Why? Because when they preach on these verses of scripture, they may be branded as one of those “Doom and Gloom” preachers. Nevertheless, if a Minister of the Gospel loves the Lord, he is compelled by his love for the Lord to preach on these verses of scripture. Why? Because these verses of scripture are just as much the Word of God as John 3:16.
These verses tell us how it is going to be in the last days, a period of time referred to in the scriptures as “Perilous Times”. The word that best describes this age, is the word “corrupted”.
Look again at 2 Tim 3:8. “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also RESIST THE TRUTH: MEN OF CORRUPT MINDS, reprobate concerning the faith.”
The Bible says that Jannes and Jambres WITHSTOOD Moses and resisted the truth. Paul is saying that during the last days, the same thing will happen again.
There are three words we need to look at closely.
(1) Look at 2 Tim. 3:8, at the word, “RESIST”. This is the word “anthesistemi”, which means to stand against, to oppose, to resist. Notice, the Bible says that those who “RESIST” have corrupt minds.
(2) Look at the words “CORRUPT MINDS.” This is the Greek word “kataphtheiro”, which means to spoil entirely or deprave.
Illus: They are like spoiled fruit, entirely corrupt. And now they are worthless.
(3) Look at the word “REPROBATE”. God’s Word says they will become like Jannes and Jambres, who were REPROBATES.
WHAT IS A REPROBATE? The word “REPROBATE”, is the word “adokimos”, which means unapproved, worthless, castaway, or rejected. Jannes and Jambres had rejected God’s Word and God’s man, and now they have been rejected by God.
God’s Word tells us that one of the things we can look for in the last days, is for men and women to become like Jannes and Jambres, who rejected God’s man and God’s Word.
Let’s look at these reprobates, to see how they have become corrupted. During the last days they will have-
I. CORRUPTED MINDS
His Word makes it clear, that in the last days we would be living among people who have CORRUPTED MINDS. HOW WOULD THEIR MINDS BE CORRUPTED? In three ways:
A. THEIR MINDS ARE CORRUPTED SOCIALLY
Look at 2 Tim 3:1 5, we read, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
As we look at these verses of scripture, we who were privileged to have lived during the 50’s, now find it difficult to believe we are seeing these things take place in our society today.
Look at verse 1. God says these are PERILOUS TIMES, which means hard to bear, troublesome, dangerous, harsh, or fierce.
Then the Word of God shows us SEVEN THINGS that would describe the Perilous age. God’s Word said:
• They would be BOASTERS - People are proud enough to get on national television, and brag about things they should be ashamed of. We live in an age of BOASTERS.
• They would be COVETOUS - We live in a society that is always wanting more.
• They would be BLASPHEMERS - There is nothing sacred in their lives, they attack God and God’s Man. We live in an age of BLASPHEMERS.
• They would be UNTHANKFUL - This is definitely the age of ingratitude.
• They would be UNHOLY - This age in which we live is certainly unholy.
• They would be WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION -
-It is not natural for a man to love a man.
-It is not natural for a woman to love a woman.
-It is not natural for people to have a greater affection for animals than they do for humans.
• They would be INCONTINENT - This means they have no self control.
This is the age in which we live. This is truly the “Perilous Times” age. This is the age when evil men and women are CORRUPTED SOCIALLY. The Bible also says, in these “Perilous Times” -
B. THEIR MINDS ARE CORRUPTED SPIRITUALLY
2 Tim 3:5, “Having a FORM OF GODLINESS, but DENYING THE POWER thereof: FROM SUCH TURN AWAY.”
Does it mean that atheism will prevail in this wicked age? No, the Bible says they will have a “Form of Godliness”.
• You would still have PREACHERS
• You would still have CHURCH BUILDINGS
• You would still have BIBLES
• You would still have CHURCH MEMBERS
• You would still have CHURCH CHOIRS
• You would still have MISSIONARIES
• You would still have LARGE CONGREGATIONS
But the one difference is, that it is just a front. It is not a church, it is only something that resembles a church. The Bible says they would HAVE A FORM OF GODLINESS, but in actuality, THEY DENY THE POWER THEREOF.
Our age is the “Perilous Times” age. This is the age when men, women, and young people have been CORRUPTED SPIRITUALLY.
• In this age, you can get in the pulpit and preach out of any kind of Bible you want to preach from, and no one in the congregation will open their mouths in protest.
• In this age, a person can get up and sing anything they want to sing, and no one will open their mouths against worldliness.
Illus: Dr. Gene Scott, on national television, August 22, 1999, had a group that was singing about the city of “Chicago”. Literally thousands in that church service, stood to their feet and applauded when they were finished.
In the past, Hollywood hated and despised the church, because the church stood for what the Word of God stood for, and preached against what they did. This is no longer the situation.
These churches have a form of godliness, but in actuality these things are only a front.
Illus: That is, they will mention God, the Bible, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit every now and then, so that the church can still look like a church, but:
• Their heart is not in the PREACHING OF GOD’S WORD.
• Their heart is not in the SINGING OF GOSPEL SONGS.
• Their heart is not in GIVING.
• Their heart is not in PRAYING.
• Their heart is not in SUPPORTING MISSIONS.
This is only a FRONT.
God said, during the last days the church would be CORRUPTED SPIRITUALLY. Also, we see -
C. THEIR MINDS ARE CORRUPTED SCIENTIFICALLY
2 Tim 3:7, “EVER LEARNING, and NEVER ABLE to COME to the KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH.”
It is absolutely amazing today, to see the knowledge that mankind has been able to acquire. It was not too many decades ago, that people didn’t have the knowledge to even invent an automobile that could carry a person from county to county. But now, we can send men to the moon. Through the internet, we can communicate with anyone around the world in a matter of seconds, and place a letter in their hands. This age is unbelievable! But with all this knowledge, MEN NEVER SEEM ABLE TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH.
We have seen the wide spread OF CORRUPTED MINDS, now let us look at ....
II. THE CORRUPTED MINISTERS
2 Tim 4:3 4, “For THE TIME WILL COME when THEY WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE; but after THEIR OWN LUSTS shall they HEAP TO THEMSELVES TEACHERS, having itching ears; And THEY SHALL TURN AWAY THEIR EARS FROM THE TRUTH, and shall be TURNED UNTO FABLES.”
HOW ARE THEY CORRUPTED? They are:
A. CORRUPTED IN THEIR DOCTRINE
These ministers know the age in which we live. Paul said, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine…”
I told you at the start of this message, that preachers are hesitant to preach from these verses, because they will be branded as “Dooms Day” preachers. But I told you also, if they are Ministers of the Gospel, they will preach it anyway, because they know it is the Word of God.
One of the sure signs that show we are living in the last days, is the way people reject the Word of God. The Bible says they will not “…endure sound doctrine.”
• One lady said, “We got rid of our preacher. He preached too hard for us, and now we have a preacher that everyone loves.”
• One man said, “Our preacher has twenty-minutes to do his thing, and when twelve O’clock comes, he had better be dismissing in prayer, or we will be dismissing him.”
Paul said in the last days they will not ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE.
Illus: You can fill the choir with every hypocrite that can carry a tune, and the congregation will sit there for hours and be entertained by them, but when God’s Word is preached, they are ready to go home. They are not going to ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE.
LOOK WHAT THEY WILL DO! Paul said, “…But after THEIR OWN LUSTS shall they HEAP TO THEMSELVES TEACHERS, having itching ears; And THEY SHALL TURN AWAY THEIR EARS FROM THE TRUTH, and shall be TURNED UNTO FABLES.” He said they would NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE, but they will find teachers, (not preachers) that will teach them “Fables”.
Illus: Someone said, “Many Preachers Today are LOOKING TO CREATE A SENSATION, not to BRING PEOPLE TO SALVATION!”
They are CORRUPTED IN THEIR DOCTRINE. But they are also-
B. CORRUPTED IN THEIR DEALINGS
2 Tim 3:6, “For of THIS SORT ARE THEY WHICH CREEP INTO HOUSES, and LEAD CAPTIVE SILLY WOMEN LADEN WITH SINS, led away with DIVERS LUSTS,”
Look at the word “CREEP”. The reason they creep is because they are “CREEPS”. I am not trying to be unkind, but these ministers are creeps of the worst kind. Notice, they CREEP INTO HOUSES. Whose houses? The Bible says the houses of “SILLY WOMEN”. (Now fasten your seat belt, it is going to get a little rough.)
Did you know that most of the time, women are more gullible than men?
Illus: The devil knows that. In the garden of Eden he headed straight for Eve.
Illus: Do you know why we have had eight years of President Bill Clinton, who many consider to be the worst moral president this country has ever had? It is because the women outnumber the men in this nation, and it was the women’s vote that kept him there. Why? Because he is good looking.
Women are much more gullible than men.
Illus: Have you noticed these “CREEPS” on television, who spend their time telling everyone what great men or women of God they are? As the television camera scans the audience, about 75% or more are women.
These “CREEPS” have never preached a sermon from the Word of God yet. All they have to do is send people a letter in the mail, telling them they want them to send $100.00 or $500.00 to their ministry, and people will start looking for their check books.
WHY DO THEY DO THIS? Look at verse 6. The Bible tells us why. The Bible says they have been LED CAPTIVE.
God is not talking about all women, but he is talking about some, who make their decisions not with their heads, but with their emotions.
These corrupt preachers are smarter than most politicians. They know what the public wants to hear, and they tell it to them.
Illus: Eugene Peterson said, “The pastors of America have metamorphosed into a company of shopkeepers, and the shops they keep are churches. They are preoccupied with shopkeepers' concerns how to keep the customers happy, and how to lure customers away from competitors down the street.”
We have seen the wide spread of CORRUPTED MINDS, and CORRUPTED MINISTERS, now let us look at ....
III. THE CORRUPTED MEMBERS
2 Tim 3:5, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
A. WHAT MOTIVATES US TO SERVE CHRIST?
1 John 4:19, “We love him, because he first loved us.”
Let me ask you something, if our MOTIVE for coming to church is because we love Him, then why do we have so much friction in churches today?
It is simple:
• The MINDS OF THE SOCIETY IN WHICH WE LIVE ARE CORRUPTED.
• The MINISTERS HAVE BEEN CORRUPTED.
• And the Word of God says, in the last days the church MEMBERS ARE CORRUPTED.
They have become content with playing church. And like a bunch of kids playing church, when things do not go their way, they are ready to pick up their marbles and go home.
But the reason we should attend church, and the reason we should serve Him, is because we love Him.
2 Cor. 5:14,15, “For THE LOVE OF CHRIST CONSTRAINETH US…And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
Did you get that? He died for our sins. And now we should love Him enough to serve Him.
B. WHAT MOTIVATES US TO SERVE OTHERS?
Gal. 5:13,14, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, BUT BY LOVE SERVE ONE ANOTHER. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF.”
It is certainly a commendable thing, when churches will give sacrificial gifts, and send thousands of dollars to foreign missions. But it is difficult to understand, that we can have a brother or sister in need among us, and people will not give one cent to help them out. The corrupted members today, are so mean and so unkind to each other! THESE ARE PERILOUS TIMES!!
Conclusion:
We have seen:
I. THE CORRUPTED MINDS,
II. THE CORRUPTED MINISTERS,
III. THE CORRUPTED MEMBERS.
Now what does God want to do in your life today??
THE LOST NEED TO GET SAVED!!
THE SAVED NEED TO GET BUSY!!
Note: You can hear Dr. Odell Belger preach many of these sermons on Youtube. Just type Youtube Lykesland
f this work.
