Dynamic Life Baptist Ministries - Pastor Victor Clay

Sermon Title: The Servant's Checklist Part 1
Sermon Text: 1 Timothy 4:1-5
Sermon Purpose: To call the hearer to stop responding to the lies of Satan, worldliness, the flesh, and false religion and to respond to the truth of God's word.
Sermon Proposition: There are 7 characteristics of apostasy in the last days.

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 1 Timothy 4:1-5 (NKJV)

Introduction: The challenge facing the church is to get believers to respond to the truth of God rather than the lies of Satan.

1. The meaning of apostasy. v.1

   • Apostasy is from the Greek word "aphistemi" which means to "fall away" and refers to departing from a position once held. It is willingly turning away from the faith.

   • Apostasy is the result of the paying attention to error rather than truth.

   
   

2. The participants in apostasy. v.1

   • Believers are in view since they are contrasted with the demonic liars of verse 2 (2 Timothy 2:16-19).

   • Hymenaeus and Alexander apostatized and yet they were clearly believers since they had believed, had given evidence of their belief in a good conscience, and needed to be taught not to blaspheme (1 Timothy 1:18-20). "Taught" is commonly used of the divine chastening of believers (1 Corinthians 11:32; Titus 2:12-13; Hebrews 12:5-6).

   • Male believers can apostatize in life and even be worse than an apostate by not taking care of his family (1 Timothy 5:8).

   • Female believers can apostatize and follow Satan by compromising their testimony (1 Timothy 5:14-15).

   • Believers can depart from the faith through the influence of false teachers (1 Timothy 6:20-21).

   • Spiritual leaders can apostatize and deny the faith (John 18:25-27).

   
   

3. The predictability of apostasy. v.1

   • The Holy Spirit predicts the inevitability of apostasy in the Word (Deuteronomy 28:15ff; Ezekiel 20:38; Acts 20:28-31; 1 Thessalonians 2:3-12; 2 Peter 3:3; Jude 18; 1 Timothy 2:18, 4:1-6; Hebrews 3:12, 5:11-6:8, 10:26-31).

   • The Holy Spirit predicts the inevitability of apostasy through the living Word (Matthew 24:4-12; Mark 13:22).

   
   

4. The source of apostasy. v.1

   • The source of apostasy is seducing spirits. "Seduce" is from the word we get our English word "planet" and means "to wander" thus "lead astray" or cause people to wander out of the orbit of the truth (Genesis 3:1-6).

   • The source of apostasy is the deceptive system of information that is perpetuated by the demonic realm (2 Corinthians 11:3).

   
   

5. The agents of apostasy. v.2

   • Human beings who are energized by demonic influence ( 1 Corinthians 11:13-15).

   • Human beings who intentionally live and speak falsely against the truth (2 Timothy 2:17-18, 3:8, 4:4; Titus 1:14).

   • Human beings who have made themselves insensitive to the distinction between right and wrong.

   
   

6. The content of apostasy. v.3a

   • Spirituality through asceticism by forbidding of marriage which is upheld and affirmed by God (1 Timothy 3:2, 12, 5:9, 14; Genesis 2:18)

   • Spirituality through asceticism by denying oneself food which God sees as good (Mark 7:14-23; Acts 10; 1 Corinthians 10:23-33; Colossians 2:16-23).

   
   

7. The prevention of apostasy. v.3-5

   • Apostasy is prevented through a knowledge of God's provision.

   • God is the creator of all that is good (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31; James 1:17a).

   • God intends for His goodness to be enjoyed by His children (1 Timothy 6:17).

   • Apostasy is prevented by a knowledge of God's person.

   • The goodness of God is His benevolent acts of kindness to His creation as the overflow of His nature (Psalm 119:68).

   • The goodness of God is consistent and constant because of the immutability of His character (James 1:17b).

   • Apostasy is prevented by a knowledge of God's purpose.

   • God is glorified by our grateful acceptance of His gracious provisions (1 Corinthians 10:31).

   • God is glorified through the process of sanctifying His gifts to us (John 6:11).