Continue with Confidence

Courage to Continue

1 Timothy 1:3–7 ESV

3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

INTRODUCTION

Empower to Engage

In Sept a private airplane went unresponsive and flew past its intended destination. Eventually flies over Cuba before crashing from the loss of gasoline close to Jamaica. It was believed pilot lost conscience. Was not able to take plane to its intended destination.

First Baptist has been placed on a certain trajectory by those who have come before us.

-A well trained disciple is like an arrow in the hands of a great hunter.

Psalm 127:3–5 ESV

3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

READ/PRAY

Paul took Timothy with him and trains him. He sends him to pastor the church at Ephesus. He begins his letter to him telling him how he has been empowered. It's time to use the power. 1 Timothy is Paul’s letter to the one set out.

It is our turn to engage Bartlesville and beyond with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Foundation has been laid.

1 Timothy 1:3–7 ESV

3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

3 Ways We Have Been Empowered to Continue the Legacy

1. Empowered to Finish (3-4)

1 Timothy 1:3–4 ESV

3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.

Remain=

continue-- don't give up. Timothy was ready to quit.

Charge=

command or order- Know you are the one with authority.- Remain and Fight!

Joshua 1:1–9 ESV

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Fighting the right battle

Knowing when the battle is over.

First Baptist- It is not time for us to coast. It is time for us to stand strong.

We must realize if God is for us, then no one can stand against us.

Elisha and his servant were surrounded by the armies of Syria.

2 Kings 6:15–17 ESV

15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

2. Empowered to Dream Big

The goal of taking the land was a huge goal.

1 Timothy 1:5 ESV

5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Aim=

goal

The Patriot- Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) "aim small, miss small."

You won't hit love by accident. It has to be the goal.

Love= agape= unconditional love

Motivation of the love= pure heart and good conscience a sincere faith.

We have leaders in the church not for purpose to control and condemn, but to cause us to aim high.

Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

2 Timothy 2:2 ESV

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.

Leaders of First Baptist in the past have aimed high.

Pastor Treadwell sacrificed to be in McAlester during a difficult time to live here.

Those charter members made a huge risk in investing in the future of our church.

They weren’t after a legacy of buildings. They were after a legacy of disciples being made and the Church growing.

3. Empowered to Find Goal (6-7)

1 Timothy 1:6–7 ESV

6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

"swerving"=

Car alignment.

"Wandered away"=

ended up where they should not be.

Started with truth and wandered away into untruth.

"Confident assertions"=

the volume of the preacher does not determine the truth of the preacher.

"without understanding"=

There is a proper interpretation. You cannot make the Bible say whatever you want it to.

Do we have the courage to build upon what has been left to us.?

Protect it? Or Build Upon it?

We are called to Protect truth.

We are not called to protect the Church.

Matthew 16:18–19 ESV

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Keys were given to be proactive.

Do we have the courage to continue what has been started?

First Baptist Church has been called to Gather in Christ, Grow in Christ and Go in Christ.

This must be our priority.

CONCLUSION

What are you doing with the truth you have been taught?

What is your part in helping FBC Gather, Grow, and Go?