A Conversation about Faith
Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 38:16
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I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.
This is Paul’s Last letter
This is Paul’s Last letter
There great persecution
++To stop the Gospel Message
++Paul had been arrested again
His first imprisonment in Rome
++He was under house arrest
++He wrote 1 Timothy and Titus
(He made a 4th Missionary journey when released in AD 62/63)
This time it was different
++He was in a cold dark dungeon
++Chained as a common prisoner
++Deserted by many friends
++His future was uncertain
His death was near
His death was near
He faced it
++Not with fear
++Not with shame
++With a hopeful anticipation
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
Reality sets in
Reality sets in
For I am not in denial of my mortality
++It is already happening
++The vitality I once had is fading
++This (earthly) house is not what it use to be
Praying for You
Praying for You
I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day,
The privilege of serving God
The privilege of serving God
Paul Thanks God
++Who called him
++Placed him in ministry
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,
In the shadow of great ministries
In the shadow of great ministries
Jesus closest disciples testified
++The life of Christ
++The teaching of Christ
++The miracles of Christ
++The love of Christ
The call of God is not insignificant
The call of God is not insignificant
For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles.
God has worked through me
God has worked through me
To reveal the reach of God’s Grace
To reveal the reach of God’s Grace
9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy 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; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
To show the hope of God’s Goodness
To show the hope of God’s Goodness
4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
To proclaim the power of the Gospel
To proclaim the power of the Gospel
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
I want to see you
I want to see you
greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.
I understand
++The challenges you face
++The pain you have endured
Your sorrow
++Reveals your care
++Shows your concern
++Brings me Joy
Your faith is not fake
Your faith is not fake
It is a genuine
It is a genuine
Faith passed on
++Your Mother had it
++Your grandmother had it
6 Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.
Paul was aware of
++His limitations
++His strengths
++His struggles
24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
I have kept the faith
I have kept the faith
My example can be trusted
++When the fight is difficult
++When the race seems unending
++The reward is worth it
Just Do It
++Keep on fighting the good fight
++Keep on running your race
++Never give up
2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
Faith makes the difference
Faith makes the difference
For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Don’t be sidetracked by the visible
Don’t be sidetracked by the visible
Visible frameworks include
++Family
++Religion
++Business
++Politics
++Education
++Media
++Arts and entertainment
Faith
++Bring new vision
++Brings new understanding
++Shows us the truth
The framing of the world
++Is not limited to what we see
++Is not defined by what we experience
++Comes by the word of God
We want the word plus
++The word plus wealth
++The word plus power
++The word plus provision
++The word plus prosperity
Nothing else needed
Nothing else needed
89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.