Refocus
Faithful Until the End | 2 Timothy • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsDuring times of stress, persecution, and weariness, Paul writes to Timothy and encourages him to refocus his view from what he was going through to the source of His strength, hope, and life: the Word of God.
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Introduction
As we look around us today, we see persecution of the church increasing. We see evil increasing. It is easy to get discouraged. The only way to beat this discouragement is to refocus. We must change our focus from the persecution and the ever growing evil that is around us, and place our focus on the one who holds tomorrow in his hands and his holy word.
Focus Passage
10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Outline
True Character Revealed (vv.10-11)
Paul, writing his last words to Timothy, brings about a charge. A charge to continue in faithfulness. He knew that Timothy had been persecuted for the faith in the past, was dealing with persecution in the present, and most definitely would face it in the future. He writes to him and says, You know me. You know who I am. How was Timothy to know Paul? What I mean by this is, how was he to TRUELY know him? Paul gives him this answer. He says in essence for Timothy to examine his life and ministry with a fine tooth comb. He knew his character was above reproach. He not only talked a good talk. He walked a good walk.
Paul writes to Timothy...
You have first hand knowledge of my teachings - ‘…doctrine...’
You have first hand knowledge of my conduct and speech - ‘…manner of life...’
You have first hand knowledge of my character
Timothy knew that Paul’s purpose was to honor God - ‘…purpose...’
Timothy knew that Paul’s faith was rooted in an unbreakable trust in God - ‘…faith...’
Timothy knew that Paul’s patience was rooted in God’s sovereignty - ‘…longsuffering...patience...’
Timothy knew that Paul loved others in such a way that the grace of God was exemplified to them - ‘…charity...’
Persecution is Part of Faithfulness (vv.11-13)
As Paul continues to remind Timothy of example has been for him, he continues stating that he not only knew his teachings, conduct, speech, and character, but he also knew what he had faced because of these truths.
Faithfulness to the Lord and godliness welcomes persecution
Paul writes to Timothy, you know my persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra. He is stating, you saw it, you know it was there. In essence, persecution followed Paul wherever he went.
Faithfulness to the Lord and godliness has a cost, persecution - ‘Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution...’
The world hates those that are of the faith. Anyone that is truly living their life for the Lord is going to face persecution. Why? Why will they face suffering, persecution? Because the darkness of the world hates the light of God.
The world wants nothing to do with righteous. The world wants nothing to do with holiness. The world wants nothing to do with God or His word. Why?
Because the word of God convicts people. The word of God reveals to man who He really is (Hebrews 4:12-13).
The evil of the world will grow as it persecutes the faithful (v.13)
The persecuted endures the evil through the strength of the Lord - ‘…but out of them all the Lord delivered me...’
Refocus (vv.14-17)
As Paul continues to encourage Timothy in his fight for the truth and endurance through persecution, he charges him to do that which many within the church need to do today, refocus. We need to take our sights off persecutions and place it back on the word of God. It is within the word of God that we find strength and our faith grows. As Paul wrote to the church at Rome...
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Paul charges Timothy to refocus. He tells Timothy to...
Refocus from persecution to what you have been taught - ‘…continue thou in the things which thou hast learned...’
Within these truths that he had learned…The word of God (the Old Testament) he found assurances. He found assurance from this word because of the author of this word, God Himself, and assurances in whom he had learned them from
His mother and grandmother had taught him from his childhood the truth of the Scripture (v.15)
Refocus from the uncertainties of persecution to the assurance of the Word
The word that had been taught to him as a child was not just some text book. It was the word of God. Holy men wrote as the Spirit of God moved them (2 Peter 1:19-20).
This word of was inspired by God from In the beginning to Amen.
Refocus from the worthless worries of persecution to the value of the Word - ‘…is profitable...’
The word of God has value in teaching the truth - ‘…doctrine...’
The word of God has value in correction/discipline - ‘…reproof, for correction...’
The word of God has value in discipleship and maturing the faith - ‘…for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works...’
Conclusion
I conclude with one final reason to refocus on the word. It is in the word of God that we find conviction of our sin and the need for salvation. It is through the word of God that we find our need of salvation and the only one that can give us that salvation, Jesus Christ. Paul writes to Timothy, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (v.15).
As Paul wrote to the church at Rome...
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
May we understand that there is but one way for salvation and that way is the man Christ Jesus.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;