Do We Really Understand Apostasy

An Understanding of Apostasy

Book of 1 John Chapter 2 verses 15-29

In last week's lesson we learned about Spiritual growth and in this week’s lesson we will learn why we need that growth.

Whenever the Holy Spirit takes the time to warn us about certain things, then we need to pay attention to what He says.

Reading the Scriptures every day is a wonderful thing and we all should do so, but sometimes we need to put our nose to the grindstone and really study to see what the Lord is saying!

This is one of those places!

When we think about "apostasy" in the church, we are talking about those who are forsaking the Lord Jesus Christ and His teachings.

The Apostle Paul says there will be a "falling away" from Christ!

2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

In the Book to Timothy, Paul says "departing from the faith".

1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

Again in the Book to Timothy Paul writes they will not "endure sound doctrine".

2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

These are all Scriptures dealing with "Apostasy" and there are many more.

How does the Apostle John teach us about these things? He says:

*****1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

We cannot experience true victory in Jesus, until we have victory over this world of evil!

This is a world dominated by Satan and we must have victory over Satan and Jesus provides that victory!

Our faith is based upon the invisible things of God's world, which He offers to us.

If we turn around and seek happiness in this world which will one day end, we are forsaking the truth of God!

This world may seem to be a good world, but it is an evil world!

We live in a world where our worthiness is determined by the amount of possessions we own!

Does this mean we cannot appreciate the wonders of God's creation? Absolutely not!

God has provided all the things necessary for us to live a comfortable life and have joy in our lives.

The truth is, the heavens and this earth are just temporary things that are aging and passing away.

We live in a corruptible world, as those with powers use these same elements of the earth to indulge in corruption and sinfulness.

We must not become attached to the things of this world which will be destroyed!

There are no perfect governments on this earth.

There are no perfect societies upon this earth.

Even the church has forgotten to strive for perfection!

We may be loyal to some good things upon this earth, but we must stand against all the bad things of this earth!

Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

We may live in this world, but we are not to be friends of this world!

Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

What is the real truth of this world we live in?

*****1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

We can sit upon a mountain top and view the wonders of God's creation and just say how beautiful is God's creation, but when we get back home, we see something for different.

When we look out upon the societies, we see everyone lusting after the things of the flesh.

We see people giving in to the desires of the flesh.

We live in a sack of flesh that will indulge in any sinful behavior if and when it is given that opportunity!

In most cases it begins with the things we see!

The danger of these things is that we desire things that go against the truth of God.

We desire and go after these things to possess that are forbidden by the Word of God.

We may look upon another man's wife with desire and this is the sin of adultery even if it goes no further than that desire!

Mat 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

Mat 6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

It may sound unrealistic, but we must make a vow with our eyes!

Job_31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

What was the downfall of the great King Solomon?

Ecc 2:10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

Ecc 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

There is no profit from the things of this world!

Then there is the pride of life.

The pride we have that is centered upon ourselves, goes against the Word of God!

When we believe that we are so special that God will just bend over backwards to accommodate our own desires.

When we believe we can do all things without God we will be sadly mistaken.

There is no future without God!

Mat 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

When we fall into these traps, they become so deep they are hard to climb back out of them.

In fact we will not be able to on our own, we will just pass away with the rest of the world!

*****1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

There is only one thing that we need to do every day. We need to do the will of God!

We must understand that there is nothing outside the scope of God's sovereign rule!

Our own salvation falls under this rule of God!

2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

God does as He pleases and, it pleased God to provide us a means of eternal salvation!

God does not and will not ever adjust His plan to accommodate our will! We must obey His will for us!

But there is the permissive will of God, where God will allow certain things that fall in place with His eternal plan.

The truth is the Lord Jesus Christ died according to the preconceived plan of God for our salvation.

This does not mean that wicked men were not responsible for His death!

God knew there was no other way that we could be brought back in fellowship with Him!

We should stand in awe of our Great God who could conceive such a plan of salvation!

We can entrust our eternal days to our Almighty God!

We should rejoice in our salvation!

We can rest in peace as we observe all the things in this evil world we live in!

God holds people responsible for their sins, at the same time He has a plan of redemption!

Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

God proves that He is in total control of this world, but He allows us to make our own choices!

God lets us know that He loves us! It grieves God when we make the wrong choices!

God's will, will abide forever!

Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.

We must also realize that we are in the last of the last days!

*****1Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

There may not be more people who disagree with the doctrine of Jesus Christ, though I believe there are many more.

What we can be sure of in these last days is, that those who do reject Jesus speak with louder voices drowning out the Church because the Church has become so passive!

All the sinful movements move through our nation and others with much fanfare but if something good tries to do the same things then they are forbidden or drowned out because the Church refuses to take a stand and many even endorse this evil!

These loudly proclaim that God could never be a human and so the Scriptures are so full of errors that to believe we can know the actual Word of God makes us a people who border on insanity.

These antichrists broadcast their message freely, on every level!

There are also more antichrists in the church than ever before, and they too loudly proclaim a false doctrine driven by the world giving in to immorality.

John says we are approaching the midnight hour when darkness will assume to rule our world.

The Antichrist could step onto the stage of this world at any moment. He may already be there but hiding in the shadows!

This Antichrist is not the spirit of antichrist that is in our world now, but this will be an actual person.

This Antichrist will rise to be on the stage as a world leader and the world will listen to him because he will speak with the voice of Satan who has transfigured into a spirit of light.

2Co_11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

There are so many today denying the truth of God and the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, we can be certain that the Second Coming of the Lord is very soon!

What is the truth?

2Th_2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

We are in that day of the great falling away!

*****1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

Where do antichrist come from? They walk right out of the doors of the church proclaiming they have been misled.

Teachers who proclaim some new doctrine.

Preachers who have mixed the doctrine of evolution with the truth of creation.

Preachers who have allowed the government to dictate the doctrine of the Church.

Churches that have opened the church doors to the world denying the true Christ who is the foundation of the Church!

1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

How can we know them?

*****1Jn 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

1Jn 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

That word unction means as believers we have the anointing of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit lives within each of us to guide us and to protect us from false things.

A non-believer or an antichrist cannot have the anointing to the Holy Spirit so they cannot know the truth of doctrines of the Bible!

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Joh 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

The Holy Spirit knows all things about Jesus Christ that we need to know so He will lead us away from the antichrist!

*****1Jn 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

1Jn 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

We are God the Father's "little children" and we need to be warned!

Those who deny that Jesus is the Messiah are liars!

Those who deny that Jesus is a Person in the Personage of God, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit are all liars!

Those who deny that Jesus was 100% man and 100% God at the same time are all liars!

Those who deny the truth of the Word of God are all liars!

Those who deny that Jesus is God have chosen to believe the Anti-god!

Mat 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Those who stand against God the Father and His Son are doomed to damnation!

Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

There are really no true Atheists in this world, but the world is full of people who claim some god and the only God is the Lord Jesus Christ!

Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

I think the Holy Spirit answers every question that can be ask about our Savior right here in this passage!

Those who are sure we have a Creator had better know that God the Father sent forth His Son as this Creator and to reject any part of these things is to deny Him!

*****1Jn 2:24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

1Jn 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

What we have heard from the Apostles is the "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is the "Gospel" that has all the answers of life and life eternal!

If we do not know God, how can we ever say we are pleasing to Him.

"And let's just get one thing very straight right now, God is MALE and not female"!

How can there be a "Bride of Christ" if there is not the Groom, God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ?

It is the "Gospel" that must continue in us all our days once He has come into our hearts!

God has given us 66 books all bound up in one and any study of these books will lead you to the Lord Jesus Christ the answer to life, the answer to salvation, the answer to eternal life!

What words best describe the "Gospel"?

1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

1Co 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

1Co 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Gal 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

Gal 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

There is only one "Gospel"!

It is by the "Gospel" that comes eternal life in fellowship with the Almighty God!

As long as we are upon this earth there will be those deny the "Gospel"!

*****1Jn 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

1Jn 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

John has already taught us that these who would "seduce"(entice, deceive, lead astray) would come from inside the Church.

1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us;

Those, some inside the church, will teach that there is some other way to restore fellowship with God and this simply is not true.

No one is good enough.

No one is righteous enough.

No one is rich enough.

We must always be on guard against false teaching because there is just too much at stake.

We will never regain fellowship with our Creator if we try some other way than the "Gospel"!

If God the Father, sent God the Son to die for us then, how could we ever believe that there was some other way?

God sent His Son to save mankind, if there had been some other way then there would be no need for the "Gospel"!

God then sent God the Holy Spirit to protect His investment!

Without the anointing of the Holy Spirit to seal our redemption we would still be lost!

Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

Tit_3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

We cannot deny the Triune God and still say we understand the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ!

We are doomed to failure if we do not abide in our Savior!

*****1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

1Jn 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

What is the greatest test of being a Christian? Do we rest in the truth of the "Gospel"?

Do we dwell with Jesus?

Are we ashamed of Jesus Christ?

Have we made our home with the Lord?

I can openly confess that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior!

I fully believe that God has shown His love for me by Jesus Christ!

I can confess that I love God because He first loved me!

1Jn 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

I will have boldness in the Day of Judgment because "I know my name is written down in the Lamb's Book of Life"!

I know the truth of God and this truth has made me free from the penalties of sin!

Joh_8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Joh_8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

I will never be ashamed of my Savior!!!!!

I am at peace with God because He called me to meet His Son!

I have been "Born Again" into the family of God!

Have You?

Amen

Let's Pray!

Apostasy In The Last Days of the Church Age

Departing from The Faith

Book of 1 Timothy Chapter 4

We can understand this passage if we understand "apostasy"!

Apostasy takes place when a so-called Christian abandons the doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This can take place by making a verbal declaration or we can see it by their actions.

Paul was charged with apostasy by Jewish elders when he became a Christian. They were wrong, and Paul was right.

Act 21:21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

This charge was made of against Stephen:

Act 6:13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:

Act 6:14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

In fact, it was this charge that the Jews used against the Lord Jesus Christ!

Luk 20:20 And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

In fact, Paul said, departing from the faith, would be one of the many signs that we are in the lasts days!

2Th_2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

We can understand that the latter days extend from the day of the Lord's ascension until the Lords return. He will return at first to gather His Church and at least seven years later He will come to judge all the nations of this world and to gather the Jews.

Toward the very last of days there will be a great falling away, before the rapture takes place.

We may ask why such a thing would take place in the church and it will be because they "will heed to seducing spirits" and the "doctrines of devils"!

Here is an article from the Christian Post:

There is an ongoing silent migration away from the church of an estimated 3,500 individuals each and every day.

A 2014 study indicated that over 1.2 million people will leave the church in the next year.

Several factors are contributing to this trend, but the majority of individuals who are leaving the church, report "that they no longer feel connected" to the church.

The number of churches that are closing their doors every year is leading to an overall decline in church attendance.

In 2015, it is estimated that over 10,000 churches closed their doors.

This has led to a growing host of Christians who no longer have a place to connect with other believers.

In fact, The Barna Group reports that the average size of a church congregation in America today, is just 89 adults.

That means for each church door that closes, almost 100 people are left without a spiritual home.

Those that leave the most are the young people. Many are now in that group called millennials!

We could say that we are living in the last days of the Church Age and the "Rapture" of the Church, is the next thing on the prophetic calendar!

*****1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Of course, that Spirit is the Holy Spirit who lives in each and every true believer!

The Holy Spirit picked this letter written from Paul to Timothy and then to the church, to make known this prophesy. We should understand in all the epistles of Paul, He does not think of his present age as being these latter days, even though false preachers and teachers were around in his day and have continued unto our day.

This age would be something out of the ordinary, which is what we are seeing in this present day and age!

To get a good understanding of these things we need only read Chapter 2 and 3 of the Book of the Revelation describing the 7 Church Ages.

The source of treachery in the Church has always come from the human agents of Satan!

None of these men and women are omnipotent nor are they able to resist the Christian to stands firm on the Word of God and this is the problem in our Churches today, the members are not taught to wear the armor of God at all times.

*****1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

1Ti 4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

1Ti 4:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Hypocrisy is the telling of lies with the intention to change the mind of that listener.

This takes a deceiver who claims to know and live the truth of God, but his teaching will be that we as individuals can be higher than God.

This was the first of Satan's lies to Eve.

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

This was the same lie of those early descendants of Noah!

Gen 11:4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

These agents of Satan may use a different approach today, but their message is still the same, they insist that "as humans we just do not need God"!

God cautions us about these things and gives us the means to tell the difference of a false Pastor or the true Pastor.

1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

It's all about Jesus Christ! When you reject Jesus Christ as the God of the Bible, then you are teaching a false message, and a false doctrine!

There is only one kind of faith that can save anyone. We can have all kinds of faith but there is only one saving faith and that is the faith in God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!

A seared conscience is someone who has grown callous in their own flesh like the branding with a hot iron. They are senseless and unfeeling when it comes to the truth of God and a personal relationship with Him.

We must remember God established the family before He did the Church. A marriage is between one man and one woman and God would have never required a Pastor or any elder of the church to abstain from marriage.

The Apostle Paul condemned the practices the Gnostics, the Essenes and all sects that forbade the Christian marriage.

Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

There are still those today, who deny the Lord's Day, who deny baptism, who deny repentance, who deny the tithe, who deny the formation of the Church.

They deny the Church is the Spiritual "Body of Christ".

This is the faith that the Christian must never depart from!

Every attack from false teachers and false preachers will come against the truth of God!

Every attack on the pure truth of God, should be rejected immediately!

False teachers deny, refute, and ignore the truth of God and they know they do! It is their intention to do so!

We must clearly understand that just as the Lord seeks men to call into the ministry, the forces of evil also seek men to do their bidding!

The doctrine of false teachers is serious, so serious that it could make us search our own hearts for the truth and at that point the devil has succeeded to get a toe hold into your Christian life.

What is Gnosticism? Gnosticism is a philosophical system built upon Greek philosophy that stressed matter is evil and only the spirit is good.

If this was true. then God could not have created this material world we live in.

They rejected the God of the Old Testament.

They claimed a spirit (demiurge) had all the power of creation and enough matter to create this material world.

They held two differing views of Jesus:

1) Because matter is evil then Jesus could have never come in human form, He only appeared to have human form.

2) That a divine Logos (a rendering) came upon the human Jesus and departed from Him prior to His crucifixion.

Therefore, salvation was also philosophical.

Only those who are specifically initiated can be saved, if you fall into this trap.

Sin and evil are then associated with ignorance or lack of knowledge.

Therefore, a man's task was to deny self and avoid the things of this world and control the body as much as possible.

Today this is called Christian Science! Still believing that only that special few could obtain such knowledge and be saved.

These things were destroying the Church in Ephesus.

The two things that were to be denied were the eating of meat and the forbidding of marriage!

These are two things that God had already blessed, the marriage and all meats received with thanksgiving!

Some of these decided that since it was the spirit that only mattered, then nothing in this world mattered and people could do as the pleased.

We can see that these two things are still rampant in the church of today and they are still false teachings.

**There are those who concentrate upon the body and its health. (trying to overcome aging and the dying of the body as much as possible)

**There are still those who refuse to marry and are vegetarians.

**There are far too many today who live as they please.

All these are forms of Gnosticism. They give attention to their spirit and worship only as they please.

The truth of God destroys these lifestyles and this false teaching, and this is another reason the Word of God is rejected!

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

What did Jesus teach?

Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

What was Timothy 's job as Paul saw it?

*****1Ti 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

1Ti 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

It was Timothy's job to make this church aware of this false teaching by teaching the truth of God!

By doing this, Timothy would also be nourished up in the words of faith and of a sound doctrine!

If your Pastor does not lift up the Lord Jesus Christ, as God in every way, then you need to find you another place of worship!!!!!!!!!!!!

The truth is, we will never know happiness until we have heard the truth of God!

Truth always points out the flaws of a false message!

There should not be one sermon or a single message that is to be taught in the House of God, that cannot be backed up by the truth of the Scriptures!!!!!!!

The truth of God never goes out of style, it is the same in every Age!!!!!!!!!!!

The Pastor in the ministry of Jesus Christ show that he is subordinate to the authority of Jesus Christ!

The Pastor in the ministry of Jesus Christ will adhere to the doctrines of Jesus Christ!

The Pastor in the ministry of Jesus Christ will be steadfast in his imitation of the example of Jesus Christ!

This same Pastor will know that he is dependent upon the "Grace" of God!!!!!! "God's Riches At Christ Expense"

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know!!!!!!!

There are no speculations in the Scriptures!

We must all refuse profane tales.

We must reject "old wives’ tales and fables" as the notions of men and not the Lord Jesus!

These things have no place in the house of God whose foundation is the Lord Jesus Christ!

Act 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

Act 24:15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

Act 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

According to Luke, Paul spoke these words to that Roman Captain Lysias when he came under the attack of Judaizers in Jerusalem.

*****1Ti 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

1Ti 4:9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.

Remember there were those in the church at Ephesus, who did everything that they could to stop the aging process of their bodies.

Reminds me of those who give their bodies to yoga. Taking care of bodies is a necessary thing but, it must not involve worship!

Paul did not mean that bodily exercise was not good for us. Paul meant that the best we could do in maintaining good health would be to add a few years to our life and that is great but, it cannot compare to that life of eternity we get by keeping the truth of God!

We are to exercise ourselves in godliness which brings with it everlasting life!

To the Pastor all his energy, his effort, his time, and his dedication are to be given over to living in godliness!

Psa 37:16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

Psa 37:17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

Psa 37:18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

Psa 37:19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

Living in godliness is much more important than all the things that we can do to keep our body healthy.

*****1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

1Ti 4:11 These things command and teach.

The most important thing we can do in this life is to place our trust, our faith, in the Living God, "our God is alive"!

Why do true Pastors suffer reproach? Because they preach the truth of God.

The reproach comes because we live in a world that does not like to hear the truth. That truth being that Jesus Christ is the Savior of all men!

The suffering comes because this world we live in, makes it hard to be Christian , because Jesus Christ is hated by those who cannot believe the truth that Jesus Christ is the Savior of all mankind!

As Christians we have rested our hope on the Living God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

As Christians we must all labor in the field of the lost, but it is the true Pastor who will labor the most.

It is the true Pastor who will come under the attack of Satan's children much more than his flock!

2Co 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

If we are to be reproached by this evil world, then let it not be reproach for some evil thing!

When we are reproached for well-doing then we can still have a clear conscience. We must, with our integrity, serve God and trust that He will protect us but more than that, we must honor His will for us!

We not only serve a Risen Living Savior, but the same God of Creation who has the power to keep us safe!

Christ is the Savior for all mankind, but He will only save those who believe in Him to do this thing called "Salvation".

When we do not share this good news, then we have not been the Christian that the Lord is seeking!

Psa 17:6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

Psa 17:7 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.

Psa 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

Psa 17:9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

It was very important for Timothy to be strong in the Lord.

Timothy may have been younger than 30 years old, (some say around 23 years old) and this would not help him in dealing with Judaizers.

Timothy was a son of a mixed marriage Jew and Gentile, this also he would be used against him by many Jews, just as it is for those of today.

Act 16:1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:

Act 16:2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

Act 16:3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

Timothy had the name of Greek descent but all his life he was trained as a Jew by his Jewish mother and grandmother which was the normal Jewish way. Which also made him a Jew because his mother was a Jew.

Remember the line to Jesus had to come through Sarah, the wife of Abraham!!!!!

We see again it does not matter where we come from it only matters where we are going.

It was Timothy's job to proclaim the Word of God to all those who would listen!

*****1Ti 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

1Ti 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Timothy was to be an example to the believers at Ephesus! Timothy had to prove that he was mature enough to be Pastor this church so full of false doctrine.

Timothy had to be wise in the things that he said and did!

Tit 2:8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

Timothy had to be faithful to his calling at all times!

Timothy had to be an example in his behavior!

He had to be an example in his love for the Church.

He had to be an example in his spirit, he had to walk in the Holy Spirit!

He had to be an example in "faith" which is faithfulness.

Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Luk 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Timothy had to be an example in purity. He had to live a clean, moral, just, and honest life, and every move he made would be scrutinized!

This was a lot to ask from any Pastor, but that young Timothy was the most suited of all those who travel with Paul.

Timothy had to be devoted to the life of Pastoring this church in Ephesus!

*****1Ti 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

1Ti 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

Each Pastor is called and equipped by the Holy Spirit. If that Pastor does not use that gift to its full extent, then he is neglecting the gifts of God!

There had been those who prophesied that Timothy would become a Pastor of the Christian Church and it had come true.

Timothy had been ordained by the elders of the Church, in which Paul was one of those elders and found qualified!

If Timothy did not answer his calling to the fullest extent, he would answer to God who called him!

Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Meditation can be said to be faith, hope, love, joy, and all the fruit of the Holy Spirit wrapped up into one mind.

2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

2Co 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Timothy had to pay attention, that everything he did was according to the Word of God in his life!

God's Word will not come back void, but it will do what God sends it out to do!

Every Pastor must guard himself and his teaching.

Every Pastor is only a sinner saved by the "Grace" of God just as any other Christian and he also must flee from the temptations of this world.

He should not only try to keep himself physically fit, but he must remain spiritually fit!

Being a Pastor is not a one day of the week job, he must worship God every day and he must live in God's Word.

If Timothy could continue in the instructions of the Word of God and not abandon his faith, then this would lead to the salvation of many!

Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

When we depart from our faith, we have said no to God the Father! THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING TO DO!

Amen

Let's Pray!