Continue until Christ Returns

Introduction

Scripture

Father God, we thank You for Who You are. A great Big God who sees each and every one of us here and cares deeply about us. We ask this day, as we are continuing in this time of worship to You, reading Your Word and hearing Your Word, that You refine us with it. Mold us, make us, shape us, rearrange us so that we can more like You, and more made into the image of Christ. Help us be a people who love You and love others so much, that we are moved into action by whatever it is You are going to show us about Yourself today and what that means in our lives. Help us do this, because all to often our selfish and sinless flesh war against our will to follow Yours. As we are doing this, and as we are coming into Your Word today, we ask that You take away any distraction that we may have, and make it go as far away as it possible can, because we want to see and we want to know You better. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.

11 But you, man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all, and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate, I charge you 14 to keep this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 God will bring this about in his own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see, to him be honor and eternal power. Amen.

17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share, 19 storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of what is truly life.

20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding irreverent and empty speech and contradictions from what is falsely called knowledge. 21 By professing it, some people have departed from the faith.

Grace be with you all.[1]

Context

Finally, we are here, we are rounding out this letter from Paul to Timothy, the Ephesian Church, the believers within it, and ourselves as modern believers. You know what that means right? Yep, we are finishing this sermon series this week. At the end of the sermon today, I will have overview sheets of this sermon series for each of us to have. If you are wondering where we are going very soon, we will be hopping back into the book of Acts, jumping in where we left off in Acts chapter 14. When we get there and into chapter 15, we will start off with bigger chunks than usual, so please go ahead and begin reading ahead in Acts chapters 14 and 15 in your personal study time. In fact, if you can it would be good to read up to that point as well. From there, we will most likely remain in the book of Acts until our regular Advent Sermon series at the end of the year.

One really interesting thing and tie in, is in just a few chapters when we get back into Acts, we will read the account of Paul going the Ephesian church before this letter to Timothy was written. So keep that in mind because it is coming up soon. You will remember last week, Paul begin wrapping up his letter, warning believers to avoid false doctrine and human greed that is oh to natural to our hearts, deeds, and wants in the flesh. Now as we are at the final few verses, Paul reminds Timothy and us, much as he had said before that, The enemy wants believers and churches off task, but we are to continue in the mission that Christ gave each of us. We, you, me, us, both individually and together cannot fall into the lies that Satan gives and the division that he gives the unsuspecting and unawake believers. We must lives our lives with our eyes wide open, always watching for weaknesses, and making adjustments where needed where we are not trusting in God. So, as we do this and in the text today Paul gives some instruction on actions that we are to do until Christ Returns (which by the ways means ALWAYS until he returns, not sometimes, not most of the time, but always). So, let’s jump in and From the text, I want you to see and Continue to do these actions until Christ Returns.

Message

The first action to see and do is to: Fight the good fight until Christ Returns. (11-16)

11 But you, man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all, and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate, I charge you 14 to keep this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 God will bring this about in his own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see, to him be honor and eternal power. Amen.

Remember, what Paul was warning against just before this, the easy to fall down and slippery sin slope of the love of money. That is, the want of things, the want of money, the want of all the so called finer things in life. We know and Paul warns, that falling for this lie, will put you both you and church family off of task if it is what you and your church body pursues. Instead of pursuing that kind of want and desire, Paul tells us to flee from them. Do not pursue them and avoid them. Instead, pursue these things: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. All traits that a person pursuing God will hold fast, near, and dear. This is a continual life-long battle, a fight, a war that you will always be waging, because the enemy has you surrounded, but the enemy doesn’t understand that with the gift of God the Holy Spirit in you, you have the upper hand when you allow Him to take over. As a modern saying goes, “Let Go, and Let God.” Remember your witness, remember your witness of the truth of Gospel! And if you need inspiration, you have no further to look that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who Himself stood on trial before the Roman authority Pontious Pilate with His very life on the line, yet when He could have said words to free Himself, stood for the truth and mission that God the Father sent Him. His mission was to save us, and He accomplished that on the cross for all that would be saved, now our part of His continued mission is to share the truth that Jesus saves with vigor, energy, and love that understands that in the grand scheme of things, really nothing else matters. Paul charges, keep this command, to keep on your mission. He then offers a beautiful doxology to Christ, describing Him in truth that He is: blessed, sovereign, the king of kings and Lord of Lords, He is immortal and lives in light so bright that without His forgiveness no one can approach Him or see Him, He deserves timeless honor from us and receives eternal power as God.

Fighting a good fight, of course requires patience, vigor, and focus. Billy Sunday, a baseball evangelist at the turn of the century he said, “I’m against sin, ill kick it as long as I’ve got a foot, and ill fight it as long as I’ve got fist. I’ll butt it as long as I’ve got a head. I’ll bite it as long as I’ve got a tooth. When I’m old and fist less and footless and toothless, I’ll gum it till I go home to Glory and it goes home to perdition.

With all joking aside, it is the kind of enthusiasm that we are to fight the good fight of our faith with. We don’t give up when the goings get hard, they will. When one way fails, we try another way, and we don’t let our conditions make excuses for us, could you imagine the trouble we would be in Jesus didn’t fulfill His mission for us just because he was deeply greaved and overwhelmed by the weight? We would be in so much trouble. So, don’t let His example in His sacrifice go to waste. Don’t live a life a life that is defined by giving up. Live a life that is defined by Christ. Stay on task, keep your eye on the ball, keep your eye on the prize, Let God’s glory be seen and known through your life. Know that this will be hard, because The enemy wants believers and churches off task, but we are to continue in the mission that Christ gave each of us. What’s that mission? Love God, Love People, Make Disciples. Continue at this until Christ Returns.

Another action to see and do is to: Store up good treasure until Christ returns. (17-19)

17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share, 19 storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of what is truly life.

Paul moves into a final address of a particular group of Christians, the wealthy and well off, and what they are to do with their wealth. He says to them, to not be arrogant, making yourself look big and important because you have obtained some of uncertain and hear one minute, gone the next minute wealth of this world. Instead, find your riches in God who provided the world and all things within it for us to enjoy. There is no sin in enjoying things, but there is sin in enjoying them more than you enjoy God. Also, Timothy, teach them to be generous. Generous in works, generous with your charity, be willing to share wit the brothers. Do this instead of selfishly holding onto what the world has to offer. If you do this, you are thinking to small. Think of the big picture, the whole picture, that life is eternal and what we do in this life has consequences that are eternal and everlasting. So, instead of loving money, love God and love people. Remember Jesus’ teaching in the book of Matthew that you: 19 “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “[2] You try to find life in all the wrong places if you trust in your wealth, but if you turn your trust to God, then you have truly found life.

Be warned believer, it may not appear like it to you right now. But each and every one of us in this room, when you consider the estate and affairs of all people in the world, are fabulously wealthy, just by the simple fact that you live in the United States of America. Even the poorest among us, are doing very very well off, and as we have learned previously, this means that even modest churches in America have a responsibility to help provide to church bodies across the globe and promoting evangelism and missions.

We as a church body, have of late done a lot to contribute to this calling. We have given to fund a church in the Phillippians, we contribute to the cooperative program that funds all kinds of missions, church planting, evangelists, and general kingdom work more than I have time to list today, we also did this when we provided for the Derden’s to go on their mission trip to Brazil. These are great examples and examples that the size of the church doesn’t matter or wealth of a church doesn’t matter, we all have a responsibility and have to remember that we are to store up our treasures that eternal, not temporary. Good treasures, not ones that disappear in a man’s life time or even a few generations, but eternal treasurers of God being praised and honored through us. Of a life and wealth well lived and used. A life and wealth that is used on task for God’s glory. Here is the tricky bit, The enemy wants believers and churches off task, but we are to continue in the mission that Christ gave each of us. He (Satan) will do all he can to get you and us off task, but we are to Store up good treasure until Christ returns. We are to do this until when……, tomorrow, next year, till the end of our life, the foreseeable future, until the funds run dry? No, until Christ returns. So, let’s do just that and watch for opportunities, let’s give what we can according to our provision, and always look to God who will provide for us as we honor Him.

The next action to see and do is to: Guard your entrusted faith until Christ returns. (20-21)

20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding irreverent and empty speech and contradictions from what is falsely called knowledge. 21 By professing it, some people have departed from the faith.

Grace be with you all.[3]

Paul gives a final instruction for Timothy hear. Guard what has been entrusted to you. Don’t let your thoughts, attitude, and conduct work against you. Change your heart and mind against anything that counters sound teaching. Place your mind, heart, thoughts and actions on Christ. Avoid irreverent and empty speech and contradictions from the so called false knowledge of the world. That is, not avoid it like one does a plage, but see and observe how it is incorrect, don’t take it on, and see where your misgivings are unknowingly like the wrong and eliminate it from your life. That is, know the enemies tactics and tricks so that you know how to combat them, but don’t become the enemy yourself. Look at what has happened to Ephesus, many have chased this false knowledge and obtained it thinking they would get great gain. Instead, it has made them further away from Christ. It has diminished their witness, and has even caused some to depart from their faith. This is a warning, and this is why you are here, to keep the church at Ephesus on Task and root out those that are getting it off of task. God be with you Timothy.

Guarding your faith is an active thing, for all believers of all walks life. How fitting is it, that Paul finished his letter to Timothy, highlighting that guard his entrusted faith and duty, do it well; especially when Paul wrote to the Ephesians in their letter on how we combat the spiritual warfare that every person and every church body enivetably is always in a cycle of. Listen to how Paul charges them to be ready and strengthened for the battle all around, He says in Ephesians 6: 10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. 13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God. 18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.

Wow, God gives us the armor, weapons, strength, means and provision to guard and fight for our faith. Is this something you know and use believer. Is your armor rusty? Your shield unpolished? Your sword dull? Why? Why believer, if it is, then watch out and get to work. You have been deceived and gotten off of task and guess what. The enemy wants believers and churches off task, but we are to continue in the mission that Christ gave each of us. And guess what, the mission time is now, if the enemy hasn’t breached the gate already in the spiritual battle, then the awake Christian knows to watch for the dust of the coming army in the distance. Be ready believer, guard your entrusted faith (which is entrusted to both have and share) until Christ returns.

Conclusion

What then does this mean for you? What then does this mean for us LBC? It certainly means something. God didn’t prepare this message for you for no reason, and He is inviting you and us to partner with but this requires a response affirmatively towards trusting Him more and taking more steps towards Him. God doesn’t give us gifts for no reason. God doesn’t call us to greater faith and more action for no reason. God doesn’t give us more knowledge for no reason. He does it so that God the Father would be glorified through God the Son who sent the Holy Spirit in each of us to point us to Christ who is pointing to the Father. So, we have an eternal mission. We, you, me, all have a purpose, that never ends. As we fulfill this purpose and this mission, remember to Fight the good fight until Christ Returns. (11-16). To Store up good treasure until Christ returns. (17-19). And To Guard your entrusted faith until Christ returns. (20-21).

With all of that being said, I would be remised if I didn’t share the Gospel (or the Good News) of Jesus Christ with you today, for the benefit of both believer and non-believer in the room. This begins all the way back at the beginning, God created everything, and he created all things good. He gave His most treasured creation (us, mankind) the ability of free will, the ability to choose Him or rebellion. Man was deceived by Satan and desired to be like God and sinned (or rebelled against God). This brought the curse of sin and death into the world and it remains with us to this day; which separates us from God. God though, loved His creation (mankind) so much that He worked through history to redeem all mankind that would turn to Him from sin so that we can experience a full and perfect relationship with Him again. This was through the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the pay for sins. Accepting this free gift from God, makes you new and forgiven. All you have to do accept this free gift by repenting and believing in the Lord Jesus and you will get to experience the good side of God’s justice forever. So, now that you know this, you can no longer plead ignorance. I invite and urge you to respond today non-believer and apply this to every part of your life believers in the audience today.

With that, Let’s conclude. Brothers and Sisters, I love you all. During our last song together, if you need prayer, or want to talk more about Jesus, or have something you want to talk about, I’ll be here, don’t be afraid to come on down. Let’s pray. Father God, we thank You for who You are and what You are doing to us here in this place. May whatever it is that You are doing in each of heart here, continue as we leave go out into the world this week. Change us, mold us, make us, re-arrange us, that we can be both better lovers of You and better showers of You. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.

[1] Christian Standard Bible. Holman Bible Publishers, 2020, p. 1 Ti 6:11–21. [2] Christian Standard Bible. Holman Bible Publishers, 2020, p. Mt 6:19–21. [3] Christian Standard Bible. Holman Bible Publishers, 2020, p. 1 Ti 6:11–21.