THE VOICE OF EVANGELISM INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES EVANGELIST / PASTOR DAVID W. LANKFORD P.O. Box 502 Casar, NC 28020 Phone #704-538-8060 www.thevoiceofevangelism.com Blog Talk Radio and 9.350 Frequency Live Internet Audio Programming WWCR on Transmitter 2, Saturday Midnight Frequency 4.840

Volume: 18 Issue 07 Alexander, A Confirmed Enemy! July 2018

We want to take our scripture text was nothing new to the early church Ephesians.” The Jews were seeking today from 2nd Timothy 4:14-15, because the apostle Paul declared in to use Alexander to create an uproar “Alexander the coppersmith did me Philippians 3:18-19, “(For many walk, in the midst of these Greeks and cast much evil: the Lord reward him of whom I have told you often, and all the blame upon Paul and the according to his works: Of whom be now tell you even weeping, that they Christians. It’s understandable that thou ware also; for he hath greatly are the enemies of the cross of the un-regenerated sometimes withstood our words.” Wherever the Christ; Whose end is destruction, cannot distinguish between good and gospel enjoys untold success, as a whose God is their belly, and whose evil, however, the Jews also opposed believer you will soon find someone glory is in their shame, who mind the worship of Diana as much as the determined to oppose it. In fact, it earthly things.)” Even though the Christians. The Greeks would not seems the greater the impact that the apostle Paul does not mention permit his speaking so they cried out message of Christ has, the more Alexander’s name in this particular in a continual uproar for two hours. strident and determined will be those passage of scripture to the church at Satan is a master at creating chaos in opposition against the gospel of Philippi, he is addressing those who and confusion to distort the gospel of Christ, This man, known as Alexander are similar in their malice and remain our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This the coppersmith, became a confirmed charlatans, to say the least. They are is why we must be careful and preach enemy of the apostle Paul at the enemies of the cross because they a pure unadulterated word so that church at Ephhesus. Admittedly, men subvert the souls of men who would there will be Holy Ghost conviction to of that nature often have others who follow the Lord Jesus Christ according check the hearts of those who do not run with them in the same circle to the gospel of Christ. When Paul understand and comprehend what seeking to hinder the gospel of Christ used the phrase destruction here in they may be hearing from strangers. and the work of God. Notice the Philippians, he is actually saying to Knowing that Alexander was words of the apostle Paul to his young Timothy that these men are the same associated with Hymenaeus allowed son in the faith Timothy found here in as sons of perdition or as sons of Paul to understand he was dealing 1st Timothy 1:19-20, “Holding faith, destruction. Some even identify with men who Satan was using to and a good conscience; which some Alexander as a Jew who lived in the oppose the gospel of Christ our Lord. having put away concerning faith city during the riots instigated by We understand this to be accurate have made shipwreck: Of whom is Demetrius and the silversmiths who because of what Paul declared in 2nd Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I opposed Paul’s preaching according to Timothy 2:14-18, “Of these things have delivered unto Satan, that they (Acts 19:21-41). The Jews tried to use put them in remembrance, charging may learn not to blaspheme.” In this Alexander to convince the Gentiles at them before the Lord that they passage of scripture, the apostle Paul Ephesus that they should have strive not about words to no profit, is admonishing Timothy to thrust nothing to do with Paul and the but to the subverting of the hearers. these men out because they have not growing Christian movement found Study to show thyself approved unto the true faith of God and in the end here in Acts 19:33-34, “And they God, a workman that needeth not to they will ultimately make shipwreck: drew Alexander out of the multitude, be ashamed, rightly dividing the therefore Paul delivered them into the the Jews putting him forward. And word of truth. But shun profane and hands of Satan so that they may learn Alexander beckoned with the hand, vain babblings: for they will increase not to blaspheme the Word of God and would have made his defense unto more ungodliness. As their and the Holy Ghost! Without a doubt, unto the people. But when they word will eat as doth a canker: of Paul was admonishing Timothy that knew that he was A Jew, all with one whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Alexander was a personal enemy and voice about the space of two hours Who concerning the truth have also an enemy of Christ our Lord. This cried out, Great is Diana of the erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the deliver such a one unto Satan for the were in it; and death and hell faith of some.” Regretfully, like destruction of the flesh, that the spirit delivered of the dead which were in Alexander the coppersmith, there are may be saved in the day of the Lord them: and they were judged every those who are purveyors of words Jesus.” The church was gathered man according to their works. And that do not profit anyone or anything together in the name of Christ, death and hell were cast into the lake but rather subvert those who are therefore Paul sought to deliver the evil of fire. This is the second death. And hearing their mendacious lies. As a person into the hands of Satan for the whosoever was not found written in child of God, we are commanded by purpose of inflicting bodily suffering so the book of life was cast into the lake their flesh might be destroyed so that of fire.” What a horrible scene as we Paul to study the scriptures that we their spirit might be able to return into witness those who are judged might recognize the error when their dead body in the day of the according to their ungodly and evil someone speaks erroneously, the resurrection, along with the other works found in those record books. reason being is because these sainted dead. Paul was working After reviewing the record books, purveyors of lies are like a canker, arduously to keep sin and corruption Jehovah will then look into the book of which the Greek describes as out of the body of Christ so the church life and their names will not be found. gangrene. Paul identified two men, would not become corrupted through They will then be sentenced to eternal Hymenaeus and Philetus, who did not these vile and wicked men who Paul death and separation from God possess the truth but rather lied deemed and judged as blasphemous. Almighty, which is the second death. about the resurrection of the sainted Satan is continually attempting to fill the What that means is they previously dead and declared the resurrection church with sin, error, and false died in their sins and went directly to was already past, which cause many doctrine. Whoever Alexander was, Paul hell after their natural death. They will to lose their faith and make counted him as a confirmed enemy and then be raised accordingly to stand shipwreck. There are a lot of people warned Timothy to watch out for him. before Jehovah at the great White in Christian media who are just as However, rather than attacking him, Throne Judgment. Without a doubt, detrimental as Alexander, Paul left his fate in the Lord’s hands, to they will be found guilty of their sins Hymenaeus, and Philetus when it repay him “according to his works.” and wickedness and they will then be comes to the work of Christ. What is Who are the confirmed enemies of the resentenced to a second death and very disturbing is when Paul uses the cross and of the gospel where you live then cast into the lake of fire. As a phrase “suffered shipwreck” he is and work? Are you on guard against minister of the gospel of Christ, I their attempts to discredit Christ, and humbly plead with you to never indicating these men once possessed the difference of those who labor become an enemy of the cross or the true faith of the living God. faithfully in the vineyard of Christ? become a purveyor of discord and lies. Otherwise, it would be impossible to Every day you and I are making records When Paul said these men made make shipwreck if you were not once and those records are being recorded in shipwreck, it simply means they were in Christ and in fellowship with him. books. Each believer will be judged eternally stranded without God. No Paul apparently used his apostolic from a record book according to their one ever has to be stranded without authority and delivered Alexander works at the bema seat of Christ where God for Jesus Christ came as a life into the hands of Satan. We may not the believer stands in judgment. preserver to save each of us from our possess the same apostolic authority However, there is a very terrible and sins. Though the storm of life may be as the apostle Paul, but we can pray horrible day coming for the sinner tempestuous at times, Jesus remains that the enemies of the cross be wherein the books concerning their lives the anchor of our soul. Thank you for turned over to Satan that their spirit will be opened along with the book of your prayers and support for the may be saved in the day of the Lord. life and they too will be judged ministry here. We keep you covered in We understand this to be doctrinally according to their works, but their works our prayer and we covet your prayers correct according to 1st Corinthians will have been sinful works. We know for our sakes. May the gospel of our 5:3-5, “For I verily, as absent in body, this to be doctrinally correct according Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ continue but present in spirit, have judged to Revelation 20:12-15, “And I saw the to go forth unimpeded in these last already, as though I were present, dead, small and great, stand before days. God; and the books were opened: and concerning him that hath so done Serving With You All, this deed. In the name of our Lord another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged Jesus Christ, when ye gathered out of those things which were written together, and, my spirit, with the in the books, according to their works. Pastor / Evangelist David W. Lankford power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To And the sea gave up the dead which