1 TIMOTHY 1:18-20
INTRODUCTION
We are living in the “perilious times” according to the Bible. Many Christians are making “shipwreck” of their faith while the faith of many is waxing cold. Our text speaks of the potential of a "spiritual shipwreck". In fact, it even records the names of two men in the early church that has experienced such a shipwreck: Hymenaeus and Alexander.
There is the tendency that some of us here might suffer or suffering a shipwreck in our spiritual life. In some ways, a spiritual shipwreck is far more devastating than any other shipwreck on the high seas. This morning, I want to warn and challenge you not to make a shipwreck of your faith. You can avoid the danger of shipwreck in your life. Your life does not have to end up badly from a spiritual perspective! You do not have to be shipwrecked in your walk with God.
1. THE REALITY OF SPIRITUAL SHIPWRECKS – Vs. 19b
KJV 1 Timothy 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
NLT 1 Timothy 1:19 Clingto your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.
We do not know much about the two men mentioned in our text, but we do know that they became a problem for Paul and for the early church. This is revealed in 2 Timothy, where it is said that Hymenaeus began to teach false doctrine, 2 Tim. 2:17; and that Alexander caused "much" injury to the Apostle Paul, 2 Tim. 4:14.
No doubt, everyone here this morning could think of a person or persons who once walked with the Lord and have now made shipwreck of their spiritual walk. It happens! Spiritual shipwrecks are to be found all around! They are real!
What we need to remember this morning is this: spiritual shipwrecks don't just happen to the other person; they can happen to you and me! No one here is immune to the possibility that we will fall into sin and make shipwreck of our lives. Please don't scoff at the danger of becoming shipwrecked! It can happen to anyone - 1 Cor. 10:12
NLT 1 Corinthians 10:12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.
KJV Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
2. THE REASONS FOR SPIRITUAL SHIPWRECKS – Vs. 19b
Paul tells us the reason that these two men suffered shipwreck was because they "put away" the faith.
This phrase literally means "to thrust or push away". It refers to "an intentional turning from truth to error."
The same process takes place within people in the church! For whatever reason, some people who belong to the church and who profess Christ as their Savior also push away the truth and embrace error! The move from truth to error is not made in an instant! No one wakes up one morning and says, "I think I'll throw away my testimony and influence today. I think I'll just get out of the will of God." No! It is far more subtle than that! We fall away when we allow sin to go unchallenged in our lives.
We fall away when we seek to rationalize our sinfulness and backslidden condition. vWe will begin to allow ourselves a loop hole here and there and before you know it, we are totally gone! Backsliding always begins very subtly!
The movement away from God is almost imperceptible, but before long, the backslider is miles away from the One Who redeemed their soul!
This would be a great time for you to look closely at your life. 2 Cor. 13:5 What are you tolerating in your life that needs to go? Where have you slacked up? What have you ceased to do? What small changes have taken place in your life since that time when you were close to the Lord and on fire for Him? They can and will lead to shipwreck if they are not dealt with immediately!
3. THE RESULTS OF SPIRITUAL SHIPWRECKS – Vs. 20
Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. For these two men, they were "delivered to Satan". This was the most extreme punishment available for church people who went away from the Lord. They were delivered to Satan's hand to teach them humility, love for God and obedience to His Word! Every person here needs to understand this: no one sins in a vacuum! Your sins have consequences and you always reap what you sow, Gal. 6:9.
When a believer allows his or her life to become shipwrecked by sin, there are terrible consequences to pay for that. Chastisement is assured - Heb. 12:6-12; death is a possibility - 1 Cor. 5:5; 1 John 5:16; 1 Cor. 11:30; there is the loss of reward that will be suffered - 1 Cor. 3:10-15 This was Paul’s fear in 1 Cor. 9:27, NIV 1 Corinthians 9:27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
4. THE REMEDY FOR SPIRITUAL SHIPWRECKS – Vs. 18-19a
Paul lays out a five step prescription that will help you and me recover from a spiritual shipwreck if we have already suffered one, and will help us avoid one if we haven't.
• Lies In Following
• Lies In Fulfilling
• Lies In Fighting
• Lies In Faith
• Lies In Faithfulness
We are living in the “perilious times” according to the Bible. Many Christians are making “shipwreck” of their faith while the faith of many is waxing cold. Our text speaks of the potential of a "spiritual shipwreck". In fact, it even records the names of two men in the early church that has experienced such a shipwreck: Hymenaeus and Alexander.
There is the tendency that some of us here might suffer or suffering a shipwreck in our spiritual life. In some ways, a spiritual shipwreck is far more devastating than any other shipwreck on the high seas. This morning, I want to warn and challenge you not to make a shipwreck of your faith. You can avoid the danger of shipwreck in your life. Your life does not have to end up badly from a spiritual perspective! You do not have to be shipwrecked in your walk with God.
1. THE REALITY OF SPIRITUAL SHIPWRECKS – Vs. 19b
KJV 1 Timothy 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
NLT 1 Timothy 1:19 Clingto your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.
We do not know much about the two men mentioned in our text, but we do know that they became a problem for Paul and for the early church. This is revealed in 2 Timothy, where it is said that Hymenaeus began to teach false doctrine, 2 Tim. 2:17; and that Alexander caused "much" injury to the Apostle Paul, 2 Tim. 4:14.
No doubt, everyone here this morning could think of a person or persons who once walked with the Lord and have now made shipwreck of their spiritual walk. It happens! Spiritual shipwrecks are to be found all around! They are real!
What we need to remember this morning is this: spiritual shipwrecks don't just happen to the other person; they can happen to you and me! No one here is immune to the possibility that we will fall into sin and make shipwreck of our lives. Please don't scoff at the danger of becoming shipwrecked! It can happen to anyone - 1 Cor. 10:12
NLT 1 Corinthians 10:12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.
KJV Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
2. THE REASONS FOR SPIRITUAL SHIPWRECKS – Vs. 19b
Paul tells us the reason that these two men suffered shipwreck was because they "put away" the faith.
This phrase literally means "to thrust or push away". It refers to "an intentional turning from truth to error."
The same process takes place within people in the church! For whatever reason, some people who belong to the church and who profess Christ as their Savior also push away the truth and embrace error! The move from truth to error is not made in an instant! No one wakes up one morning and says, "I think I'll throw away my testimony and influence today. I think I'll just get out of the will of God." No! It is far more subtle than that! We fall away when we allow sin to go unchallenged in our lives.
We fall away when we seek to rationalize our sinfulness and backslidden condition. vWe will begin to allow ourselves a loop hole here and there and before you know it, we are totally gone! Backsliding always begins very subtly!
The movement away from God is almost imperceptible, but before long, the backslider is miles away from the One Who redeemed their soul!
This would be a great time for you to look closely at your life. 2 Cor. 13:5 What are you tolerating in your life that needs to go? Where have you slacked up? What have you ceased to do? What small changes have taken place in your life since that time when you were close to the Lord and on fire for Him? They can and will lead to shipwreck if they are not dealt with immediately!
3. THE RESULTS OF SPIRITUAL SHIPWRECKS – Vs. 20
Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. For these two men, they were "delivered to Satan". This was the most extreme punishment available for church people who went away from the Lord. They were delivered to Satan's hand to teach them humility, love for God and obedience to His Word! Every person here needs to understand this: no one sins in a vacuum! Your sins have consequences and you always reap what you sow, Gal. 6:9.
When a believer allows his or her life to become shipwrecked by sin, there are terrible consequences to pay for that. Chastisement is assured - Heb. 12:6-12; death is a possibility - 1 Cor. 5:5; 1 John 5:16; 1 Cor. 11:30; there is the loss of reward that will be suffered - 1 Cor. 3:10-15 This was Paul’s fear in 1 Cor. 9:27, NIV 1 Corinthians 9:27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
4. THE REMEDY FOR SPIRITUAL SHIPWRECKS – Vs. 18-19a
Paul lays out a five step prescription that will help you and me recover from a spiritual shipwreck if we have already suffered one, and will help us avoid one if we haven't.
• Lies In Following
• Lies In Fulfilling
• Lies In Fighting
• Lies In Faith
• Lies In Faithfulness