Shipwrecked Faith
1 Timothy 1:18-20
Intro:
Our text reveals something of the nature of spiritual shipwrecks and how we are to go about avoiding them. I want to help you avoid the danger of shipwreck in you life. With the Lord's help, I want to preach for a while on this thought: "Avoiding Spiritual Shipwreck". 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. The facts reveals in this passage will help us to avoid the shipwrecks of the spiritual life.
I. V. 19b THE REALITY OF SPIRITUAL SHIPWRECKS
A. As I have already mentioned, Paul calls out two men who have shipwrecked. We do not know much about these men, 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.
B. What we need to remember this morning is this: spiritual shipwrecks don't just happen to the other guy, they can happen to you and me! It can happen to anyone - 1 Cor. 10:12; Pro. 16:18.
II. V. 19b THE REASONS FOR SPIRITUAL SHIPWRECKS
A. 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."
In the case of Hymenaeus it would appear that he rejected the true teaching of the faith and embraced false doctrine. For Alexander, it seems that he developed a mean spirit and began to work against the things of the Lord. Both wound up where they were because they pushed away truth and turned to error.
B. The same process takes place within people in the church!
C. Sometimes tragedy comes to the great ships when they are allowed to drift.
III. V. 20 THE RESULTS OF SPIRITUAL SHIPWRECKS
A. For these two men, they were "delivered to Satan". (Note: This is what Paul commanded the Corinthian church to do with a guilty member in their congregation - 1 Cor. 5:5.)
B. No one sins in a vacuum! Your sins have consequences and you always reap what you sow, Gal. 6:9. Heb. 12:6-12, death is a possibility - 1 Cor. 5:5; 1 John 5:16; 1 Cor. 11:30.
C. Is your present condition really worth all that it is costing you?
IV V. 18-19a THE REMEDY FOR SPIRITUAL SHIPWRECKS
A. V. 18 Lies In Following
B. Lies In Fulfilling
C. Lies In Fighting
D. Lies In Faith
E. Lies In Faithfulness
Conc:
What will be said about your life? Will men be able to quote the words of Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" and apply them to you? Or will your life stand as a memorial to those who veer off course, only to be wrecked upon the jagged reefs and rocks of sin?
From http://www.sermonnotebook.org/new%20testament/1%20Tim%201_18-20.htm