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2 TIMOTHY 4:3-5
3: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4: And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5: But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

These scriptures paint for us what I believe is a very accurate picture of the times that we live in. It gives us an example of what we are seeing everyday around us. Even though Paul here is specifically speaking to Timothy, a preacher. I believe this passage is also a relevant word for the body of Christ as a whole. Even though Paul is trying to tell Timothy about the church of his day, I believe this scenario would fit comfortably right in the middle of some of our congregations today.

Many people in the church:

Live right here in the midst of our text

Are prime examples of what Paul was talking about.

Have the same biographical profile of these people that Paul was trying to warn us about

And as I looked at this text, the Lord began to show me a picture of the church today. As I looked at this, I began to realize that many folks don’t want to hear the Word They just want to be entertained Amused Pacified

They want to shout and cut a step, just for the sake of doing it and then say, “We had church!”

They want to shout and holler for the preacher, and they can’t tell you what he was talking about at the end, but say, “Wow, he preached!”

I’ve discovered that these people have religion, but not relationship! They have gravy, but no meat! The question that I want to ask is, “Have You Got Religion Or Relationship?” It’s an important question, because you need to know the difference between religion and relationship. You see;

Religion is what you do over and over
Religion is what you do continuously
Religion is your rituals, your customs, your habitual activities… (Let me help you) Even the devil is religious!

The Bible says, “He walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he can devour” (1 Peter 5:8) IOW He’s constantly (religiously) going around looking for you and for me so that he can take us out! (“He’s on the prowl”)Religion is that which you do habitually but relationship is something altogether different

Relationship is a connection, an association between you and something else
Relationship is the kinship that exists between you and someone else
Relationship is the camaraderie/ companionship that exists between you and those that you are close to.

And in order to have relationship, there must first be a fellowship. What I’m trying to say is that you need more than just religion; you need more than just a habit. You need a relationship with God!

Why? Because there are some dangers in just simply having religion and no relationship.You see, when you only have religion and not a relationship, you

Can’t handle storms
Can’t deal with tough times
Won’t be able to persevere in the midst of adversity
Won’t be able to deal with the attacks of the enemy

Your faith will become faulty
Your praise will become passive
Your witness will become weak
Your testimony will become tired

And so Paul paints for us in our text, a picture of what happens to those who only have religion and no relationship He says that the problem with having only religion and no relationship is that


I. THEY REFUSE THE WORD

“The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine”

•Endure: anechomai (an-ekh’-om-ahee); to hold oneself up against, i.e. (figuratively) put up with; tolerate, accept
•Doctrine: didaskalia (did-as-kal-ee’-ah); instruction (the function or the information): learning, teaching, policy

They only want what makes them feel, look, and sound good and instead of learning the Word, they get caught up in meaningless discussions and disputes.

But the Bible says (1 Pet 2:2) that we should be “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” The reason most folks can’t progress in God is because they refuse to learn and live by His Word And many of those that do are satisfied with the ‘milk’ of the Word only. They want to stay on the basics and not delve off deep into the Word.

(Ps 1:1-2) “Relationship involves getting to know the one you have the relationship with…! IOW Relationship requires intimacy (Not always sex, But a time of closeness, familiarity, confidence) And the only way to have a relationship with God, is to KNOW Him and KNOW His Word! (They Refuse The Word)


II. THEY RELISH WHAT IS WRONG

Relish: Enjoy, delight in, savor, and take pleasure in.
The pleasures of this world are like cotton candy: It looks good, tasty, and inviting; but when you bite into it, you discover it’s nothing but air! (Problem) The World Pleases Us Too Easily!

(1 Jn 2:15-17) “Love not the world, nor the things in it. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh. And the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides forever”

The world pleases us too easily. That’s why we spend money we don’t have on things we don’t need, to impress people we don’t even like. Because THE WORLD PLEASES US TOO EASILY! (Text) “They will have itching ears and heap for themselves teachers”

•They flock to conferences, seminars, and teachings just to “get a word” (Just study your Bible)

•They buy tapes and books to get “knowledge and revelation…” (Just develop a prayer life)

•They are easily impressed by theatrics, showmanship and charisma.

•They want somebody to impress them instead of impart into them.

But God said that He would give us pastors/teachers after His own heart. You need to make sure that you’re at a place where you can receive correct instruction and sound doctrine from the man of God that is teaching sound doctrine according to the Word of God, rightly dividing the Word (The days of just cruising are long gone) There is a danger in having religion but no relationship (They Refuse The Word They Relish What Is Wrong)


III. THEY RUN FROM WISE COUNSEL

“They will turn away from the truth and turn aside to fables”

IOW they will turn to:
They to that which looks and sounds good

They cling to that which is false (fables)

Fables: muthos (moo’-thos); a tale, i.e. fiction ("myth"): it sounds good, has a happy ending and makes you smile

Truth: will hurt sometimes, crush ego, make you reevaluate

Folks who are caught up in religion (and don’t have a relationship) will:
I. Refuse The Word
II. Relish What Is Wrong
III: Run From Wise Counsel

But God is looking for a people who are willing to develop and maintain a meaningful, productive, and fruitful relationship with Him. And if it is your desire to have relationship instead of religion. Paul says that there are few things they you need to do Paul says that you need to (v5)

1. Be watchful in all things: nepho (nay’-fo); of uncertain affinity: to abstain from wine (keep sober), i.e. (figuratively) be discreet: be sober, watch (observant, attentive, on the lookout) in all things

Watch the company you keep.
Watch the things that you say.
Watch the places that you go.
Watch the example that you set.

Paul said; “Whatever things are true noble just pure lovely of good report if there is any virtue if there is anything praiseworthy meditate (think) on these things” (Phil 4:8) (If you’re going to have a relationship you need to Be Watchful)

2. Endure afflictions: kakopatheo (kak-op-ath-eh’-o); stand, to undergo hardship, be afflicted, endure afflictions (hardness), and suffer trouble.

Endure hard times
Endure heartache
Endure heartbreak
Endure persecution
Endure scandal
Endure being misunderstood
Endure being unappreciated
Endure suffering and affliction

(Why?) Because Paul tells us that; “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (1Cor 4:17)

3. Do the work of an evangelist: ergon (er’-gon); work; toil (as an effort or occupation); by an act: deed, doing, or labor. Work involves

Getting active in your local church
Getting active in witnessing to unsaved friends and relatives
Because Jesus said; “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

4. Fulfill your ministry: plerophoreo (play-rof-or-eh’-o); to carry out fully (in evidence), i.e. completely assure (or convince), entirely accomplish: most surely believe, fully know (persuade), make full proof of.
Why? Because God has called you to a new leveling Him

A new level of life
A new level of service
A new level of giving
A new level of prayer
A new level of praise
A new level of worship
A new level of stewardship
A new level of commitment
A new level of holiness
A new level of relationship

(Don’t know about you…) But I want a relationship and not just religion. I want to know Him and not just know of Him. And if you’re going to have relationship instead of religion. You’ve got to do what Jesus did.

He Watched- As they turned their backs on Him
He Endured- As they falsely accused Him…
He Did The Work- Even while He hung on the Cross
He Fulfilled His Ministry- By giving His life so that we might live

Let me add in closing of this reply that you cannot have a relationship with Jesus Christ By accepting him as you Lord and savior or Repeating some kind of “sinners Prayer”(just professing Him Or shaking a preachers Hand)
Peter answered the question in what must we do (Acts 2:37,38) This is God’s plan of salvation as spoken by Jesus in John 3:3-5. Will We SEEK HIM Today in Prayer and obey His word?