If there is going to be a great falling away, and I have no question, then lets assure our standing; amen?  If there is going to be an apostasy, a departure from this sound doctrine that we’re talking about here, then let’s make sure that sound doctrine is alive in our hearts.  That sound doctrine that is spoken of in Titus and the character traits of a mature believer, a mature man, a mature woman in the Lord and what our roles are, and how we can work better to bring unification, strength to our children.  So, Paul says in that verse, “And they shall turn away their ears to false doctrines and fables.”  “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions…”  Be ready, afflictions are coming.  Probably in this hour that we’re coming into more than ever in history, iniquity will abound.  “The love of many shall wax cold.”  “And all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,” because of that.

It’s coming from the professed church.  It’s coming from people who are sitting in church today and hearing Bible studies.  It’s very simple, God knows who are His; amen?  His sheep will not hear another voice, but only the voice of the Shepherd; amen?  What is it that is seducing professed believers away from the lordship of Jesus Christ?  The love of self.  The deifying of self.  The confidence in our own natural wisdom and strength.  The doctrine of “I will ascend and be like…”  To sit under the Word of God and respond, “I know that.”  By your fruit you will be known and that will declare what you know; amen?

This admonition to prepare ourselves and Paul is saying, “Watch, watch, endure, do the work of an evangelist.”  One of the great admonitions of the apostle here is, as we’re getting older, we ought to have more of a love for souls.  I mean, we’re reaching the end of this.  We’re going to be facing those piercing eyes of righteousness, holiness, and justice.  Many of us will be able to stand at that moment and say, “Lord, Lord.   Didn’t I?…”  We need to be approved; amen?  He said, “I never approved you.  You were doing your thing.  You did what you wanted.  Here was my admonition.  This was My call.  This was My heart’s desire, but you had a better way.”  Especially for us preachers in this last day, “You did all these things in My name, but you attached your name to it.”  As Paul is writing to this young preacher, that’s what he is speaking.

As we walk in faith and in trust in the great promises of God, and we look at this task ahead of us in this crooked and perverse generation, we stand as lights, the Scripture says.  “Who will go for Me in this hour?”  As we stand and look at ourselves, there is nothing wrong in making that statement, “Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief.”  It’s when we’re weak, His strength is perfected in us; amen?  There is nothing wrong in saying, “Without Him I can’t do this.  I see no way, but ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.’”  Hallelujah!  “When I come will I find faith on the earth?”  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  We’re not huddled in fear of what this spirit of antichrist is doing.  We know that we’ve been given all power and all authority over all the power of the enemy and nothing by any means shall harm us.

In this last hour, we need to be casting out devils.  In this last hour we need to be laying hands on the sick and seeing them recover.  “I will go with you confirming My Word with signs following.”  Hallelujah!  That’s what prepares us for this last day.  If you want to assure your standing, be more offensive.  You cannot be on the offence and faint in this last hour.  Our task at the time of redemption, our task, what you’ve heard in secret, shout it from the housetops.  Go into all this world and preach the gospel.