Producers Of A Hostile Environment-2 Series

PRODUCERS OF A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT-II—2Timothy 3:1-9

Need:

We live in a country of great corporate & personal wealth.

Why do people/things seem to be getting worse with times? Why is the world getting worse/colder/violent? I’m gonna fix this.

Self-protection/Isolation/Anonymity/Introversion/Antisocial/Aloof/Perversions/Indulgence/Alignments/Identification/Worldliness/Self-help

A Distortion of relationships at all & various levels

Isolated/Alone/Separated/Useless/Powerless/Fearful/Inept/Depressed/Devil-may-care

The last days will be characterized by a hostile(antagonistic) environment.

The Apostle Paul, revealed to Timothy that a hostile(antagonistic) environment will characterize the last days.

A hostile(antagonistic) environment will characterize the last days.

Why will hostility/antagonism characterize the last days?

22 producers of a hostile(antagonistic) environment.

“Perilous/Difficult”—calepov—Hard to do, to take, to approach; Hard to bear, troublesome, dangerous.

A hostile(antagonistic) environment is produced by,

a distortion of….

1. Self(:2a)

2. Wealth(:2b)

3. ACHIEVEMENT/Ability(:2c)

4—A hostile environment is produced by…

A Distortion of VIEW/Pride(:2d)

Explanation:(:2d)

:2—“For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”

“Proud/Arrogant”—uperhfanov—Showing one’s self above others; An overweening estimate of one’s means or merits, Despising others or even treating them with contempt, haughty. From—uper—Over, beyond, more & —fainw—To bring forth into the light, cause to shine, shed light; Shine.—‘Shine above/beyond’

*‘One who thinks too highly of himself, describing a trait which is simply internal, not referring primarily to external manifestation, although this is implied. It means one who is proud, the external manifestation when it appears being in the form of arrogance in dealing with others.’

Source of “Boasters” is an internal Pride.

Always stacking the odds in your favor. Tear people down so you will look good.

Argumentation:

Ps. 101:5—“Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, Him I will destroy; The one who has a haughty look & a proud heart, Him I will not endure.”

Prov. 21:24—“A proud & haughty man-- “Scoffer” is his name; He acts with arrogant pride.”

Prov. 8:13—“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride & arrogance & the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.”

Prov. 16:18—“Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Prov. 29:23—“A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.”

1Jn. 2:15-16—“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, & the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.”

Illustration:

Couple invited to dinner/?Dress code—just dress comfortably/Arrive in jeans, t-shirt & flip flops/Hostess glares at you & she says, ‘I can’t believe you wore that!’/Distortion of VIEW/Pride

*Uniform can give people altered of reality/Dictators/Military uniforms/Seem more important than they are/Distortion of VIEW/Pride

On a pedestal/Ivory tower

When your identity becomes —Your Education-Degrees/Reputation/Ownership(#s & worth)-Homes, Businesses-Cars/#s-$, Spending, Income, Baptisms-Converts-Years served-Congregation size-Staff members

Application:

?You guilty of Distorting VIEW/Pride?

?Are you a contributor to a Hostile Environment?

5—A(n) hostile(antagonistic) environment is produced by…

A Distortion of REVERENCE(:2e)

Explanation:(:2e)

:2—“For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”

“Blasphemers/Revilers/Abusive”—blasfhmov—Speaking evil, slanderous, reproachful, railing, abusive, Impious against God.

—Defiant irreverence—intentionally & openly speaking evil of, defaming or mocking God ‘s economy.

—Critical hateful resistance to God & His work.

Blasphemy is—After having seen all the evidence necessary to complete one’s understanding of saving faith...A determined unbelief, which refuses the deity of Jesus & thus the Holy Spirit who indwelt Him.

‘To question God’s goodness, wisdom, fairness, truthfulness, love, or faithfulness is a form of blasphemy.’—MacArthur

Argumentation:

Isa. 5:20—“Woe to those who call evil good, & good evil; Who put darkness for light, & light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, & sweet for bitter!”

The unforgivable sin—Blasphemy of the Spirit

Mat. 12:22-24, 30-32—“Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind & mute; & He healed him, so that the blind & mute man both spoke & saw. And all the multitudes were amazed & said, “Could this be the Son of David?” Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.””.....“He who is not with Me is against Me, & he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. “Therefore I say to you, every sin & blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.”

1Tim. 1:12-15—“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, & an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith & love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying & worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”