THE LAST DAYS and the WORD of GOD

TITLE: THE LAST DAYS and THE WORD OF GOD
TEXT: 2 TIMOTHY 3:1-17

INTRODUCTION
A man’s last words are always interesting to hear and often times it is important that those to whom they are spoken listen and heed them. That is certainly true of the Apostle Paul’s last words to Timothy and to every Christian in every generation.
As the Apostle Paul faced what he knew would be his final days upon the earth he chose to write about THE LAST DAYS and the BIBLE. He describes those days and the importance that the Word of God was to play in the life of the Christian as they faced those trying times.
As we look at the Apostle Paul’s description of those days, we can’t help but to conclude that this generation of Christians may be the last generation, the generation that are living in perilous times and to no other generation may Paul’s last words be more meaningful.

1. THE LAST DAYS WILL BE DAYS OF MORAL DETERIORATION
(2 Tm 3:1;13)

2. THE LAST DAYS WILL BE DAYS OF MUCH DIFFICULTY (2 Tm 3:1; 8; 12)

A. The Perilous Times (v.v.1;12)
B. The People’s Traits (v.v.)

i. Their Loves (v.v.2;4)

a. Their Own Selves (v.2)
b. Material Wealth (v. 2 covetous)
c. Worldly Pleasures (v.4)

ii. Their Lifestyles (v.v.2-5)

3. THE LAST DAYS WILL BE DAYS OF MANY DECEIVERS
(2 Tm 3:6-13; Matthew 24:4,5)

A. The Origin of These Deceivers (v.6; 2 Tm 4:3,4) “For of this sort…”

Spiritual leaders will be chosen from among the type of people that the Apostle Paul has just warned us about. These are the types of people that the nations will follow in these last days. Holy men will be rejected in favor of their own kind.

B. The Operation of These Deceivers (v.6) “Creep into houses…”

As Satan by-passed Adam (God’s established authority) and went after Eve (Genesis 3:1; 1 Timothy 2:13,14), who was more easily deceived, likewise shall Satan’s servants work in these days and no doubt what passes for Christian Television will be a main tool to reach those women who reject God’s Word and are attempting to clear a guilty conscience apart from repentance and trusting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The most dangerous TV today is Christian TV and that should not surprise us. If Satan wanted to lead people astray, would not his easiest target be those who are searching for spiritual contentment and would not they be more likely to be watching Christian TV more than any other in their quest?

The less this world becomes a man’s world and the more it becomes a woman’s world, the easier it will become for Satan to deceive and like Eve, use the deceived to seduce the masses and even their own mates.

C. The Objects of These Deceivers (v.6) “…silly women”
(Refer to the Operation of These Deceivers)

D. The Opposition of These Deceivers (v.8)

Deceivers always reject and oppose the Word of God and those men of God who faithfully preach the Truth of God’s Word. The Word of God and those who preach it will be the main objects of these deceiver’s attacks. Preachers today are finding the opposition to them and the Word of God increasing daily.

E. The Outcome of These Deceivers (v.9)
God’s Word cannot be bound and every tongue that rises up against the prophets of God are destined to be brought down in judgment (Isaiah 54:17), just as was were those who opposed Moses.

F. The Overcoming of These Days and Deceivers (v.v.14-16)

i. Stay with the Word of God (v.14) “…continue…”
ii. Study the Word of God (v.v. 15, 16) “…make thee wise…” “…profitable…”
iii. Share the Word of God (v. 17) “…furnished unto all good works…”