Has Anybody Seen Demas ?
Pastor Ken Crow.
2 Timothy 4:10 (King James Version)
10For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
Tonight let’s look at a character in the Bible that gets very little attention. In fact he is mentioned only three times.
Colossians 4:14 (King James Version)
14Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you
Here in Colossians we see Demas mentioned along side one of the great men of God in the new testament. He is addressed and named by the great apostle Paul. It is evident as we read that whole chapter of Colossians that he is an active part of the then expanding Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In Philemon 1:24 Paul calls him a fellow laborer.
1. In the mind of Demas a battle raged.
A spiritual tug of war between the world and his walk with God.
Tonight we are well aware of the forces of the enemy who would snare us into some kind of sin to ruin our testimony or witness.
We are always reading in the newspaper or seeing on the news where some clergy member has failed morally or committed some financial misdeed.
While that happens far to often there lurks another lure that is far more reaching and doles out far more spiritual devastation .
I used to be an avid fisherman. I would go to the tackle shop and look for the shiniest brightest , most fish enticing lure I could get. Many times these worked but other times the most effective lure would be something plain and earth toned.
In the Christian World today these “earth toned” lures pull far more people out of kingdom living than the ones we most suspect.
2. Let’s consider Demas.
A. Paul makes the statement that Demas ‘loved this present world”
Was it really something bright and shiny out there in that world?
OR:
Was it that Demas just got to busy for the Gospel?
Luke 14:16-24 (King James Version)
16Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
17And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
18And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
20And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
21So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
22And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
23And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
24For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
Was it Demas had something in that present world that he could just not give up?
Luke 18:21-23 (King James Version)
21And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
22Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
23And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
Was it that Demas just seen and remembered the party that he used to have as a sinner but forgot the empty way it made him feel?
Hebrews 11:24-26 (King James Version)
24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
I would guess that Demas did not just drop out of sight all at once . For awhile he probably attempted to stay . But the more he failed to assemble himself with the people of God the more lure of the world pulled him out.
After awhile his treasure became the things of the world.
Matthew 6:21 (King James Version)
21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
I venture to say that where our heart is we will be too.
This is no time to give up!
This is no time to quit.
Maybe Demas had a crisis in his life and turned to Jesus but once it was over and things got better he returned to his old life.
We can only speculate.
We could ask these same questions of many of us today.
Has anybody seen Demas?
Let us close with this.
Romans 12:2 (King James Version)
2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
God Bless and Amen
