But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:10-12

Previous verses the Apostle Paul revealed what false Christians would look like, they were depraved, beyond understanding as they were consumed by their own carnal desires. Our scriptures today, show us what a real Christian should look like, or what your walk with Christ will be like. As I continually quote, Jesus said “If anyone wants to be my disciple, deny yourself, carry your cross, and follow Jesus” (Matthew 16:24)

As the Apostle Paul states “you have fully known and followed my doctrine (The Word of God), manner of life, purpose, faith , patience and love” You believe and obey the Words of God, also you produce fruits of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 7, Galatians 5) The Holy Spirit is living inside of you, and everyone can see Christ living inside of you. There is no question to the world if you are a Christian or not, you are clearly demonstrated by the way you live your life for Christ. 

Now the Apostle Paul turns to the difficult side of our Christian walk that most won’t talk about, persecution and afflictions. As Paul testified he has suffered and endured as a Apostle of Christ, “but out of them all The Lord delivered me” This is not your best life now, this will be your worst life now as a real Christian. However this is the only Hell you will ever know, remember that. You will suffer and be persecuted as a Christian, because the world hates the real Jesus of the Bible (John 15:18)

However understand that God will never leave or forsake you, even though you will suffer for the Kingdom of God, you will be delivered for the glory of God. Now you might say I don’t want to suffer or be persecuted , the Apostle Paul says “ all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” Notice the Apostle Paul didn’t exempt any Christians, if you want to live a life for Christ, you will be persecuted by the world for Christ!

But understand this, we already have victory in Jesus Christ! Regardless of what the world does to us, Jesus has already overcome the world (John 16:33) Live for Jesus and not for this world, Amen!

For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. 2 Timothy 3:6-9

As we continue the Apostle Paul’s prophetic vision of the last days, the great falling away of the Church to apostasy, the rejection of the truth, the rejection of the Word of God, the rejection of the Holy Spirit, the rejection of Jesus Christ as Lord. As we are seeing today, most of Christianity has become carnally minded and corrupted.

But the question you might ask, is how did we get to this point? Why are so many deceived by false religion? As The Lord Jesus warned “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:24) The Lord warned that even the elect will be deceived

This is what the Apostle Paul is teaching us here, these false teachers “creep into houses” and they deceive the spiritually weak and vulnerable. You need to understand these false teachers know what they are doing, they are wolves preying on the sheep. They know exactly what you want to hear, they know exactly how to seduce you with false doctrines This is why you need to know the Word of God, you need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, you need to be in relation with Christ, otherwise you are going to be deceived

The Apostle Paul goes on to call these deceivers “men of corrupt or depraved minds” The Greek word means “to destroy” These are not harmless preachers just conveying false doctrine, they are depraved demons looking to destroy your soul. They have been given over to Satan, there is no truth in them. As the Apostle Paul stated “God gave them over to a reprobate mind” (Romans 1:28) They are totally incapable of preaching the truth, so not only stay away from these wolves but rebuke them in Jesus name!

However if you are Born Again, if you are grounded in the Word of God, you should know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:16) As the Apostle Paul states here “for their folly or madness will be manifest or obvious to all” If you know the Word of God, then the deception by these wolves will be obvious to you, however as Gods states “My people perish from lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6) Many are deceived because they don’t know the truth, they don’t have the Holy Spirit, they don’t read the scriptures, they don’t truly know The Lord Jesus Christ, Amen

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away 2 Timothy 3:1-5

As we look around the state of Christianity, its safe to say we are in perilous or terrible times. The majority of “Churches” have fallen away from sound doctrine, have created a new idol of Jesus that isn’t Biblical, they have created a new religion that is carnally minded justifying their lusts for the flesh and power. However these times were prophesied by the Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. So as shocking as it may be to witness this great falling away, we really shouldn’t be surprised because it was foretold in the scriptures

How do we know we are living in the last days? The Apostle Paul gives us signs and warnings , people will be lovers of themselves. We probably live in the most narcissistic generation in history, with social media everyone is the star of their own show, and this has invaded the Church also. Most Churches have become carnally minded, self focused rather than focused on Christ. As Jesus said “If you want to be my disciple, deny yourself, carry your cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24)

We live in a day and age , when not only the world celebrates “Pride Month” but the Churches celebrate with them. Many Churches host a “Pride Sunday” if you don’t believe me just type a search in YouTube. As the Bible says “Pride leads to destruction” (Proverbs 16:18) Every Sunday we hear blasphemy being preached from the pulpits across the world. Unqualified and unregenerated people, who have elevated themselves as leaders in the Church, speak blasphemy against our Lord and his Church. This has become so common, when someone actually preaches scripture they are labeled legalist and bigots

They are lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, this basically sums up Christianity today. As we look across the spectrum of Christianity, there is a common theme, carnally minded focused on self instead of Christ. As John the Baptist said “He must increase and I must decrease” (John 3:30) Most of Christianity today is about self glorification and self worship, this is Satanism 101. Instead of preaching repentance they preach acceptance. Instead of preaching holiness, they preach conformity to the world.

I could ramble on all day, however you get the point, the falling away from the Church is part of the signs of the last days. As the Apostle John said “many anti-Christ have entered into the world, this is how you know its the last hour” (1 John 2:18) Keep your lamps lit, Amen