Graham continued his 1 Timothy theme this morning. The recording starts just as Graham is reading the first few verses of 1 Timothy 4.

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1 Timothy 4

Tolerance and Unity

1) False teaching should not be unexpected.

Paul refers to what must have been a common expectation. The Spirit was speaking about this to the church.

According to the NIV Study Bible, some suggest that Paul is speaking about a particular revelation of the Holy Spirit that he had received.

He also had the words of Jesus. See:

Matthew 24:3-11

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. Tell us, they said, when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? Jesus answered: Watch out that no-one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth-pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.

Mark 13:22

For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect- if that were possible.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.

See 1 John 4:2-6.

This is how you can recognise the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognise the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

Paul did have a revelation. Acts 20:29-30 Prophetic warning given by Paul to the leaders of the Ephesian church at his farewell meeting.

I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.

2) Spiritual Agents of Deception

Deceiving spirits, “demons”.

See incident with Peter. Matthew 16:22-23

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

We must ask, “Could the enemy use me?” In reply we must admit our weakness as human beings. We are all capable of deceiving and being deceived.

3) Human Agents of Deception

Moral failure – “hypocritical liars”.

Damaged conscience – ” seared…hot iron”.

Bad consciences, unless they turn to repentance, will always turn to hypocrisy for comfort. In contrast, faith and a good conscience partner together.

See 1 Timothy 1:5

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

The Greek, however, primarily means “branded” with the consciousness of crimes committed against their better knowledge and conscience,

A “brand” can be compared to the seal from God. See 2 Timothy 2:19

Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: The Lord knows those who are his, and, Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.

Ephesians 1:13-14

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession- to the praise of his glory.

A conscience repeatedly denied, the voice of the Spirit repeatedly ignored, will result in damage.

The solution? Repentance and restoration. Glory in the seal of the Holy Spirit.