“Perseverance”

2 Timothy 2:6-14

Introduction: A few weeks ago we finished with Paul telling Timothy to be strong in grace

Receiving Grace

Extending grace to one another

1. (V6-7) Paul is encouraging Timothy with three illustrations of attitude

1. (3-4) Persevere for God with a soldier’s attitude

Endure hardships or suffer well, not getting tied up with the affairs of this world

Seeking to please the one who enlisted you

2. (V5)Persevere for God with an athlete’s attitude.

To win a race you must follow the rules

If you get tired and you decide to cheat you will be disqualified

3. (V6) Persevere for God with the attitude of a farmer.

Work hard, be first to partake of the crops

2. (V8) Remember that Jesus is the seed of David who was raised from the dead

Jesus the Messiah of Israel

Raised from the dead (This fact is one thing that separates every other religion from Christianity)

2 Samuel 7:12 ““When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.”

3. (V9) Paul suffers for doing good, but the word continues to go forth

a) What did Paul suffer?

People didn’t receive the message, he was beaten, imprisoned, he had churches turn on him

I can tell you that I suffer (My name is slandered, lied about, people are critical over every decision

b) Obedience is learned through suffering

Hebrews 5:8 “though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.”

Maturity comes as we learn to suffer well

We must learn to deny ourselves:

Matthew 16:24–25 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

c) We endure suffering in hopes we can lead people to salvation