God has called us to be...
Faithful Until the End | 2 Timothy • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 5 viewsWhat are we to be like to be faithful until the end? Paul explains this to Timothy in describing to him doue different offices: teacher, soldier, athlete, and farmer.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
The life of a Christian is not for the faint at heart. To be faithful until the end, means that we are called to strive for excellence as the athlete runs for the prize of victory. It means working and toiling as the farmer does for a bountiful harvest. It means not being entangled by the distractions and sins of life but committing ourself to the faithful service of the Lord. It means taking that which we have been taught and discipling others with the intent of furthering the Gospel and thus furthering the ministry of the Church. It means being strong in the Lord and in the power of His grace. It means being that which God has called us, you and I, to be.
Are you willing to make the sacrifice to be what God has called you to be? Are you willing to teach, to suit up, to be disciplined, to work, and all this within the strength and power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Are you willing to be that which God has called you to be?
Focus Passage
1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. 6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. 7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
Outline
God has called us to be strong (v.1)
God has called us to be strong (v.1)
God has called us to be strong in Him
God has called us to be strong in Him
We are called to be strong in the Lord. Our faithfulness to God should not be derived from be derived from our own internal fear as Paul had already told Timothy previously...
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Nor should our faithfulness to God should be derived from the fears of life, the apathy and complacency of others. Despite the faithfulness or lack of faithfulness of others we are to remain strong and faithful in Him. It is not to be influenced by difficult situations, seasons, or hardships. It is not to be influenced by fears, pain, apathy or the refusal to change to reach the masses by others.
How do we find strength to face our fears, our own limitations, our own failures? How do we find strength to keep going despite the difficulty of a season in life or the ministry? How do we find strength to face the apathy and refusal to change in others to reach the lost of today? How do we keep moving forward?
We do not do this within ourself.
We do this through the strength that we find within the grace we find in our relationship with Jesus Christ.
God has called us to be strong in His grace
God has called us to be strong in His grace
Our faithfulness and our ability to do as God has called us to do, is not based on what we can do. It is based on what he can do. We are called to fight for the Gospel. We are called to fight for the ministry. We are called to fight.
We fight through the strength given to us in Jesus Christ. It is in our weaknesses that we find strength to remain faithful.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
As we upward (toward God) rather than inward (self), we find strength to keep fighting, keep serving, keep being faithful despite the faithlessness of those around us. We must go to God every day afresh and anew and be renewed in this strength.
God has called us to be renewed in His strength daily
God has called us to be renewed in His strength daily
As God renews our strength day by day, let us be reminded while we may suffer in this present age for a little while, God will strengthen us, make us solid in our paths, and gives us strength to endure.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
God has called us to be teachers (v.2)
God has called us to be teachers (v.2)
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
God has called us to teach that which we have been taught - ‘And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses’
God has called us to teach that which we have been taught - ‘And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses’
Timothy had been discipled by not only Paul, but by others as well. None of this investment by others was for naught. He was being discipled, invested in, for a purpose.
He had a long lineage of those that had invested in him, discipled in him. He had Paul. He had his grandmother. He he had his mother.
How many of us have been invested in? How many of us have been discipled? How many men and women have invested into our lives and breathed the breath of life through God’s word into our lives?
What was the reason for all this? Was it for nothing? Was it just for us our knowledge? For our lives to be changed alone? Or was it for something more. It was for something more. It was to invest into the lives others by sharing the Gospel and discipling them.
God has called us to to disciple others so that they may in turn go and teach others - ‘the same commit thou to faith men, who shall be able to teach others also’
God has called us to to disciple others so that they may in turn go and teach others - ‘the same commit thou to faith men, who shall be able to teach others also’
Discipling others is us following that which God has called us to do.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
What are we doing? Are we being faithful to serve, to disciple, to invest into the lives of others?
Or are we just getting knowledge for the sake of getting knowledge and doing nothing with it.
Discipling is mentoring and investing. This is what God has called us to do. This truly is Titus 2 ministry. Are we doing more than just giving money? Are we doing more than just being fed? Are we being active in serving, investing, and ministering to others physically and mission-ally.
God has not only called us to be teachers, He has called us to be soldiers.
God has called us to be soldiers (vv.3-4)
God has called us to be soldiers (vv.3-4)
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
God has drafted every believer into His army - ‘as a good soldier of Jesus Christ’
God has drafted every believer into His army - ‘as a good soldier of Jesus Christ’
Every Christian needs to realize that we are at war. The enemy is on the attack. We are to be on the offensive and the defensive. We are called to fight. We are to be soldiers.
To be properly prepared for this war, we must...
Understand the environment in which we fight. Our environment is not in the flesh but in the Spirit.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Understand the enemy
Our enemy is ferocious
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Our enemy is deceptive
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
be properly suited
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
God has called us to be perseverant - ‘Thou therefore endure hardness’
God has called us to be perseverant - ‘Thou therefore endure hardness’
Being a soldier in God’s army is not for the faint at heart. One will face trials and tribulations.
Perseverance is part of the life of a child of God. We will endure hardships when trying to faithfully serve the Lord.
God has called us to be committed - ‘No man warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life’
God has called us to be committed - ‘No man warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life’
As we face trial, tribulations, and hardships, let us remain committed. Let us not worry about what is going on around us and focus on what is before us.
Paul is not stating that Timothy can’t get married or have a family. What he is stating is not to get entrapped with the desires of this world. Not to get shackled and weighted down by the flesh. He is to keep the focus on being faithful to the Lord. Faithful in service, faithful in missions, faithful in action.
God has called us to recognize that we are to please Him and not man - ‘that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier’
God has called us to recognize that we are to please Him and not man - ‘that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier’
God has called us to be self-disciplined (v.5)
God has called us to be self-disciplined (v.5)
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
God has called us to contend for the prize - ‘…if a man also strive for masteries...’
God has called us to contend for the prize - ‘…if a man also strive for masteries...’
Athletes are some of the most determined and focused individuals that you can find. They fight with passion. They contend with passion. They realize that ultimately only one wins the prize. Yes, there maybe a 2nd or 3rd prize given. But the only one that truly counts is 1st place.
Living in a society where people get concession prizes just for being part of a team or part of a competition has weakened the pursuit of victory by some. I believe that many in the church have began to adopt this same mentality in their service to the Lord. We give just enough financially. We give just enough of our time. We give just enough of our efforts.
It’s not about giving just enough. It’s about contending for the prize. The ultimate prize is the salvation of our souls, our eternal life that is found only in Jesus Christ.
I am not speaking of a works based salvation, however, I am stating that we work because of our salvation.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Our serve and contention for the faith is proof of that salvation and being obedient to that which we have been called to do.
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
God has called us to be self-disciplined - ‘…yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully’
God has called us to be self-disciplined - ‘…yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully’
God has called us to work (v.6)
God has called us to work (v.6)
6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
God has called us to work as the farmer
God has called us to work as the farmer
God has told us we will reap as the farmer reaps
God has told us we will reap as the farmer reaps
Conclusion
Let us do as God has called us to do and consider what He has called us to be, Consider what I say, and the Lord give the understanding in all things (v.7). We are called to think about these things. How often do we do that? How often do we take that which God has taught us through His word and apply it to our lives? As I introduced this message, I close it.
Are you willing to make the sacrifice to be what God has called you to be? Are you willing to teach, to suit up, to be disciplined, to work, and all this within the strength and power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Are you willing to be that which God has called you to be?