Category: Sermon

[audioplayer file=”http://thegatheringcommunity.in/wp-content/uploads/jinson-sermon-new-2.mp3″]

Good morning church! Last week brother Saju gave us a wonderful start to the book of Titus (Read). He shared how Paul and Titus shared a very close friendship in the gospel. It’s a beautiful picture of gospel centered relationships that we need to invest in with other members of the Gathering. He also highlighted key themes that we’ll be looking over the next few weeks:

1. Proper leadership
2. Proper handling of error
3. Proper Christian living
4. Importance of finding our hope in the Gospel.

Today we’ll be looking at the need and qualifications for proper leadership in the church! Let me begin by asking you all a question. When you think about the word “elder” or “pastor”, what thoughts come in your end? What do you expect from an elder? What does an elder do?

Some common expectations are:

1. He needs to be a charismatic speaker – magnetic personality who speaks with eloquence and passion.
2. He needs to be an entertainer – should really know how to tell good jokes during the sermon, should add timely illustrations and stories to keep the congregation’s eyes glued on him.
3. He should have strong leadership skills – when he talks and walks, you know he’s a leader!
4. He needs to be good at administration – He needs to be very good at planning events and activities.
5. Or do we need an elder at all? Can we function as a healthy church without biblical eldership?

That was sort of the place where the church at Crete was. Let’s look into our text:

5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife,[d] and his children are believers[e] and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer,[f] as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound[g] doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (v5-9)

Paul starts out by saying that he left Titus in Crete to set into order what was lacking. Why does he say that?

1. The church at Crete was possibly a young church. By young I mean they consisted of believers who were recently converted. The gospel spread far and wide so that in each town they had a church gathering together. So they were growing numerically but they didn’t have elders in place to guide and strengthen the churches
2. There were false teachers who were teaching wrong doctrine and confusing the church. We see that in the following verses v10-16. If we see something common in the church in Ephesus and also in this church in Crete, the common issue they were facing was “false teachers”. And not only were there false teachers in those days, but we find many false teachers even today. That’s why all the more a need to have good godly elders to confront false teachers and protect the flock of God.

So for Paul this was something so essential and crucial which is why he left Titus there to appoint elders in every town.

Let me ask you was the requirement for elders merely an organizational requirement? Where they had a lot of members and now they needed elders or is it part of God’s design and gift for the church so that these elders can set the pace and lead the church to love, serve and obey Christ?

The answer can be discovered by the definition. Who or what is an Elder? Just to clarify these terms as brother shared last week: Pastor/Elder/Overseer/Bishop mean the same thing. They are used interchangeably in the Bible. Some churches have a hierarchy. Like Pastor, Sr. Pastor, Bishop…biblically there isn’t a hierarchy. They just are different terms used for the leader of the church. The word “Elder” simply means someone whom Christ has called and appointed over you to model what it means to love, serve and obey Christ! Now it doesn’t mean that the elder has to be 60+ to be an elder. But he has to be someone spiritually mature whom you can look up to which is why we come to the qualifications:

A) Shepherding his family well

6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife,[d] and his children are believers[e] and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.

The first thing we see here is the qualification to be “above reproach”. What does that mean? It means that the believer should be blameless, unaccused. So someone who has a bad reputation in public cannot be a candidate for eldership. The next thing being mentioned here is that he needs to be “the husband of one wife”. Firstly, I think from this verse it’s pretty clear that elders/pastors are a responsibility for men because God has given the primary responsibility of spiritual leadership in the home and the church to men. Secondly, being a husband to one wife means being faithful to his wife. He is known for loving and honouring his wife. It obviously means that he doesn’t entertain any thought of infidelity or extra marital affairs but it also means that he speaks honourably of his wife. I know it’s a common thing in the world to make wife jokes. You find it all over the internet. However, the way you speak about your wife reveals a lot about how you value her. Therefore, he needs to be a person who loves and cares for his wife not only while talking to others but also while talking to her. That’s one of the reasons I think this qualification is in there is because we can pretend outside of home but our spouse knows us well. Can’t pretend before her. If I’m being a hypocrite, my wife knows. All our sins and weaknesses get exposed in marriage.

Can a person who is single who meets all the other qualifications become an elder? Yes, but it’s going to be a slow process for him. It’ll take a longer period of scrutiny to be able to see his life and then appoint him as an elder.

Then it says “his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination”. Now the actual Greek phrase actually can mean “has faithful children”. I would go with this explanation because it’s not up to the father to save his child. Salvation is completely based on grace through faith. And we know faith is a gift from God. (Eph 2:8,9) So the responsibility on the father is to ensure that his children are faithful and trustworthy. The other reason why I feel this means faithful children is because of the next phrase which says “not open to charge of debauchery or insubordination”. Debauchery means excessive indulgence in the pleasures of this world. Insubordination means being unruly and disobedient. Why is the elder being held responsible for the actions of his children?

1. Because it’s his primary responsibility as the leader of the home
2. Because he’s setting an example for what a godly family looks like
3. Because caring for your family shows how you would also care for God’s church.

4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? (! Tim 3:4,5)

If we as elders find our families in a bad condition after a few years with unsubmissive children, I think it’ll be more effective if we step down from the eldership because not only is it calling us to disciple and love our children during that season but it’s also about the responsibility of being a role model for the church. Being an elder is not a position, it is a responsibility! Shepherding our families well is a pre-requisite to be qualified as an elder.

B) Symbolized by a godly life

7 For an overseer,[f] as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. (v7,8)

The starting of v7 once again reminds us that elders are God’s stewards. We are called to manage and supervise God’s house for which we will need to give an account for. Would you entrust your home or property to a thief or a careless person? Absolutely not. How much more important it is for us to have the right people with integrity to be taking care of God’s house which is his people?

• He must not be arrogant: does what pleases himself, he is self-willed. He is his own boss. He only does what he wants to do
• He must not be quick tempered means he shouldn’t be prone to anger. Not someone who is always flaring up and getting angry
• He must not be a drunkard: shouldn’t be devoted to wine
• He must not be violent: He shouldn’t be quarrelsome, always ready to fight
• He must not be greedy for gain: greedy for money.

What Paul is trying to say is that the person who aspires to be an elder shouldn’t have a lifestyle characterized by these qualities. If these qualities are what characterizes him, then he is not qualified or fit to the lead the church! I think the “greed” part alone is enough to disqualify many pastors today.

Instead he should be characterized by the following qualities:

• But hospitable: generous to guests, a lover of hospitality…very essential because the elder will need to be hospitable and approachable when visitors come. And not just that but when the elders are being approached by members of the church.
• Lover of good: promoter of what is good. He is someone who delights and promotes good works. Whatever helps, benefits and edifies people is what he will support and encourage as the leader.
• Self-controlled: in control of his desires and impulses. His life isn’t marked by excess or lack of control of his desires.
• Upright – he makes fair and impartial judgments. Not biased when judging a matter or sharing advice.
• Holy – Reverence and purity are very important to him. His lifestyle is one worth imitating.
• Disciplined – curbing and restraining himself in order to do what God has called him to do. The lifestyle for an elder contrary to some entertaining pastors in the world may seem monotonous. It seems like they do the same thing over and over again. Same pattern. And there is a reason for that. There is a reason why biblical elders don’t party all the time. You won’t find them chasing after the latest movies and keeping up with the latest trends and TV series. In fact you’ll find them have a linear kind of life. While they are ministering to people, they will have exciting experiences but if you were to just look at their week, it’ll probably seem unadventurous. The reason for that is this discipline puts them in a place where they can love God and love people the way God calls them to. There’s a reason why Daniel prayed three times a day. There’s a reason why Jesus frequently went away to the mountain to pray. With discipline…it may appear boring to the world but it sets you up in the best place to hear and do what God tells you to do. One quote that I think of comes to my mind. It goes like “There is no discipleship without discipline”. Having a disciplined life in itself is not the goal, it’s the starting ground to open up your heart to receive from God what He wants to grant you. Discipline is not boring, it’s for your joy! That your joy may be full! For an elder, discipline allows him to prioritize his relationship with God and ministry to people.

C) Skilled handler of the Word

9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound[g] doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

We spoke a great deal on character qualities but the elder also needs to be competent with the Word of God. Firstly he needs to hold fast to the “trustworthy Word”: which is the gospel. He needs to be convinced by the truths of the gospel as covered from Genesis to Revelation. He knows he can’t add or delete anything from the gospel but understands the power and the beauty of the gospel is expressed only when he presents it as it is! Last year when the whole demonetization thing happened, there were a lot of fake notes that were going around and being seized. The difference between an original 500 Rs. Note and a counterfeit 500 Rs. Note is very marginal. There might only just be one small difference. Now as ordinary citizens, how can we know it is fake? Not by studying the fake note but by studying the original. Thoroughly study the original note and you’ll know the fake when you see it. The same idea it is with the elder. He needs to know the gospel, live out the gospel, preach and teach the gospel day in and day out and even if he encounters false teachers some day, he will know how to refute and respond to them. Why because? The goal is to become like Jesus. The more Christ’s church hear and listen to pure sound doctrine, the more it becomes into Jesus. What you believe, is what you become!

Even though today we learnt how God desires godly, qualified leaders to look after His church, I don’t want us to go back home today thinking, “Oh this was a message for those who are elders and want to become elders…it isn’t for me”. You would miss the point then. When you look at this list: shepherding your family well, having your life symbolized by godliness and being a skillful handler of the Word….do you think Christ exempts you from pursuing that? Is it meant for some spiritual elite? No, in God’s kingdom there is no elite club but these qualifications are also to be viewed as what Christ desires from your life. Elders are pace-setters and role models but this is what God wants from all of us. He wants holiness, self-control, discipline, lover of good, blamelessness, uprightness. He doesn’t want you to be arrogant, violent, greedy for money, quick tempered. Or maybe it’s in your family life where you’ve not been a good steward. Would you repent and turn away from this today?

Let me say also one thing here…there is only one person on the face of the earth who has perfectly exhibited these qualities. He is our chief Shepherd – Jesus Christ. Apart from Jesus, none of us perfectly display these characteristics. The truth is that in the eyes of Holy God, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. We all deserved judgment for our rebellion against God. We all pointed a clenched fist toward God. In His love, He sent His only Son Jesus to absorb the wrath that He was going to pour on us. Jesus died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice. He was buried and rose again on the third day. He is the only reason why we were accepted and saved. So that should make us run to Jesus helplessly seeking His grace and mercy to empower us to serve Him. It’s amazing how Christ uses us in our weakness to still accomplish His purposes!

[audioplayer file=”http://thegatheringcommunity.in/wp-content/uploads/godly-relationships.mp3″]

When we started with 2 Timothy you must have heard from us that 2 Timothy was the last letter of Paul, and here you see another letter from him again. The fact is, though Titus appears after 2 Timothy in the Bible, it was written much earlier than that.

As per the narrative in the book of Acts, Titus would have been written in the mid-60’s A.D, which is around the same time as 1 Timothy. So, if we have to place these three letters in chronological order, then it would be 1 Timothy, Titus and then 2 Timothy.

In today’s sermon, I want to give an introduction to the Epistle of Titus.

And in my introduction, I want to talk about two things mainly.

1. Paul relationship with Titus – What can we learn from that?
2. Paul’s purpose of writing this letter – What should we expect from this book?

Starting with Paul’s relationship with Titus:

As per Galatians 2:1-4, during one of Paul’s missionary journey he meets Titus who is a young Greek man, a worshipper of other gods, hears Paul preach about Jesus. And as he heard the message of Jesus, his heart responded to the gospel, and he believed in Jesus.

Titus was a total stranger to the gospel and worshipped other gods.

It is almost like the stories of most of our brothers who’ve come from a different religious background.
Titus then traveled with Paul in his missionary journeys, helped in the work of sharing the gospel. We see how he served Paul faithfully in 2 Corinthians 7 when Paul sent him to Corinth to reduce the tension in the church and in 2 Corinthians 8 where he was sent to collect money for the poor.

We see how he served Paul faithfully in 2 Corinthians 7 when Paul sent him to Corinth to reduce the tension in the church and in 2 Corinthians 8 where he was sent to collect money for the poor.
Titus served Paul diligently.

In our passage from Titus 1:4 Paul addresses Titus as his true son in a common faith, mainly also because he was like a spiritual son to him since Paul had led him to Christ.

It was kind of interesting to read some of the things mentioned about Titus.

Like, in 2 Corinthians 2:13 Paul talks about Titus and says how his presence brought rest to Pauls’ heart.

In 2 Corinthians 7:6 – Paul’s writes about Titus saying “But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus” – Titus brought comfort to Paul and other believers

In 2 Corinthians 8:23 Paul writes “As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

After Paul was released from the Roman prison where he had been for two years, he and Titus traveled to the island of Crete. They preached the gospel there and taught the people about God and the good news of Jesus (Titus 1:4-5). And soon there were enough believers to start churches in several towns.

And soon there were enough believers to start churches in several towns.

Soon after that, we see Paul leaves Create and Titus continues to teach the new Christians.

It was at this time, probably after several months, Paul writes a letter of encouragement to Titus. That’s the letter we are reading.

As I read about Pauls & Titus’s relationship, I learnt a crucial lesson.

I realized that Godly relationships are much deeper than any other relationship in the world.

And I say that because this kind of relationship is not just limited to staying together, eating together, having a good laugh, playing and having fun. But it is also where you and I hold each other’s hands and participate in building God’s kingdom – by spreading the gospel, planting churches and bringing Glory to the name of the Lord, which is the ultimate goal of every individual – To bring glory to Gods name.

Once when Jesus’ mother and brothers came to meet him while he was ministering to a crowd, they sent word and called him out. To which Jesus replied

“Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” – Mark 3:34-35

In these verses, we see Jesus valuing the company of those who do the will of God above every other relationship, even his immediate family members.

Paul & Titus’s relation was much beyond the natural family relationships. Paul was a spiritual father to Titus who led him to the Lord, took him alongside on missions, poured into his life what he received from the Lord, Paul set himself as an example for Titus to follow.

Titus on the other end was a true son to Paul, who served him, brought him comfort and rest just by his presence.

But above everything else they were together in laboring for the Kingdom of God, preaching the gospel and planting churches.

From the example of Paul and Titus, we see how important it is to invest in such a relationship, a spiritual relationship of a new found brother & sister & father & mother who’ve put their faith in Jesus and walk in obedience, doing the will of God.

And this kind of relationships doesn’t happen automatically, but it takes an active participation from each one of us.

Remember, In our last bible outreach we spoke about Community – This is what we meant by that.

A family together in the Lord, doing the will of the Father of bringing glory to His name.

And I realize this is where we want to head as Gathering Community Church – A Family together on a Mission.

Now, when we talk about family – we also know that managing a family is not an easy task.

Imagine looking after and managing our own families – providing for them, protecting them, loving them, caring for them, and above everything else protecting their heart and discipline them in the Lord, leading them to Christ.

Just as we need help and guidance from the Lord to look after our earthly families, we also need help & guidance to manage and look after the church family.

And that is what I believe is the purpose of this letter is.

In this letter, Paul lays down some of some of the essential components of a healthy church family.
As a church, if we have to grow healthy and united then we have to hold on to the principals that that govern the Church. We need to have a structure in place that holds us together.

If you want our church family to grow healthy and make an impact in the world then you need to read the rest of the sermon very carefully because it is not just the responsibility of the leaders but also a responsibility of every single member of the church to contribute their bit.

In Titus 1:1-3 Paul opens up the letter by introducing himself as someone who is appointed by God our savior to lead and encourage the Church (us) to recognize and pursue the knowledge of the truth which leads to Godliness.

Paul is the perfect guy to help us understand what a healthy church should be and how it needs to function to remain a healthy church.

In the whole letter, Paul’s focus is on the church, and there are three areas which he talks about which I believe are the important pillars of the church.

1. Proper leadership (1:5-9)
2. Proper handling of error (1:10-16;3:9-11)
3. Proper Christian living – especially new believers (2:1-10; 3:1-2)
4. The importance of finding our hope in the Gospel (2:11-14;3:3-7)

We will look closer into all these aspects as we preach on them in the coming weeks. But what I want to do today is to whet your appetite to keep your hearts open to learn and apply these family principles in our church life.

1. Proper leadership

Just as important it is for a family to have a leader, in the same way, the church needs good leadership as well.

I don’t know what style of church leadership you’ve been exposed to before coming to the Gathering but

I want to share some scriptural references to what we believe church leadership should look like and why they are important.

i) Plurality of Elders

I want to talk about a plurality of elders, I don’t know if you have heard that term before. It basically means having more than one elder governing the church and not just one person leading the whole church. We see that model in the scripture wherein Titus 1:5 Paul instructs Titus to appoint ‘elders’ in every town, he doesn’t say ‘elder’ but ‘elders’.

When I say the word ‘elder’, ‘pastor’, ‘bishop’, ‘overseer’ … all are same.

Many churches today have a single pastor leading the church, but seems to me that this model misses the mark of the New Testament teaching on this topic.

As you see in Titus and several other portions of the New Testament, the early church had, I believe, multiple elders. We will talk about this in detail as we go through the passage on elders but I want to say that the reason the scriptures teach multiple elderships is that

(1) Biblical accountability – It is important to have mutual accountability if elders have to protect themselves from falling into sin. In addition, sharing authority among a number of men can keep one man from wrongly lording it over the congregation

(2) Balance – No one man has all the gifts that are necessary to build up the church. Having a plurality of elders serves the church by bringing men with different gifts into the church’s leadership.

(3) Wisdom – There is more wisdom to be found in a multitude of counselors (Prov. 11:14; 24:6).

(4) Burden sharing – Caring for the whole church is a burden God does not intend one man to bear alone. Even the most faithful, gifted leader needs help from other godly men in order to pay careful attention to himself and to all the flock

What is the application for us:

At the Gathering, as of now there are two elders, Jinson and me, and soon once Jeff comes down with his family we would like to install him as the third Elder.

As a church, it is important that we recognize this biblical model and refrain from elevating one elder above the other. We are equal and we serve in equal measures, being accountable to each other with our life and message.

In India, and also in our churches today, the usual tendency is to hero worship our leaders based on their style of talking, their ministry qualifications, their personality.

That is not how the church should like.

ii) Elders are role models & not just people in authority

In Titus 1:6-8 Paul lists down the qualifications of the person who should be appointed as an Elder. It says “if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers[e] and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.”

Looking at that list, we should realize that the main the task of the Elder is more to do with being a role model to the rest of the church.

We need to remember that leaders are not above the church, the church is above the leaders.
Which means tomorrow if I fail to be a role model to you guys, If I fail to live a gospel-centered life and harbor an unrepentant heart, then I don’t deserve to be an Elder. Eldership is not positional, it is a Responsibility.

Someone from the Gathering asked me the other day “Saju, when Jane was sick and was admitted in the hospital we saw another side of you for a couple of days. We saw you weak and disturbed.” He said “don’t you think as a leader you should show your stronger side even in hard times so people don’t look down on you”

My answer was “No, I don’t think I should pretend as everything is fine when everything is not fine”.

As church, we should know that the elders are no different from others, we go through the same problems as you do, we are equally vulnerable to fall into sin as you are, we need savior Jesus just as you need him.

But, here’s the difference. As Elders we ought to set an example to you by continuing to trust in the Gospel, in the saving grace of Jesus, in continuing to serve Christ, his church even in our darkest moments.

Elders are your role models – don’t make them your idols or place them above Christ in your Life. Pray for them, encourage them and give them a helping hand to lead the church well.

A healthy church needs healthy leaders.

2.Proper handling of error

The second pillar of a healthy church which Paul elaborates in this letter is the proper handling of error.

In Titus, at several occasions, you will notice Paul is instructing Titus to rebuke, correct & discipline the people in the church time and again, which implies that Paul is not just satisfied with the fact that church happens every church Sunday. He is most concerned with whether people have the right understanding of the gospel.

I read a quote from Timothy Keller’s book called “Center church” where is talks about being a gospel centered church and this is what he writes

“A Gospel centered church is theologically driven and not program driven”

Many churches today are more interested in the program model, the number of people that attend the church and are less concerned about their theology. This is where false teachers come in and corrupt the sheep.

Every time Paul would visit the churches he planted, he would drive away people who either propagate or teach false doctrines.

A healthy church needs to keep a watch on their theology and lead the people into the right understanding of the truth.

3. Proper Christian living

The third pillar of a healthy church is proper Christian living (in Titus, Paul specifically talks about the new believers).

The Createn believers had a bad reputation among others.

Titus 1:12 Paul writes “One of the Cretans,[i] a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” And Paul tells Titus to rebuke them and correct them.

Paul emphasizes in this letter how important it is for us to live a Godly life and how important it is for our words and actions to complement our faith in Christ.

It is the responsibility of Elders to rebuke you, correct you and help the church live a Godly life.
And therefore as a church, we should be willing to accept corrections, whether with regards to theology or behavioral issues. And the elder ought to do it with love and patience.

This is a mark of a healthy and growing church where the people of God willing submit themselves to the leaders which God has appointed over them.

4. Find our hope in the Gospel

The fourth and the final pillar of a healthy church, which Paul mentions in this letter is to find our hope in the Gospel.

In Titus 2:11-14 Paul writes

For the grace of God has appeared (through Christ), bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

The mark of a healthy & growing church is where people have put their hope in Christ and in his saving grave and not in some experiential make belief. We don’t come to church to enjoy good music and listen to godly talks to make us feel good and get some motivation for the rest of the week.

We come to church to cherish the Gospel – to find our hope in the Gospel – By Gospel I mean to remind ourselves that it is because of the grace & mercy of God that sinners like you and me can have confidence that a holy God will accept us in his presence. Two important words for us to remember is grace and gospel.

Paul says that “God our Father loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace” (2 Thessalonians 2:16). And he urges us not to shift from the hope of the gospel (Colossians 1:23). So the grace of God and the good news of Christ crucified for sins and raised from the dead are the reasons that sinners like you and me can hope in God and have a confident expectation that the future will be good for us.

I like a statement Jeff made yesterday when we were having our lunch together. I hope I’m saying it rightly.

He said “What we truly deserve is death and anything outside that is purely Gods grace and mercy”

It is because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for a penalty of our sins that we can now have eternal life in a bountiful measure.

A healthy church family is where this truth of the gospel is experienced, as well as lived out in full measure.

And with these initial thoughts, I want to invite you to come with an open mind and open heart to learn and study from the Epistle of Titus.

Let’s pray.

[audioplayer file=”http://thegatheringcommunity.in/wp-content/uploads/combating-loneliness.mp3″]

In life, there are many moments when we experience loneliness. The strange part is that we can be in a city like Mumbai that has 23 million people and still feel isolated!

We experience loneliness when our friends and companions abandon us. We can be alone when our family rejects us. We can be lonely when we are confronted with really tough situations like an illness, financial issues, job problems or conflicts within the family.

We can also feel lonely during our struggle with sin.

During all these moments we feel like we are all alone. We feel like no one can understand us, help us and be there with us. And because we don’t deal with this in the right way, it can often lead us to find comfort in the wrong places.

That’s why I think it’s important for us to pay attention to the Word and understand what God is trying to tell us today.

I hope this passage will not only provide the answer but also offer encouragement to us right now if we are experiencing a time or season of loneliness.

2 Timothy 4:9-22

9 Do your best to come to me soon.

10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.

12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.

13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.

14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.

15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.

16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!

17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.

18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus.

21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.

22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.

Sometimes when we think about Paul we only think about the number of churches he planted, the time he spent preaching and building up the church and the number of letters he wrote to encourage the church (13 out of 27 letters in the NT are written by Paul), the miracles he performed in his lifetime but we forget how his whole life was marked by persecutions and suffering.

In fact, the Lord told Ananias, the brother who laid his hands on Paul to give him back his eyesight (Acts 9) “for I will show him how much he must suffer for my name”.

Even when we come to the last part of his life, we see the same theme of suffering being played out. We read last week how Paul talks about his life being poured out as a drink offering and sacrifice for the church.

He knows that the time of his departure has come and he’s expectantly waiting to receive the crown of righteousness from his loving Savior – Jesus.

He’s a few months away from his impending execution and in this passage, he talks about a different kind of suffering – suffering emotionally.

Paul is experiencing a great deal of emotional suffering due to abandonment and loneliness during his last few days. And this is probably more intense and painful than physical suffering. He is experiencing emotional suffering due to two broad reasons:

1) Some companions deserted him – V10 talks about Demas who loved the present world and went to Thessalonica.

Who is this Demas?

Demas was a companion of Paul. 5 years back during Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, Demas was with him in jail. (Col 4:14) All those prison letters like Ephesians, Phillippians, Colossians, and Philemon were written with him.

In Philemon 24 he refers to Demas as a fellow worker. It’s sad that after watching Paul so closely and seeing his devotion to the Lord, Demas still deserted Paul and left the ministry.

And it says that he loved the world! In our sin, many of us do not see our love for the world as a competing God in our life. If you are harboring a secret love for the world, then it’s eventually going to dictate your course of life and decisions in times of inconvenience, trouble, and suffering.

That’s what happened to Demas. The second imprisonment was possibly more intense and harsh than the first. And Paul himself was awaiting execution, so Demas didn’t want to associate himself with him and jeopardize his own life.

Demas’s life should be a warning for us because he was someone who was so involved in ministry yet loved the world. Eventually, his love for the world took over him. We need to repent of competing idols in our hearts.

2) His other companions went to serve in other churches – Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. (v10)

If you read through the book of Acts, you’ll see that these missionaries always did ministry as teams. They joyfully went to new areas with the gospel and even gladly faced persecutions due to the gospel.

Sadly, Paul’s last few months were spent alone without key members of the missionary team. And it wasn’t always due to desertion like Demas but sometimes it was due to the call to continue ministering to different churches.

In spite of Paul’s imprisonment, Crescens and Titus had to go to Galatia (modern day Turkey) and Dalmatia (Croatia).

To give you an idea on how bad was the emotional suffering, let’s look at v14-16

14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.

15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.

16 At my first defense, no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!

Some commentators say that it’s possible that it’s the same Alexander from 1 Tim 1:20. If you remember he was a false teacher at Ephesus who was excommunicated and put outside the church.

He now vented his personal malice in accusing Paul before the Roman judges. Probably charging him for starting a political revolt and starting a new religion.

We don’t know for sure if it was the same Alexander but in any case, it’s clear that he caused a great deal of harm.

Paul still leaves the response to the Lord. Rom 12:19 says Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Coming back to v16 in 2 Tim 4, Paul says that during his first defense (the preliminary hearing before Caesar Nero)…remember Nero is a king who was known for his cruel behavior toward Christians.

He would burn Christians alive to be used as a torch at night, have dogs tear them to death, crucify them not because of public justice but because of personal cruelty.

So when Paul’s companions got to know that he was going to have this preliminary hearing, they deserted him. Nobody wanted to have anything to do with Paul because it would bring severe persecution.

Just imagine how lonely Paul would’ve felt at that point. He spent his whole life for people but was left alone when he was before Nero. But Paul forgives them and explains how he responded to that moment of emotional turmoil and loneliness:

1. Strengthened by Christ’s presence

17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me,

I think that word “but” is crucial here because it contrasts with the previous verses that talk about the companions that left Paul alone.

Even though everyone deserted Paul….yet the Lord remained faithful!! Jesus doesn’t disappear when His children are in trouble or danger. He stands by them! He stands with them!

How does God’s presence strengthen us?

It gives us tremendous boldness to know that the Lord and Judge of the entire universe is standing right beside us. All authority in heaven and on earth is given to Jesus (Matt 28:18).

No matter how powerful may be the person standing in front of you, the course of your life is determined by the Sovereign Lord who rules and sustains the entire universe.

In Matt 10, Jesus tells the disciples that in those days 2 sparrows were sold for a penny. Sparrows were the smallest of birds and pennies were of the lowest value in the Roman world. Yet not even a single sparrow falls to the ground apart from the will of the Father.

If God’s in control of a little sparrows life, isn’t He in control of the life of His children who are more valuable than sparrows?

He is the Lord who has numbered the hairs on your head. Do you know the number of hairs on your head? Does your family know the number of hairs on your head? What about your best friend? Believers in Christ have nothing to fear with Jesus by your side.

Illustration: A fearful child always finds security in the presence of the parent.

But how do we experience God’s presence?

We experience God’s presence by trusting, obeying, embracing, loving, receiving and talking to Jesus by abiding in the Word and prayer. It’s not a passing feeling.

We learned a few weeks back how God communicates with His people: through the preaching of the Word and the study of the Word. The closer your life is in line with the Word, the more assured and aware you will be of the reality of God’s presence.

I know some of you are probably listening to this and thinking “this is so basic. I know I have to read the Bible and pray. Give me something new”.

It is basic but could we honestly ask ourselves if we’ve addressed our problem of isolation and loneliness with being reminded of the presence of God? What if you weren’t created to experience loneliness? What if God intended that all of life be spent with Him?

2. Directed by Christ’s purpose

v17. so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.

There is a clear purpose to the Lord being there with us. Yes, God loves us and He cares dearly for us. However, I don’t want us to end up with a man centered theology. We are not the end goal.

Glorifying God’s name is the end goal! Paul realized what God was doing through His life. If God is Sovereign and governs everything in all the universe, then even the struggles, pain, suffering and other issues were meant to bring glory to God through your life!

The reason why God strengthens you with His presence is so that you may show unbelievers how valuable and treasured God is.

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Cor 12:9)

God is active in stripping away every ounce of self-dependence from His children so that unbelievers may see Christ being reflected in and through them!

So it’s time we aligned ourselves to that understanding. Some of the greatest testimonies that have convinced unbelievers about the truth of gospel have not always been success stories and miracles.

It’s been stories of faithful people who have persevered in sufferings, pain, illnesses, financial issues, conflict yet not departed from the faith.

They hold on and have this indescribable peace which can only be explained through the presence of the Lord Himself in their lives.

I don’t think Paul used this tough circumstance to crib over the people who deserted him. He used that as an opportunity to witness as he experienced the presence of God. Would you consider desiring the presence of God not for quick fixes to your problems but so that the world may see how beautiful and wonderful Jesus is?

3. Secured by Christ’s protection

So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

What Paul meant by being rescued from the lion’s mouth was being kept safe from death after the preliminary hearing before Caesar. But we know that he was going to be executed soon.

So what did he mean by the Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his kingdom….what he means that in Christ, his assurance of His eternal home is in absolutely safe and certain hands.

Even though he knew he was going to be executed soon, it doesn’t change his future.

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:38-39)

What if we reminded ourselves of this truth about God’s love that protects us and brings us safely into the heavenly kingdom…don’t you think that eliminates the isolation and loneliness when you realize that it’s not just Christ’s presence right now but He has graciously granted His eternal presence to us!

I just want to close by saying being isolated and lonely was also a product of the Fall. When God created Adam and Eve, the intention was to enjoy total, free and uninterrupted fellowship with them. However, when they sinned they hid themselves from God.

They isolated themselves and went away from God’s presence. Jesus Christ came into the world to rescue us from our isolation. He did it by giving up His life for us…for our sins. Jesus Christ paid the price for our reckless and rebellious life.

He died and shed His blood and on the third Day he rose from the grave and brought us back into an unending, real, fulfilling relationship with God. We got an entry back into God’s presence!

[audioplayer file=”http://thegatheringcommunity.in/wp-content/uploads/2-Timothy.mp3″]

Last Sunday we looked at 2 Timothy 4:1-4 where Jinson shared the importance of the preached word in the life of the church. We learned the goal of preached word and how to prepare our hearts to receive it.

Here are the three applications from the sermon.

– Value the preached word of God
– Pray for the elders who preach the word of God
– Prepare our hearts throughout the week especially on Saturday to hear the word of God.

I hope and believe that all of us who’ve heard the sermon last Sunday have prayed for me and also prepared their hearts to hear God’s word this morning. If you’ve not done so then, I will encourage you to do so as we pray now.

Our passage for this morning is 2 Timothy 4:5-8, let’s turn to our bible and read.

We see that verse 5 starts with a word of encouragement.

After emphasizing the importance of preaching the word, Paul is now encouraging Timothy to remain sober minded, endure suffering, continue to work as an evangelist and to fulfill his ministry call.

The reason Paul sends encouragement is, of course, because of verse 3 & 4 where he writes

“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, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

But “As for you” … Always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

What Paul is essentially saying is don’t let anything or anybody bother or distract you from pursuing Gods calling and purpose in your life.

As we progress in our Christian life serving God and serving people, we will come across people who will reject our teaching, follow their passions and turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths.

Sometimes, they will be our closest friends, our family, the people whom you love the most, people you disciple. They might say things that will hurt our feelings, maybe some of us may even have to go through persecution and affliction.

Paul’s encouragement to us is to remain sober minded (sensible & composed), endure suffering (not shaken or moved), continue to do the work of an evangelist (share the gospel faithfully), fulfill your ministry (follow your calling).

The enemy uses circumstances like these to destroy Gods calling and ministry over our lives. And therefore it is important that we recognize them and take Paul’s instruction and encouragement seriously so that we don’t stumble and deviate from pursuing God.

In verse 6 Paul goes on to say “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.”

I love Paul; because he is a fantastic role model to me.

When I read verse 6, I get this sense of Paul saying, guys, what I am asking you to do is something I have already lived and followed.

When Paul using the term ‘being poured out as a drink offering’ he is referring to the old covenant act of sacrifice called the ‘drink offering’ which was first recorded in Genesis 35:14

“And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with God, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it.”

‘Drink offering’ is also mentioned in other parts of the old testament law.

The pouring out of a drink offering is a metaphor for the blood Jesus spilled on the cross. Jesus himself used that language to describe his death in Luke 22:20 when he instituted the new covenant.

He said, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”

By that definition what Paul meant was that his life had been offered as a sacrifice in the service of God and his people. I wonder how many Christian leaders today would be able to say that about themselves.

Isn’t he an excellent role model for us to imitate and follow.

I love King David, Abraham, Moses, Solomon, Joshua – and all the other heroes of faith from the old testament but if there is someone whom I’d like to look up to as a role model in the new covenant, that would be Paul.

Paul is a great example to follow …

• If I want to learn what it means to love Christ
• If I want to learn what it means to serve the people of God faithfully
• If I want to get to live a life led by the Holy Spirit
• If I want to learn how to endure suffering
• If I want to find out how to raise leaders
• If I want to learn about church planting

Paul would be the perfect guy.

But one of the main reason why I’d like to follow Paul and his example is also because of his next statement in verse 7 where it says.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished my race and I have kept my faith.”

Because that is exactly what I want to say to my children and my loved ones at the end of my life.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished my race and I have kept my faith.”

It is important that we all look at our aspirations for life. Would you like to live life in such a manner and leave a legacy for your children and your next generation? Or Are you happy being mediocre? Live life as it comes.

Here’s encouragement from Paul in Colossians 3:1-4 –

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”

Now that we know that Paul is a good example to follow what did Paul mean when he said: “he fought the good fight”?

Firstly, It is a deeply moving affirmation of Paul’s unwavering faith and unyielding love for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Secondly, it also reminds us that Christian life is a struggle against evil – within ourselves and in the world.

Let me highlight the three broad areas of battle in our Christian life that needs to be won over.

1. The battle to abide in the love of Christ

In John 15:9 Jesus says “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”
How did the Father love?

John 3:16 – For God the Father so loved the world that he gave his one and only son Jesus, to die for us, on our behalf, for the penalty of our sins, so that whoever believes in him will not perish in hell but have eternal life in heaven.

Abiding also means enduring – to remain. The original Hebrew meaning says “to hold on.”

Jesus is saying “hold on to my love.”

Brothers & sisters, holding on to Christ’s love is a battle, and we have to hang on to it at all times

… whether in pain and suffering
… joy and happiness
… riches or poverty
… good health or bad health
… job or no job
… life partner or no life partner
… in guilt, in condemnation, in being insulted
… Also when we are highly exalted by men

Whatever situation you can think of – Abiding or Holding on to Christ’s love is one of the greatest challenges of living a Christian life.

The enemy will do anything to kick you out from the place of ‘abiding in the love of Christ.’
And that is why we need to daily and continuously remind ourselves the gospel.

The second area of battle that we need to find victory is

2. The battle to walk in obedience to God’s word

The following verse in John 15, verse 10 Jesus says “ If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”

Obedience to God’s word proves our love for Him, demonstrates our faithfulness to Him, glorifies Him in the world, and opens avenues of spiritual blessing for us.

When we obey God’s word, we can live a life of joy, without shame, rooted deeply in the Lord and confident in our eternal hope.

And most importantly – When we obey God’s word, God is glorified.

The enemy would never want us to live this kind of life and therefore

… he will convince you that reading and meditating God’s word is boring
… he will distract you with every possible hindrance to keep you from reading your bible
… he will cloud your mind with worldly worries and won’t allow you to see the truths of life
… he will fill your minds with doubts to stop you from applying and walking in God’s word
… he will disengage you from making radical decisions for your life when God’s word inspires you

He will use our own people against us … our family, our friends, our near and dear ones.
But, we have to fight … Paul says it’s a good fight. It builds us, makes us mature in our faith.

The third area of battle is

3. The battle to disconnect ourselves from the world

James 4:4 – Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

One of the significant progress that needs to happen to us as we grow in our Christian life is to see the world as it is described in the God’s word.

In 1 John 2:17 John writes don’t you know that “the world and its desires are fading away, along with everything that people crave”

The world and its desires are the enemies of God; everything people crave for, everything that some of our parents told was important in life, the money, the possession, a house, accumulating wealth, accumulating treasures, accumulating shares, accumulating mutual funds .. are enemies of God.

I am so sorry to disappoint you … But this is what Gods word means when it talks about the world and the things of this world.

… the more you are in love with the world, the less you are in love with Christ.
… the more you desire the things of the world, the less your desire for the things of God.
… the more you hold on to the world, the lesser your grip on heavenly things.
… the more you trust your job and business as your provider, the less you trust in God’s provision.
… the more you find your security in your money and your job, the less you trust in God’s sovereignty and abilities.
… the more you rely on your worldly wisdom, the lesser you make of God’s divine wisdom.

“The world is an enemy of God because it takes away His glory.”

It’s a battle, and we have to fight … It’s not going to be easy on us … People will mock at us … Make fun of us … Rebuke us … Throw stones at us …

But we have to finish the race with perseverance, boldness, and with a never give-up attitude – Holding on to our faith just as we did when we first gave our lives to Christ Jesus.

And when we are on our deathbed we will be able to look into the eyes of our loved ones as say “I fought the good fight, I finished the race and I kept my faith.”

The greatest reward will be to receive the crown of righteousness from our good Lord as Paul describes in verse 8.

“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”

As I conclude, I want to encourage you to make much of your life as a follower of Christ. Fight the good fight of abiding in Christ’s love, walking in obedience to his word and separating yourselves from the world and all its desires.

The historical context to this passage is that this is the last recorded instruction that Paul gives Timothy before his execution. We know that Paul is alone in a cold dungeon and these are the final commands for his close friend and disciple in the Lord. He has spoken a lot about suffering in this whole letter.

What marked and highlighted Paul’s life and ministry after he believed in Jesus was not a bed of roses but suffering and persecution. However, this emphasis on suffering was meant to encourage Timothy and the church and also remind them that suffering is proof that we are truly believers.

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (2 Tim 3:12)

The immediate context tells us about the importance and value of Scripture which we learnt last week (full sermon):

1. Scripture makes us wise for salvation through Christ Jesus. Please note the phrase “through faith in Christ Jesus” because we can study and learn Scripture without resulting in salvation if we don’t trust in Jesus. That was the issue with the Pharisees
2. Scripture is breathed out by God. The imagery is like God breathing life into Adam when he created him. Scripture isn’t just words or a story but life-giving because God breathes life into it
3. Scripture benefits us for instruction, conviction, restoration to an upright state and also training us in being righteous so that believers can be perfect and equipped for every good work. Do note how good work is a result of being rooted and built up in God’s Word.

Scripture is so important and precious!

Coming to today’s passage:

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 [a] 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.

Paul starts out by earnestly testifying before the eyes of God and Christ Jesus. It’s like he’s in the holy courts of God and laying this charge on Timothy. We know this is a serious command because he’s involving God the Father and the Son in this! Paul also reminds us how Jesus is the judge of those who are alive and those who are dead! On this earth I think we would be fearful of a Supreme Court judge who can pronounce a life sentence for us.

How much more authority does Jesus have to not only judge the living but also the dead! He also reminds us through the first verse that Jesus’ coming is certain and he’ll appear with his royal power! His first coming was in a humble manger, his second coming will be as a victorious King! Few passages in the NT that talk about Jesus being the judge:

42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. (Acts 10:42)

because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (2 Cor 5:10)

If there’s something we can gather from this first verse…it’s this what’s going to follow is a very serious command that needs to be paid attention to!

The Command to Preach the Word

What’s the command?

Preach the Word! Why does he say preach the Word? Out of all the things he could’ve said to him, why does he focus on preaching the Word?

Let’s first define what “preaching” means. Preaching is the exaltation of God by declaring what He says in the Bible. It’s a little different from teaching because teaching is the explanation of Scripture. Looking at Scripture, breaking down what it means, interpreting and applying it would be teaching.

Although preaching involves teaching (the process above), it’s more than that! It’s the public cry and heralding of Scripture! I like the way John Piper puts it…to paraphrase he says that the preacher praises and rejoices in God as he declared the Scriptures with conviction.

Now that we know what preaching means…let’s get back to the question: why does he focus on preaching the Word out of all that he could tell him?

It’s not just because preaching was Timothy’s gifting. Context is key here:

The context is about the authority and sufficiency of God’s Word which is able to make believers grow up in salvation (2 Tim 3:15, 16)

I believe what Paul is pointing toward is something more significant. The reason why so much of emphasis was on the Word of God earlier leading to this command on preaching the Word is because God speaks to His people through the pure preaching of the Word.

Right from Genesis we see how God communicates to the people He made. God spoke and created the universe with His Word. He also spoke to man and woman after creating them. So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him;

male and female he created them.

28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Gen 1:27, 28)

After the fall, God didn’t stop speaking to His people. He continued to speak to them through commandments, the Law and the prophets. His final and clearest revelation of Himself came through Jesus.

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Heb 1:1-2)

And we know and understand Jesus through the written Word of God because all of Scripture points to Him. (John 5:39) So I’m not saying that God has stopped prophecies but if you are relying on prophecies or experiences more than what God says in the written Word, then you are in a sense saying that God’s Word is incomplete and insufficient for us.

We are saying then that “we need something additional than the written Word to guide our spiritual life”. That’s not the case as we’ve read in 2 Tim 3:15,16.

Therefore, it is in God’s nature to speak to His people! But His revelation of Himself comes through the preaching of the Word. Because if Scripture is read, interpreted and applied correctly, then the people aren’t listening to a message but listening to God! Which is why it is a serious thing.

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (1 Thes 2:13)

That’s why for 2000 years since the establishment of the church, God’s church has gathered in local bodies all across the world on the Lord’s day to do one important thing – listen to the preached Word!

Now you might say, does God only speak through the preacher on a Sunday morning? No, God speaks to every believer through the Spirit when they read the Bible daily.

3 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (John 16:13, 14)

We see how the Holy Spirit illuminates our hearts to understand God’s Word ourselves.

However, there is a growing trend in some churches where they think that the preaching of God’s Word is not relevant anymore. “It’s too old fashioned – now people need new methods of communication – skits, videos and group discussions” is what they would say.

Now all of these things are useful but how do you compare it with 2 Tim 4? Why are we redesigning God’s way of speaking to His people? And another question we can ask is why would Christ “gift” the church with pastors and teachers if every believer could manage without the preaching of Scripture?

That’s why it is a serious thing to preach the Word!

The Need for the Preached Word

I also find it interesting that in the next sentence, Paul encourages Timothy to be prepared “in season, out of season”. He’s telling him “you need to be prepared to preach when it’s convenient and also when it’s not convenient”. Why? Not just because it’s his job and Paul wants to encourage him to do it well. It’s because that’s ultimately what the flock of Christ requires. The sweet and precious words of Jesus. Not activities, events, healing conferences, all night worship sessions.

All these things are not bad but we need to remind ourselves that what we really require is the pure preaching of the Word. My desire is that 50 years down the line, if by God’s grace the Gathering grows as a church, that it will still be about preaching, hearing and obeying God’s Word. If you remember Jesus’ words to Peter after His resurrection.

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep”. (John 21:15-17)

His flock need the Word more than anything!

The Goal of the Preached Word

Let’s come to the goal of preaching. Paul uses 3 words to sum up what preaching should do and how a preacher should do it.

It should reprove (convict people of sin), rebuke (admonish the sin), exhort (invite people to respond, instructing and consoling their hearts) with the Word. The way to do it is with complete patience and teaching. Not passing judgments on them.

Sunday morning is not the place where pastors let out their frustration on the congregation. Preachers admonish the church with gentleness acknowledging that they themselves are sinners who have been saved by grace and require grace each and every day. So there is that humility and also the aspect of “teaching” people to not remain in sin but stand up and walk in faith.

But think about it. If the content of a sermon is filled with reproof, rebuke and instruction – it’s not going to be very comfortable to listen to. We don’t like it because in our sin we don’t want to be exposed and told that we are wrong. This brings us to v3-4.

3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound[a] 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 heart to receive the Preached Word

That’s why many hop from church to church because they don’t like certain things that the pastor taught. There might be a few genuine cases where the doctrine is wrong but in my experience of talking to some people….is that people want a pastor who says what they want to hear. This is a dangerous path to tread on.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jer 17:9)

I don’t want to trust and follow my heart when it comes to listening to what I want to hear because of Jer 17:9. In v3-4, the focus shifts from the preacher to the listener.

Ask yourself this question. When you come to a Sunday Gathering, what do you expect or desire from the message?

1. Is it entertainment? Jokes and great stories from the preacher?
2. Is it motivational and inspiring stuff? Things to inspire you to be better
3. Is it the glamour of the pastor?
4. Is it to judge and critique the pastor?

Or is it like Samuel said “Speak Lord, your servant is listening”. If it’s not to listen, receive and obey God’s Word, then pretty soon you’ll grow bored of one pastor and go to another pastor who will tell you what you want to hear. The issue is that you’ll eventually not want to hear God’s truth but be satisfied with lies and deception. Gradually you’ll wander away from the faith. That’s what is at stake.

What I’m trying to say is that the heart you bring on a Sunday matters. The ears you bring to the Gathering on a Sunday matters. I’m not talking about your physical heart or ear but to humbly bring yourself to Jesus on a Sunday morning.

It might be a hard truth to listen to because God will be exposing a sin and bringing it to light through the Word. But remember that Christ Himself humbled and took on the punishment for these filthy sins.

He died so that we didn’t have to die to sin! I would much rather listen to my Savior who loved me, died for me and saved me than anything else.

Here are few things that we can do to apply this passage today:

1. Value the Word of God highly with utmost importance. Let this be your treasure, your food and your comfort. Why? Because you get to know Jesus through the Word. Build your appetite through the week
2. Pray for your elders who preach the Word. Pray that their hearts are right before God and they interpret and apply the Scripture exactly as God wants it
3. Prepare your hearts throughout the week especially on a Saturday so that you might hear from God through the preached Word.

Today’s sermon passage is from 2 Timothy 3:10-17

The passage begins with Paul giving a window into his life and ministry. What is interesting to me is the contrast he brings when compared to how we see our leaders today and how they present themselves to us in today’s generation.

“Follow what I say but don’t follow what I do” is the philosophy of most leaders in our generation. But Paul, on the other hand, is presenting to us a more scriptural perspective on how a leader should be.

Paul’s ideology is to live an open life which others can visibly see and imitate.

He boldly and confidently says in 1 Cor 11:1 he says “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

In our passage from 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 10, in connection with his statement in 1 Cor 11:1 of following his example he is now giving us more precise & detailed picture to what extent he has opened his life so people can see and imitate.

He says in verse 10 “You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, and sufferings.”

As a leader myself, I wonder if my own life is transparent as Paul and these verses enlighten me to see and understand what it takes to be a real Christian leader who wants to bring about a godly impact in the life of his followers.

But why only limit it to the leaders. I believe this principle should be true of every Christian because the extension of Gods kingdom will not just come about with our wisely crafted words of knowledge but it will come about with a LIFE that speaks louder than words, one that is consistent and truthful to the scriptures.

In the light of these verses, I want to encourage all of us to think deeply about our own lives. How do we live our lives?

Are our actions and conduct inconsistent to what we otherwise teach and preach to our people?

As a parent are we trying to teach godly values to our children which we our selves fail to keep them?

As husbands, do we expect our wives to behave in a certain way even though we act and live differently outside of our homes?

As managers and people in authority do we ask people to do things that we our selves fail at doing?

As Christians, the most important purpose of our lives is to participate in the larger purpose of what God is already doing in this world, and that is reaching out to the lost with the gospel of Jesus. Most people in our families, lost people in our neighborhood, and the lost people in our workplace, etc.

It’s time that we realize that more than our words it is our lives that speaks leaps and bounds into the life of an unbeliever.

• The way in which we conduct ourselves
• The aim of our life & the goals we set for our selves
• The way we live out our faith
• The way we love, forgive and cherish one another
• The way we show patience when things delay

But more so in the way we endure sufferings and persecutions for the sake of righteousness.

In the rest of the passage from 2 Timothy 3 that is what Paul goes onto emphasize.

Listen to his words carefully one more time.

“You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 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.”

Here’s when we get to understand that the context of this passage is the emphasis on PERSECUTION & SUFFERING.

Paul’s instruction to Timothy and other leaders is, not to feel dismayed as they watch him go through persecution & suffering, he says in verse 12 “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

Jesus in Matthew 5:10-12 said

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”

Some of us sitting here today may wonder whether the statement of Jesus & Paul is right even today or whether it was something that the disciples of Jesus had to endure during that time.Most of us associate the word ‘persecution’ only in regards to physical abuse, but if you look at the definition, you will get to know that it’s more than just physical abuse. The definition of persecution is “hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs; oppression, persistent annoyance or harassment.”

Most of us associate the word ‘persecution’ only in regards to physical abuse, but if you look at the definition, you will get to know that it’s more than just physical abuse. The definition of persecution is “hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs; oppression, persistent annoyance or harassment.”So, if you ask me whether as Christians do we still go through persecution in today’s generation, then my answer is YES, we do. The statements of Paul & Jesus is true even today.

The definition of persecution is “hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs; oppression, persistent annoyance or harassment.”

So, if you ask me whether as Christians do we still go through persecution in today’s generation, then my answer is YES, we do. The statements of Paul & Jesus is true even today.Paul is making that statement by a deep conviction about the nature of Christianity and the nature of the sinfulness of man. The tension between the message and way of life of Christians and the mindset and way of life of the world will always have conflicts.

Paul is making that statement by a deep conviction about the nature of Christianity and the nature of the sinfulness of man. The tension between the message and way of life of Christians and the mindset and way of life of the world will always have conflicts.It is still true today because Sooner or later a deeply God-centered Christian individual will be mistreated for what he believes or the life he lives.

It is still true today because Sooner or later a deeply God-centered Christian individual will be mistreated for what he believes or the life he lives.Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.” – A Life devoted to righteousness will be persecuted.

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.” – A Life devoted to righteousness will be persecuted.Let me present to you the contract

Let me present to you the contract.

In one of the articles written by John Piper called “Blessed are the persecuted” he beautifully shows the contract.

He writes –

We see a life devoted to righteousness or godliness being persecuted or reviled or spoken against because

• If you cherish chastity(which is the state or practice of refraining from extramarital, or especially from all, sexual pleasures), your life will be an attack on people’s love for FREE sex.
• If you embrace temperance, your life will be a statement against the love of alcohol.
• If you pursue self-control, your life will indict excess eating.
• If you live simply and happily, you will show the folly of luxury.
• If you walk humbly with your God, you will expose the evil of pride.
• If you are punctual and thorough in your dealings, you will lay open the inferiority of laziness and negligence.
• And if you are spiritually minded, you will expose the worldly-mindedness of those around you.

An opposite view to what today’s prosperity gospel preachers would preach and say.

The point I’m trying to put across is that all who desire to live a godly life and set an example for others to follow

– as a friend, as a brother, as a sister, as a son, as a daughter, as a neighbor, as a colleague & as a parent – will face persecution in some form or the other – will suffer for the sake of the gospel.

In verse 13 Paul goes onto say “evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” Don’t expect any relief from this position.

So, what’s Paul encouragement to us?

Verse 14 onwards he says

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 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. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Paul’s encouragement to Timothy is to hold on to the scriptures, the one that makes us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus – because it is the scriptures that led us to Christ.

It is true that we met Jesus by name in the testimony of a Christian witness, but it was the word of god that gave us spiritual wisdom to recognize him and receive him. The Scriptures prepared our mind and heart to see Jesus for who he is and to believe in him.

Think about it. It is the word of God that daily reminds and reveals our sins; it is the word of God that shows us how holy and majestic God is. It shows us how big the gap is between God and us (Remember the cross chart).

And it is the word of God that leads us to Christ and His sacrifice on the cross that fills the gap and gives us hope and assurance of the eternal life in heaven with Him.

Paul is saying in times of sufferings & persecution don’t walk away from God’s word that brings us to Christ.

In the rest of the passage, he goes onto give us a couple of more reasons as to why we need to hold on to the scriptures.

• It is the very breath of God and therefore it is life-giving.
• It is profitable for teaching us godly ways.
• It brings reproof – convicts us of our sins
• It brings correction – leading us to repentance
• It trains us in righteousness – to continue to do what is right in the sight of God.
• It makes us complete.
• It equips us for good work.

Brothers & sisters, in trying times of our life –

The question I want to ask is how close do we hold onto God’s word that gives life and hope and assurance when we are tested beyond our limits, when we’re questioned about our faith, when we’re ill-treated for our righteous stance?

Do we see Gods word as the most precious and dependable source of strength when people don’t get it when we tell them about the choices we make regarding our job, our preferences, our parenting style, our decisions to move places, when we are laughed at & when we are ridiculed?

Or do we rely on your feelings?

If we rely on our feelings, then we would want to go places where they make us feel good with high tempo music and pep talks which only lasts for a couple of days.

It is only Gods word when put into action that can give us lasting joy and hope.

And when we do that we grow in maturity and our lives become an example to follow and a testimony of Christ’s redeeming work in us.

And just as Paul, even we can boldly say to one another “Follow me as I follow Christ”

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Good morning church! So glad to be a witness to wonderful things God is doing in and through the Gathering. Today we launch our bilingual Gathering and we believe it will help in communicating the gospel in the heart language of many people in the city. Coming to our series, we are reading through 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus as a church. Currently we are in 2 Timothy and as you all remember, this is Paul’s final letter to Timothy in the New Testament. He is awaiting his execution in a cold dungeon in Rome. He’s sharing final instructions and words of encouragement to his disciple and close friend for many years. Timothy is a pastor of the church at Ephesus. He is still facing a lot of issues with the false teachers out there. That is the context of this passage. This passage specifically describes the sins of these false teachers. Let’s turn to this week’s passage:

[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.

I was really encouraged by last week’s sermon on fleeing from youthful passions and pursuing righteousness, faith, love and peace along with those who call upon the Lord with a pure heart. As young people who are looking to live out our faith, we must hold fast to this verse (2 Tim 2:22). Let it be reminded time and time again because this is what we have been called to and this is what truly gives life. So if you missed on last week’s sermon, I’d recommend you to listen/read (link) it on the Gathering website.

Coming to this passage, I want us all to think and ponder on why does Scripture speak so much on identifying false teachers. Why couldn’t it just be a chapter on it? Why emphasize so much on it as we’ve read through these letters? And what’s the heart or the root behind false teaching? Can you and I also be influenced by false teaching? We’ll address these questions and more in today’s sermon.

V1 starts with But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.

Whenever you notice the word “But”, it always means a contrast. What is this passage being contrasted with? The previous passages talk about being a gospel worker, it talks about right teaching, it talks about fleeing from youthful passions and pursuing Christ…right living, and also how to correct opponents gently. This is contrasted with the description in today’s passage. Paul says “But understand this”. It seems like he is saying “Don’t be surprised! Mark my words in the last days you are going to face a lot of trouble from these false teachers”. Which last days is he talking about? In the bible, the last days began when the Spirit poured out on the believers in Acts 2 fulfilling the prophecy of Joel. So since the day of Pentecost, we have been in the “last days”…and it will continue until Christ returns.

That brings me to an important question, why does Paul think it’s important to repeat and re-iterate about false teachers?

1. Obvious reason is that it was a current issue within the church at Ephesus.

2. Church leaders and members cannot overlook or ignore the reality of false teachers in the church.

Acts 20:28-31 : [28] Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God,[e] which he obtained with his own blood.[f] [29] I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; [30] and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. [31] Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.

Sometimes we think that the best way to not get into controversy is ignoring controversial people. We think “why to be concerned about someone else? Let’s be focused in what we need to do and let other people do what they want to do”. That’s not what the Bible teaches us. We need to deal with false teaching straight up. For three years, Paul warned the elders at Ephesus regarding false teachers. It’s almost as if he is saying that it is inevitable. It is going to happen.

3. Paul was passionate about Christ and His church.

Paul was deeply in love with Jesus and knew the love Christ had for the church. He loved the church so much that He gave himself up for her so that he might cleanse her and present the church to himself in all splendor without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish. Because Paul loved Christ and the church, he couldn’t stand the fact that wrong things were being taught about Jesus. It’s like a person trying to cause a fight between a married couple by telling each of them wrong stuff about each other. If you were a close friend of the married couple, you would get worked up and would feel the need to confront that person for trying to cause issues in their marriage.

So we understand how important it is to identify and also be alert regarding false teachers so that you can guard your hearts from it!

He then goes on to describe these teachers:

[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.

Lets look at the descriptions in detail. These people would be:

• Lovers of self: selfish, only concerned about their own interests, what can other people do for them, thinking about themselves all day long
• Lovers of money: They love money, constantly they think about how can they get more money, they lose their mind and sleep over having lack of money or wanting more money, money controls every decision they make
• Proud: someone who boasts a lot, they keep bragging about what they have, what they’ve done and what they know. They keep talking big things even if they don’t have proper knowledge of certain things
• Arrogant: They feel superiority to others, look down on other people and treat them without respect, they think they are more important and deserve more importance than others
• Abusive: Immoral, sinful and ungodly things are uttered out of their mouths. They don’t even speak of God with reverence
• Disobedient to parents: They do not submit or obey parents that God has placed over them. Throughout the Bible, obedience to parents is considered important to God. That’s why it’s also one of the Ten Commandments. Culture might think that it’s not important but it is important to God and therefore is absolutely important for us too!
• Ungrateful: We might not think of this as sin, but not being thankful to God is counted as one of the sins in the Bible! When is a person usually ungrateful? When he feels entitled, he feels that he deserve everything that he has. Or a person feels ungrateful when he expects more than what already has. This doesn’t glorify God because it views God’s gifts and actions towards us as unworthy and useless which is not the case
• Unholy: wicked attitudes and wicked actions
• Heartless: They are hard hearted and unloving. Unloving toward God and unloving toward people
• Unappeasable: You can never convince this person to stop fighting and to be peaceful, unending fights
• Slanderous: Falsely accuse someone, it can be about God or man
• Without self control: No self restraint, you do whatever you feel like doing at the moment, your impulses control you
• Brutal: Violent, fierce and aggressive
• Not loving good: They oppose anything that is good or anyone that is good
• Treacherous: betraying someone
• Reckless: rash in your actions or decision making
• Swollen with conceit: Being blinded by pride
• Lovers of pleasure: Their goal in life is to pursue pleasure for themselves. So they’ll go to any extent to receive pleasure. They think that it doesn’t matter how immoral the thought or the action is…as long as you receive pleasure!
• They have an appearance of godliness but deny its power: When you look at them or talk to them you may think that they are spiritual but it’s only external. Their lives lack the transforming power of the Spirit because they refuse to change.

These false teachers have their lives characterized by these sins above. They are known for these sins. However, I don’t think any of us can look at this list and claim to not have sinned in any of these areas. All of us if we are being totally honest will admit to struggle in one or more of these areas. That’s why I want all of us to pay careful attention to the next part!

We are now delving into the root cause of false teaching. If you see here, the list starts with lovers of self, lovers of money and ends with lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. The real issue here is misplaced love!

[18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [19] For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,[g] in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. [21] For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. [22] Claiming to be wise, they became fools, [23] and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. (Rom 1:18-23)

When we read this passage, we see how the issue in human history has always been about misplaced love. The reason why God’s wrath is revealed against us is because even though we’ve seen and experienced the love of God in creating us and sustaining us and providing us with this beautiful world to live in and displaying His greatness in His creation, we still love created things rather than Creator God!

When Adam and Eve were created, they were created with the purpose to love and honor God. The devil told them to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Satan told them that if they ate it they would become like God! At that moment they had to chose to either “love God” or “love themselves”. They chose to “love themselves” and all of humanity and creation fell into sin and destruction! Misplaced love!

After Genesis, you see the story of the Israelites in their relationship with God and you see misplaced love. Time and time again God rescues them and loves on them and provides for them but they keep running after idols and false gods made of metal and stone. The pagan nations around them would worship idols. Israelites even after seeing God perform astonishing miracles before their eyes, chose to love “idols” rather than “Almighty God”. Misplaced love.

And we come to our present age and we love other gods in our lives. In our hearts, we build special shrines for these idols:

• Social Media Idol: We say things like “I’m addicted to social media” but don’t admit that we love seeing ourselves get all the attention. We don’t admit that Facebook is probably the first thing we look up each day and the last thing we say good night to each night
• Entertainment Idol: And this is something I confess…is looking at entertainment as a way to self-medicate you from the issues of your life
• Work Idol: I must perform better at work in order to have my self-worth
• Family and friends Idol: Both family and friends are good things and God desires that we cherish these relationships. However, these are not meant to be substitutes for God in your life. Would you lose all reason to live if your friends and family aren’t around you? Is your happiness motivated by the circle of family-friends present with you?
• Pleasure Idol: In order to feel loved you gravitate toward seeking pleasure for yourself. Your decisions and actions are motivated by your pleasures. You look at your pleasure and you look at Jesus and your pleasures seem more sweeter and better!

And you don’t need to be a psychologist to figure what your idols are. Whatever you end up thinking most of the time or whatever you end up talking about most of the time is your idol. And it is your idol because you have greater affections for these things than Jesus. You love them more than God! You may look at this and be like “what’s the big deal? Why does God have to be so upset over me loving other people or things rather than him?”

How would you feel if your spouse goes around with other partners? You would be furious! Why? Because you know you belong to each other and this is an exclusive relationship that cannot be shared. Let’s look at us going after our idols as spiritual adultery! In fact, our sin idols ruined us and left us severely bruised. In OT, adulterers would be stoned and publicly humiliated. The punishment we deserved for our spiritual adultery was the wrath of God. But God sent His only Son Jesus to buy us out by giving up his own life. The most precious gift that could have been given was given to rescue us from the penalty of sin, death and Satan! Do you see the love that God has for you?

In the light of God’s amazing love for you, how do you show your love for Jesus?

1) You express your love by sacrifice.

Whenever we think about love in today’s age, we always think about love in terms of a feeling or an emotion. Biblical love is much more than that. In John 3:16, we see God the Father loving the world so much that he “gave” his most precious gift to save us. We can show our love for Jesus by giving something that’s really costly to us. The control and authority of your life is most important, wouldn’t you agree? Maybe you’ve been holding onto it for so many years, would you give it to Jesus because you love him more?

2) You express your love loving one another.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (John 13:34)

As God’s church and family, God doesn’t want us to be consumers but imitators. The same love Christ pours out to us, we bend it outwards to each other in God’s family. Interestingly the verse says “just as Jesus loved us, we ought to love one another”. It’s the same sacrificial love we are display to each other. Look for ways to know the other members in this family, find out how you can serve them, think about ways where you can share your life with them.

3) You express your love through obedience.

[15] “If you love me, you will keep my commandments”. (John 14:15)

[21] Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21)

See there is a difference between obeying the commands of Jesus to “show people” that you love Him and obeying the commands of Jesus “out of” your love for Him. You can obey the commands just because those are the right things a Christian should do. Or you can obey the commands of Jesus because you are deeply in love with Jesus. Which do you think glorifies Christ and honors Him?

The truth is you will listen and obey the person whom you truly value and treasure in your heart. If you don’t value a person, you might still do it out of obligation but not willingly and gladly. So ask yourself today, how valuable is Jesus to you today? Is he so valuable and so important that everything he says you want to do? Or is he just like someone you like listening to when you feel like?

Another question I would like to put in front of you for reflection, think about some sin that you struggle with. Maybe 8 out 10 times when you are tempted, you fall into it. Your habits, patterns, thoughts are driven by this temptation because its hard. Would you consider asking yourself the next time you are tempted “Do I love Christ more or this sin?” Your desire and will to trust Christ and obey him during moments of extreme temptation and testing makes Him look big and precious!

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As you all know we are doing an expository preaching through the epistles of 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. Last Sunday Jinson preached from the text 2 Timothy 2:15-21 titled “The Job description of a Gospel worker”

Before we get into our next passage today I wanted to re-emphasize on certain points we looked at last Sunday which I believe has a strong connection with what I’m going to share today.

As Jinson rightly said … Even though this letter may seem to have written to Timothy – a servant of Christ, but the principles apply to every believer. Here are couple of more reasons why that is true.

1. In Luke 4:8 Jesus reminds us an old commandment which says “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only” – Remember this commandment is not just for the church leaders but for every Christian – Which implies that we all are called to serve him in some measure or the other. When a person is in a real relationship with God, he/she will serve God.

2. The second reason is found in Romans 8:29 which implies that we are all images bearers of Christ and God’s intention for us is to make all of us like his son Jesus “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers”. Therefore, if Jesus’s entire life was centered on serving God – by teaching, healing, and proclaiming the Kingdom of God then I believe that is exactly what God intends for us as well.

3. These letters are instructions that are foundational to our Christian faith, and therefore ignoring them saying these are only for church leaders and not for us will be inaccurate.

The reason I wanted to re-emphasize on this point is because if we get this wrong then none of what Paul says here will seem like a practical application for our life and we will tend to ignore them as if its only for pastors and leaders.

The truth is even though the letter is addressed to church leaders, every single verse is life giving and applicable to every person who believes in Christ and desires to grow in their faith and service to God.

And therefore we are all Gospel workers, called to diligently serve Christ by rightly handling the word of truth with a genuine heart, distancing ourselves from unproductive teachings, serving one another in whichever measure God leads you.

Now the hard hitting reality of life is this.

As easy as it sounds it is often the biggest challenge we face daily – To love and live for Christ, serve him and to serve his people – Isn’t that Right?

I believe our next passage i.e 2 Timothy 2:22-26 will help us address some of these challenges and help focus on our true purpose in Life and that is to love and live for Jesus.

Let’s open our bible to 2 Timothy 2:22-26 and read.

The first thing that strikes out for me when I read these instructions is that Paul is not writing to someone who is new in faith. He is writing this to Timothy about whom Paul himself mentions in chapter 1 verse 5 as a man of sincere faith – A man who loves Jesus – A man who was on a missionary journey with Paul and was sent out to look out for the church in Ephesus. – By this we know that Timothy was a strong and mature believer.

Which implies to me that as a believer we should never underestimate the seductive power of sin even if think we are sincere, bible believing, spirit led Christian. If Timothy needed to hear theses instructions and guard his heart against them then even we need to consider them as serious instructions for our lives.

The first instruction Paul gives Timothy and to us today as we seek to serve Jesus and live a God glorifying life is to

1. Flee from youthful passions

Timothy was a young pastor (the bible doesn’t tell us his age but looking at his journey we can say he wasn’t too old either), and as a young leader he was prone to fall into youthful passions that could distract him for serving Jesus. Nowhere in the bible does it mention that Timothy was married; which means he had dedicated his whole life to serve in the Kingdom of God.

Historians say Timothy remained in Ephesus until AD 97. During a pagan celebration of a feast called “Catagogian,” Timothy severely reproved the people in the procession for their ridiculous idolatry. Because of which he was beaten with clubs “in so dreadful a manner that he expired of the bruises two days later.”

For Timothy to serve Christ faithfully in that manner he had to keep a watch over his life by fleeing from any youthful passions. Isn’t that true from us even today and if I may put it this way saying “If anyone one of us present here today wants to serve Jesus have to watch over their lives by feeling from all and any kind of youthful passions that distract us from serving Christ faithfully”

In today’s generation sexual passions leading to sexual sins have destroyed many lives, especially with the easy accessibility of sexual content through internet. Even small kids can find and watch anything they want. As parents one of our hardest struggle is to protect our children from getting exposed to unhealthy sexual content and no matter how hard we try these things find their way to creep into their lives from somewhere or else. Sometimes through simple advertisement imagery on the roadside draws their attention.

The largest increase in moral acceptability from 2001 to 2015 was for homosexual relations, which increased 23 percentage points, from 40 to 63 percent. That was followed by having a baby outside of marriage (45 to 61 percent), heterosexual sex outside of marriage (53 to 68 percent), divorce (59 to 71 percent) and polygamy (7 to 16 percent). I believe if we have to take a count in the last two years the numbers must have grown even more.

The recent study examined pornography’s effect on pastors, churches, the general population, and young people says

“Most pastors (57%) and youth pastors (64%) admit they have struggled with porn, either currently or in the past,” “Overall, 21 percent of youth pastors and 14 percent of pastors admit they currently struggle with using porn.”

47 percent of Christian men and 12 percent of Christian women in general seek out porn at least once or twice a month.

Recent statistics suggest that women are being drawn into life-controlling sexual addiction lifestyles in greater and greater numbers.

Brothers and Sisters, as your pastor and as your elder brother & friend in Christ I want to urge and encourage you just as Paul encourages Timothy to flee from youthful passions. Going after youthful passions will never give you the pleasure and joy your soul is seeking for. If that was true that then we would never feel guilty and shameful about ourselves once we’ve indulged in such activities.

Only Jesus can satisfy the deepest longings and fill our hearts with true pleasures of life.

I remember a picture my youth pastor shared with us when we were young about fleeing from sexual sins. He asked us to consider ‘fleeing’ as running from a mad dog on a street chasing to bite you.

Joseph in the old testament when tempted by Potipher’s wife who caught hold of his garment ran like a mad guy leaving his garment behind.

Youthful passions steal our love and devotion to Christ and make us ineffective for the Kingdom work. Sexual pleasures are only meant to be enjoyed within the boundaries of marriage, and any sexual endeavours outside marriage can destroy our married lives, it can destroy the lives of our children.

It is Devil’s weapon meant to steal, kill and destroy us.

Jesus on the other hand said in John 10:10 “I have come to give life and life in abundance”

What do you chose this morning? Do you want to choose your momentary pleasure that causes lifetime pain? Or do you want to choose a lifetime devotion that promises life in abundance?

I hope and pray that you chose what is right in God.

How do we then deal with youthful passions that confront us every day?

The answer is found in the remaining versus – Just fleeing away from youthful passions is not enough but we need to now flee towards something better, something sustainable … something that will now satisfy our deepest longings.

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

Let look at each of these elements one by one.

Number 1 … Pursuing RIGHTEOUSNESS

The meaning of the word righteousness is “justice, justness, or divine holiness”. In the broadest sense, righteousness can be defined as “the condition of being acceptable to God as made possible by God”. God’s standard is what defines true righteousness; His power is what enables it. Unless God is its author, we will never possess righteousness. No amount of man-made effort will result in righteousness. To be righteous is to be right with God.

To pursue righteousness means we must recognize that we cannot please God in our sinful state (Romans 8:8). We turn from trying to justify ourselves by our good deeds and instead seek the mercy of God. We desire that He transform our minds (Romans 12:2) and conform us “to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29).

We pursue righteousness when we pursue the character of Christ and desire holiness more than fleshly indulgence. Remember the cross chart we saw in the Gospel centred lessons… As we grow and march ahead in our Christian faith there are two things that happen. Number one we will grow in awareness of God’s holiness (when we start reading the bible, when we encounter his presence) and number two we will grow in awareness of our sinfulness (when we see our failures in keeping up with Gods standards). The only way the gap between our awareness of God’s holiness and the awareness of our sinfulness can we bridged is when we daily treasure & appreciate The CROSS – The Life, Death, & Resurrection of Jesus in our lives. “He must increase & I must decrese”

What does it mean practically? It means every day when we get up from our bed instead of worrying about life, instead of feeling guilty of our sins we simply look to God in pray and thank him for his wonderful gift of salvation which makes us righteous before him … one that he gave us through the sacrificial death of his son Jesus Christ.

Number 2 … Pursuing Faith

Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Perhaps no other component of the Christian life is more important than faith. We cannot purchase it, sell it or give it to our friends. So what is faith and what role does faith play in the Christian life?

The dictionary defines faith as “belief in, devotion to, or trust in somebody or something, especially without logical proof.” It also defines faith as “belief in and devotion to God.” The Bible has much more to say about faith and how important it is. In fact, it is so important that, without faith, we have no place with God, and it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). According to the Bible, faith is belief in the one, true God without actually seeing Him.

Pursuing faith simply means to believe in this one true God … to arrive at a place where we are no more wavering in our beliefs and completely trusting in his ability to save us, to protect us, to provide for us.

How is it connected to fleeing from youthful pleasure? Often times we get carried away to give in to sin (even sexual sins) because of our wavering faith. When things don’t happen the way we expect it to happen? When our day at work is so hard that we fail to see God in control? When we fall sick and feel weak in our bodies? When we fail to get the job we desire? When there is delay in finding our life partner? When we compare ourselves with others and wonder why isn’t my life as colorful as his?

If you have to discuss your frustrations with your earthly friends their suggestion will be to go have a drink and get drunk and forget all your pain, which I believe leads to many more complications.

Pursing faith means to stand strong even in your darkest moments and trust that God knows best and he is working in your life. You can’t see it but its there.

I remember my times of frustration at work especially when I used to travel all the way to Vashi and then attend business management lectures in the evenings. All of this while I was married and had our first son. It was tough and I had to believe that God was at work and is working out something beautiful for me. All I need was to have faith in him.

Number 3 … Pursuing Love

Now that we know that we stand righteous before God because of his son Jesus Christ.

In John 15:16 Jesus said “You did not choose me, but I chose you”.

In Ephesians 1:4 Paul reminds – “he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”

These verse shows how much God himself is pursuing a relationship with us. He desires to be with us. Think about that. Our response to that reality tells a lot about our relationship with God.

Do you look to Jesus as the Lover of your soul .. And just as we fall in love or get infatuated with the opposite sex where we go any length to spend time with them, talk to them, stay faithful to them. Do we think of and love our True lover Jesus in that manner.

I remember when I fell in love with Jane and started talking to her on the phone. I would go to any length to speak to her and hear her voice. Instead of taking a bus or a rickshaw to travel to college or work I would walk so I can save money to speak to her from the public phone booth. I’ve spend hours trying to write a poem on her birthday and even spend days to express my love through paintings and sketches. Nothing else seemed important in life except for the fact that I needed to get a good job to be able to get married to her.

If we can go to such lengths to express our feelings and pursue our earthly companions – Imagine how much more do we need to pursue the eternal lover of our soul. The one who continues to love us even though we keep betraying him through our words and actions every single day.

King David looked at God in that manner when he wrote in Psalms 139:17

How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!

No wonder God calls David a man of his own heart.

Pursuing Love is to get into a deeper relationship with Jesus like never before. When compared to our temporary lust for sexuality can we see true love in the eyes of our beloved.

Number 4 … Pursuing Peace

Peace is something everyone wants, yet few seem to find. What is peace? It can be defined as “tranquility, harmony, or security.”

In the Old Testament, the primary Hebrew word for “peace” is shalom, and it refers to relationships between people (Genesis 34:21), nations (1 Kings 5:12), and God with men (Psalm 85:8). Peace is a desired status in each of these arenas, and shalom is often tied to a covenant or a promise kept.

Peace is directly related to the actions and attitudes of individuals; but it is ultimately a gift from God (Isaiah 45:7; Leviticus 26:6; John 14:27). The presence of peace indicates God’s blessing on man’s obedience (Isaiah 32:17; Malachi 2:5) and faith (Isaiah 26:3). There is no peace for the wicked (Isaiah 48:22).

Everyone desires to have peace in their life. (Shanti chahiye)

Thousands of men even go to lengths of disconnecting themselves and live isolated lives on the mountains in search of peace.

But true peace is only found in Jesus. John 14:27 Jesus said “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

The moment we fall into a sexual sin the first thing we lose is our peace.

Pursuing peace means to pursue a right standing with God by being obedient to his words.

As Paul describes in 1 Timothy 2:22 by pursuing the right things “we join with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart”, with a clear conscience.

Jinson would agree with me if I say that for us to stand here and preach on a Sunday morning, we can never do it if our hearts are not at peace with God. The struggle is not to prepare our sermons text but more often it is to come to peace with God in our hearts.

Apart for these instructions on fleeing away from youthful passions Paul also tells them to stay away from foolish, ignorant controversies – I believe we’ve already heard a bit of what that means in our previous sermons.

Verse 24 onwards Paul give specific instruction to Timothy on how to conduct himself – “And the Lord’s servant[e] 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.”

I don’t think I’m going spend time explaining the rest of the passage as I believe they are self-explanatory. But here’s what I want to say as I conclude.

We can go back this morning with a renewed mind and understanding of what the scriptures have to say about youthful passions, but unless we truly repent and turn away from our sinful habits and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace we will never see and experience the true joy of being a Christian.

I would encourage you to connect with someone during this week and share your life, confess your sins, pray with each other and make a U-turn towards a fruitful, joyous and fulfilling Christian life.

Good morning church! We are going through a series titled “God Alive Church: A journey through the book of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus”. For us as a church it’s been exciting to hear and know what God desires from us individually and corporately as His body. We are in 2 Timothy right now and the context of this letter is essential to understanding the weight and thrust to each of these passages. Paul is writing this letter to his dear friend, companion and disciple Timothy while he’s in prison awaiting his execution. It’s his last few days/months on this earth and he wants to communicate some urgent important instructions for Timothy and the church.

Last week we read how we can be strengthened by the grace of God. And we learnt three analogies by which we were exhorted to have a single-minded focus, obedient and hardworking pursuit of Christ. One thing we need to constantly encourage each other and challenge each other is to live a life worthy of the gospel. God didn’t send His only begotten Son so that we may live in sin. He sent His Son so that we can be free from sin! Jesus didn’t shed His blood on the cross for us so that we receive “Salvation” and then pursue our personal ambitions. Christ became our ambition! Now as his church we want Christ and we want to become like Him! Christ wasn’t nailed on the cross so that you and I live purposeless lives. He gave us a new purpose…an eternal purpose to know Him and introduce Him to others so that we all know and relate to Him as His bride! Let’s not be fooled or deceived by the world and Satan….when everything around you compels you to live for yourself and this life! No, live for Jesus! Live because He showed us grace!

We continue our study this week in 2 Tim 2:15-21

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,[d] he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

This passage might seem like it’s only meant for full time, professional ministry workers or pastors, but I believe the principles apply to every believer in the church because all of us are called to disciple people…help people become and grow into Jesus (Matt 28)! In that sense all of us have a calling to lead and teach people. Where all does this apply?
• We speak the gospel to each other within the church when people struggle with guilt, doubt, loss of identity, depression, sexual temptation, pride, anger, unforgiveness etc. and suffering.
• Parents need to lead their families to know, trust and love Christ.
• We declare the gospel to unbelievers outside of the church when we interact with them on weekdays at work or college or the streets.

You and I might be employees 5-6 days of the week, but we are Gospel Workers 24/7. And there’s no retirement here! Therefore, it’s very important that as a congregation we understand what this passage is trying to say to us.

1. Diligence as a Gospel Worker

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.

All of us understand the phrase “Do your best” when we think about college or work. But what does it mean as a Gospel Worker? Let me clarify at the outset that you are not working hard and doing your best to earn God’s favour. All of our best efforts are like filthy rags before a holy God. (Is 64:6) We do our best because we have earned unmerited unending favour from God!

So what does “Do your best as a Gospel Worker” mean?

It means to exert yourself and persistently work and put your efforts to present yourself to God as someone approved!

I work in a company where we sell a software product. The software developers build the product but it’s not released immediately. It goes through a testing phase where the Quality Analysts check to see if the developer’s code meets the expectations. Only when the QA team approves, is the product released.

Have you wondered what might it be to be approved by God?

It means two things:

1. Right Message: “rightly handling the word of truth”. Some other versions put it in this way “rightly divide the word of truth”. The illustration is to smoothen or straighten the paths. The idea is to correctly teach the Word of God. This directly applies to elders but as shared earlier applies broadly to every member because all of are part of a royal priesthood with a calling to teach and disciple others (1 Pet 2:9).

And in order to rightly handle the Word of truth it takes time to sit and understand what the passage is trying to say. When we look at Scripture we automatically bring our own baggage and experiences to it. Sometimes it’s our own baggage which prevents us from hearing from God. Sometimes we add things to Scripture that isn’t quite there. So in the last few years I’ve learnt how 3 things are essential to bringing out the right message from Scripture:

Context:
Every book, every passage and every verse has a context. We need to understand the context in which that verse was written. One of the reasons why we follow Expository preaching at our church is because we don’t want to take anything out of context but want to preach messages in the manner that it was written.

Authorial Intent
God used human authors to write Scripture and supernaturally used their personalities, experiences and circumstances as they wrote it. Every letter and book in the Bible has a purpose for which the author wrote it. For ex: John 20:30,31 : Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Gospel Centricity
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:17)
If Scripture is all about Jesus and everything points to Him, then how can our messages be true and complete without showing how everything in that passage is pointing us to Jesus.

2. Right Intent of the Messenger

Another thing that I believe is important is the intent of the messenger. 1 Sam 16:7: The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

So it’s not good enough to have the right doctrine and right theology. Why are you teaching this message? What is the heart behind it?

Do you share the Word so that people can look at you and praise you because of your biblical knowledge?

Do you share the Word with people because you really love them?

Do you share the Word so that Jesus gets the glory? In other words, is it your true desire to see people treasure God, see Him as the most valuable treasure & give Him utmost importance in their hearts?

Do you share the Word with people because you want something back from them? Money, appreciation or acceptance?

Do you share the Word with people because in some way you feel it cancels out the bad stuff you do?

This is a hard hitting truth for me because I know every time I preach or share the Word with another person, I know I also need to have the right intent to communicate the message of God and be approved by Him.

2. Distance yourself from unproductive teachings

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.

Paul tells Timothy to keep away from ungodly teachings and conversations as a speaker and listener. These false teachings end up spreading like gangrene. In science class we would’ve learnt about gangrene….how it infects a part of the body, causes severe inflammation and unless it is operated on will continue to spread in the body. If it reaches the bones, amputation is required. So you can see how this is deadly! That’s how deadly false teaching can be. False teaching has the opposite effect of sound teaching. It makes people more and more ungodly! Two false teachers are mentioned: Hymenaues and Philetus. Hymenaeus was previously mentioned in 1 Timothy when Paul said that he was excommunicated (1 Tim 1:20). It doesn’t seem like he changed. He’s continuing to have an effect on the church saying things like “resurrection has already happened”. For all believers in Christ, we experience a spiritual resurrection when we heard the gospel and repented of our sins and placed our faith in Jesus. And as the Bible says, we will also have a physical resurrection where it will become glorified just like Jesus’s glorified body. Now what these teachers propagated was that it already happened. Firstly, this wrong teaching gives a wrong idea about God. Secondly, this wrong teaching results in a wrong lifestyle.

In today’s day and age, you’ll find false teaching in different ways. Let me cite a few:

1. Prosperity theology: God exists to bless you financially and also give you the best health right now. “Claim it in the name of Jesus”…The Bible never promises a best life now….it promises our best life in heaven! But they twist verses to make it sound like all God wants to do is make you prosper. No! God wants to glorify Himself through His Son Jesus. And sometimes that would mean us going through suffering and persecution in order to glorify God!

2. Over emphasizing Grace: There are some teachers that over emphasize on grace. The Bible talks about grace but never as though it’s cheap. These teachers talk about grace but it’s more in a sense of a license to sin rather than true grace which draws people to repentance. There is no emphasis on repentance. Rom 6:1,2: What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

3. Irrelevance: They say that since the Bible isn’t as relevant as it was in 1st century AD, we’ll need to bring in science and modern ideas into the messages. The Bible isn’t sufficient for us. The Bible is then viewed mainly for social and psychological learnings but not to meet God through Jesus.

4. Liberal Theology: It’s as good as Hinduism which says that there are many ways to God. John 14:6 says : Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

5. Jesus as friend but not Lord: This is a very subtle form of false teaching. People say they are believers because they prayed a prayer. But there is no true repentance and understanding of why they needed a Savior. Christ is not the Lord of their life. They are just very Christianized unbelievers.

There are many more but the only way you will not get caught up in this is if you listen and enjoy and grow in pure teaching of the Word. As you drink from Christ – the true fountain, you’ll not want to go and drink from contaminated water! And neither will you want anyone else to drink contaminated water. That’s why it’s important to refute false teaching and also persuade others who are in it to find and drink from the true fountain of living waters!

Paul thinks about how deadly this teaching is and how many believers are getting affected by it. But he ends on an assuring note.

Rest in God’s Sovereign hand over His sheep

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,[d] he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. 

This is an amazing truth! It is true that there is false teaching in the world today but God’s hand is firmly holding His church. He’s not like a father who doesn’t care about his children. He cares so much that when they were wayward and enroute to hell, He sent His only Son to die and give His life as a ransom to buy them back. He will ensure that His sheep remains in Him. But His people need to respond as well. If you are God’s child, here’s how you will respond when your father corrects you. You will need to repent. “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

You know what’s a key characteristic of being a child of God: you repent frequently and you continue to repent with gladness. You are constantly departing from iniquity! Paul uses an analogy to help us understand this. If we were to contextualize this today, the wood and clay vessels can be compared to something that you would use to pick up something dirty from the floor. You wouldn’t use a silver spoon for that right? Similarly, if you repent and depart from what is dishonourable in you…it can be a wrong teaching and it can be wrong lifestyle and trust on Christ’s work on the cross, Jesus can transform you into a vessel for holiness and for His glory. You can be made into a vessel useful for Christ and live with Him and for Him forever!

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Our passage for this Sunday is 2 Timothy 2:1-14.

In these verses we see Paul continues to encourage Timothy and he starts by saying “be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus” – To find strength in the grace of God.

The author of Hebrews in chapter 13:9 resonates something similar as he writes “for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.”

The author of Hebrews is writing in a context where the people were listening to some strange teachings about the power of foods. What he is essentially saying is that we need to find our strength in the grace of Christ Jesus and not in any external factors.

Our Christian walk is not an easy one. I’m sure you must have already figured that out. We are fighting against the powers and principalities of this world that are constantly waging war against us. The enemy wants to tear down our lives, tear down our mission. Jinson and I were talking about how real this battle is especially for both of us who are at the forefront leading the way. There are often times when we let down our guards and end up giving into Satan’s temptation and schemes.

I’m sure you guys have your own set of struggles when it comes to living out the Christian life. Times when you feel ashamed of yourself, times when you feel worthless, lonely, hopeless & guilty.

The first thing I want to encourage you is by reminding you that your battle is not unique and don’t ever let the enemy make you think that others are not going through the same struggles as you are. In fact, we all go through almost the same kinds of battle especially the battles with our flesh, maybe at different levels.

The question I want to ask is what do you do when you go through moments like these? Do you close yourself and go into hiding from the world? Do you break fellowship with your brethren because of shame and guilt? Do you sulk in your depravity and go on sinning even more?

The easiest thing is to do is all of the above and that’s exactly what the devil wants to achieve.

Rather, will you consider going to God and finding strength in his Grace? Paul’s encouragement to us is to find our strength in the grace of God.

What is this grace that Paul is urging us find our strength in?

Grace is a constant theme in the Bible, and it culminates in the New Testament with the coming of Jesus (John 1:17). We can all extend grace to others; but when the word grace is used in connection with God, it takes on a more powerful meaning. Grace is God choosing to bless us rather than curse us as our sin deserves. It is His benevolence to the undeserving.

Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace are you saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves.” The only way any of us can enter into a relationship with God is because of His grace toward us.

God shows both mercy and grace, but they are not the same. Mercy withholds a punishment we deserve; grace gives a blessing we don’t deserve. In mercy, God chose to cancel our sin debt by sacrificing His perfect Son in our place. But He goes even further than mercy and extends grace to His enemies (Romans 5:10). He offers us forgiveness (Hebrews 8:12; Ephesians 1:7), reconciliation (Colossians 1:19-20), abundant life (John 10:10), eternal treasure (Luke 12:33), His Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13), and a place in heaven with Him some day (John 3:16-18) when we accept His offer and place our faith in His sacrifice.

Grace is God giving the greatest treasure to the least deserving—which is every one of us.

Finding strength in God’s grace means letting loose of our guilt, our pride, our arrogance and trusting in the finished work of Christ for the sake of our sins even the ones that we committed this morning.

But remember, it begins when we come to God with a genuine heart of repentance, humbling ourselves in his presence and surrendering to his Lordship and Authority.

Paul then goes on to encourage Timothy in verse 1 saying “what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men,[a] who will be able to teach others also.”

You see, finding strength for ourselves by the grace that is in Christ Jesus is not enough. We are called to now share the same with other hurting people.

Often times when we get to meet with family or friends going through a tough situation we tend give them advice based on our experiences and expertise.

But the truth is that it is only the grace of God that can give a person true liberty from his hurting situation. Our expert advice will only give relief for a moment.

We preach and present only Christ and Christ alone.

In verse 8-14 Paul says

8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for:If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful — for he cannot deny himself. 14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God[b] not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.

This is why we are chosen, this is why we are called – To preach and present the gospel and share the grace of God to all mankind.

And we ought to do it with due diligence at all times, till the last breath of our life.

Paul goes on to give us three analogies to explain how we ought to do it.

The first analogy Paul gives is “Like a good SOLDIER share in the suffering of Christ and please the one who enlisted you without getting entangled in civilian pursuits” (verse 3-4)

In sharing the gospel our number one priority should be to please our heavenly father and not pomp up with pride thinking that we are doing a favour to the Lord. Remember we are his servants and he is our master.

And as soldier, to be effective in our calling we might even have to consider disengaging ourselves from unhealthy civilian pursuits.

I was telling Jinson yesterday that one of my challenges in these last couple of days were to identify areas in my life that distracts me from pursuing God, certain activities whether in business or in personal life that draw my attention away from devoting my time and energy to God.

Some of things I identified as distraction and stopped doing it were browsing through social media feeds especially facebook and instagram. I think I’m quite ok with Likedin and Twitter, they don’t bother me too much. Watching very selective kind of movies. I stopped watching TV long back so that’s already sorted out. Allowing my clients access to me 24X7, they were real botheration to me giving me calls anytime during the day and talk about business – I guess I need to think of a better way to doing business and making money.

As a soldier of Christ you need to ask yourself what are some of the civilian pursuits that disengage you from being effective for the Lord. Identify them and get rid of them. You have a better purpose in Life than pursuing the things of the world.

The second analogy Paul gives is “Like an ATHELETE compete according to the rules” (verse 5)

Remember the rules are laid out by the Lord, his WORD is his grace filled rule book.

We can’t defeat the enemy unless we follow this rule book.

Our journey of leading people from darkness to light is almost like the journey of Joshua leading God’s people from wilderness to the promised land. When Joshua was assigned to lead the people of Israel out of wilderness the instruction that was given to him in Joshua 1:7-8 was “ be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success[a] wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

An athlete can never win any competition if he/she fails to follow the rules of the game, in fact they will be terminated from the game after several warnings.

Similarly as servants of God we cannot win this battle of saving the lives of our loved ones from the clutches of hell if we fail to read and meditate on the word of God ourselves. We can never convince anybody if we ourselves aren’t convinced and don’t have a right perspective of the Gospel truths.

By bringing people to the knowledge of Christ we are not building our kingdom, it is God who is building his kingdom and uses us as an instrument in his hand. And therefore we are not called to make additional plans and strategies that override the plans and strategies mentioned in the book. Rather as good athlete we follow the rulebook as it is and diligently follow Gods heart.

The third analogy Paul gives is – Like a FARMER work hard (verse 6)

Serving the Lord and serving his people is hard work. We can’t accomplish this while sitting on a comfortable couch all the time.

Going the extra mile is never an easy task.

Paul sets an example of hard work when he writes in 1 Cor 15:10

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

He really worked. And yet he says it was not him, but the grace of God.

Grace makes Paul who he is and grace accomplishes in Paul the crazy-eyed, joy-filled labor for the gospel of which we Gentiles are all beneficiaries.

As Christians we should work hard, but we work more for the joy of all the good our work can bring to others.

As I conclude I want all of you to think deeply about your lives, where do you think your life is heading to?

Are you allowing your guilt and shame to stop you from going to God and finding strength in his grace

And if you’ve already enjoying the love and grace of God are you been too selfish not to share with your hurting brothers and sisters and console them to trust in Jesus and his finished work on the cross?

As a good soldier are you willing to please the one who enlisted you, even to the point of disengaging in civilian pursuits that distract you from doing so?

Do you soak yourself in God’s word daily so you can be like the athlete who plays by the rules and wins the battle on Gods strengths and by the guidance of the Holy spirit.

Like the farmer are you willing to work hard, leave your comfort zone, walk the extra mile to serve one another?

Let’s come to God in prayer and search our hearts and make a commitment to him.