Our summer series Emotionally Fit For Life Free from fear and anxiety Free from anger Free from moral frailty Free from our past Free from fear of failure

Our summer series Emotionally Fit For Life 2 Timothy 3:1-9 Free from moral frailty

What does it mean to be morally frail?

…being rootless and vulnerable

What sort of moral frailty is Paul talking about?

2 Timothy 3:1-9 1 But mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

Every generation believes it lives in the last days v1…

Jesus says “keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour”. Matt 25:13 But let’s be cautious and not cynical…

We recognize a picture when we see it…

What are the things that pull us powerfully in the wrong direction? Culture “Everyone does this nowadays” Crowd “Let’s go and have some fun” Curiosity “What would this be like?” Carnality “I feel like doing this”

So what can we do to make ourselves morally stronger?

Three things that we can do that will build up our moral strength…

1. Make a decision v5 “Have nothing to do with such people”! We have to decide how we shall live! We have to decide who we shall follow!

Falling in love with God! Not ourselves v2… 2. Pursue God v2-5

Falling in love with God! Not ourselves (v2)… Even in our brokenness looking to Him… Seeking not just the form of godliness but its power…to change! (v5)

3. Nail down the truth v7 Not seeking ‘knowledge’ for its own sake… Deciding what it is that WE believe!

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9 3. Nail down the truth v7

Remember where Paul is writing from… What did Jesus say? And the result…

10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matthew 24:10-13 And the result…

Personal growth into holiness But also…

Defusing bombs that can devastate our lives But also…

Real emotional stability for ourselves and our families But also…

To say with Paul: And so to finish well… “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing”. 2 Timothy 4:7-8