1 Timothy 4:1-5

God’s Truth vs. Demonic Counterfeit

May 24, 2009

Simon Goncharenko

21 FELLOWSHIP

A Southern Baptist Church

The Big Idea: God’s word and prayer provide the kind of grounding that enables believers to recognize and reject demonic counterfeits around them.

I.        Watch out for false teachers! – vv. 1-3

a.       They are energized by Satan – 1a

b.      They lead people astray – 1b

c.       They are hypocrites – 2

d.      They deny God’s word - 3.

                                                              i.      Forced celibacy – prohibition of marriage – 3a

                                                            ii.      Selective diet – forbidden food – 3b

II.    Get grounded in the truth – 4-5

a.       Everything created by God is good – 4a.

b.      Offering thanksgiving before food is important - nothing should be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving – 4b.

c.       The word of God and prayer make ordinary things holy – 5.

·         It is interesting that once again Paul reminds Timothy of the two essential emphases in life of every believer – The Word of God and Prayer.

·         Our ability to recognize demonic counterfeit in life is only as good as our knowledge of the truth expressed in God’s word and powered by prayer.