If you have your Bibles, please meet me in the book is second
Timothy and as you're turning, there may also add that just
because we are doing membership in this church.
Does not mean that we don't love our guests and visitors.
And so, if you are a guest or visitor here this afternoon,
welcome. We're so blessed that you can
sing with us and receive God's word together.
We hope that you would leave here loving Jesus more than when
you came in. That is our prayer for guests
and members. So God bless you.
If you're there in, second Timothy meet me in chapter 3.
Anna meet me in verse 6 of chapter 3.
And let's read and then we will pray.
The spirit of God says, for among them are those who creep
into households and capture weak woman burdened with sins and led
astray by various passions. Always learning and never able
to arrive at a knowledge of the truth just as jannes and jambres
opposed Moses. So, these men also oppose the
truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the
faith. But they will not get very far
for their Folly will be playing to all.
As was that of those two men? Lord, we ask you today.
Lord, we ask you today to help us understand these verses, but
we thank you for a place for people that love your word and
love. Would you honor our hunger for
righteousness and Phyllis this afternoon?
Lord. We confess our weakness or
inability to understand or even to communicate this truth apart
from the power of the Holy Spirit.
And so Lord, we just we just call upon you with desperation.
In our hearts, we want to know your mind, your heart, your will
we want to know your character, your ways.
So we pray o. God, that you would give us the
attention that would be able to receive this word and totality
and then the power to obey it the power to obey it, but we
submit ourselves to you in this time in Jesus name, we pray.
Amen. after Paul, for won't for Warren's of the deceptions that
will come in the last days and the characteristics that will
describe those who will Populate, the Earth. that will
become normal, that will become praised and commended These past
few weeks, we've been trying to understand these things
separately but we we haven't touched on each of them.
That's okay. But we come to the final portion
of this text and we see that before the, the verses we read,
we recognize that Paul is given Christians.
A brief instruction in relation to how we should respond to the
Future corruption, that has been prophesied in the scripture.
And the summary of how Christians should apply this
long list of Despicable practices.
And attitudes is found at the end of verse 5, it's only three
words really but it is deeply meaningful important for us to
grasp. Paul tells Christians, Paul
tells Believers. Paul tells Timothy after hearing
about lovers of self and pride and by those who are
disrespectful towards Authority and slanderous, he says avoid
such people Avoid such people, that is the Christians take away
of how we are to properly counter.
The flood of Filth, that will that will come our way, maybe
even our lifetime to avoid. Simply means to turn yourself
away to keep yourself at a safe distance from those who are
dominated by the flesh. But how was Timothy supposed to
avoid something that was supposed to happen in the
future? Is this not telling us of a day
to come? Is that telling us about the
people that will surface in a future time?
Surely absolutely but for there to be a present application,
implies something very important that the things, the evil
beliefs and behaviors, that will be known, then are in operation
right now. They are here, they were there
in Timothy's day. They were there long before that
and they're, they're here in America and 2022.
So the understanding here is not is not to just see it as a
future thing, but as a present reality and as we heard week
after week, those things that we learn in verse 1, to verse 5
will only intensify as we race towards the final hour before
the return of Jesus Christ. Avoid such people is that really
the best way to relate to those who are spiritual blindness?
Who aren't hypocrisy, who are consumed with wickedness?
Are we not supposed to reach those people?
Are we not supposed to relate to those people?
The answer is yes or no the answer is yes or no.
God clearly tells us to avoid such people but remember back a
few verses when he says that the servant of the Lord must I'm to
everyone able to teach with patients with the hopes that
some of them might be able to Escape From The Snare of Satan.
Our participation and seeing people liberated from darkness
is not possible unless we interact with such individuals.
And therefore, we cannot mistakenly think that to avoid
such people is equivalent to not engaging with these people.
At the same time, Christian listen to me, there is a warning
in these words to be extremely careful about who we entertain
in our lives about who it is that we allow to have close
proximity to us who we associate with, who we allow to be in our
Inner Circle because I want to tell you today that there are
many Christians who believe they have the restraining power.
To resist, being influenced by others.
And I want to tell you, you don't There are those who are
convinced that they are impervious to the influences of
attitudes and the actions of others, that it doesn't matter
who they are around, who is around them.
He had the Holy Spirit speaks candidly to Christians about
this being a deception. This is a deception that
Christians can fall under. And we are told by Paul in First
Corinthians 15, do not be deceived Bad Company.
Ruins good morals. We always emphasize on the
second part Bad Company ruins good morals.
And we forget the first aspect of that.
Verse do not be deceived. Implying what Christians can be
misled and thinking that I can have bad company without Then
consequences. This is dangerous.
There are many reasons why Christians would believe this.
That they have some inner fortitude, where they can't be
swayed by a person or a crowd into the wrong direction.
Some think that it's just harmless that is just
relationships. It's just, it's just just having
time together. Others would think that, well,
you know, it's just me being kind and, and that is what they
work with. When in fact, they are really
wanting to satisfy a fleshly pleasure by being associated.
To some And yet, there are other good-hearted Christians that
have good intentions, and they are willing to link themselves
to others and be present. Have them be present in their
lives for the sole purpose of saying, I want to win them to
Christ. I want to I want to attract them
to the gospel. I want to bring them closer to
the truth and that is a noble, cause that is something that we
should apply. That is something that we should
Endeavor to do. But let me remind you this
afternoon that as much as you might be trying to win some
people, there are some people who want to win you There's some
people who want to win, you away from Christ.
When you away from Holiness who want to win, you away from the
principles of God's word, you have to understand that today.
But at the same time we also want to be present and those who
are arrested by Satan and his lies.
So what do we do? How do we work this out?
Very simple, get wisdom. That is what Jesus told his
original band of Soul winners, while he was on the earth.
He says, behold, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves
and what did he say? Be wise as what serpents and
innocent as doves. That is very famous verse but
people don't often quote what he says, next.
The first few verse in Matthew 10, 17, that was Matthew 10:16
after he says, be wise as serpents and innocent as doves,
he goes on to say, beware of men.
Beware of men. In other words, in your
endeavors to relate build relationships.
And your decisions are who you're going to let in, who
you're going to keep at a distance.
Be cautious, be alert, be Discerning, be realistic about
people. There are some who actually want
to lure, you away from the truth that you want to share as much
as you want to help people. Can I remind you today that
there are people out there that want to harm you I want to harm
your testimony your relationship with Christ.
You even physically, As much as you want to see people saved
realize that there are some people who want to take
advantage of your sacrificial love.
So, this calls for a discernment, this calls for a
wisdom. and if we don't, We may be inviting life-altering
problems. That could have been avoided and
that is exactly what Paul is. Teaching Timothy here in those
verses that we read. The potential threats of some of
those who are driven by carnal desires and those carnal desires
are listed in verse 12, verse 5. And that's in essence.
What Paul is telling Timothy is, hey Timothy, listen to me.
Understand what I'm trying to say that you and your people
need to learn to avoid other, some specifically, because as
much as they might be spiritually, blind, there are
some within that camp that are not just unaware, unbelieving.
They are vicious. And they're out for blood.
And they actually want to do more damage than you can
imagine. And Timothy, I want to tell you,
they are not immediately recognizable.
Some of them have the appearance of godliness and that is the way
they have their way, with those who are truly Godly.
Didn't we read it? And verse 6 we are told for
among them among who again the list of those people in verse 1
to verse 5, notice how honest the Bible is, it doesn't say all
of them, it says some of them. In other words, not everybody
who is outside of Christ is a lethal threat to you.
Not, everybody is a danger to you.
Now everybody's going to lead you into deception or two ways
of life that will be destructive, not everybody but
some of them will Because some of them will that alone requires
for us to be on guard and to seek God, for discernment.
Who to avoid who to allow, who to permit and who to disregard.
And these people here, some of them though, not all of them
have the potential, they have a goal, they were Twisted
ambition, and that is what we read to capture certain people.
Timothy, I need to tell you something that there are people
within the camp of those who do not obey Jesus Christ as Lord,
who don't just not believe in the gospel, but they actually
seek to take people captive And Paul is warning here, not a
physical kidnapping but about those who are skillful and
seducing, the Mind those who are able to trick people, the
Apostle is most likely primarily warning about those who have
false teaching and lure people into their damning Doctrine but
it's not just limited to that. He could very well be speaking
about those who have a cloak of Holiness, but it has since come
to those who are naive in order to manipulate them so that they
can take advantage of them physically.
Financially. And everything in between, can I
prove that to you go to the book of Jude with me right before the
Book of Revelation? 1 chapter verse for Jude verse
4, we are told as we turn our Bibles there.
For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were
designated for this condemnation, ungodly people who
pervert the grace of our God, into sensuality and deny, our
only master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
So there are people out there who not only attack the
authority of God's word, but there are false people out there
who take God's word twist it and Jude uses the word perverts it
perverts. It isn't, it isn't a language to
milk a verse for here who pervert, the grace of God.
Right. Look at before that, who have
crept in unnoticed, isn't it the same language that Paul uses in
second Timothy? Verse 6 and chapter, 34 among
them are those who creep into households.
So what's the idea here is that they cunningly come off as
knowledgeable and spiritual people?
They come off as innocent and so innocent, do they come off that
they are actually able to enter into people's personal domains
and sit and have dinner with them and sit in their living
rooms. And so they come into people's
personal lives under false pretenses.
And so it's not immediately seen they worm their way and they
convince people falsely. And some of these imposters will
create friendships friendships in order to lure people away
from the gospel or not tonight, even believe it in the first
place. But not just that there are some
who actually build relationships through the shared love of a
supposed gospel. when in fact they perverted practically and
they seek to cause you to join them in their perversion, Of
Truth. So we're not just merely talking
about people who are clearly in lies about God or false
religions. We're talking about those who
pervert the grace of God. And listen, as much as you and I
should feel safe in this Community of Faith, we should
not be foolish, we should not be foolish to believe that there
are not some who were willing to daringly enter into your Slither
away. In order to do just that Lure
some away. We cannot think for a moment and
be ignorant of the schemes of the minions of Satan, to think
that he just lurks outside. Oh no, he didn't just lurk
outside. He seeks to lure those from
within, from the protective care of Elders.
And those who make up the body of that local church, you got to
believe it. But these wolves are clever,
man. They are clever, they know who
to sniff out, they know exactly who to go for as a primary
target. They don't just go for anybody.
Paul is about to describe the Criterion who it is that these
men specifically gravitate towards who it is that they
often convince and draw away from the truth, either from
initial belief. Or because there are weak in the
faith into destructive Behavior. Read it again.
Would you in verse 6? For among them are those to
creep into households and capture weak woman.
Weak woman. You can breathe woman.
He's not saying all woman my sister's, he's not generalizing
your sex. He speaking about a certain
class of woman. He speaking about those that He
by the spirit has observed. There is a pattern here. that
when these false teachers in these false people come after to
devour, they often initially come after those who are women
And somebody cleverly pointed out that even from the
beginning, when Satan slid with his way, to the first parents of
humanity, he did not go to Adam first.
He went to Eve, And those who Advocate error have followed his
example ever since. Perhaps some would mistakenly
think that the weakness of woman.
Here, remember he's not saying all women are weak.
He's being about a certain category of women who are weak.
Some would probably think that this speaks of a unique gullible
nastas or are trustworthy spirit that just just believes anything
that they here and that would be a misinterpretation of what Paul
is saying here. About weakness, the weakness
that he is describing here speaks of a Frailty and
morality. And in spirituality, he's not
speaking about a less than average intelligence or ability
to reason that is not the case at all.
What he's saying about weakness is described in these verses,
the weakness here is and what we just read.
And what's profound about Paul's thoughts.
Your, by the spirit is that these characteristics of what
makes a woman or a man week is that it is connected to
deception. Meaning if these things are true
in a person's life they are more prone to being deceived and
there are evil men out there who are fully aware of that and will
take advantage of it. So let's look at these
characteristics. Remember weakness is not.
Speaking of all women, let me clarify weakness is speaking
about a category of women who through pattern have fallen
victim primarily to these evil men.
Number one, We are told here, they are burdened with sins.
They are burdened with sins. The idea of being burden here,
speaks of having sins heaped, upon them, and experiencing the
heavy guilt that wrongdoing often causes it speaks about a
conscience that is tormented, almost it speaks about your past
sins, or your present sins that stir up humiliation.
That caused you to be disappointed in yourself to the
point where it even affects your emotional stability.
False teachers, please pay attention and false professing
Christians love to play on people's shame and guilt.
They loved it. They can smell it.
And what they do often is that they cleverly seek to discover
your secrets, your failures of the past, maybe your struggles
in the present, because they realize that if having these
insights, they can easily manipulate you.
Sometimes that manipulation looks like promising, false
relief, or false salvation. Is it not true that many people
seek out spiritual things? When they've made a wreck of
their lives? When because of their decisions
they have been LED on a path of destruction and and emptiness
and being void, they begin to seek out Transcendent realities
and and that can be good because they can find the gospel but
false teachers also want to present something that is not
true. And so, sometimes oftentimes
people who are burdened by their way of life, crushed by what
they've done to people into themselves, begin to now yearn
for something else, some answers to what can fill and help them,
not realize their shame and help them distract themselves from
their pain. And they are introduced to false
teaching false teachers welcome to the world of Cults.
You know how many Cults bring in people you know how they bring
in people many reasons, one of them is this they bring a an
invitation into a communal life. And that's a perversion of what
we know in the church but they try to convince you of some
satisfaction of some kind of love which is a false love.
It's packaged with poison and people who are burdened by life,
people who are lonely, people who have made decisions that
have caused them to be in a certain place gravitate towards
these false teachers because these false teachers gravitate
towards them. But it's not just limited to
that. People who are burdened with
sins. These people who are false can
smell it and they capitalize on it.
Not to lead you into damning beliefs, but to use that as a
weapon against you. And what these people will do is
they will often smear your failures in your face especially
when you do not give them what they ask of you.
They know how to they know how to play on your guilt, in order
to steer you in a certain direction.
And if you don't believe what I am saying, this is biblical,
this is a psychology, this isn't scripture.
This is the strategies of those who are consumed with the Flesh
and want to consume others to satisfy their flesh.
Turn with me to Second Peter, chapter 2, verse 14.
So remember there are those who come after people?
Who are burdened with sins as Peter says, promising them
Freedom while they themselves are slaves to corruption.
That's the new age. That's every other religion
apart from the true one promising, you Freedom while
they themselves are slaves to corruption.
But there are others who will manipulate those who are
unsteady who are burdened in order to satisfy their sin.
Second Peter 2, 14 proves it. This is a this is a context on
false teachers and Peter says about these false teachers.
They have eyes full of adultery. You know what that means?
They are so consumed with lust that every woman they look at is
it 10 shal fantasy to being fulfilled.
Somebody that they can commit adultery with somebody that they
can get to commit adultery with them there.
Their eyes are full of adultery, they just see women as objects.
But look how they do it. Look how they lure people, they
have eyes full of adultery insatiable for sin.
They entice unsteady Souls. They have hearts trained in
greed, accursed children. I want to tell you that,
Predators can easily detect those who have broken pasts.
And they favor those kinds of people as prey because they
know, they know that they have an advantage with somebody who
is emotionally damaged. Or unstable and their soul or
not anchored, who don't understand their identity in the
freedom that they have in Jesus Christ have been set free by the
knowledge of the truth. Burden with sins.
These weak women are burdened with sins but not just burden
with sins. They are LED was we what are we
told and led astray by various passions.
At the end of verse 6, this is not the same as the previous
Point. What Paul is teaching here is
that the communicating truth is that these women are driven by
the flesh? Their decisions and their
desires are not governed by the word of God.
They are dominated by the natural mind.
Now, by the influence of the indwelling power of the Holy
Spirit by the Flesh, and notice he doesn't mention any
particular sins, he says, LED astray by various passions,
there is a wide spectrum of selfishness, that all have the
same effect and they can include anything that we've studied over
the past several weeks, from verses 1 to verse 5.
It can be women, who are unrepentant of, pride of Gossip
of slander of the Love of Money of materialism.
But here's the main point because their lives are not
governed by the spirit, they're easily Guided by the wrong
people. To tolerate any sin can be
catastrophic in many ways. But let me give you one
consequence of sin that many do not consider When sin when a
life of obedience is not repented of but cherished and
embraced it blunts it. Dulls a person's ability to
discern. It creates a fog.
It does something to reason. It does something to your
ability to see things as they are, as they should be seen.
And there are so many examples, but the one verse that comes to
mind that makes us so clear. It's found in the prophets book
Hosea and 4:11. I believe this is worth turning
your Bibles to to see the wisdom of God, concerning the
consequences of sin. He speaking about his people,
his people who were destroyed for, what a lack of what.
Knowledge is the same chapter Hosea 4:6?
My people are destroyed, what a powerful.
Word destroyed shattered crushed because of a lack of knowledge.
And then he goes on to say in Hosea, 411 and speaking about,
The equation of lacking the truth of God.
And the addition of this, look at this and verse 11, whoredom.
Wine and new wine, which take away the understanding.
Whoredom wine and new wine. It does something.
It takes away understanding. Now, there's no debate that if a
person is intoxicated with drink that, they lose their ability,
at least a lot of ability to discern or to make right.
Judgments. That's obvious.
But what might not be obvious is that the Holy Spirit places in
the same? Verse of the category of wine
whoredom? A promiscuous, life Indulgence,
sexual immorality. And would you have ever guessed
that something like whoredom? Would have the same effects to
the mind to the spirit of a man, as alcohol does to the body.
Is anybody ever considered that? This sin can lead someone to
just as much foolishness as a person?
Who is intoxicated with alcohol can be That's why I'm Proverbs
6. We are told that he who commits
adultery lacks sense. He lacks sense.
She lacks sense. She didn't understand.
He does understand what this is going to lead to.
So there's an intoxicating influence from sin.
And we see that in numbers 25 you don't have to turn there
verse 1. When the sons of Israel are now
committing whoredom with the daughters of Moab, they're
getting involved physically with these Idol worshippers and then
in the very next verse, we are told that they start worshipping
these false gods. How did you go from Intimate
Relationships to Bow before an idol?
Well, because whoredom Takes away.
Understanding. What about, what about an
individual like, Solomon? That guy remember his community
of wives that he had. what a tragic figure a man with so much
wisdom, wisdom from God, wisdom to build God's house, but
because because of a lust, A lust for power, political power,
a Lust For Women obviously. That wisdom became blurred.
And it's not just lust, my brother and sister, it's not
just limited to whoredom and new wine.
So if you've been with us on Friday nights, we have a case
study of somebody who has lost all sense of perception,
concerning his fellow man himself and God King Saul.
Oh, the craziness of this man, believing things about God,
believing things about the right people about the wrong people,
it's just unfathomable. And where does it all start?
From all, you just trace it back.
He allowed pride and jealousy to rein in his heart.
And that pride in jealousy, bread deception.
And he couldn't see God, right? He could interpret events,
right? He couldn't see the people,
right? Sin impairs our judgment.
This is why we should flee from it.
Peter tells us to war against the passions of your flesh,
because they wore against you. Sin is not some little pet that
you can keep in your living room and visit once in awhile and
feed when you're hungry, when she's hungry, no sin will
destroy your life. It will shatter your life.
I'm just blown away by how under emphasize sin is, And many
puppets today. And if sin is cherished, if it
is tolerated, listen, it should be no question that it would
lead somebody to the wrong people and even to the wrong
beliefs especially when those beliefs allow you to hold onto
your sin. So Paul says these false
teachers, these people have an appearance of godliness, even
who might even hold a Bible. These people come after those,
who are LED, not by the spirit, not by the word, but by the
impulses of their flesh, Lastly says something quite
interesting. In verse 7.
Here's a third characteristic of those who are weak morally.
Weak spiritually. There are always learning and
never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
So this verse alone deals with any controversy about the
weakness here being spoken of of being uneducated or
simple-minded. That's not the case at all.
In fact, the woman that Paul has in mind, when he is teaching on
this demonstrate, great hunger for knowledge.
They actually eager to acquire information and let's put it in
our context. Some of these women can have
their beees, they're amazed their phds.
Some of them can be Avid readers, they can be students of
History, they can be familiar with the political landscape.
They can debate philosophy and they can even attempt to satisfy
their spiritual pitch by listening to gurus and teachers
who might even call themselves Christians, when in fact, they
are not biblical. But with all of that education,
with all of that acquirement of general knowledge would all of
the questionable, faith-based teachings, that they are
plugging into their ears through podcast.
Paul has one main concern about these women, who are weak their
biblically illiterate They're always learning.
But they never arrived to the knowledge of the truth and
primary, that means that they reject the gospel all together,
but it's not limited to that the word knowledge here.
Speaks about a correct and precise understanding.
It's the same thing that Paul prayed for, for the Ephesians,
when he says, oh that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened
concerning the knowledge of Jesus Christ that you would have
a precise laser focus understanding of Jesus, a deeper
grasp of Truths of God. These women never arrived there.
They don't, it's not speaking about you having a memorized
Systematic, Theology. It's not about you being a
theologian. It's more than that.
Speaking about a disinterest, in the things of God.
Speaking about a failure, to see the beauty of the gospel and
wanting to discover deeper things in him.
He speaks about not being governed by the authority of
God's Sovereign word, And Hosea said it, my people are destroyed
for a lack of knowledge. Blend it all together.
Now, blend all these characteristics together.
What do you have when a person either rejects or is this
interested in discovering the glories of God's word?
What's going to happen eventually you will settle for
lesser things for cheaper. Substitutes that this world
offers namely sins, namely idols.
And when a person is ensnared, they are arrested by their sins
and they are void of the fulfilling Fellowship that comes
Through Jesus Christ, their candidates.
They are more susceptible to being led astray.
And sometimes being led astray means to believe heresy and
other times, it means being used and abused by merciless people
who claim to be religious. And sometimes they will abuse,
you financially, just look at the false teachers that are
being funded. And other times it can mean your
body being used by somebody Who tricked you with a few verses to
convince you that they were a man of God.
We've been speaking about week woman so far and again it's not
just limited to. Men are not exempt from this.
So, if your man in this place, you think you can be week as
well, but Paul again is seeing a pattern throughout history.
By the spirit. He understands something
specific. We've been speaking about week
woman. Let me address my sister's this
afternoon. As a brother.
God wants you to be strong. God wants you to be strong
strong and and a strength that the Bible describes, not as the
world describes. Not not financially strong, not
physically strong. Spiritually.
Strong. I want you to be encouraged by
this. I want you to leave here.
Built up with these thoughts. It is very difficult to
manipulate a woman. Who is secure in her adoption in
Jesus Christ. Someone who has truly tasted the
grace of God and seeks to grow in the knowledge of her savior.
It's very difficult to move. So, study study your word.
I know it's difficult. If you're a mom with babies
running around, But that does not exempt you from the
invitation of knowing your God. Jesus just as much as your
savior, as your husband, savior, as your brother savior, there's
this misconception that men should be more theologically
discerning. And sophisticated and woman
said, who asked Apollo's, how he felt when a couple came up to
him, and the wife knew just as much as the husband study, know,
your God be secure and understand these truths until it
causes you to worship. Not so that you can answer
questions. If somebody comes up to you to
see if your knowledge, oh no to cause your heart to be ravished
with the beauties of Jesus. Evil men will find it.
Very problematic to persuade a lady who like Mary of Bethany,
enjoy sitting at the feet of the Lord.
Who is mesmerized by him, who eats his every word, how can you
move a woman like that? When in that setting, there was
so much distraction but she was focused on the bread of life.
Oh, would you practice her posture?
Even if it's just a few minutes a day before the hoodlums, get
up. Before chores.
Come would you learn to do it while you're doing those things?
Just just practice the posture of looking at the Lord
worshiping him. Spontaneously, receiving his
words studying at talking about it with your husband talking
about with your friends, if you're single Satan and his
minions have little to work with. when they encounter a
woman who is led by truth rather than emotions, Who take this
word and determine how they discern.
How they decide? How they even feel, no matter,
who says what? Paul speaks of weak woman, but
we pray that the woman of MBC would be strong strong.
God wants you to be strong and brothers, encourage the woman
spiritually. Encourage them, spiritually
speak spiritual things, to them have conversations and be
patient. Be loving.
Ask questions, have debates. build up your sisters because
there are evil men of there that want to manipulate take
advantage of. We read here in verse 8.
That if you are strong, you'll be able to avoid people, like
who Paul is about to mention. Just as jannes and jambres
opposed Moses. So these men also oppose the
truth, men corrupted in mind, you might be thinking who would
dare take advantage of people especially women Men who are
corrupt in mind Twisted. Selfish driven by less.
That's who they're not just out there.
Sometimes they sit in places like this.
Men corrupted in mind, and disqualified regarding the
faith. Those names are not familiar.
They're not familiar to me. It shouldn't be to you, you know
why? Because only mentioned here, the
only mention once in all of the Bible.
And the debate is, where did Paul get these names?
Because it is often believed that these men were the Two
Chief magicians that stood against Moses, when Moses came
against pharaoh to see his people set free.
And so Jewish tradition claims that and we can spend the next
15 minutes talking about the sources that Paul had and how
that relates to this efficiency and the inerrancy of scripture.
But we're not going to go there because that's not Paul's main
point. Nor is it the holy spirit's?
That's a conversation for another time.
The main idea here is that Paul by the spirit points to these
two men, we have their names but we know what they did in Exodus
for a specific reason. There are many people in the Old
Testament that have opposed truth, that have stood against
men of God, the message of God but why?
These two specifically? Why these two men, why that
specific scenario? And I present to you three
potential reasons. Number one, the ambition of
these magicians is the same as false teachers and false
Believers today. What were they doing?
When Moses came and said, let my people go and God had given him
a host of Miracles to perform what were these magicians doing?
They were trying to perform the same Miracles with the goal of
making sure that God's people would not be set free.
They were trying to restrict and there are trying to cut off any
potential of pharaoh or anybody else being persuaded that, these
people deserve salvation and false.
Teachers do the same day bar people from the truth.
They don't want people to experience.
What only Christ can provide and whether they are aware of it or
not, whether they are intentionally doing.
So does not justify their falsehood.
Satan has all these false teachers with different masks
for the same purpose, to make sure that people do not know the
Deliverance of the Passover Lamb.
So they have the same ambition. And what's important here is
that it's not just a bar people from accepting the gospel.
But it's also to ensnare people. Again, who have might have
believed the gospel to bring you back to your former sins, to
bring you back into the days of Egypt, where you are governed by
pharaoh and not by the god of Israel.
So these magicians, desire to see you enslaved, desire to see
those two never be set free and those who have been set free to
do, just what those people were tempted to do in the wilderness.
Let's go back to Egypt. Some would even say that these
magicians followed Israel Into the Wilderness that's tradition.
And there are the voices that were continually convincing,
these people to go back to Egypt.
It's called the mixed crowd and the Book of Numbers and that's
not a far-fetched interpretation.
The ambition of these magicians are the same of false teachers
and Timothy's day. And today false people who come
into the church even, secondly, The deception of these
magicians. Has the same power as false
teachers today. Now, the way you're going to see
that is if you go to Exodus with me, so go with me to Exodus as
we close in a moment here, I want you to see something, you
know this, but I want you to see it for yourself.
Let's begin in Exodus chapter 7. Exodus chapter 7 verse 10.
This is after Let's begin in verse 10.
So Moses and Aaron went to pharaoh and did just as the Lord
commanded, Aaron cast down his staff before pharaoh and his
servants, and it became a serpent.
Then pharaohs summoned, the wise, men, and The Sorcerer's
and they The Magician's of Egypt also did the Same by their
secret Arts. Go to verse 22.
This is after the Nile was turned into blood and all water
sources were turned into blood. We're told an exodus 7 verse 22,
but the magician's of Egypt did the Same by their secret Arts.
So Pharaoh's heart remain hardened and he would not listen
to them as the Lord had said go to chapter 8 verse 7, But the
magician's did the Same by their secret arts and made frogs come
up on the land of Egypt. So we see in the first few
plagues. The first few Miracles,
whatever, Moses did The Magicians matched it.
Now, I want you to imagine what an onlooker would think, every
time Moses did something The Magician's did the same, you
know what could potentially, run through their mind, there's no
difference between the god of Israel and the gods of Egypt.
There's similar they can do the same things, equal power, equal
messages, equal equal promises, maybe there's no difference
here. And so, you see here that these
men were deceiving people including Farrell primarily
pharaoh, to see that the god of Israel is not as powerful as he
says he is and listen false teachers do the same.
To the undiscerning, they see the package, they see the
performance, and they go, there's no difference here.
There's no, there's no difference here.
Very similar messages. Very similar ideas, very similar
Concepts, maybe even the same God.
And I want to tell you, that's not just for those who interpret
religions all, as one different packages, leading to the same
person you even have some Christians professing
Christians. Who are not Discerning and all
it takes is for somebody to come in and speak.
Christian he's quote, a few verses and hold the Bible and
maybe even have it highlighted and they show you.
It's highlighted. That must be the real deal,
really. Really.
They have an appearance of godliness.
Just like those magicians had an appearance of having the same
power as the power of God. So demented, a persuade people
with a form of power, a form of Salvation in falsehood and clear
faucet. But even in Christendom with a
false Christian message, by the way, can I let me just say this?
Please please, do not think that false teachers have pulpits all
the time. Did they creep into Pulpit?
So they creep into households. They crept into households.
Not all false people, where Shepherds clothing, they wear
sheep's clothing. And so they can very well be in
the pew. And today they don't just creep
into household, by knock on your door, like this ancient time.
They creep into your households through your television through
YouTube. Lastly, not just the Ambitions
of these magicians. Being the same as false teachers
today, not just the deception, but also the fate and Paul ends
this thought on an encouraging note in verse 9 back in.
Second Timothy, he tells Timothy something that he would not be
overly burdened by, as he brings us hopeful note concerning these
people, we are told that after he mentions these names of their
future and the future is clear of these men, but they will not
get very Far for their Folly will be playing to all.
As was that of those two men? Let me simplify what he's trying
to say. These people that persuade the
masses. These people that persuade even
naive innocent burdened people within the church.
They're not going to get away with it, they're not He says,
their Folly will be plain to all that's what happens to those two
magicians. What happened?
Eventually? It came to the miracle of the
Nats, right? Moses performs that miracle and
they try and they couldn't. And they look at Fair, they go,
that's the Finger of God, they've reached a limit.
They could, they could not cross a certain line with their
abilities and in the side of those who are Discerning, they
said these guys are fake, they're not the real deal,
they're not legit. And to a certain degree, God in
this lifetime is willing and has been and can expose people.
He can if he even think about these false movements throughout
history, they haven't lasted, they just come and go.
There are others who try to manipulate people from within
and they seem Christian they seem Godly and God exposes them.
Their Folly will be plain to all not.
Everybody will get away. but even if Throughout a lifetime or
throughout centuries. There are false things that are
not. They're not going away.
They're not being exposed. There is a day coming when God
will expose them. Remember, this is in the
context, here's full circle in this section of the last days.
And in the last days, not only will Things become more ugly.
But God will have the final say. Not only will deception be
rampant, but truth will penetrate and bring all things
to light. And you think about these men,
not only did they perform these deceptive Miracles, not only
were they exposed but in one of the Miracles were God in the 61
precisely brings boils on the Egyptians these magicians.
We were told were also exposed to the Boyles they were judged
by God. And that's what's going to come.
That's what Paul is saying. Timothy, although, you may have
seen people captured, although you seen people being hindered
from being saved, and maybe even seen people from within, who
were close to coming, who had some kind of understanding
Christian, but where were Swept Away?
Know this, God will have the final word.
And whether in this life or in the life to come, people will
see the Folly of everything or everyone who's outside of Jesus
Christ. And so I encourage you today to
be encouraged to be encouraged that no matter what people are
getting away with. Do you have to face God?
One day? They will oh many things have
been said, but I want to steer a direction out towards the Lord's
table. and I wanted to just prepare ourselves to meet with
the Lord and to reflect on our Redemption know this if you are
in this place and I want to make a gospel call here if you are in
this place, You're visiting, you may be a Christian, you may not
be a Christian. But this is, this is a message
for you. And what sense maybe you are
burdened with sins and you're trying to find relief.
And you've picked up books and you're listening to different
teachers and spiritist and you came out here for just for
curiosity sake. I want to let you know that no
one can give you Freedom apart from Christ.
No one you will fail. You'll be disappointed.
You will be empty. You might be happy for for a
brief season but you will realize that nothing has the
power to fill that void. Nothing can roll the burdens off
your shoulders, the burden of a conscience that is troubled by
your actions, your words Only Christ can deliver you and he
wants to deliver you today. Maybe you are LED Away by
various passions and it has led you into dangerous places.
No, this, no matter where your feet have taken, you no matter
what your hands have performed, no matter what you have, even
believe, no matter what you might even believe.
Now, Christ is ready to forgive you.
He is he wants to restore your redeem, you It may be.
You are always learning. Maybe to you Christianity is a
hindrance to intellect. I want to let you know something
that this book has been through intense scrutiny.
Men have tried to bury it, men of try to burn it.
Men of try to dismiss it, but the word of the Lord endures
forever, this word has transformed lives.
This word has test the stood, the test of time, this word will
be the very thing that will last forever with God.
And your conscience Bears witness to you this afternoon.
That you are a sinner that you have a judge to face.
One day, God is instilled that in man and that's why men wants
to dismiss God as much as possible.
They don't want to have to face the reality that when they give
their final breath, they will meet the king of the universe.
But may I add something to that thought that, that same King
that man will stand before. Came into this world.
He died on a cross. He went into a tomb heroes from
that grave. So that he can purchase your
Redemption. so, if your burden today, That burning can be
lifted off of you, but only one name can save you.
And that's Jesus call upon his name.
I've done my part and I'm here afterwards, with Pastor Daniel
and other leaders in this place. Other Christians in this place,
that might lead you to that truth.
More importantly, leads to this a living Christ who's willing to
intervene in your life right now.
Call upon his name Believers. Would you examine yourselves in
this moment? Are you walking right with the
Lord? Do you testify to the unity of
the body of Christ? Or is there disunity in your
language? Is there disunity in your
actions? Is there somebody that you're
supposed to reconcile with today?
Is there somebody that you're supposed to sit and say, sit
down with the say, hey, we have to deal with this before we come
to the Lord's table. Do that.
Don't come, don't come judge you.
Lest you be judged. That's what the text tells us.
And for those who are not Christians in this place, we ask
you kindly not to participate in this because this is an
ordinance reserved for those who have believed on Jesus Christ.
If you're in this place and you're not a Christian, we don't
we don't judge you. In this sense, we look down on
you with scorn. We just ask you kindly not to
participate because the Lord strictly reserves is for his
children. And so as we come you're going
to take the elements, bring it with you.
We just ask that you don't eat or drink yet because we're going
to sing A Hymn. And I'm Pastor Daniels going to
lead us in a few words to reflect and then we will eat and
drink together. Let's pray.
Louis, thank you for this word. Thank you, that even in a word
of warning you can encourage us. And we pray o God that we would
be encouraged to be strong, both men and women. we pray o God
that you would protect this assembly from those who are
false And that Lord we would be able to discern and dissect and
determine through the word who's for you, and who is against you.
Father in heaven. We ask that as we come to this
table, the Lord's table, that it would have a sanctifying effect
on this. People on all of us, Lord, and
Lord. If it will do anything, May
renew a joy in your salvation that as we hold this element of
bread and is element of the cup that we would remember that.
It's not about our good, it's not about our Behavior, it's not
about our performance that is purchase anything, but it's what
Christ has done. And Lord we might be going
through many trials, troubles, we might be wanting certain
things, but Lord made this may this time.
Now, remind us that we have all that we need in Jesus.
Please Lord, make that real in us, this afternoon in Jesus name
we pray. Amen.