The Apostasy of the Last Days (Hope Baptist Church)

Reading: 2 Timothy 4:1-8

2 Timothy 4:3-4 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; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Introduction:

The issue of apostasy is close to my heart. 

For those of you who are unfamiliar:

Apostasy might briefly be described as a “falling away”…and in particular a falling away from the TRUTH of God’s word and what it teaches.

I’ve been a believer for 28 years and was saved in a Pentecostal Church and was immediately immersed in apostate churches and teachings from the very beginning of my Christian walk.

I was thrust into the false anointing of Rodney Howard Brown and the Toronto blessing.

I drank of the contaminated water of false teachers like Joyce Meyer.

I was indoctrinated by the poison of Hillsong conferences and was definitely seduced by their music.

I sat under the teaching of clowns who were only interested in entertaining goats.

And…I’ve seen the damage that such an environment causes both to myself and others. 

But…I have also seen God’s faithfulness in continuing to complete the work that he began in 1995. 

One of the greatest things that I did for myself as I came out of my spiritual slumber, was to commit myself to reading my bible from cover to cover. 

In coming back to the word of God, I was fully awake to the apostasy of these last days. Despite the depressing realization regarding the state of the church, the Lord gave me a very precious promise:

“Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” (Jeremiah 3:14-15)

As I placed one foot in front of the other and began moving in the right direction, the Lord directed my paths to where I am now. 

In RECOGNIZING the days that we are living in…

I’ve come to hate every false way and pray that as you listen to today’s message you will likewise develop a love for the truth and a hatred for error. This will only be possible through your OWN commitment to reading the scriptures daily…DAILY

4 points today:

The Foretelling of Apostasy

The Form of Apostasy

The Following of Apostasy

The Forsaking of Truth 

Let’s pray:

The Foretelling of Apostasy:

“For the time will come….”

The bible foretells of many things, in fact a third of the bible is prophecy. And at times, in foretelling certain events, it also warns us…

The bible ALSO warns us about: 

The imminency of death

The certainty of judgement 

The consequence for sin

In the case of today’s message we are warned of an end-times  apostasy or falling away from truth. 

The FIRST challenge is this:

ARE YOU GOING TO BE A PART OF THE APOSTASY or ARE YOU GOING TO BE A PART OF A FAITHFUL REMNANT. 

It’s always good to know something in advance: 

It helps us to prepare. The word of God not only helps us to prepare but also enables us to make sense of this world…to discern good from evil.  

We NEED to discern the times that we are living in: 

LEST WE FALL INTO OUR OWN PERSONAL APOSTASY AND TO THE APOSTASY AT LARGE

The Lord often exhorts us to take heed with words to this effect…”He that hath an ear, let him hear”

But it’s very possible for a warning to be held at arms length…held there long enough to ignore it. 

A HARDENED HEART CAN LEAD TO UNBELIEF

This immediately places the individual in a dangerous position. 

Unbelief doesn’t change reality or the consequences. 

Ignoring the alarm in the morning doesn’t prevent you from being late for work. Ignorance is never bliss…

MOST TIMES 

Warnings aren’t pleasant… Or at least the CONSEQUENCES of not heeding