Subtle Practices that Destroy Souls - Pastor Daniel Batarseh

What a precious time in worship this morning.

Thank you for including your voices today.

Would you please meet me in the second letter to Timothy in

chapter 2? Beginning in verse 14, in our

Bibles. So we open up God's word

together. 2nd Timothy Chapter 2 beginning in verse 14.

Remind them of these things in charge them before.

God not to quarrel About Words, which does no good, but only

ruins the hearers, do your best to present yourself to God as

one approved. A worker who has no need to be

ashamed. Rightly handling, the word of

truth, but avoid irreverent babble.

For it will lead people into more and more ungodliness.

And their talk will spread like gangrene among them are

Himalayas and Phi leaders, who have swerved from the truth.

Saying that the resurrection has already happened, they are

upsetting the faith of some, let's pray.

Or this is your word, we acknowledge it as a supreme

authority, we acknowledge it as perfect.

We acknowledge it as god-breathed and that it is

sufficient to make us Godly. We ask Lord that you would help

us understand what you're saying in these verses and that they

would apply to our lives. Give us your heart.

Give us the grace to know your will for us.

We ask these things in the name of Jesus.

We pray. Amen.

There are many hooks in this world that have the ability to

lure any Soul into destruction. Both in this life and in the

Life to Come. And unfortunately, these

spiritual dangers are not few but they are many.

And so, vast and extensive are these threats.

That many of them may not even be in the radar of our

understanding. Nonetheless, we have to

understand all that God has given us concerning warnings.

And there are some professing believers who may not recognize

how particular practices put them in others in great

Jeopardy. And what are the warnings that

you and I are about to explore this morning.

Apply to you are relatable to you.

It doesn't really matter because it is our duty to identify as

many Lethal things as possible. So that we would not be caught

unaware by the enemy of our souls.

We must be familiar. We must be studied and we must

be prepared less at any time in your own life, or even in the

life of this church. We would see these looming has

It's affecting the faith of even some. and the menacing tricks

that we are about to discover this morning, do not have to

deal with the danger of lust. Or Pride or divisiveness or

anger or jealousy? They focus on the misguided

discourse. Of various kinds more

specifically, arguing debating and even teaching that is not

aligned with God's word or God's ways.

And before we continue we might fall into the temptation to

think. This is really not a pliable to

me. This is not something applicable

to me. I don't think I really need to

really pay attention and I would say no, you must pay attention.

look at Verse 18 Again, very quickly as we look at the last

phrase, they are upsetting the faith of some Paul brings up

that there are certain behavior that is disturbing certain

Christians within the Church of Ephesus, that's where Pastor Tim

was was leading And that was enough, just a handful even if

people within that church were being disturbed.

And Paul saw it necessary to intervene, just one part of the

body was being affected. And Paul says, this has to be

dealt with from the leadership. This has to be dealt with as a

whole entire congregation. What's the point that I'm trying

to make? If one part of your body was in

pain, if one part of your body was injured Afflicted in some

way, would you not take care of it?

We do not give it great attention, even if your finger

was out of place, you would do all that, you can to make sure

that it was restored to perfect health and like manner as the

body of Jesus Christ, we are one, we are connected and we

must be fully aware and alert even if some even if one member

is affected in some way, It is our duty.

We are accountable to one another.

And so, when we look at these things, consider not just a

danger to yourself, but perhaps a danger to others in which you

must also be aware of, there are three things we have to avoid.

These are subtle practices. These might not be so dangerous

to the immediate. I but they are in fact,

dangerous, and we must avoid these things.

And the first thing that is mentioned is in verse 14.

We are told here that we are to not quarrel about words.

The first thing to avoid is to not give in to things that are

not sensual. Paul says, remind them who are

them the people in his church, the people in his congregation,

the people in Ephesus, remind them not to quarrel about

certain words. And what's amazing here is that

this command is so serious and Paul's mine more importantly,

the holy spirit's mind that Paul does something that he often

doesn't do before. He gives a command He invokes

the presence of God. Does he not say it charge them

before God charge them before the presence of the Lord?

And why is he doing this? Because before he's about to

give this instruction, he is trying to remind the people of

God, of a truth that we often forget.

And that is this, God is in the midst.

God is surgically supervising and taking into account whether

or not we are taking seriously, any of his commands.

And what Paul is trying to do by saying charge them before, God,

Is to provoke a fresh fear of the Lord and the people.

God Is Watching You. And the believer.

Must be continually aware of The Unbroken, attendance of God in

all of our activity. Including our conversation.

And I can tell you this from the scripture, and I can even tell

you this, if this means anything from personal experience in

Ministry, That one of the greatest ingredients in order

for a church to be clean. Spiritually and healthy is for

every single individual of that church.

To be convinced that God is in the midst.

There's an interesting verse in Acts 9:31, where we were told

Acts 9:31

about the church and walking in the fear of the Lord.

And in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied walking in

the fear of the Lord. What does it mean to walk to do

all life to be in conduct in the fear of the Lord?

And in the comfort of the Holy Spirit?

It multiplied. That was the thing that set it

for growth, the fear of the Lord, something that Satan has

made us afraid of And I can tell you that the opposite of this

truth is just as effective, negatively, listen, all you need

as you're going to find out by the end of this message.

Is one person in a church to not be convinced that God is in the

midst to not be convinced that God is taken to account.

What you say, what you do to not be convinced that God is

watching for Havoc to ensue and for chaos to erupt just one just

one. But let me tell you something.

In case, you're that person that you don't believe that God is

watching at all times. You're in for the shock of your

life. when you stand before, the judge of the Earth, And how you

dealt with his bride, you're in for the shock of your life,

brother, you're in the shock of your life sister.

Charge them. Before God.

And what this Paul want, the people of God to realize that he

is observing. Do not quarrel about words.

He's listening. And this may be a little

difficult to interpret because what this Paul mean by words, is

he talking about? Empty words, he's talking about

theological terms, is you talking about controversial,

spiritual subjects? Is he talking about gray areas

that are not so clear in the Bible?

What does he mean by words? Here's one thing that we can be

secure about Paul is not implying.

That Christians should have a relaxed attitude about the

precise meaning of the Bible. In fact, Paul himself, gets

caught up in words. Sometimes you don't have to turn

there, but let me read this to you as a reference and Galatians

when Paul is defending, the gospel of grace, from Heretics

that are coming into the churches of galatia and trying

to say, you know, Jesus died on the cross but it's Plus your

efforts, he's making a defense and he uses this argument out of

many arguments and Galatians 3:16.

Galatians 3:16

Now, the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring.

Now, look, he's quoting Genesis, it does not say, and to his

offsprings referring to many, but referring to one and to your

Offspring, who is Christ. So he takes one word from the

Old Testament to make a case that The Offspring is Jesus

Christ. So that's somebody getting

caught up in words. That's somebody who is who's

fighting with words defending a word in the Bible.

There's an appropriate application.

Listen of getting caught up in specifics, in the Bible.

Of being serious about Doctrine, especially when it deals with

foundational truths of our faith.

But listen, there's a very fine line between being on The Quest

For Truth. And quarreling about things that

are not sensual. And that don't benefit one

person in the end of it. A sincere Believers.

I hope you're a person that loves the Bible and I hope

you're a person that wants to go beyond Elementary truths.

And you want to, you want to dig deep in the terrain of the

scriptures and get a grip on everything that the Bible has to

shed light on. That should be your pursuit in

life. That should be your joy in life.

And I believe that you and I should understand all that, the

Bible has to offer, whether it's weightier matters or things,

that are not so clear. We should want to know God's

mind, and God's heart. And Paul is not saying here, do

not come to the point where you don't study or even discuss the

details of divine revelation. I believe what the holy spirit

is trying to say, here is more about the attitude.

Do not quarrel about words, What are some examples of this?

You have some people? Who orbit all their energy

around words. You have some people for

example, that make their entire Ministry and their spiritual

journey. Convincing people that creation

is not six literal days but more expansive time because the

Hebrew word can be a broader definition and and they'll fight

Christians about that. Or you have others who will say,

because the Hebrew word for Adam is man.

Adam was not a literal figure Eve was not a literal literal

person, but they represent their allegorical of humanity and they

creep into churches and they clash with Believers about these

things upsetting the faith of some Buses.

Don't quarrel about words. Don't get caught up with these

things. He's not saying don't defend

truth. He's not saying don't get caught

up in serious study. The Bible, he's saying don't

quarrel about it. In fact, when he says squirrel,

here's the Greek word. Tell me if it sounds familiar

katastrophe. When he says, it will ruin the

hearers, the word ruin is katastrophe.

Says, if you get caught up in this as a church, it will be

catastrophe upon catastrophe. Really brother?

Are you sure? I'm not saying in the Bible is

subtle ways that people can destroy Souls.

And the catastrophes are many. I rev an example of a young man

who was headed towards Bible College, and as he was being

prepared to go and study theology, he approached a man

that he believed was a man of God, and you might believe the

same, aw Tozer. And it came up to aw Tozer.

And he said, aw Tozer. I don't know if he said it, like

that. Pastor Tozer.

I'm headed to Bible College. Can you give me some insight

about Calvinism and arminianism who?

And this is what the man said. As he received an answer from

Tozer quote and I'll never forget the advice.

He gave me at the time, I thought it was rather

inconclusive and not too helpful.

But I listen carefully, he said my son, when you get to College,

you're going to find that. All of the boys will be gathered

in a room discussing and arguing over arminianism in Calvinism

night after night after night, I'll tell you what to do.

Cliff go to your room and meet God at the end of four years,

you'll be way down the line and they'll still be where they

started because greater minds than yours have wrestled with

this problem and have not come up with a satisfactory

conclusion instead. Learn to know God now am I

against going back and forth with people concerning these

doctrines. Absolutely not Am I against not

having Clarity on certain themes of the Bible?

Absolutely. Not. but I personally refuse to

allow myself to be given into living by the adrenaline of

arguing. To the point where I cause

unnecessary friction between genuine brothers and Christ and

Sisters in Christ. To the degree, while I neglect

my personal pursuit of holiness. This is they don't discuss about

words. Don't study words.

Don't quarrel about words. You have many unsanctified

Debaters in Christendom and they're good at it.

And their entire spiritual journey is all about arguing and

not about becoming like Christ. This is the great warning that

we have today. If you get caught up in

quarreling about words, you might just be ruining your

spiritual progress. Again am I saying that we should

not pursue knowledge? Know what I am saying is that we

must avoid the motive and the attitude that Paul ascribes to

false teachers. But what do you mean Paul brings

up quarreling about words before and he Associates it with the

attitude of false teachers go to First Timothy chapter 6 and look

1 Timothy 6 · chapter mention

at verse 4 with me. This is Paul's description of a

false teacher and this is what he says among other things.

He is, puffed up with conceit and understands nothing.

Now, look at this, this is an important part.

He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels

about words, there it is, which produced look at the fruit of

it, which produces Envy dissension.

Slander evil suspicions and look at an expert in verse 5 and

causes friction. And causes friction among people

who are depraved the Mind deprived of Truth.

Imagine that godliness is a mean of gain.

So here's the thing. I mean, it's a very fine line.

You can get caught up in these things but you have to look at

the fruit. I personally am willing to sit

with somebody all night about whatever subject they want to

talk about. As long as I can discern, that

they are genuinely wanting to grasp truth.

But I am not interested in speaking with somebody that just

wants to quarrel because they find some cheap thrill from it.

I don't have time to waste. There's so much that I need God

to do in my life and if you're going to rob that time, go find

some other place with all due respect.

Don't quarrel about words. Don't get caught up in these

things. But he comes to the next point.

The next thing to avoid in verse 15, of 2nd, Timothy 2.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved.

A worker who has no need to be ashamed.

Rightly handling. The word of Truth, avoid being

careless with the Bible. Is the second thing.

This is a more obvious malpractice to us.

We understand this pretty clearly it's pretty

straightforward and sandwiched between the negative command of

do not quarrel about words. And in verse 16 avoid irreverent

babbling is the cry to handle the the word of God rightly.

But notice what he says before, he says do your best.

Do your best, just like the verse before this.

He is trying to emphasize the seriousness of this.

Do your best to show yourself as one approved before God,

white-knuckled devotion, immovable, immovable discipline.

laser sharp Focus to what get the approval of man God forbid

To receive your acceptance from God.

And yeah, they're they're being approved by God as listen is to

be severely tested to go through much scrutiny and investigation.

Only to find yourself in the clear, only to find yourself in

the past. This is what he's speaking about

and he's saying, I want you Timothy Pastor, I don't want you

to give all your energy to win the respect of your congregants.

Do that is important to some degree.

I want all of who you are your priority.

You're Ambition in life to win God's acceptance.

What would the church look like in America if every single

believer had that as the banner over their life?

What kind of heights of Holiness?

Would we reach? What kind of purging and

draining of corruption in the church?

Would we know what kind of power from the Holy Spirit?

Can we see flow from vessels? Who have cleanse themselves from

all other motives except except this one?

Make sure that you do your best of all things to seek and to

receive your approval from God and God Alone.

And there's an example. If you were there last Friday, a

Bible study that I can't get out of my head.

So I have to share this morning. About a contrast between a man

who was concerned about God's glory and a bunch of other men

who were concerned by inferior motives.

If you want to turn their you can.

It's in first Samuel chapter chapter 17, this is when Goliath

comes on the scene and he's roaring from one Hill and he's

intimidating the Israelites. And in first, Samuel 17 verse

24. If you were there.

Last Friday repetition is good. It gets in your soul deeper.

First Samuel 17, 24. Look at the reaction of the

Israelites. All the men of Israel when they

saw the man being Goliath fled from him and were much afraid.

And the men of Israel said, have you seen this man who has come

up? Surely he has come up to defy

Israel and the King will enrich the man who kills him with great

riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's

house free in Israel. What a reflection of the poor

leadership of Saul Saul had to stoop down.

So low, that he had to actually bribe.

His men with cash prizes, his daughter for marriage and a

tax-free house. With the hopes to motivate at

least one man to stand before a Goliath and do something about

it. And look at the attitude of the

soldiers, nevermind Saul, what was their concern?

They said, surely he has come up to defy Israel.

Israel and here you have unfortunately a commentary of

the modern Church to some degree like saw you have much

leadership that needs to use, worldly means to try to wake up,

the people to be faithful to the Lord to get involved in serving.

God, God's glory is not enough. Walking for him, is not enough.

No. No.

We need to give you toys. And we need to, we need to pet

you and we need to give you some kind of entertainment.

Something of the world to persuade you, that God is worthy

of your service. And like these men.

When opposition comes, you have many Believers, that are only

concerned about themselves. He has come to defy, Israel, my

safety and my comfort, and my needs.

Where's God in all of this? Where is God?

I'll tell you where God is after this David shows up on the scene

and I want you to see how he responds in verse 26, and David

said to the men who stood by him what shall be done for the man

who kills this Philistine and takes away.

The reproach from Israel for who is this uncircumcised

Philistine. Now look that he should defy the

armies of the Living God. So, David shows up on the scene,

you know, how these men including salt interpret what's

happening to Goliath, oh, he's gonna kill us.

And here's some, here's some money.

And here's a beautiful girl and here's an easier life.

If somebody's willing to stand up and David this teenager shows

up on the scene, he goes. Do you guys hear that?

He's blaspheming our God. David possess something that the

entire armies of Israel, lack. You know what?

It was a fierce loyalty to the glory of God?

And guess what? Because he had that he didn't

need promotion. He didn't need man's approval.

He didn't need your toys. He didn't need your product.

God's glory was enough. You want to dishonor?

My God. Then I will stand for me, even

if I stand alone, and that's the thing that drove him into that

Valley and to look up into the eyes of a man that could have

crushed them at the expense of the risk of his own life.

He said, because God's glory is at stake.

I will give my life. That is the key ingredient that

will produce an endurance and great acts of faith from your

life. And that is unfortunate.

The thing that keeps many people because they lack it from doing

things for the Lord, like these armies show.

Get a church filled with people that want to honor God and you

don't have to use worldly means to try to keep them.

That's what Paul is trying to say to Timothy.

Don't worry about your approval. Do your best for God's sake, for

God's name, for God's approval. And you will see great strides

in your faith and he says, rightly handle it.

So, this is the, this is the context.

Get your approval from God as you defend the truth, as you

stand for a while, there is opposition and criticism and

heresy. But more than that, not just

defending it, rightly handling it What does that mean?

Very straightforward, isn't it? To not include your

interpretation in two verses to honor the context in which

things are presented to. As a pastor dissect.

The word of God in a way, that doesn't cause more confusion,

but brings more clarity to apply it to your life.

First, before you dare even teach it to another Soul.

Rightly handled the word of Truth in the original language.

It simply means this. Cut it straight.

Cut it straight. Honor it respect it.

Revere God through it. And this imagery is very

impressionable when we understand that, the word of

Truth is also referred to what as the sword of the spirit.

So you can translate it this way.

Rightly handle the sword of the spirit. if handled Faithfully,

the sword of the spirit, Can kill the old man and make way

for the new man to live in the newness of Christ.

If handled Faithfully, this sword is able to slaughter the

power of sin. so that Holiness can flow through your

bloodstream as a blood, but Christian If handled with love

this sword can cut out unbelief in the great physician of your

soul, can replace it with faith. But unfortunately.

If handled without God in mind, this sword can be turned into a

tool to pitch. It's you.

And to satisfy your flesh because someone refuses to take

out the sharp Blades of the word of God, that cuts your heart

with conviction. And the opposite way.

This sword can also be mishandled by by frightening,

Sinners unnecessarily because someone is Out For Blood and

they decided to wound people without healing in mind and

they're out just to make a statement even at the expense of

your soul. And listen, even some genuine

believers. Can cut out portions of this,

favorable parts of the Bible and they have an imbalance diet,

making them malnourished in the spirit.

Can I prove that to you? Go to Luke chapter 24 with me.

Luke 24 · chapter mention

I want to show you something quite interesting in the Bible.

I this portion of the Gospel of Luke is arguably one of my

favorites. There's so much meat in this

chapter of the Book of Luke. And what you see here is those

two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

They were sad. They were sad because the

Messiah, the one that did all these Miracles.

The one that made so many promises and their understanding

has been crucified and news spread through all Jerusalem.

This man is dead. And their heads were hanging low

and Jesus shows up on the scene and he avails himself, he

doesn't reveal that. He is Jesus.

And he begins to have a conversation with him.

And he asks, why are you sad? And they look at each other and

they look back at him and they are you are you new to this

place? Did you not just hear what's

transpired over the past few days?

And they begin to express their sorrow and their grief and their

disappointment and here's counselor Jesus.

Here's Pastor, Jesus. You know what?

He's going to say. What would probably cause people

to leave the church of it. He's very insensitive that

Pastor doesn't isn't sympathize with me.

You want to see what Jesus said, look here in verse 25 of Luke

24. And he said to them, o foolish

ones. And slow of heart to believe all

that the prophets have spoken. He calls them fools.

He calls them fools. That seems insensitive you have

two men who put their hope in the Messiah, their hope, and in

the Christ. And it seems like their faith is

being challenged and and you come Lord and you tum your

foolish Why? Was it because they sincerely

believed and they were going through a trial.

No. It's because what, what did he

say? Slow of heart to believe all

that the prophets have spoken. They believed some of what the

prophets have spoken, not all, why just like many of the Jews

including the disciples when they read the Old Testament

scriptures, you know, where they gravitated towards the

triumphant Messiah, the Messiah, that would save Israel from its

oppressors. The Messiah that would deliver

this nation and would rule the world.

That is the thing that they were attracted to.

That is a thing that they interpret its solely and they

miss the suffering one. They miss the one that would die

and would be buried. And when resurrect and guess

whose fault it was theirs. Some people question, how can

Jesus be so strong against the leadership of that day?

They were just understanding what they seem to understood

know. They misunderstood the Bible

wasn't confusing. They just chose the parts that

they wanted to receive while neglecting the others.

And that's what many Christians do today.

They don't take all of the word of God.

They take some of the word of God, preferably the ones that

don't disturb their sin. And don't challenge them to be

prayerful and serious and zealous.

Give me the ones that will Coach me and will help me pursue my

dreams and my ambitions and that's what's the most popular

preaching today. It's self-help.

Sprinkled with some Jesus on it. And then you wonder why there's

so much compromised so much. Powerlessness and not just that,

just like these disciples consider this, that because of

their lack of balance. Understanding of the word of

God, they invited unnecessary sorrow.

The reason why Jesus rebuked them was because the very sorrow

they were experiencing was their own doing.

And what about the depression and people's lives?

And what about the weakness? And what about the spiritual

anemic state of so many believers?

it's because like these two on the road to Emmaus, they took

some of the Bible and not all of it.

You didn't consider the rest of the scriptures you too.

So listen, what does Jesus do to these Heavy Hearts?

What did you do to provide healing and restoration?

Look at verse 26, was it not necessary that the Christ should

suffer these things and enter into glory and then look at

verse 27, He says here, it says, here about him and beginning

with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them all the

scriptures, the things concerning himself. so you know

what, Jesus does, the great Expositor He rightly handles the

word of Truth. See your fault as you didn't

listen to all. So you know what I'm going to do

to you right now. I'm going to give you all that

the prophets have said. and I always say this when ever I

references, this this part of the Bible, don't you wish that

the Holy Spirit recorded that bible study, He didn't they just

summarize it? Oh, I would have loved to know

what Jesus said. As you walk with those to the

realize what we said in Moses, do you realize what was said in

the prophets? Do you realize what was said in

the Psalms and this is what happens, we know this later on

these Heavy Hearts, listen, they invited that Pain by their

negligence, they invited that Sorrow by their laziness by the

presupposition by their desire to choose and eat the And spit

out the bones, whatever that means.

And by the end of that Bible study later on when Jesus

appears to them in that house and he disappears, they look at

each other and said did not our hearts burn within us.

So that what's that's what happens when you honor the

Bible, for what it is, you take the scripture for what it is

that you rightly handle it. You will know a burning

sensation that will cause your affections for Christ to

increase that will burn away all other things of the Flesh and

will cause you like those two to run out of that house and tell

others about this Jesus. Don't be deceived by those who

are filling stadiums and when that talented worship team goes

up. There's a hoopla and there's

amazing passionate expression of praise If there is not a right

handling of the truth, it's all a facade.

It's misguided at best. Jesus rightly handle the word of

Truth. Listen, the implications of this

is great. Pay attention now To rightly

handle the truth. Has the power as we know to save

a soul from hell. And listen, it has the ability

to save the saved from unnecessary sorrows.

Honor the Bible read it. That's why I personally, this

isn't Bible, this is personal but I'm sure the Bible can be

proven by this statement. Read your Bible entirely.

Let me be practical Now, read it cover to cover.

And listen, I say this in love, if you're a Believer, has been a

Believer for many years and you haven't read through the entire

Bible. Shame on you.

Shame on you. You have to know the word of God

from cover to cover. If you believe that this is the

word of God, the most important truth known to mankind and you

haven't covered it after many years.

Why? Get into the word honor, the

context have conversations about it.

Seek reputable men, who fear God and interpret it correctly and

you will know something in your soul, you will know a great

protection and provision that you can't even imagine.

Rightly handle the word of Truth. and we come to the final

warning in second Timothy, In verse 16 down.

We're told to avoid one. More thing.

First thing, avoid quarreling about things that are not

Central, it ruins, it's hearers, secondly, avoid Miss handling or

being negligent or lazy with the Bible.

You are inviting like those two, perhaps, unnecessary sorrows and

ways of thinking, and lastly, avoid people.

Who are given to irreverent babble.

This may seem like an introduction to a different

version of polluted speech. It may seem like the impression

here is don't be around those. Who entertain sin with their

tongue? Who are?

Entertaining foul language who don't honor Christ in their

dialogue. But the the context suggest,

otherwise Paul seems to be suggesting that this irreverent

Babble actually speaks of false teaching.

False teaching. Now we hear that when we go,

okay, I get it, don't believe false teaching but I believe the

emphasis is different here. It's not saying, don't believe

what is wrong. I believe what it is saying here

is, don't be around. Don't invite, don't leave an

Open Door in your life of those who contradict core teachings of

your faith. We are in no doubt call to be

associated with this world and every sphere of life, even those

who have heard, the gospel and refused to believe it, you're

supposed to have contact with such people.

That's where your light shines. But there is a different

responsibility by the leadership of a church to make sure that

the right people are in attendance within the assembly.

and pastures have a call to make sure that those within are not

promoting a teaching, that would upset the faith of some and he

brings up two people by name feminism.

File etus Or fill it us. Now here's what's interesting,

how many as has been mentioned before?

Go to First Timothy chapter 1, verse 20, actually verse 19 and

1 Timothy 1:20

look what we're told about this man.

In verse 19, holding faith and a good conscience by rejecting.

This, some have made shipwreck of their faith among whom are

Himalayas and Alexander whom I have handed over to Satan.

That they may learn not to blaspheme.

So you know what Paul did with this Jimenez guy.

He apparently was in the Church of Ephesus and he started going

around teaching weird things. He's having people over for

Bible study at his house and now he's getting it to some strange

stuff. One of them being you guys

realize the resurrection already happened, right?

And they're all looking at each other.

Like what are you talking about? Yeah.

And we don't know what he taught specifically.

He could have said that the resurrection already happened

that there is no bodily resurrection that your spirit is

resurrected, it's all done. There's no Resurrection to look

forward to Now here's the problem.

That's a core tenet of our faith.

That's not secondary issues that serious.

That is foundational. Paul hears about it.

Paul must have confronted him perhaps.

They went back and forth and Jimenez was convinced.

Paul says, you're out of here, you can't be in this church and

teach such things you need to go.

That's what it means to be handed over to Satan.

You want to, you want to act like Satan with your sin, the

final stage of church, this event, you can't stay here.

We're sorry. We're a people called to

holiness. Yes, you want to believe what

Satan believes. Then go into his world and

preach it all Yuan. Don't preached in the house of

God. Here's what's amazing Jimenez

was kicked out. And he seems to still be

pursuing the faith of those within the same church.

Like even though he was excommunicated, he's still

trying to. He still trying to deter what

people believe in the same church that he was kicked out

of. And guess what, it worked a

certain degree because we read of him and his and Alexander.

And now we go to chapter 2 of the second book.

And we were to Himalayas and fill it.

This, he got another one, he got another one. and he was

upsetting the faith of some and this man had to be warned about

And This concerns the first point about this message,

doesn't it? Listen!

All it takes is one guy in a church, man.

To not believe that they will be held accountable before God to

not hold to this truth. All the truck was one him and a

has to cause trouble in a church.

And this is the warning. Failing to be prompt failing, to

be serious about someone, in the midst, who was intentionally,

trying to sway. Others away is nothing short of

deadly. I know in this place, many of

you, if not all of you love the truth and you can't even fathom

how this is relatable to our context.

If God by his mercy and his will decides for this church to grow,

don't be shocked, who comes in. Don't be surprised.

It's a scheme of Satan. And it is so deadly.

Paul says it can spread like gangrene Another translation

says it can spread like cancer. Many of us have seen that over

the past year and a half with many narratives from the world,

including a false view of Justice and Black lives matter

and all these weird ideas of what the Bible says, concerning

these issues. And how fast did it?

Corrupt? Churches, like gangrene, People

ate it up. And within just a matter of a

few months, you had churches that were Faithfully preaching

and teaching the Bible now, electing Elders based on their

race. This is not something to play

around with. And it can just start from one.

And so Paul is telling Timothy, you got to pay attention to

this. And here's, here's a call for

you. Pray for your pastors.

Pray for all pastors because pastors are like surgeons.

When they see something that's deadly and is lethal, they must

be prompt to do something. They must be prompt to make an

operation to make sure that it doesn't spread and to deal with

that as soon as as soon as possible.

I pray that they would never be an issue in this house that

fears God's word. Pray for your pastors and pray

for either people to have a watching.

I now, you might be hearing this and saying that's great.

That's wonderful, but I'm not a pastor.

This isn't applied to me, that's a duty that belongs to you and

maybe the elders. So how does this really apply to

my personal life and it does in many ways, but I'll reinforce

what I said earlier. Here's your duty, here's your

duty in a world where you can, it's almost impossible to ignore

false narratives, and teachings. It's in the form of songs.

It's in the forms of quick reels on your phone.

It's in the form of so many different means by which the

enemy is trying to persuade you from rightly handling and

understanding the truth. And we've seen it in some of you

have seen loved ones over the past year and a half, get caught

up in it. Here's your duty.

Let me say it again. I know this isn't glamorous, but

let me say it again. Know your Bible. know, your

Bible and I will quote a preacher who said this and I am

in full agreement because if there is anyone who owns a Bible

and does not read it regularly and does not seek to understand

it, they deserve to be deceived They deserve to be deceived.

And there will be an increase of deception in this world that you

won't be able to look at any direction without seeing it.

You think it's bad. Now, when Jesus in that

discourse concerning the end times and Matthew 24 warned, and

gave the signs to his disciples of what the end times would look

like, remember what the first thing was see that no one leads.

You astray, that was the first thing Jesus said, see that?

No one leads. You astray.

The first sign that Jesus gave of the last days was Mass

deception. And so great.

Is this deception? Just like these to look at Verse

18 who have swerved from the truth implying that they were

once in the truth. They once held to it.

They once claimed it and professed it and then they

swayed away from it. But you just said, know your

Bible. You just said know your

Doctrine. You're saying here that they

swerved from the truth. So what's the truth?

Got to do with me and protecting me?

Well I'll take it to the next level.

It's more than just knowing the truth.

Because you can sit in a place like this and here faithful,

Bible preaching for weeks and years.

And still be deceived in the end.

Brother, you're scaring me, good.

I want to show you in our final verse.

What? You must do to know a

protection. Listen, this protection will be

so great. That even the Antichrist won't

be able to deceive you. This protection is so powerful

that even with false signs and wonders.

You'll be faithful to the word of Truth.

The second Thessalonians chapter 2. in this chapter, Paul

2 Thessalonians 2 · chapter mention

describes the Antichrist, the timing of the Antichrist, the

ways of the Antichrist, Let's begin in verse 9. 2nd

Thessalonians 2:9. The coming of the Lawless one is

by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and

wonders. You have many Believers today

that have made their Christianity.

Not just about quarreling about words.

Those are those who belong to the debate Society?

There are those who have an unhealthy craving for signs and

wonders. I believe God can do miracles.

I believe God can heal the sick. I believe that God can intervene

and do Supernatural things because my Bible says God can do

it. But then there are those like

many extremes who just want signs and wonders their Bibles

collecting dust because they don't believe this is

Supernatural. They want tangible things.

Those people are setting themselves up for deception.

When you neglect the word of God and want Miracles and power and

manifestations, all it's going to take is for the Antichrist to

show up, perform signs and wonders.

And you got some people who attended church the whole life

saying, I don't know. This is pretty convincing.

With false signs and wonders. Now look at this verse 10 and

with all Wicked deception. So this is how bad it's going to

be. You're not just going to have a

persuasive person with charismatic abilities, calling

people to believe something that's not true, he's gonna back

it up with miracles. And look at the people who are

going to be deceived. For those who are perishing,

because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

Did you catch it? It didn't say because they

refuse to know the truth. And so be saved to love it.

You can have people that can quote verses and still be

deceived. But here's the the factor that

makes it different to love for the truth.

That your heart is convinced within yourself that no matter

what the truth is, whether it offends your flesh, whether it

lines up with your understanding of life, you're willing to

submit to the truth because you know that this is God's voice

and this is God's Will and God's ways and you love God.

So you love his truth? It's a heart that says I want

truth at any cost. I'll submit the truth in any

way, it's that love for the truth, not just having an

acquiring information about it. But with a Heart of Worship

willing to absorb it and apply it, it is that love for the

truth that God will honor and by the power of His holy spirit,

revealed to you more truth and will be the great teacher in

your life and will be the great discerner in your soul because

he sees a heart that says I love truth.

I want truth, I may not understand all truth but oh

Lord, I want all that I can get You know what begins to happen.

You develop a discernment. And it's an amazing amazing

sensation. It's not mystical God.

Doesn't sprinkle something on you?

It's the word of God in you. and then you have a filter and so

when you, when you visit a church and you hear something

and you're like a lot of that sounded right, But there's

something off about it. It's not because you're Miss

judging the person, or you don't like his style of preaching,

it's because they're not rightly handling the word of Truth.

And the Holy Spirit sees your heart that loves truth.

And says, I will discern for you.

I will show you, I will protect you from deception.

But unfortunately many people who are lazy with the truth

because they don't love the truth because of that you might

be setting yourself up for some dangerous things brother.

You must love the truth priority, your prize your

Supreme Delight in life and many things come greater the rewards

for those who love the truth. And one of them is by God's

grace. You won't be deceived.

Avoid quarrel about things that are not Central, it ruins your

spiritual progress, it ruins it causes faction and frustration

and friction amongst people. Let's not fight.

There are many things that we need to fight for.

Let's save our energy. Avoid mishandling the word of

Truth. Yeah, that's for pastors but

it's also for disciples who like certain parts and don't take the

whole And avoid people avoid any form of teaching, avoid this

idea that they might be wrong, but the right another things

because you don't know what you're digesting, while you

listen to that guy. Avoid people and those who are

into irreverent babble. And we will save our souls from

much destruction. Let's bring

Louis, thank you for the word of God.

We sent its power. This morning, we sense its

Authority this morning. We sense your wisdom, Lord.

You have blessed this generation with a full revelation of your

word. Forgive us for our negligence.

Forgive us for not being serious.

Forgive us even for a season where we have not love the

truth, Help us love the truth. Help us taste the truth as the

psalmist did. Like honey on our lips.

Lord in this moment, we pray that you would refine us more

into the image of your son. Perhaps, these dangers were not

on the radar of our understanding, but now they are

We want to be as Godly as you've called us to be.

Lord, we pray that this church would rightly handle the word of

Truth. And that Lord when it comes to

issues that are not Central that we would know how to because we

are a people who love to know the Deep things of God.

We would know what the right attitude.

How to discuss these truths And even argue these truths and

Holiness, but help us to not quarrel.

And Lord protect this church from false teachers from wolves.

We have not yet have to deal with that and we thank you for

it and we pray that that would remain.

But Lord, may we have a church that is Discerning because they

know their Bible, not just the leadership Lord, but every

person in here to be, like The bereans Honorable men and women,

who searched the scriptures who even searched the scriptures

after they hear a sermon from their own pastors, We love you

Lord. We thank you for These Warnings

because your warnings are always in love and thank you for the

fresh jolt to master the Bible and to know all that you have to

say, from cover to cover, we give you all praise and glory in

Jesus name, amen. And amen.

Let stand and Worship the Lord together, shall we?