A. PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME.
1. “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” (II Tim. 3:1-3).
“The day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall” (Isa. 30:25).
2. Perilous means hard times or grievous times.
a. Harder than before.
b. Harder than ever.
3. Self-indulgent. “Lovers of their own selves.”
4. Love of money. “Covetous.”
5. Brag they don’t know God. “Boasters, proud, blasphemers.”
6. Lawlessness. “Disobedient to parents.”
7. No character. “Unthankful.” Gratitude is the least remembered of all virtues, and the acid test of character.
8. Consider nothing sacred. “Unholy.”
9. No love. “Without natural affection.”
10. Word means nothing. “Trucebreakers.”
11. Lie about people. “False accusers.”
12. No self-control. “Incontinent.”
13. Brutal on people. “Fierce.”
14. Hate good people. “Despisers of those that are good.”
15. Reckless about everything. “Traitors, heady, high-minded.”
16. Religious show. “Form of godliness.”
17. Reject God’s way. “Deny the power.”
B. WHAT TO DO IN PERILOUS TIMES.
1. Separation. From such turn aside.
2. Follow godly example. “Know my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, etc.” (v. 10).
3. Prepare for persecution. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (v. 12).
4. Continue in word. “Continue thou in things thou has learned . . . the Holy scriptures” (vs. 14-15).
C. HOW CAN WE HAVE PEACE? II SAMUEL 6:3 – 7:1.
“And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, that the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies” (II Sam. 7:1).
1. Peace and security. When God’s presence (the Ark) was brought to Jerusalem.
2. Wrong way. How did they try to bring God/Ark to Jerusalem?
a. Easy. “New cart” (6:3).
b. Happy-clappy. “All manner of instruments” (6:5).
c. Human effort. “Uzzah put forth his hand . . . he died” (6:6).
3. Fear the Lord. “David was afraid” (6:9). He was not afraid of his enemies, he was afraid of God.
4. God’s presence blesses. “The Lord hath blessed the hour of Obed-edom . . . because of the Ark of God” (6:12).
5. Our question today. “How shall the Ark (God’s presence) come to me?” (6:9).
D. WHAT THEY DID TO GET PEACE.
“And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, that the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies” (II Sam. 7:1).
1. Cover you sins. “He sacrificed” (6:13).
2. Worship. “With shouting and with the sound of the trumpet” (6:15).
3. Make God central. “Brought the Ark into this place” (6:17).
4. Add value. “He (David) blessed the people in the name of the Lord” (6:18).
5. Watch out for critics. “Michael . . . said in disgust” (6:20).
6. Seek God anyway. “Therefore I will worship before the Lord” (6:26, ELT).
7. The presence of the Lord gives peace. What is our source of peace? “The Lord had given him rest” (7:1).
8. Our home. Where will we enjoy peace? “The King sat in his house” (7:1)
9. Our enemies. What takes away our peace? “Rest round about from all his enemies” (7:1).
10. There is peace around godly people. Who else will have peace? “Rest round about.”
11. In God’s presence. Where does peace begin? “In his (David’s) house” (7:1). In his (God’s) place.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at eltowns@liberty.eduand tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.
