Vilified then Vindicated

Whatever it Takes

Gone back to your high school reunion?

Interesting to see how ppl turned out 40 or 50 years later.

Star QB, head cheerleader, soloist in the musical, valedictorian.

These ppl who were highly successful in high school, often times are not so successful as adults.

When things come easy to us early we aren’t so prepared for the hard things that inevitably come along later.

My glory days are long since gone. I am the has been’s has been. My highest achievements were on the high school baseball team.

I was fortunate to play w/ some talented guys. 6 of our starting 10 rec’d full ride scholarships, 3 were drafted into professional baseball.

The team was successful. 2 state championships. Accolades and awards.

I was place-holder. One of the other guys. I didn’t get the individual recognition that my teammates got.

Pressure on all of us, just different. The stars had to perform. I just had to do my job and let the other guys carry the team.

The stars had the pressure to carry the team. Perform in a big way.

When I stepped into the batter’s box I had to perform and not hold them back by making a dumb out. I had to field the ground balls that came to me so they could get where baseball was going to take them.

The season, practice began in late February and it all ended in late May. For 3 months we had to stay after it. We had to maintain a high level of performance.

Not just on the baseball field, too. I had to maintain grades. I was busier. We all had to make sacrifices. We had to make grades first.

We’d get deep into the season and wonder if we could maintain that level of performance.

I had a friend who was in music and drama. That same spring he was preparing for the spring musical. We didn’t see much of each other.

Same deal. They started about the same time baseball did with their practices and when the curtain went up they had to be ready to perform and maintain a high level throughout the season.

My smart friends, senior year, competing for valedictorian. Same deal. Sacrifices had to be made b/c they were all competing for that top spot.

We came thru high school when no body got participation trophies. There was a winner. Everybody else lost. Thanks for playing.

That was high school. At the time, it was everything. It was stressful and the hardest thing I had ever done.

Then, I grew up and did things ever get harder!

It didn’t matter if it was athletics, music, academics. Just like it doesn’t matter what your career is/was, parenthood, ministry, marriage, any of life’s big endeavors.

They all require a certain level of ability, self-discipline, sacrifice, endurance, commitment, dedication, motivation, and the courage to try and use whatever is available to you.

Beyond high school, where does the stuff come from to be able to perform, the right actions, the right words, the right attitudes, where does it come from to be able to maintain a high level of performance for an extended time to get the important things done well?

Today, we’re in 2 Timothy ch.2 where Paul is encouraging Timothy and the Christians in Ephesus to stay committed and dedicated to doing the important things even though it’s gotten very hard.

He uses some illustrations we can relate to today and reminds them that the ppl around them need this because life is hard and doing the right things can bring more trouble and struggle into your life.

Based on what Jesus was able to do, we can be confident that if we need it, God will provide it, so we can do it. Whatever it is that God is calling us to do.

2 Timothy ch.2 starts out w/ 3 commands and 3 illustrations that lay the foundation to what God wants us to get today. And, Pauls says, God will give each of us our own applications to this lesson as we reflect on what God’s Word says here.

Reflection

2 Timothy 2:1-

2 Timothy 2:1–7 NIV

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

There are 3 commands followed by 3 illustrations.

The 1st command: Be Strong!

Accessing the power of God is a pre-requisite to performing the next 2 commands.

It’s passive in its construction. IOW, what Paul means is “surrender yourself to God’s power.” Don’t try this on your own, you’ll fail.

Seek the power that God makes available to you t/b able to do what you need to do.

There is a connection between power and grace.

Paul’s emphasis is on the gracious nature of God. That is, God is gracious, undeservingly generous, to not shut off the power supply every time we mess it up.

Which, God has every right to do, but He doesn’t. We come off one really bad episode in our lives and the power to be able to do the next big thing right is still there.

“in Christ Jesus.” Faith in Who He is and a close walk w/ Him is where the power and grace are found.

The general rule is, a believer who is in close fellowship w/ Christ most all the time, w/ the occasional mess up in fits of selfishness will not cause God to cut off the power supply.

Therefore, we will always have the strength available to us to be strong when God calls us to hard things.

The 2nd command: Entrust what you’ve learned about God to reliable people.

Share what you’ve learned. Talk about your experiences w/ the power of God to ppl who need the power of God.

One main reason why I taught thru the names of God this summer so we would all come to know God better and know what to expect of HIm. What does He promise us and what hasn’t he promised that we might inappropriately expect of Him anyway?

I entrust them to you. You, in turn can entrust them to those who weren’t here but who need to know they may be expecting the wrong things from God.

As these messages get out, passed on from believer to believer, eventually, those who don’t know Jesus will hear and hopefully have a better idea of what God will do for them if they would believe and receive Jesus as their Savior.

Paul’s emphasis here is more about the reliable ppl than it is about entrusting anything to them.

So, yes, he wrote this to Timothy, the pastor. And, fully expected him to read it to the church. They would know what was expected of them.

Command 2b is: be reliable.

Is your car reliable? It has to work and do what you expect it to do when you need it to do it. Nothing messes my day up more than going out to start my car in the morning and have it not start.

Sara was driving up from the valley a couple of weeks ago and got to the top of plateau about 10 mi south of here and all kinds of bells and buzzers were going off in her car that her transmission was over-heating.

Apparently, cruise control on a very hot day w/ a smaller engine can cause the transmission to overheat. She pulls over and calls me. Talk about messing my day up.

I’m worried about my wife making it home and what will the eventual repair cost me.

I need for my wife to have a reliable car for when she drives to the valley to see our kids or to Tucson to visit her parents.

We need t/b able to rely on women’s ministry leadership team to do things like their annual retreat, monthly fellowship gatherings, and weekly bible study.

We need t/b able to rely on the men to do similarly.

We need t/b able to rely on the ppl to pick up the bread, and others to give it out, so that the message of God’s gracious, undeserved provision gets out into this community so that those who are unfamiliar get familiar w/ God’s provision.

We need t/b able to rely on the ppl in charge and w/ responsibility for the Oktoberfest. We all have a little responsibility to invite those around to come down to the church Friday.

There need t/b tables and chairs set up.

The brats need t/b cooked, sauerkraut, too. The potato salad needs t/b ready, the fire pits and s’mores.

Entrust these things, the BS that leads to maturity; the prayer that leads to discovering our ID in Christ, the service opportunities that keep us humble; and the playful, fun, fellowship events that build us into a community.

Entrust these things to reliable ppl. You can’t share what you don’t have. So, we all need t/b on this path together and invite ppl to join us along the way.

We all get it coming and going. Once it’s entrusted to you, pass it along and entrust it to others. That’s church.

The 3rd command: Join Paul in suffering.

Hold on, you had me up to this point.

God provides the strength we need and commands that we get involved entrusting things to the next generation of leaders. But, then we’re warned there may be a cost. And don’t shy away from the cost and the consequences of doing the right things.

Paul probably knows talking too much about suffering here isn’t very motivating. He doesn’t spend much energy here.

They knew, we know, how much trouble he had brought to himself.

So, he moves on to 3 illustrations to make his point here.

The 1st illustration: Military

Be like a good soldier.

I so appreciate our active duty, veterans, and our 1st responders; fire fighters and law enforcement.

These are the ppl who’s orders are to run toward the trouble so the rest of us can run away.

I will run away screaming like a teen age girl.

I don’t have to outrun the bear, I just have outrun you.

Last year we had an event behind the church. A fugitive stole a minivan and raced down I17 at 110 mph, exited here, law enforcement put down the strips that popped his tires. He stopped the van in the vacant lot 2 doors down, he ran into the storage lot behind the church and into Charlie’s trailer.

Charlie is in their minding his own business when this guy opens the door and jumps under his bed. Charlie comes running out and Tom sees him finds out what’s going on.

Law enforcement is on the scene immediately. When I get back from lunch there were Sheriff’s deputies, Flagstaff police, Highway Patrol, FBI, ATF, our fire dept on scene, a helicopter circling above.

I watched for a while from my office window then got to work. Until I saw the word S.W.A.T on an armored vehicle park right outside my office window.

I walk out the door to check things out, they notice me and come right over and ask me to leave b/c the guy is threatening to come out w/ guns blazing and if there’s shooting they don’t think the church walls will keep the bullets out.

Well, you don’t have to ask twice. I’m outta here!

Soldiers, first responders, they have a big mission. But, their first responsibility is to please their commanding officer. He/she has their orders and the rank and file may not know the bigger picture, but they each have their orders to obey.

Everybody does their job to the best of their ability.

A soldier is single-minded in their devotion and commitment. They make significant sacrifices I don’t have to. I get to go to ball games, concerts, visit my kids when I want to, play golf, go to movies, sleep in my own bed w/ my wife. A soldier does not.

Called to duty. Commanded into action. Not involved in anything else to the degree that it prevents him or her from fulfilling his first responsibilities.

In our case, Jesus is our commanding officer and our highest responsibility is to please him over everyone and everything else.

It’s not that we’re not involved w/ civilian affairs at all. It’s that we don’t let them prevent us from being reliable, and getting after our highest priority.

The 2nd illustration is that of an athlete. The ancient Greeks were famous for their athletic competitions. These led to our modern olympic games.

Runs the race to win. Does whatever it takes to win w/in the rules. Competes hard. Self-disciplined practice and training. Has good eating habits, sleep habits, and doesn’t use anything that slows him down.

The 3rd illustration: Agriculture.

Few careers, esp. in c.1, who worked harder. Up before the sun. Out till after it sets. Long hours, physical labor, not the highest income.

Diligent and dependent on the weather. If the weather was about to change, then everything else was canceled and the farmer gets to work.

He gets to enjoy the fruit of his labor.

All 3 of these illustrations link ability, discipline, diligence to obtaining a valuable goal.

The soldier gets the approval of his commander.

The athlete wins a gold medal and financial prize.

The farmer eats well and the satisfaction of feeding the community.

2 of the 3 are team activities. Soldiers and farmers all work w/ those around them for the good of the community.

And, the greatest reward for each is received in heaven when Jesus welcomes them home.

This further illustrates

2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Courage, strength, love for those laboring beside and the good of the community, and the self-discipline to be successful.

Is it work all the effort, the hard work, discipline and surrender to the process? It is when our commander is pleased w/ us and we enjoy the fruit of our labor.

Paul finishes this passage with another command: Reflect on this lesson.

That is, meditate on it. The illustrations may not fit exactly, but God will give you insight, reveal to you your specific applications to what Paul is teaching here.

You may not be a soldier, never been athletic, and never tended a garden, much less a farm. But, God can take these lessons and the principles behind them and will tell you what He wants you to do next.

That’s exactly why I end every sermon w/ ideas for you apply. That is, God will take what I offer in general and mold it into a specific activity for each of you.

Don’t take my word for it, God is speaking, listen to Him.

So, here it is. 3 commands, 3 illustrations, then one last command.

What would motivate us to obey these commands, reflect on the illustrations to the point that God could tell us something He wants us to do that might end up causing us trouble in the long run?

Why would we do this?

Remember

2 Timothy 2:8–10 NIV

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

2 Timothy 2:8–13 NIV

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

Another command to go w/ the dominant command in the first passage. Once you’ve reflected, now remember.

Remember what?

We all have memory problems. Especially when it comes to remembering what God has done so that we can know what we can do.

Remembering is a key theme in this letter. In ch.1 Paul wrote to remember his ancestors, remember the legacy of faith your g-mother and mother left you, remember what the prophets wrote and what God has done.

He picks it up here.

Remember, the resurrection has historical significance and future hope.

Jesus’ suffering led to His crucifixion, but that was not the end. He was vilified, made out to be the worst of the worst of all villain. After all, only the worst were crucified.

To the casual observer, someone not paying attention, a safe assumption would be that Jesus was guilty of the worst crime.

But, then as He was vilified in a kangaroo court he was vindicated when he walked out of his grave.

Vilified as a criminal and crucified.

Vindicated as the Savior and raised from the dead.

Paul, languishing in prison, vilified himself. Would he be vindicated and raised into heaven?

He was confident he would be.

To join him and follow in his footsteps would mean to allow yourself to be vilified and suffer. Then, vindicated and raised.

Remember, Jesus’ story didn’t end in the grave. Yours won’t either.

Paul was all in w/ Jesus even though it cost him so much.

He lived first hand human weakness vs. heavenly strength.

He was bound and couldn’t break his chains. But God was not bound even though Paul was. And the message got out.

In spite of our weaknesses and limitations God is still at work saving ppl and changing lives.

Paul’s place in prison as he wrote this indicated the authorities considered him to be among the worst of the worst, too. He was following in the footsteps of Jesus.

In his cell, chained to a guard, Paul had a captive audience. Guards were saved and when transferred took the message of Jesus w/ them to their new duty station.

These guards became unlikely missionaries sharing their lives and story w/ anyone who would listen. More soldiers and civilians were saved and their lives changed.

As the message spread, the church grew. Reliable ppl shared their life story w/ ppl who needed Jesus like they did.

Paul’s reasoning behind his willingness to remain faithful even as he suffered in prison was twofold.

First, divine power.

Second, human need

“Therefore, I endure...” Holding on in times of trouble he looked beyond his current struggle to the eventual victorious outcome of his own resurrection. A testimony of God’s power.

And, the ppl he knew, and those like us he never knew, would be saved as they heard Jesus’ story.

No matter how much or how little it may cost us, there are ppl all over MP who need Jesus and you might be the best hope they have to meet him.

A combination of God’s power and an awareness of human need make enduring the hardest afflictions worthwhile.

We must all embrace the importance of being reliable, being entrusted w/ the responsibility and carrying the torch of the message of Jesus to our friends who need it most.

If you had a friend dying of cancer and you had the cure would you keep it to yourself?

If you have a friend who doesn’t know Jesus and is destined to be separated from God for all eternity and you know the cure, would you keep Him to yourself?

Yes, you can. B/C of the gift God gave you when you received the cure.

Remember Jesus’ story didn’t end in the grave. He was vilified in a kangaroo court but then vindicated by God when He walked out of his grave.

Reflect on these things and God will give you insight into what He is calling you to do today.

Applications

Be strong

There’s al season for everything. Out our age, most seasons last longer than one baseball season.

The season for launching kids and grand kids.

The season for saying good-bye to our parents.

The season for adapting to an aging body and mind.

The season for sharing your story about Jesus in MP and the valley while you have the opportunity.

God has given us a gift that enables us to have the strength that lasts, a love that cares more about the well-being of those around us than our own, and the self-discipline to be able to practice privately so we can perform publicly when the ppl around us need it most.

Be strong and stay in the game.

Be reliable

Dedicate yourself to being qualified to do what others are already doing.

We all need ppl we can count on, who are responsible and will take what we are entrusting to you and get the right things done.

Over the last few weeks we had places for you to sign up to get involved w/ us next summer when you return and help us accomplish our mission here in MP.

Your churches in the valley need you, too. God is calling all of us to receive what He has already given others and work together to do what the church is called to do.

What is God calling you to do?

Join us in the work

Many of us are already in the game and we need role players, stars, leaders and we need followers.

There will be a cost in the sacrifice to be successful. Don’t let this cost keep you from joining us.

There will always be enough time to get done everything you need to do and still be able to compete to win.

As we wrap up this season and begin the next winter season, who is God calling you to join in whatever they are doing?

Remember, Jesus was vilified but then He was vindicated.

Vilified then vindicated.

We will be, too.

And, based on what Jesus was able to do, we can be confident that if we need it, God will provide it, so we can do it. Whatever it is that God is calling us to do.