CONFERENCE CALICUT, INDIA, Dec. 2 th. 2000

Given by bro. C.B. Beekhuizen, Holland

Family life in the last (bad) days

Bible reading: 2 Tim. 3:1 – 4:5

Vers 1 We are living in the last days before the returning of our Lord Jesus. The time will be hard for Christians anywhere in this world.(v.12).

Vers 2 The reason is self-love, self-will, self-supporting and independency of the government and spiritual leaders (see chapter 4:3,4).

Vers 3 There is no longer family life or caring older people and the younger ones. They are lost without real love from parents or relatives! (see the result in Sodom and Lot and his family).

Vers 4 Children will be upsetted by the parents. They are under influence of wrong spiritual leaders (see Mat. 10:16-22; 24:1-24).

Vers 5 People will be very religious but without the Holy Spirit (see Jude vs.17-25).

Vers 6 The influence in this modern time by television and internet in our homes is high, because there is no control of their parents (or the parents themselves are slave of the television or internet).

Vers. 7-9 There will be a lack of knowledge, because there is no real faith in the Lord Jesus (see Heb. 5:11-14 and Isa. 29:10-16).

The following verses explain how to overcome all this troubles in family live. Obedience is the keyword in the live of the real Christian!

Vers 10-11 There are 9 keywords in this verses: 1e. Teaching, 2e. The way of Christian life, 3e. To be an example, 4e. Faith, 5e. Patience, 6e. Love, 7e. Endurance, 8e. Persecutions, 9e. Sufferings for the sake of the Lord Jesus.

Vers. 12 All Christians must be prepared for suffering! (see Acts. 14:22).

Vers. 13 Because men will be bad and doing their own will only. They will be against Christian life style. They will be misleaded by satan (see 2 Pet. 2:17-22).

Vers 14-15 Godly believers will always listen carefully and obedient to the Word of God. They are willing to follow the doctrine of the apostles and the prophets (Acts. 2:42; Eph. 2:20). It is very important that children in Christian families learn from their parents in their young ages. That is the special responsibility of the father (see Deut. 6:4-9, 20-25).

Vers 16 All the scripture is from God given to the people. We read all, not some words only we like! (see 2 Pet. 1:19-21).

Vers 17 The goal of all the Biblical education is always that men will be godly and useful for the Lord and His people!

In the next chapter, the verses 1-5 we learn the following things:

Vers 1 There will come the final judgement of the Lord Jesus! People don’t like it to hear such preaching and often they will scoffers with the word of God and the Christian education (see Acts 17:30-32; Jude vers. 17,18).

Vers 2 Therefore the call of the Lord is: preach the gospel till the end!

Vers 3 Because there will be a time that people don’t listen to the Christian message! They will hear only what they want and what people pleased.

Vers 4 Therefore they will make their own doctrine and way of life. But that is not the real Christian life! People will listen to false doctrine, false gospel and a false Christ! They will receive a false and bad (religious) spirit also (see 2 Cor. 11:3-4, 13-15; 2 Thes. 2:3-12; Isa. 29:11-14; 28:7-13).

Vers. 5 Therefore, each real believer must be a disciple of Christ, willing to suffer for Him, doing the work of an evangelist. Any one must be trust you, because the Lord Jesus will make you responsible to preach His real Gospel. That begins in your own family!!!

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