Charles Albert Kinley wrote that
great song. Charles Albert was born in 1851
in the deep south in slavery. His mother taught him some things
from the scriptures, but he was without education, wasn't able
to read or write, But when he was 14 years old, Abraham Lincoln
set him free. And he went up north, determined
to learn to read and write. He spent some years going to
school, preparing himself for better things. And he got a job as a custodian
in a large black church up north. And he began to write music.
And the pastor died, and they made him the pastor. He was a
genius. He wrote such songs as Take Your
Burden to the Lord and Leave It There, words and music. We'll understand it better by
and by, he wrote that. But he wrote this one, one of
my favorites. David sang it for me. Nothing
between like pride and station. Self and friends shall not intervene. Though it may cost me much tribulation,
I'm resolved that nothing between. I love that song. Thank you,
David. All right, I want you to turn. Oh, he died in 1933. 82 years old, one year older than
I am right now. So, the Lord's prepared better
things for some of us, hasn't he? Alright, 2 Timothy, 2 Timothy,
chapter 3. Here's my title, These Last Days. Now according to the scripture,
according to the New Testament, we've been in the last days ever
since our Lord died on the cross. We're in the last days. Paul
and others refers to it often, the last days. I believe that
man's history on this earth can be divided into three eras. There's
a time from the creation of man, Adam, to Moses, approximately
2,000 years. There was a time between Moses
and the Messiah coming, which is about 2,000 years. And then
from his going back to glory and seated at the right hand
of his father to his return is approximately 2,000 years. And
some people believe that these last days will be days of prosperity
and peace and holiness with an earthly reign of Christ on this
earth. But that's not what Paul wrote
here. In 2 Timothy chapter 3, he said, this know also that
in the last days perilous time shall come. And our Lord wrote,
turn to Matthew chapter 24. Our Lord said this in Matthew
24 verse 21. Matthew 24 verse 21. For then
shall be great tribulation such as not It was not since the beginning
of the world to this time, nor no, nor ever shall be. And except
those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved.
But for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened. Now
here's my outline. I want you to remember it. Jot
it down or try to remember five things I want to point out here
in this scripture. perilous times, that's verse
1, this know also that in the last days perilous times shall
come. Now down here in verse 5, it's
going to be false religious times, lots of religion, false religion,
having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof from
such turn away. And then down here at verse 10,
we're going to have some heart searching times. perilous times,
false religious times, and in some heart-searching times on
the part of all of us in verse 10. But thou hast fully known
my doctrine, Paul said, and you know my manner of life, my purpose,
my faith, my long-suffering, charity, and patience. There's
going to be some heart-searching. Do we know these things? And
then down here in verse 14, is going to be perseverance times. Verse 14 says, but you continue
and you will. Continue thou in the things which
thou hast learned and hast been assured of. Perseverance. Assured of. Knowing of whom thou
hast learned them. And the fifth thing, will be
elect gathering times. I'll save that to last. God's
going to gather together all of his elect. All of his elect. All right, let's look at this
first verse. Paul says in verse one, this
know also that in the last days perilous times shall come. Perilous
times. Now, many think that these are
good times. The economy is good and it's
growing. I drove down here and they're
building houses, big houses all over this place, everywhere.
The economy is good. People have plenty of food. They
have plenty to wear. They have health benefits and
they've got pretty good health, most of us. But I'll tell you
this, the perilous times Or what Brother Rupert talked about,
well, it's not material time, it's spiritual perilous time.
Godliness, honesty, truth, integrity, morality, decency, wholesome
conversation and values, it's a thing of the past. That's just
true. I want you to listen to Paul
here now, in verse 2. Put your finger right here and
I'm going to talk about these 16 or 17 things he mentions. Perilous time. Here's the peril. Here's the terrible time. For
men shall be lovers of their own selves. This is put first
because all error, all errors and vices flow from self-love. All error and vices flow from
self-love. He who puts himself first does
not love God and does not love others. Self-love promotes all
errors. Look at the second word, covetous. Well, love of self promotes covetous. Love of self promotes love of
money, love of possessions, love of materialism, and love for
these things. is the root of all evil. God
didn't say money is the root of all evil. He says a love of
it, covetousness. Avoid covetousness, which is
idolatry. Look at that third word, boasters.
I thank God I'm not like other people. That's what the old Pharisees
said. And Brother Gary read this from
Jeremiah the other day, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom. Boasters. Let not the mighty
man. There's some mighty men. There's
some mighty men. There's some wise men. But don't
let them boast in it. Don't let them brag on it. And
let not the rich man glory in his riches. Let him glory in
this that he knows God. Boasters. Proud. Nothing is more offensive to
God Almighty than pride. Nothing. Somebody said one time,
we've got pride of place, we've got pride of face, we've got
pride of race, and we got the worst of all, pride of grace. And pride goeth before destruction
and a heart of spirit before the fall. Look at the next, blasphemy.
Blasphemy. What is blasphemy, preacher?
Well, I found a good definition of blasphemy. It's any thought
or word of mouth about God which renders to Him anything less
than full glory. I believe that's a good definition
of blasphemy. Take heed how you use the name
of God. Don't talk about the man upstairs. That's blasphemy. Our conversations need to be
ordered. Even using the name Jesus, he's
the Lord Jesus. He said, you call me Lord, and
you say, well, that's who I am. Lord. And then look at this disobedient
to parents. Home, school, and workplace. The whole attitude today. These
are perilous times. The whole attitude today is a
hatred for authority. That's the great rule today. The issue today is not what's
right, it's what's my rights. And we have to apologize to our
children to correct them. Isn't that something? Disobedient
to power. And then unthankful. There's
but one reason for ingratitude. I'll tell you what it is. It's
when we think we're deserving or worthy of something else.
That's ingratitude. Thank you. Oh, you can't use
that word too much. Thank you. Thank you. And then
the word unholy. All you have to do is walk in
your den and turn your TV and you fill your den with unholiness.
That's regrettable. That's terrible. Bad language. Just unholiness. Unholy conversation. About the only thing you enjoy
watching is a sports program. Basketball game or something.
Because unholiness. prevails. And what's this? Without natural affection. I'm going to say something here
that needs to be said. There are three terrible evils
in this day that's going to be the ruination of this country.
Number one is abortion. Hannah prayed that God give her
a child. So many prayed that the Lord
would give them a child. People without children are missing
something, missing a great blessing. And yet one million girls in
America kill their babies every year. One million don't want
children and they kill them. And God's going to deal with
that. I don't know when, I just know He will. He has to. And
the next one, unnatural. This is unnatural for a woman
to kill her baby. That's unnatural. Without natural
affection. I tell you another is homosexuality.
That's unnatural. That's evil. The Word of God
condemns it strongly, strongly. It's just totally unnatural.
And I tell you the third one is child abuse. Child abuse. Years ago, a young lady in a
certain home was leaving town, leaving her children with her
husband while she went to a Bible conference. And the little young
girl, 14 or 15, says, don't leave me here with my daddy. That's
unnatural. Child abuse is on every hand
in this country. Abortion, homosexuality, and
child abuse. These are perilous times. It's
perilous times. Wicked times. Oh, wicked. Truth breakers. What is a truth
breaker? It's a person that doesn't keep
his word. There was a time in this country when a man's word
was his bond. He didn't have to sign his life
away in blood. He just said it, and that meant
it. Trucebreakers. False accusers. You call that
make-baits in the word here. You see it right here, that number
five says make-baits. False accusers. That means to
lower and beat down somebody else. Lower him in other people's
estimation. False accusers. False accusers. And then he says here, despisers
of incontinence. What is incontinent? Incontinent
is not able to control fleshly appetites for the glory of God.
Despisers of people that are good. And look here at this one
right here. Fierce. Fierce. In your face. That's the word
today, just in your face, mad, angry. Somebody said this about
this generation, they're like cornered beasts, bent on getting
even, incontinent, fierce, like cornered beasts. And then, watch
this, despises of those that are good. If you just find something about
somebody, if he's godly and loves Christ, you just find something
about him that you don't like because he's religious. And what's
this word here? Traitors. Traitors. What is a traitor? Well, I'll
tell you what a traitor is. It's a person that, to preserve
himself or to gain in some way, will reveal any and all secrets. That's what they're writing books
about now, you know. Somebody has a job and he has
some pull and some authority and then they fire him and he
starts writing a book about all the things he found out on those
people through the years. That's a traitor. That's a traitor. They will reveal
any and all secrets. And then watch this one. Heady
and high-minded. My wife and I having lunch one
day up at Peaks of Otter. And that's one of our favorite
places to visit and stay. And she looked behind me and
there was a young man sitting there with a T-shirt on. She
said, when you get a chance, turn and read that T-shirt. advertises
themselves on their t-shirts, you know, on the back or the
front. And he had a t-shirt on and this is what it said, I am
dangerously over-educated. Head in high-minded. Educated
and proud of it. I held a meeting for a preacher
one time and I came in from the service after preaching and called
my wife. I always call after the service
is over and I'm sitting in his study and he's one of those educated
people, real educated, overly educated. But he walked in, into
the study and he said, well, I enjoyed your message. I said,
thank you. He said, let me tell you something. He said, when
you can bless somebody with as much education as I got, you've
been blessed. Honest. Rupert, you know who
he is? That's the truth. Heady and high-minded. Now, here's the last one. And we go right back where we
started from. Where did we start? Verse 2.
Men shall be lovers of their own selves. Now here's the last
one Paul mentions, right here in verse 4. Lovers of pleasure more than
lovers of God. That's where it comes down to.
Now about it, these three, faith, hope, and love. And people, people
who love God, who really love God are able to put things in
their proper perspective and their proper place. That's right.
People who love God will put things in their proper perspective
and proper place because seek ye first the kingdom of God and
all these other things will be added to you. That's where it
starts. Knowing Him. Knowing Him. It's a perilous
time. Perilous times. Tom Brokart wrote
that book on the greatest generation. I reckon that maybe was. But
it's slipping. Perilous times upon us. Now then, here's the second thing.
False religious times. It says here in verse 5, having
a form of godliness, a form, but denying the power thereof.
From such, turn away. Preacher, define a false religion. I always feel like that a person
who really believes something can define it pretty shortly.
He doesn't need four pages to explain what he believes, just
a verse, just a verse. And his false religion, his true
religion, I give true religion first. Since Abel, since Abel
worshiped God, by a more excellent sacrifice. Almighty God has an
elect people redeemed by that same blood devoted to him, to
his worship, and to his glory. That's true religion. Started
with Abel. A more excellent sacrifice. And
here's false religion. And since Cain Since King chose
to worship God through his works and through his self-righteousness,
false religion has thrived and will all continue to thrive and
continue till Christ comes. Having a form of godliness, that's
what it says here, having a form but denying the power there from
such turn away. Here's another definition. I've
got this somewhere. Having a form of godliness, but
denying the power. They profess to believe the scriptures,
but deny the power of the word. They read the Bible. They read
their daily Bible readings. They say they believe the Bible,
but they deny the power of the word to quicken dead sinners
and to give life through Christ. All right? They profess to believe
on the Son of God, but they deny His power. We're to put away
sin by the sacrifice of Himself. That's the heart of it. He put
away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And they profess to
believe the gospel. Oh, my. But they deny that the gospel
is the only way of salvation. I am the way, the truth, and
the life. No man comes to the Father but
by me. And then they profess to believe
in the Holy Spirit. They talk about being baptized
with the Holy Spirit, getting the gifts of the Holy Spirit,
but they deny the Spirit's power to regenerate. They deny the
Spirit's power to give life. They deny the Spirit's power
to beget a new nature, to wash, sanctify and justify believers
in the name of and by the Spirit of God Almighty. And verse 6 says, For of this sort are they which
creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins."
You see, women have taken over most churches. That's true. The
men have pushed it aside and women have taken over the churches. Led away with divers lust and
there's a comma there. And you go on reading this, but
of this sort are they which creep in the houses and lead captive
silly women laden with sins Led away with diver's lust, ever
learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth
as it is in our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, as Genes and Jambres withstood
Moses, are those two ladies in there? They withstood Moses,
so do these resist the truth, men of corrupt minds and reprobate
concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further,
for their folly shall be manifest unto all men as theirs was also."
Now, here's my third one, the third point here in this heart-searching
time. We got perilous times. We've
got false religious times. And we've got some heart-searching
times, heart-searching. You're not going to be deceived
because you know my doctrine. The first Sovereign Grace Bible
Conference that we had in Ashton, Kentucky in 1954, Brother Barnard
brought a message on this subject, six stubborn statements. And Paul said, you fully know
my doctrine. You've been a diligent follower
of my doctrine. And here's my doctrine. Old Spurgeon
said one time, after he'd married pastor of that church 38 years,
he said, since the day I heard the gospel, I haven't depart
from it not one tithe. And Brother Barnard got up and
he said, here's the six stubborn statements. God is sovereign,
or he isn't. Man is depraved, or he isn't. God elected a people unconditionally,
or he didn't. The atonement is limited, or
it isn't. And God's people will persevere,
or they won't. Tulip. And when I started that
little preacher school back in 1970-something, I said to the
preachers when we assembled the first time, I said, now fellas,
it's tulip or termination. That's it. That's it. God is sovereign. Men are totally
depraved. Election is unconditional, atonement. I don't really like the word
limited. It's such a vast atonement, you
know, but it's limited. to the elect. Christ died for
his people. He didn't redeem anybody else
but his people. That's just so. An irresistible
grace. God's going to call his people.
He's going to call them out. And they will persevere. Barnard
gave me an outline one time. He said this, why did Christ
die? Why did Jesus Christ die? And
he said, I'll give it to you in three statements, three scriptures,
and all of them begin with that. Christ died in order that God
may be just and justify. Christ died in order that we
might be made the righteousness of God in him. And Christ died
in order that in the ages to come, He might gather together
in one all things which are in Christ Jesus our Lord. That's
just so. It's not deep, it's just so.
It's just the truth. And let's listen to Paul here
in verse 10. You've fully known my doctrine.
You know my doctrine. And he said, you know my manner
of life. I coveted no man's gold or silver. I'm not in this thing
for my gain and my glory. I've coveted no man's silver
or gold. I'm interested in you, not in
yours. That's my manner of life. And
what's my purpose? To win Christ and be found in
Him. And I prevail to Christ be formed
in you. And my faith, this is my faith. We know that the Son of God has
come and given us an understanding that we may know Him that is
true, and we're in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God. This is
eternal life. Eternal life. And you know my
long-suffering, my love and my patience. I kept back nothing
profitable unto you. I taught you from house to house,
repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. So
search your heart. You know my doctrine. You know
my matter of life. You know my purpose. This band
doing the same thing years and years and years. And you know
my faith. You know my long-suffering, my
patience, and love for you. You know, I heard a fellow say
one time, I just love to preach. I just love to preach. And somebody
else said, well, that's fine, that's fine. But I tell you,
it's better to love the people to whom you preach than just
to love to preach. I like to preach because I love
to preach to people. I love people. And you do, and
he does, and all of you do. We love people. And then what's
this verse 11? Paul said, I've got persecution
and afflictions which came to me at Antioch, and Iconium, and
Lystra, and what persecutions I endured, but out of them all
the Lord delivered me. We've been through some, we've
been down the road. And we've been through some trials
and troubles and tribulations. It's not over. It's not over. That's what he's going to say
next. It's not over. Yay! all that will live godly in Christ
Jesus shall suffer persecution. One writer said this, those who
wish to be exempt from trouble, those who wish to be exempt from
trial and persecution must necessarily denounce Christ because all who
will give godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. That's right. And when the saving
grace of God is manifested in a believer, it kindles the rage
of Satan. Let me say that again. When the saving grace of God
is manifested in a believer, it kindles the rage of Satan. And it kindles the rage of ungodly
people. I had a friend who was converted,
truly converted. He'd been my friend 50 some odd
years. But before he was converted,
he was his family's black sheep. And they were all black sheep,
as far as I was concerned. But he was the worst one. And
the Lord saved him. The Lord saved that young man.
He was well saved. And he began to witness to them,
they began to hate him. And one of them said to him,
I liked you better when you was lost. I don't like you now. Yeah? When God reveals his true grace
in the heart of a person, it kindles the rage of Satan, and
it kindles the rage of ungodly people. Turn to John chapter
15. John chapter 15. Just a moment. John 15. Let's read our Lord's
words here. John 15 verse 17. John 15, 17. Now let's read this
here. John 15 verse 17. These things I command you, that
you love one another. If the world hate you, you know
it hated me before it hated you. And if you were of the world,
the world would love its own. But because you're not of the
world, I've chosen you out of the world. Therefore, they hate
you. But remember the word that I said to you, the servant's
not greater than his Lord. If they persecuted me, they'll
persecute you. If they've kept my sales, they'll
keep yours also. And all these things will they
do to you for my name's sake. because they know not him that
sent me." Back to my text. All right. These are perilous times. These
are times of false religion. These are heart-searching times.
Our doctrine, our manner of life, our purpose, our faith, our love,
grace, Now here he says, these are persevering times. Verse
14, but continue thou, continue thou in the things which thou
hast learned. Where do we learn them? Well,
I'll tell you this, our Lord Jesus Christ said this over in
John chapter 5. Here's where we learn them, right
here. In John chapter 5, verse 44. John chapter 5. Verse John
6, verse 44. John 6, verse 44. No man can
come to me except the Father which sent me draw him. And I'll
raise him up at the last day. It's written in the prophets.
They'll be taught of God. That's where I learned them.
Considering the things you've learned, that's where we learned
them. They'll be taught of God. And every man that hath heard
and learned of the Father, they will. He'll come to me. Yes,
He will. And He'll continue. I preached a message not long
ago from the book of Job. I want you to turn over there
just a moment. Job chapter 17. Job chapter 17. This is what I'm talking about
here. Continuing in the faith. Persevering in Christ. Walking
with Christ. Our persecutions and troubles
and trials, through much tribulation, we're going to inherit the kingdom
of God. It's not over. And Job 17 verse 9, listen to
what Job says here. The righteous also shall hold
his way. What is his way? It's God's way.
It's the way, the truth, and the life. Those people that were
believers back before they were called Christians were called
people of the way. I persecuted this way unto death,
Paul said. This is the way. And the righteous
gonna hold his way. He's gonna hold. And he that
had clean hands washed in the blood, the blood of Jesus Christ,
God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin. He said to his disciples,
now you're clean. Not all of you. Judas was there,
but you're clean. You're clean through the word
I've spoken to you. And you're clean, and they will be, what
do you say, stronger and stronger. Yes, they will. The righteous
shall hold his way. Now, he won't always travel with
equal speed, but he'll hold his way. It didn't say he'd hold his pace.
He'll hold his way. And he may not travel with equal
zeal and enthusiasm, but you can count on him. He'll hold
his way. And he may not travel with equal
success. He may be rich or poor, old or
young. He may be successful and unsuccessful,
but he'll hold his way because Christ said, I'm the way. I'm
the truth, and I'm the life, and no man can come to the Father
but by me. All right, preacher, you got
to the end of that chapter. Well, let's look at it a minute,
just a minute more, in 2 Thessalonians 3. Continue thou in the things
which you've learned, and have been assured of, knowing of whom
you learned them, and from a child. You've known the Holy Scriptures,
that they will make you wise unto salvation through faith,
which is Christ Jesus our Lord. Martin Luther wrote that great
hymn, you know, what is that? Feelings come, and feelings go,
and feelings are deceiving, but my warrant is the Word of God. Nothing else is worth believing. Now here's my last, I've talked
about perilous times, and I've talked about false religious
times, and I've talked about heart-searching times, and continuing
in the faith, but I'm going to give you the last thing. Elect-gathering
time. Turn to Matthew chapter 24. Matthew
24. Elect-gathering time. I like this time here. It's getting
close for me and for Doris. and some other folks. That's
all right. That's good. All right. Matthew
24 verse 29. All right. Matthew 24, 29. Immediately
after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened
and the moon shall not give light and the stars shall fall from
the heavens and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken And
then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then shall all the tribes
of the earth mourn. And they shall see the Son of
Man coming in clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And
he'll send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet. And they'll
gather together his elect from the four winds from one end of
heaven to the other, gathering his elect together. All right,
Brother Don, thank you for letting me be here.