Setting an example when Persecuted for Righteousness sake – 2 Timothy 3:10-17

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”