Has there ever been somebody in your life, like a coworker, whose presence affected your sleep? Maybe you left work at 5:00 PM, and even by 11:30 PM, you were wide awake because of the thought of them—what they were doing, what they had done, and knowing that you’re going to see them tomorrow.
Troublemakers. The Bible speaks of a category of people called troublemakers.
God gives you peace. Satan attempts to steal what God gives. Not just money, not just health, but also peace. Christians think it’s wrong to take a stand against somebody. However, it’s wrong to not take a stand against troublemakers; Jesus never tried to convert the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done. Be careful of him, for he fought against everything we said.2 TIMOTHY 4:14
Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles. Cling to 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. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme God.1 TIMOTHY 1:18-20
One of them, according to Dake, was a man who thrust away and made a shipwreck of his faith, becoming a blasphemer. The other was a false teacher who overthrew the faith of others.
Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus. They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith.2 TIMOTHY 2:16-18
Paul said there are people who overthrew other people’s faith by what they did. What was Paul’s response to these people? Did Paul say, “Let’s pray for them?” No. Paul said, “I’ve turned them over to Satan that they might learn not to blaspheme God.” Is that in the Old Testament or New Testament? New Testament.
Some might respond to that and say, “Well, I thought you’re supposed to be a Christian,” and they would be confused on what it means to be a Christian. Not only was Paul a Christian, he was like Captain Christian, and he said he turned those who wrecked the faith of others over to Satan.
But Elymas, the sorcerer (as his name means in Greek), interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Barnabas and Saul said. He was trying to keep the governor from believing.Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord? Watch now, for the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be struck blind. You will not see the sunlight for some time.” Instantly mist and darkness came over the man’s eyes, and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him.When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.ACTS 13:8-12
Back when pastors started closing their churches, around March 12th 2020, one pastor wrote that he was closing his church because he wanted his church-goers to be good citizens and all that. I retweeted his church closure announcement and added the rolling-eye emoji above it.
On March 12th he tweets, “Here’s an idea, partner with your city rather than act like the government is trying to destroy the church. Relax. Sometimes, the best evangelism is cooperation.”
Fast forward to May 16th, he tweets, “I’ve got to admit, the way our mayor said we will never return to normal until we find a vaccine made me think of going to a different city to start another church.”
Then his next tweet, “If le...