A Workman Approved by God

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Faith produces contentment and confidence in the Lord’s ability to provide and superintend His purposes for us and for His kingdom.

Fear produces anxiousness and a desire to control the world around us.

When we walk by faith we live in the Truth of his Word and are lead by the Holy Spirit.

When we walk in fear we warp the Word to make it fit our desires and we are lead by our pride.

This desire for control leads us into error:

We are rightful heirs with Christ therefore I can claim everything that is his which includes all of the things I want or need from this world. So the point of my faith is to overcome obstacles that keep me from having all I want.

We are holy warriors who are called to fight the evil in the world by forcing those who oppose us in the world to surrender or by destroyed. So the point of our lives is to crush anyone who opposes Jesus and his kingdom. Whether in the political realm, the social realm, or the physical realm.

We are all God’s children. He doesn’t have only one truth for us to live by. Religions are just a sets of rules that all lead to the same God. So our religion has more to do with what I connect with and what makes sense to me. My wisdom is equal to that of God’s wisdom so I can chose my own path and He will be glad i did.

Heresy does not have an end point. Man has recycled many heresies throughout history because satan has been there prompting them.

To be faithful to the end means that we are not only committed to God but to all that He revealed.

Our pride tells us that we can come up with a better way when things get hard.

Our pride tells us that we can fix the problems of the world and usher in a utopia if we but try hard enough.

Jesus said the opposite. There is one way. It is him. There is one truth. It is him. There is one life. It is in him.

So, did Jesus come to conquer?

Did Jesus come to get all he was due?

Did Jesus demand the easy path?

NO! And we aren’t called to this either. We are called to represent Jesus. To show how Jesus changed our lives and how he can change others. We know these things because God has revealed the truth to us in his word. Today’s message is all about guarding the truth. This has been the task of the church and the work of the Holy Spirit throughout the generations. Will we be kingdom minded or get distracted by world? We are the next link in the chain, will we be faithful or will we fall?

Pray

Read - Today’s passage is 2 Timothy 2:14-4:4

2 Timothy 2:14–4:4 ESV

14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” 20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. 22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. 1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. 10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 1 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.

The Battle over Truth

2 Timothy 2:14 ESV

14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.

Remind them:

To fan into flame the gift of God by walking in the Spirit.

To Endure in all circumstances for the sake of the God’s Kingdom.

It began in the Garden with Satan’s lies. Did God really say? Did he really mean? Shouldn’t you be his equal?

A workman Approved by God

Study the Word of God. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Get junk out of their life. (2 Timothy 2:16-21)

Stay away from sin. (2 Timothy 2:22)

Speak truth with Kindness. (2 Timothy 2:23-26)

Study the Word of God.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Get Junk out of their life:

2 Timothy 2:16–21 ESV

16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” 20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

Stay away from Sin:

2 Timothy 2:22 ESV

22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Speak with kindness:

2 Timothy 2:23–26 ESV

23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

A Disqualified Workman

They have evil character. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

Shrewd Manipulators who cannot see truth. (2 Timothy 3:6-8)

There schemes will be seen. (2 Timothy 3:9)

They have evil character:

2 Timothy 3:1–5 ESV

1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

They are Shrewd Manipulators who cannot see Truth:

2 Timothy 3:6–8 ESV

6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.

There schemes will be seen and will be their undoing:

2 Timothy 3:9 ESV

9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

Serving God or self?

2 Timothy 3:10–13 ESV

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

The lies that make up heresy always revolve around us. What we gain. What we can do. The focus turns from the powerful working of God . . . even through hardship and persecution . . . to man trying to prop up a false version of God.

How do I make sure that I am a workman approved by God?

2 Timothy 3:14–17 ESV

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Walk in the Truth of the Word.

Through them you were saved

Through them you are trained

Through them you are equipped

What must I be on guard against?

2 Timothy 4:1–4 ESV

1 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.

The dangers to my walk:

Not listening to godly teaching.

Only listening to what pleases.

Warping the truth into Myths.

A workman Approved by God

Study the Word of God. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Get junk out of their life. (2 Timothy 2:16-21)

Stay away from sin. (2 Timothy 2:22)

Speak truth with Kindness. (2 Timothy 2:23-26)

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