Producers Of A Hostile Environment-7 Series

PRODUCERS of a HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT-VII—2Timothy 3:1-9

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

Why will hostility/antagonism characterize the last days?

23 producers of a(n) hostile(antagonistic) environment.

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

‘....it is hard to keep our integrity in the midst of general corruption.’—Matthew Henry(1721)

A(n) hostile(antagonistic) environment is produced by,

a distortion of….

1. Self(:2a)

2. Wealth(:2b)

3. ACHIEVEMENT/Ability(:2c)

4. VIEW/Pride(:2d)

5. Reverence(:2e)

6. Authority/Respect(:2f)

7. Position/Grace(:2g)

8. SEPARATION(:2h)

9. AFFECTION(:3a)

10. RECONCILIATION(:3b)

11. ACCLAIM(:3c)

12. CONTROL(:3d)

13. DIGNITY(:3e)

14. Goodness(:3f)

15. Loyalty(:4a)

16. CIRCUMSPECTION / Uprightness(:4b)

17. SUPERIORITY/Humility(:4c)

18. LOVE(:4d)

19. GODLINESS(:5a)

20—A hostile(antagonistic) environment is determined by…

A Distortion of JUSTICE / Reason(:5b)

Explanation:(:5b)

:5b—“having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”

‘Justice’—The quality of being fair & reasonable.

“Turn away”—apotrepw—To turn one’s self away from; To shun, avoid.

If the church allows people in leadership positions who appear godly, yet actually/really deny God’s power personally, then that church cannot be an agent of redemption in the world.

Argumentation:

Mat. 18:15-18—““Moreover if your brother sins against you, go & tell him his fault between you & him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. “But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ “And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen & a tax collector. “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, & whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

1Cor. 6:1-8—“Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, & not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, & that before unbelievers! Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong & cheat, & you do these things to your brethren!”

Rev. 18:4—“And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her[Babylon], my people, lest you share in her sins, & lest you receive of her plagues.”

2Cor. 6:16-17—“And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.””

*Rom. 16:17—“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions & offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, & avoid them.”

Mat. 7:15-20—“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

*1Cor. 5:9-13—“I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous & swindlers, or with idolaters; for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he should be an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.”