Be Strong

Be Strong...In The Grace (vs 1)

Ephesians 6:10 NASB95

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

Philippians 4:13 NASB95

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

2 Corinthians 9:8 NASB95

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

It’s in the present passive imperative.

A command to be filled up every day.

A continual dependence on God.

To keep on being strengthened.

It’s the grace that is found in Christ And in union with him.

John 15:5 NASB95

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

God’s gracious enabling power.

Be Strong...In The Sound Words (vs 2)

Learning

What you have heard from me.

Paul’s teachings, not Timothy’s own personal opinions or theories.

Understanding

Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding and everything.

Divine enablement combined with human responsibility and activity

Understanding - The ability to understand concepts and see relationships between them.

2 Timothy 1:13 ESV

Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Order your life after the principles of doctrine that bring health.

I’ll come right back to this in a second.

Entrust - safekeeping

Trustworthy and dependable.

God’s steward

Teaching

Five generations here. God to Paul To Timothy to Faithful Men to those they will teach.

What is prized is not originality or innovation but faithfulness and the ability to pass on received teaching to others.

This is so important to remember, and the reason Paul is so concerned with the accurate passing on of what he has received is that the NT had not been written.

Faithful passing on of what Paul had received directly from God was important so that we could have the NT today.

Galatians 1:15–17 NASB95

But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.

Faithful transmission.

competent, qualified, able

comment about this not applying to everyday men, but only elders...

Obviously not everyone is gifted to be an elder or pastor, but we should be raising up the future generations to be capable, if by chance they are gifted.

We should be raising up our sons and daughters to be leaders and teachers within our congregations.

One thing to ponder is that the end goal for all believers is to look like Jesus and be spiritually mature.

What is spiritual maturity?

Titus 2:1–6 NASB95

But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. Likewise urge the young men to be sensible;

Be Strong...In Suffering Hardship (vs 3)

Hardship - To suffer hardship, evil or affliction along with someone

What hardships would each example suffer and endure?

In context, there are two.

The gospel.

2 Timothy 1:8 NASB95

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,

Living a godly life.

2 Timothy 3:12 NASB95

Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

3 Examples Of How To Be Strong (vs 4-6)

Soldier

Good - kalos - praiseworthy and outstanding in one’s performance of duty.

The hardships: Active service, not to get entangled in every day affairs.

Single-mindedness - refusing to get sidetracked. Singleness of purpose.

Focused on the mission, not on civilian life

Not that secular life is bad, but it cannot be priority or ultimate.

One cannot be in combat and live luxuriously .

No distractions.

Hebrews 12:1 NASB95

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

While the need for single-minded service applies particularly to church leaders such as Timothy, it extends to all believers.

Please the commanding officer

Colossians 3:23–24 NASB95

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

Soldier: Focused on the Mission and the Praise of the Commander.

Athlete

The Hardship: Competing - Discipline

Focused on winning the prize.

Keeping the end game in mind

Video -

crown - stephanow - laurel leaf crown of victory for the Greek games.

2 Timothy 4:8 NASB95

in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

The image of being crowned with a wreath has introduced the idea of blessing and reward.

Competes according to the rules.

In full self-discipline and deprivation of earthly pleasures.

Competing according to the rules also means that the race must be run to the finish line: Christ wants us to strive every day.

The athlete must compete by whatever rules there are to gain the desired goal.

The rules are determined by someone else not us.

Striving to not be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9:24–27 NASB95

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Farmer

The Hardship: Hard work - Patience

Promised Reward

Focused on willingness to work hard.

undivided devotion to the task

sacrifice of a life of freedom.

Dependent on weather and growth of crops.

Animals

First to receive the share the bounty. Reward

The soldier may be decorated for his heroic service and the athlete may receive the victor’s crown.

But the farmer’s life is much less glamorous; his reward is simply to receive a share of the crops.

Likewise Timothy could look forward to the fruit of his labor.

Conclusion:

The point is that commitment, discipline, hard work, suffering and reward are all a part of our physical lives.

How much more so in our spiritual lives.

Especially, in our responsibility of learning sound doctrine and faithfully passing it on.

But also in receiving our reward.

1 Corinthians 15:58 NASB95

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

Colossians 3:23–24 NASB95

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

There will be a reward for our faithfulness to God and His mission for us.

Closing Song: God is the Strength of My Heart.