Gear Up!
2 Timothy: The Gospel is Worth It • Sermon • Submitted
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1. 3 Commands for the Believer (v.1-3a)
1. 3 Commands for the Believer (v.1-3a)
Verse 1
Verse 1
“You”
Paul is continuing to address young Timothy
Beginning of a new section
“Then”
Grounds/Builds on Paul’s exhortations from chapter 1
“Fan into flame the gift God has given you (v.6)
“Join in suffering for the Gospel (v.8)
“Keep/Repeat the teaching of the Gospel (v13-14)
“My Son”
Again, goes back to the special relationship between Paul & Timothy
3 Commands to the Believer (Paul gives to Timothy):
3 Commands to the Believer (Paul gives to Timothy):
“Be Strong”
“In the grace of Jesus Christ”
Paul knew how to be strong in the Lord
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,
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.
But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
Paul continued to remind Timothy to continually rely on the strength of God
There is a difference between being strong & being strong in the Lord
How have you relied on the strength of the Lord?
“Pass on”
Timothy was also to pass on the teachings he had observed throughout the ministry of Paul
Specifically to those who can be trusted to pass on/guard the message as well!
This is called the ministry “multiplication”
You are not to just soak in the Word, you should be letting it out
Sponge soaked in water will eventually leak!
“Endure Hardship”
The reason Paul exhorts Timothy to be strong in the Lord is because He understands what is required/what will come as a result of preaching the Gospel = same thing Paul is going through!
1 Peter= “Don’t be surprised!”
The way Paul prepared Timothy to be fully aware of what will come by 3 PICTURES of what every believer must be in their walk with Christ
3 Pictures of the Believer (v.3b-7)
3 Pictures of the Believer (v.3b-7)
1. A Good Soldier (v.3)
1. A Good Soldier (v.3)
The suffering of a soldier
Paul’s inprisionment gave him many opportunities to examine the life of a soldier
Not many soldiers go into service thinking it’s going to be the greatest time of their lives!
They realize the COST that is going to require of them
They realize they will suffer as a soldier, and choose that it is worth it!
Why do we look at God’s Word and think it’s crazy to count the cost and follow God anyways?
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
The Commitment of the Solider
Roman Soldiers were often forbidden to be married while they served
Why?
To place their fully-hearted attention on the command of the officer during war
This command isn’t prohibiting us from doing the daily ordinary things at home or work, but makes us pause and consider: how committed am I the Gospel of Christ?
How much time did you spend this week thinking about work than you did on the Gospel of Christ?
Illustration: Teen camp and taking their phones away
Camp Feel= Away from everything they know and focus on Christ and relationships for the week
2. A Goal-Driven Athlete (v.5)
2. A Goal-Driven Athlete (v.5)
Often times in the New Testament, the Christian walk is compared to that of a “race”
Not a race to out-do each other but one of discipline and “knowing the rules”
During the time of the Corinthian games, there was a famous slogan of the time, “No Rules, No Wreath”
The Discipline of the Athlete
Athletes often have to say no to many things they and their flesh desires
No little debbies, no sodas, etc.
As believers,God’s Word as commanded the us to do the same!
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Abiding by the Rules
We may be saved by Grace, but God’s Word still commands us that we must keep and follow the commands of God
Within this context, Paul is certainly talking to Timothy about remaining FAITHFUL
Therefore, the way you can be obedient to the Word’s of God is to simply KNOW the Words of God
3. The Go-Get it Farmer (v.6)
3. The Go-Get it Farmer (v.6)
Two things that characterize the farmer are:
Willingness to Work! (and wait)
The Successful farmer is the one who is willing to work AND wait for the Harvest to come in
A successful farmer cannot be a lazy, sluggard but always a hard worker
The book of Proverbs talks often about that
Willingness to Work!..... at any hour of the day!
The farmer is always ready and willing to do what it takes to yield in a good crop
Conclusion
The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon The Worker for Christ (2 Timothy 2:6–7)
The soldier is upheld by the thought of final victory. The athlete is upheld by the vision of the crown. The farmer is upheld by the hope of the harvest. Each submits to the discipline and the toil for the sake of the glory which will come in the end.