This is Living Waters of Grace, the teaching ministry of Lewis
Harold, assistant pastor of Calvary Chapel of Westmoreland
County in Greensburg, PA. Now here's Pastor Lewis as he
continues teaching through God's Word.
This self love is actually. One of the self sins because it
births so many. Other selfish.
Things in our life, it gives birth to some of the other
selfish things in our life. Jesus even said in Luke 9 and
23, He says if anyone desires to come after me, let him love
himself. No, it doesn't say that, does
he? He didn't say let him love
himself, he said let him deny himself and take up his.
Cross daily. Take a Scroll down the self help
aisle at Barnes and Noble the next time you visit and you'll
notice that this section has grown.
Shelves are lined with book after book about how you can
love yourself more. And while there certainly is an
important aspect to self esteem and self love, it can quickly
spiral into self worship. As we heard a moment ago from
Pastor Lewis. Jesus has called us to deny self
and to pick up our crosses daily in order to bring God glory.
Now here's Pastor Lewis in the book of Second Timothy chapter 3
with today's edition of Living Waters of Grace.
Father once again. As we prepare, Lord to.
Open up your word. As we prepare to study your
truth. We once again ask.
For your Holy Spirit Lord too. Be manifested today and to.
Teach us you are the teacher, Lord, your Holy Spirit teaches.
Us and leads us into all. Truth.
It reveals all truth. You reveal all truth, Lord.
Father, you don't need me. To be here, Lord, your word says
you use the foolish. Things to confound the the wise
things, Lord. Of this world.
And I definitely qualify as one of the foolish things.
But Father, you don't need me. You don't need a vessel.
You. Choose to use a vessel Lord you.
Spoke to Moses. Through a burning Bush you spoke
to. Balaam by a mule, a donkey Lord.
You certainly don't use. You certainly don't need me.
So, Father? I asked.
That you would open your mouth, Lord, and speak to.
All of us. Help us to understand what it is
that you're saying to us in these times and as we.
Go through these perilous times, Lord, as we.
Are going through this. Chapter I pray.
That you would enlighten us and most of our Father.
I pray that someone's eyes will be open, that someone's heart.
Would be touched. And let.
This be the last day, Lord. That they would not know their
eternity. Let this be the last day, Lord
that they. Walk as one of the children of
disobedience. The last day that they.
Live in darkness and walk in their sins and.
Trespasses that they be. Dead in their sins and.
Trespasses. Let this be the last day.
But Father, I pray that you would.
Bring life to someone today, Lord, that you would bring
salvation to someone today, that someone's life will be totally
changed. Today for this year.
Going into this year. Lord.
And that you would change our. Lives, Lord, who are believers?
Even today, Lord, as we become more and more.
Like you let this year, Lord, that we become.
More and more like. You so we ask these.
Things in the name of our Savior and our Lord in Jesus holy name,
matchless name, we. Pray that.
Everyone say Amen, Amen. So we are here.
In chapter 3, Second Timothy, chapter 3 and we have been
titled. This.
Perilous time. This is on the heels of coming
off of. Chapter 2, where Paul has.
Prepared Timothy prepared Timothy for what's going on or
what will be going on today in these last times so Paul is
almost like in this chapter he becomes.
Like a prophet, he gives a prophecy.
Of what's to come and what will be happening in the.
Last days, so let's just start to.
Go in through the Scripture. I don't know how far we're going
to get because I don't want to rush through this.
We're only going to do 99 verses.
I intend to do 9 verses, but I don't want to rush it because
there's so much in it that I want it impart.
But if we don't, if we don't get through it all the day, we'll do
it next week and then after. That we have pastor.
Clark coming back in to teach us, but I I do want to take my
time as we go through. This is that OK?
We did. OK.
Thank you. Praise God so chapter 3 verse.
One and it says but know this that in the.
Last days perilous. Times will come, so he says, in
the last days. So what you know so?
What are What are these last days?
What are these last? Days.
I mean, is there going to be anything different happening in
these? Last days that.
Or is there a different attitude?
About these last days. Or is there something?
Different about these last. Days and during the time that
Paul. Was there or that the apostles
will walk the earth the last days is.
Really a reference that period from the the ministry of Jesus
Christ from the time he came and he.
Walked the earth. And he did ministry and then he.
Was crucified, He was. Buried, And he rose again, and
he ascended into heaven. To be at the right.
Hand of the Father.
So from that time, from that ascension until his return is.
Really considered the last days. So from that time for we were.
In the last days. And we are in the last days and
as we. Go through this.
I think you'll see evidence of that, even Paul.
Who spoke about this hundreds of years ago?
Gives us some very chilling information, so accurate about
what will happen in these last days.
Now these last days are. Also referred to.
As last times according to Jude chapter 1 and 18 First Peter
120. It's referred to as the last.
Hour in first John 2 and 18. It's also referred to.
As the end of ages in 1st Corinthians 10 and 11.
But what we must remember? Is that?
This is God's time we're talking about.
So because we say last. Days that doesn't mean that you
know, we still don't know. We still don't know when Christ
is coming back. We have no idea.
And neither did, Neither did Paul.
So when we say. The last days that.
Doesn't mean that OK like the last.
Few days it's. It's almost like, you know, like
these are my last few days of speaking for this particular.
Cycle right, because Pastor Clark will be here in about two
weeks. We're not talking about that
what we're talking about. Is that these are the last.
Days and we must understand that for.
God a day. Is as 1000 years and 1000 years.
Is as a day. So when you think about.
Jesus. Being around has only been two,
you know, 2000 years. So if you talk.
About 2000 years and God's economy of things, it's really
only been two days. It's only been two days.
So in the last days and we are in these last.
Days, but what he says is that. Perilous times will come, and
that's a very interesting word, that he.
Uses, he says. Perilous times.
Perilous means, wicked means difficult.
It means hard times, troublesome times, furious times.
And get this. Fierce.
Times dangerous, hazardous time, I mean, and this is what it will
be in those. Last days.
I mean it, it's going to be a time of lawlessness and
godlessness, but also it's going to be even.
Worse for the believers. Because most.
Of that hatred that. Energy will be against believers
will be against believers. So it's times of.
Stress, particularly for us and what Paul exhorted.
Timothy to do as we mentioned earlier back in chapter 2, when
he encouraged him to endure. Hardship.
He told him to remember that Jesus.
He told him remember that. Jesus, that Jesus is the Christ.
He is the Messiah and we hold on to that and he also told us or
encouraged. Us to rightly divide the word.
And to keep or to keep the pattern of sound doctrine, these
are the things that he prepared Timothy for in in chapter 2.
And it's because of what's coming in these last days.
So this word perilous, fierce. Is actually the same way.
It's interesting it's the same word.
That was used. Back in Matthew Back in Matthew
and chapter 8 when? They talked about the story.
Of the of the demoniac and the two demoniacs when Jesus went
over. To Gardara.
And he get out of the boat. And these two demoniacs
approached him, and they were described as being exceedingly
fierce. They were described as being
exceedingly fierce. They were untamed men, wild men,
men with no boundaries. I mean just fierce men.
No one could be around them. And he used that same term for
these days. Perilous days, Perilous times.
And we see that also back in First Timothy.
Chapter 4. And verse one very interesting
that Paul. Uses a very.
Similar term you know, because it's when he says demoniac when
I when I told you that it almost like it was the same word that.
Described what was. Mentioned in in Gardeira in
Matthew when he talked about the demoniacs being exceedingly
fierce. They were of a demonic spirit.
They were influenced by a demonic spirit and he mentions
that over here in first. Timothy, Chapter 4.
Almost the same thing when he says now the.
Spirit expressly says. That in the latter times, some
will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits
and doctrines of demons. So there's a connection there.
There's this demonic influence is being inferenced here, that
there's a demonic influence that's going to be happening in
these. Last days or?
I should say increasing demonic influence because we're already
seeing that in many cases going on right now.
So then he goes to verse 2 and he says for men will be lovers
of themselves. I'm going to read through these
and then I'm going to go back. Because this.
Is where I really want to take my time.
If you don't mind back in these particular verse from verse 2 to
verse. 5 is really where? Paul gets into kind of the.
Meat of this character of what? What?
The character of the last days What?
Will mankind be like so he says here in verse 2?
He says for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,
boasters. Prowl.
Blasphemers. Disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving slanderers without
self-control, brutal despisers. Of good traitors.
Headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of
God. I want to stop.
There because I. Just want to go.
Through these. And take my time with this now
again. This is the character that Paul
is. Describing here.
This is the character of the false.
Teachers and unbelievers. Of the last days, this is the
character. He's saying this is what it's
going to. Look like.
And he starts. Off with the issue of love.
God is love. So you know what?
What one of the? Ways.
That rebellion takes shape is when it attacks.
The love of God. It's one of the ways rebellion
takes shape. So he starts off with these
these. Lovers and remember when.
Jesus was asked. What is the greatest
commandment? He said that you love the Lord
God with all your. Mind all your heart and all your
soul. In other words, totally love the
Lord your God. Doesn't say love yourself, it
says. Love the Lord your.
God and to love your neighbors as.
Yourself is a second. So what Paul is doing here, he
is showing how the rebellion of that time will even go against.
The love that God. Commanded for us, so the first
one, he says. They will be.
Lovers of themselves, lovers of themselves.
That's the pride. That totally.
Right there goes against the word of God, the Word.
Of God doesn't tell us to be lovers of ourselves, it tells us
to be. Lovers of him.
And lovers of others, that's how we worship.
Him, by loving him. He says if you.
Love me, you'll obey me, you'll keep my commandments.
This is not, it's. Dangerous to love yourself
because when you start to love yourself to this point, you
begin to make. Idols of yourself, you.
Become a. God of yourself so.
He goes on here so that. This talks about pride.
And and I just want to read something to you when we talk.
About this self love, This self love.
Is the overarching sin. Of all the other
characteristics, so this. Is like the originator or where
it all comes from most of the sins and it's already been
documented that. Pride is usually at the base.
Of almost all sins. Pride is at the base of that.
Almost every sin that we commit when you scratch.
Off all the surfaces, you scratch off all the layers.
What's at the bottom of it is. Usually pride.
It's usually pride. It's self love.
And it is the overarching sin of.
All of these other characteristics.
That's going to be listed. It's an emphasis on self or
loving self more or instead of loving God.
It's a form of humanism to some degree, and it's.
Also self idolatry. And as and it's putting.
Self before God. And anything that we.
Put before God. Is an idol.
Whether it's our self, whether it's our.
Children, our job. Our our our hobbies.
Whatever it. Is that we put before God is.
An idol, one of my favorite. Authors.
And I just recently got a book by one of our.
Sisters here, that. Blessed me with the book from
this. Author AW Tozer.
One of my favorite authors. This is the quote that he had
concerning the self sins. He said.
To be specific, the self sins are these self righteousness,
self pity, self-confidence, self-sufficiency which is part
of humanism, self admiration, self love and a host.
Of others. Like them?
End Quote. So this self love.
Is actually one of the self sins because it.
Births. So many other selfish things in
our life. It gives birth to some of the
other selfish things in our life.
Jesus even said in Luke 9 and 23 He says if anyone desires to
come after me, let him love himself.
No, he doesn't say that, does he?
He didn't say let him love himself.
He said let him deny himself and take up his.
Cross daily take up his cross daily take up that part of us,
that self sacrificial part of us, that part of us that's
supposed to give ourselves as a as a as a.
Sacrifice every single. Day we do this.
We die to. Ourself take up our cross daily.
And follow me. And follow me.
And then in Philippians 2 and 3. Says.
Let nothing be done. Through selfish.
Ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let him esteem
others better than himself. Verse 4 says let each.
Of you look not only on his own interests, but also for the
interests of others, that is almost impossible to do in our
own strength. We're not.
Built that way. To put somebody else's interest
before our own. We're just not built that way.
None of us are. None of us are.
We don't go. To a job interview and begin to
build up the person that we're in competition for that job for.
We don't go into the interview and talk about the person that's
that's going to be interviewing after us and build that person
up. We don't do that.
We go in and talk. About ourselves.
But that's what happens. With self love it's.
Always putting the interests. Of ourselves.
Before the interests of others. But Paul says here.
Let each of you. Look on not only, he says.
Not only he's not saying that you never look on your own
interests, but he says don't look only on your interests.
But also. On the entrance.
Of others with this self love,
this pride, it's. It's love instead of worshipping
and loving God OK when we love ourselves instead of worshipping
and loving. God, what they do is that.
They love themselves and make gods of themselves and become
users. Of people for their.
Benefit. And that's one of the dangers of
loving self, because we begin to instead of loving people.
We use people. We use people.
For our own benefit, the next one he talks.
About he talks about the lovers of.
Money lovers of money and when you love money it it be you
become covetous because you want what money can give you and
that's a. Part of self love.
Become lovers of money. You go out and go get the things
that give you pleasure, the things that.
Feel your lusts. And instead of using things like
money, which is. Provided by God to.
Provide for our own needs instead of using them for that,
or use them to. Glorify God or use.
Them using money to bless other people instead of using it that
way. We love money and make idols out
of the money and the things and often things.
But we use people instead of using money.
We instead use people instead of loving people.
So it's a misplaced. Love there.
It's a misplaced love. We should.
Be loving others, but instead we love things and we use others.
We get it backwards there, we get it backwards there.
And what Paul is saying that in these last days people will
misplace. Their love.
They'll love themselves and things instead of loving God and
loving others and using things for God's.
Glory. The next one, he.
Says is boasters. She talks about these boasters.
Boasters, this is. Vaunting and praising themselves
if we are to. Boast the The Bible tells us
that if we do boast, we are. We we should boast in the Lord
and not in ourselves. The boasters are people who.
Like to make I statements, I statements I did this.
I did that. I have this or I have that.
I have this ability or I have that.
Ability I'm I'm this and I'm that.
It's a lot of. I statements enjoy telling you
things that they've done to help somebody else or things that
they have done that promotes themselves.
It's vaunting. It's.
Prideful. And these things come directly.
This boasting comes directly from Satan himself.
If you look back in Isaiah chapter 14, verses 13 and 14,
I'm just read it to you. You don't have to turn there,
but it says. For you.
Have said in your. Heart I.
Will ascend into heaven. I.
Will exalt my throne above the. Stars of God I.
Will sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest
sides of the north. I will ascend above the.
Heights of the clouds I will be. Like the most high.
All these I statements I will, I will, I will.
I can, I can. I did.
Beware of these I.
Statement. These are people.
Who are full of pride, full of pride.
Psalm 32 and two says this, My soul shall make its boast in the
Lord, and the humble shall. Hear of it and be glad.
And I just also want to read for you, Jeremiah.
This is one of. My favorite verses actually.
When it talks about boasting and talks about who?
We should boast or how we should.
Boast, but in Jeremiah 9 and 23. He says thus says the Lord.
Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty
man glory in his might. Let not the rich man glory in
his riches. But let him who?
Glories or let. Him who boasts, let him boast in
this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord,
exercising loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in
the. Earth for these.
Things in these things. I delight, says the Lord, if we
are to. Love somebody.
We're to boast. If we're to glory in anything,
it should be in the Lord, because no matter what.
It is that we. Have anything of any
significance? Anything that's any.
Good. It comes from him.
We don't have anything of our own anything.
It all comes from him. So where are we able to boast in
Second Corinthians 10/17? It says but he who glories or he
who boast. Let them boast in the.
Lord. And then he and then he talks.
About this, this pride, this pride, these.
The next one is proud. These people are proud, they're
arrogant of themselves. They are wise in their own
hearts, and pride actually leads to rebellion against God.
All the time. Pride.
Leads to rebellion against God and and pride you know what
pride mostly comes in at is in our reluctance or in our neglect
to pray because when things are going well we.
Feel like we got it, We got it. You know I'm Lord.
I got this now. I don't need you, man.
Not for this. So we don't pray.
We stop praying. Praying is one of the most
important parts of our humility. It shows our humility.
If there's anything that shows our humility, most it's it's
our. Prayer time.
When we go into prayer and we surrender.
To the. Lord, and we let him know how
helpless and powerless. We are.
And how great and how mighty. He is.
That's where our prayer. Time is about in many cases and
and when we don't pray, it's a sign.
Of our pride. This has been another
encouraging edition of Living Waters of Grace.
Pastor Louis Harrell has shared some good reminders for us to
learn and walk in today as he's teaching through the books of
First and Second Timothy. There are useful practices and
advice that the Apostle Paul offers to Timothy in these books
from a fellow pastor. Paul imparts some wisdom to
Timothy about solid leadership and what some of the criteria
should be for leadership. There are specific passages
directed toward men and women, respectively.
And All in all, there's much to gain in coming to an awareness
of God's heart for each person and God's purposes for each one.
We're happy that you've taken the time today to listen and
invite you to come here the next edition.
In the meantime, when you have some time to spare today, go
check out our website, calvarychapelonline.com.
There you'll find additional messages as well as a variety of
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That's all we have for today, but we're so glad that you've
been with us. There's more to dig into here in
First and Second Timothy, so let's gear up for some more
great teachings from Pastor Lewis next time here on Living
Waters of Grace.