Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. - 2Timothy 3: 12-13 (ESV)
It is time for the elect of God to awaken to the times we are living in. For too long we have chased the fading trinkets of this world as if they held eternal value. For too long we have been content to play church and chase every wind of doctrine that blows our way. Satisfied with building whitewashed tombs and filling them with dead mens bones wrapped in the purpose of a false salvation. We have watched over the past few decades the explosion of falseness in what claims to be the church. Absurd theologies luring the unwitting into carnal lives of sin in the name of Jesus Christ while the true sheep of God around the world experience persecution on an increasingly evil scale. This is nothing we should be surprised by beloved. God has warned us about the times we now live in throughout His Word. The key verses today provide some excellent insight about what we see happening all around us today. He who has ears let him hear.
These two verses deal with what we can expect for the godly and from those who deceive the elect. These verses are found in a section where Paul is warning his protege Timothy about those who will oppose the truth of God's Word - not from the world but from within. The first thing we need to learn and realize is that all who desire a godly life will be persecuted. Note that it does not say might be persecuted. We will be persecuted. The caveat though is clear. We are talking about those who truly seek the godly life. Not those who seek to go to church. Not those who seek to serve in a ministry. Not those who tithe religiously. Those who desire a godly life. Within the media encased walls of America we simply have no concept of true Christian persecution. We think that when a court decision doesn't support what social values align with our vision of Christ that we are being persecuted. Compare that to the Christians who have been run out of Iraq recently. They either had to convert to Islam, leave the country, or die. Think about Pastor Saeed who still rots in an Iranian prison for daring to build an orphanage in Iran. Think about Meriam Yehya Ibrahim who had been sentenced to die for refusing to renounce Christ in a Sudanese court. Thankfully she was recently released but not before she was forced to give birth in chains. This is the face of true Christian persecution; not whether an unbelieving society outlaws prayer in their public schools. It is a matter of hatred:
"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. - John 15: 18-19 (ESV)
This is the problem beloved. The modern church in America strives so much for relevance that the world cannot tell the difference anymore between the church and the world. Nevertheless, the real persecution of the saints goes on around the globe. Just this week Jihadists burned down a Christian church that had stood for 1800 years. That is hatred for who we believe in. That is persecution.
The key verses however also warn us what will go on within the walls of our churches as well. While some of it may seem like old news, there are some very interesting revelations for us. First of all there are two types of wolves we need to watch out for. The first are labeled as evil people. There is no ambiguity here with Paul. There are some people who engage in the business of the church for pure evil purposes. They operate without any fear of God because they essentially do not believe in Him. If they did, they would be too afraid of what they do to His bride. I am sure we can all point to the usual suspects. People who perform fake healing crusades, belittle the sheep into giving, or insist that God is going to bless or curse them based upon how much money you give them. One obvious example is Peter Popoff who somehow has become relevant again after being caught red handed performing fake healings. He had someone find out what conditions people had as they walked into his services and then through a microphone in his ear, that person would relate the conditions to him while he was pretending to hear from God. That is simply pure evil beloved and it is time to stop calling evil good.
The second type of wolf however Paul refers to as impostors. They play the part of the man or woman of God but they are not. They may not even know they are wolves. They may have the best of intentions. They may truly believe they are doing the will of God but they refuse to follow His Word. I can live with believing that Joel Osteen is merely an impostor. That he wakes up every day genuinely wanting to help people. That does not change the fact however that he is a wolf. That he is preaching a Christless gospel that saves no one. I think that God makes this clear distinction for us because He knows our proclivity to side with the things of this world over Him. Today there is so much pastor worship and church worship taking the place of Christ worship. We side with what is false because we convince ourselves that the preacher means well. That he does such great humanitarian work around the world. That he has such a big heart and noble intents. God makes this distinction here for us so we will realize that none of that matters. The only thing that matters is the truth of the Gospel. Whether the person be of evil intent or merely an impostor. It matters not. They remain false.
Back to the key verses we see another startling revelation. These people who are either evil or impostors will go from bad to worse - deceiving and being deceived themselves! Do we grasp that today beloved? God is once again making the clear delineation for us regarding intent. He readily acknowledges that some of the wolves will in fact be deceived themselves! Joseph Prince might actually believe that God gave him his heretical gospel of grace. Kim Walker-Smith of Jesus Culture might actually believe that Jesus visited her twice and brought her to the throne room of God where she met the Father face to face. Mike Bickle and IHOP might believe their heresy regarding the bridal paradigm and dominionist teachings. It does not matter what they believe! They are being deceived and deceiving others! It does not matter if they are evil or merely impostors. We have to stop evaluating the hearts of men and get back to using the Word of God as our plumb line for everything.
Because as the key verses teach us beloved, it is only going to continue to go from bad to worse. Don't fall for the false calls for revival and the teachings that scratch our itching ears. It is time for the church to come out from among them. To truly pursue our godly calling and get prepared for the persecution we have been told is coming. You will not hear this preached from the pulpits across this land because they are bent towards Sodom and many are led by those that are evil or those that are impostors. But if we pursue and stand, we have all of the promises of God awaiting us. Not the fading trinkets of this fallen world but that which lasts eternal:
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. - James 1: 12 (ESV)
Get ready...
Rev. Anthony.
