Fulfill Your Ministry
Notes
Transcript
Scripture
Scripture
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:
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
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.
Intro
Intro
Show our large screwdriver…
So… who knows what this is?
Well for me… it’s always been used to open things.
You just put the tip in a crack and pry that thing open!
It’s a pry bar!
While I know that’s not its name (or how it’s supposed to be used)
— that’s how I’ve used it.
And often when I need a pry bar
— I’ve reached for this thing!
But honestly, I don’t mean to sound silly here…
do you know what it does really well?
In the hands of a skilled person…
I hear that it screws and unscrews!!
In truth
— it doesn’t take a whole lot of training to use it…
But when it’s used the right way
— WOW! You should see it work!
And that my friends is what I want to talk to you today about…
Like the screwdriver, the word of God can be handled in all kinds of wrong ways —
But if you can learn how to use it the right way
— WOW! You should see it work!
So, before we dive into the word this morning I need to share with you a little something from our past.
Believe it or not,
but in the 70s through the early 90s,
in many Christian circles,
it was COMMON to have people quote scripture to one another…
It was very real
and a very “every-day” sort of thing.
At least where I’m from.
Christians would memorize the Word of God
and speak it to one another.
Sunday Schools would reinforce memorization.
Youth Groups would award teens who could use the scriptures.
Back then,
We would warn each other about sin.
We would encourage each other to keep going.
All using scriptures!
And that sounds pretty great - like even - biblical!
Do you remember how I showed you that screwdriver?
Sometimes, the way scriptures were quoted
became the “Jesus answer” to everything.
Do you know what that means? The “Jesus Answer”?
I’ll give you an example…
In children’s church or Sunday School you may have been asked…
“Who loves you more than anyone else ever??”
And some of the kids would know to say, “Jesus.”
That was followed by an exuberant — “THAT’S RIGHT! VERY GOOD”
The Jesus answer.
It was the answer to every question that anyone gave you in Sunday School or Children’s Church.
It was a response that required NO THINKING.
For Kim and me
— it began to feel like every time we shared an honest feeling, we were given the Jesus Answer through a bible verse.
A response that required no listening or thought.
If you shared a heartache — you were given a scripture — like a bandaid over an open wound to the heart.
If you were grieving a lost loved one — you were given a scripture — doled out to you like a tissue “there, there”
The problem wasn’t the Scripture.
The problem was that Scripture had been used as a substitute for listening, compassion, and relationship.
They hurt more than they helped.
They felt like that plastic covering on grandma’s couch and recliner.
Fake.
Neither one of us felt heard.
Loved.
Understood.
What was meant to be used as a powerful tool that could minister to our souls
had become this device of indifference.
By quoting a verse, we excused ourselves from entering into what the other person was actually feeling—
— and still felt spiritual for doing it.
Hear me on this…
The problem is never the Word of God
—the problem is how we handle it.
And that’s exactly why Paul gives this charge to Timothy…
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season;
reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
It’s important that we keep in mind two things;
First, Paul is speaking directly to a pastor. We shouldn’t pretend otherwise.
AND…At the same time, while every Christian is not called to stand behind a pulpit, every Christian is called to proclaim the truth wherever God has placed them
So when are supposed to preach the word?
Seasons
Seasons
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season;
reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
Think like a farmer -
Whether you’ve got 600 acres or a small field behind your house…
You would be aware that some seeds are only meant to be planted at certain times, or certain seasons.
You would also be aware that there would be a specific time you need to harvest.. a season of harvest.
At the time of this letter most people were fishermen or farmers
— the bulk of those being farmers.
That means they understood seasons very well.
Paul told him, preach in season out of season.
Now we know that there is a time to sow seeds, there is a time to water and weed, there is a time to harvest.
When it was time to do those things it was “in season”
Which means there was also a time when you shouldn’t sow, water, weed, or harvest.
At those times it was considered “out of season”.
When are we supposed to preach the word of God?
Paul said, “be ready in season and out of season”
What does that even mean?
It means…
When it is convenient and when it is not
It means…
When the circumstances are difficult - you need to share the word!
Whether they welcome it — or whether it is not…
When it is popular — or when it is unpopular…
When the truth fits the culture — and when it confronts culture…
When a congregation is receptive — and when it produces opposition…
And do you know the reason why we can’t use people as a gauge?
Because people are at the place where they don’t want to hear truth.
They want to hear whatever makes them feel good.
And when truth doesn’t fit their needs anymore you hear things like…
“I live by my own truth”
“What is truth?”
Or my least favorite…
“Whose truth are we talking about?”
No Paul warned Timothy that —2000 years ago — people were starting to get to the place where the y wanted teachers who would tell them that their spiritual journey is perfectly fine just like it is.
For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
People will always be tempted to find voices that affirm what they already want.
That was true in Timothy’s day, and it is true in ours.
But we cannot measure truth by how comforting it feels,
how popular it becomes,
or how loudly people applaud it.
You cannot measure faithfulness by applause.
Sometimes you can preach truth clearly, lovingly, and accurately —
and still face resistance.
That’s why Paul said, ‘be ready in season and out of season
Because the circumstances don’t matter - speaking the word of God does.
Reprove
Reprove
Sometimes we are afraid to speak the word of God into people’s lives…
But there’s a real danger behind concealing the word of God, refusing to preach the word…
Because the word of God has POWER!
It is capable of doing SO much in the hearts and lives of people.
Let’s look back to 2 Timothy 4:2 and see what all it can do.
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
Paul writes that the Word of God reproves, rebukes, and exhorts.
When whomever preaching or proclaiming the word of God has been taught with good teaching and whose intent is to encourage people out of love…
Then the word of God will do three things…
REPROVE, REBUKE, AND EXHORT.
Lexham Theological Wordbook ἐλέγχω
ἐλέγχω (elenchō). vb. to convict, expose
The word of God will convict people, it will expose their sinful living so that they can repent.
Repentance is not produced by the music, the atmosphere, or the smoothness of a pastor’s words…
It comes when The Holy Spirit takes the Word of God, exposes what is wrong, and calls the hearer to turn to God.
That’s how repentance happens —
The working of Holy Spirit through REPROVING or CONVICTING our hearts.
But it will never happen if we never speak it whether it feel feels like the right time or not.
Rebuke
Rebuke
Paul then says the word of God has the power to REBUKE:
REBUKE
Lexham Theological Wordbook ἐπιτιμάω
ἐπιτιμάω (epitimaō). vb. to rebuke. Primarily refers to
And as you know, a lot of people don’t like to be corrected or rebuked.
Some people get real offended when this happens and they wrongfully quote
“Judge not, that you be not judged.
But there’s a difference between rebuking and judging.
The kind of judgment Jesus condemns is self-righteous condemnation that places yourself above others.
But biblical rebuke does not say, “I am better than you.”
It says, “Hey! This path is dangerous, and I love you too much to remain silent.”
Sometimes people feel like that isn’t loving people - it isn’t accepting people, it isn’t showing them grace… but repeatedly scripture paints an all together different idea.
Look at this passage from Proverbs 27
An open rebuke
is better than hidden love!
An open rebuke can be a very real expression of love.
Meanwhile, staying silent out of deference, while someone destroys themselves, actually conceals the love we claim to have for them.
And this scripture shows us it is better to say it than to HIDE your love for them…
This also shows us that rebuke must always come from love,
not offense,
pride, or anger.
SO, how DO we rebuke the way scripture commands?
If you see a friend getting drunk, rebuke them with the word of God. Tell them…
Don’t be drunk with wine,
because that will ruin your life.
Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,
See, you’re not placing yourself in a position above them or judging them…
You’re not saying that one glass of wine,
bourbon, or Allen’s Coffee Brandy
is going to send them to hell.
You are addressing what Scripture addresses: drunkenness.
You are lovingly redirecting them toward the truth
—which is away from drunkenness,
And instead being filled with the Spirit of God.
What if you know a friend is committing adultery?
Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.
The odds are, your friend probably already KNOWS what they’re doing is wrong…
So speak the truth of God’s Word to them—
not to shame them, but to warn them,
call them to repentance,
and point them toward restoration
Exhort
Exhort
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
The last word here is exhort…. To incite by words or advice; to animate or urge by arguments to a good deed…
Some Christians think the Bible is only a hammer.
But sometimes God intends it to be a staff for someone who can barely keep walking.
Sometimes it is a hand on the shoulder.
Sometimes it is fuel for a tired soul.
Often it is a gentle redirection, helping someone find the way home.
Now remember what we said at the beginning about the Jesus answer?
Exhortation is not throwing a verse at someone so that we can avoid entering their pain.
We listen first.
We care.
We sit with them.
We try to understand.
And then, with patience, wisdom, and love,
we bring the Word of God into the place where they are hurting.
Imagine someone telling you that they feel absolutely worn out — fatigued…
They don’t feel like anyone cares what they’re going through…
You could read Hebrews 12:1-2 to them and remind them…
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith…
Scripture tells us that you are surrounded CONSTANTLY by a cloud of witnesses to this life of faith!
We are surrounded by the testimony of people who trusted God before us.
Their lives remind us that God is faithful and the race can be finished.
Now, let go of anything that is slowing you down - lay aside the sin that keeps tripping you up and put them down in front of Jesus and let’s run this race together!
Or…
Imagine if your co-worker just lost their job.
Imagine that your coworker has just lost their job. First, you listen. You sit with them. You acknowledge their fear and uncertainty. Then, when the moment is right, you may remind them of Proverbs 3…
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
One more…
Many people struggle with fear and are wrecked with anxieties about life.
Some are working through discouragement in their home and family…
Can you imagine exhorting them with a verse like…
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Not as a way of dismissing their anxiety,
but as a way of reminding them that they do not face it alone
Wouldn’t it be powerful if we could use the word of God to help our friends and family?
Did you notice that Paul didn’t tell Timothy to encourage people with his opinions.
When we encourage people by exhorting them, it has power.
It has authority.
Because it comes from God’s word — not us!
But here’s our problem…
most of us would love to encourage people with the word of God, we just don’t know enough Scripture to do it.
I’ve been teaching music for years and I’m reminded that the same problem exists within young budding musicians…
They get frustrated when they can’t remember the fingering…
They lose hope when they can’t play a note they KNOW they should be able to play…
They get angry when they don’t MAGICALLY know how to play the instrument…
ALL musicians are the same… we all desire to just POOF- play the instrument.
Christians are very similar…
we believe if we hear the bible enough we will just POOF - know it.
It doesn’t happen that way.
You’ve got to read or listen to it daily.
Study the word of God — memorize it!
This takes practice - doing it over and over and over.
I read this the other day, “What spills reveals what fills”
In other words, if you fill yourself with the word of God — that’s what will spill out of you.
If you fill yourself with Facebook - that’s what will spill out of you. The opinions and beliefs of what you’ve filled up on will come out of you.
It’s scriptural principle; Jesus said it this way…
A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.
What you say flows from what is in your heart.
What you say flows from what is in your heart.
Let me ask you this as I close…
What is in your heart today?
Because…
A bitter heart will turn rebuke into retaliation.
An unrepentant, sin-filled heart will turn a loving reproof into hypocrisy.
A heart that is never being filled by God’s truth will eventually run out of courage to offer anyone else.
What is in your heart today?
So before we use the Word on someone else,
we must first allow the Word to work on us.
The Word is not the problem.
The Word is powerful.
But we must learn to handle it properly.
Not like a weapon used to injure people.
Not like a quick answer used to avoid listening.
But use it as God intended:
to expose what is wrong, so that it may be made right…
to warn those walking toward danger to come back home…
and to strengthen those who are trying to keep going.
Reproof exposes what is wrong.
Rebuke warns us to stop.
Exhortation gives us courage to move in the right direction.
And the governing phrase over all three is:
with complete patience and teaching.
So today,
we start with ourselves…
And we examine our hearts for any bitterness,
any sin that has taken the throne of our heart,
and we examine our hearts for fatigue — has our heart run dry, is it lacking encouragement because we haven’t experienced a filling of Holy Spirit.
Let’s get our heart right so we can be used by God.
Let’s go to the Father.
This morning, let’s apply the word of God to our own souls.
so we can preach the word of God in season and out of season.
