Itching ears (2 Tim. 4:3-4)

1. It has been said that there are basically “three kinds of itches.”

2. There is the “common itch” (scratch this type of itch and it goes away).

3. There is the “sneaky itch” (scratch it and it seems to move somewhere else).

4. Then there is the “under the skin itch” that just won’t quit.”

5. God said something about a spiritual kind of itch in 2 Tim. 4:3-4.

WHAT IS THE KIND OF “ITCH” THAT PAUL HAD IN MIND WHEN HE PENNED THESE WORDS?

a) An itch is something that makes us uncomfortable.

b) An itch is something that irritates and bothers us.

c) Paul said people would have “itching ears.”

d) This statement is either literal or figurative; the context tells us it is not literal.

e) Paul did not have in mind any type of physical problem.

f) “Itching ears” is spiritual problem.

g) When people have “itching ears,” they want a “different message.”

2) The Bible tells us why people might want to hear something else.

3) Listen to Heb. 4:12 – READ.

a) A sword is not a toy, at least such was not the case in the ancient world.

b) The Hebrew writer compared God’s word to a sword.

c) As a sword, the Scriptures can and will pierce the hearts of people.

d) In places like Acts 7, the sword of God was so effective it turned people into a mob.

e) Truth—and especially truth from God—can and will anger people.

f) Because truth is offensive, people will sometimes want something else.

g) In the Bible we find that preaching Christ can be offensive (Rom. 9:33; 1 Pet. 2:8).

h) Both these passages tell us the Word of God is a “stumbling block.”

i) Even in the Corinthian letter the message of the cross is offensive (1 Cor. 1:23).

j) In 2 Tim. 4:2 Paul spoke of preaching “in and out of season.”

k) With some, God’s word is “out of season.”

l) Just like an animal might like to be scratched so its feels better, people like ear tickling.

4) Not only do some people like it, some preachers like it.

5) There are in the world ear tickling preachers, and these fellows have some ancestors.

6) In 2 Cor. 2:17a, Paul spoke of those who “corrupted the Word of God.”

7) There were people who preached a message that God didn’t authorize.

8) Why would a man do that? One common reason is that this is what people want.

9) We have a lot of information being given out which is exactly like Paul described.

a) Instead of talking about sin, there are preachers who focus on successful living.

b) Instead of repentance, all some hear is “right relationships in the world.”

c) Lightweight, shallow, and conviction less preaching are common.

d) This past week I became aware of a nationally known preacher who was talking about shakes.

e) He offered a program on how to burn fat and stay in good health with high energy milk shakes.

f) Can anyone imagine Jesus pulling the disciples aside and say, “Let me show you something.”

g) “Let’s fix up a high protein shake to get our day off to a good start.”

h) When preachers start talking about health and weight loss, people tune in.

i) God has never said “tell people what they want to hear.”

j) Rather, preachers from ancient times said “Thus saith Jehovah.”

10) There are consequences when people begin to tickle the ears of people.

11) First, there are the issues involving authority and obedience.

a) If we preach an ear tickling message, we have involved ourselves in “another gospel.”

b) Paul said in Gal. 1:6-9 that making this choice brings us under divine condemnation.

c) Hell, fire and damnation is not the theme of every page in the Bible, but neither is spineless teaching.

d) The Bible says the “church is subject to Christ” (Eph. 1:22-23).

e) Christ is the “head of the church” (same verses).

f) The head has said through an apostle (Paul, 2 Tim. 4) that ear tickling preaching is wrong.

g) We either believe that and avoid this type of teaching or we disobey the Lord.

h) If we are not willing to obey the Lord, there is no sense in coming to worship.

12) Making people feel good gives pleasure, but it has no eternal value.

13) Suppose a religious teacher can help us accomplish some key points in life.

14) Through his instruction we can right all our earthly relationships.

15) We basically solve any issue related to family and friends.

16) Through this same teaching program we become financially secure.

17) We feel good, we have all kinds of friends, and we have financial security.

18) None of these items are wrong in and of themselves; I have preached sermons on all these areas.

19) There are those who deal with these areas and hardly move beyond them.

20)Lots of preaching is directed to becoming debt free, drug free, dirt-free, doubt free, depression free, and defeat free.

21) If this is all people receive, what do they have?

22) Jesus answered this question in Mt. 16:26.

23) He asked what a man is profited if he “gains the whole world but loses his own soul.”

24) Ear tickling preaching is all about there here and now; it does little to help in the after-life.

25) Shallow preaching creates another difficulty—it discourages Bible study.

a) When Christianity is reduced to just learning how to feel good, we don’t much studying.

b) In fact, most people don’t feel too good when they really have to “hit the books.”

c) Several years ago there was a little book produced entitled, “I’m okay, you’re okay.”

d) God says we are not okay. We need to study about our problem and learn.

e) In a lot of places, doctrinal preaching is simply out of style.

f) Those who come to a service don’t want to hear information on worship.

g) People are not open to being instructed in how to be saved or even Christian living.

h) Attendees certainly don’t want to ever hear the word Hell mentioned.

i) The attitude is “make us feel good and we will like you.”

26) There are preaches who tickle the ears so they can be popular.

27) Preaching has never been designed to be a popularity contest.

28) Preachers are to take the truth and speak it. They are to speak it kindly but mince no words.

29) God didn’t create a role called preaching so men could be comedians.

30) Preachers are not psychologists or people who offer a bunch of anecdotes.

31) They do not give motivational lectures, positive thinking seminars, or ego massages.

32) Those who are truly teaching the Word of God avoid ear tickling.

a) If we are preaching the word, people will sometimes feel stung.

b) There will be times when toes get stepped on; the ears get boxed; God’s word burns.

c) In the 6^th chapter of John Jesus did some teaching. Do we remember what followed?

d) People left – Jesus didn’t tickle the ears.

e) He wasn’t mean, but He said what needed to be said.

f) In thinking about this subject I am reminded of some men who were on a whaling ship.

g) One day they put into a harbor and attended a religious service.

h) On the way out they made this observation amongst themselves:

i) “We heard a nice sermon but the skipper had no harpoons.”

33) Today a lot of religious teaching is really a false gospel; let’s take another example.

34) Robert Schuller wrote a book on Self Esteem: the new revolution.

35) In this book he refers to the “new birth” (p. 68).

36) We have received instruction on what Jesus meant by that.

37) Here is Mr. Schuller’s definition for being “born again”:

38) We must be changed from a negative to a positive self-image -- from inferiority to self-esteem, from fear to love, from doubt to trust

39) Is this what the Lord had in mind? A “positive self image?”

40) No; Jesus said baptism is necessary to salvation, just as He did in Mk. 16:16.

41) We hope people have a good self image, but self image has no relationship to salvation.

42) I like what someone once said about “ear tickling preachers.”

43) One man called them “ear wallet ticklers.”

44) Men preach a certain way because they are paid and paid well to do it.

45) Even though many think of America as a “Christian nation,” we are not.

46) We have scores of people who say, “let me have a feel good religion.”

47) Thousands of people call themselves Christians but their faith is built on ear tickling.

a) If and when these people are exposed to the gospel, they are in a state of shock.

b) I have had people tell me they couldn’t believe that certain things are in the Bible.

c) There are things in the book that they had never read or heard.

48) Telling the truth surprises people.

49) What if an ear tickling preacher said to those listening to him, “some big givers will be lost.”

50) What if a man said, “Financial contributions will not get you into the kingdom.”?

51) That kind of preaching isn’t done.

52) Jesus preached in this manner.

53) What did the Lord say about rich men and camels in Mk. 10:25?

54) Did He not say it was easier for a rich man to go through a needle’s eye than get into heaven?

55) Ear tickling preachers say we can get to heaven on a lot of different roads.

56) Jesus said there is only one-way; Jn. 14:6 (“the way” and “the truth”).

57) Human religious traditions are deemed acceptable by ear scratching preachers.

58) Jesus saw these and issued a scathing rebuke – Mk. 7

59) Itching ears don’t want to hear a rebuke.

60) Preachers are asked not to discuss divorce, gambling, homosexuality, and other matters.

61) Leave those items to talk show hosts like Jerry Springer and preach “smooth things.”

62) A growing number don’t want to hear about the roles God has for men and women.

63) Instead of namby pamby preaching, God says declare His “whole counsel” (Acts 20:27).

64) Ear tickling preaching does not cause people to really sit up and think about Christian living.

65) Bible preaching sure does.

66) Acts 24:25 says Paul “reasoned of righteousness, self control and the judgment to come.”

67) That doesn’t sound like a lot of ear tickling.

68) If we have any interest at all in religion, it must be the faith God has given.

69) Whether that is what we want to hear or not, this is the system we accept and abide by.

a) Is this the choice we have made?

b) Have we said, “Lord, I will look at thy word and do whatever it says?”

c) Have we committed to that 100% because this is what it takes.