Perilous Times for the Church

Q: What does the Bible say about the last days?

The Bible warns that perilous times will come in the last days, characterized by a departure from true religion and the promotion of self-love. In 2 Timothy 3:1, the Apostle Paul informs us that perilous times will come in the last days, which span from Christ's incarnation until His return. This period is marked not mainly by external calamities but by internal strife within the church, leading to apostasy and a departure from the true gospel. Paul highlights the nature of these perilous times, emphasizing characteristics of people who will love themselves more than God, leading to a disconnection from true doctrine and faithfulness to Christ's teachings.

Q: How do we know the doctrine of apostasy is true?

The doctrine of apostasy is supported by scriptural references identifying a significant turning away from the true gospel during the last days. The apostle Paul speaks of the concept of apostasy in 2 Timothy 3, indicating that in the last days, many will turn away from sound doctrine. Historical accounts during Paul's time, such as those mentioned in 2 Timothy 1:15, demonstrate that individuals and entire regions abandoned the true gospel. This pattern of departure from faithfulness to the doctrine of grace continues today, echoing the warnings found throughout Scripture about the last days.

Q: Why is self-love a problem for Christians?

Self-love is a root issue that leads to a lack of true love for God and others, causing a departure from sound doctrine. In 2 Timothy 3, Paul identifies self-love as a primary issue in the last days, indicating that it leads individuals to prioritize their own desires over God's glory and the needs of others. When self-love prevails, it breeds a culture of pride and separation from God. True Christian love is self-giving and prioritizes the honor of God and the well-being of others, directly opposing the nature of self-love which ultimately fosters division and apostasy in the church.

Q: How does disobedience to parents reflect on society?

Disobedience to parents signifies a broader cultural disregard for authority, setting a precedent for disrespect in various societal structures. Paul's mention of disobedience to parents in 2 Timothy 3 highlights a foundational issue where disregard for authority begins at home. When children are not taught respect for their parents, they develop a generalized disrespect for authority figures, leading to chaos in society. This breakdown of respect not only affects familial relations but extends outward into schools, workplaces, and spiritual communities, resulting in a culture that lacks obedience and submission to God-ordained authority.

Q: Why is it important for Christians to have knowledge of God's Word?

Knowledge of God's Word equips Christians for discernment and protection against deception in a time of increasing apostasy. In 2 Timothy 3:15, Paul emphasizes the importance of knowing the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make individuals wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. During times of perilous conditions within the church, it is vital for believers to anchor themselves in Scripture. Understanding God's Word allows Christians to discern truth from error, reject false teachings, and maintain their faith amidst widespread deception. Engaging deeply with Scripture fosters spiritual growth and equips believers to confront the challenges that arise in their faith journey.

Chapter 3, verse 1, says, This
know, I want you to know this, Timothy, also that in the last
days perilous times shall come. Now, the word, the last days,
occurs frequently in the New Testament. And when the apostle
speaks of the last days, he refers to all of those days. Now hear
me, all of those days from the incarnation of Christ to the
end of the world. Now we don't know when the end
of the world will come. Our Lord said not even the angels
know that, but my Father which is in heaven. I'm not in the
business of prophesying or predicting when the end of the world will
come. We know that it will. Christ will come back again.
The angels stood and talked to the disciples when Christ ascended
to heaven. They said this same Jesus will
come again in like manner as you've seen him go. And our Lord,
before he ascended to heaven, said to his disciples, I go to
prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place,
I'll come again and receive you unto myself. And Peter said that
the heavens will melt with a fervent heat, and there'll be a new heaven
and new earth. When that'll occur, I do not
know. But we're in the last days. It seems that the days of this
earth are divided into three parts in the scriptures. This
is the way they're divided. There's the time between Adam
and Moses, Adam and Moses, from the creation and fall of Adam
to the giving of the law. There are the days between Moses
and the incarnation of Christ, and then the last days. And that's
the way the scriptures always refer to these 1900 years, the
last days. And he says here that in the
last days, perilous times, perilous times. Now, some people have
believed and preached that the last days would be days of holiness
and days of peace and days of obedience to God. But Paul warns
Timothy differently. He says, in these last days perilous
times shall come. Now, there'll be hard times and
difficult times and perilous times. Now, not by reason of
calamities especially, or there'll always be wars and rumors of
wars, earthquakes, famines and so forth, calamities, dangers
from the sword, lack of necessities. But what Paul is talking about
here to Timothy is perilous times for true religion. Now, that's
what he's talking about, and you'll see that as I read these
next few verses. Paul says to Timothy, in the
last days, from the incarnation of Christ, from the crucifixion
of Christ, to the end of the world, things will go on like
they have. They'll marry and give in marriage
until the coming of the Son of Man, like in the days of Noah.
There'll be recessions and depressions and prosperity and wars and rumors
of wars and all these different things, but perilous times, perilous
times for those who love God, very perilous times. Now, these
perilous times have to do with religious apostasy. That's what
they have to do with. These perilous times have to
do with a departure from the true gospel. And this situation
prevailed even during the days of Paul. Let me show you some
examples of this. Turn to 2 Timothy chapter 1,
just back one page. Here is the Apostle Paul talking
about his own ministry in 2 Timothy 1.15. He said this, Thou knowest
that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me, away
from Paul. Was it some personality quirk?
Was it he couldn't Folks couldn't get along with it. No, it was
the gospel he preached. These fellows he mentioned, Phagellus
and Homogenes, these fellows departed from the gospel. You
read the book of Corinthians, and you'll find people even in
those days denying the resurrection. And in the book of Galatians,
you'll find people preaching works instead of grace. And look
at chapter 4 of 2 Timothy. Chapter 4, verse 10 and 11. And
here he talks about Demas. Demas was one of his closest
friends. Chapter 4, 2 Timothy, verse 10. Demas hath forsaken
me, having loved this present world. He's departed unto Thessalonica,
Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia, and only Luke is with
me. Luke is the only one left. And
then in verse 16, Verse 14-16, same chapter, 2 Timothy 4, verses
14-16, "...Alexander the copper smith did me much evil, the Lord
reward him according to his works. Of whom be thou aware, beware
of him, for he hath greatly withstood our words, our preaching. And
at my first trial," my first answer is his first trial, "...no
man stood with me, all men forsook me." I pray God it may not be
laid to their charge. So this apostasy and legalism
and mixing grace and works and this corruption and departure
from the true gospel, it started back then and it's grown worse
today. Compare religion today to what
Paul says in these next few verses. Let's read chapter 3, 2 Timothy,
verse 1 again. This know Timothy, that in the
last days, our days, perilous times shall come. And then he
names some things. He said, men shall be lovers
of their own selves. Now, this is put first. He lists
all of these problems, but this is the first. And I tell you
why he puts it first, because all error and evil flow from
self-love. That's where it flows from, self-love.
He who loves himself first does not love God. He who loves himself
first does not love Christ. He who loves himself first does
not love others. And therefore he has no real
concern for the glory of God and for the glory of Christ,
nor for the good of others. And self-love will promote freewillism,
self-love will promote vainglory, self-love will promote personal
rights, and self-love will promote division and apostasy. That's where it starts. Men shall
be lovers of their own selves. We've got to love God first,
love Christ. Look not on our own things, but
on the things of others. Not on our own welfare, but the
welfare of others. Then what's second? And they'll
be covetous. And we're not talking about folks
out in the dives and dens of iniquity. I'm talking about good
religious folks. They love themselves. They're
covetous. What is covetousness? It's the opposite of contentment.
Oh, so much is said in God's Word about contentment. Turn
back to 1 Timothy, chapter 6. You see, true believers are content. God's people are content. They
are not murmurers and complainers and fault finders. They are content. They are content with the providence
of God. They are content with who they are. They are content
with what they have. They are content with where they
are. Listen to Paul in 1 Timothy 6,
verse 6. But godliness with contentment. is great gain. We brought nothing
into this world, it's certain we'll carry nothing out, and
having food and raiment lets us therewith be content. But
they that will be rich, they that are covetous, they that
clamor and are greedy for the possessions and wealth of this
world, they'll fall into temptation and a snare, into foolish and
hurtful lust which drown men in destruction and perdition,
the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some
coveted after, what's the next thing? Err from the faith, and
pierce themselves through with many sorrows. In these last days,
men will be religious, they've always been religious, but they'll
love themselves and not God, and they'll be covetous. Not
content. How many content people do you
know? God's people are content. And then notice the next word.
They're boasters. Oh, the religious boasters. The
Pharisee was the captain of the tribe. He stood in the synagogue.
He said, I thank you, God, I'm not like other men. I thank you,
God, that I tithe and fast and give alms to the poor. I thank
you, God, that I'm not an adulterer. I'm not an extortioner. I'm not
unjust. I'm not like that publican. I'm
holier than he. Boasters. Boasters. This is the opposite of humility. And I tell you, there's nothing
that Almighty God despises more than pride. You know how Paul
talked about himself? Paul didn't talk about himself
like most preachers and religious people talk about themselves.
Paul said, I'm not worthy to be an apostle. I'm not worthy
to be an apostle. He said, I'm less than the least
of all the saints. He said, I'm the chief of sinners.
He said, I'm nothing. He said, I've labored more abundantly
than they all, yet not I but Jesus Christ in me, but taking
all this into consideration, I'm still Mr. Nobody from Nowhere. John the Baptist said, I'm just
a boy. But all the boasters, and listen, proud, proud You
know, in Proverbs, don't turn to it, you're familiar with this,
chapter 6, verse 17, the scripture says six things, six things God
hates. Yea, seven are an abomination
to him. What's the first one? What's the first? You'd think
murder, but no. You'd think kidnapping, abusing
children. You'd think a lot of things.
But you know the first thing that is numbered in this list
of evil things that God hates? A proud look. Arrogance and pride. God hates it. He said God resisted
the proud, gives grace to the humble. Then notice, he said
these are marks of the last days. He says they're blasphemers.
Now hold your seat a minute. Blasphemers. Usually, when you
see the word blasphemy and blasphemers, you think about some fellow on
a soapbox down in the park, and he's saying, shaking his fist
to the heavens, and saying, if there be a God, let him strike
me dead. God, why don't you strike me
dead? We don't believe you're up there. Well, this is blasphemy,
no question about it. Or, you know, you hear some fellow,
every other word, like some of the movies you go to now, all
the different, they're taking God's name in vain. you know,
Jesus Christ and GD this and GD that and other, that's blasphemy. It is. But that's not the blasphemy
he's talking about here. Because this is religious blasphemy.
This is in the church. Blasphemy, now listen to me,
blasphemy has to do with thoughts and words regarding God, the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. You see, all glory and
reverence and fear and worship belong to the living God. And
we have an example set for us in the Old Testament, the careful
reference, careful references to God, his name, his throne,
his glory. The old time leaders among the
Jews wouldn't use certain names of God. They used the name Jehovah,
God my Savior. They were very careful about
using Elohim, Almighty God. They were careful about referring
to God. And you see, any thought or words
with reference to the living God that does not give God the
full glory and praise of which he is worthy is blasphemy. Now, that's true. In other words,
when I stand up here and preach, or any other man preaches, and
we're talking about God, the living God, we'd better be careful
that we tell the truth and ascribe to Him the proper glory, or it's
blasphemy. Now, that's right. We'd better
be careful when we're talking about Christ. And this is the
same thing in our daily living, our daily walk. Folks, I hear
these television preachers, They're so careless about the name God.
They're saying, God wants to do this and God wants to do that
and you won't let it. That's blasphemy. What God wants
to do, he does. What God wills to do, he does.
What Christ came to do, he accomplished. Where Christ is, is in his glory.
I hear people say, Christ, poor little Jesus, sweet little, that's
blasphemy. The scripture doesn't refer to
him that way. The scripture says, On his thigh is a name, King
of kings and Lord of lords. You see what I'm saying? I'm
telling the truth. In the last days there'll be
religious, and they'll carry on a religious charade and program,
but they'll be lovers of themselves, not lovers of God. There'll be covetous, wanting
bigger, better, greater, numbers. There'll be boasters, They'll
be proud, they'll be blasphemers. Blaspheming the holy name of
God. Let's be careful. Let the potsherds
of the earth strive with the potsherds of the earth. I'll
tell you this. I seriously object to the way a lot of people talk
about the president of our nation. I mean, that's a place of authority.
That's authority. And whether you like him or not,
he ought to be respected. But this is a day of careless
talk. Speaking evil of dignitaries
is evil. Speaking evil of dignitaries.
And giving God less glory and honor than he's due is blasphemy. And God's going to call us into
account for our words. There ought to be few. He said
when you come to the house of God, let your words be few. God's
in the heavens. You're upon earth. Speak reverently. If you're going to use the name
of God, speak reverently. If you're going to use the name
of Christ, speak reverently. These fellows talking about the
Holy Ghost all the time. Blasphemy! Unless they give him
the proper glory. Look at the next line. Disobedient
to parents. Now what this is talking about
is disregard for authority. Hatred for authority. Why would
it start here? Why would he say disobedient
to parents? Here's children disobedient to the parents. I'll tell you
why he said this. This is where it starts. This is where hatred
for authority. Now we're living in a day in
the church and in religion. I was in a meeting recently and
there was one of the church deacons and his wife and the pastor.
We were sitting around the table. And they were sitting there talking
about how impossible it was to control their children. And this
poor man had a daughter, and he was talking about, we told
her she had to be in by twelve, and she said, I'll be in at one.
He said, okay, honey, we'll make it one. Now hang on here a minute. These are church leaders. This
little girl is one of the church singers. You see, we're living
in a day when authority means nothing. God Almighty has ordained
authority. and rule on the job, in the streets. Did you know the scripture teaches
that police officers are God's servants? That's what it says
in Romans 13. All power is of God. And in the
school, the principal and the teachers, they have authority
on the job. The foreman, the superintendent,
that's authority. In the church, the pastor, that's
authority. But it starts in the home. It
starts in disobedient to parents. And if children aren't taught
that, and I don't mean a rule of law or a rule of hatred and
exerting my will, I'm talking about a rule of love. Authority
is a rule of love and right and truth. And it starts in the home. And when children are taught
respect for their parents, and respect for their parents' words,
and respect for the rules of the home, they'll be the same
way in other places. Teachers won't have any trouble
with well-taught children. And when men, when they get up
grown and go out on the job and work, they won't have any trouble
buying into authority. I never will forget when I went
in the Navy. But I was taught discipline at
home. This wasn't near as tough on me as it was on some fellas.
But I was 17 years old when I went in the Navy. 17 years old. And I went up to
Camp Perry, Virginia. And there were about 200 of us
in this group of men. And we lined up in front of a
big Chief Petty Officer that looked like he'd been in the
Navy since John Paul Jones, way back there. And he looked at
all of us and he said, from now on I'm your mama, I'm your papa,
I'm your boss. There's a right way and a wrong
way and there's my way. And you do everything my way.
And we did. But it was good for us. He taught us. And we came out
of there capable of doing our job. And this is disobedient
to parents. That's where it all starts. That's
where it starts. And I tell you, this religion
today knows nothing about authority. I heard about a man recently
who said concerning he's going to get a pastor at his church.
And somebody said, well, if you don't like him, he said, I'll
fire him and get another one. Where did he learn that kind of talk? Read on. Let's go on. Disobedient
to parents. Unthankful. Oh, how thankful
we ought to be. I tell you, in this day, in our
country, in our community, in our little city of Ashland, in
Boyd County, we ought to be thankful. You know, we don't have anything
to murmur about, complain about. We are blessed. But are we thankful? Too often we murmur, we complain,
we find fault with our lot. Paul said, in whatsoever state
I am, content. Oh, unholy. Look at that next
word, unholy. You know, there are more preachers
and churches and religious organizations today in this country than ever
in the history of this country. And yet, is this not true? There's
less integrity in this country. There's more churches and more
preachers and more religion on radio and TV than ever in the
history of this nation, and yet today there's less integrity.
There's less honesty. You're just waiting to see who
the next public official will be that's caught with his hand
in the till. It's so prevalent now, you doubt
everybody. There's no statesmanship. Somebody
said, if a fellow's not a crook when he goes to Congress, he'll
be a crook on his second term. And we've come to believe that.
We've come to accept that as the norm. We're at our lowest point in
unholiness. and look at the next line without
natural affection. I tell you, and I'm going to
be plain here now, what you listen to, you young people, listen
to me. I was out in San Francisco at a meeting in June, and they
had that gay parade. I mean thousands of people. The mayor was there, city officials,
some of your popular television stars. It's accepted out there. I picked up my paper the other
day where some religious denomination was accepting this sort of thing.
There are two words in the Bible given to homosexuality. Abomination
and reprobate. Those are the two words. Abomination
and reprobate. Let me show you that. Turn to
Leviticus chapter 18. Leviticus chapter 18. And I say
this to you, I want you to listen to me now. And religion can put
their tongue in their cheek, they can wink at it, they can
talk about lifestyle, they can talk about my way, my rights,
all they want to. Relationship, men with men and
women with women, is an abomination that God Almighty is wicked and
everybody in it is reprobate. That's just so. Listen to the
scripture. Leviticus 18, verse 22. Thou shalt not lie
with mankind as with womankind. It is what? Abomination. It's not another lifestyle. It's
not to be accepted. It's not something we overlook
and ignore. It's an abomination. Turn to
Leviticus 20. Leviticus 20.13. Listen to it
now. And this is right along with
incest. In verse 13 of Leviticus 20,
If a man also lie with mankind as he lieth with a woman, both
of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death,
and their blood shall be upon them. Now that's God's Word. I was asked one time by a television
program director to appear on a panel to discuss homosexuality. I said, well, are we going to
discuss murder while we're there? He said, well, no, that's wrong. And I looked at him and I said,
well, homosexuality is wrong, too. He said, well, that's your opinion.
I said, that's not my opinion, that's God's opinion. This is
God's world. It's a perversion. It's wicked. It's an abomination. Now turn
to the New Testament, Romans chapter 1. It's unacceptable. I'm not being hard, I'm being
truthful. This can't open. God created
a man and a woman. The man for the woman, the woman
for the man. That's God's way. That's beautiful. That's happy.
That's precious. That's holy. That's God's way.
This other is rotten. It's perversion. It's wicked.
And we're going to suffer the consequences in this country
like Sodom and Gomorrah. We may be already. A fellow in
Australia, a young man, I was speaking to a church in a college
town. Most of the students were, I
mean, the congregation were college students, and I was speaking
on Romans 1, and I got to that point, I'm about to read, and
I told him AIDS is a judgment of God on this country. Where
did it start? It started in perversion. Like
our president said, all you got to do to stop it is straighten
out your personal conduct. He said it's not like cancer
or heart disease. That's something we can't prevent.
We got to find a cure. But you can cure AIDS just like
that. You say a lot of people suffer
who are innocent. They do in any kind of judgment. Look at
Romans 1 verse 26. Romans 1 verse 26. For this cause,
God gave them up. To what kind of affections? They
say it's love. It's not love, it's vile affections. God gave them up to vile affections. Their women did change the natural
use into that which is against nature. Likewise, the men, the
women with women and men, leaving the natural use of the woman,
burned in their lust one toward another. Men with men work in
that which is unseemly. Abomination, vile, unseemly. and receiving in themselves that
recompense of their error, which was me." What did they do to
themselves? They killed themselves. They
brought disease, wretched disease upon themselves, and that's the
recompense. That's what it says. Am I stretching
that? And I don't know of anything,
if one of you One of you dear young people were caught up in
this vile, awful lifestyle. I don't know anything hurt me
more. I don't know of anything. If you kill somebody, I'd come
out and summit and visit you and try to help you. But how
to get people out of this rotten, rotten reprobacy, I don't have
the solution. I feel so helpless. All I know
to do is stand here and be honest and warn people. is against it. God is against it. And everything
right and truthful and holy is against it. And the churches
are not speaking out. And the preachers aren't speaking
out. And that's, he said, that's prayerless times. Read on. Truce
breakers. Covenant breakers. Contract breakers. A man's word used to be his bond. Man tell you something, didn't
even have to sign your name, did you? I remember that when
I was young. Man just shook hands with you and says, that's it.
And that was it, too. But my, nowadays, if you sign
an agreement with somebody, you better line you some lawyers
up. Truce breakers, false accusers, slanders of character. It's just
become an accepted thing, gossip and tale-bearing. That's a wicked
practice. You know, the Bible talks about
in the life of the love covers a multitude of sins. Love covers. Religion exposes. Receive not
an accusation against an elder except by the mouth of two or
three witnesses. You go down to the supermarket and there's
all these awful stories on people, you know, front page, and folks
buy those things. They love it. They wallow in
it. They love it. You wouldn't buy
one of those, would you? False accusers. I like for a
man to say this. Somebody comes to him with a
tail on his brain and says, that's my friend now. You leave him
alone. I don't believe anything you've
got to say. Somebody came in my study with a tail on one of
you one time and I looked at that person and I said, I've
known him and I've known her for 30 years. I just met you.
I don't want to hear nothing you've got to say. That's right. Oh, false accusers. Incontinent. You know what incontinent is?
No self-control. That's exactly what that word
means. No self-control. Intemperate.
Not able to curb passions and tempers and desires, even for
the glory of God. I'm going to have my way. I don't
care who it hurts. I'm going to have my happiness. I had a preacher one time who
left his wife and two children. and ran off with somebody and
he said, I've just never been happy. Well, who guaranteed you
happiness here, you know? I mean, we've got responsibility. No self-control. My desire is
going to rule whomever it hurts. Listen, fierce. This is the mark
of the day. Fierce. If you don't believe
people are fierce, drive down the highway sometime. Fierce,
boy, I'm telling you. Strike out in anger. against everybody within reach,
unkind, hateful. We're angry. This is an angry
generation. They're angry in the churches.
The preacher's angry. The people are angry. Everybody's
angry. Christ said, Peace be unto you. Peace. Listen, despisers of those that
are good. All the Pharisees hated Christ.
They hated Christ. They hated him without a cause.
And they hate the preachers of the gospel of God's grace without
a cause. Look at that word traitors. Traitor. I'm going to tell you something
different here. You know, usually you think of
the word traitor as a person who betrays his country. That's
about the only way I've ever heard that word used. Traitor.
He's a traitor. He denies and betrays his country. But this reaches to those who
betray secrets. and confidences. That's a traitor.
I've been pastor here 40 years. What if I decide to retire next
week and write my memoirs? And for personal gain, start
exposing everything ever told to me in confidence. That's a
traitor. I read where President Kennedy's
secretary, after he was dead, decided she'd write a book and
make her some money, and she did. That's a traitor. That's
exactly what that is. That's a traitor. You see, there's
several reasons why people do this. They betray confidences and friendships. And these are for three reasons.
Number one, hatred. In other words, they love this
person, they're dear friends, and they share their life together
and all these things, their secrets and confidences, and then they
get mad. And just, you know, that's a traitor. Secondly, secondly,
they'll do it to preserve themselves and blame someone else for their
failure. They think by, that's the reason,
you know, this plea bargaining is wrong. Here are two fellas
in a crime together and one of them says, if you'll give me
a lighter sentence, I'll tell all. That's a traitor. You ought
not plea bargain with fellas like that. But they do it to
preserve themselves. Or thirdly, they'll do it to
gain. That love of money is the root
of evil. Traitors. Heady. What is the word heady
and high-minded? We used to call it a swellhead
when I was growing up. You know what a swellhead is,
don't you? That's a guy puffed up with his own importance. puffed
up with his intelligence, his ability, his accomplishment,
filled with vain conceit, heady, high-minded, lovers, and here
we come back, right back to where we were, lovers of pleasure more
than lovers of God, self-love. Self-love. Come back to right
where you are. When a man truly loves God, it'll put self and
all other things in its proper perspective. And verse, the next
verse says, verse 5, listen, this is religion now we're talking
about. And they have a form of godliness, but they deny the
power from such turn away. What does this mean? They have
a form of godliness. They have the uniform, they have
the doctrines, some of them, they have the words, they have
the rituals, they have the ceremony, they have the look, they have
the outward visual aids and so forth, but deny the power. Here's
what I'm saying. Religion today professes the
scriptures to be the word of God, but deny the power of the
scriptures. There's power in the word of
God. And it's not, I'm to preach God's word, don't take these
things I've dealt with this morning. Now I've preached this. Now what
am I going to do, appoint elders to come to your homes and inspect
you and see if you carry out these things? God's Word will
produce obedience. God's Word will produce holiness. God's Word will produce righteousness. God's Word will... My business
is to preach the Word. It will accomplish that work
until He sent it. It's powerful. And then they preach God. They
talk about God, but they deny the power of God. My friends,
God's on the throne. He's sovereign. He does what
he pleases in heaven, earth, and the seas, and all deep places.
They preach Jesus Christ, but they deny his effectual work
of redemption. They talk about the Holy Spirit,
and then they try to do what he's supposed to do, what he
only can do. They profess the gospel, then
deny the power of the gospel. I know this, that my God is on
the throne. And he's able to do all things
that he purposes or wills to do. I know that this Word is
God's Word. And if God is pleased to take
what I preach here and make it effectual to your heart, it'll
be done. And nothing I can do to make
it effectual but preach it. Is that right? I believe in the
power of God. I don't just have a form of godliness
and deny the power. God's able. He's able. Now here's one of the problems,
verse 6. I'll hurry, listen. For of this sort are they which
creep into houses and lead captives, silly women, laden with sins
and led about with divers lusts. Now listen. Will you stay with
me a moment? These false religionists, these
promoters and hucksters and merchandisers of souls, Seeking vain glory,
they worked just like their father worked. They worked just like
their father. You know what Christ said to
them when he was here? You are of your father, the devil,
his works you'll do. When Satan came after God's creatures,
whom did he attack? Did he attack Adam, head of the
home? He went to his wife. Isn't that
true? He went to his wife. And I'll
tell you this. These false religionists, their
prey and their victims are women. Every false cult, every phony
preacher, every phony sect, every religious era is dominated by
women. And preachers are appealing to
the women. Turn your television on. and
watch all these poop-de-doos. Yesterday, I turned mine on last
night. There was six women across the stage, every one of them
with a microphone. And they were carrying on, and
there was some preacher over here promoting it all. And out
here in the congregation was 90% women. And they were dancing
and screaming and hollering and carrying on, and the men were
trying to, you know, kind of, you know, act like they weren't
reprobates, you know. They were trying to clap or something. But I'm telling you, God made
the man the head of the home. That's what Scripture says. And
God says in His Word, let your women keep silence in the church.
It's not permitted for them to teach, preach, or speak. That's right. That was God's
judgment on the woman. And preachers, if they're truly
God's preachers, They're not going to appeal to the women.
They're going to appeal to their husbands. They're going to preach
the gospel. Oh, they'll preach the gospel.
Of course they will. Don't misunderstand me now. But I'm saying men are
to have the leadership. Men are to lead their family.
Abraham was a priest of his home. David was the head of his home.
Jacob was the head of his home. Joshua said, it's me and my house,
we're going to serve the Lord. His wife didn't run that thing.
Today, religions, Watch them interview a man and a woman.
The woman does all the talking. If a preacher comes into the
home, he ignores the husband so he doesn't talk to the wife.
And that's what this verse is saying. This sort, these boasters
and traitors and heady, high-minded, religious hucksters, they creep
into houses and they lead captive, silly women, laden with sins and led away
with diverse lusts. And it's a female dominated,
turn this channel 61 on sometime, dominated. The most wonderful
thing in the world is a gracious, wonderful mother and wife and
sister who loves Christ and knows something about authority and
knows something about God's leadership and willing for her husband to
take the leadership in things of God. That's right. And if the preacher is the kind
of pastor he ought to be, his dealings will be with the men.
That's exactly right. And he'll put that responsibility
on you men. He'll say, you're responsible
for that home, and I'm going to deal with you. That's right. And he won't raise up all the... You see, women, men are more
prone to govern with their heads and not their hearts and their
emotions. And that's what happened in the early church. The Catholics
went to Mary, feminine, and you just get it, you go anywhere
then. You go to the show and what feels good, or what's emotionally
charging. But it's not that way, it's word,
it's God's word. I'm not being hard, I'm just
being... Verse 7 says they're ever learning and never able
to come to knowledge of the truth. And they're like old, verse 8,
old Janeys and And Jambres, Worcester, Moses, those are the sorcerers
in Egypt. So do these men resist the truth.
They are men of corrupt minds and they reprobate of no judgment
concerning the faith. But they, wait a minute now,
they are not going to succeed. Verse 9, they will proceed no
further than God lets them. Their folly shall be manifest
unto all men as those sorcerers was. Now watch Paul, and I'm
going to read this in close. But you've known my doctrine.
And I say that to you here after 40 years. You know my doctrine.
I'm not embarrassed or ashamed of it. God is God. You know my
manner of life. You know my purpose, that you
might know Christ. You know my faith is in Christ
alone. And you know my patience. I haven't had as much as I ought
to have, but I'm waiting on God. My love and patience, long-suffering. You know the persecutions and
afflictions, and that'll come if you preach the truth. It came
to me at Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and these persecutions I endured,
but out of them the Lord delivered me, yea, and all they that live
godly in Christ Jesus are going to suffer persecution. We can't
straddle the fence. It's not neither here nor there,
it's here. It's got to be said and said so folks will understand
it. Now watch verse 13, but evil men and seducers in religion
are going to wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
But listen, you young folks, listen. Continue thou in the
things which thou hast learned, and hast been assured of, knowing
of whom you have learned them. And from a child you have known
the holy scriptures, that's the foundation, which are able to
make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Jesus
Christ. You got a good foundation. Don't leave it. Don't be deceived. Don't be swayed by these deceivers.
Don't follow the line of least resistance. You know, we want
to be compassionate and kind and affectionate toward all men. But we've got to be truthful.
Got to be truthful. All right, we'll pick that up
tonight right there at that 15th verse, the 16th verse on preaching
the Word. Mike, come lead us in a closing
hymn, 268, How Firm a Foundation, 268.

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Perilous Times for the Church

What does the Bible say about the last days?

How do we know the doctrine of apostasy is true?

Why is self-love a problem for Christians?

How does disobedience to parents reflect on society?

Why is it important for Christians to have knowledge of God's Word?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

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