AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH, PAUL & TIMOTHY, SO ARE WE

The times are, at best, PERILOUS!  The command is PRECISE - Go and make disciples of all men!
The message was, is and remains simple but PROFOUND:  Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!

There are many places throughout scripture where warning of the signs of "The End Time" appear, clear as a clarion call or cloaked in mystery.  Genesis, Daniel, Joel, Isaiah, Matthew and Revelation to name just a few.

Looking at one of the letters Paul wrote, we consider II Timothy chapter 3  where we discover Paul laying out an extremely serious warning to his young protege.

The references are to the very days in which Timothy finds himself attempting to preach the gospel and also a stern warning to each of us in our generations. 

Our problems aren’t simply the sin around us in the world or persecution from the world; that is all to be expected and Jesus Himself clearly told us we would be hated (John 15) because He was hated.

No, our problems begin with what is within!  Matters that twist and darken our own hearts, however much we might choose to blind ourselves to our own faults. We are in need of being separated from sin and our "old man" carnal nature just as gold and silver needs to be separated from the impurities that attach themselves to the precious metals! We as believers need to purified from the sin and corruption within the Body of Christ that defile us as Gods children!

The message found in this letter to Timothy can certainly be considered a warning to the present church and each believer individually as we experience circumstances and people of the same characteristics as those Paul described to Timothy.

For your study and understanding, we present a starting point as you continue to carry out the Great Commission of our Lord!

 We are by no means attempting to present a comprehensive study, but instead, as we each must study to show ourselves approved to God (II Timothy 2:15) as workman rightly dividing the Word of Truth, we share some insight to help you and guide you in your own study. 

May the Lord enlighten your eyes and quicken your heart as He leads you to His truth for your life!  We are ever praying for His saints!  Always, if you have questions, prayer requests or comments you are welcome to share!

II Timothy 3:1-5

Perilous times:  wickedness of the world in abundance; wickedness of religion that sets itself above God, which will make it difficult indeed for anyone to attempt to live a godly, righteous or holy life!  False teaching will have led so many astray that deceit will lead us to believe we are on a path of righteousness simply because the “majority” is found there!  God does not act by majority rule, but is wholly sovereign in all ways.

Lovers of themselves:  No love for God, no love for neighbor, carnally minded – more concerned with fleshly pursuits than holiness, no regard for the well-being of their families, only regard for SELF

Lovers of money: the root of all evil is the love of money; well Jesus declared "You cannot love God and mammon"

Boasters: of themselves, no glory to God, only thing of importance is SELF (self-esteem, self-awareness, self-sufficiency, personal truth)

Proud: thinking highly of themselves without fear (awe, respect) of God

Blasphemers: reviling God and man alike

Disobedient to parents: and all authority

Unthankful: no sense of loyalty to anything but self

Unholy: professing devotion to God but without action portraying that devotion

Unloving: “without natural affection” – lack of familial or brotherly love

Unforgiving: irreconcilable to God, refusal to accept the means to be reconciled - rejecting salvation

Slanderers: does not acknowledge God sovereignty

Without Self-Control:  whatever feels good, do it, without regard for how it affects others or what the consequences may be

Brutal: fierce (matt 8:28) malicious, cruel

Despisers of Good: seeking everything BUT the truth ( understand that TRUTH is not a concept but a the person of Jesus)

Traitors: No loyalty to any but self! No boundaries, no rules, no inhibitions to consider

Headstrong: answering only to self

Haughty: thinking only of self

Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (refer back to first, lovers of self)

HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS (Worship!) but denying its power; FALSE WORSHIP – actions that look like, appear to be, but are not!  IDOL WORSHIP – anything but the true God – the music, your emotions, the church you belong to, the band playing the music, the person delivering teachings...

FROM SUCH TURN AWAY! 

Can the church turn its back on the false teaching and worldly culture and be restored? YES!  All who call on the name of Jesus shall be saved!  
REPENT, and turn from wickedness!
Galatians 3:26-29  
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Recognize the signs of times, Brothers and Sisters, and examine your own hearts according to the truth found in scripture.  Then share that message of salvation, repentance and forgiveness of sin with others in the Love of Christ.  This is our reasonable service (Romans 12: 1-4) of obedience to our Lord.

Bible "hero's"?

As we read about "hero's" in the Bible, those giants of FAITH, do you - like me, think about how wonderful it would be if we could only figure out how to live like that?  Actually putting FAITH into action seemingly without any effort on our part,totally trusting God for our daily sustenance, for everything we need from the least to the greatest?  Imagine speaking out with great boldness about the wonders of God and then BABAM! they come to pass?  Who wouldn't want to follow your God if they were seeing in your life the miracles and signs and wonders happening, right?

What I'm learning as I continue to study Gods Word and seek wisdom through prayer, is that the men and women of the Bible were regular folks like you and me.  They had no more faith, no more insight, no more ability than any of the rest of us.  They wrestled with their feelings, they had failures as deep and wide as we experience.  In researching their lives, however, I've discovered one thing they all had in common.  In spite of it all - in spite of every failure, every shortcoming, every sin, every mistake, every fear - they had a WILLING HEART.

faith + a willing heart = a life balanced by wonder and joy!


Romans 12:3 tells us we all have a measure of faith.  So our lack isn't in faith.  God has given each of us faith.  So we've got it, even during those times we aren't trusting, or operating in faith.  Over and over in the New Testament letters believers are encouraged to "LET" certain things occur, let them happen or be in their hearts, their minds or their actions.

Romans 6:12

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body

Romans 13:12

The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

Ephesians 4:31

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

Philippians 2:5

[ The Humbled and Exalted Christ ] Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

Colossians 3:15

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts

Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, 

1 Thessalonians 5:8

But let us who are of the day be sober,

This "letting" comes out of our free will.  It comes about through a heart WILLING to be obedient, willing to be submissive, willing to yield itself to the work and leading of the Holy Spirit.  It is glorious when it all comes together and that is when we see God do the most amazing things! A willing heart is patient and holds steadfast.  It steadily remains true to the truth God has spoken when things are not so great.  When bad things are all that seem to be happening.  When sad or hurtful or confusing things occur.

With a willing heart, though, even when we are standing on the thin wire of our faith, waiting to see what God will do, there is such a sense of excitement and anticipation.  Like Abram, packing up his family and simply heading out, going where God would send him, without knowing before hand what he would encounter or even what his destination was.  Like Joseph, holding fast to the vision of his life God had given as he sat in prison for all those years, holding on and trusting that God would do what He said He would do.  Like Samuel, so young when he answered Gods call!! It is exciting being in constant contact through prayer with the Father, for even the simplest decision!  When we put it in His hands and walk by faith, amazing wonders occur!

Read about Abram, who would be renamed Abraham.  Read the story of Joseph, of Samuel, and you will discover that every moment of their lives were not just about signs and miracles and wonders.  They had struggles in life, trials to overcome, tough situations to deal with.  There were plenty of opportunities for them to turn away from the Lord, to "let" sadness or depression or despair to rule their lives.  But you will find that their faith, faith like the faith you have in your life, was accompanied by a willing heart, willing to obey, to surrender to the Lord, and the results were miraculous.

Let faith mix with a willing heart in your life, and watch and see what wonders God will work!