April 20, 2008
Evening Service

II Tim. 2:14-26

 

Review:

1.       The Apostle Paul used three illustrations this morning to get his point across to Timothy, and us.

• That of a good soldier.  =  Keep your mind fixed on your goals, and don’t let the world distract you.
• That of an athlete.  =  In order to win the prize, you must obey the laws.
• That of a farmer.  =  Work diligently in God’s field, and He will reward you generously.

2.   Then for the believer and unbeliever:  2Ti 2:11-13  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.

 

Let’s finish chapter two:

 

2Ti 2:14-26  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. 

• Strive not about words to no profit;  don’t argue the word of God, or the teachings.  This brings about problems.  Don’t wrestle with the understanding.  God will give it to you in due time.  Keep studying.
• Subverting = Overthrowing; entirely destroying.
• Paul speaking in his first letter to Timothy concerning false teachers.
• 1Ti 1:6  From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
• 1Ti 6:4  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings.  

(15)  Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

• Here is the answer to a lot of problems.
• God will teach us all the same thing.  It’s just that it comes quicker for some than others.
• The important thing is that we have a sincere heart, and want the truth of God, to help others, and that we won’t be led astray with every wind of doctrine.

(16)  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 

• Profane = Polluted; not pure.
• Vain = Empty; worthless; having no substance, value or importance.
• And if we stay with the Word of God, it will not be profane, or vain, but useful to the perverting of the soul, and the end eternal life.

(17)  And their word ( meaning false teachers ) will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;  (18)  Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 

• We understand by this that the teaching of the resurrection already happening is false doctrine, and is yet to take place.
• The only thing we know concerning these men is that they have gained an undesirable immortality, destined to be known to the end of time only as the advocates of error.

 

 

 

(19)  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.  

 

HAVING THIS SEAL:

• Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,
• 2Co 1:22  Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
• And in the Corinthian letter: Eph 4:30  And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
• And Jesus said this as a holy promise concerning His disciples: Joh 10:29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
• LET ME SAY, THAT WE WILL SHOW, AND WE WILL KNOW,  BY OUR LIFESTYLE                                ( SANCTIFICATION ) IF WE HAVE THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON OUR LIVES.   GOD WILL BE FIRST IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.  EVERYTHING.          NOW NOTICE:   

 (20)  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 

• A great house, let’s use the church, as the great house.
• There are those that are pleasing to God, and bring honor to Him, and there are those who are not pleasing, and bring dishonor to Him.
• Jesus gave the parable of the wheat, and tares.  Let them grow together, until harvest, the wheat shall be gathered into the barns, and the tares will be plucked up, and cast into the fire.

(21)  If a man therefore purge himself from these,

• Meaning the false teachers, and the things that make one an unworthy vessel.
• A similar comparison of cleaning up our lives would be where the Apostle told us to      ( put on, and to put off )  in the Colossian letter.  Put on the good things, and put off the bad things in our lives.

he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.  (22)  Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 

• Do you see the manner of life the Apostle is encouraging us to live?
• And the importance of a pure heart. 

(23)  But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do engender strifes. 

• You will know if the person you are dealing with is serious, or just a trouble maker. 

 (24)  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,  (25)  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves;

if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;  (26)  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

• Is this not explanatory?  Look at the attributes;  not strive,  gentle,  able to teach,  patient,  meekness.  
• Able to teach, and instruct those that oppose themselves; 
• The only way we can do this constructively is to speak, “THUS SAITH THE LORD.”  We must know our Bibles.  We must show these type of people that are truly interested in serving the Lord, what God has to say concerning a subject.  Not what we think.
• NOW NOTICE;   if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;  you see, it is God Who gives the increase, Paul planted, I, or another preacher watered, but it is God who gives the increase, or proper understanding.
• And here is a truism, that people that argue, and oppose themselves, are taken captive by Satan at his will.
• But the good news is that if we are sincere, and want to serve God He will deliver you from the hands of Satan.

 

THIS EVENING WE HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED BY THE APOSTLE TO BE A DILIGENT WORKER;  A SANCTIFIED VESSEL;  AND A GENTLE SERVANT. 

 

WE CAN BE ALL THESE AND MORE WITH GOD’S HELP, AND HE WILL HELP US IF WE ONLY ASK HIM.