ABILITY(:2c)
Presented 10/11/09am to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf NC 27054
