Multiply Your Life

INTRO:

Don’t you want to make an impact on this world that lasts longer than you do? The other day I was watching a lawyer show and one of the lawyers who basically lived for himself his whole live passed away suddenly. Only a few people attended his graveside service even though he wasn’t super old. Then one of the younger lawyers quipped a few days later, “it’s like he never even existed. Here today. Gone tomorrow. And nobody seems to even notice. Everything just goes back to normal.” That’s a sad commentary. None of us want that to be true of us. We want to continue having an impact after we’re gone. I do.

LEAVING A ONGOING IMPACT:

For the past few weeks we’ve been looking at a letter in the NT that explains how to do just that. The title of the series is “Entrusted” because the letter shows Paul, having already Entrusted a “good deposit” to Timothy, explain to him how he is to Entrust it to the next generation. I felt the need to study this book because our church has a unique opportunity on her hands. We’ve got a good demographic of both Paul’s and Timothy’s in this church. Therefore, there’s a word from the Lord to both groups in this book.

READ THE TEXT: 2 TIMOTHY 2:1-2

Today’s text really gets to the heart of the book. It also gets to the heart of the first part of our 20/20 Vision which is to create a disciple-making culture of multiplication. I’ve entitled the message “Multiply Your Life.” As you’ll see, any of us CAN do it. And all of us SHOULD do it. Our text helps us with HOW. “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, [2] and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

BE STRONG IN THE GRACE:

The first exhortation is to be “strengthened by grace…” NIV says “Be strong in the grace…” You’ve probably heard a lot of sermons on grace. The most common definition of grace is “God’s unmerited favor.” For some reason, everybody wants to focus on the ‘unmerited’ part. I get that. Had the protestant reformation to reclaim that! I’m all for that part of the definition. But what about the second part of that definition? Favor! God’s disposition is the help you, aid you, demonstrate favor toward you! Isn’t that encouraging? That’s why Paul is saying “be strong in the grace!”

HOW MANY TIMES DO WE START THE DAY WITHOUT THE GRACE:

How many of us start our day without being strong in the grace? We start our day with coffee, and a shower, brushing our teeth, things that we wouldn’t start our day without. But the one thing, without which we CANNOT live the Christian life, the grace of God, so many of us neglect at the start of our day. We don’t start our day strong in the grace. We don’t start our day strengthened by the truth that God’s favor is ON us. That he loves us. Wants to help us. Wants to give us joy and meaning and purpose.

MEANS OF GRACE:

The verb “be strengthened” is a passive verb. It means it’s not something you can actively do to yourself. It has to be done to you by an outside force. That force is the Lord. But that doesn’t mean we play NO role. There are means of grace that God uses to refresh us and strengthen us. It starts with humility (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). Things like bible reading & prayer. Confession of sin. Generosity. Sitting under the preaching of the Word. (“grace to you…letters) Small groups. Meditating on or memorizing Scripture. Music/Podcasts. All of these things are means of grace. (shower illustration)

GRACE IS IN CHRIST JESUS:

Notice the sphere in which grace resides. “In Christ Jesus.” The foundation of our faith is the death and resurrection of Jesus. Grace is “in Christ Jesus” because it is through Christ alone that we can experience the favor of God. It was Christ alone who took our punishment for us on the cross & gave us his perfect life. Grace! You say, “that’s sounds exclusive!” And, it is. But it was Jesus himself who said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me.” (Jn 14:6) Grace is exclusive in it’s source but it’s inclusive in it’s invitation. All are welcome to come & find grace here.

THE GOSPEL IS THE MEANS OF GRACE:

One of the greatest sources of grace is meditating on that truth right there. “In Christ Jesus.” Paul is saying, “Abide in it…day by day live in the enabling grace that flows from our unionwith Jesus.” I was a sinner, running from God, insulting him and his love with my sinful choices. But while I was at my worst, in my lowest point, he found me. He rescued me & saved me. The Gospel of Grace. For Paul, it was his power in weakness (2 Cor 12:9 “grace sufficient for…”) power for holy living (1 Cor 15:10 “am what I am…”) and his personal source of strength. (Eph 3:16; Rom 16:25 “according to my gospel.”)

TRANSITION AND LISTEN TO SHARE:

Be strong in the grace. Are you feeling strong in the grace this morning? Or do you find yourself tired and weary? Do you feel like quitting? Perhaps this morning what’s needed is a renewed commitment to experience the grace of God a consistent way through the Word, confession and prayer. That’s just some of the ways. Paul continues this section and gives even more. Reasons why we might have a leak in our grace bucket. And things that must be done if we’re going to “multiply our life.”

PASS ALONG THE GOSPEL:

In 1:14 Paul tells Timothy “By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” The word translated “guard” doesn’t mean “keep it private so nobody else can touch it.” It means “keep it pure so nobody else defiles it.” In other words, “you’ve been entrusted with the gift of knowing the Gospel. Protect it. Keep it pure. But don’t keep it to yourself.” That’s why says this in 2:2 “…and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

THE DEDICATION OF A TEACHER:

If you want to be strong in the grace God gives & multiply your life, the way you do that is by transferring to others what you’ve been given. Pass along what you’ve learned. To put it negatively, “God only pours so much grace into the lives of people who say what I’ve been given/learned begins and ends with me.” That’s a grace stopper. One of the reasons some of us aren’t strong in the grace is because we’re spiritually like the dead sea. Everything goes in but nothing goes out. That will kill your faith! You’ve got to pass along what you’ve learned. It’s part of being a disciple. Entrust to others…Multiply!

THE VISION OF THIS CHURCH:

Part of our 20/20 Vision seeing God create a disciple-making culture of multiplication. If enough of us take hold of this principle of passing on what’s been entrusted to us then that culture will begin to manifest itself. It doesn’t always have to look “official.” It doesn’t have to be a six week “one on one” discipleship course with a predetermined curriculum. It can be as easy as a conversation over the dinner table about today’s sermon. Just share the good deposit that’s been entrusted to you. With your kids, your friends, your spouse. Listen to Gospel truth with an aim to share what you learn!

FOUR GENERATIONS:

This verse right here forms the church planting model that I saw when I was in East Asia. Not just planting churches but creating Gospel movements. They call it discipleship to the 3rd & 4th generation. Find a person of peace, lead them to the Lord, disciple him, teach him how to share his faith and send him out. When that new disciple leads somebody to the Lord the missionary disciples him how to disciple others. And that disciple leads somebody to the Lord and disciples them. Now you have four generations of people growing in their faith and advancing the kingdom.

FOUR GENERATIONS IN THE TEXT:

1st generation=Paul, 2nd =Timothy, 3rd =faithful men, 4th = others also. When that happens over a long period of time, churches are born. Not churches full of church people switching from another church. But churches full of previously unreached people who are now on fire for the Lord, multiplying their life and teaching others to do the same. This multiplication model is why Christianity is exploding in South America & China. What if it happened here? It starts with you. It starts at home.

HOW DO YOU MULTIPLY:

The instruction to Timothy in particular is to find “faithful men.” By saying “faithful men” Paul is encouraging Timothy not to waste his time with the false teachers. Time is short. Entrust the Gospel to people who are willing to receive a biblical Gospel. And they can’t just be “gospel people.” They also need to be “gospel people” who are willing to multiply. “faithful men who will be able to teach others also…” I’ve got a group of men I’m trying to pour into. I’m just passing along what I’ve learned. Pastoring is more than just preaching. It’s multiplying. (Driver, iron, putter / drive=show put=dough)

TRANSITION: THE DEVOTION OF A SOLDIER:

Paul has encouraged Timothy to be strong in grace, be willing to share. Now, in 2:3-7 Paul shifts to these three analogies that deal with suffering. 2:3 “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” Analogy one is the soldier. Paul says of the soldier, 2:4, “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” In other words, “soldiers are loyal, disciplined and focused.” Be like the soldier. Distraction drains the grace. A distracted soldier is a dead soldier. Good soldiers don’t get distracted and they remain devoted/loyal to their commanding officer.

SOLDIERS KNOW THEY ARE IN A WAR:

Soldiers aren’t surprised when they suffer. When enlisted they knew they were going to boot camp. It’s the same in the Christian life. The soldier knows “basic training” in the Christian life includes suffering. That’s what Paul is reminding Timothy of. Remember the false teachers in Ephesus were saying that if you were REALLY filled with the Spirit then your life would be daisies and lollipops. Not so, says Paul. That’s probably why he’s leaning into this warfare motif. Spirit filled believers know they’re at WAR. Our battle isn’t against flesh and blood but there is a batting raging for our soul and others.

ONGOING DEVOTION AND DISCIPLINE:

Good soldiers know that. They know the only way to win is to remain devoted to the captain & disciplined with their life. Some of us need a reality check. The Lord is saying, “get disciplined with your life, prepare yourself for what your up against, and stop with all of these things that are distracting you.” If you want to multiply and have an impact beyond the grave then it’s going to require you to be singularly focused on what’s most important in this life; which is pleasing the Lord and advancing his agenda of love.

THE IPHONE MAKES US WIMPS:

Most of us make terrible soldiers because we’re so distracted. The most distraction heavy device the world has ever seen most of us carry around in our pocket. Some of you are taking notes on it right now! I’m not saying you need to get rid of your cable or sell your iPhone. I’m a techie as much as the next guy. What I am encouraging you to do this morning is to get focused. If that thing in your hand is distracting you from what matters most then find a way neutralize it before it neutralizes you. Don’t be useless to the kingdom of God because you wasted your life having your head glued to a screen.

TIMOTHY’S DISTRACTIONS:

For Timothy it wasn’t social media & screens that distracted him. It was stuff going on in his own church. It’s not just the “bad things” that distract us. It can be the good things. Paul tells him in 2:14 “…charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.” 2:16 “…avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness…” 2:23 “…have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.” Right before that in 2:22 “Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace...” Be a good solider, Timothy.

THE DISCIPLINE OF AN ATHLETE:

In 2:5 he moves to next analogy. “An athlete isn’t crowned unless he competes according to the rules.” What does Paul mean by this? Some think he’s referring the requirement that professional athletes had to train for a minimum of 10 months before they could compete in the Olympian [Greek] Games. The difference between the gifted amateurs and the professional athlete was the discipline and diligence to do that 10 month training. So again, the point would be to remain focused and disciplined even in pain.

DON’T BE A CHEATER:

Something more may be at play than a requirement to train. What do you call an athlete who “breaks the rules?” What do you call Tiger Woods? Neil Armstrong? Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, and Alex Rodriguez? Cheaters. Nobody denies that they are all amazing athletes. They are able to do incredible things in their individual fields. But their natural ability wasn’t enough. Playing within the rules wouldn’t take them where they wanted to go. So they cheated. Paul is cautioning us against the same thing spiritually. Don’t be a cheater. Don’t let hardship cause you to do what you know is wrong.

THE DILIGENCE OF A FARMER:

The last analogy is the farmer in 2:6 “It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.” Unlike the gifted teacher, decorated soldier or victorious athlete, the life of a farmer does not involve much glamour, prestige or recognition. It involves early and long hours that go unnoticed, constant toil, regular disappointments, patience and even boredom. His reward is simply a share of the harvest. But, if that harvest happens to be your children and grandchildren, sons and daughters in ministry and on the mission field it will be more than enough.

DON’T BE LAZY: DEADLY TO YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE:

Spiritual laziness is a deadly disease when it comes to passing on the truth. We must come to grips with the fact that living and growing as a Christian is hard work. It takes energy, investment and time like your marriage & your family; like anything of real value in life. Charles Spurgeon: “If you do not wish to be full of regrets when you are forced to lie still, work while you can. If you desire to make a sickbed as soft as it can be, do not stuff it with mournful reflections that you wasted time when you were in health and strength.”

THINK ABOUT IT:

Paul concludes in 3:7 “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” Consider (pre. imp.) Think this over. Don’t just give this a cursory reading. Paul knew he was writing inspired Scripture and he knew that the LORD, through the Holy Spirit, would give Timothy the understanding he needed. As one old commentator put it, “What God demands from us by his word he likewise bestows to us by his Spirit, so that we are strengthened in the grace which he has given to us.” Paul opens and closes this section with God’s commitment to give us grace to do what he’s called us to do.

LET’S THINK ABOUT IT: GRACE, DILIGENT TEACHER, DEVOTED SOLDIER:

I want to close with Paul final challenge. Let’s think about what really matters. How are we doing in what really matters? Look at your own life and ask yourself, am I multiplying my life? Am I strong in the grace? Do I spend time being strengthened by the grace that is mine in Christ Jesus? Am I like a passionate and dedicated teacher, passing along what I know? Do I deny myself to serve my commander Jesus and give my life as a soldier at any cost? Am I aware of and engaged in the spiritual war that’s going on all around me? Am I disentangled with the trivia of this world?

THINK ABOUT IT: DISCIPLINED ATHLETE; DILIGENT FARMER:

Am I disciplined like the athlete? Do I discipline myself to succeed in winning the race? Do I understand self-denial. Self-sacrifice? Am I cheating, cutting corners, or engaged in things that displease the Lord? As the diligent farmer am I a hard-working servant of Christ? Do I sweat in producing a spiritual crop like that true farmer? Am I working hard in anticipation of a spiritual reward? Or would my Christian life be characterized by laziness. Think about it. Be strengthened and encouraged by grace.