Avoiding Spiritual Shipwreck

1 Timothy 1:18-20

1. Intro – about Titanic

2. April 10, 1912 – 882 foot long luxury liner

3. 2228 passengers, April 14 – hit iceberg, 1523 died, 705 survived

4. Today – we look at spiritual shipwrecks

THE REALITY OF SPIRITUAL SHIPWRECKS

1. Names 2 men

2. Hymenaeus – taught false doctrine 2 Timothy 2:17

3. Alexander – caused much injury to Paul 2 Timothy 2:14

4. You can name some who caused you harm in your life.

5. You can name false teachers who caused harm to the church

6. Becoming shipwrecked can happen to anybody

THE REASONS FOR SPIRITUAL SHIPWRECKS

1. They put away their faithfully

2. Phrase means – to thrust or push away

3. This is an intentional turning away from truth to error

4. Hymenaeus rejected the faith and embraced false teaching

5. Alexander developed a mean spirit and began to work against the Lord

6. Do you know of some who have left the faith?

   1. By holding false doctrine?

   2. By doing harmful things to Christians?

7. Move from truth to error is not done in an instant

   1. Wake up – Throw away God, Christ, the church

   2. Much more subtle than that

8. Backsliding is – drifting away, slowly moving positions

9. Tradgedy can come to great ships if the drift without power

THE RESULTS OF SPIRITUAL SHIPWRECKS

1. These 2 were delivered to Satan

2. See 1 Corinthians 5:5

3. No one sins in a vacuum – Sins have consequences

4. Injury to self, to others, to church, to family, to health

5. Can result in death, spiritual death

6. Also results in loss of influence and usefulness

THE REMEDY FOR SPIRITUAL SHIPWRECKS

5 step prescription to recover

1. v. 18 – Lies in following – Paul gave Timothy a “charge”

2. Lies in fulfilling - “prophecies”

3. Lies in fighting – Lord's army, fight good fight,

   1. Ephesians 6:12

   2. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

   3. Ephesians 6:10-18 – Are you dressed for battle?

4. Lies in faith - “hold the faith”

   1. Means to lay hold on, own, possess for yourself

   2. Don't leave faith for “feel good” religion

5. Lies in faithfulness - “good conscience”

   1. Don't go against your conscience

   2. Will lead to doubt, confusion, insecurity

Conclusion

Even the unsinkable – sank

Luxury – new – elite on board – does not matter

What will be said about your life? Shipwreck?

2 Timothy 4:7

There is an iceberg out there with your name on it.

Are you prepared?

Main points borrowed from: http://www.sermonnotebook.org/