Proclaim The Truth
Notes
Transcript
Read: 2 Timothy 3:10-4:8.
Before the students make there way down. I would like to say publicly that we have a great group of young people here. They have made it easy to minister to them. Hillside you should be proud of your kids. They are truly a great group. But if I can say to you young people, you don’t know everything. You don’t have all the answers, you are not the smartest person in the room. I am only about 10 years from being 19, and everyday I think, wow was I dumb at your age. and I am still learning. but do you know where you will learn? Them. Now do they know everything? no… but they know more.
Now adults they need you. They, not only need you to be faithful and continue, but to invest in them. and not just financially. They need you to pray for them, to teach them, they need you to guide them. And why stop with them? Do that for the next generation and the next until God calls you home.
They need you to Proclaim the Truth in your life. Our young people need to see some adults standing for and living out the truth of God’s Word. They won’t see that in school or on tictoc.
Students you may make your way to your seats. As we begin I want to first say that although I read 15 verse tonight, I will not bring down all the verses for time sake but I thought it was important to understand the contacts of the message.
Truth is not always easy for people. In fact, because of our sin nature telling the truth is not something that comes naturally.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
If you are here tonight and you were born from a father and mother you are a sinner. That means all of us.
Now, when someone is not honest we call that what? a Liar.
Lying has been around from the beginning. Even as the serpent spoke to Eve in the garden.
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
We know that lying is something Satan does that brings people to him. He is the father of lies.
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Isn’t it funny how kids think they can get away with lying. I am a janitor at a elementary school and Just this past week a kid raised his hand in the lunch room and pointed at the kid next to him and said, “he took my cookie.” when I turned to the kid next to him he immediately started to deny that he had taken the cookie. I only had to say, “your face betrays you” before the kid started crying. He had cookie all over his face.
Although, the truth doesn’t come naturally a world of sinners. God calls us to speak the truth.
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
If you turn me off the rest of my message tonight, hear this that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried and rose again and He did it all for you. that is the truth that will set you free.
That truth is what God’s people need to proclaim tonight first and foremost. We get that Truth from the Word of God out to the world. I am glad to be raised in a church that preaches the whole council of God. We don’t pick and chose what we like and don’t like from the Bible but we stand and preach from the whole thing.
This book gives us the answers for our life and it gives us what our world needs. That a boy is a boy, a girl is a girl. God created them both no mater their, gender, background, or color. And He sent His son Jesus to die for their sins and bring them into fellowship with Him.
Okay, to get in the text tonight. First to point to the writer of this letter. Is Paul, who is writing this last letter to young Timothy who Paul has raised in the ministry.
Just to fill in the first few verses. Paul brings Timothy back to his own testimony, declaring that Timothy knew full well what Paul preached, how he lived, the purpose of his life, and the things he went through. Timothy knew Paul. Paul then points to the Truth in verse 12 that all who live Godly in Christ will suffer persecution. If we lives our lives fully devoted to Christ in all manners of life we will suffer.
After Paul points to that grim reality. It is almost like Paul say but listen Tim, I have some things for you. and I know it won’t be easy because evil men and deceivers are in the world. And they are going to get worse. BUT Timothy Continue! In what? The Truth. Paul says Timothy I know you, know that Truth, you have been with me and have seen God work. Some here tonight, have seen God do some big things. Pastor- from a young age saw God mend your parents marriage. Pastor Tolbert- you saw God build 3 buildings in your ministry. I was apart in putting nails in this floor and build this room. I never dreamed God would allow us to pay it off in 11 years. Some have seen God do mighty things, young people can learn and grow in their faith from those stories.
So, Lets start by defining our terms.
What is Truth
What is Truth
Dictionary.com says: the quality or state of being true.
a fact or belief that is accepted as true.
There are things in our world that are debatable, like: the Chief being the best team in the NFL, or what the color of this wall back here is? plum? Maroon?
but there are things that don’t change, no matter how you feel about it. like the fact that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the super bowel. Like, the sky in blue, that what goes up must come down, or that there are 24 hours in a day.
But Today, society, man says that truth cannot be really known. like what is true to you may not be true to me. What is true is true no matter if I believe it or not. You could tell me that the sky in blue, and it doesn’t matter if I believe it, that doesn’t change the truth.
What the World says
What the World says
Truth in our world has almost become a bad word. Something that our society has tried to say in subjective. Saying that truth is subjective is a dangerous place. Why? Because God and Truth are inseparable. Every thought about the essence of truth- what it is, what make it true, and how anyone can know anything for sure, quickly moves us back to God. That why God incarnate- Jesus Christ- is called Truth.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
That is why it is not surprising when someone reject God they also reject His truth. After all to reject God is to reject the Giver of all truth.
In verses 14 and 15 in our text Paul is point to the fact that Timothy knows the truth. Timothy know the Bible, and he say from a child.
What God says
What God says
Tonight you can say you know the truth and it is in your hands.
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
What is Truth? God tells us that His word is truth.
That Truth brings us Salvation. Look verse 15
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Salvation from our sins and to live with God in heaven comes through faith in Christ alone.
How can we know that? because the Bible tells me so.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
We can know also, that the Bible is true because of verse 16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
All scripture is God breathed. God spoke through the inspiration of Holy Spirit and man wrote. I could spend all night just laying out the details of evidence of the Bible, but maybe in another message or someone smarter than me.
Here is the truth, God’s Word is True!
Do you believe it? then Proclaim it
Proclaim
Proclaim
If you believe that God’s Word is true, that Jesus Christ is the one true way to get to heaven, then proclaim that truth in you life.
Not just with your actions. I believe that every believer better live out what they preach. but look at verses 1 and 2.
Paul says right after stating what the Bible is good for, that it’s for salvation, for doctrine, for instruction. and that it will complete you unto all good works. that it has the answers for your life.
He says I charge you Timothy. I warn you, or urge you to Preach the word. To Proclaim the Truth!
God is saying believer to be ready to proclaim the truth at all times
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
That verse is for everyone. Not every Christian is called to be a pastor, not every Christian is called to be a foreign missionary, not every Christian is called to a teaching ministry. But every Christian is called to go to others with the gospel- to personally deliver the life-changing truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And when we take it personally to one person at a time, God uses our witness to make a difference- an eternal difference- one life at a time.
So, will you proclaim that Truth to this generation? weather you are Young or Old tonight you can proclaim that Truth.
If you this is the first time you have heard the truth that Jesus Christ died for your sin and you can have a home in heaven with God forever. We are getting ready to have what we call an invitation and that is your chance to respond to that truth. Pastor will met you right here and he will have someone or take you himself through the Bible and show you how you can know you have a home in heaven. won’t you come tonight?