Introduction: We understand Paul's communication to young Timothy as he further admonishes him in his care for the church at Ephesus.

1. Paul loves the young preacher that has been placed over the spiritual lives of the church there in Asia Minor.
2. Paul constantly encourages the young man in the face of many dangers that were about to come upon the church.
3. Paul underscores in these verses of the message from the Master that there are certain characteristics that must be observed if the soldier walking sentry duty for the church is to survive this journey of the Christian faith.

• We must search of the true meaning of the text as we constantly analyze our frail human existence.
• We must analyze the text detailed meaning as we attempt to implement these truths into our own Christian experience.
• We lastly must compartmentalize the message and take these blessed words to heart as we judge ourselves as to where each of us are spiritually.

• When I was a young Christian, I desired close encounters with my mind seeking the Divine. (I welcomed every assignment that God had detailed for me, having taken no thought of what was to follow)
• When life begin for me as a Christian, I had lofty thoughts of those champions of the faith that I read about in Hebrews eleven, I so desired to live like them. (I often thought of my own life as I slowly worked my way towards the gray world)
• I embraced an idea that all of us that called upon the name of Jesus possessed or was given joint ownership a new kind of divine favor which would consequently solve all of the worlds problems. (Obvious to many I was a dreamer as many young Believers are today)
• As I continued to mature I realized that the world was getting worse. (I've come to my senses)
• My nature has and shall always be that of seeking to determine right where I am at all times as I walk sentry duty in the faith. (Am I properly prepared to meet the enemy with all of his entrapments?)

1. Every sentry assigned to walk his post has been given certain instructions that govern his behavior; V.1 "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come."

1. The Captain speaks to the guard on duty in a serious tone. Realize this!
2. Consider these facts about life as you walk your post.

1. "Difficult times" Paul is saying that there will be times when the enemy will catch you off guard and attempt to give you the wrong signals; he works overtime to sabotage all of our efforts to do the work of ministry.

• There may be times when you really do not know what to do with what you have right in front of you. The enemy may be behind all of the madness in your life.
• Times are coming when you will not find clear meaning what you are even to believe.
• Periods will arise when you seem to forget what to say, how to respond, and what to consider.
• There is coming a time when morals, opinions, and actions will become foggy, your vision will be clouded with various issues. Confusion orders the moment.

1. Paul speaks to Timothy as one who is warning him of the severe penalties that come upon one who does not consider as he guards his post.
2. "Will come" The writer indicates that these times would come and that for sure God needs someone there watching and waiting and knowing what to do during these times. (As in Timothy's time, the Lord requires the same of us.)

1. These will be times when living will challenge the strongest of us to rethink our reasons for believing what we believe.

• When God says things are going to be difficult, you had better believe Him.
• That this term carries with it an affirmation of something that was coming and that nothing would or could prevent it from happening. Times will be more difficult as we progress in our Christian experience.

(#1) V.2a For men will be lovers of self,

• Self Loving; That men will have great love for themselves; Gk; phila-utos which is a compound verb phileo= to have great affection for & the pronoun; autos; "self"  (This kind of behavior is abnormal and viewed as sin and ought to be avoided at all cost.)
• This is wrongly elevated love, being self love; When men strive for self gratification.
• This kind of love is usually aimed at what is in it for me.
• It is the kind of love that speaks of hedonism as the highest goal.

It was the kind that Satan had in Isaiah 14:12-14 "How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! "But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ "Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, To the recesses of the pit.

(#2) V.2b "lovers of money," This is the second of the worst vice of loving self, the craving for finances which enables the self to sustain itself. (The worship of things)

• One has said that "Rank heathenism is that craving for money at any cost.
• Materialism is the thought in this part of the passage. (The want of this world)
• What can the earth produce for me in order that I might be happy?
• This is when the person is coveting all that he see and tries with all of his might to obtain it at all cost. (These have convinced themselves that all is theirs)
• These live in order to see the balance of the bank account raise and it gives them feelings of accomplishment. (I am somebody is the common phrase used today)

• We also note another reference to our gaining of finances see; 1^st Timothy 6:8-10
• We have seen during these last days the affect of money on many ministries. The need of certain so called men of God can be weighed by their desire for more.
• Look at Titus 1:11 Paul makes it clear where this love of money will lead many who call themselves Christians. Our task is to search our own hearts.
• Each of us must judge for ourselves our private motives for the engagement of ministry. Beginning with me myself and "I".
• Peter carries this thought further in 2^nd Peter 2:3

(#3) V.2c "Boastful" JMJ says "that these are outward manifestations of their own self love." (Keep in mind that these have already sold out to materialism, now they must brag to others about how God has as they would put it blessed them.)

• Paul speaks to Timothy concerning this characteristics in 1^st Timothy 1:7 & 6:4
• "This person boast about his accomplishments, and in his boasting he overpasses the limits of truth and stresses the fact to magnify himself in his attempt to impress men." (Keep in mind that he impresses those that seek what he is seeking.)
• These seek to place themselves in position that they have no right to.

The false teacher can't really teach the true intentions of this passage. For they know that they are pretenders. The Spirit of God would convict them in the manner in which they attempt to persuade others to believe in their futility. Thus, those that follow the pretender are in the same saddened shape as their teacher. Both shall fall in a ditch. Luke 6:39-40

(#4) V.2d "arrogant" This person shows himself in such a way that he attempts to place himself above all others.  (Please do not take this idea out of the context of meaning.)

• These take a certain pride in themselves that they even display an attitude that their persons deserve more than others. (Pride becomes a stupid stare as the world applauds your selfish accomplish accomplishments.)
• This attitude is the complete opposite of what biblical meekness is all about.
• There is a trace of blatant racism. (On either side of the fence if one is Anglo or black Hispanic or Asian)

(#5) V.2e "Revilers" Or, evil speakers in the KJV. Gk; "blas-phe-mos"

• These kind are abusive and slanderous in nature of their communication.
• These stand in contempt of others that will eventually show them for what they really are. (For that reason they have to slam the others person)
• Their pride and conceited nature drives them into further contaminated behavior.
• JMJ says; "When you elevate yourself, you automatically lower and degenerate others." See; Mark 7:21-23

Real Saints never have to resort to this kind of behavior. They are not affected by the want of the world. Their real ties are in the heavenly places. They live for a time that is totally away from this degenerate world view. Therein lies the difference between those that profess and those that possess.

(#6) V.2f "disobedient to parents," This trait points to the ultimate betrayal in the structure of Western Civilization.  (Tear up the family, distorts its purpose the structure fails, and the enemy begins by tearing up our children.)

• The parent is the core belief system of the child. Ultimate rebellion is the moving away from listening to the parent; to listening to other sources.
• The ultimate objective of self love is to deny parental authority. (You become the sole object of thought and practice, Mommy and Daddy really never knew.)
• We as a nation have raised an entire generation on MTV, BET TV, CD and now have spawned a generation of VD among our young. Thus we see the results of disobedience.

(#7) V.2g "Ungrateful" Lets look at this characteristic very carefully;

• I feel so good about myself; in that I love me you can do nothing for me that I could not have done myself. Therefore I do not need you for anything, thank you, but no thanks, is this attitude from this person.
• This is likened to the sin of ingratitude; "I don't really think so mentality."
• There is no amazing grace in my life. The only way that amazing grace would work is if my name were Grace. Yea, I like that, I am amazing is the attitude of this person.

(#8) V.2h unholy, This is not only mentioned in terms of the persons thought life, but in their entire demeanor. Lets look at this and not become shocked by what we see here.

• These people carry indecency to it complete limits. (As a matter of fact, to them there are no limits.  They would ask of you; "are you afraid to experiment?")
• These live to gratify flesh and the cost is not even mentioned. ("Whatever," is their favorite expression)
• There is no self control in these individuals. (The sky is the limit, and even beyond the sky; these believe they can fly!)

(#9) V.3a "Unloving" This characteristic has become epidemic in the church of Jesus Christ. (Lets take a look and see how it develops)

• The lack of capacity to love one another as Christ loves us. (Where is the focus?)
• When we ask someone in the fellowship if they have a deep concern for the people of God along with God's program or vision.  (There is something wrong with that question from one saint to another.)
• When a person cannot bring themselves to love on this level and refuses to do so, this characteristic is manifested even within a body of Christian believers.

(#10) V.3b A term used to justify the end of marital relationships. How does this look when manifested in the world that we live in?

• When the situation becomes unbearable and we know what we should do, but we refuse to do it, "I ain't gonna do it because!"
• These hold to this idea even if it means the end of freedom in Christ, they shall not let go of their own ideas.  (This is when the person decides within his heart.)

(#11) V.3c malicious gossips This kind of communication is destructive in that it is done;

• With purpose and intent to bring disfavor towards the other person. (Hate)
• These accuse others by virtue of their self love, they love to see to it that the accusation is for the purpose of salvaging their private intent. (Distaste)
• These speak with a purpose and expect others to apply themselves to the language that they deem important. (Disgraceful behavior among believers)

My Thoughts On This Word: Watch what you say Pastor John E. Coleman.

• Can my language be identified as that which brings peace happiness, and jot to all that may hear me? (Ask others to give you their honest reaction)
• Is the communicative aspect when I speak of others that which my God would validate as I spread the good news?  (Or do I sound a little strange?)

(#12) V.3d "without self control" This is easy to define; lets see if we get the picture.

• Out of control when life does not agree with them on certain issues.
• Can't seem to find ways in which they can resolve without violence or mayhem.
• Looses it when somebody touches their button; These propose that everybody is to blame for their behavior, when they are totally out of control themselves.
• These use what I call the theological approach of "Flip Wilson" "The Devil Make Me Do It" No No Baby; you've lost your spiritual mind? I know I'm right about it.

(#13) V.3e "Brutal" These take it to it's final limitation; these are defying life itself;

• They become savage in the way that a wild beast becomes when others are attempting to take his prey away from them.  (I call this jungle mentality)
• They tear into truth and corrupt it's vital intentions. These do not think of others, keep in mind all of the other characteristics that have developed in people in these last days.  We learn how to function in that we come out of the world.)
• If I were asked to express this characteristic; I would express one name; Adolph Hitler! And his half brother Nietzsche's Superman!

(#14) V.3f "haters of Good" This characteristic when displayed in the church causes it to become a laughing stock. Lets look further and see what this implies.

• These oppose all that comes from God, His program, plans, vision, and intentions.
• These literally hate that good especially when it opposes their right to their self indulgences.  (This cannot be hidden for long, it must surface.)
• These substitute the bad for the good; See; Isaiah 5:20
• That which God declares is totally repulsive to these that may profess to Love God. See; 2^nd John 9

(#15) V.4a "Treacherous" This speaks of behavior that is totally unexpected by those that believe and know the truth.  (Many real believers are caught off guard.)

• These will turn on friends, family, values, social mores, when the tide turns, they turn with it.  (They learn how to survive at all cost.)
• These have no set values, they change with the weather especially when it comes to doctrine.  (They find it convenient to question  the absolute truth of scripture)
• These demonstrate their unfaithfulness in an open fashion: See; Matthew 10:21-22 & Matthew 24:9-10
• These pretend their affection for purposes unknown to the true Believer.  (Their greatest fear is exposure, this spoils the whole scheme.)  Keep in mind Paul knew what Timothy was facing in Ephesus.  Do you know what you are facing?

(#16) V.4b "Reckless" Lets look at some simple explanation of this word.

• When one fulfills all of the above, they are not careful about doing anything else.
• If they did not get caught the first time, they plan the second time and then their whole date book looks the same; until or if they get caught.
• These become totally negligent in protecting the things of God; Who is He; God?
• They have become so carried away by their individual egos that they begin to believe that God has to be on their sides; Look at the number of people are following me.  Look at the power that I have in the minds of people around me.

(#17) V.4c "Conceited" One of the surest ways that we can know about the persons love for themselves is by the observation of this characteristic;

• This person is "Filled With Smoke" they are so full of themselves and their emptiness.  (Smoke is the sure after effect that something was aflame but is now out.
• Look at 1^st Tim. 3:6 These become stuck on themselves; "I know I'm right about it?" is the attitude that these use as they attempt to convince you.
• They cannot conceive of taking the back seat, they require to be in the drivers seat.

(#18) V.4d "Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." Simple enough? Lets see.

• These love what makes them feel good; more than what can make them be good.
• These are into the sensory as opposed to being into the word.
• These live for the moment as opposed to eternity.
• These would ask you; do you feel good, instead of the condition of your relationship with Jesus in that He has called you to live a new life.

Conclusion: V.5 Paul really defines the conclusion of these characteristic traits

1. They pretend that they are none of the above. In time their cover will blow up right in front of their faces, all will see and the world shall know God's truth.
2. Their form is only that; form; something that symbolizes what the real faith appears to be.
3. These will admit that they have no idea of what this message is all about, they will make statements like, Why is John preaching this, is something going on?
4. They have no power to discern truth from error; Lost is the lesson learned as we contemplate our understanding of the message today.

Stay away from people like this; they will eventually rub off these characteristics on you, and you then began to look and sound like foolishness while Walking Sentry For Christ.

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