Untitled Sermon (31)

HOW TO BE A GREAT SPIRITUAL MENTOR

BE AN ENCOURAGER 2 TIMOTHY [3:12]

Paul continues: Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted [3:12].

Christians also can expect trouble because of their faith. Jesus said, “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20).

Paul reminded Timothy that “indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12)

Never be surprised when being persecuted or suffering for Christ’s sake.

The servant of Christ must never be surprised if he has to drink of the same cup with his Lord.

Nowadays if you tell people that God loves them, they are unlikely to be surprised.

But on the whole, the biblical writers are surprised, not by punishment, but by the Lord’s patience and forbearance.

What similar warning does our Lord give us in John 15:20c-d?

Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. Matthew 15:20

If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

Even fruitful branches, in order totheir further fruitfulness, have need of purging or pruning; he taketh away that which is superfluous and luxuriant, which hinders growth and fruitfulness.

Christ has promised to do by his word, and spirit, and providence; and these shall be taken off by degrees in the proper season.

The purging of fruitful branches, in order totheir greater fruitfulness, is the care and work of the great husbandman, for his own glory.

The benefits which believers have by the doctrine of Christ, the power of which of which labour to exemplify in a fruitful conversation: Now you are clean, v.3.

Their society was clean, now that Judas was expelled by that word of Christ, What thou doest, do quickly; and till they were got clear of him they were not all clean.

They were each of them clean, that is sanctified, by the truth of Christ Jn:15: ch, 17:17, that faith by which they received the word of Christ purified their hearts, Acts 15:9.

And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us.

Remember the word that I said to you, The servant is not greater than his lord.

It is most needful for all servants of Christ to remember that whenever the Lord places a man in a position of responsibility, He will both fit him for it and maintain him in it.

Nothing pleases our Lord better than to see his promises put in circulation; he loves to see his children bring them up to him, and say, “Lord, do as thou hast said.

Can you ever remember a time when you regretted having said a kind word?

If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

Some Christians deserve to be persecuted because they are obnoxious.

They are always finding fault, always criticizing, and always acting holier than thou.

When I hear a Christian man finding fault with his minister, I always wish that the devil had found somebody else to do his dirty work.

The business of finding fault is very easy, and that of doing better very difficult.

Never let mistakes or wrong directions, of which every man falls into many, discourage you.

There is precious instruction to be got by finding where we were wrong.

 We must learn to value our fellow Christians and not engage in fault-finding or in exposing their weaknesses.

Nothing is easier than fault-finding: No talent, no self-denial, no brains, no character are required to set up in the grumbling business.

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? MATTHEW 7:3

However, the Bible teaches that even believers who are gentle and loving like Jesus will suffer persecution.

You may never be imprisoned, tortured, or martyred for your faith ,but if you stand up for biblical values, you will be persecuted those who hold the secular worldview.

If you never face any kind of persecution, it could mean you are not making a difference in your world.

We know we will face persecution because what percentage of those who live for Jesus will be persecuted [3:12a]?

When young believers face persecution and sufferings because of their faith, be an encourager by reminding them they are making a difference in the world.

To be a great spiritual mentor, be an example, an encourager, and…

Nothing spiritual can be gained in competition.…

When two men step into a prize ring they know that only one can win, and whoever wins can do so only by forcing the other to lose.

When five men line up on the track for a race they know that only one can come in first.

Four men must lose that one may win.

It is not so in the kingdom of God.

Christians do not run against each other.

All can win the race.

Paul likens a Christian to a fighter, but the Christian’s fight is not with other Christians.

Each one can win and no one need lose.

The man of faith fights against the devil, the flesh and the world.

He wins as they lose; but he never wins anything truly spiritual in competition with a fellow believer.

We all have mentors in our life some are fathers, some teachers, some supervisors we have or we are currently working for.

The point for us here is you’ll never find wisdom by yourself. You have to have mentors. You have to have counselors.

The old rule of thumb said that a person could have a mentor until age forty and then it was time to become a mentor to others.

I think we can have mentors for a lifetime, but the principle of mentoring others is certainly valid.

The best spiritual mentor is your Pastor.

2 Timothy [1:2]. To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord

2Timothy 2:5

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that is in thee also.

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

2 Timothy 2:13 commentary. Paul kept nothing from his hearers, but declared to them the whole counsel of God Acts[20-27],so that if it were not their fault they might fully know it.

Thou hast known my purpose, what I drive at, how far it is from any worldly, carnal, secular design,and how sincerely I aim at the glory of God and the good of the souls of men.

Though his life was a life of great usefulness, yet it was a life of great sufferings; and none, I believe, came nearer to their great Master for eminent services and great sufferings than Paul.