Competing Voices 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Competing Voices 2 Timothy 4:1-5

2 Timothy 4:1-5
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

There are so many voices shouting at us today. Fox News, CNN, and every other news outlet. And we have the never to criticize North Korea and the Russians, for their fake news? There are tweets and soundbites, investigations and senate sub committees, the latest tell all book, and the who’s grabbed who in America list.

There are thousands of different people saying they have the spiritual truth, or a spiritual truth. Some claim to be pastors or prophets to sway you to listen to them. At Christmas time they all seem to come out more than usual. Paul wrote to Timothy “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

In Matthew 24:24 Jesus warned “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”

How do we stay focused on the truth and not lead off as Ephesians 4:14 says “so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”

Hold on to what you know is true.

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

1Peter 1:25
“All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Is it from the Bible?

2 timothy 3:16&17
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

2 Peter 1:20
knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Test everything by what you know is true.

1 Thessalonians 5:21
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.

To know the truth, to discern between all the competing voices in our world do these things.

Focus on what you know is true, God’s Word and His Gospel.

Test it. Is it from the Bible or does it contradict the Bible?

Is the voice consistent with the things Jesus taught us?

Then you will know the truth and only the truth can set you free.