Troubled Times

Troubled Times

2 Timothy 3:10-17

Introduction-

Turn to 2 Timothy 3:10-3:17.

This morning we are going to look at the seasoned Apostle Paul warning to a young believer name Timothy.

Paul is trying to encourage him to stay strong in the faith and also challenged him to make a difference.

Before we read the text and his words to Timothy, let’s look at how Paul describes the culture and what was ahead for Timothy.

2 Timothy 3:1-7 (This text does not have to go unto screen)

Does this sound familiar?

Does this sound like it could be today?

Every generation thinks that the new generation is worst than they were.

Your parents think that we were worse, and our grandparents think that the next two generations are getting worse.

Note his tone as he lets Timothy know what he is up against. “Mark this down” “Take note.” There will be terrible times in the last days. Not maybe, there will be…. This is why.

“lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient, ungrateful, unholy and it just keeps escalating downward- treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

Get this! “Having a form of godliness but denying its power.”

Have nothing to do with them. Wow! That doesn’t seem too Christian.

Have nothing to do with them? Is the apostle Paul really saying that? Yes! Yes he is! If you take it in the right context of how he said it.

This world is heading in the wrong direction.

This world is rebelling against God. It is having a form of godliness.

Have nothing to do with that!

He is charging Timothy and he is charging the church- have nothing to do with that. Be holy, be who God wants us to be.

Here is how the world lives- Here’s how you should be living! (comparison)

Text- 2 Timothy 3:10-3:17

You have heard the expression

Cheer up! Things could be worse, so I cheered up and sure enough, things got worse.

That was the message of Paul to Timothy.

Paul was deeply concerned about what he was seeing as a trend and he did not like it and he was challenging Timothy to not be like the culture.

Some want to look at these last days and say “anything between Christ first coming and His return are considered last days.” True.

Some want to think last days as moments before Christ returns this is how society will be. True.

Hard times and hard days are coming.

If we are not ready, Christ will return as a thief in the night.

Christ could return at any time!

The Greek word translated “terrible” from verse one means it will be fierce, dangerous, frightening.

One preacher describes it as savage times as men cast off all moral restrains and society begins to disintegrate.

Buckle up Timothy- times are going to get rough!

Church, buckle up because things are changing!

Pay attention

Mark this down

Understand this and get this!

Don’t be surprised when this happens.

This is what happens when a nation turns it back on God! We have seen the nation of Israel do it repeatedly.

Reject God- get unruly, ungrateful, create idols.

Lovers of pleasure- moral collapse! All that once was good is now abandoned. All that once was rejected is now embraced.

Society breaks down.

“Every man does what is right in his own eyes.”

Woe to the person or god that would tell us different.

Unfortunately that is not where the religious rebels stop.

Watch out for those that have an appearance of godliness

Watch out for moral breakdowns

Watch out for postmodern religion that takes you away from God’s fundamental truth.

Watch out for religious organizations going through the motions that will be appealing to some because they have endorsed something that does not line up with God’s Word. That will not please everyone.

Be careful Timothy! Be careful Church!

There will be false teachers.

In an attempt to be politically correct, some are theologically wrong! (repeat)

We embrace and work with many churches and denominations. We do not think that we are the only ones that speak the truth. There are some however, that we cannot embrace because they are wrong Biblically.

Okay, we get it, we live in a society far from God. We have many who have turned their back on God. But there are many people, many churches that hold to God’s truths and we can take some encouragement and guidance from the challenge Paul gives Timothy and us today.

I. Follow Godly leaders

Identify the times, but don’t let culture change you, you change the culture.

This may be the way others are acting, but you know my ways, my purpose, my faith, and you have seen me persecuted for what I believe.