Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0124A recorded on December 30, 1979 teaching from 2 Timothy 4:10-11 – Demas.
Pastor Cyril A. Stevens explores the spiritual defection of Demas, a former companion of the Apostle Paul who ultimately abandoned the ministry. Stevens structures his character study by contrasting Demas’s early faithful service with his eventual love for the present world, framing this decline as a cautionary “syndrome” that threatens all believers. He emphasizes that this departure was not a sudden accident but an intellectual decision to prioritize earthly comfort, wealth, and security over the self-sacrifice required by the Gospel. By highlighting the human loneliness of an imprisoned Paul, Pastor Stevens urges his audience to examine our own hearts for signs of spiritual stagnation or worldly distraction. Ultimately, Stevens presents an earnest appeal for Christians to maintain their first love for Christ and resist the subtle, suffocating influence of secular desires.