Itching Ears
or Burning Hearts
It
is called Deception Pass an area of Coastline in Western Washington in the area
of the Puget Sound.
A)
Discovered in 1792 by the Explorer Joseph Whidbey
B) he named it Deception Pass because the main
channel is barely 500 feet wide and under the glittering watery light, an incalculable
volume of water surges back and forth
through the narrow rock channels
C)
This unseen turbulence can seize control of a ship without warning.
1)
Countless boats have suffered shipwreck as a result.
Well
As we come to the 4th Chapter of 1 Timothy Paul is warning believers
about growing deception that will take
place in the Last days.
A)
A Deception that can lead to spiritual
shipwreck
RD V 1-5
B)
Latter times is a little deceiving – it , is more properly understood when it
is translated, "in succeeding seasons there will be many departing from
the faith" –
C)
this is something that is going to go on, the apostle is suggesting, throughout
the whole course of Christian
history,
in succeeding seasons of time.
D)
It will grow in it’s severity in the days leading up to the rapture:
Preparation for the Anti-Christ.
Consider
recent History
In
the last part of the 19th century, there was a pronounced season of deceit,
when new cults that have occupied the scene ever since emerged here in America.
That
is when Mormonism
was born ;
Jehovah's
Witnesses
came into being during that latter part of the 19th century;
Christian
Science emerged.
All of these claimed to be Christian, yet
they distorted biblical Christianity.
That
period in the 19th century was followed by a period of quiet, when no new cults
emerged.
Suddenly,
in the mid-60's, it all broke loose again.
A) A torrent of error began to flood our
churches and the media.
B)
The Moonies came into existence under the Korean leader, Sun Myung Moon; the
Hare Krishna, started appearing in airports, passing out literature and pinning
flowers to lapels;
C)
Scientology, with its strange and cruel doctrines, was born;
1)
Transcendental Meditation came into popularity then.
Followed
by the growing popularity in the 70-80’s of the new age movement and Humanism.
A)
Evolution would grow in it’s popularity
B)
That is what Paul is saying here – this type of false teaching will increase in
latter days.
C)
And During those times, Paul says, many will depart from the truth, depart from
the faith as it is presented in the Scriptures.
DEPART is Strong word:
A) It means “to remove oneself from the
position originally occupied to another place.”
B)
It is a stronger term than either the word translated “straying” “suffered
shipwreck- Paul mentions in Ch.1 1) It
refers to a purposeful, deliberate
departure from a former position.
C)
From Christianity – from what the Bible says – to something that is contrary
and different.
The
Source of such deception:
1) Deceiving spirits and
Doctrine of demons.
A)
Men do not invent errors like this.
B)
They come through men but the actual origin is Demonic in nature.
Satan
tried to destroy the Church thru persecution – Back fired – the Church grew.
A) Can’t beat them join them
– False teachers
2
Cor.11:14-15 “For Satan himself transforms himself into
an angel of light. Therefore it is no
great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of
righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”
B)
As God speaks truth & uses people to share it;
so Satan speaks lies & uses people to share it!
C)
These false teachers in many cases are deceitful liars who – spread their false
doctrines by rejecting truth.
Conscience Seared: modern
day word Cauterization: A) Freeze or Burn tissue – Past feeling –
B)
they have allowed them to be so burnt that they have no feeling – no remorse –
no guilt- Conviction.
C)
Problem in Paul’s day Asceticism –
1)
The teaching that self-denial on the physical level was essential for true
spirituality.
D)
It was first characterized by the Essenes.
They
were a Jewish sect that appeared in Palestine as early as the second century b.c.
A)
They formed the Qumran community, near the Dead Sea, where the Dead Sea Scrolls
were found.
B) They practiced
asceticism, denying marriage and enforcing special dietary regulations.
C) Then came the Gnostics Gnostics boasted of a
secret, hidden knowledge.
D) They held a view that all
matter was evil, and spirit good.
1)
So Marriage and food, being aspects of the evil material world, were to be
shunned.
E) Gnosticism was to pose a serious threat to
the orthodox faith for several centuries.
Result
of their view of marriage it was Also adopted by early Church fathers:
Tertullian and
Ambrose:
believed that the extinction of the human race was to be preferred above the
sexual relationship with in marriage.
Ambrose wrote that married people ought to Blush at the state that they are living
in.
Augustine
argued that the sexual relationship was innocent in
marriage but the passion that accompanies it is always sinful.
In
other words if you are enjoying a
passionate sexual relationship with your wife – according to Augustine you are
in sin.
A)
For that reason: Augustine frequently counseled marriage couples to abstain.
B) Praise God for the
Puritans and the Protestant reformation – back to the Bible –
1)
They exalted Marriage and
Why
is asceticism so popular? Two reasons
1) At the heart of
it is a conviction that self-denial somehow pleases God. { Earning
Points w/ God.
A) He looks down on them
more favorably if they are denying themselves things – that are ok to others.
1)
It can be very earnest, very sincere.
B) Such thinking completely
forgets that God knows our hearts thru and thru –
1)
He said that Obedience means way more to Him than sacrifice.
2)
Legalistic teachers have a way of making people feel really guilty –
A)
So a decision to abstain from certain pleasures is in a warped way have a sense
of easing a person’s guilt.
B) They feel less guilty if
they are following what the legalistic leader is telling them to do!
But Paul made
it clear in Colossians that Bodily disciplines do
not automatically advance spiritual life.
Col.2:23
“These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in
self-imposed religion, false
humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.”
So Paul
says live in Freedom with thanksgiving:
4For every creature of God is good, and nothing is
to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5for it is
sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
A) If God made this food –
made marriage – said abstain
B) Be like a parent candy
jar – look but don’t touch
1)
We don’t do that – Cruel – mean
C) God made these things for
our enjoyment – He wants us to enjoy them- to the fullest.
1)
Boundaries – according to His Word
2)
Moderation-
3)
With a Thankful heart.
COURSON:
“Here’s how
to be a good minister: Stay away from esoteric posturing, dietary discussions,
and legalism. Keep the main thing the main thing. And the main thing is Jesus.”
The
Biggest threat in the Church today in America is not Asceticism or Humanism or
Darwinism It is Consumerism.
We are a nation of Consumers
– Recent stats
Americans have been known to
spend in a given year
110
Billion dollars on fast food.
85
Billion on lawns and gardens.
64
Billion on soft drinks.
38
Billion on state lotteries.
36
Billion on vending-machine products.
24
Billion on jewelry.
23
Billion on toys.
20
Billion on cosmetics.
40
Billion on gym memberships and diet plans
31
Billion on ice cream.
13
Billion on chocolate.
7
Billion on greeting cards.
600
million on teeth-whitening products.
We
are a nation of consumers – the modern day Church is key in on that. Seeker ….. User …….
Greg
Laurie writes in his book the upside down Church:
“In
my conversations with many pastors from around the country, I’ve noticed that a
new word has entered into Church lingo- the word consumer.
Experts
are telling us that people no longer attend a fellowship of believers to
commune with God. They come to consume.
“And
in order to thrive, Churches are going to have to adapt to the needs of the
spiritual consumer.”
Here
is the Problem Laurie continues-
“
When you label someone a consumer, you are zeroing in on one thing-
consumption. That means it is all about the appetite, what goes down the Hatch.”
“The
Church becomes like Business competing with the other near by providers for the
same customer. When that is your focus – suddenly your concerns change. You
spend a whole lot more time asking questions like. What can I do to make my
product more appealing and Unique?
How
can I improve customer service? How can I adjust what we offer to meet or beat
the competition?”
Two of the Largest Churches in the Country:
Bill
Hybels Willow Creek and Rick Warren’s Saddleback were started on this premise –
Door to door Survey’s What do you
want in a Church?
Tens of thousands of
Churches have followed their model. Give them what they want.
A) There is a danger in that
style of ministry to compromise the integrity of the word.
B) Avoid certain subjects –
avoid things that might be offensive.
1) So in a lot of those kind
of ministries – Congregants are encouraged not to bring Bibles to Church
2)
The Reason: It might offend the seeker.
3)
Avoid discussing sin or the Blood. Offensive.
Paul
said this would be a part of the mindset of the Church in the last days. 2
Timothy 4 { Turn there
1I charge you
therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and
the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2Preach the word! Be
ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all
longsuffering and teaching. 3For the time will come when they will not
endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because
they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4and
they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to
fables.
Motivations:
Own desires/ Itching ears
A) Tell us what we want to
hear.
B) Denise talking to a lady
…. Marriage –wife
1) Read what the Bible says
I don’t feel that way.
C) Result: Turn away from
the truth.
D)
So the Seeker Church says: We are going to Scratch where it itches – Warren –Focus on
Felt Needs
1) They argue: Hey if it works it must be
God.
US News and world report cover story a few yrs
back.
“
American religion has taken on the aura of pop Psychology. Many congregations
have multiplied their memberships by going light on theology and offering
worshippers a steady diet of sermons and support groups that emphasize personal
fulfillment.”
The Hottest selling books
today in Christian book stores are books that offer advice on how to be
successful.
A)
How to be better parents, spouses, employees, bosses, lovers, friends, how to
over come addiction and how to lose weight.
B)
While it is not wrong to address issues like this – it is wrong to make them
the central focus of your ministry.
C) Result: Man focused
ministry instead of a God focused Ministry.
D) Problem isn’t so much
with what they are saying – Agree with a lot of it –
1)
Problem is what they are not saying – Avoid sin conviction because it is going
to offend.
Greg
Laurie: Puts it well when he says “ If we train
people to be consumers instead of communers we will end up with customers
instead of disciples. It might fill an auditorium but it will never turn the
world upside down for Christ.”
Consider
these Stats – More Mega Churches than ever before in US History.
A)
More people going to Church than ever before.
But
– During the last 3 decades Crime has increased 560%
Illegitimate
births have increased 400%
Divorce
rates have quadrupled.
The
rate of Children being raised in single parent households has tripled.
According
to FBI reports the number of violent crimes reported to police has jumped
for 168 per 100,000 people in 1963 to
475 in 2004.
If
the Church is getting Bigger then why is that the case.
A)
I suggest the reason is the Wrong Diet – might be bigger – but it is not
Stronger.
B) Decision: Do we want
itching ears or Burning hearts!
C) It happened on Rez
morning: two men heading down the road that led to Emmaus from Jerusalem.
D) Their hopes dashed –
their dreams shattered – they were depressed and disappointed
1) Why? Jesus didn’t come
thru.
They
were convinced that Jesus was the Messiah – the Savior – thinking politically.
A) He was the one who would
over throw the Romans and set up a permanent Jewish Kingdom
B) But all of those hopes
and dreams came crashing down as they watched him nailed to the Cross.
C) They walked home in
despair – You see they hadn’t heard about the Rez.
Well
Jesus came along – walking on that Rd met them – Hood – Disguised – didn’t
recognize
A) Why are you guys so
bummed out ?
B) They responded – are you
a stranger ………
We
thought he was the one !
C) Jesus began to speak to
them – take them thru the OT – pointing out all the passages – messiah suffer
1) That is not what they wanted
to HEAR !
D) Their Messiah was not
a Suffering Messiah – they didn’t want to hear that –
1) But it is exactly what
they needed to hear
E) Understand – His first
coming was about conquering Sin and death & the
Devil
1) Man’s greatest Problem
They
didn’t want to hear that message – but they needed to.
A) They would say later –
that As Jesus spoke to them in this way – their hearts Burned
B) That is what we need –
Burning Hearts – not tickled ears
1)
That means sometimes God’s word is going to Convict – Burning of the Chaff – to
get Wheat.
C) The
truth burns in the heart in 3 ways
1) Ignites the heart to love
God more.
2) Warms the heart in encouragement.
3) Inflames the heart in
conviction – I have got to do something about my sin.
Repentance: Change of mind
attitude and approach