Itching Ears. Paul warns Timothy the time is coming when people will not accept the Truth

Transcription

1 Paul warns Timothy the time is coming when people will not accept the Truth

2 2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. Paul says the time is coming when people simply will not want the Truth. Instead they will look for preachers who will tell them what they want to hear.

3 These type preachers will be in abundance. These preachers will make you laugh, entertain you and make you feel good about yourselves. But, they will be of absolutely no profit to you when it comes to saving your soul. Why are they of no profit? Because they will not teach sound doctrine. They will lead people away from following the Truth into following fables.

4 This very thing is going on in our nation today False teachers have over run this country. They are spewing their false doctrine (fables) from television stations, radio stations, the internet and pulpits on a daily basis. People are flocking to these men because they are teaching them things that make them feel good!

5 They preach a feel good type of religion that focuses more on the here and now rather than on eternity. Listen to a quote from one of these false teachers. Joel Olsteen says the following in one of his pamphlets.

6 God can cause opportunity to find you. He has unexpected blessings where you suddenly meet the right person, or suddenly your health improves, or suddenly you re able to pay off your house. That s God shifting things in your favor.

7 What used to be a struggle is not a struggle anymore. What should have taken years happened in a fraction of the time. You may feel like you re stuck right now. You could never accomplish a dream, never overcome a problem. It s just been too long.

8 You ve missed too many opportunities. But God is saying, Get ready. I m about to shift things. Doors will open for you that have not opened in the past. Those who were against you will suddenly change their minds and be for you. Problems that have dogged you for years will suddenly turn around.

9 You are coming into a shift. Because you have honored God, He will put you in a position you never could have attained on your own. It s not just your education, not just your talent, or the family you come from. It s the hand of God shifting you to a new level of your destiny.

10 This was a quoted from: Joel Olsteen in his pamphlet Break Out 5 Keys to Go Beyond your Barriers and Live an extraordinary Life

11 That really sounds good doesn t I may be struggling now but if I continue to honor God in my life then God is going to bless me with material things. One day I am going to wake up and God is going to shift everything in my favor. We can understand how this teaching would appeal to people. The problem with this doctrine is its just a bunch garbage!

12 There is not a word of Truth in it. God has not promised to bless us in material ways if we obey him. Just the opposite is true. If we obey God we will have problems in this life. 2Ti 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Not just some but all will suffer persecution

13 Paul taught this from the very beginning of his ministry. Ac 14:21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."

14 You won t find a better Christian than the Apostle Paul If God was going to bless someone physically for being a Christian it would have been him. Listen to how he describes his life as a servant of God. 2Co 4:8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

15 2Co 4:9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-- 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

16 2Co 4:12 So then death is working in us, but life in you. 13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.

17 2Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

18 2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

19 Paul places all of his emphasis on our reward in Heaven Do we see anywhere in here where he tells these suffering Christians that physical relief is just around the corner. Our reward is not in this life. In this life we will suffer! Most people don t want to hear that. They don t want to hear the Truth!

20 This attitude toward the Truth is nothing new The majority of mankind has never wanted to hear the Truth. Isa 30:9 That this is a rebellious people, Lying children, Children who will not hear the law of the LORD; 10 Who say to the seers, "Do not see," And to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits.

21 What about us? Itching Ears Do we want to hear the Truth or do we want someone to tell us what we want to hear? Paul tells Timothy how to preach the Gospel and it was not by telling people what they wanted to hear. 2Ti 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

22 We need to be willing to listen to teaching that Convinces, Rebukes and Exhorts us. Sometimes this type teaching may make us a little uncomfortable. Convince comes from the Greek word Elegcho: convict, convince, tell a fault Most people don t like to be told about their faults But we need to hear about our faults when it comes to obeying God!

23 We need to be willing to listen to teaching that Rebukes us for sin. Rebuke comes from the Greek word Epitimao: censure or admonish or forbid Censure: a judgment involving condemnation Being rebuked is never an enjoyable thing. However, if we are guilty of sin then we need to hear teaching that will rebuke us for the sin.

24 Most people don t mind being exhorted. Exhort comes from the Greek word parakaleo: comfort This is all we see many preachers today trying to do They want to comfort people with lies about how things are going to improve for them in this life.

25 Conclusion The majority of people in this country simply will not turn out to hear teaching that will condemn their sins. Or that will tell them they need to make changes in their life in order to please God They want their ears scratched. They want to hear what makes them feel good. They want to be entertained.