April 20, 2008
Morning Service

II Tim. 2:1-14

 

Review:

1.       Paul told Timothy to stir up the gift God which was in him.

2.       Reminded him of his upbringing, how his Grandmother, and Mother were good Christian women.

3.       Reminded him of the Spirit that he had received, not one of fear, but of power, love, and of a sound mind.

4.       Paul encouraged Timothy to not be ashamed of himself, but to share in the sufferings of the gospel according to the power of God.

5.       Paul tells of our calling to be Christians.  Not according to our works, but according to His own purpose, and grace.  Even in Christ before time began.

6.       Paul then tells Timothy how this knowledge has been revealed to us.  By the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

7.       Paul again builds our faith of his relationship, and authority with God.  An Apostle, and teacher of the gentiles.

8.       Tells Timothy to hold fast the pattern of sound words, which is the gospel, that you have heard from me, in faith, and love.

9.       Paul closes chapter one by telling of Phygellus and Hermogenes, who had betrayed him, and one Onesiphorus who had been very kind to him.

 

Let’s begin now with chapter two.

 

2Ti 2:1-26 KJVR  Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  (2)  And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 

·        God has seen fit to preserve for us our Bible.  In this Bible he tells us not to add nor take away from It’s words.  Deut. 4:2, for the O.T. teachings for the children of Israel, and Rev.22:18-19, for all people in the church age.

·        We have been given the greatest text book there ever was.  It reveals to us the will of Almighty God.

·        How that He sent His only begotten Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him, might be saved.  He sets us, who were all our lifetime subject to fear because of death, free.  He has abolished death, and brought life, and immortality to light through the gospel message.

·        Give this message to faithful men, who will share it with others.

(3)  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  (4)  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 

·        Is this not something we should expect, or ask of disciples today?    

·        Are we so earthly minded, that we are no heavenly good?  The saying use to be the opposite, but not anymore.

·        When I think of a soldier, I think of Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba, who was a soldier in David’s army.  Tell story.

·        It wasn’t Uriah who got entangled with the affairs of this life, but David.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE:

(5)  And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. 

·        We find that there are laws for everything we go to do.  Serving God is no different.  He has certain expectations for us, and His laws are not grievous, but what we need to bring happiness into our lives.

(6)  The husbandman that laboreth must be first partaker of the fruits.  (7)  Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. 

·        We look for our reward, and we will be partakers if we are willing to work for them.  It is not God’s way to reward the slothful, but the hard worker.  Work in God’s field, and He will reward you.

(8)  Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:  (9)  Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.  (10)  Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 

·        This new religion, Christianity, is causing a lot of anger, and turmoil in people. 

·        As I said last week, Nero, the leader of Rome, sets fire to his city, blames it on the Christians, and this is why Paul is in bonds.

·        BUT WHY?  Christianity, taught, and lived according to our Lord, is a passive walk with God, not one of turmoil, rebellion, and anger, but of love, and keeping the laws of the land where we live.

·        It is because Christians are to be like sheep, gentle, kind, not aggressive.  

THIS IS FOR THE NONBELIEVER:

(11)  It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:  (12)  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:  (13)  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 

·        You see a person can deny God all they want, but it still remains true that He is the Great I Am.

·        When Moses ask God who He was at the burning bush, God told Him, “I AM THAT I AM.  TELL THEM THAT I AM SENT YOU.”

·        God has always been, and will always be, whether we acknowledge Him or not, He still is.

·        His marvelous works are all around us. 

·        Creation screams for a Devine Creator. 

·        Changed lives cry out the joys of praise to One who can bring deliverance, and change to their lives.

·        The divine Word cries out; “Mal 3:6  For I am the LORD, I change not;”  Rev 22:13 “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”

AND PAUL’S ADMONITION TO TIMOTHY?

(14)  Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

·        JESUS SAID, “It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.”

·        Rev 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

 

ARE YOU THIRSTY FOR A CHANGED LIFE?  

 

ARE YOU READY TO BE A GOOD SOLDIER FOR JESUS CHRIST?

  

PAUL SAID IN ROMANS, “Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  AND IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE, OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY, AND BEHOLD ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW.”

 

DO YOU WANT A BRAND NEW LIFE THIS MORNING, IF SO, COME TO JESUS, AND HE WILL GIVE IT TO YOU.  IT’S YOURS FOR THE RECEIVING.

 

HE WILL  MAKE YOU A NEW CREATION, AND HE WILL LET YOU DRINK FROM THE WATERS OF THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE, IN WHICH YOU WILL NEVER THIRST AGAIN.