Daily Devotional | Stay Close to Jesus | 2 Timothy 2:25–26 | Pastor Jim Cymbala

>> So sorry. >> So sorry. I greet you in Roma because look I greet you in Roma because look I greet you in Roma because look I am Roma. I am Roma. I am Roma. Someone gave me this delightful hoodie. Someone gave me this delightful hoodie. Someone gave me this delightful hoodie. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And remember to pray for the Roma people And remember to pray for the Roma people And remember to pray for the Roma people throughout all of Europe. throughout all of Europe. throughout all of Europe. And uh And uh And uh the good things that God is doing the good things that God is doing the good things that God is doing especially in Slovakia but elsewhere. especially in Slovakia but elsewhere. especially in Slovakia but elsewhere. And remember check out our website the And remember check out our website the And remember check out our website the Brooklyn Tabernacle.org. Brooklyn Tabernacle.org. Brooklyn Tabernacle.org. Uh brooklyntabernacle.org Uh brooklyntabernacle.org Uh brooklyntabernacle.org and look for the way you can sign up and and look for the way you can sign up and and look for the way you can sign up and get information fresh wind fresh fire get information fresh wind fresh fire get information fresh wind fresh fire conference. October 2 through 4. conference. October 2 through 4. conference. October 2 through 4. Friday through Sunday has all the Friday through Sunday has all the Friday through Sunday has all the information music track speaking word information music track speaking word information music track speaking word track people feel a call in their life track people feel a call in their life track people feel a call in their life leaders in the local church pastors leaders in the local church pastors leaders in the local church pastors associates deacons associates deacons associates deacons uh uh uh people just hungry for God and revival people just hungry for God and revival people just hungry for God and revival so that you can spread the fire where so that you can spread the fire where so that you can spread the fire where God has placed you. God has placed you. God has placed you. That's the way it is. We're all That's the way it is. We're all That's the way it is. We're all important in the body of Christ.

important in the body of Christ. important in the body of Christ. And the music track And the music track And the music track worship leaders choir members worship leaders choir members worship leaders choir members Carol and my daughter Sue are going to Carol and my daughter Sue are going to Carol and my daughter Sue are going to uh great sessions there'll be prayer you uh great sessions there'll be prayer you uh great sessions there'll be prayer you can go to some of the leadership uh can go to some of the leadership uh can go to some of the leadership uh spoken word sessions hear great spoken word sessions hear great spoken word sessions hear great preachers we're going to have Michael preachers we're going to have Michael preachers we're going to have Michael Youssef and Pastor Willie Rice Youssef and Pastor Willie Rice Youssef and Pastor Willie Rice from Clearwater Florida. I hope you can from Clearwater Florida. I hope you can from Clearwater Florida. I hope you can join us. All the details are there. join us. All the details are there. join us. All the details are there. We are reading now at the end of a We are reading now at the end of a We are reading now at the end of a chapter two of second Timothy. Let's chapter two of second Timothy. Let's chapter two of second Timothy. Let's pick up the the thought the thought. pick up the the thought the thought. pick up the the thought the thought. Opponents must be gently instructed. Opponents must be gently instructed. Opponents must be gently instructed. These are people fighting sound These are people fighting sound These are people fighting sound doctrine. doctrine. doctrine. They become opponents. They become opponents. They become opponents. So what should Timothy a younger pastor So what should Timothy a younger pastor So what should Timothy a younger pastor do? do? do? uh gently instructed uh gently instructed uh gently instructed in the hope that God will grant them in the hope that God will grant them in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge to a leading them to the knowledge to a knowledge of the truth. knowledge of the truth. knowledge of the truth. And that they will come to their senses.

And that they will come to their senses. And that they will come to their senses. So he sees people who teach false So he sees people who teach false So he sees people who teach false doctrine and those who are captivated doctrine and those who are captivated doctrine and those who are captivated as being in a state of delusion. They're they've been hoodwinked. They're they've been hoodwinked. They've been played as they say, you They've been played as they say, you They've been played as they say, you know, don't play me. know, don't play me. know, don't play me. They've been played. And he says, pray gently And he says, pray gently answer them answer them answer them in hopes that God will grant them in hopes that God will grant them in hopes that God will grant them repentance. That means turn around. repentance. That means turn around. repentance. That means turn around. A 180. A 180. A 180. So they go the other way toward the So they go the other way toward the So they go the other way toward the truth, toward Jesus, toward sound truth, toward Jesus, toward sound truth, toward Jesus, toward sound doctrine. doctrine. doctrine. >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> And he said that they'll come to their >> And he said that they'll come to their >> And he said that they'll come to their senses. senses. senses. Come to their senses is an important Come to their senses is an important Come to their senses is an important phrase along with phrase along with phrase along with and escape from the trap of the devil and escape from the trap of the devil and escape from the trap of the devil who has taken them captive to do his who has taken them captive to do his who has taken them captive to do his will. will. will. That they might come to their senses That they might come to their senses That they might come to their senses and that escape from the trap. Trap.

and that escape from the trap. Trap. and that escape from the trap. Trap. Trap. Satan has traps. Trap. Satan has traps. Trap. Satan has traps. He has He has He has traps that we're familiar with. traps that we're familiar with. traps that we're familiar with. Immorality. Immorality. Immorality. Um pornography. Uh Uh debauchery, drinking, carrying on, debauchery, drinking, carrying on, debauchery, drinking, carrying on, drugs, stealing, love of money. He has drugs, stealing, love of money. He has drugs, stealing, love of money. He has all these traps all these traps all these traps for all of us for all of us for all of us and for ministers, too. and for ministers, too. and for ministers, too. >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> Um >> Um >> Um but there's also the doctrinal trap. but there's also the doctrinal trap. but there's also the doctrinal trap. He leads you off in a never-never land He leads you off in a never-never land He leads you off in a never-never land With some new teaching that's not in the With some new teaching that's not in the With some new teaching that's not in the Bible, but if we're not careful and Bible, but if we're not careful and Bible, but if we're not careful and don't have discernment, it's like, "Oh, don't have discernment, it's like, "Oh, don't have discernment, it's like, "Oh, this is a new thing God is doing." this is a new thing God is doing." this is a new thing God is doing." If it's not in the Bible, it's not a new If it's not in the Bible, it's not a new If it's not in the Bible, it's not a new thing God is doing. thing God is doing. thing God is doing. >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> And then there's no perimeter and people >> And then there's no perimeter and people >> And then there's no perimeter and people can just make up stuff. can just make up stuff. can just make up stuff. But test the spirits, try the spirits, But test the spirits, try the spirits, But test the spirits, try the spirits, see if that's in the Bible. Is it see if that's in the Bible. Is it see if that's in the Bible. Is it keeping with the preaching of Paul, the keeping with the preaching of Paul, the keeping with the preaching of Paul, the life and teaching of Jesus more life and teaching of Jesus more life and teaching of Jesus more importantly?

importantly? So, there are traps and people are taken So, there are traps and people are taken captive. They get deceived. They captive. They get deceived. They captive. They get deceived. They uh uh uh fall into the trap. fall into the trap. fall into the trap. Who had devil of the trap of the devil Who had devil of the trap of the devil Who had devil of the trap of the devil who has taken them captive to do his who has taken them captive to do his who has taken them captive to do his will. So, notice here, Paul is not saying So, notice here, Paul is not saying they're demon possessed. they're demon possessed. they're demon possessed. Not everyone who's taken captive by Not everyone who's taken captive by Not everyone who's taken captive by Satan to do his will is classically what Satan to do his will is classically what Satan to do his will is classically what we call demon possessed. Demon possessed we call demon possessed. Demon possessed we call demon possessed. Demon possessed classically in the New Testament is loss classically in the New Testament is loss classically in the New Testament is loss of personality. When Jesus would come on a scene, they When Jesus would come on a scene, they they would uh they would uh they would uh the the evil spirits would speak out the the evil spirits would speak out the the evil spirits would speak out from the person. from the person. from the person. I mean, they were possessed. I mean, they were possessed. I mean, they were possessed. In the book of Acts, we see people uh In the book of Acts, we see people uh In the book of Acts, we see people uh functioning by being possessed by the functioning by being possessed by the functioning by being possessed by the devil.

Here, Paul is not saying Here, Paul is not saying "Get a hold of these people and anoint "Get a hold of these people and anoint "Get a hold of these people and anoint them with oil or do something, get them them with oil or do something, get them them with oil or do something, get them in a service, and lay hands on them, and in a service, and lay hands on them, and in a service, and lay hands on them, and cast those demons out." No, he doesn't cast those demons out." No, he doesn't cast those demons out." No, he doesn't say that. say that. say that. He's saying, "Gen- gently talk to them, He's saying, "Gen- gently talk to them, He's saying, "Gen- gently talk to them, be kind, present the truth, be kind, present the truth, be kind, present the truth, that they might wake up from the trance that they might wake up from the trance that they might wake up from the trance that they're in. And get out of that trap Satan has set And get out of that trap Satan has set set for them. set for them. set for them. Because he's taken them captive to do Because he's taken them captive to do Because he's taken them captive to do his will. his will. his will. So there are people walking around who So there are people walking around who So there are people walking around who mention the name of Jesus. mention the name of Jesus. mention the name of Jesus. Talk about Jesus, talk about the Bible. But they're But they're captive to do Satan's will. These people captive to do Satan's will. These people captive to do Satan's will. These people that he's talking about, they said the that he's talking about, they said the that he's talking about, they said the resurrection had already passed. resurrection had already passed. resurrection had already passed. He didn't [clears throat] say they were He didn't [clears throat] say they were He didn't [clears throat] say they were demon possessed, and he didn't say they demon possessed, and he didn't say they demon possessed, and he didn't say they never mention the name of Jesus. never mention the name of Jesus. never mention the name of Jesus. People say, "No, if they mention Jesus, People say, "No, if they mention Jesus, People say, "No, if they mention Jesus, they can't be they can't be they can't be you know, used by Satan." Well, of you know, used by Satan." Well, of you know, used by Satan." Well, of course they can.

course they can. course they can. It's just what Jesus they're talking It's just what Jesus they're talking It's just what Jesus they're talking about. about. about. There's about 150 Jesus's. There's about 150 Jesus's. There's about 150 Jesus's. There's the one of the Bible that we There's the one of the Bible that we There's the one of the Bible that we need to know, the true one and only need to know, the true one and only need to know, the true one and only Jesus, but then there's an American Jesus, but then there's an American Jesus, but then there's an American Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. A right-wing conservative Jesus, a black A right-wing conservative Jesus, a black A right-wing conservative Jesus, a black liberal Jesus. liberal Jesus. liberal Jesus. Um a prosperity Jesus, who just wants Um a prosperity Jesus, who just wants Um a prosperity Jesus, who just wants you to have a lot of money. you to have a lot of money. you to have a lot of money. Of course, there's all kind a legalistic Of course, there's all kind a legalistic Of course, there's all kind a legalistic Jesus. He don't love you, he wants to Jesus. He don't love you, he wants to Jesus. He don't love you, he wants to just knock you over the head and punish just knock you over the head and punish just knock you over the head and punish you. So we have to rightly divide the word of So we have to rightly divide the word of God and know the true Jesus. Remember God and know the true Jesus. Remember God and know the true Jesus. Remember Paul says in 2 Corinthians to the church Paul says in 2 Corinthians to the church Paul says in 2 Corinthians to the church that had been beguiled by false that had been beguiled by false that had been beguiled by false teachers, false prophets. teachers, false prophets. teachers, false prophets. And he says to them, And he says to them, And he says to them, "Man, I was with you." I'm paraphrasing. "Man, I was with you." I'm paraphrasing. "Man, I was with you." I'm paraphrasing. Uh I was with you and I ministered, and Uh I was with you and I ministered, and Uh I was with you and I ministered, and now you've been taken in by these fake now you've been taken in by these fake now you've been taken in by these fake apostles.

apostles. apostles. You've received a gospel, but not the You've received a gospel, but not the You've received a gospel, but not the one I told you. one I told you. one I told you. They're fake gospels. And you received They're fake gospels. And you received They're fake gospels. And you received the Jesus, but not the Jesus I told you the Jesus, but not the Jesus I told you the Jesus, but not the Jesus I told you about. about. about. And more And more And more uh uh uh sober. sober. sober. You received the spirit but not the Holy You received the spirit but not the Holy You received the spirit but not the Holy Spirit. So, we got to stay close to Jesus and be So, we got to stay close to Jesus and be filled with this word and ask God for filled with this word and ask God for filled with this word and ask God for discernment discernment discernment and try to help people to come out of and try to help people to come out of and try to help people to come out of that trap that trap that trap because Satan has got beguiled them to because Satan has got beguiled them to because Satan has got beguiled them to do his will, bring division, bring do his will, bring division, bring do his will, bring division, bring strife, and in the end get our eyes off strife, and in the end get our eyes off strife, and in the end get our eyes off of Jesus of Jesus of Jesus and get wrangling about who knows what. and get wrangling about who knows what. and get wrangling about who knows what. Let's Let's stay close to the Lord Let's Let's stay close to the Lord Let's Let's stay close to the Lord today. That's the only day we have. today. That's the only day we have. today. That's the only day we have. >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> Let's do it. Amen.