U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
Camp Walker
Taegu South Korea
BIG IDEA: TEACH how ignorance of God’s Word can CAUSE ONE TO BE TURNED OVER TO SATAN for a LESSON OR TWO.
REFERENCES:
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Proverbs 16:4 (The Lord has made all things for himself; even the wicked for the day of evil); Ephesians 6:12 (we wrestle not against flesh and blood ...); Acts 16 (The church at Lystra along with Paul and Timothy); 1 Timothy 1:20; 2 Timothy 2:17 (References regarding Hu-men-naeus: Hymeneus); 1 Timothy 1:18-20 MSG; Acts 5 (Ananias and Sapphira); 1 Corinthians 5:2,5,13 (As a result of ungodly acts, some were handed over to satan); Leviticus 24:10-17 (Cursing God or blaspheming was punishable by death ... regardless of him being a foreigner or native); Mark 3:28-31 (Jesus addresses the religion scholars who accused him of using “Black Magic” and working with the devil to heal people ...)
BLASPHEME: blaspheme 17, speak evil of 10, rail on 2, blasphemer 1, speak blasphemy 1, blasphemously 1, miscellaneous 3; Mark 3:28-31: ("Listen to this carefully. I’m warning you. There’s nothing done or said that can’t be forgiven. But if you persist in your slanders against God’s Holy Spirit, you are repudiating the very One who forgives, sawing off the branch on which you’re sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the One who forgives”).
II. READ THE PERICOPE: 1 Timothy 1:18-20 (MSG)
III. READ THE TEXT: 1 Timothy 1:18-20 MSG ( I’m passing this work on to you, my son Timothy. The prophetic word that was directed to you prepared us for this. All those prayers are coming together now so you will do this well, fearless in your struggle, keeping a firm grip on your faith and on yourself. After all, this is a fight we’re in. There are some, you know, who by relaxing their grip and thinking anything goes have made a thorough mess of their faith. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two of them. I let them wander off to Satan to be taught a lesson or two about not blaspheming).
IV. PURPOSE: TEACH how ignorance of God’s Word can CAUSE ONE TO BE TURNED OVER TO SATAN for a LESSON OR TWO.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “A Lesson or Two About NOT Blaspheming”
INTRODUCTION: I can’t speak for other pastors ... but God has truly bless the Multicultural Gospel Service with an array of talented young people of all ages. As a parent of three boys (15, 13 and 7 years of age) I believe I’m speaking on behalf of all parents when I say that we have before us many reasons why we should be extremely grateful to God, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Speaking of how bless we are to have children, in my reading, I came across the following children story by Joseph Plata:
MOVE: Three men waiting in the room for expectant fathers waited for word on the arrival of their infants. Some while later a nurse comes in and announces to one of the men that his wife had just given birth to twins.
’that’s amazing he said - I play for the Minnesota Twins’! About twenty minutes later another nurse comes in and announces to the second gentleman that his wife had given birth to triplets. ’WOW’ - he stated,’I work for the 3M company’!
Upon hearing that the third man fell off his chair and fainted - after those who were present were able to revive him,they all inquired as to why he had fainted. He said ’ I work for the 7-UP company !...
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MOVE 2: Children are indeed a blessing, but the announcement of their birth doesn’t always CATCH US on our feet. Still, if we’re open to it, we can learn a lot from our children.
a. But, we should TEACH THEM a lot TOO.
b. For instance, last week, I was approached by my oldest son, Kenny, regarding the Biblical Understanding of Blaspheming.
c. He asked if Blaspheming was an unforgettable sin?
In other words, Is Blaspheming a Sin that God will Not forgive?
d. Well the answer is YES and NO.
e. Yes ... blaspheming is unpardonable IF IT’S DONE INTENTIONALLY.
f. However, there is evidence in the SCRIPTURE that BLASPHEMING IS FORGIVEABLE IF IT’S done unintentionally or out of IGNORANCE.
g. You just didn’t know any better.
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MOVE 3: For who can ever forget the Multicultural Story of The Son of the Israelite Woman and The Egyptian Man.
a. For don’t you remember in Leviticus 24:10-16, there’s an incident where the son of an Israelite Mother and Egyptian Father ...
b. were amongst the Israelite when a FIGHT broke out which resulted in the BOY cursing GOD...
c. The boy was taken into custody ... until Moses received a word from God.
d. Afterwards, Moses was instructed by God to take the boy outside the CAMP and have everyone that heard him blaspheme, against God, to place their hands on his head.
e. Then have the entire congregation to STONE THE BOY TO DEATH.
f. IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO GOD ... IF YOU’RE A FOREIGNER OR A NATIVE IF ...IF YOUR FATHER OR MOTHER IS A BISHOP OR AN APOSTLE ...
g. IF YOU INTENTIONALLY BLASPHEME AGAINST GOD... YOU WILL NOT BE FORGIVEN.
*********************TAKE 5 BEATS******************
MOVE 4: LIKEWISE, I’M REMINDED OF THE STORY OF ANNANIAS and SAPPHIRA ...
a. the beloved couple who decided together to deliberately lie to Holy Spirit in Acts – Chapter 5.
b. For don’t you remember (Tell the Story) ...
c. Now, in our text, this afternoon we find Paul writing to his Son in the Ministry: Timothy.
d. You may recall that Timothy was saved early on in Paul’s Ministry when he was nearly 16 years of age (when Paul on preaching in Timothy’s hometown of Lystra).
e. Now, after having set under Paul and having received many biblical instructions from him, he recieves his first letter from Paul instructing him to HOLD FAST TO HIS FAITH.
d. AND Paul reminds him of the structure of the Church of Jesus Christ and its character, nature, and function in the world.
e. And in verse 13, PAUL says ... he was grateful to Christ for making him adequate to do ministry.
f. He went on to say that Christ went out on a limb ... trusting him with the Work of Ministry.
g. Because the only credential that he brought to the table of brotherhood was violent verbal attacks, witch hunts (cruel treatments of persons once regarded as being witches), and Arrogance.
h. Still, he treated me (Paul) MERCIFULLY because I didn’t know what I was doing; and who I was doing it against! GRACE MIXED WITH FAITH and LOVE poured out into me ... and it made the difference in my life.
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MOVE 5: Likewise, Hymenaeus (Hu-man-naeus) and Alexander are two Blasphemers against God that PAUL allowed to wander off to Satan ....
a. ... to be taught a lesson or two about NOT BLASPHEMING.
b. In other Words, God is allowing SATAN to teach these arrogant backsliders a lesson or two about NOT Blaspheming.
c. The Bible says (in Proverbs 16:4) that God has created all things for himself ... even the wicked for the day of evil.
d. God has many resources at his disposal. He’s not limited.
e. If you’re in here today, and you’re aware that the Devil has been using you to cause problems for OTHER BELIEVERS ...
d. Please be aware that you’re not fighting against FLESH and Blood ... but you’re fighting against God himself ...
e. Because God stands on behalf of the believers who have their confidence in him...
******************TAKE 5 BEATS ******************
CELEBRATION: It’s time to repent of your ignorance ... and intentionally worship the Lord.
