Follow the Word and Preach the Word.

If you have a bible open it up to 2 Timothy 3 and 4. I have titled the message today.. Follow the Word and Preach the Word. Pray with me.

The text we are in today I actually preached to you the day i was called to be your pastor, and looking at that old sermon to this one you will see some significant differences do to the application I you to make today. Any pastor who reads this text sees a major call on their lives, but as I really thought about this text this week I see a great application to all the people of God. Not just those who are called to be pastors.

Now today I am going to start the sermon a little different by reading a story that really grabbed my attention this week.

DR. WILLIAM EVANS, who pastored College Church from 1906-1909, was an unusually accomplished man. He had the entire King James Version of the Bible memorized as well as the New Testament of the American Standard Version. Dr. Evans also authored over fifty books. His son, Louis, became one of the best-known preachers in America and for many years pastored the eminent First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. When Dr. William Evans retired, he moved to Hollywood to be near his son, and when Louis was away he would substitute for him.

One unforgettable Sunday Dr. William, as he was affectionately called, spoke on the virgin birth. All were amazed when he raised his Bible and tore out the pages that narrate the birth of the Lord. As the tattered scraps floated down toward the congregation, he shouted, "If we can't believe in the virgin birth, let's tear it out of the Bible!" And then as he drove home his point, he tore out the resurrection chapters, then the miracle narratives, then anything conveying the supernatural. The floor was littered with mutilated pages.

Finally, with immense drama he held up the only remaining portion and said, "And this is all we have left—the Sermon on the Mount. And that has no authority for me if a divine Christ didn't preach it." After a few more words, he asked his listeners to bow for the benediction. But before he could pray, a man in that vast and sedate congregation stood and cried, "No, no! Go on!

We want more!" Several others joined in. So Dr. Evans preached for another fifty minutes.'

Dr. Evans was right. You cannot pick and choose from the Bible what you want to believe is inspired. The Bible does not present itself that way. Even more, the Bible will have no sustaining power for life if you make yourself the arbiter of what you will and will not believe about it.

Significantly, the text before us, containing the Bible's most famous statement of the inspiration of Scripture, is set in the context of continuance going on, remaining in the gospel. What Christians believe about the Scriptures has everything to do with their continuance and service in the faith

With that story in mind here what the Word has to say today.

2 Timothy 3:14–4:4 (ESV)

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

For those who are taking notes today what I want you to see as our main idea from the text is this. Kind of long for a main point but so ill read it slow and repeat it and as always its in your bulletin.

All Christians must seek to follow the word and all pastors must seek to preach the word.

As we make our way through the text today four points I want to make the first is this…

Following the Word impact others.

Again in the text we see a transition it says, But as for you.. He is talking to Timothy here in the text hopefully inspiring you in the text to continue what you have learned and have firmly believed know from whom you learned it. Now we have talked already in our study the impact that Paul had in Timothy’s life, but also the impact of his mother, and grandmother. On how godly examples impacted his life shaping him from a very young child until now.

One of the things I enjoy about teaching Kid’s Sunday school is the program we go through every other week called the biggest story and what it does is it takes the main stories in the bible and makes them easily understood for kiddos, and that is what his mother, and grandmother were doing for Timothy and there faith and obedience to the word made an impact on him.

I want you to hear something I read this week. *Think what it would mean if we could say to all our children, "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it" (v. 14). "You know your pastors, you know your Sunday school teachers, you know your fathers and mothers and grandparents. You know what they have taught you, and you know that their lives match the teaching of their lips. So continue in the gospel because you know from whom you learned it." Fellow Christians, this kind of challenge will bring continuance. This is what the church needs.

This is the challenge we have. For me as a parent my children deserve to see Christ in me, your kids deserve that your grandkids deserve that all those in the church need to be that example so others can see how the Word impacts our very own life and hopefully it changes them as well.

Which leads me to my text point.

Following all the Word impacts everything about your life.

I have told you time and time again the importance of words, and the word all and everything is here is so important. In just the end of verse 15 and verse 16 and 17 you see several things that are incredible that we need to know. One all scripture is breathed out my God. The scripture as we know it comes by the direct revelation by the power of Holy Spirit. This is what the apostles believed.

Peter said this… 2 Peter 1:20-21

2 Peter 1:20–21 ESV

20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

You see here in that text that men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Peter affirmed Paul as a writer of scripture when he says this.

2 Peter 3:16 (ESV)

16 as Paul does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.

Paul would say this in 1 Cor 2:13

1 Corinthians 2:13 ESV

13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

Jesus himself said this in Matt 4:4

Matthew 4:4 ESV

4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

Matthew 24:35 ESV

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Finally in Luke 24:44

Luke 24:44 ESV

44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

All scripture is important and all scripture is from God. And before we get to the four things that help us become complete equipped for every good work. We must go back to the idea that the scripture makes you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

WE must never forget that while this book is from God, inspired by him without faith in Jesus it does nothing for us. The bible is a book that should lead us to our savior Jesus Christ. From Genesis to Revelation its all about Jesus. The scriptures that made Timothy wise were Old Testament scriptures that in light of Christ and his coming were better understood. The Old Testament is a part of our faith it should not be left out. It shows us the promise of his coming and all people God used to make it happen. It teaches us amazing things about God that we don’t see in the New Testament. The New Testament writers frequently go back to the Old Testament to explain Christ. IT gives us a better understanding of who Christ is, and the great salvation we have in him. And every word is there so you could be wise for salvation. By Faith alone.

SO we have the scriptures that are breathed out by God making us wise for salvation, but that helps us also in our sanctification. So we dont just believe it we use it. The word of God is profitable.

WE have the scriptures to help us follow him to have the right belief and right conduct. Like I said in the point Following the word impacts every part of your life. It corrects us it changes us. Other translations you look at says the word straightens you out. It hits you at all angles. It truly in profitable. Paul tells Timothy and tells us to let the word shape your life. Let it teach you how to live let it it rebuke you to change let it correct your mind and your actions, and let it by the power of the Holy Spirit cause you to be righteous.

The key here is that the word does something it equips you. One of the things I love about our mission statement is that one of them is to equip. I like to incorporate our mission statement into as many messages as we can and the part of equipping says this. At Agape we believe we need to live out our faith. To equip means to prepare believers to live out their faith. Here at Agape we believe the word of God has life application. But in order to have life application you must be fed the word of God, and the word of God teaches you how to live our faith. This includes but is not limited to, how to study God’s word, pray, worship, evangelize, serve, stewardship, fasting, silence and solitude, etc… 

The result of being equipped means you're growing, looking more like Jesus. You are not wavering, your knowledge of God is helping you in every circumstance, and your character is changing, and you are apart of a community serving where God has called you to do what he has called you to.

In fact to equipped in this way one man said the Word of God super equips you, so if you want to truly follow Jesus then you have to be in his word.

Now Paul shifts to the responsibility of Timothy and of other pastors. Take note of the third point here.

Preaching the Word is a serious calling.

I dont just say that because I want you to be amazed about what I do or what any pastor does, but the charge here in the text is a serious one. Its actually a frightening one. Paul charges Timothy, and I believe any other pastor in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is the judge the living and of the dead and by his appearing and his kingdom. That in itself is a striking statement. Nowhere else in the bible do you see this kind of charge.

God takes the preaching of the Word seriously so should any pastor. I have preached in front 5 people, and hundreds of people, the main audience in all of those times is God. And that causes me so often to tremble. Because when I preach I am preaching not just to those in this room, or who may be listening online but I am preaching to the one who gave me the word of God. In his very presence.

Who is the judge. Christ is the one who is going to judge us. John 5:22 teaches us this.

John 5:22 ESV

22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,

A little latter in the chapter it says this.

John 5:27 ESV

27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.

One man said this… He makes special mention of the judgment of Christ because He will require of us, who are his representatives, a stricter account of our failures in His ministry?" This echoes James's caution: "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness" (James 3:1). Similarly the writer of Hebrews observes about leaders, "They are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account" (13:17). The realization that our service will be judged by the Servant of all servants is jolting. This is not negative for the faithful servant but is rather a source of added electricity.

For me that weight makes this task serious for me. I have always had the mindset when I preach the word everyone needs it including myself and I will be held before God what I teach from. Which is why it says preach the word.

You can’t forget as well that Jesus will appear again. We will see these verses in Titus shortly that say. Titus 2:13-14

Titus 2:13–14 ESV

13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Pastors preach the word knowing Jesus is going to return. We long for it. I have often said to others it would be an amazing day if the Lord decided to come back when I was preaching. Or for your sake maybe before I get started. But when Jesus appears he will judge both the living and the dead, and his kingdom will come.

Revelation 11:15 ESV

15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”

For me I preach knowing my audience is God and his people that he will come and judge all things both living and dead, and his kingdom will come.

That is why pastors should preach the word. Again the order of verse 2 is so important. Paul tells Timothy preach the Word. Preach the word. Its so silly to me that more pastors want to talk than preach the word. Paul tells Timothy tells me something I already know I have nothing I can tell you from this pulpit that is going to be more life-changing, more impactful than preaching the Word of God to you. One man said don’t preach yourself preach the whole council of God.

Interestedly enough on Wednesday night we talked about this verse. Acts 20:27

Acts 20:27 ESV

27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

The people of God need to hear Gods word. No matter the season. Paul tells Timothy to be ready in season out of season knowing that sometimes Timothy is not going to want to preach for various reasons. You do something over and over again every week it gets tiring you are not always going to want to preach. I love preaching I hope i get to do this for the rest of my life, but some weeks the process its just exhausting I don’t feel like doing it, never the less a pastor must always be ready, because of what we are doing is a weighty task. What we say is a matter of life or death, and You as a believer must always be ready no matter the season because you never know what may come up.

Paul also says to reprove, to rebuke, and extort with complete pertinence. So often the word of God gut punches you a little bit. Rebukes you for your wrong beliefs about things. And it corrects you to do something else. But notice Paul says you have to do all this with patience. Sanctification is a slow process sometimes. That is why Paul says to exhort with complete patience and teaching. For the mature believer you have to understand it takes time to get out of those ungodly habits, and being patient with others will help them on their journey. Ouch thing for me.

The preaching of the word is a serious task because you are preaching to the greatest audience God who is the judge of all things who will come again to have his kingdom so preach the word in season or out of season calling people to change and be patient with them. Because if you don’t something else will happen.

Final point this morning is this…

Listening to the Word helps you follow Jesus.

There is a great responsibility for the pastor, but also for the hearer. I want to feed you with the word of God, because its in your natural sinful state to want go away from the truth of God’s word. In verse 3 and 4 it says.

2 Timothy 4:3–4 ESV

3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

This has been true for not only Timothy or us, but all of the worlds history.

Jeremiah 5:31 ESV

31 the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?

Fallen people love falsehood, its a sad reality really.

In Ezekiel 33:32

Ezekiel 33:32 ESV

32 And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it.

Listen to what one guy said… Jesus explained in the parable of the four soils that many ostensible believers are really unbelievers. Indeed it is only the fourth soil, the fruit-bear-ing soil, that has real faith (cf. Matthew 13:1-23; Luke 8:1-15). People love to hear something different and sensational ("having itching ears" is literally

"tickled in their hearing"'°).

So they seek teachers who will confirm their illusions. In the fourth century there was this guy names Gregory of Nazianzus wrote concerning "itching ears," "When this syndrome is in place, people who call themselves Christian will find the truth in Christ Jesus intolerable and will seek to stamp it out?'

Today preachers fill sports arenas by telling people what they want to hear about their money or politics, by entertaining them, and by proclaiming bizarre doctrines that appeal to the curiosity. Whole intellectual careers are made and spent on "demythologizing" the Bible and reducing the words of Jesus to a few moralizing sound bites. The masses prefer myth to truth.

That is why you must preach the Word in its historical setting and in the context of the whole Bible, making the appropriate Biblical connections and discerning all the ways it is a revelation of Jesus Christ. That is why you must perspire in the study and sweat in the pulpit.

Friends listen to good preaching, but also get into the word yourself study it love it learn so that you can follow Jesus, and be able to discern those who preach. Don’t take my word for it take the words word for it.

As we wrap up today you have to do some self examination. You have to ask yourself is my following of the word impacting others. God gives us each of us a little circle to live in are you being faithful in your circle, are you letting the word impact all of your life, if it says something contrary to your patterns of behavior are you asking God to change you in such a way that is making you more complete ready for every good work. Am I as a pastor preaching the word with seriousness it deserves while following the word of God faithfully myself, and are you as a hearer of Gods word responding properly to change when needed. Listening to good godly people other than those who want to tickle your ears.

Finally I have to ask you the question as you leave here today are you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. This book is filled with incredible truths about God, his Son, about morality, about everything you need life and godliness, but if you don’t have a relationship with Christ by faith its all for nothing.

Paul says in 1 Cor 15:1-12

1 Corinthians 15:1–11(ESV)

1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

The evidence in so clear that Jesus came an died for sinners according to the word of God. That he was buried and that he was raised on the third day that many people saw him in his resurrected state and because he is alive you can be made new by repenting of your own sin by coming to him by faith in Christ and be saved. So that you can follow Jesus and not the ways of the world. So where are you at today? Let us pray…