Introduction: This passage is directed at us living in the church age. How do we know that we are living in the last days? Because this is the way that people are living today. Saved and lost people alike. There is a moral and spiritual decay in society and even among those who are born again. The Bible is very clear about this, “from such turn away”.
People living in the last days are:
- Lovers of their own Selves– This is a selfish and self centered person. To put our pleasures before God’s pleasures. Going after a person wants even to their own hurt. Everything and everyone should revolve around them. The internet is a perfect example of this thing. People in the gym, dresses, make up, big houses, nice cars, relationships, entertainment.
- Luke 14:26 “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple”.
- Covetous– This is a lover of money or possessions; material things. People want more, better, bigger, nicer, etc. People want more money, houses, cars, clothes, jewelry, property, etc. I Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows”.
- Boasters– This is a person who brags on himself. Me, myself, and I. He will boast on wha the has, what he has accomplished, his job, his achievements, anything that impresses others. James 4:16 “But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil”.
- Proud– This person is arrogant; conceited; full of themselves. Putting oneself above others and looking down on others. To lift one’s head above another. Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall”. Proverbs 21:4 “A high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin”.
- Blasphemers– This is to speak of God in irreverent terms. To use God’s name lightly. Insulting, cursing, lacking reverence for God. “The man upstairs”. “The big man”. This is done because of pride, hatred, affliction, defiance, unworthy conduct. Exodus 20:7 “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guileless that taketh his name in vain”.
- Disobedient to Parents– This is a child who refuse to do what parents say to do. Rebellion against parents, disrespectful to parents. Mistreat parents. If a child doesn’t obey his parents who love and care for him, they will also disobey others without any concern. It starts in the home and gets into society. Ephesians 6:1-3 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth”.
- Unthankful– This is a person who doesn’t thank God or others. Doesn’t show gratitude or appreciation for what they have received. Some people feel entitled and believe everyone owes them everything, the government; family; their employer; God. Psalm 100:4 “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name”. Everything that we have is because of God giving us the strength, health, and ability to do anything.
- Unholy– This a person that lives a life against God’s holiness. Profane, indecent, shameless immodest, unrighteous. They seek gratification of the flesh. They have no shame. Blind to decency. I Peter 1:16 “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy”.
- Without Natural Affection– This is a man who has an affection for a woman and a woman for a man, that’s natural. To not have a natural affection means men with men and women with women- this is abnormal. It is homosexuality. Romans 1:26-28 “leaving the natural use of the woman…working that which is unseemly”.
- Trucebreakers– This is a person who violates a truce, covenant or engagement. Someone who doesn’t keep their word or promise. Husbands and wives. Parents to children. Employers to employees. Business partners. People to God. If you told God you would do something, you should do it. Psalm 15:4 “He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not”. This is a person who keeps his promises even if it hurts.
- False Accusers– A person that slanders or lies about another person and accuses him falsely. This is not something that Christians should be doing against each other. We need to be very careful to bring an accusation about something we are not certain about. Joseph was falsely accused by the master’s wife because Joseph would not lay with her, Genesis 39:7-20.
- Incontinent– This a person who lacks self control. A person that doesn’t have self control will give himself over to pleasure, indulgence, passion, lust lewdness, sexual cravings, etc. This person cannot control himself with food, drink, smoking, pornography, etc. I Corinthians 6:12 “All things are lawful unto me, but al things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any”.
- Fierce– This a person that is vehement in rage, violent, furious. They will curse, attack, act violent, etc. This happens between spouses, parents, neighbors, strangers. Colossians 3:12 “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering”.
- Despisers of those that are Good– This a person who hates people that are good and people who do good things. “You think your too good”. “You think your perfect”. This happens to churches, church members, and Pastors. This happens when you stand up for what is right, what is good, for good people. People are embarrassed to do right, speak up, stand up for good, etc. Proverbs 29:27 “An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked”.
- Traitors– This is a person who betrays any trust or commitment. This person will betray their team, friends, family, and or God. The most tragic betrayal is the person who betrays Christ and the church, they turn their back and return to the world. Revelation 2:4 “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee. Because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works”.
- Heady– This is a person that is rash and hasty. Reckless. Without giving thought to the consequences. Their actions and reactions are controlled by the first thing that they feel. When you get cut off, when someone says something bad about you. Think before you speak. Ecclesiastes 5:2 “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not hide heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon the earth: therefore let thy word be few”.
- High minded– This a person that is puffed up and conceited. Once who wants others to think he is more that what he is in society, education, status, and position. Galatians 6:3 “For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself”. Isaiah 5:21 “Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!”.
- Lover of pleasure more than lovers of God– These people live for entertainment. Looking for the next best thing. Church to them is boring, not entertaining enough. When they see Hollywood movies, church is uneventful. Mark 12:30 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment”. When you love God this much, there is no room to love pleasures.
- They Have a form of Godliness– This person is religious and dresses right, speaks right, acts right, but has no power. This is only an appearance of godliness but they are not yielded to God.
Conclusion: If you find yourself doing anyone of these things, get your life corrected so that you don’t end up further out than where you are. Repent and start living for God. Just because we’re living in the last days doesn’t mean you have to go in this direction.
Anchor Baptist Church 