Fear, Lust, and Control by Brother Curtis Hansen

         The letters to both Timothy and Titus are not limited to the struggling believer. These letters addressed members of the churches established from the top down. With the amount of instruction and guidance in these epistles, it begs for me to ponder, if it's not about your works for walk, why does Paul consistently press upon them in his letters?

        The subject this morning is about fear, lust, and control. We will be reading in a couple of places, beginning in 2 Timothy chapter 3 at the first verse.

        This know also, that in the last day perilous times shall come.

        2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

        3 Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

        4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

        Let's look at fear to begin this message. People who have fear in their life display the various attributes listed in verses 2-4. Fear will make you act a certain way and is used to mask personal insecurity. Fear will lead you to unholiness. Now, all fear is not the same. There are different fears as well as different lusts. We say we dwell in God's presence through scripture and prayer but we don't have any fear of the Lord. Fear brings the loudest voices in public but often with no substance past their voice.

        The term incontinent can be defined as you aren't satisfied. You aren't satisfied with the church, the praise, the worship, the message. "I'm not happy with God has given me. I want more." The term heady is another term for intoxicated. If we read verse 4 a little closer, it goes into our next subject, lust.

        5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away.

        6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts.

        What is divers lusts? It is a variety of sinful desires or passions. The devil is waiting for you to become complacent in your walk. When you play around with the things that comfort your flesh and pause your pursuit toward holiness, you are playing into the enemies hand.

        7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

        Truth is about God, your principalities, and powers. Everyone sees truth a different way.

        8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so dot hese also resist the truth; men of corrupt monds, reprobate concerning the faith.

        The reference to Jannes and Jambres goes to the book of Exodus. They were court sorcerers in Egypt who had faced off against Moses in Pharaoh's court. Moses had his staff turned into a snake, the magicians had their staffs turn to snakes, and Moses snake ate theirs. What is the definition of reprobate? Someone who is morally corrupt. Think of this analogy. It's a tree that looks full and fruitful, but is empty.

        9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

        These verses aren't addressing the person in the market place or in the community, they are addressing those in the synagogue. The liar will be seen as the liar, the thief will be seen as the thief. It won't be the first time, nor be the last time this happens.

        10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long suffering, charity, patience,

        11 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.

        In these two verses, you know what Paul believes. You read his purpose and what he went through. You see the places where he endured sufferings on his missionary journeys.

        12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

        13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worst, deceiving, and being decieved.

        14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.

        15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

        16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

        17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

        Continue what you have learned, what God showed you. You just knowing the scriptures won't save you. The scripture can make you wise. Verse 16 lays out the purposes of the scripture. This week, I encourage you to read the letters to Timothy and Titus. Discern between your works. What works have been good and what works have been bad?