Not Easily Broken
NOT EASILY BROKEN
“II TIMOTHY 3:10-12
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.[1]
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.[2]
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INSPIRATION
• The Bible claims to be no ordinary book, but to have been inspired by God himself (2 Tim. 3:16) and communicated to us through human agents specially chosen by God (Luke 1:70; 2 Pet. 1:20–21).
• These human agents were guided by the Holy Spirit (1 Pet. 1:10–11; 2 Pet. 1:20–21).
• The content of their message is relevant for all time (Heb. 1:1–2), is vitally important for all to hear (1 Cor. 10:6, 11), and is sufficient to meet our every spiritual need (2 Tim. 3:16–17).
• Those who mishandle this divine revelation will be severely judged (Deut. 4:2; 12:32; Prov. 30:5–6; Rev. 22:18–19).
[3]
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This movie debut was on Friday, and it is a faith-themed drama that revolves around a couple whose strength and faith are tested after the wife is injured in a car crash, and the husband becomes attracted to another woman. This movie shows how one is not easily broken. However, then the question comes, how then do we attempt to put the pieces back together after we have been broken.
Many of us, in this life are having to try to put the pieces back together, and in some instances, we have put the right piece in the wrong place, but our argument is at least we are trying. Maybe it’s a marriage that is being tested, a ministry that is facing some tough times, a minister that is going through some trials, or that man or woman that is tribulating. The truth of the matter is most of us are all holding on by a thread.
This thread is not your typical thread that can be broken by any twists, or scissor clips. This thread has no particular color, and one cannot buy it in the store. This thread is the word of God, and we as believers in Christ are interwoven, and knotted up depending on the thread to hold us together.
In the text, we have a man in Paul that shares with us that despite life’s difficult circumstances, and crisis, that we are not easily broken because it is the strength of the thread, which is God’s word that holds us together.
Paul shares with Timothy during these tough times, the reason why the we have hope is because of our understanding of how to make it, what to look for, and how to interpret our suffering.
One reason why we are not easily broken is because we have learned a
Testimony. Paul says that Timothy has observed his life. In other words, he has watched him. I wonder what would people see today by watching our lives. Paul uses for the word Persecution the greek word διωγμός [diogmos /dee·ogue·mos/] n m , which means in any way whatever to harass, or trouble someone by chasing after them. Imagine someone looking you up, just to cause trouble. If that is not enough he also uses the word afflictions. This word means the suffering that befalls me. This is suggesting that there are some things that are going to happen just because I’m a part of the group. Paul stresses that Timothy has observed him in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. He watched him being chased by the opposition, how people stirred things up, how they were ready to stone him, but in all of that, God delivered him. The word delivered means that the Lord rescued him every time.
In this tough economy, transient environment, tumultuous society, and transparent spirituality, we need a God to rescue us. If we just look back over our lives we can witness to God delivering us from our situations. Therefore, we did not break because we had a testimony.
Secondly, Paul says that we are not easily broken because of our toughness. He makes an interesting observation in saying that all those who live godly in Christ shall suffer persecution. We think that just because we accept Jesus in our lives that we will not be persecuted, but Paul says through his life, and in this text not so. Because of Pauls dedication to Christ……………
He had a prison record, He had a physical affliction, He stirred up problems in every place he visited, He was poor, and he did not cater to the rich. Yet, God used him, and we are being blessed today because Paul was faithful.
There is one more point in being godly. I’ve noticed in this world people will persecute you for doing right.
(1) making A’s in school
(2) being a virgin in a relationship
(3) being single and not settling for anything
(4) not following the majority
Paul says in being a Christian, our toughness will keep us from being broken. ( We are expecting some suffering)
Paul tells us, that this world is going to get worse and worse. But in verse 14 we need to continue in the things that we have learned.
This word in the greek is the word “meno” which means to abide, stay where you are, or keep doing what you have been doing.
Isn’t it strange that when we were little that we went to Sunday school, but when we got older we stopped. Isn’t it strange that we were made to go to church, but we give our children a choice. Paul says things are going to get worse and worse but you need to continue the things that you learned while you were a lad, and a leader. (15a, 15b)
Lad-wiser, leader-workman
Lastly we are not easily broken because we have truth. Paul says that all scripture is given by the inspiration of God. It is this truth, that is the thread, which holds us together, when worlds and systems are falling apart.
• The Bible claims to be no ordinary book, but to have been inspired by God himself (2 Tim. 3:16) and communicated to us through human agents specially chosen by God (Luke 1:70; 2 Pet. 1:20–21).
• These human agents were guided by the Holy Spirit (1 Pet. 1:10–11; 2 Pet. 1:20–21).
• The content of their message is relevant for all time (Heb. 1:1–2), is vitally important for all to hear (1 Cor. 10:6, 11), and is sufficient to meet our every spiritual need (2 Tim. 3:16–17).
• Those who mishandle this divine revelation will be severely judged (Deut. 4:2; 12:32; Prov. 30:5–6; Rev. 22:18–19).
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.
All scripture
Doctrine, Diagnosis, discipline, direction
Psalms 126:5
. 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joya
Matthew 5:4
. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.[4]
Romans 8:18
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.[5]
The story about Humpty Dumpty
If there is anybody here who is broken,
Jesus
I am the way, the truth and the life.
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[1] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. 2 Ti 3:10-12
[2] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. 2 Ti 3:12-17
[3]Willmington, H. L.: Willmington's Bible Handbook. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 1997, S. 877
n n: noun or neuter
m m: masculine
a joy: or, singing
[4] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. Mt 5:3-4
[5] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. Ro 8:18