Fight the Good Fight, Finish the Race, Keep the Faith
Fearless and Faithful: Forward in Faith, Not Back Into Fear • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 8 viewsFollowing Jesus is not for the faint of heart. Paul compares it to fighting a fight and a running race. He tells Timothy he will need to be sober-minded, endure suffering, and work hard. This difficult calling is not just for apostles and preachers, but every follower of Jesus. That said, Paul also makes it abundantly clear that it is worth it. The King will reward those who remain faithful. So, what does your race and your fight look like? What does McDermott Road’s race look like? Let’s fearlessly and faithfully fulfill our ministry.
Notes
Transcript
This year we’re asking ourselves, “What are you afraid of? What’s holding you back?”
A lot of my fears have been irrational
They didn’t come true
They weren’t even likely to come true
A lot of my fears were rational, but unnecessary
They came true
But it really didn’t matter that they did
We spend so much time afraid we are going to…
miss out on something
fail at something
look like a loser in front of people we want to impress
Here’s a quote Francis Chan shared in the book, Crazy Love, it says…
“Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” - Tim Kizziar
Think about what that means
for YOU…
for US as a CHURCH…
What really matters?
Is that what we are pursuing?
Are we afraid of failing/succeeding at something that doesn’t really matter?
Paul reminds Timothy about what REALLY matters
1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
Paul calls three witness to this oath:
God the Father
Christ Jesus
His Appearing and His Kingdom
Jesus who is…
The Messiah, God’s Anointed King
The judge of the living and the dead
Is coming again
Will rule over his eternal kingdom
What does it mean to be “charged” like this?
This isn’t a suggestion
This isn’t advice
This is: THERE ARE DIRE CONSEQUENCES FOR NOT TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY
Timothy’s charge is not necessarily YOUR charge
but we are all part of this story
we are all part of this mission
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
Not everyone needs to be a preacher or teacher
James says, “not many” should be teachers
But some of you should be teachers
Some of our young people need to be thinking about
preachers
youth / children’s ministry
evangelists
missionaries
ALL of us have a role to play in spreading the word
sometimes the Gospel will be “in season”
sometimes the Gospel will be “out of season”
we need to participate in its spread ALL THE TIME
with complete patience
and we all need to receive
reproof
rebuke
exhortation
3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
Who has itching ears?
All of us!
But no one thinks it’s them.
We all want to hear, “You’re right! Keep doing that! Don’t change a thing!”
American Christianity has taken this to a whole new level
customized our faith
go to the church that
keeps the traditions I keep
condemns the sins I condemn
overlooks the sins I overlook
aligns with my politics
treats my opinions like facts
Like Paul and Timothy we must
preach the truth anyway
preach the word anyway
reprove anyway
rebuke anyway
exhort anyway
BE PATIENT
5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
fulfill YOUR ministry
you have a ministry
that is part of larger kingdom mission
many Christians
have never found their ministry
didn’t know they were supposed to have a ministry
found it, but have begun neglecting their ministry
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
I HAVE - Paul is confident!
HE DID HIS JOB
He fulfilled his calling
He accomplished his mission
The goal / objective
These are not PERSONAL goals
This isn’t Paul’s “bucket list”
This isn’t living his best life
It is the mission of God
We are all part of this mission
YOU have a job to do within the larger mission of God
YOU have a mission to accomplish
YOU have a race to run
8 Henceforth 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.
VICTORY CROWN
Paul wasn’t FLAWLESS, but he was FAITHFUL
Confident of his reward
Because he was confident the JUDGE is RIGHTEOUS
It’s worth it
…being insulted
…being abandoned
…being imprisoned
…being poor
…being executed
On that day…the day of Christ’s appearing
Paul will get his victory crown
The same day YOU GET YOURS
“all who have loved his appearing”
when Jesus appears to make all things new
when all things are put under his feet
This victory is guaranteed…IT’S the only ONE that’s guaranteed!
The “good fight” is the only fight we can’t lose.
The “good fight” is the only fight we can’t lose.
If you’re fighting THIS fight, you’re guaranteed the victory
Because of what Jesus has done for you
Because Jesus is faithful
Because the Holy Spirit is equipping and empowering your
BUT, here is my problem is that sometimes I’m
fighting battles that I CAN LOSE
because they’re not the GOOD FIGHT!
they’re my fight
I’m running my own personal race
not the race HE LAID out for US
What about YOU?
How are YOU participating in this fight
Sharing the Good News with the world
Helping people become more like Jesus?
Are you too busy
with your own fight
with your own race
with your own pursuits
What about US as a CHURCH
Are we serious about staying on mission?
Just because something is “a” good fight, doesn’t mean it is “the” good fight
