A Strong Spiritual Life (2Tim [2]1-7)
A Strong Spiritual Life
Text: II Timothy 2:1-7
Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)
Date Preached - (03/25/01)
Introduction:
ILLUS: Malnutrition, anorexia, bulimia are all an awful plight or condition for one to be in.
Malnutrition – poor nutrition caused by an inadequate or unbalanced diet, or by defective assimilation or utilization of nutrients.
Anorexia – Extreme body emaciation caused by an emotional or psychological aversion to food and eating.
Bulimia – An “illness” with recurrent, compulsive episodes of binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting an/or purging with laxatives.
This is unfortunately where many people live spiritually.
Spiritual malnutrition results in an environment where the Scriptures are deemphasized or utilized in a unscriptural way.
Spiritual anorexia is aversion to reading the Scriptures.
Spiritual bulimia is an aversion to applying the Scripture to my life.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
I. The causes of spiritual weakness.
A. Spiritual weakness results from weak leadership.
Future generations depended on Timothy’s strength vs.2
B. Spiritual weakness results from fatigue, frustration and failure in the Lord’s work.
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Now if we are looking to and trusting our own resources this can be a huge problem.
ILLUS: Old ship run aground and buried in sand defied the efforts of many to free her. Yet through a feat of engineering she was freed by the tide and the help of a couple of barges.
II. The command to be strong. Vs. 1
“Be strong” is a passive imperative.
Imperative – indicating a command.
It is a command given in love. The strongest of commands are given in love. Love constrains and compels.
Passive – suggesting that Timothy’s strength was not in himself.
III. Four key elements of a strong spiritual life. Vs.2-6
Paul employs illustrations of four separate vocations that demonstrate the various aspects of spiritual strength.
A. Teaching as the Teacher of Teachersvs.2
1. Four generations of teachers are mentioned in verse 2.
2. The idea is that of an indefinitely continuing process of spiritual reproduction.
The gospel is to be carried from generation to generation. It is a work that must continue until our Lord returns.
3. “Among many witnesses” carries the fuller idea of Timothy’s exposure to the confirming testimony of other teachers in addition to Paul.
Some of these may have already been martyred and now part of the cloud of witnesses.
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
4. This verse has in view the careful, systematic training of church leaders who will teach and disciple other potential leaders in the fullness of God’s Word.
1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
There are too many dropouts. Too many dropping the baton.
You must keep going and help others to get going and keep going.
5. “Faithful” refers to men of spiritual character and spiritual giftedness.
These are already proven men. They are trained for teaching. They are trained for leadership.
We are to….
Carefully guard the truth
Carefully teach truth
Carefully select those who will teach truth
There is a wider and more general sense in which this applies to the responsibility of every believer to teach God’s truth to any other believer.
B. Suffering hardship as the Soldier vs.3-4
We are in a battle!!
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
What are the Marks of a Good Soldier?
1. A willingness to endure hardness. Vs.3
Not minimum duty.
It is not a 9-5 job.
To suffer evil or pain along with someone else.
Some pray “ Lord give me strength” – Strength comes from bearing the burden.
2. A separation from the entanglement of the affairs of this life. Vs.4A
Sin entangles, so does schedule. Look to simplify, not complicate your life.
LOOK UP & READ Luke 9:57-62
3. A genuine desire to please the one who enlisted him to be a soldier. Vs.4B
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Pleasing the world demands compromise of God’s truth, God’s standards, and personal holiness.
Who am I pleasing with my life?
C. Achieving lawfully as the Athlete vs.5
The verb is “athleo” meaning to contest, contend, wrestle, struggle
1. “Strive for masteries” is the idea of a struggle that requires great determination to win.
LOOK UP & READ I Corinthians 9:24-27
2. Our spiritual competition is not against other Christians.
Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3. The athlete must compete according to the rules.
a. In the Greek games every participant had to meet three qualifications.
1). He had to be a true born Greek
2). He had to prepare at least ten months for the games
3). He had to compete within the specific rules for a given event.
b. The qualifications of the spiritual Christian are similar.
1). He must be born again
2). He must be faithful in prayer and in study and obedience of God’s Word
3). He must live according to God’s divine standard of discipleship.
4. What are we wrestling for?
The knowledge of Christ, spiritual growth - Phil 3:10 & 14
Souls of men – Galatians 4:19
5. The athlete has the reward of a crown
The Incorruptible Crown – I Cor. 9:24-27;
The Crown of Rejoicing – I Th 2:19;
The Crown of Righteousness – II Tim 4:8;
The Crown of Glory – I Peter 5:4;
The Crown of Life – Jam 1:12, Rev. 2:10;
Crowns Cast at His Feet – Rev. 4:10
D. Hard working as the Husbandman vs.6
1. To “labour” is to sweat and strain to the point of exhaustion if necessary.
2. The daily routine of the farmer is in itself, unattractive and unrewarding.
3. What drives a man to such hard toil is the harvest.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
4. The farmer has the first share of the crops.
IV. The reward of a disciplined life. Vs.7
The teacher has reward in knowing he has enriched the lives of his students.
The soldier has the reward of pleasing his commander in chief.
The athlete has the reward of a trophy.
The farmer has the reward of the first and best share of the crops.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
A. The exhortation
There is an promise, but the exhortation comes first.
The exhortation is to carefully “consider” your own life.
Are you a strong, spiritual and mature Christian?
B. The Promise
If you can answer yes to the above questions then this promise is for you.
The promise is that a strong and faithful Christian will be led by the Lord with spiritual wisdom and insight.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Conclusion: (Review)