Good evening to you all. Turn with me, if you would please, to the book of 1 Timothy. 1 Timothy chapter 4, as we begin looking there tonight in verses 1 through 5. 1 Timothy chapter 4, verses 1 through 5. Well, Paul has taken us in this letter to the church at Ephesus, a great deal here as we come into chapter four of distance in establishing the theme of this letter as we have come across that in chapter three with regard to order and behavior in the church. In doing so, We have seen the pattern here as it speaks to the behavior from the individual to the church body, to that of the relationships, as it were, specifically with the husband and wife so far, when it speaks to the idea of a woman's role in the church, as important as it is, the need for there to be a measure of order here by virtue of God's Word, recognizing our roles and our responsibilities. But for what purpose? Remember, from the very beginning of chapter 1 and verse 1, it has been made clear that Paul wants the church to be reminded of its purpose being evangelistic. The idea of sharing the gospel, the idea of putting forth the gospel, not only in the words we say, but in fact the life we live. such that everyone has a measure of understanding in their behavior in their conduct such that it is in fact to not take anything away from the furtherance of the gospel and therefore have the greatest opportunity to please the Lord by presenting it. So even as we have discussed the qualifications residing over those of the deacons and the overseers or the elders or the bishops, the terminology you want to apply to that, we've seen that the great purpose involved to that always, the overarching purpose, for we if we're not careful we'll focus so much on one qualification we'll miss the entire purpose that is being presented here is that that person be suitable to be one as a leader also be one to be present before the world as an understanding of their incredible responsibility they have to represent the gospel of Jesus Christ to put forward the picture in behavior and conduct of what God's Word and God's Spirit can do to transform another person's life. Now, as we enter in here to chapter 4, we find here a passage of Scripture that is quoted quite often in messages and is given reference to in many cases with regard to not simply the conditions of the world, but in fact the condition of the church. And so we're reminded here again tonight For Paul has already addressed, very much made it clear that part of his subject matter in his letter to the church at Ephesus is that of the work of false teachers and bad doctrine, false doctrine, and the urgent need that the church be wary of it, be on guard for it, and address it. So, in continuation of that idea tonight, as we approach chapter 4 and verse 1, Paul now uses a literal illustration here, an example of an issue that apparently was present in the church, that they were dealing with at the time, and in doing so, gives us a great teaching here and a guideline of how we need to view the subject of apostasy and the subject of false teaching. I and how we are to react to it. So with that in mind, let's begin reading our text here tonight. Chapter four, beginning in verse one. He says, Now the spirit speak it expressly that in the latter times some shout apart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron. Forbidding to marry and command and commanding to abstain from meats which God have created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth for every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving or it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. All right. So we find here, beginning in verse 1, the first phrase we have here is now, the Spirit speaketh expressly. So there is an understanding here, or we need to understand exactly what Paul is referring to when he says, the Spirit speaketh expressly. There are two strong, very strong possibilities, and I believe both of them probably correspond here. When we think of what's been said with regard to the subject here about those who will depart from the faith and those who will be both the victims and the perpetuators of these demonic or these false doctrines that are supplied or empowered by demonic spirits. That's kind of where we're headed here tonight. So it's the Spirit speaking with regard to these things, and we can certainly understand that. For instance, we look at the words of Christ in Matthew chapter 24 and verse 10, where he speaks of a time, and then shall many be offended and shall betray one another and shall hate one another. And note, and many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. So we find that in the words of Christ in the Gospel of Matthew. We also find Paul could easily be presenting here a reminder to the church at Ephesus what he had already warned them about as he addressed the elders in Acts chapter 20. In Acts chapter 20, Paul is speaking to the elders here of the congregation at Ephesus. And he says in chapter 20 and verse 29, for I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. So the spirit that speaketh here is both the words of God and those words that he's given to the Apostle Paul, his words as well, that have repeatedly warned with regard to this idea of false teaching and those who will attempt to disrupt the work of God. There is an absolute fact here that he wants us to understand. The Spirit speaketh expressly, meaning that it's amazing the emphasis that's being placed on here. In fact, wake up, understand, be sober to this truth that it is an absolute fact. In other words, we should not be having a discussion here about if or suppose. The scripture puts it plainly, this exists now and will continue to exist until the Lord removes it. So if we understand that and accept that, then it also means that you and I have to recognize this need of what he wants us to understand. In fact, I believe he's communicating to us that you and I should not be surprised by that, by this. We should be sober to it. We should be wary of it. We should not only be on the lookout for it, but in fact we may be saddened by it, but we certainly shouldn't be surprised by it. That, I believe, is part of our spiritual maturity. Now, some would suggest that that makes you cynical or skeptical, and that's not the purpose here at all. Paul's about to point out an error here that is deceiving and disrupting the fellowship. He says, recognize that these difficulties are going to come and they're going to present themselves in manners such as this. He says that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. All right. So we find here that the problem he begins with is those who depart from the faith. So the obvious notion here is that, and I've given in your outline the terminology here, the word apostasy, because in fact the very original language here says when someone departs from the faith that they are apostatizing. We don't use that language normally, do we? But the bluntness of it kind of gives you the idea. It's the verb version, if you will, are active of the word apostasy. It is the idea of the action of the word. So when someone departs from the faith, they are apostatizing themselves from the faith. They're departing from the faith. Now, that means we need to identify what does it mean to be to commit apostasy or be an apostate? All right. I'll get all form of the words in before the night's over with, maybe. So what does it mean to be an apostate? Well, the one thing that we need to understand immediately is the negative and what it does not mean. First of all, I want you to make certain you understand it does not mean that believers who have saving faith can lose it. When he says someone has departed from the faith, it is not to imply whatsoever that someone has, in fact, been given saving faith by God and has now departed from it. John chapter 10 and verse 28. Jesus said, and I give unto them eternal life. And they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. The statement here is very plain. God is reminding us that salvation is his work. And he says that once he has given someone life, once he has given them eternal life, he says they will never perish, meaning they cannot. And then he says, there is no man who can pluck them out of my hand. And you must understand when the Lord says no man, that means no one, including ourselves. No man, it means anyone. So the idea of God's work being complete and irreversible is important to understand. Philippians chapter one in verse six, Paul writes, being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. So once again, the apostle Paul gives us no room here for exiting or changing our mind, because again, it wasn't our idea to begin with. It wasn't our work to begin with. And so as it is initiated, it is also sustained by that one who's initiated it. And Paul says, make this make sure you understand that when the Lord begins a work in you, he will continue it. It will come to completion. Now, we've seen that evidence in Scripture where God has chosen someone, has set apart someone to choose them, and even before they come to appreciate and understand that choosing, God brings them to an understanding of it. Not something they necessarily seek for, but what God draws them to. So we find here again, the negative means to understand and make sure we know that there is no doctrinal truth to the idea that someone can possess a saving faith and depart from it. And that's not what it means to be an apostate. Instead, it does mean someone who once claimed to be a Christian has now renounced that gospel. In fact, one writer defined his way, and I think it's an interesting way to put it. Those who come very close to the truth that saves. only to leave it. So what we find here is someone who has departed from the faith means that someone who has verbally, physically associated themselves with the faith that is given by God and yet at some point is able to leave it, to walk away from it. By virtue of them walking away from it, the question here is not whether they had saving faith and departed from it, the question is were they ever saved to begin with. Now. I have no means we've covered this many times before, and it's important we say it again. You can't look in my heart and I can't look in yours. God is the one. Who judges us redeemed or not? Now, that being said, we also can't ignore it for the sake of evangelism. What God directs us to to evaluate as the evidence of someone who has believed. He continuously tells us in His Word what ought to be on display in our lives and what we ought to be looking for in others' lives. It does not take away our need to evaluate, but to evaluate based on what purpose. Remember what the theme of this order and conduct is. It is for the sake of continuing the church of Jesus Christ. It is for the sake of evangelistically praying, seeking, knowing that there is no man, woman or child anywhere, any place that is beyond our Lord's reach for salvation, as such that we want to act in a manner that enhances, that edifies the gospel of Jesus Christ, does not take away from it. So our determination here in understanding this truth and being wary of it is not only twofold, to not allow it to disrupt and take our eyes off Christ and the true doctrine, and also it helps us understand how we ought to be seeking to minister to those who are the purveyors of it. Meaning that if someone is giving us the evidence that they have walked away from the faith, and furthermore, Paul's talking about not simply abandoning it, but in fact has now substituted something else in its place. Then you and I need to have a desire to pray now for that person with a grave concern as to whether they know the Lord. Doesn't mean we don't love them anymore. Doesn't mean we don't care. It now means that we have a have a different sense of understanding and care about them. Now, I do want to touch on something here because he says this thing will happen in the latter times. The King James is the term latter times. And so we also can easily establish, I think, an answer to this question. What does he mean when he says the latter times? In fact, second Timothy chapter three, we use the term last days. When when are the last days? When are the latter times? Right now. They've been going on since the resurrection of Christ. All right. Now, that's important to understand, and I believe Paul gives us an understanding that now, too, because he says in latter times, notice how he begins in verse one, speaking about it as if it is to come. But by the end of verse five, he's telling us in the present what we ought to be doing about it. Let me give you another example of that. Second Timothy, chapter three. 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 1 he begins as well to deal with this idea of the same same thing apostasy he says this know also that in the last days perilous time shall come For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. And then notice this instruction from such turn away. Paul begins by speaking about something in the last days. And then by the end of first five, he's telling Timothy what to do about it right now. As if understanding that Timothy may very well be facing it right now. So the idea here is that Paul's not giving us an instruction that you and I are to look to and say someday these things are going to happen. These things have been happening for a long time now. So when we think here about this idea departing from the faith and the and the things he's speaking about in the latter times, we cannot imagine this. It is, in fact, both an instruction for the future and for the present. For, in fact, in verse two, he's about to introduce to us the problem that is now present here among the people of God. He says, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron. So this idea of speaking lies and hypocrisy is speaking about the fact of this false teaching and where it comes from and how it presents itself. All right. So if we're going to understand that, then we now need to recognize where this apostasy comes from. Apostasy comes and perpetuates itself from bad theology. That's an interesting term I suppose to apply to this, but I hope to expand on this. When we think about what's going on here as Paul is addressing Timothy in this congregation, there is a false doctrine, a bad teaching that has come among this congregation. It's a cynicism, and we're going to talk about that more in detail in just a moment. But we need to understand the roots of it. How do we get here? How do we get to this point? And if we're to understand it, not only recognize it, but deal with it, we must be sobering to the reality of its source. First of all, if we think about the source of this and all heretical teaching, and when I say heretical, if you're not familiar with that word, it's an application of the word heresy. And heresy is that which is a false doctrine that controverts the very message of the gospel itself. It is, in fact, not biblical and attacks the very sovereignty of God in His salvation. So if we imagine that source, the first thing that Paul tells us is it comes from demonic spirits. Now, we've addressed this subject before in other text. And one of the issues that we always find when we start talking about demonic spirits, not only in the religious world, but in the world as general, there are always two grave errors when we think of these things. Number one, there's the error of some believers and some that say they're believers who give the devil more than he's due. I like that phrase. I could someone across that the other day. giving the devil more than he's due. So that's not original, I'm quoting. What that means is, is that people begin to imagine that every single thing that's going wrong in their life, well, it's the devil attacking them. If they have a bad headache, boy, the devil's been after me today, my head's about to split wide open. Or something happens to them, or they commit, in reality, a sin of their own earthly nature, and then they say, oh, the devil made me do it. Those things are sometimes not meant maliciously, but in fact they are a very poor way of recognizing the power and the disruptive nature of demonic spirits. So in other words, we don't get to blame the devil for everything we're responsible for. Remember, you know, James talks about the idea of temptation to sin. And how does it come about? It's about when our own sinful nature, our own lust is activated. And rather than we constraining it, rather than we controlling it, I we allow it to take us away. It's almost like being snared in a trap. So, again, the idea is we oftentimes can, if we're not careful, give the devil more than is due. The second problem here. The greatest error is also going to the other end. And that's living or acting in such a manner that these demonic spirits don't exist and that the devil is not there hoping to disrupt. Because the very picture that Paul is painting for us is, in fact, the devil's work, Satan's desire to disrupt and not only perpetuate this bad theology from those who don't belong to God, but notice he speaks of the very desire here that he wants to turn disciples or followers of the Lord away. He wants to draw them away from the truth that they ought to cling to. So this is the danger that you and I ought to be wary of and act accordingly. For instance, Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 14 and verse 15. I'll give you kind of a thread here of scripture. For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. So I want you to understand the reason why I read that verse from Hebrews is that you and I need to know, always be assured of the fact, that Christ has already won the victory over Satan. All right? He is an absolute defeated enemy, not by our work, but by God's work. And we understand the reason why he's done that, so our fear should be of the Lord more so than anything else. Doesn't mean that we shouldn't be sober, doesn't mean that we shouldn't be wary. In fact, we should be very sober to what we're up against. Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 12, Paul writes, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness and high places. So in other words, I do not suggest to you that spiritual warfare is not reality. It is. It is. I but you know, sometimes if we make too much out of this with regard to the devil, we take our eyes off the real battle. We imagine that there's a there's a there's a slight argument here and the whole time there's a huge battle before our eyes that we're we're missing. That we're vulnerable to. So Paul doesn't take away from the fact that you and I need to be sensitive to the fact and strengthen ourselves as believers. Well, how do we do that? In fact, the foundation of that is found in the Lord's instruction to us with regard to prayer, where we've been now for the last couple of Sundays in the Gospel of Luke, Matthew chapter six and verse 13. Part of that model prayer that Jesus offered was and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. So we always go back to the centerpiece of our understanding in this battle, and that is a dependence upon, a clinging to, a trusting in the power of God to deliver us from the very temptation of that evil. Now, that begins with you and I crying out to God in prayer, but may I ask you to remember again the lesson that we learned in the Gospel of Luke. That there is asking, there is seeking, there is knocking. Meaning that it begins with our asking and then it continues with our seeking for the answer, seeking for the strength to withstand. And in this case, the strength to withstand is found in the Word of God. It is our instruction, it is our guidance in how to deal with these things. So the very idea that these demonic spirits are present cannot be denied. And we have to be sober of them. And we also need to be wary of how the devil attempts to fight us. Let's examine that for a moment. where he says here that these are seducing spirits and doctrines of devils that are now being perpetuated with this deceitfulness to our lives, and Satan's going to use an instrument to do so. But we understand that whatever instrument he uses, he's going to use it in an absolute deceitful, deceptive, persuasive manner. We find in John chapter 8 verse 44. As Jesus is confronting, he says, ye are of your father, the devil and the last of your father, you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning and a bold nod in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own for he is a liar and the father of it. It's a pretty sobering statement. In second Corinthians chapter two in verse 11, Paul writes, less Satan should get an advantage of us. Notice what he said in the last phrase, for we are not ignorant of his devices. In those two terms, what Jesus has educated us about the father of lies. When Paul writes the second Corinthians, he's addressing those who claim to be believers, and he is, in effect, lovingly rebuking them and encouraging them because he said. We're not ignorant. In other words, there should be a measure of knowledge in us. There should be a measure of maturity in us that we should not be so gullible as to not know how Satan operates. So we understand that you and I need to be wary of the fact that deception is coming always. Now. Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 11, a reminder of what we protect ourselves with, put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Now, if you want to understand what that entirely means, then I encourage you to go back and examine Ephesians chapter 6. For Paul will lay out all the pieces of that armor and remind us to put it all on if we intend to stand against the devil. And notice what he said. He didn't say, go out and whip the devil. He didn't say, put on all this armor to chase him off. He said, in order to stand against him. Now, Galatians chapter 3 and verse 1. Listen to Paul's words to this church. He says, Oh, foolish Galatians, who have bewitched you that you should not obey what the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ have been evidently set forth, crucified among you. So once again, Paul is rebuking them and recognizing you've allowed someone to seduce you and draw you away from the truth. He said, who is it that's cast this spell? In other words, he is saying that in order for this to happen, someone has come to you, someone has sold you a bill of goods and caused you to ignore what the word of God says as you know it and start believing in something else. So. Lastly, first John chapter four in verse one, beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world. So we need to understand something here when it says try the spirits, it is a reminder of what Satan is lying about. Typically, there is no false teaching or false doctrine that does not have some element of truth to it. a truth that is perverted. So John writes to us there in chapter 4 reminding us that we need to be careful. We need to be discerners of the Spirit. That means that you and I should be careful of that which we consume in our life, even of that that we consider teaching and preaching. I sit down and listen to people and sometimes they will boast about how they will listen to all these different types of people. whether on the radio, on the internet, whatever the case may be. I've had the opportunity to counsel with people who are already following someone. And I'm thankful that they bring them to my attention. I have the opportunity to examine myself. And it's not because I'm all that great. It's not that I'm great shakes. But sometimes you need to investigate. And if you investigate, you'll find that though this appears to be biblical teaching, but if you look closely at what they say they believe and you see some of the doctrinal positions they have, you'll oftentimes be very disappointed. to find out. And I have had that opportunity at times when someone has been excited about someone who appears to be taking a biblical text, appears to be taking them through scripture, but upon a closer look you find that they're truly believers of a false doctrine, truly purveyors, for instance, of of the doctrine that it's not God's will for you to be sick. I found one fellow who proclaimed that in, I don't know, 20 years, he had only been sick for 12 to 16 hours. And that's only because he was especially weak physically that day and deprived of sleep. Otherwise, he would have been spiritually able to ward that off, too. Wow. I mean, that sounds pretty impressive, but that's anything but God's word. I and and had you not dug a little bit deeper into that man's material. I don't know how long it would have been before you found it, but I did. He's saying it. If you look carefully, you'll find it. I so we need to be discerners of the word, and so when someone has presented that, then you need to be careful about listening or following someone like that, because you need to understand the principal message here is that Satan notice what God said. Remember what he said in John Chapter 8? He says you're the children of the devil and your father, the devil. is nothing but a liar and he lies all the time. Well, if we look at Satan's track record, it's not hard to find that Satan lie has lied about creation. Right. He showed up in the Garden of Eden, did he not? And so did an incredible lie to Adam and Eve with regard to that, and we should not be shocked at all the fact that Satan's in the business to sell lies about redemption. As well. to either discourage others and try to discourage others from coming to Christ or, as Paul has put it, the idea of taking people away from Christ. So. The source is Satan, and we need to recognize what Satan does as that source. However, what is his instrument? Well, he says here, speaking lies and hypocrisy, speaking about these apostates, that they're speaking lies and hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron. So that tells us that Satan is the source of this, but Satan is standing behind a human instrument. In order to accomplish his work. He desires to choose a and use a human being to put this forward because these false teachers are referred to as hypocrites now. We most people when they hear the term hypocrite. They immediately say, well, a hypocrite is someone who claims to be something but really is not. Is that fair? And I understand that, but we need to look a little deeper into this. The term hypocrite in its original form literally, in many cases, speaks to that of an actor. So it's not just simply a false or being phony, it's the idea of literally putting on an act. For a reason and for a purpose. For a desired effect. I would remind you of Paul's writing here in 2 Corinthians chapter 11 and verse 14, where Paul says, and no marvel. For Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their words. Now, so Paul is saying that the human instrument that comes before you, you and I must be aware that he's not going to have a sign around his neck saying, I want to destroy your life. I want to lead you away from the truth. I want to sell you a doctrine that is not biblical, but it truly serves my agenda and my desire. For myself and for you, they don't say that. Instead, they come with the appearance of someone who is a minister of righteousness, a minister of good day. So you say, well, no, wait a minute, Pastor, you're telling me that I can't trust you. I'm telling you that as for me and as for anyone else who stands before you, they need to be examined for the word that they preach. For the life that they lead. You need to examine the message that I give you and go home and see, is there evidence for what I've taught you tonight? Am I am I pulling this out of the air or can you see it in God's word? Can you see what I'm presenting to you? And that's a twofold issue for you to find out. You say, well, I'm no biblical expert. I'm no. What choice do I have but to trust you? You're the pastor. My friend, you have been equipped in our in our Sunday school lesson. This just this past week, we were looking at second Peter chapter one. Where she has told us that we've been equipped. We've been given all things we need. So everything's there in the cabinet for you as a believer. You need to pull it out and use it. Part of that's your study, part of that's your reading, part of that's the Holy Spirit helping you to see for yourself the truth of what's being presented. I and the and the application of it, so the idea here is when John says, try the spirits, this is the reason why he's saying it, that all this needs to be examined. Now, I got news for you. If you look at me closely. You're going to find that I'm a flawed human being just like you are. Amen. You can go ahead and agree, it's the truth. Please, don't try to lift me up. Or is it the problem if you admit it for me, you've got to admit it for you? I get it. Alright, now I see. I see where the problem lies. We're all in that bucket together. Alright? So it's not a question of me being perfect in the application of the Word of God, but you should at least see the evidence of a perfect desire in my life. That's what Paul spoke about many times. He speaks and you ask yourself the question, as many people do, how can a person do this? How can they get to this point and be so convincing, be so sincere, be so affirmative with it? Well, Paul says what happens is a hypocrite's conscience becomes calloused. He's speaking of a time here that someone can be so desirous to believe the lie that the lie becomes the truth for them, too. They can continually commit that sin such that their conscience is no longer touched by it. And let's be honest, if they are not a believer to begin with, then their conscience is clearly subject to simply the level of the environment they place themselves in. We see it in our culture today, don't we? Those things that 20, 30 years ago, if people had done, they would have at least done it in hiding or behind closed doors. Now there are many things, those same things that they would have done in hiding or done in plain sight before you, almost with a with a boldness to suggest and dare you to say it's wrong. And get mad at you when you do. So the idea here is, is that the conscience, that kind of conscience can be so seared, it'd be nothing left of it. Notice how Paul describes it here in Ephesians chapter four in verse 18. He says, having their having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart, who being past feeling have given themselves over into lasciviousness to work all uncleanness. And notice, he says, with greediness. But they do these things with a desire to have more and more and more. Because they've lost their way. They're living in total darkness here. Now, that paints an incredible picture, doesn't it? I mean, it really seems depressing and discouraging. And it is. That's another reason why a child of God should not allow themselves to be snared by it. This is the reason why the warning should be so stark. That we should be so careful, so discerning, so circumspect with what we listen to and what we follow. In verse three through five, he gives us here an example that that is clearly in history of the church was taking place as a false teaching and as a false doctrine. So it's not intended to be that we're to only worry about this issue. It's the fact that Paul is putting this issue forward as a an incredible example of what was taking place. So he says here that these apostates, these hypocrites are forbidding people to marry and commanding them to abstain from meats. which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. All right. So the question here is of a condition here or an ideology. Someone may try to make it theology, but it's an ideology. And that is asceticism. To be an ascetic means someone who has purposely, devotedly denied themselves something. And they have attributed that denial and equated it to spiritual discipline or spirituality itself. Now, the difficulty that Paul is addressing here is that they've taken these two ideas, and let's understand these ideas. One is forbidding to marry. There was in fact a rise then, and in some circles I suppose it still exists, this idea to suggest that any physical intimacy at all, the idea of sexual union whatsoever, simply needed to be avoided at all cost. That celibacy, the idea of forbidding to marry was the only answer for someone to have a spiritual strength about them or to follow God. And so they not only simply advised it, they made it essential to salvation. They made it essential to the idea of spirituality. Now, so we need to be clear here. There's nothing wrong with the idea of celibacy itself. Paul, of course, would know this as well as anyone, for he was not married, as best we understand and know. He says so. He also speaks to the fact, in his writings to Corinthians, he said in the best of worlds, so to speak, ideally, if someone does not have that desire or that controlling interest within them physically, they have the opportunity to serve God in a great fashion in being single. So the evil is not the idea of being single. That's not the false teaching here. The second part of this is the idea of denying yourself. As Paul describes it, he says to abstain from meats. So it seems to be that they're speaking about having a vegetarian lifestyle, that they are to avoid meats at all cost. Now, where this idea comes from is a multitude of sources here. The idea of suggesting this idea of denying yourself of these foods. We can speculate all over the place. We know that Paul dealt with trouble in the Corinthian congregation with regard to meats as being those that had once been used or offered in a shrine or a temple, and therefore then are provided for a feast or for a gathering. And people were all upset about this. So we can certainly see it from a legalistic standpoint that they imagine that that meat is somehow defiled, that there's something wrong with it because of what had previously been used. And so they have now said in order to be safe from this, you simply need to seal yourself off from all meats. That's now the mark of spirituality, that you've denied yourself these meats and you're living this vegetarian lifestyle. By the way, there is an interesting implication of Paul in Romans, and I believe it's in Chapter 14, in verse 1 and verse 2, he says, Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things, which Paul is about to affirm here in Timothy. Another who is weak eateth herbs. He addresses this idea that there is such a connotation here that you and I probably can't appreciate. There is such an association with this idea of meat that those who have not matured in faith, even as believers, are tripped up over this idea of abstaining from meat. So now you can understand that for us it may seem almost laughable, even though we live now in an environment that some people probably are pretty religious about this idea. But here, it was truly a mark of distinction. It was something that breached fellowship such that Paul had to teach and remind believers not to condemn, not to throw these people under the bus who, at least at this point, are deceived into believing that this is, at the very least, a spiritual benefit. And he makes us understand. He's not suggesting they're right. In fact, he is clearly defining them as someone who is spiritually weak. So now we get back to this subject in Timothy, these people abstaining from meat. So what we've established here is the act in and of itself is not wrong. It's not wrong if you want to abstain from meat, if you want to lead a vegetarian lifestyle, so be it. If you want, if you can see the value here as God has led you, as we've seen in scripture, there is a spiritual benefit, no doubt, to fasting and prayer when the time and occasion calls for it. Those things are not the problem. So what is the problem? The problem is they've made this an essential part of your salvation. When someone takes what is their conviction, when someone decides that something that is good for them should be mandatory for everyone else, this is the problem. Furthermore, for someone who imagines that something that is good for them should be mandatory for everyone else, then it also leads to the fact to assume that those who don't agree with you, who don't see the same need, are less spiritual than you are. Now, in this case, it's speaking about meat, and it's speaking about the idea of marrying, and the idea of simply saying that if you want to be spiritually in tune with God, you've got to remove yourself from all potential physical union, sexually, between a man and a woman. This is a specific course here, but it is applicable all over the place. Because I believe certainly one of the great battles among the people of God through the history of the church itself is this issue right here. How do we come to grips with how we live the life of Christ? And in our zeal, in our enthusiasm, there have been times when we have dangerously stepped over the line and made our convictions, made our sense of decency, not simply to be good advice, not simply to be good instruction, but a litmus test for salvation itself. To imply if someone is not in agreement with us, they surely cannot be saved. And we think of meat and we think of forbidding to marry being silly. But I was raised in an era that if someone came into the church, especially a young man who had long hair. We were all praying that he'd get saved because we were convinced if he got saved, he'd want to get his hair cut. That's a fact. I because somebody had perpetuated the idea in Scripture that you can't be saved. I and you can't be spiritual and not need a haircut. Now that seems silly when we put it that way, doesn't it? But there was a time when they were dead serious. They believed that they were open hearts and open minds just because they allowed him to come in for the worship service. Well, we can't throw him out right now and we're hopefully get saved. Then we'll tell him about the haircut. Doesn't that seem ridiculous? And yet in somebody's mind and heart, it was a really good idea. No, I'm not endorsing long hair. Nor am I condemning it. Believe it or not, even though I gave you that answer, I'm actually not running for political office either, so let me get that out of the way. So the the problem here is, is it scriptural? Is it the word of God or is it us? And if it's us, then you and I need to ask ourselves that question. regarding our judgment. You see, the sinfulness of this doctrine is because it typically breeds this. It is a vehicle as an instrument that at the end of the day is not promoting spirituality in someone else, but instead promoting self-righteousness in us. The idea is pointing everyone to Christ. Remember what Paul's words were when he said that the Lord has saved sinners among whom I am chief. The sinfulness of this doctrine, as Paul points out, for instance, in the idea of denying yourself of these meats. He said there's a problem here. He said in verse four for every creature. Well, let me back up to verse three. He says, you're abstaining, he said, from these meats which he says God have created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. Why? For every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving. So in effect, not only are you promoting self-righteousness, but you're also rejecting something that God has given. And Paul is saying God has given for you to consume. And he says, the question is, it's not right or wrong whether you consume it or not. It's right or wrong how you receive it. Meaning, do you receive it, recognizing as someone whose soul has been redeemed, that as surely as God, the creator and the sustainer of the universe, has redeemed your soul and set you apart as a believer, you now appreciate all the more that that which is set on the table before you has been given to you by God. And you're grateful for it. And you not only offer a prayer of blessing upon it, maybe before you consume it, but you give thanks for it after you have. Meaning that this idea of praying is supposed to be without ceasing and continuous. So the idea of any false doctrine is this. It always has its roots in the same principle based on what he shared with us. No matter what the teaching is, if it is outside the recognition of God's sovereignty, the Lord Jesus Christ deity, the reality of God's Holy Spirit, And the fact that His divine work has saved you, set you apart, and has given you and continues to give you all things. You and I need to test everything against that principle and that truth. And anything that dares to try to take away from that, dares to try to be a substitute for that, dares to try to be an additional layer to that, is something you need to be wary of. You need to be concerned about. Because that is tantamount to a false teaching. This is what the Judaizers did. The Judaizers came to the Gentiles and saying, yes, yes, we want you to believe and trust in Jesus Christ. But you must understand. Jesus, where his chosen people, so that means in order for you to become a Christian, you first need to become a Jew. So what were they saying? Well, we're not saying that salvation, but you are because you're saying you have to become a Jew to become a Christian. So now you're saying you've added to God's work saying, well, that means you ought to be circumcised. That means you ought to uphold the dietary laws. That means you ought to go to the purification rituals. This was something that was very hard for the Jewish believers to get away from and, in fact, became a problem for the church for years to come. It would be the same problem on the other end from the Gentile world. They were carrying in their baggage because they came from an idolatrous worship background, temples, shrines. The idea that, yes, the actions of your body are evil and there's just no holding them back. They're always going to be evil. That's the way it is. So you attempt to rise above that in your spiritual. being, and they sought to distinguish and divide those two, and therefore have no accountability for the sin that was in their physical body, but imagining that they can be great spiritual beings in spite of it. Once again, it is a denial of God's work and an elevation of ours. That's what false doctrine and false teaching is. All of it needs to be tested. All of it needs to be evaluated against that. You see the problem here when we think about what God has given inward and we're denying it in this case, both in marriage and in the diet. The fact of the matter is their concerns about sex were valid. However, what they ignored was is that the idea of this physical union was a gift given by God. In the book of Genesis, he establishes the fact that it is his desire, his will, that man and woman come together and become one. It was his it was his plan with regard to the idea of populating the earth, of having children and continuing on. It was also his plan that it be a blessing in the life of those two believers and bring joy to their life. The same is true with regard to food. Now, when I say according to God's guidance, that's important because these things are to be enjoyed according to God's law. For instance, the idea of sexual union is to be enjoyed by God's law and God's guidance through the sanctity of marriage. The idea of food being enjoyed, yes, we're to enjoy it, but the Bible also speaks of the sin of gluttony and excess, doesn't it? Yeah, nobody's saying amen to that neither, I know. So that means there has to be control and constraint in our life. For the sake of appreciating what gives for the sake of our health, for the sake of our welfare, all those things come into play and God has given us instruction regarding them. So he says here at the very end in verse 5, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. So there's two things going on here under the authority of God. that the Word of God, the command of God has sanctified these things, meaning that they have been set aside for the consumption, for the use of a believer according to God's Word and God's command. And in doing so, you are expected to enjoy it. Secondly, by virtue of prayer, we continually look to God and give thanks. to Him for it, recognizing and being on guard that there's never a day of not knowing that that which we consume, that which we possess, that which we enjoy has been given and therefore is worthy to be governed by God in our lives. That's the challenge. Paul is saying, listen, there will always be a battle. There always has been and there always will be a battle to do what? To take away, piece by piece, the work of God in our redemption, in our salvation. It's an amazing thing, isn't it? What is it that Satan's attempt, Satan's desire, Satan's strategy always to either, he can't take it away from us, but he certainly can battle to take away the joy of it from us. So how does he take away the joy from a true believer? He wants to cause him to believe that he's not saved by Christ and Christ alone. He wants him to absorb his guilty conscience rather than going to God and asking his forgiveness and recognizing in his own inadequacy, he wants to fill him with a lie and a deceit that he can manage and elevate his own spirituality if he understands the pieces here that needs to be added. to his salvation, which is in a form of saying self-righteousness. So if you're doing this, you're spiritual. If you're not, then you're missing something. May I give you a classic illustration of something of a spiritual gift that was used in the same manner? The great debate that Paul or not debate, excuse me, the great instruction and loving rebuke that Paul gave the Corinthian believers over the spiritual gifts. Isn't it a fascinating thing that we can talk about all the spiritual gifts that God gives us, and yet there's a couple of choice ones that everybody wants to use? Why would it be so special for somebody to want to have the gift of tongues? Why would somebody seek after it? In our flesh, the reason to seek after it is because it's something of a display. It's something that we call bring attention to ourselves and to our Spirituality. And this is what Paul was addressing, because what had happened among the Corinthians is that somebody had elevated this gift into making it a litmus test of someone who was, in effect, truly a believer or at least had a close relationship with God. Paul said, you guys keep concentrating on this gift and you're missing the ones that everyone needs to have most more than anything else. In other words, you're missing the forest for the trees, so to speak. So what happens here is that even which God has given can be twisted and perverted into a false doctrine, into a false teaching. Because it lays an expectation on everyone to either have this gift or. Pretend to have it. And what a horrible thing that is. So you have any question or any comment on these verses tonight?