Facing The Perilous Times

The early church faced persecution, imprisonment, and martyrdom—yet they turned the world upside down because they were filled with the Spirit. What is lacking today? The presence of God! Knowledge and human wisdom will not take the Church to the old path. We need the Holy Spirit on our side.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

1. THE PICTURE OF THE PERILOUS TIMES

The Apostle Paul warned Timothy that the last days would be dangerous, violent, stressful, and spiritually dark. The word perilous means harsh, fierce, difficult to endure.

Let’s look around us to see the world today:

a) Moral Confusion

The moral standard of the society declined. What was considered horrific a few years ago has become normal today. People trying to be good and compassionate by compromising the truth and the moral principles.

Moral principles were protecting the community, families and persons to some extent and children were taught morals from a very young age- violation of them was considered serious in homes, schools, work place and in every walk of our life.

Today- they are disappearing! Moral values compromised! No respect for the old or for those in the authorities. What the majority speak and believe is considered the norm to follow. People become self-centred.

b) Violence and corruption

Violence and corruption today are major global concerns affecting politics, economies, and everyday life in many societies. Although their forms vary from country to country, both problems often reinforce each other. Many cities struggle with armed gangs, drug trafficking, and organized crime.

Weak law enforcement or poverty can make these problems worse. Some violence is linked to political instability, protests, or power struggles. There are conflicts and terrorism in different regions. Large-scale violence still occurs through wars. Violence also happens at the community and family level, including domestic abuse and fights between family members.

Corruption is the abuse of power for personal gain. It appears in many forms:

Bribery – paying money to influence decisions

Embezzlement – stealing public funds

Nepotism – giving jobs or benefits to relatives or friends

Fraud – deception for financial or political gain

c) False doctrine spreading rapidly in Christendom

The prosperity gospel teaches that faith, donations, or positive confession will bring wealth, health, and success.

Hyper-Grace Teaching. Some churches teach that because of grace, repentance or moral accountability is no longer necessary.

Replacing Scripture with personal revelation. Some leaders claim new revelations that override the Bible, the infallible Word of God.

Some churches adapt teachings to modern culture to the point that clear biblical moral teachings do not attract more people into the Church. They want to keep the audience happy and entertained. There is no divider between the Church and the world. All religions are welcome, saying God loves all.

False doctrine can also appear when leaders claim special authority or unquestionable spiritual power, discouraging members from questioning them. They become the point of attraction and expect people to follow them, not leading the people to become the followers of Christ.

d) Coldness toward God

Spiritual coldness happens when a believer’s love, passion, and devotion toward God begin to fade. Prayer becomes rare or mechanical. Meditating on scriptures becomes unimportant or neglected. Worship loses meaning. Sin becomes easier to tolerate. God becomes secondary to other priorities.

Jesus rebuked the church of Laodicea for being spiritually lukewarm.

Revelation 3:16 “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth”

You can be religious and still be spiritually cold.

Another warning appears in Matthew 24:12.

“Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”

In Revelation 2:4 the Lord said to the Church in Ephesus, “you have left your first love”

Coldness toward God is not sudden — it is gradual.

Jesus also warned us in Gospel of Matthew 24 that deception, lawlessness, and tribulation would increase.

But remember, none of this has caught God by surprise!

God declared the end from the beginning. We are not victims of the times—we are called for these times.

We are not living in ordinary days.

We are living in prophetic days.

Paul told Timothy this would happen. He didn’t say maybe.

He said perilous times shall come.

Though times are perilous, God is still sovereign.

Darkness does not overpower light.

We see in the scriptures, and throughout history, God protected His people and guided those who trusted in Him, through miserable times. He protected them and provided for them.

God preserved Noah in a corrupt world.

God protected Israel in Egypt and later in Babylon.

God sustained the early church under persecution.

Perilous times are not a sign God has lost control. They are a sign prophecy is being fulfilled.

And when darkness increases — light shines brighter.

WHAT DO WE SEE IN CHURCHES TODAY?

Look around to see what’s happening in the so-called churches today. The majority of people are not truly born again. They have no experience of regeneration. They have an external form of holiness (religiosity). But inwardly they are of the world.

Paul lists the symptoms: (2 Timothy 3:2-5)

-Lovers of their own selves

-Lovers of money

-Proud

-Disobedient

-Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God

People love platforms more than prayer.

They love positions more than integrity.

They love acceptance more than truth.

They have a form of godliness, but deny the power! (2 Timothy 3:5)

Church without power.

Praise without presence.

Religion without repentance.

What is lacking? The presence of God! Knowledge and human wisdom will not take the church to the old path. We need the Holy Spirit on our side. Only He can glorify Christ in this world. We are only servants- Master must be given the pre-eminence!

THE OUTCOME OF STRUGGLES

Fire does not destroy gold — it reveals the true gold!

When pressure increases:

a) Weak faith collapses

The superficial believers may fall wayside. They won't be able to stand by the opposition. They are lovers of themselves. They do not love God as much as they say. They don’t have a relationship with the Lord. God allows perilous times to prove that who are whole hearted and who are superficial. All through the history of the Church we see, a few stand for God in the midst of trials and a majority leave the faith.

b) Real faith stands

If our life is rooted in the love for God, we will live for God. No persecutions or trials will separate us from our love for God.

The Apostle Paul says in Romans 8:35-39

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

The early church faced persecution — and revival broke out!

When darkness rises, glory increases.

The devil may be roaring, but heaven is still reigning.

HOW TO OVERCOME PERILOUS TIMES

a) Be filled by the Holy Spirit

Luke 24:49

“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Just before the ascension of our Lord to heaven, He said His disciples to wait for the power from the above. He knew their inabilities, shortcomings, weakness, and how they are afraid of the future- He asked them to receive the power of God to be empowered to witness Him.

Acts 1:8

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

We know how, after the day of Pentecost, the weak apostles had become bold and strong enough to witness the Lord and preach the gospel around the world. Nothing ever could stop them from being the disciples of Christ.

b) Continue in the Word

John 8:31-32 “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”…

c) Preach the Word

Paul told Timothy:-

2 Timothy 4:2-5

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 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; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

d) Endure hardness

2 Timothy 2:3-5

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.”

We cannot do that in the flesh.

We need the power of the Holy Spirit

Not charisma — but power of God

Not talent — but power of God

Not personality — but power of God

The enemy thought pressure would crush you —

But it’s become a cause about to anoint you.

He thought the shaking would break the church —

But God is separating the real from the fake.