Easy Influence
II Timothy 3:1-7 NKJV
[1] But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: [2] For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, [4] traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, [5] having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! [6] For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, [7] always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Sometimes we are these people Paul warns Timothy about.
Sometimes I’m that person that Timothy would have watched out for.
We have to be realistic about the seriousness of the Word of God and what it truly means to be a Follower, a Disciple of Jesus Christ.
The Word of God always amazes me!
How does this Book look straight in the hearts of humanity and expose it!
How accurate and detailed it is.
How personal does it get and hit right in the gut straight to the heart!
It seems strange to admit this but when I watch the news or hear of what’s going on in the world I rejoice!
I don’t rejoice at the pain and sorrow. I see the hurt and depravity, the turmoil.
There is so much confusion that very few people know just which direction they are going, so they turn around in circles trying to be apart if it all.
I’m not rejoicing because of the brutality or death of life.
Politics is a great distraction and social media is a perfect example of “lovers of self”.
I REJOICE!
I rejoice because as I read the Word of God it proves to me that it is all true!
The Lord gives us these warnings.
Take heed, beware.
So many times there was an echo to the Disciples of Christ from His concerned heart.
Jesus understood just how powerful a threat the things of the world actually are.
They weren’t just threats to the body but to the very heart that proclaims Jesus as King!
How long did these closest to Him follow?
How long were they instructed about the Glory of Heaven, repentance, Salvation, Redemption, love and grace and mercy?
Yet:
Peter still denied.
Thomas still doubted.
James and John wanted power and position.
Easily influenced by fear, doubt, worry and power.
These threats are still here today.
We have to know the corrupting elements and power these can hold over our Spiritual lives.
Paul takes Timothy and gives Him the same type of warning.
‘perilous times will come’.
The truths of the Bible have to influence and shape our lives.
There are some that say they believe.
They say the right things. Do the right things. Go to church, they may serve.
But at the very core they really don’t believe in the things about and of Christ unless it benefits themselves.
And the harsh reality is that it shows.
The world has made it so easy to be a lover of self rather than a lover of God.
It is hard to distinguish the two in some lives.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is one of hope!
It’s the love the Creator has for His creation.
It’s Jesus Christ coming to redeem all those hearts that would soften to His Word, repent of their sins and follow Him.
A new birth. A new way of life. Salvation through a Sacrifice that no other could or can ever again offer.
But do we live a life that has been Redeemed by the love and mercy of God!
The world around us watches.
It analyzes our every move.
This world belongs to the Great Tempter.
If we are not grounded and rooted in the Word of God, if our faith is lacking then all of these temptations the world offers will easily influence our hearts. We will stray away, even if it is just for a moment.
That moment away from the care and protection of Christ can blow open the gate of our hearts and allow the leaven the world right in.
The more we pursue the things of this world the closer we will get to it. The closer we get to it the farther from God we will become.
We are always going to be surrounded by the world’s influence. It will not stop. It is always before us.
One of the biggest challenges and biggest concerns for the Church today is found everywhere.
It is widespread and world wide. I don’t believe not a single church or a single pulpit has not faced it.
Hypocrisy.
I know this is a bit harsh. I understand that some will be offended.
Unfortunately the Church looks more like the world than a Holy Place of Worship.
It saddens my heart.
The very thing Paul warns Timothy about has even seeped into the Church!
Either that’s how powerful and influential the world is OR it shows how weakness in our Faith and dedication to Christ we have become.
We have been given such a responsibility to preach and teach the Gospel.
Pulpits preach about being the representative of Jesus but don’t teach us how. It mingles with the corruption of the world instead of being consumed and purified by the Blood of Christ!
And It shows.
The world sees Christ’s Bride, His Church as Hypocrites. That stings and hurts.
There is a quote from Mahatma Gandhi, who was a Hindu, said this;
I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
What’s amazing is the majority of the world knows of Christ but may not believe.
What the world sees is His Followers.
And the world watches:
How we speak.
How we act.
How to react.
How we answer
How we live.
How we forgive.
How we stand for the Gospel is all being watched.
The World sees right through the paper heart.
We claim to know the truth but do not interact with it. Not allowing it to penetrate through the pride of life.
If we live in the same way as the world or religions, are we any better?
So what must we do?
II Timothy 3:10-14 NKJV
[10] But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, [11] persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. [12] Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. [13] But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. [14] But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
We must continue with a heart to serve Christ.
We must be absolutely sure of the Promises of God.
We submit to the Throne of Heaven and denounce the king of this World.
Be influenced by the Holy Spirit and be assured of the Salvation that you have found in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Do not leave without the provision of Heaven. Repent, believe and follow!
He waits Even for the hypocrite. Even for the hearts of those that have been corrupted and influenced by things that are not of God.
Let the hypocrisy in our lives end today, because we have all been hypocritical.
Be obedient to His Word.
Then show the World exactly Who our Precious Christ is!
Pastor Ed