A Healthy Church Abstains From Apostasy

Moody accepted and preached the entire time about the evils of tobacco, “Our bodies being a temple for the Holy Spirit” and why the Lord doesn’t want Christians to smoke.

Spurgeon, an avid cigar smoker, was surprised at what seemed to be a cheap shot leveled by Moody, using the pulpit to condemn a fellow minister for violating an issue of personal conscience — Moody’s conscience.

When Moody a rather large man finished preaching, Spurgeon walked up to the podium and said, “Mr. Moody, I’ll put down my cigars when you put down your fork

Need

Our efforts to clarify God’s commandments may not be as righteous and universally appropriate as we think.

Transition question: It’s ok to have boundaries, but are your do’s and don’ts from personal convictions or because you are trying to win favor with God?

1 Timothy 4:1–5 HCSB

Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared. They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods that God created to be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing should be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, since it is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer.

Prayer

A Warning Against Apostasy (1-3) An Argument Against Asceticism (4) An Opportunity to Ask (5)

A Warning Against Apostasy 1-3

1 Timothy 4:1–3 “Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared. They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods that God created to be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth.”

Explanation.

In a similar way that Paul is being led by the Spirit of God to lead the church into all truth these false apostles with seared consciences are trying to lead people away from the church.

There is an order to the demonic structure similar to what Paul just taught in chapter 3. Some will be spiritual teachers and overseers of their teachings and others will serve the cause. Only these people are not serving God.

Paul was warned by the Spirit that there is spiritual warfare always at work.

The Demonic forces like to work in darkness behind the scenes.

The demonic war plans are fought by using deception. They can corrupt and destroy lives; even take a life without a single shot fired.

This must have made them mad when Paul exposed their plan to Pastor Timothy.

1 Peter 5:8 (ESV) Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Paul uses a phrase “In later times” (meaning the church age)

People will depart or apostatize from the faith. He ward that it will happen, and it is happening often.

2 Timothy 3:1–8 HCSB

But know this: Difficult times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people! For among them are those who worm their way into households and capture idle women burdened down with sins, led along by a variety of passions, always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth, men who are corrupt in mind, worthless in regard to the faith.

2 Timothy 4:3–4 HCSB

For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.

How is this happen?

They will be led away by paying attention to false teaching.

If all the world were to suddenly be made aware of the schemes of the devil he would be out of a job. Everyone in utter desperation would cry out to Jesus who is the only power greater that the devil and the spiritual warfare around us.

No he wouldn’t want that. Instead He would use subtle distractions or seemingly small lies disguised as truths.

Illustration

2 Degrees = different country. Paul was saying what was later phrased The devil is in the details. The more attention you give to his lies the more drawn in you become.

Two natures beat within my breast

the one is foul, the one is blessed

The One I love the one I hate

The one I feed will dominate

Romans 1:18–22 HCSB

For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools

This is apostasy.

For them, it was Judaizers who rejected Jesus and salvation through faith alone and they were trying to add the OT laws of dietary restrictions and other rules on the people for the sake of holiness.

Some were being convinced by seemingly godly people who forbid and rejected what God said is good.

And they became judgey, self-righteous watchdogs who insisted their convictions be everyone else's.

Argumentation.

False teachers, with seared consciences, listen to demonic spirits, who try to add or reject parts of the Gospel. By adding or taking away from the Gospel you are neutralizing its power in you.

We teach,

Christ alone! In Christ we are freed from the sin within us and made holy, they claim its sin outside of us that is unholy and by rejecting or forbidding those things God created as good, you are somehow becoming holy

1 Timothy 1:3–4 HCSB

As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach different doctrine or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith.

Application.

1. If you do not know the rules of engagement the devil will not tell you.

2. Where do you get your information from? You must know your Bible because there are a lot of seemingly trustworthy people preaching and teaching things that will literally walk you away from your faith if you pay attention to them.

Transition: Can you see how this could quickly become legalism vs License? We could swing the other way on accident and demand everyone marry and eat steaks.

An Argument against Asceticism (4)

1 Timothy 4:4 HCSB

For everything created by God is good, and nothing should be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

Explanation.

What does God call good? Everything He created.

Illustration.

Genesis 1:31 “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.”

Argumentation

Story of AXE 10

Acts 10:15 “Again, a second time, a voice said to him, “What God has made clean, you must not call common.””

Are we holier if we stay single or if we eat bacon? No We are neither holier if we eat or do not eat or marry or remain single.

Our consciences are to be enlisted in our decision making.

A seared conscience relies on what feels right vs what is right.

My old pastor, and friend used to always say

“Just because you can does not mean you should.”

“Just because it is a good deal does not mean its your deal.”

God has made everything good [that He made]

God made the poppy plant but not heroine

God made marriage but not homosexual marriage.

However Paul still gives warning that similar to my old pastor, that just because you can does not mean you should.

Romans 14:5–6 “One person considers one day to be above another day. Someone else considers every day to be the same. Each one must be fully convinced in his own mind. Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord. Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, yet he thanks God.”

Romans 14:14 “(I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean. )”

There can be a whole host of reasons for this, however, in our decision making we cannot say for reason of holiness I abstain from theses things because the devil will use that to start to sear your conscience.

You will try to feel holier for abstaining and it will lead to further rejection and abstinance.

You will see other people not living to you level and will become judge-mental.

Their “sin” over time will cause you to want to depart from them because you are better than all of that.

Application.

Gratitude is how we avoid becoming seared and departing from the faith.

When we give thanks to the Lord we establish that He is soverign and the creator of all things; including relationships which he has made possible between you and Him.

Transition: Verse 4 & 5 answers the question How do I establish a system that helps me know what is acceptable and what is not?

An Opportunity to Ask (5)

1 Timothy 4:4–5 HCSB

For everything created by God is good, and nothing should be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, since it is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer.

Explanation.

Paul's solution was not to view what God created as evil but to receive what He has given to us with thanksgiving. however we should confirm through the Word and prayer if we are specifically supposed to partake.

What we put in us is not what defiles us but what defiles us is inside.

So we can twist and corrupt anything by our intentions but we are the ones corrupting it, not the other way around.

Therefore, for some,

drinking may be off limits,

certain music ,

going to the beach,

playing card games.

Paul is saying it is sanctified meaning set apart for you or from you through prayer and His word.

John 16:13–14 HCSB

When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you.

Hebrews 4:12 HCSB

For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.

It is the prayer and the Word that reveals the motive within and why or why not something is permissible to you.

However we cannot insist that everyone’s holiness is at stake unless we avoid all alcohol, secular music, swimsuit seasons and poker.

Argumentation

This text is an appeal for the believer to receive what God has given to as a good!

His creation, marriage, meats, drinks, sunny beaches, music, fun-fellowship, and laughter over a game of cards.

Enjoy what God said is good!

Receive it with thanksgiving.

The way to avoid false teaching in this case is to take the matter to God in the word and in prayer.

Three things Christ has done for you to bring holiness to you through faith rather than works

Christ imputed righteousness to you by His works.

Romans 4:5 “But to the one who does not work, but believes on Him who declares the ungodly to be righteous, his faith is credited for righteousness.”

Christ has given to us the Spirit to acknowledge spiritual warfare and to know the truth (this is accomplished through the word and prayer).

He has sanctified us to Himself as the Word and through prayer, He enjoys us we can enjoy Him

Hebrews 13:12 “Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, so that He might sanctify the people by His own blood.”

John 17:20–21 HCSB

I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in Me through their message. May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me.

Application.

1. We are in later times and the devil is doing work.

Guard yourselves against false teachers by knowing and believing the truth

(have faith that what God says is right because God said it)

2. Ask the Lord what is permissible. Things asked and received by His counsel, with gratitude will results in closer oneness with Him because you are deepening your faith, not departing from it like asceticism insists.

Conclusion

We Love God when we bring these matters to Him and allow Him to declare to us what is please and acceptable which creates a deeper relationship.

We love Unity when we respect each other’s convictions and do not place unnecessary burden on one another.

We love Community when better when we understand the spiritual battle for what it is and we can love them to Jesus and not a set of our own rules.

Sermon part 2

Rejecting what is good

Receiving what is good?

Paul was urging Timothy to protect the truth, so that they do not depart from the truth which is salvation through faith not through works.

Our Fallen human condition is that we are predisposed to reject salvation that was made possible by God's own doing. In our Pride, we would rather earn it by our own efforts. A person can sear their conscience and depart from faith when their pride convinces them that they must do something (forbid or reject) in order to be holy.

A spiritual battle for truth is unfolding. Some desire to do life their way instead of living by faith and being grateful allowing the Word and prayer to confirm what is permissible they were making rules that needed followed. That led them to stop worshiping with the rest of the body.

Notes

3 to 4 is shift in priority. What is holy to what unholy by

Thanksgiving is an important to receiving vs rejection (with thanks)

1 Cor 7-10 deal with similar cultural concerns

ch 10 all things are premissable, but… link to v 4-5

Now the Spirit says, when we understand our flesh to “really grow in Holiness” so we need to be trianed to hear the voice of God not the voices of this world.

Pride = Legalism, Arrogances= licsense

seared conscience of the mind results in operating on feelings.

Address those who depart from the faith encourage others who have had those in their lives not to lose hope.

Acts 20 wolves will come to these elders,

Zac’s Outline

Legalism vs licentiousness

Suport Script

(1 Tim 4:3 Gen 9:3)

(1 Tim 4:4 Gen 1:31)

Col. 2:16-23; 2 Tim 3:1-5;

The Spirit says some will

Some will depart from faith paying attention to deceitful spirits and teaching of demons

Through hypocrites who lie and forbid what God has given

God’s creation is to be enjoyed by those who know the truth.

Everything created is good.

Nothing should be rejected

If it is received with thanksgiving

Because it has been set apart by the word and in prayer.

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