Good evening. You are the blessed of the Lord, and I am so glad to see you tonight. Would you please turn to Second Timothy chapter four? That’s where we’re going to start.
I’ve been thinking about the state of the Church and a lot of what we see unfolding today is because of the Church, and because it’s the Church not willing to stand on the Word.
We’re going to begin in Second Timothy chapter two verse four, but before we go there I want to begin with the last two verses of Second Timothy chapter three. For me, these two verses explain why the Church is unwilling to stand ten toes down on the Word of God and doing what God asks us to do.
(16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God …
From Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, all scripture is given by the inspiration of God. And that word, inspiration, as you know, is the Greek word “theopneustos,” meaning “God breathed.” So, all scripture came from God. All of it. All of it.
The verse uses the word “breathe,” and I thought about Genesis chapter 2 verse 7, where it says, “The Lord God breathed into man the breath of life, and man became a living soul.” Whenever God breathes, and I know it's not the same word, but the sense. When God breathes, He breathes life.
All scripture is God breathed, all scripture is life, and it is life and as we finish reading the verse that the reason it is life is because it “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
That’s why the word of God is life. It has a profit when you put it inside yourself. Why? Verse 17.
(17) That the man of God (the woman of God) may be perfect (mature), throughly furnished (prepared) unto all good works.
This is why God gave us His Word. He wants us to mature unto all good works, and when I hear “all good works,” I see doing what Jesus did.
Now verse one of chapter four.
(1) I charge thee therefore before God (Why does he say “therefore”? It’s because of what we just read in verses 16 and 17 in the previous chapter.), and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
(2) Preach the word …
And we just read in verses 16 and 17 of the previous chapter that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God. “Preach what has been inspired by God. Preach what God has breathed.”
be instant in season, out of season …
In other words, that is your lifestyle. It is what you do and you make no exceptions.
And not only that Timothy, in the preaching of that Word there will be times when you will have to …
reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
This is where most of the folks who stand in the pulpit fail. They are not willing to take the hard, draw a line in the sand stand on what the Word of God says. That's where they fail.
They are not willing to rebuke, they're not willing to reprove, but they're definitely willing to exhort and what they exhort does not always line up with the Bible.
(3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine …
That breaks my heart. They will not endure sound doctrine. The word “not” is OU in the Greek and means an absolute negation of something. Paul is telling Timothy; the hearers will not hang on to sound doctrine.
but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
(4) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Let’s look at a couple things from this passage.
? itching ears – Christians who want preaching and teaching that are pleasant to the ears. They don’t want to hear anything that challenges how they are living and what they believe.
As I thought about this, I believe that part of the reason so many in the Church have itching ears is because they have been conditioned to have itching ears. They have been conditioned to believe that certain things are right because they don't hear anything else. So not only did they do some of them come in with that predisposition, but then some are taught that this disposition.
? shall turn away their ears – A purposeful act.
? fables – The Greek word means, now listen to me, “something concocted with falsehoods.”
I said, “Lord, have mercy.” Let me give you an example. Grace covers all your sins, past, present and future. That is a doctrine concocted with falsehoods with that itching ears like to hear.
Can you imagine when they stand before God and they have lived the life that they have wanted to live that’s not in agreement with God and His word and they find out they were wrong? There will be, what the Bible calls “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
General William Booth
A man who lived more than 100 years ago warned the Church about what we are seeing today. You’ve probably heard of General William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army. Before it was known as the Salvation Army, the organization was called the Christian Revival Society. Booth was a preacher who had a strong desire to see revival come in his generation.
God gave him a prophetic dream that would be a clear and sober warning to the Church. Before his death in 1912, Booth was asked what he saw as the greatest dangers in the next 100 years. He mentioned six things.
? Politics without God
? Heaven without hell
? Salvation without repentance
? Salvation without regeneration
? Religion without the Holy Spirit
? Christianity without Christ.
As I read through the list, we are living that right now. I want to look at a couple of these. Tonight, we’re going to look at salvation without repentance and Christianity without Christ.
Salvation without repentance – Forgiveness from sin without repentance from sin is one of the most popular messages making its way through the Church today. I think Paul and Jesus would have something to say about that. Turn to Galatians chapter one.
(6) I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
The word “another” is HETEROS in the Greek and means “another of a different kind.” We could substitute the word “altered” and be faithful to the text. And this is what’s happening in the Church today.
(7) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
How do you pervert the gospel of Christ? You do when you teach something that it does not say. Grace covering your sins, past, present and future. That's an altered gospel.
(8) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
The word “accursed” means “to miss heaven and go to hell.” It’s the Greek word ANATHEMA. So, the ministers and preachers teaching an altered gospel – there eternal salvation is at stake. And, not only that, they are teaching people who will believe what they are being taught.
(9) As we said before, (Paul is repeating himself.) so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
There are so many who stand in the pulpit and do not understand the gravity of the position that they hold. God holds us, holds Barry and anyone else who stands in this pulpit, responsible for what they teach. We will have to answer to God for the things that we teach.
(10) For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
If we are teaching things people like and want to hear, you can mark it down, we are not being the servant of God. Paul says in Second Timothy chapter 4 verse 3 preach the word, be instant in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke and edify. People will not like you when you are rebuking them. They will not like you when you are reproving them. But who do you serve? Who do you serve? And this question is not just for people like me. It’s for all of us. Who do we serve?
(11) But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
(12) For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Matthew chapter four verse 17. Jesus has just come from the wilderness after being tempted by Satan. Look at the first thing He says. “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say – (what’s the next word? Say it with me.) Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Act 2:37-38 – Peter has just delivered his first message. Let’s pick it up with verse 37.
(37) Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
(38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Repent. Salvation without repentance is a one way ticket to hell and the lake of fire. You can quote me. May 21st 2025. 5:59 PM. Barry said that. Second Peter chapter 2
2 Peter 3:8 – But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
(9) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, (Why is He longsuffering?) not willing that any should perish (He doesn’t want anyone to miss heaven.), but that all should come to repentance.
One more. First John chapter one.
(8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
(9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
I want you to see what the verse is saying. The dirt of unrighteousness is on us if we do not confess our sins, if we don’t repent. Because we are not clean, we are unrighteous.
Now, think about this as we read Romans 1:18. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.”
The wrath of God is against who – say it with me – all those who are unrighteous. When we don’t repent, we are filthy with unrighteousness.
Christianity without Christ – General booth foresaw the rise of a form of pseudo-Christians. Christians in name only.
2 Peter 2:1 – But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction (or damnation).
This is a warning. Peter says there were false prophets among the people and there will be false teachers among you.
God has a standard and that standard is the Bible. It tells us how to live the life of a Christian from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. Remember, all scripture is given by the inspiration of God. God Himself spoke it.
One of the most damnable messages being taught today is “Jesus accepts you as you are.” That is true, but it’s only the beginning. You cannot have Jesus and still live the way you did before you accepted Him. You have to change! There is no if ands or buts. There's no negotiation. You have to change.
For me, this is why the church is so powerless today. We preach messages that stir the emotions, that make people feel good, but they provide no spiritual nourishment or conviction for sinful behavior. And that last one is the one that bothers me more than anything
I know a preacher who has said publicly that living with someone and you're not married is not a sin, if you plan to marry the person. That is pseudo Christianity, ladies and gentlemen, because they're living in sin and if they were to drop over dead right now there will be a question mark over their heads as to whether they go to heaven or to hell. These messages don’t feed the spirit, and they don’t lead to people looking and behaving more and more like Jesus.
The Church, ladies and gentlemen, has also been deceived into thinking that Christianity is a religion that can coexist with other religions. I'm going to say that again. There are folks in the Church who believe that Christianity can coexist with other religions. Sounds good but it is a damnable heresy.
Unless you are willing to reprove and rebuke those who are not willing to see that Jesus is the only way to God, then that's going to be a problem. Turn to Isaiah chapter 42. When I read these, I smile because I don't know if you all realize this, but God is not vague on what He believes and we are about to see what He believes.
Isaiah 42:8 – I am the LORD: that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images.
God has said that I am the Lord that is my name. I don't share my glory with anybody. So, if you're not willing to stand 10 toes down and say God does not share his glory with anybody ,then you have a problem – with him.
Isaiah 43:10 – Ye are My witnesses, saith the LORD, and My servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He: before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me.
Drop the mic!
(11) I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
Isaiah 45:5 – I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside Me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known Me:
(6) That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside Me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
(18) For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited. (And what does He say once again?) I am the LORD; and there is none else.
(21) Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside Me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside Me.
(22) Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
Isaiah 46:9 – Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me,
Ladies and gentlemen, all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God. All scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. God says there is no other God like me, there was no God before me, and there's not going to be any God after me. What I have said in My word is what I mean so you stand 10 toes down on My word because when you stand 10 toes down on my word, I'm going to back it up. I'm going to back you up.
So many in the Church are willing to compromise because of what is happening now. They are living in the now rather than living for eternity. I'm living for eternity. I can't speak for the rest of you, but I am living for eternity.
John 14:5 – Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
(6) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
I am the way. The way that it is structured in the Greek, Jesus is saying there is no other way other than me. That's the first thing Jesus said.
I am the truth. The way it structured in the Greek, Jesus is saying there is no other truth other than me.
And then this last one, ladies and gentlemen.
I am the life. I am the life. Jesus says, I am the truth, I am the way and there is no other way to God but through me. There is no other truth about my father than what you see in me. And then He says, I am the life. If you want to live in eternity with God, here I am. You must go through me.
Are you willing to stand 10 toes down on that? No man comes to the Father, no woman comes to the Father, no child comes to the Father but through Jesus. Are you willing to stand 10 toes down on that?
If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are not going to heaven. And if you think people serving other religions may go to heaven, then you have not read your Bible and, if you have read it, you don’t believe what it says.”
After all of this, let’s look at Merriam-Webster’s definition of compromise.
? A settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions
? A concession to something derogatory or prejudicial
? For our purposes: “a compromise of scripture,” “a compromise of what the Bible teaches”
Are we not seeing this play out in the Church today? Is this not what Booth prophesied about the Church before 1912? Absolutely. When it comes to compromise in the Church, what is the real issue? What is the issue in a nutshell?
.
John 14:15 – If ye love Me, keep My commandments.
That is the issue. This is why the Church compromises. That’s the issue in a nutshell..
(21) He that hath y commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.
(23) Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me (And how do we love Him, ladies and gentlemen? He tells us.), he will keep My words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Jesus tells us to keep His commandments. It's not hard. It's not difficult. It's not something that we have to meditate on. It's not something we have to get in our prayer closet and pray until we get the revelation. No. Jesus says if you love Me, you are going to do one simple thing; You are going to obey me. 10 toes down! Are you willing to obey Him when the world is telling you it's not worth it?
Mark 12:30 – And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
What do we see in these verses? The issue facing the Church today – we really don’t love Jesus like we say we do. Let me show you one more. In Revelation 2, Jesus describes what He sees in the church at Ephesus, which is just as applicable to us today.
Revelation 2:1 – Unto the angel (talking about the pastor) of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
(2) I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
(3) And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
This sounds like a church that’s following the Lord, doesn’t it? It appears that they are doing everything right, doesn’t it? Ladies and gentlemen, we’re going to see very quickly that serving God is not an activity. Serving God is not about what you do. Serving God is a “heart” issue.
(4) Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
After saying everything He did about the believers in the first three verses, Jesus tells them what He really sees. He sees people who are doing the works – doing what’s expected of them but are not doing it from a place of love. A person can do all the things that make them appear to love Jesus when they don’t.
And why don’t they love Jesus? Because they are not doing what He tells them to do. All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man and the woman of God may be throughly perfected unto all good works.
The issue that we have to really address in the Church is do we really believe this and do we believe what this book says? That is the question ladies and gentlemen because if you don't believe what the book says you are going to compromise.
Do you see the words left and first in the verse? The word left means the person has heard the truth and still decides to walk away from it. The word first means “something or someone in which nothing is more important.”
What is John telling us in verse 4? At one time the people truly loved Jesus. He was number one in their lives. Yes, they loved their spouses and their children, but when Jesus called, they answered.
Remember how John 14 describes loving Jesus? We love Him by doing His commandments – by obeying what we read in the Bible. With this one statement, I have identified 80 to 90% of the Church as not truly loving Jesus.
A couple of examples.
Christians not having a problem with same-sex unions. God has problem with it and notice I don't use the word marriage. There is no same sex marriage. That's an abomination, ladies and gentlemen. It's a civil union.
Many in the churches don’t see a problem with taking there children to story hours hosted by drag queens.
John tells us exactly what we need to do in this situation in verse 5.
(5) Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
The word “repent” is repeated in this verse. Do you think repentance is important?
So, if keeping the commandments demonstrate how much we love Jesus, then what should be our view of what the Bible says?
2 Timothy 3:16 – 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 perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Turn to Second Peter chapter one and look at verse 20. What are the first three words? Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
You don't get to decide what the Bible means. You don't get to decide whether or not you like a particular verse. You don't get to decide whether or not God was iffy on something.
It says no prophecy no nothing in this book is of any private interpretation.
(21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Psalm 119:126 – It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.
(127) Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.
Then verse 128. If you have a marker, circle it. If you have a highlighter, highlight it. Or put a star next to the verse.
(128) Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.
Whatever you say God is right. I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right and I hate every false way. I hate every way that does not agree with your precepts.
Jesus says in John chapter 6 verse 63 the words that I speak are spirit and they are life. The words that I speak are spirit, and they are Life. Think about this. Every single word that we read in the Bible contains life! Life! Can you imagine how much of God’s life would be magnified in our lives if we simply read the Bible and believed what we read?
We have to be people who are unwilling to compromise when it comes to the word of God. Compromise, when it comes to the Bible, cannot even be in our vocabulary. We are going to stand 10 toes down when it comes to the word of God. 10 toes down. No exceptions. No exceptions.
And I'm telling you right now, ladies and gentlemen, when you do that, you are going to catch some heat because you will have brothers and sisters in the Church who are not standing 10 toes down with you. They're going to disagree with you, but that's okay. You answer to God. They answered to God. So I encourage you to always, always, always esteem what God says as being right, regardless of what anyone else says. Amen.
