Daily Devotional | The Last Days | 2 Timothy 3:1 | Pastor Jim Cymbala

>> An nyong ha se yo. An nyong [music] ha >> An nyong ha se yo. An nyong [music] ha se yo. se yo. se yo. I greet you in Korean I greet you in Korean I greet you in Korean even though I am Roma. even though I am Roma. even though I am Roma. I'm also Korean, too. I forgot to tell I'm also Korean, too. I forgot to tell I'm also Korean, too. I forgot to tell you that. you that. you that. I am I'm a lot of things. I am I'm a lot of things. I am I'm a lot of things. I'm a Christian first and foremost. I don't identify I don't identify with Polish and Ukrainian. Those are my with Polish and Ukrainian. Those are my with Polish and Ukrainian. Those are my roots. roots. roots. But I identify with them in a way. But I identify with them in a way. But I identify with them in a way. Yeah, I'm American citizen. Yeah, I'm American citizen. Yeah, I'm American citizen. Yeah, I love the Korean I love Yeah, I love the Korean I love Yeah, I love the Korean I love It's like my heart is divided up all It's like my heart is divided up all It's like my heart is divided up all these places I visited and love and love these places I visited and love and love these places I visited and love and love the people and love the culture. the people and love the culture. the people and love the culture. But maybe most of all, yeah, I am Roma. Check our website. Check our website. Fresh Wind Fresh Fire pa- uh conference. Fresh Wind Fresh Fire pa- uh conference. Fresh Wind Fresh Fire pa- uh conference. Music and leaders. Music and leaders. Music and leaders. Two tracks. October 2 through 4. Go to Two tracks. October 2 through 4. Go to Two tracks. October 2 through 4. Go to the website. Check it out. Sign up. Come the website. Check it out. Sign up. Come the website. Check it out. Sign up. Come on. Come. BTDD people, Daily Devotion on. Come. BTDD people, Daily Devotion on. Come. BTDD people, Daily Devotion people.

people. people. You get a free little slice of You get a free little slice of You get a free little slice of cheesecake if you come and identify cheesecake if you come and identify cheesecake if you come and identify yourself. I didn't arrange this yet, but I'll do I didn't arrange this yet, but I'll do it. You come and say I'm BTDD. it. You come and say I'm BTDD. it. You come and say I'm BTDD. But don't lie. But don't lie. But don't lie. But come. And bring a pastor with you. But come. And bring a pastor with you. But come. And bring a pastor with you. Bring friend. Anyone hungry for God? Bring friend. Anyone hungry for God? Bring friend. Anyone hungry for God? E- Every- Anybody want to see God do a E- Every- Anybody want to see God do a E- Every- Anybody want to see God do a new thing in your church or in your new thing in your church or in your new thing in your church or in your family or something? Come. family or something? Come. family or something? Come. That's why we gather together. When That's why we gather together. When That's why we gather together. When Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, it Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, it Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, it wasn't just for the disciples, the 12, wasn't just for the disciples, the 12, wasn't just for the disciples, the 12, and it wasn't just for the crowd. It was and it wasn't just for the crowd. It was and it wasn't just for the crowd. It was for everyone. Because we all need it. for everyone. Because we all need it. for everyone. Because we all need it. So, So, So, chapter 3, 2 Timothy. chapter 3, 2 Timothy. chapter 3, 2 Timothy. Boy, Boy, Boy, It only has four chapters and we're now It only has four chapters and we're now It only has four chapters and we're now halfway through. halfway through. halfway through. But mark this. There will be terrible times in the last There will be terrible times in the last days.

This is what Paul's writing to Timothy. This is what Paul's writing to Timothy. He's telling it like it is what God has He's telling it like it is what God has He's telling it like it is what God has shown him by revelation. shown him by revelation. shown him by revelation. And he's saying but mark this, notice And he's saying but mark this, notice And he's saying but mark this, notice this. this. this. There will be There will be There will be terrible times terrible times terrible times in the last days. in the last days. in the last days. So when are the last days? So when are the last days? So when are the last days? Well Well Well in one way when the spirit was poured in one way when the spirit was poured in one way when the spirit was poured out and the church age began in Acts out and the church age began in Acts out and the church age began in Acts chapter 2 chapter 2 chapter 2 Peter said no, they're not they're Peter said no, they're not they're Peter said no, they're not they're speaking in tongues and they're in speaking in tongues and they're in speaking in tongues and they're in ecstasy. They're not drunk, it's 9:00 in ecstasy. They're not drunk, it's 9:00 in ecstasy. They're not drunk, it's 9:00 in the morning. the morning. the morning. This is that which was spoken by the This is that which was spoken by the This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel prophet Joel prophet Joel in the Old Testament. In the last days I in the Old Testament. In the last days I in the Old Testament. In the last days I will pour out my spirit. will pour out my spirit. will pour out my spirit. So obviously the beginning of the church So obviously the beginning of the church So obviously the beginning of the church age is the last days. We're living in age is the last days. We're living in age is the last days. We're living in the last days. Now some people say no, the last days. Now some people say no, the last days. Now some people say no, the last days are the last last last the last days are the last last last the last days are the last last last days days days before the coming of the Lord.

before the coming of the Lord. before the coming of the Lord. But since we don't know when he's But since we don't know when he's But since we don't know when he's coming, we can't really figure out when coming, we can't really figure out when coming, we can't really figure out when the last last last days are. the last last last days are. the last last last days are. Because no one knows the day of the hour Because no one knows the day of the hour Because no one knows the day of the hour and in a moment you think not that it and in a moment you think not that it and in a moment you think not that it boom boom boom he comes. So Paul's telling Timothy wake up now. So Paul's telling Timothy wake up now. In the last days there will be terrible In the last days there will be terrible In the last days there will be terrible times in the last days. times in the last days. times in the last days. Terrible times. Terrible. Terrible. Don't you have a more happy message? I Don't you have a more happy message? I Don't you have a more happy message? I like, "No, everything's going to get like, "No, everything's going to get like, "No, everything's going to get better." No, it's not what the Bible better." No, it's not what the Bible better." No, it's not what the Bible teaches. teaches. teaches. There can be revival in a church, There can be revival in a church, There can be revival in a church, revival in areas in the world, but there revival in areas in the world, but there revival in areas in the world, but there will be terrible times. And what makes will be terrible times. And what makes will be terrible times. And what makes these bad, these terrible times? these bad, these terrible times? these bad, these terrible times? Um Jesus talks about it Matthew 24 and Um Jesus talks about it Matthew 24 and Um Jesus talks about it Matthew 24 and Luke 21 about in the last days these Luke 21 about in the last days these Luke 21 about in the last days these things will happen, false prophets, things will happen, false prophets, things will happen, false prophets, false teachers, false teachers, false teachers, earthquakes, all kinds of stuff going earthquakes, all kinds of stuff going earthquakes, all kinds of stuff going on, the love of most of his people on, the love of most of his people on, the love of most of his people waxing cold.

waxing cold. waxing cold. What makes this bad, which we're going What makes this bad, which we're going What makes this bad, which we're going to go through carefully, slowly, is that to go through carefully, slowly, is that to go through carefully, slowly, is that the this is happening among people who the this is happening among people who the this is happening among people who have a form of godliness, who are have a form of godliness, who are have a form of godliness, who are religious, in the churches. religious, in the churches. religious, in the churches. Can you believe this? Can you believe this? Can you believe this? This is what makes it so terrible. It's This is what makes it so terrible. It's This is what makes it so terrible. It's one thing if the world is the world and one thing if the world is the world and one thing if the world is the world and the culture is the culture. Culture is the culture is the culture. Culture is the culture is the culture. Culture is not going to get better, it's going to not going to get better, it's going to not going to get better, it's going to get worse. get worse. get worse. No, I speak to the culture and I said, No, I speak to the culture and I said, No, I speak to the culture and I said, "You can speak all you want to the "You can speak all you want to the "You can speak all you want to the culture, it's going to get worse." culture, it's going to get worse." culture, it's going to get worse." That we know. That we know. That we know. You haven't noticed that? Um Um but this is bad because as we go through but this is bad because as we go through but this is bad because as we go through it, it, it, it's among church people. You see, if it's among church people. You see, if it's among church people. You see, if the light isn't the light anymore, it's covered up. it's covered up. It's barely it's just hardly can be It's barely it's just hardly can be It's barely it's just hardly can be seen. seen. seen. And we're the light of the world. And we're the light of the world. And we're the light of the world. And if the salt has lost its savor, if And if the salt has lost its savor, if And if the salt has lost its savor, if churches are insipid and just churches are insipid and just churches are insipid and just predictable, dull, and and formal, and predictable, dull, and and formal, and predictable, dull, and and formal, and traditional, traditional, traditional, and just same old, same old.

and just same old, same old. and just same old, same old. And there's no conversions and moving of And there's no conversions and moving of And there's no conversions and moving of the Holy Spirit and fiery preaching and the Holy Spirit and fiery preaching and the Holy Spirit and fiery preaching and and deep conviction of sin and and and and deep conviction of sin and and and and deep conviction of sin and and and love among the brothers and sisters and love among the brothers and sisters and love among the brothers and sisters and open doors for all people, all races. open doors for all people, all races. open doors for all people, all races. You see, if that's not happening You see, if that's not happening You see, if that's not happening then Satan's working to dim the light then Satan's working to dim the light then Satan's working to dim the light and to let the church become something and to let the church become something and to let the church become something God never intended it. God never intended it. God never intended it. A lot of what we see around here A lot of what we see around here A lot of what we see around here I just read the scriptures and then I just read the scriptures and then I just read the scriptures and then visit some churches and hear reports visit some churches and hear reports visit some churches and hear reports that's what God intended the church to that's what God intended the church to that's what God intended the church to be. Well, you say, "No, but that's the be. Well, you say, "No, but that's the be. Well, you say, "No, but that's the way it is everywhere." But way it is everywhere." But way it is everywhere." But what we have to do by faith is not look what we have to do by faith is not look what we have to do by faith is not look at what is, but what could be. What at what is, but what could be. What at what is, but what could be. What could be? could be? could be? I was down in the cove this week and at I was down in the cove this week and at I was down in the cove this week and at the Billy Graham Center preaching to the Billy Graham Center preaching to the Billy Graham Center preaching to wonderful men men men and women of God, wonderful men men men and women of God, wonderful men men men and women of God, ministers. And I was saying to them ministers. And I was saying to them ministers. And I was saying to them do you want to just keep with what you do you want to just keep with what you do you want to just keep with what you have in your church?

have in your church? have in your church? Some of you haven't baptized 10 people Some of you haven't baptized 10 people Some of you haven't baptized 10 people in 5 years. in 5 years. in 5 years. This is what God intended. This is what God intended. This is what God intended. Not putting anyone down. I'm I'm saying Not putting anyone down. I'm I'm saying Not putting anyone down. I'm I'm saying it to myself. it to myself. it to myself. We got to make the scripture our goal We got to make the scripture our goal We got to make the scripture our goal and not be seduced into the stuff that's and not be seduced into the stuff that's and not be seduced into the stuff that's coming on not just the world into the coming on not just the world into the coming on not just the world into the church. And as I read these, tell me if church. And as I read these, tell me if church. And as I read these, tell me if you don't think it's already happening you don't think it's already happening you don't think it's already happening with spades today. with spades today. with spades today. I mean I mean I mean the church the church the church has has has been revised is revisionist thinking. been revised is revisionist thinking. been revised is revisionist thinking. So, we're calling something the church So, we're calling something the church So, we're calling something the church that God never described as the church. And this is not just in wild circles And this is not just in wild circles where they celebrate a sexual deviance where they celebrate a sexual deviance where they celebrate a sexual deviance and and um deny the Lord, but they call and and um deny the Lord, but they call and and um deny the Lord, but they call it a church. I'm talking about churches it a church. I'm talking about churches it a church. I'm talking about churches which might be orthodox sound in which might be orthodox sound in which might be orthodox sound in doctrine, doctrine, doctrine, but sideways in practice.

but sideways in practice. but sideways in practice. Lifeless. Jesus said to one church in Lifeless. Jesus said to one church in Lifeless. Jesus said to one church in Revelation, "You have a name that you're Revelation, "You have a name that you're Revelation, "You have a name that you're alive, but you're really dead." alive, but you're really dead." alive, but you're really dead." Don't say that. That's going to hurt Don't say that. That's going to hurt Don't say that. That's going to hurt people's feelings. people's feelings. people's feelings. The Lord tells it like it is, in love. The Lord tells it like it is, in love. The Lord tells it like it is, in love. How you going to get better unless you How you going to get better unless you How you going to get better unless you realize your condition? realize your condition? realize your condition? So, mark this. We've got to draw near to So, mark this. We've got to draw near to So, mark this. We've got to draw near to God because in the last days, God because in the last days, God because in the last days, >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> terrible times will come. >> terrible times will come. >> terrible times will come. Check in tomorrow. We're going to learn Check in tomorrow. We're going to learn Check in tomorrow. We're going to learn about it more. [music] about it more. [music] about it more. [music] Blessings.