Defending the faith…  (4 points)

• 1^st – Departing from the FAITH… vs. 1
  • Paul now moves on to the third of four topics…
    • He has given Timothy three lessons – Teach the Word / Grace / Prayer…
    • He has defined three roles – Women / Pastors / Deacons…
    • He now spends all of chapter 4 – talking about DEFENDING the FAITH!
    • Why will Timothy have to DEFEND the FAITH – because of what the Spirit says!
  • 1^st – The Holy Spirit says EXPRESSLY…
    • Says (present / indicative) EXPRESSLY – only here NT – also translated CLEARLY…
      • The Spirit is always clearly WARNING us that in the LATER TIMES…
      • LATER – only here NT – also translated LAST TIMES – we might say LAST DAYS!
    • The term LAST DAYS is often misunderstood – we tend to think of Revelation 6-18…
      • The LAST DAYS began when the Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost – Acts 2
      • And will continue right up to the rapture of the church – I Thessalonians 4:16
      • In-between these two events – are the LAST DAYS – where we are TODAY!
      • The Spirit is WARNING us about the days we are living in!
      • In basketball – the first three quarters do not matter as much – as the fourth quarter…
      • The team will play its hardest – because they know the final bell is moments away!
      • We are living in the LAST DAYS – the trumpet of God – RAPTURE – is only moments away…
      • Satan knows his time here is coming to an end – so he is trying his hardest…
      • His only purpose is to try and steal people away from God – destroy their faith!
  • 2^nd – SHALL DEPART from THE FAITH…
    • SHALL DEPART (future / middle) – 15x in NT – can also be translated as FALLING AWAY…
      • The tense suggests there is both a CHOICE / and a RESULT causing the FALLING AWAY…
      • In other words – people will do something – that CAUSES them to FALL AWAY!
      • Luke 8:13 – “The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation FALL AWAY.”
      • The Gospel is not a message of an easy life – it is about ETERNAL LIFE!
      • If our eyes are only on this life – we will not understand the TRIALS we go through!
    • We need help learning not to trust in ourselves – II Corinthians 1:8-10
      • When hard times come – our first reaction is to look to depend on us…
      • God can turn up the heat – till we can no longer handle our problems…
      • So that we would learn not to trust in ourselves – but instead trust in God!
    • Because we find Strength in Weakness – II Corinthians 12:9-10
      • We pride ourselves in our strength – what is our strength in comparison to God’s…
      • In truth we are weak – but it is in our weakness we find true strength…
      • When we realize we are weak we learn to depend on God’s strength!
    • When understanding the reason for TRIALS – we have deep roots…
      • Like a tree that has grown on the weathered windward side of the hill…
      • We become unmovable / unshakable / grounded and rooted in Christ!
      • Colossians 2:7 – “Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.” (NLT)
    • What happens if we do not have roots that sink deep into Jesus…
      • We FALL AWAY – stop coming to church / stop reading the Bible / give up on Jesus…
      • Because our focus in NOT on the eternal – and we do not understand our TRIALS!
      • We doubt and distrust Jesus – the one who gave His life that we might have hope…
      • I tried Jesus and it did not work – we end up FALLING AWAY from THE FAITH!
      • I John 2:19 – “These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.”

• 2^nd – How they FALL AWAY… vs. 1-2 (3 points)
  • 1^st – Deceiving Spirits… vs. 1
    • Deceiving – planos – where we get the word planet – we would say WORDLY spirits…
    • We have to be so careful WHAT influences we allow into our lives…
    • If we are constantly pumping social media / Hollywood / advertising into our heads…
    • Is it no wonder that we are being deceived by this world!
    • Instead of being filled with the wisdom of the world – we need to be filled with the Word!
    • II John 1:7 – “For many deceivers [same word] have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ…”
  • 2^nd – DOCTRINES of demons… vs. 1
    • This may refer to dabbling in the occult…
      • Horoscopes / faith healers / superstitions / palm reading / witchcraft…
      • It is playing with the demonic – opens you up to the powers of darkness…
      • They put our trust in spirits – circumstances – rather than in God…
      • As if the sun / moon / stars / native eggs / black cats / or lines on your hand…
      • Are somehow more powerful than the God who created them all!
    • This may also refer to false religions…
      • There is only ONE true DOCTRINE – THE FAITH – the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ…
      • If we reject THE FAITH – satan is more than willing to fill it in with something else!
      • That is why there are so many cults – false religions – Islam / Hinduism / Buddhism…
      • All the top universities teaching there is no God – we are evolved from moneys…
      • Or people burdened down by superstitions – all inspired by satan!
    • The DOCTINRES of demons have one purpose – keep men from heaven!
      • Because the devil is a murder – he seeks only to kill and destroy – John 10:10
      • Satan will do anything to get us to doubt Jesus – to doubt the Word…
      • Satan subtly tries to get us to look elsewhere for answers…
      • He tries to keep us from church from the Bible – from listening to the Word!
      • We need the discernment of God – to know what is truly from God!
      • Because the reality is satan has only one desire – to deceive / kill and destroy us!
      • I John 4:1 – “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits…”
  • 3^rd – Lies and hypocrisy… vs. 2
    • LIES – pseudologos – only here NT meaning the FAKE WORD – or LYING WORD…
      • When someone rejects THE FAITH – it leaves them open to OTHER ideas…
      • Many people today run to the wrong counsel for help – like PSYCHOLOGY…
      • On the surface – there can even appear to be some WISDOM in PSYCHOLOGY…
      • But at its core it denies that God is the solution – or even that He exists!
      • And will even try to discredit the sufficiency of God to overcome problems!
    • The result of listening to LIES…

• HYPOCRISY – 7x in the NT – speaking of an actor…
• The word HYPOCRISY comes from the Greek stage – those who wore masks…
• We should not be surprised if we listen to lies – we will not get good results…
• A psychologist might say they have all the answers – but they are hypocrites…
• Good to ask – before we ask them to try and solve our problems – how is your life…
• Why would we think another struggling sinner – is going to have answers for our life!
• And if we listen to them – we will become just like them – HYPOCRITES!
• Conscience SEARED with a hot iron…
  • SEARED with a hot iron – kaustēriazō – only here NT we would say cauterized…
  • They no longer feel the conviction of sin – they become hardened to God!
  • When someone first picks up a hammer or shovel – they get blisters…
  • But eventually with lots of use – their hands grow calluses and became tough!
  • When we first commit a sin – we bleed with CONVICTION from the Holy Spirit…
  • But if we continue to sin – we can create a callous on our hearts – feel nothing…
  • Sin is devastating – if we refuse to repent of our sin – it will harden our hearts…
  • There is no right – there is no wrong / there is no consequence for sin!
  • SEARED with a hot iron – we end up rejecting God – because we prefer to live on in our sin!

• 3^rd – What they are TAUGHT… vs. 3-5 (3 points)
  • 1^st – Forbidding MARRIAGE… vs. 3
    • While there is an advantage to being single…
      • I Corinthians 7:32-33 – “He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord–how he may please the Lord.  But he who is married cares about the things of the world–how he may please his wife.”
      • When we are married much of our time and energy goes to our family…
      • When single we are freed up in our time and resources to serve the Lord…
      • So if you can be single – then it is better to be single and wholly serve the Lord!
    • There is also an advantage to being MARRIED…
      • Marriage provides us with friendship – someone to serve along with us…
      • God knew that we do not do well on our own – we need help…
      • Having someone who will encourage us – stand beside us – in Jesus is priceless…
      • We all have bad days – we get overwhelmed – we make mistakes in life…
      • It is good to have someone there – to pray for us – and point back to Jesus!
      • Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 – “Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one…  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.”
    • Forbidding others to get MARRIED – is a FALSE TEACHING!
      • The idea is that somehow singleness is more HOLY than being married…
      • As if by ignoring the desire for marriage – you are more spiritual…
      • This is a false teaching – and has come to cause a LOT of problems in the church!
      • The doctrine that priest must be single – has led to huge scandals…
      • There are allegations of thousands of cases of sexual abuse of young boys…
      • The Catholic church has had to pay billions of Pesos in court fees / fines…
      • All because of a False teaching – that men are more spiritual if they are single!
      • Most people are called to be married – only a few are able to stay single…
      • If someone is not called to be single – then they should GET MARRIED…
      • A church leader is no exception – in fact Pastors should have a wife – I Timothy 3:3
      • I Corinthians 7:9 – “It is better to marry than to burn with lust.”
  • 2^nd – Forbidding certain FOODS… vs. 4-5
    • It is a FALSE TEACHING – we more spiritual if you do NOT eat certain foods (pork)…
      • Food CANNOT make us holy – we are not more righteous because of what we eat…
      • It is not what goes in that makes us unholy – it is what comes out of our heart!
      • Matthew 15:17-18 – “Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.”
      • Whatever we eat – it just goes into our stomach – then into the CR…
      • No matter what we eat – it all ends up in the same place – obviously…
      • So we are not a better person if we do not eat certain food – or worse if we do!
      • I Corinthians 8:8 – “Food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.”
    • God created all FOOD to be received with thanksgiving…
      • We who believe in know THE TRUTH – epiginōskō – the COMPLETE knowledge!
      • EVERY animal was made by God – and they ALL are good to be eaten – Genesis 9:3
      • NOTHING is to be REFUSED – only here NT – to be thrown away…
      • When it is REACEIVED (passive) with THANKGIVING!
      • All God asks us to do is give THANKS to God for providing – say Grace…
      • Which can happen BEFORE – or better yet AFTER the meal – Deuteronomy 8:10
    • Because no matter what we eat it is SANCTIFIED…
      • SANCTIFIED – made HOLY – by the Word of God and PRAYER!
      • If we THANK God for it – we make it HOLY – because we acknowledge it comes from God!
      • So – when someone heaps a plate of dinuguan or balut onto the plate – THANK YOU Jesus!
      • Because we can eat whatever we want to – food is meant to be eaten!
      • I Corinthians 6:13 – “Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food.”
  • 3^rd – Why would people FORBID marriage / FOOD…
    • It makes people FEEL righteous…
      • People love to act HOLY – boast about how good they are – all their works…
      • People love to tell you how much better they are compared to others…
      • People think they are better because they are SINGLE / or what they do not EAT…
      • There is a sense of spiritual self-righteousness – spiritual superiority!
      • But their boasting does nothing to make them RIGHT with the Lord – Colossians 2:23
    • It teaches people to put their FAITH in men…
      • Rather than teach the people to trust in God – they learn to listen to men…
      • Do these things and you will be a GOOD person – but it will always fail…
      • Because we can tell people what to do – but we cannot change their hearts!

We are called to INSTRUCT – EXERCISE – LABOR – so others also Know Jesus!

4^th – Our responsibility… vs. 6-10 (4 points)

1^st – INSTRUCT the brethren… vs. 6

In light of LAST DAYS in which we live – and the WARNING from the Spirit…

KNOWING people will FALL AWAY from THE FAITH…

Because of DECEIVING spirits / DOCTRINES of demons / and LIES…

INSTRUCT (present) each other – to put on a FIRM foundation so we do NOT fall away!

Often people believe what they are told – they do not make sure it is the truth…

So we need to be the ones looking out for them – warning them about the lies…

Guarding / protecting our brothers / sisters from those who want to harm them!

If we do – three things will happen…

GOOD MINISTER – diakonos – NOT a command for pastors – this is for EVERYONE…

NOURISHED – only here NT – TRAINED in THE Words of THE FAITH and GOOD doctrine…

We will have CAREFULLY FOLLOWED (prefect) – from a root that means to be a DISCIPLE!

Put together it paints the picture of a MATURE believer in Jesus Christ…

The mark of that believer – is that they INSTRUCT others – point them to Jesus!

2^nd – Reject OLD WIVES FABLES… vs. 7

Reject (imperative) PROFANE – meaning common – NOT from God…

OLD WIVES FABLES – only here NT – literally the myths of old women – SUPERSTITIONS…

People become superstitious because they do not know God!

Often the people who are the farthest from God – who are most SUPERSTITIOUS…

It is often the people who do not go to church believe in charms / evil spirits…

Because we were created to worship and know God – John 4:23

When we do not have a relationship with Jesus – we fill that void with SUPERSTITIONS…

Rather than the peace of God – we are ruled by the fear of the unknown!

3^rd – EXERCISE Godliness… vs. 7-8

EXERCISE – gymnasia – towards GODLINESS…

Not so much physical exercise – which profits little…

We live in a culture that is obsessed with outward appearances…

People spend P150 billon a year on gym memberships / P2 trillion on diets!

Yet no matter how much we work out / diet – the end is still the same – we die…

That is not to say we should pork out – there is wisdom in being a steward of our body…

But why do we waste exorbitant time and effort on something that cannot last…

GODLINESS is profitable for ALL things…

It gives us promises in this life – and in the LIFE which is to come!

An athlete does not happen by accident – they work hard…

They have to get up early every day and practice – avoid unhealthy foods!

In the same way we as believers need to train – be disciplined…

Living for Jesus is a daily choice – and it takes work and commitment on our part…

We choose to take the time to get into the Word of God – set aside time to PRAY…

We make the time to attend Bible studies – grow in our faith…

We chose to avoid those temptations in life that would lead us to FALL AWAY!

4^th – SUFFER Reproach… vs. 9-10

This is a faithful saying – and worthy of all acceptance – everyone should know this…

We both LABOR and SUFFER Reproach (passive) – cause we TRUST in the LIVING God!

Who is the savior of ALL men – especially those who believe!

Will all men be saved – NO – but Jesus died so ALL men COULD be saved – John 3:16

Therefore – we LABOR to let ALL men know about the GOOD NEWS – Romans 10:13-14

We also SUFFER because NOT all men WANT to be saved…

John 3:19-20 – “This is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved [agape] darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”

Because men LOVE sin – they hate the light that reveals their sinfulness…

We have Jesus in us – so because they hate Jesus – they also hate the light of Jesus in us!

Therefore do not be surprised when the attacks come!

But considering the alternative – eternal separation – it is a price worth paying!