Positive Things About Perilous Times
2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
Intro: I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but we are living in perilous times.
- 1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
- 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
- 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
- 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
- 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
We are there! These words of prophecy are being fulfilled in our eyes every single day.
It’s way worse than even we know. The truth about how bad it is would blow our minds.
But the truth is, no matter how bad it gets, there’s still some positive things we can keep in mind.
I. The Savior Will Still be Faithful
Illustration 1: Jesus showed up in a time of being FEARFUL.
John 20
- 19 Then the same day at evening, being the first [day] of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you.
- 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them [his] hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
Illustration 2: Jesus showed up in a time of being FORSAKEN.
2 Timothy 4
- 16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
- 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
- 18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
II. The Seed Can Still be Fruitful
Illustration: The sower in Matthew 13:3-8
The sower was faced with a wide variety of obstacles.
The sower had to deal with the wayside.
The fowls were working overtime to eat and devour the seed.
This is a type of Satan stealing the seed of God’s word out of the hearts of people.
- 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
The sower has been faithful to sow the seed but the devil is stealing it away.
The sower encountered stony ground.
This is the hard, difficult hearts where the seed cannot take root.
- 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
The sower was faced with thorny ground.
This was a type of the crowd that do not last after receiving it with joy.
- 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
But the positive news is the seed can still find good soil and become fruitful.
- 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
Notice the wording: BUT OTHER… Glory!!!
No matter how bad it gets, the seed can still become fruitful if we will be faithful to sow it.
III. The Sinner Can Still be Forgiven
Illustration: Philippian jailer
Acts 16:30
The Apostle Paul and Silas had been beaten and thrown in jail.
Their backs were ripped up and bleeding.
Verse 23 says they had laid many stripes upon them.
Verse 33 says the jailer washed their stripes.
They were beaten and bleeding.
They had their feet put in the stocks.
They were imprisoned and awake at midnight.
Then to make matters worse, there was an earthquake.
They were living in one of the most perilous days of their life.
Let’s be honest – this was not a prime time to have a soulwinning conference.
This wasn’t an ideal environment to go soulwinning.
But no matter how bad it gets, there will always be sinners springing in asking for light!
There will always be a sinner that wants to know how to be saved.
These are perilous times, but the positive news is there is an abundance of lost people.
QUOTE: The darker the night, the brighter the light.
Philippians 4
- 21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.
- 22 All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.
IV. The Scriptures can Still Furnish
Turn to 2 Timothy 3
- 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Paul warned Timothy that it was going to get worse and worse.
May I say it – It has gotten worse and worse.
There are more evil men and more seducers than ever before.
There is more deception and deceiving taking place than ever before.
But I have good news – the word of God – the Scriptures is still able to furnish God’s people for these last days!
- 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
- 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
- 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
- 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
No matter how bad it gets, it will never get so bad that the Bible is irrelevant.
The Bible will never be outdated and obsolete.
We can still continue in the things we have learned and been assure dof.
We can still trust the inspiration of Scripture to help us live for God in these perilous times.
We can still be perfect and throughly furnished unto all good works in these perilous days.
The Bible still works! Keep reading it. Keep preaching it. Keep living it. Keep meditating on it. It still furnishes!!
V. The Spirit can Still be Fresh
Illustration: John the Beloved
Revelation 1
- 9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
- 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,
Here we find John the Beloved on the isle of Patmos.
He’s been excommunicated from society for preaching Christ.
He’s been put all alone on a remote island in the middle of the Mediterranean.
He’s cut off from his church family.
He’s cut off from his brethren.
He’s cut off from other preachers and other disciples.
He was living in perilous times without a doubt.
But guess what – it wasn’t so bad that he couldn’t get a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit.
He was under attack – he was enduring great tribulation for the word of God, but he could still be in the Spirit!
Jesus said it like this in John 16:
- 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
- 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
- 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
- 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
- 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
- 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
- 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
- 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Then seven times in Revelation 2 and 3 John wrote, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches”
No matter how bad it gets, the ministry of the Holy Spirit can still be fresh.
We can walk in the Spirit.
We can be filled with the Spirit.
We can be led by the Spirit.
We can be taught and instructed by the Spirit.
No matter how perilous the days may get, we can experience fresh oil.