The Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth

KJV - 1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry..

When I was in the military I would receive some interesting things sometimes and this was one of them.

This Pastor has guts!! Thought you might enjoy this interesting prayer given in Kansas at the opening session of their Senate. It seems prayer still upsets some people. When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard: "Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!" The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest. In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively. The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India, Africa and Korea. Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, "The Rest of the Story," and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired. With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called "one nation under God."

It would seem we’re living in a time now where many people don’t want to hear the truth. They run from place to place, person to person, church to church looking for someone who will agree with their point of view, who will tell them what they’re doing is wonderful and that their ideas are great, no matter how far off, misguided or just plain wrong they are.

We’re living in a time where people want cheerleaders instead of guidance, and if you dare tell them the truth you are labeled as being rigid or uneducated or inflexible or even unloving. A time when people want to say the truth has versions.

But we should not be surprised with this because it was foretold over 2,000 years ago in this, the Bible. In our Scripture text for today Paul is leaving instructions for his son in the ministry, but these words are for every person who carries the Word of God and speaks to anyone about the church, about God, about salvation. You see it’s not just for the person with pastor or minister before their name so tune back in, if you profess Jesus as you Lord and Savior, this message is for you.

Paul begins the end of this letter with, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom. The NLT says it this way I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom.

Paul is telling Timothy in no uncertain terms, he’s making a declaration before God and Christ Jesus and just in case you have any doubt about the importance of who God and Jesus are, here are their roles. First, God made you, then Jesus redeemed you and one day He will judge you, the living and the dead, when he comes to set up His Kingdom.

That word judge seems to strike a cord with a lot of people and you’ll often hear them say, especially when they are doing something they probably shouldn’t do, they’ll say, “Don’t judge me” or “Who are you to judge me”. We will be judged and wouldn’t you rather be told here while you can do something about your behavior than when you get before God and hear depart from me you worker of iniquity.

It’s important to know Jesus is returning, that’s not a fairy tale, it’s not just a story our grandparents or parents told us, it’s true and when He does He will set up His Kingdom. And when He does you’re either in or you’re out. In that day, there will be no trying to work, beg, borrow or deal your way in, the way will be closed. That’s why we must work while it is day, for the night comes when no man can work. When Jesus returns, it’s too late.

So Paul is letting Timothy know how important it is that he do what he’s about to tell him and what is Paul is telling Timothy to do? Preach the word; and not just any word, but preach the Word of God, preach the truth. He goes on to tell him be prepared. As members of the household of faith we should always have a Word in our heart and in our mouths to give to a brother or sister in Christ. Now here’s where it seems to get tricky.

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

There are those who believe that if you call yourself a Christian all the words that come out of your mouth should be encouraging, words of agreement. Never a negative word. But how many of you know, God is not a God of ego stroking? How many know that the Word of God can be like a sword cutting what it comes in contact with. Paul knew this so he told Timothy to be instant in season and out of season, that means when the time is favorable and when it’s not, preach the Word. When the people or saying amen and when they’re not, preach the Word. When it’s convenient and when it’s not, preach the Word, When they love you and when they hate you, preach the Word. When they come to church and when they don’t, preach the Word.

The Word of God has many purposes, it’s not just to make people feel good about themselves or justify their actions. The Word of God is for reproof, it’s for rebuke, and it’s for exhorting and you do all of these things with long suffering, be patient and use sound doctrine, use the Word of God.

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

Let’s look at the last one first because that’s where people tend to want to stay, they want to stay at the exhorting part. To exhort means to encourage and there’s nothing wrong with encouraging, in fact one of my spiritual gifts is to encourage, so I know how to be a cheerleader, I was one in high school. I know how to cheer you on, how to push you to go just a little bit further, a little bit higher, do a little bit better. I won’t let you quit without a fight, I’m going to believe right up until the time that thing is dead and then I’m going to wait to see if it can be resuscitated. I’m going to believe you’re good, until you show me you’re bad, then I’m going to try to help you get better.

reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

But then there comes a time when correction becomes necessary, people don’t necessarily like that part. They don’t want to be corrected, because in order to receive correction, you have first admit you were wrong. But when you’re correcting someone, remember more important than the correction is the love you show while you’re doing the correction.

A person can receive correction much better when it’s done in love than when it’s done out of spite or malice. If you’re the person doing the correction you must keep in mind what your end goal is. Are you trying to be right or are you trying help prepare them for God’s coming Kingdom? What’s your aim, what are you trying to do? If you’re the person receiving correction, don’t shut down, dismiss or get mad at the person. If you know this is a person who loves you, listen, evaluate, apologize sincerely if necessary, repent to God and move on.

And if you think correction is bad, what until you have to deal with rebuke. Just like the others rebuke is also done with the Word of God. You may get all kind of push back if you have to rebuke someone with the Word of God. Your end game should be the same. You are trying to win a soul for the Kingdom of God, not be right, not get your way, and not manipulate the person or situation; your focus should be on their very soul and helping them be fit for the Kingdom of God.

But there’s a time coming and it’s already here that those who are believers must recognize, know and not get discouraged that people are not going to listen to sound reasoning. It’s in verse 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; they won’t listen to the truth. They won’t listen because of the reprove and rebuke part. If what you’re saying makes them happy, makes them feel good, validates what they want they’re all in, but say something that offends them and they’re out the door. Be ready saints of God, not just this door, but yours too.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

I once had a Jehovah’s Witness come and knock on my door and I took the time to talk with them. We talked about the Scriptures and not once did I disagree with what they said, in fact when they said did you know, I responded why yes I did and it also says this, and after a few times of this they said to me have a nice day and left. You have to know what the Word of God says for yourself, so that when someone gives part of it, you can be like Paul Harvey and give them the rest of the story.

For those chasing after their own lusts, they will separate themselves because when your light shines into their darkness, it gets to be too much for them. When you get so full of the Holy Ghost, your mere presence will change the atmosphere without you saying a Word. Because they want to chase after their own desires instead of letting God put His desires in their hearts, they will lust after the things they see instead of the things of God and then look for preachers who will tell them what they want to hear, like name it and claim it, sow your seed into this ministry and watch God bless you, send a $25 love offering and we’ll send you this prayer clothe that our prayer warriors have been here praying over and it will heal you, their itching ears will look for and find that prosperity preaching.

Now don’t misunderstand, I’ll be the first to say God does not desire that we be in lack, in fact He said He would supply all our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus, but understand this; what we want and what we need, many times are two totally different things. We sometimes can’t handle what we want, so God gives us what we need and we want to act like we’re not satisfied with it, when the truth is we couldn’t handle what we were asking for. Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it.

Those people will have what the Bible calls itching ears, and they will find preachers to tell them exactly what they want to hear. Well that’s not my charge, if I see you heading for a cliff, I’m going to reach out and grab you. Amen?

Paul goes on to say, they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned to fables; the NLT says they will reject the truth and chase after myths. Fables start with once upon a time in a land far away, this book didn’t start that way. We learned in Sunday School last week, that In the beginning God. This Bible is no fairy tale, it’s not a story book to take or leave as you please. You can’t take out what you would consider all the good parts and leave the rest like a buffet.

How many of you have ever been to a buffet, now how many of you have ever eaten every single item on the buffet? I would venture to say no one. You see the whole reason families go to buffets is there is usually something for everyone and you get what you like and leave the rest. But that’s not how the Word of God works, you have to take the whole Book, you have to read it, study it, meditate on it, and keep it in context, not twist into what you want it to be.

This is an awesome book, you’ll find many things in this book that you won’t find anywhere else and here’s the truly wonderful thing about this book, it will save your eternal soul. There is no other book or person who can make that kind of guarantee and back it up.

The world can promise you a lot of things, but can they deliver? Even lifetime guarantees are only good as long as the company stay in business or as long as you own the product or only if you bring it back to them to fix it, then they’re going to look for any signs of abuse or misuse on your part that would void the warranty. But God’s Word has no fine print, there’s no hidden agenda, no mixed message, nothing that would void the warranty, it doesn’t need a money back guarantee because what it promises is free to the receiver.

You see it’s not just about reading it, it’s about receiving it, it’s about believing it, it’s about speaking it, it’s about living it. The last thing Paul tells Timothy in this text is he is to watch thou in all things, he’s telling him he needs to keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t get all tied up in your emotions, when they reject the Word of God, it’s God they’re rejecting, not you, Jesus is the one who paid the price for their salvation not you, so don’t get messed up, tied up and tangled up in their rejection or reaction because it’s not about you. And guess what God will handle them just like He handled you.

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Did anyone in here accept Christ the first time you heard the Word, how about the second, the third? Uh huh some will plant, some will water, but God will provide the increase. You can’t just water a plant one time and think it’s good forever; you have to continue to water that plant, feed it, nourish it, some people even talk to their plants and play music for them. If you’ll do all of that for a plant, what more should you be willing to do for a child of God?

Is a person’s soul not more important than a plant? So don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord, don’t be afraid of rejection, don’t be afraid of trouble or trials or tribulations because The Holy God, the Creator of the universe in the person of the Holy Spirit, dwells in you and is protecting you and encouraging you and reminding you of who you are in Christ Jesus. So you

Keep telling others about the Good News of Christ

Keep telling others that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin

Keep telling others that he walked this earth living a sinless life to show us what holiness looks like

Keep telling others that He allowed them to take him into custody

Keep telling others that He allowed them to hold their mockery of trial - you see being falsely accused is not new

Keep telling others that He allowed them to beat him all night long so we could be healed, you see by his stripes we are healed

Keep telling others that he hung on an old rugged cross, a sinless man taking on the sins of the world

Keep telling others that they didn’t take His life, he laid it down

But Praise God that’s not where the story ends, you see you can’t stop there because you have to

Keep telling others that three days later he got up with all power - he got up with all glory in his hands, he got up with the keys to death, hell and the grave.

You have to tell them he showed himself in his resurrected body for 40 days but then...

Oh then if none of that other news is exciting you, then he ascended to heaven where he now sits at the right hand of the Father interceding on your behalf, interceding on my behalf.

He sits there talking to the Father for us, about us, because He knows us better than we know ourselves, he knows what we have need of even before we ask, but ask anyways.

Do the work of an evangelist because there is nothing you can experience that was worse that what Jesus experienced for us. Do what God has called you to do, do the work of the ministry God has placed in you. Everyone has a ministry gift inside them, whether you have figured yours out or not you have one. If you don’t know what your is, get with me and I’ll give you a tool to help you figure it out.

But before that you have to be certain that your salvation is sure. Have you accepted Jesus as you personal Lord and Savior? Have you given Him dominion over your life?

If you’ve never made that confession, if you’ve never accepted Jesus pray this prayer with me

Lord God, I know that I am a sinner, I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for my sins and that He rose again. Please come into my heart and forgive me for my sins. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

If you prayed that simple prayer for the first time, congratulations you are now saved. Find yourself a Bible believing, Bible teaching church in your area where you can fulfill the ministry God has given you. If you are in the Douglasville area, we would love to see you and have you join us here at Love Christian Center, 3755 Kings Hwy, where The Love of Christ is at the Center of all we do. The harvest is plenteous but the laborers are few and God is looking for laborers He can trust with His truth, He’s looking for laborers He can trust with Jesus. The doors of the church are open for salvation.

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Keep telling others that

endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.