1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,366 Thank you. 2 00:00:01,366 --> 00:00:03,600 Let me just say this, Caleb, thank you for being with us 3 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,600 this morning, man. 4 00:00:08,300 --> 00:00:11,533 You know, you got a home here and right now, Caleb. 5 00:00:11,533 --> 00:00:14,366 But you're in New York. New York, right? 6 00:00:14,366 --> 00:00:17,233 Doing doing, doing the theater. 7 00:00:17,233 --> 00:00:19,566 Doing this theater thing. 8 00:00:19,566 --> 00:00:21,800 But, you know, you're always a part of this family. 9 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:23,066 You always got a place here. 10 00:00:23,066 --> 00:00:25,500 And I love the fact that when you come back, you are here. 11 00:00:25,500 --> 00:00:27,066 So thank you. 12 00:00:27,066 --> 00:00:28,300 You bless us, man. 13 00:00:28,300 --> 00:00:30,766 Thank you. 14 00:00:30,766 --> 00:00:32,100 It was great for, 15 00:00:32,100 --> 00:00:35,400 Shelly and I to be gone last week together with our sons. 16 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:39,033 And Jeff did a great job kind of tying things in. 17 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:40,766 Ephesus together. 18 00:00:40,766 --> 00:00:43,200 From the letter Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus. 19 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:48,333 And what Paul said or what is quoted for us in acts about FSS, and then what Jesus, 20 00:00:48,700 --> 00:00:53,366 his response to the church in Ephesus and Revelation two, and kind of wrapping 21 00:00:53,366 --> 00:00:57,000 all those things together because the, the, the books of first 22 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:01,166 and second Timothy deal with Timothy as a leader of the church of Ephesus. 23 00:01:01,166 --> 00:01:05,766 And so Jeff kind of painted the picture last week of the overarching theme 24 00:01:05,766 --> 00:01:08,766 through for this church, through the through the eons. 25 00:01:09,233 --> 00:01:12,833 But we're going to be back in second Timothy today in chapter two. 26 00:01:13,100 --> 00:01:14,066 So if you have a Bible 27 00:01:14,066 --> 00:01:17,066 and brought one with you, I want to encourage you to turn there. 28 00:01:17,133 --> 00:01:22,166 But Shel and I were gone last week in Boston over the 4th of July, 29 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:26,166 which was a great experience and was great to be there with our sons. 30 00:01:27,833 --> 00:01:29,100 And something that 31 00:01:29,100 --> 00:01:32,100 I've realized while we were there, 32 00:01:32,866 --> 00:01:35,433 and I want to share with you, 33 00:01:35,433 --> 00:01:38,433 about the, the, 34 00:01:38,666 --> 00:01:42,033 the, the things that led into the Revolutionary War, 35 00:01:42,033 --> 00:01:45,466 because it has a profound it struck me profoundly. 36 00:01:46,100 --> 00:01:49,300 The correlation between and I'm going to share with you and 37 00:01:49,866 --> 00:01:53,166 and how we live faith and our practice of it. 38 00:01:54,500 --> 00:01:56,600 Are you familiar with the battles 39 00:01:56,600 --> 00:02:00,200 of Lexington and Concord and. 40 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:03,700 All right. 41 00:02:03,700 --> 00:02:06,900 And let me, let me let me start then at the beginning. 42 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:11,400 As as this 43 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:14,533 these colonies were beginning the process 44 00:02:14,533 --> 00:02:17,533 of establishing independence. 45 00:02:18,033 --> 00:02:21,333 The redcoats had infiltrated Boston, 46 00:02:21,333 --> 00:02:25,366 and they heard that there was some, 47 00:02:26,566 --> 00:02:29,766 commune at ease in the colony 48 00:02:29,766 --> 00:02:33,600 of of of Massachusetts that were amassing, 49 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:39,833 weaponry, muskets, gunpowder and whatnot to fight them. 50 00:02:40,066 --> 00:02:40,600 And so 51 00:02:41,700 --> 00:02:43,833 the the order went 52 00:02:43,833 --> 00:02:47,466 out to march from of the redcoats to march from Boston 53 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:51,333 to Concord to put an end to this 54 00:02:51,966 --> 00:02:54,766 budding rebellion and to arrest 55 00:02:54,766 --> 00:02:57,300 Sam Adams and John Hancock, 56 00:02:57,300 --> 00:03:00,300 who were in Lexington at the time, 57 00:03:00,533 --> 00:03:04,400 which was just before the Russians would get to to Concord. 58 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:07,466 So they were marching through Lexington to arrest 59 00:03:07,966 --> 00:03:10,966 Sam Adams and and and, 60 00:03:12,033 --> 00:03:15,000 sorry. 61 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:18,366 John Hancock and Adams and then go to Concord 62 00:03:18,366 --> 00:03:21,366 and destroy this cache of weapons 63 00:03:22,166 --> 00:03:24,066 on their march. 64 00:03:24,066 --> 00:03:26,966 Y'all heard of Paul Revere's ride, right? 65 00:03:26,966 --> 00:03:27,800 One of my plan to. 66 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,800 If I see the regulars are coming, that's what he. 67 00:03:30,833 --> 00:03:34,766 He didn't say the the British were coming because they were all British. 68 00:03:35,133 --> 00:03:37,100 The regulars are coming because it was a regular army. 69 00:03:37,100 --> 00:03:39,466 The regulars are coming. The regulars are coming. That whole the whole story. 70 00:03:40,466 --> 00:03:44,700 So he's making his way around the circuit 71 00:03:44,700 --> 00:03:49,033 with about probably 30 other riders in all to spread the news. 72 00:03:49,466 --> 00:03:53,833 The Redcoats are marching up to Lexington to get to Concord 73 00:03:55,166 --> 00:03:57,566 at Lexington. 74 00:03:57,566 --> 00:04:00,100 If you ever heard of the shot heard around the world. 75 00:04:00,100 --> 00:04:03,100 Okay, that happened at the Green and Lexington. 76 00:04:03,233 --> 00:04:05,733 And as the as the Redcoats marched 77 00:04:05,733 --> 00:04:10,833 into Lexington, there were men from Lexington 78 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:15,900 called the militia that formed a line to meet them. 79 00:04:16,300 --> 00:04:19,566 And to try to stop 80 00:04:20,700 --> 00:04:23,366 the largest army in the world 81 00:04:23,366 --> 00:04:26,366 at the time from carrying out their orders 82 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:31,433 at that Lexington green where the first shot happened. 83 00:04:32,066 --> 00:04:33,133 There's a statue. 84 00:04:33,133 --> 00:04:36,866 It's a real iconic, and they call it the minute ma'am statue 85 00:04:37,233 --> 00:04:39,300 you've all seen it on, if you realize it or not, 86 00:04:39,300 --> 00:04:43,666 but it's called the Minutemen statue in honor of these, of this little. 87 00:04:43,666 --> 00:04:45,200 This is where the first shots happened. 88 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:48,833 This is where the first Patriots had died as an act of war, 89 00:04:48,866 --> 00:04:52,300 in an act of war, just after the Boston Massacre. 90 00:04:52,300 --> 00:04:54,033 But this was the first war time. 91 00:04:57,200 --> 00:04:59,100 Shots that were fired and deaths that occurred. 92 00:04:59,100 --> 00:05:00,600 There's a statue there of the Minutemen. 93 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:03,100 The interesting thing is this. 94 00:05:03,100 --> 00:05:06,300 That Lexington didn't have any Minutemen. 95 00:05:07,366 --> 00:05:09,600 They had militia, 96 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:11,200 but it's called the Minutemen statue. 97 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:14,200 Just in honor of of this whole thing. 98 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:17,800 There's a difference between militia men and minutemen. 99 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:22,133 And eventually they made their way to Concord 100 00:05:22,133 --> 00:05:24,533 after election day and after this, this little battle, 101 00:05:24,533 --> 00:05:28,033 and then encountered all kinds of colonists that pushed them back. 102 00:05:28,266 --> 00:05:31,800 And the ones who gathered together both militiamen and minutemen. 103 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:33,200 But at Lexington, though 104 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:36,666 the statue says the Minutemen statue, they were militiamen. 105 00:05:37,233 --> 00:05:39,533 And here's the difference. 106 00:05:39,533 --> 00:05:42,533 If you know the difference, militiamen and minutemen 107 00:05:43,033 --> 00:05:46,766 now get so that Minutemen 108 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:53,366 were hired by the community to be really full time soldiers. 109 00:05:53,366 --> 00:05:57,133 There was no Continental Army at the time, but a community. 110 00:05:57,133 --> 00:06:01,366 If it had enough money, hired men to be their full time 111 00:06:01,366 --> 00:06:04,566 soldiers, and as part of a full time soldier, as a minutemen, 112 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:09,300 you had to carry your musket with you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 113 00:06:09,300 --> 00:06:11,200 You had to sleep with it even. 114 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:14,233 You had to always carry with you water and food. Why? 115 00:06:15,133 --> 00:06:17,366 Because if something happened, you had to be ready 116 00:06:17,366 --> 00:06:20,366 to respond in in a minute. 117 00:06:20,933 --> 00:06:24,233 So they trained about 3 to 4 times a week, 118 00:06:24,900 --> 00:06:28,733 carried their weapon with them everywhere they went, slept with it, burned 119 00:06:28,733 --> 00:06:33,300 food and water because they were ready on a minute's notice for battle. 120 00:06:34,666 --> 00:06:35,666 The different them and 121 00:06:35,666 --> 00:06:38,766 militiamen were this militiamen in those communities 122 00:06:38,766 --> 00:06:44,033 that didn't have enough money to hire soldiers, they were just regular Joes, 123 00:06:44,833 --> 00:06:47,833 and so they might train once or twice a year. 124 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:50,100 And when, 125 00:06:50,100 --> 00:06:53,600 something happened where they, the community needed a responsive, 126 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:55,033 responsive force, 127 00:06:55,033 --> 00:06:58,200 they would grab their musket or their shovel or their pitchfork 128 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:03,000 or whatever they had and kind of respond because it was a special emergency. 129 00:07:03,166 --> 00:07:06,166 And then when it was over, they just go back to their regular civilian life. 130 00:07:07,566 --> 00:07:09,700 And when I heard that, 131 00:07:09,700 --> 00:07:12,700 I thought, that really reminds me 132 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:16,000 of people of faith. 133 00:07:17,766 --> 00:07:20,766 Churches are full. 134 00:07:22,500 --> 00:07:25,500 Of militia. 135 00:07:28,300 --> 00:07:31,300 And what we're called to 136 00:07:31,333 --> 00:07:34,333 is Minutemen. 137 00:07:34,500 --> 00:07:37,500 To understand the difference. 138 00:07:38,866 --> 00:07:40,033 Like, if something's needed 139 00:07:40,033 --> 00:07:43,200 and we like to rally the troops, and, you know, you show up and. 140 00:07:44,100 --> 00:07:49,266 And then as soon as it's over, we get right back to life is normal. 141 00:07:51,900 --> 00:07:54,900 Rather than everyday training 142 00:07:56,033 --> 00:07:59,033 and disciplining ourselves 143 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,200 and carrying our sustenance with us 144 00:08:02,233 --> 00:08:04,633 and the weapon with us 145 00:08:04,633 --> 00:08:07,333 that were ready at a moment's notice, 146 00:08:07,333 --> 00:08:10,333 we're on duty. 147 00:08:12,266 --> 00:08:15,266 You follow. 148 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:20,000 So as we go through second Timothy two, 149 00:08:20,466 --> 00:08:23,466 consider. 150 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:26,366 Militia 151 00:08:26,366 --> 00:08:29,166 or Minutemen. 152 00:08:29,166 --> 00:08:32,166 It will have a profound impact 153 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:36,600 on the rest of your life. 154 00:08:38,133 --> 00:08:40,066 In Second Timothy chapter two, 155 00:08:40,066 --> 00:08:43,066 Paul comes out swinging. 156 00:08:44,133 --> 00:08:45,466 He's in his 60s. 157 00:08:45,466 --> 00:08:48,600 He knows he's going to be beheaded under, Caesar Nero. 158 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:53,000 He's at the end of his life, is in a dungeon at this point, 159 00:08:53,566 --> 00:08:57,700 and he's writing a couple of letters first Timothy, second Timothy and Titus, 160 00:08:58,633 --> 00:09:01,866 two men who will take over the leadership of these churches. 161 00:09:02,766 --> 00:09:05,500 And to Timothy, first and second Timothy, 162 00:09:05,500 --> 00:09:08,500 who has taken over the leadership of the church in Ephesus. 163 00:09:08,733 --> 00:09:13,333 He imparts these very last words and basically says to him, listen, 164 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:17,100 this is how you lead and live. 165 00:09:17,100 --> 00:09:18,900 Well. 166 00:09:18,900 --> 00:09:22,000 And this is the final things I want to impart to you, 167 00:09:23,333 --> 00:09:26,533 and I want you to take this responsibility seriously, 168 00:09:27,633 --> 00:09:30,066 not as a militia man, 169 00:09:30,066 --> 00:09:32,200 but as a minuteman. 170 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:33,633 Do you understand? 171 00:09:33,633 --> 00:09:36,100 And so, because these are the final words 172 00:09:36,100 --> 00:09:39,833 we have written of Paul, he comes out so and so. 173 00:09:39,900 --> 00:09:43,200 I'm just telling you upfront, this is going to be a little difficult for some, 174 00:09:45,100 --> 00:09:46,833 but you're all right. 175 00:09:46,833 --> 00:09:48,500 You're going to handle it. 176 00:09:48,500 --> 00:09:50,500 It's not going to break you. 177 00:09:50,500 --> 00:09:51,500 Okay. 178 00:09:51,500 --> 00:09:54,566 So just let let let's together 179 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,833 let's just suck it up and go through it. 180 00:09:57,833 --> 00:09:58,866 Agreed. 181 00:09:58,866 --> 00:10:01,866 And agreed. 182 00:10:01,866 --> 00:10:04,866 I'm glad you said agree. 183 00:10:05,100 --> 00:10:08,100 Here's the big idea. 184 00:10:08,100 --> 00:10:10,800 Here's the big idea. 185 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,800 What you flee determines your purity. 186 00:10:14,033 --> 00:10:16,500 What you pursue determines your destiny. 187 00:10:18,300 --> 00:10:20,533 And so Paul is going to tell Timothy. 188 00:10:20,533 --> 00:10:23,533 Timothy, there are some things you need to flee from, 189 00:10:25,300 --> 00:10:26,500 and there are some things you need 190 00:10:26,500 --> 00:10:29,500 to pursue with your whole being 191 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,333 the same for us, 192 00:10:32,333 --> 00:10:35,333 because what we flee will determine our purity, 193 00:10:37,066 --> 00:10:39,300 and what we pursue 194 00:10:39,300 --> 00:10:41,933 will determine our destiny. 195 00:10:41,933 --> 00:10:43,833 And so let's be clear about these things. 196 00:10:43,833 --> 00:10:46,833 And so he starts in verse one 197 00:10:47,266 --> 00:10:49,900 and in verse one, 198 00:10:49,900 --> 00:10:52,800 he says this. 199 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:54,666 You then, my child, 200 00:10:54,666 --> 00:10:58,133 be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 201 00:10:58,533 --> 00:11:01,533 Let me just I want to unpack this a little bit. 202 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:03,700 He says, I want you to be strong, but 203 00:11:03,700 --> 00:11:06,700 I want you to be strong in what? 204 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,366 In the grace of God. 205 00:11:09,366 --> 00:11:10,800 I want you to be strong in grace. 206 00:11:11,766 --> 00:11:12,100 This is 207 00:11:12,100 --> 00:11:15,100 really important, and this is important for us to understand 208 00:11:15,300 --> 00:11:17,700 what he's saying to be strong in and the implication, 209 00:11:17,700 --> 00:11:19,000 what he's saying not to be strong. 210 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:23,000 It he doesn't say, I want you to be strong in your obedience. 211 00:11:23,100 --> 00:11:26,100 He doesn't say, I want you to be strong in your faithfulness. 212 00:11:26,166 --> 00:11:29,933 He doesn't say, I want you to be strong in your ability to perform, I don't, I 213 00:11:29,966 --> 00:11:33,533 he doesn't say, I want you to be strong in your in all your religious duties. 214 00:11:33,733 --> 00:11:36,900 He says, I want you to be strong in the grace of God, 215 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:40,100 not in your strength and not in your performance. 216 00:11:40,900 --> 00:11:44,700 This is the difference between religion and Christianity. 217 00:11:45,733 --> 00:11:47,700 Religion will tell you 218 00:11:47,700 --> 00:11:50,700 you'll be strong in your duty. 219 00:11:50,833 --> 00:11:51,966 Make sure 220 00:11:52,933 --> 00:11:55,800 that in your own strength 221 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:58,100 that you don't do these things and you do these things. 222 00:11:58,100 --> 00:12:00,700 That's religion. 223 00:12:00,700 --> 00:12:03,700 How many of us are strong enough in ourselves 224 00:12:03,700 --> 00:12:07,566 to consistently not do the things we're not supposed to do, and consistently 225 00:12:07,566 --> 00:12:08,566 do the things you're supposed to do? 226 00:12:08,566 --> 00:12:11,466 Anybody strong enough in ourselves to do it all the time? 227 00:12:11,466 --> 00:12:14,400 No. That's why Paul says, I don't want you to be strong in yourself, 228 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:17,600 Timothy, and not even in your faith, not even in your devotion, 229 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:20,166 not even in your Bible, not even in your prayer life. 230 00:12:20,166 --> 00:12:23,166 I want you to be strong in the grace of God, 231 00:12:24,300 --> 00:12:27,300 be strengthened 232 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:30,100 by the grace of God. 233 00:12:30,100 --> 00:12:33,200 In other words, you know says, be strong in the grace of God. 234 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:36,333 Literally increase your strength 235 00:12:36,633 --> 00:12:40,500 in the grace of God, not in your abilities. 236 00:12:44,033 --> 00:12:46,400 This is really important for us to understand. 237 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:49,166 And this is such good news 238 00:12:49,166 --> 00:12:52,800 because if you have a test your life to Christ, 239 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:56,433 he now lives in you. 240 00:12:56,433 --> 00:13:00,233 And so this is accessible to every Christ follower. 241 00:13:00,966 --> 00:13:03,700 The grace of God, 242 00:13:03,700 --> 00:13:04,700 the grace of God. 243 00:13:04,700 --> 00:13:05,866 Let me tell you what that is. 244 00:13:05,866 --> 00:13:11,100 That's the undeserved and unmerited favor and assistance of God. 245 00:13:12,433 --> 00:13:14,833 As a Christ follower, 246 00:13:14,833 --> 00:13:20,600 you have at your access the undeserved and unmerited 247 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:25,300 means you can't earn it favor and assistance of Almighty God. 248 00:13:25,500 --> 00:13:28,500 And Paul says, oh, that's what I want you to be strong in. 249 00:13:28,700 --> 00:13:31,700 He will say, and he has already said in Second Corinthians 12, 250 00:13:31,966 --> 00:13:33,766 my grace is sufficient for you. 251 00:13:33,766 --> 00:13:36,366 God says, for my what? 252 00:13:36,366 --> 00:13:38,533 My power is made perfect. 253 00:13:38,533 --> 00:13:39,833 In what? 254 00:13:39,833 --> 00:13:41,033 In your weakness. 255 00:13:41,033 --> 00:13:43,266 So don't try to be strong in yourself. 256 00:13:43,266 --> 00:13:47,866 Be strong in my grace, because my grace is sufficient for your weakness. 257 00:13:48,033 --> 00:13:52,566 You have access to my assistance by grace, 258 00:13:53,700 --> 00:13:56,700 so don't try to be strong enough. 259 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:00,300 Don't try to be good. 260 00:14:00,300 --> 00:14:02,566 It's your test. You're going to fail. 261 00:14:02,566 --> 00:14:05,366 So press into the grace of God. 262 00:14:05,366 --> 00:14:09,600 I can rely on the divine help of God Almighty. 263 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:12,733 His unmerited assistance of me, 264 00:14:13,100 --> 00:14:15,766 not because I deserve it, 265 00:14:15,766 --> 00:14:19,066 but just because of his undeserved grace. 266 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:25,200 See, I become weak when I see by my strength, 267 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:28,766 I'm going to do everything right because I can't. 268 00:14:29,333 --> 00:14:32,366 And the moment I think I'm strong enough to do everything right 269 00:14:32,366 --> 00:14:35,566 and I don't, the only thing I'm reminded of is my weakness. 270 00:14:36,166 --> 00:14:37,533 You understand? 271 00:14:37,533 --> 00:14:43,300 And so I become strong when I say without earning it and without deserving 272 00:14:43,300 --> 00:14:47,266 it, I have the full love and favor and assistance of God. 273 00:14:48,966 --> 00:14:51,166 I haven't done anything to get it done. 274 00:14:51,166 --> 00:14:53,100 It is just mine. 275 00:14:53,100 --> 00:14:54,566 Do you know how strong that makes me? 276 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:59,033 And every Christ follower has access to this? 277 00:14:59,033 --> 00:15:03,033 And that's why Paul tells Timothy, be strong in the grace of God, 278 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:06,400 not in your ability, not in your own faithfulness, 279 00:15:06,466 --> 00:15:09,466 not in your discipline. 280 00:15:10,866 --> 00:15:13,866 See, it's strength through grace, 281 00:15:13,933 --> 00:15:16,933 not strength through grind. 282 00:15:17,566 --> 00:15:20,400 And so many people trying to follow God, 283 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:23,400 just grind it out. 284 00:15:23,866 --> 00:15:27,166 Just grit their teeth and would do it 285 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:30,800 even if I don't like it. 286 00:15:31,300 --> 00:15:35,366 I'm. And the people like that. 287 00:15:35,366 --> 00:15:39,333 We call them religious people and they're just mean, nasty, 288 00:15:39,466 --> 00:15:42,566 bitter, angry people. 289 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:46,600 Nobody likes them. 290 00:15:46,700 --> 00:15:49,166 And Paul says, look, his strength isn't through your grind. 291 00:15:49,166 --> 00:15:50,800 It's through the grace of God. 292 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:53,600 You can't do this on your own. 293 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:56,700 You have to rely on the grace of God, his undeserved, unmerited 294 00:15:56,700 --> 00:15:59,766 favor and blessing, his assistance that you don't deserve. 295 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:04,800 But if you're in Christ, it's yours. 296 00:16:05,066 --> 00:16:06,300 Press into that. 297 00:16:06,300 --> 00:16:10,366 You rely on that prayer and he says, he says. 298 00:16:10,366 --> 00:16:12,600 So verse two, 299 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:16,300 and what you've heard from me, in the presence of many witnesses, entrust 300 00:16:16,300 --> 00:16:19,300 to faithful men who will be able to teach others also 301 00:16:21,233 --> 00:16:26,433 everything that a pastor or a minister does. 302 00:16:28,066 --> 00:16:31,066 He should train someone else to do. 303 00:16:31,233 --> 00:16:33,600 That's what that's what Paul Saint 304 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:36,600 well, you've heard from you goes from me to you 305 00:16:36,766 --> 00:16:40,033 and then from you to someone else and from that person to someone else. 306 00:16:40,533 --> 00:16:43,533 And so what he's saying is think for generation, 307 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:46,766 to think for generations. 308 00:16:46,766 --> 00:16:48,833 Timothy is the second. There's Paul. 309 00:16:48,833 --> 00:16:49,766 Paul gives to Timothy. 310 00:16:49,766 --> 00:16:52,033 And he said, give it to other people who give it to other people. 311 00:16:52,033 --> 00:16:56,100 So Paul's thinking to Timothy, think for generations deep. 312 00:16:56,100 --> 00:16:58,466 Listen, dear Christ follower, 313 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:03,066 our responsibility is not to grow in this ourselves 314 00:17:03,066 --> 00:17:06,866 is to grow in this ourselves, so we can give it to someone else and to 315 00:17:06,866 --> 00:17:09,600 train them to give it to someone else who would give it to someone else. 316 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:12,466 And that's what this whole thing is about. 317 00:17:12,466 --> 00:17:15,466 It dies on the vine and starts with us. 318 00:17:17,933 --> 00:17:19,266 This is one thing and one reason I'm 319 00:17:19,266 --> 00:17:23,666 so proud of of our T2 group, second Timothy two and Titus two. 320 00:17:23,666 --> 00:17:26,100 It's based on this principle 321 00:17:26,100 --> 00:17:29,100 that I will teach others, who will teach others who will teach others. 322 00:17:29,500 --> 00:17:32,466 The first iteration of this was last year. 323 00:17:32,466 --> 00:17:34,633 Me and 12 guys. 324 00:17:34,633 --> 00:17:37,500 The second generation, which is the third generation, is this year. 325 00:17:37,500 --> 00:17:40,266 42 others now, 326 00:17:40,266 --> 00:17:42,233 and some of those in the first iteration. 327 00:17:42,233 --> 00:17:45,766 The second generation are all hoping to lead the third generation. 328 00:17:46,500 --> 00:17:48,033 And the following year we'll do it again. 329 00:17:48,033 --> 00:17:51,566 And those who will teach the understand I'm saying this is what we do. 330 00:17:52,333 --> 00:17:55,333 This is one reason why I do so much, 331 00:17:55,766 --> 00:17:58,200 training with church planters. 332 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:00,066 The next generation, they'll plant a church, 333 00:18:00,066 --> 00:18:02,333 the next generation, they'll punch the next generation. 334 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:07,233 And I love the fact this says what you've heard from me. 335 00:18:07,233 --> 00:18:08,500 All this stuff. 336 00:18:08,500 --> 00:18:09,166 Pass it on. 337 00:18:09,166 --> 00:18:11,400 What do you say to qualified man? 338 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:13,200 Does he say that? 339 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:14,100 Gifted man. 340 00:18:14,100 --> 00:18:17,100 You say that creative man. Does he say that? 341 00:18:17,466 --> 00:18:19,433 Strong man. Does he say that? 342 00:18:19,433 --> 00:18:20,733 What he say? 343 00:18:20,733 --> 00:18:22,800 Faithful men, 344 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:25,800 faithful. 345 00:18:26,266 --> 00:18:29,333 Just be faithful to what this word says. 346 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:31,866 Be faithful to passing it on. 347 00:18:31,866 --> 00:18:34,866 Be faithful to these things that he's going to tell us. 348 00:18:35,266 --> 00:18:38,400 You want to know who the faithful men are in this church. 349 00:18:39,833 --> 00:18:41,633 It's the guys who are doing this 350 00:18:41,633 --> 00:18:44,633 and passing it on to other faithful men. 351 00:18:45,466 --> 00:18:48,300 I'm so proud of our two guys 352 00:18:48,300 --> 00:18:51,300 and you should be proud of them. Two. 353 00:18:51,500 --> 00:18:53,533 They're the faithful ones 354 00:18:53,533 --> 00:18:56,533 passing it on. 355 00:18:57,700 --> 00:18:59,133 Not now. 356 00:18:59,133 --> 00:19:00,500 Let me look at verses three and four. 357 00:19:00,500 --> 00:19:01,300 Let's let's look at this. 358 00:19:04,333 --> 00:19:05,200 Just be strong. 359 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:08,200 And God's grace, not your own ability. 360 00:19:09,033 --> 00:19:10,633 Share in suffering. 361 00:19:10,633 --> 00:19:14,700 As a good soldier of Christ Jesus, no soldier gets entangled 362 00:19:14,700 --> 00:19:15,866 in civilian pursuits. 363 00:19:15,866 --> 00:19:18,866 Since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 364 00:19:19,266 --> 00:19:22,600 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 365 00:19:23,466 --> 00:19:26,466 It is a hardworking farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 366 00:19:27,333 --> 00:19:29,533 So he says, Timothy, this is the 367 00:19:29,533 --> 00:19:33,800 I want you to emulate these three vocations, 368 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:36,800 if you will, the soldier, the athlete and the farmer. 369 00:19:37,166 --> 00:19:39,966 There's qualities about all three of these that you need to emulate. 370 00:19:39,966 --> 00:19:42,633 If you're going to follow Jesus, 371 00:19:42,633 --> 00:19:44,566 he says, the first thing that you have to 372 00:19:44,566 --> 00:19:48,033 understand is as a soldier, as an athlete, as a farmer, 373 00:19:49,033 --> 00:19:50,933 suffering is going to come. 374 00:19:50,933 --> 00:19:52,566 So you better endure it. 375 00:19:52,566 --> 00:19:53,100 All right. 376 00:19:53,100 --> 00:19:55,866 That's what he says. Your share in the suffering. 377 00:19:55,866 --> 00:19:59,033 There has to be an expectation for the Christ follower 378 00:19:59,166 --> 00:20:02,166 that at some point we're going to 379 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:06,000 experience ill treatment. 380 00:20:07,466 --> 00:20:08,600 A Christ follower 381 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:12,133 that wants to avoid ill treatment is not following Christ. 382 00:20:13,500 --> 00:20:16,266 Jesus said the world hated me, is going to hate you two, treated me 383 00:20:16,266 --> 00:20:18,133 bad, is going to treat you bad. 384 00:20:18,133 --> 00:20:21,100 You just we just have to expect it. 385 00:20:21,100 --> 00:20:24,100 A faith that avoids ill treatment 386 00:20:24,500 --> 00:20:27,500 is not a Christian faith. 387 00:20:27,766 --> 00:20:30,700 And I realize that most of the preaching that goes on 388 00:20:30,700 --> 00:20:34,300 is not about enduring and embracing suffering. 389 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:38,233 It's about God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life, 390 00:20:38,233 --> 00:20:39,533 and you invite him into your life. 391 00:20:39,533 --> 00:20:40,500 He'll make your marriage better, 392 00:20:40,500 --> 00:20:42,133 make your finances better, make your kids better, 393 00:20:42,133 --> 00:20:45,000 and make your car better and make a dog better. He'll just make everything better. 394 00:20:46,066 --> 00:20:48,900 And it just doesn't seem to be what Paul says. 395 00:20:48,900 --> 00:20:52,466 Paul says as a follower of Jesus, the first thing you gotta do is you 396 00:20:53,500 --> 00:20:55,000 share in the suffering. 397 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:58,933 It has to be an expectation that there's going to be some suffering as I follow 398 00:20:58,933 --> 00:21:01,933 Jesus, and I can't let it shake me. 399 00:21:02,066 --> 00:21:04,233 I have to embrace suffering like a good soldier. 400 00:21:04,233 --> 00:21:05,200 How many, 401 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:08,666 how many people going to boot camp carrying a bean bag in their PlayStation? 402 00:21:09,733 --> 00:21:11,766 You don't do that. Why? 403 00:21:11,766 --> 00:21:15,333 Because you go to boot camp expecting to suffer, right? 404 00:21:15,566 --> 00:21:18,566 Right, right, right. 405 00:21:19,433 --> 00:21:22,033 Oh, former marine, 406 00:21:22,033 --> 00:21:23,800 I don't. You were at Pendleton, weren't you? 407 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:25,233 I was at Pendleton. 408 00:21:25,233 --> 00:21:29,033 How many of the guys went to Pendleton with, you know, their little pillow 409 00:21:29,033 --> 00:21:34,433 in hand and their little Gatorade canteen, a catering and a care package from Mama. 410 00:21:35,266 --> 00:21:37,166 That didn't happen in Pendleton, did it? 411 00:21:37,166 --> 00:21:39,633 No. It's why you're freaking Marines, right? 412 00:21:39,633 --> 00:21:41,000 You know, it looks like we're just going to this. 413 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:42,766 Is this our expectation? 414 00:21:42,766 --> 00:21:44,266 This is what we're going to do. 415 00:21:44,266 --> 00:21:44,633 Josh? 416 00:21:44,633 --> 00:21:46,933 The same way you're at Pendleton, too, right? 417 00:21:46,933 --> 00:21:48,800 Yeah. Which one was in the Marine Corps first, 418 00:21:50,433 --> 00:21:51,766 I wonder what's it? 419 00:21:51,766 --> 00:21:55,266 Oh, same time you always know an old marine 420 00:21:56,066 --> 00:21:58,566 because there's disdain for the young marine like you. 421 00:21:58,566 --> 00:22:01,300 Well, back when I was in the corps, you know, 422 00:22:01,300 --> 00:22:06,066 and there's almost an honor in the suffering that I'm going to suffer. 423 00:22:06,066 --> 00:22:08,666 Well, there's an honor. 424 00:22:08,666 --> 00:22:11,666 And this is what Paul's saying in 425 00:22:11,833 --> 00:22:14,733 share in the suffering like a good soldier. 426 00:22:14,733 --> 00:22:17,733 Oh, what's the priority for a soldier? 427 00:22:18,166 --> 00:22:21,166 What's the soldier's priority? 428 00:22:23,700 --> 00:22:25,200 Mission accomplished. 429 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:28,200 Carry out the commands of your commanding officer right. 430 00:22:29,300 --> 00:22:31,500 That that's your priority. 431 00:22:31,500 --> 00:22:35,166 The priority of a soldier is not the a civilian's life. 432 00:22:35,500 --> 00:22:40,166 You say goodbye to the civilian life once you enlist as a soldier, right? 433 00:22:40,700 --> 00:22:42,000 You say goodbye to that. 434 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:44,633 And that's what he says here in the services, a good soldiers cry. 435 00:22:44,633 --> 00:22:47,633 No soldier gets engaged in civilian pursuits, 436 00:22:47,633 --> 00:22:50,100 since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 437 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:54,300 There's 438 00:22:54,300 --> 00:22:57,433 nothing wrong with the pursuits, pursuits of a civilian. 439 00:22:57,433 --> 00:23:02,700 Until those pursuits entangle you from your commanding officers. 440 00:23:02,700 --> 00:23:04,766 Commands. 441 00:23:04,766 --> 00:23:07,766 There's nothing wrong with the pursuits of a civilian life 442 00:23:07,766 --> 00:23:10,766 until those prevent you from being a good soldier. 443 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:14,533 Do you understand the connection, friends? 444 00:23:14,533 --> 00:23:16,833 Do you? 445 00:23:16,833 --> 00:23:21,566 There's nothing wrong with the pursuits of life until 446 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:26,800 they entangle you and distract you from being a good soldier, 447 00:23:27,566 --> 00:23:30,400 serving the kingdom and the commands of your commanding 448 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:33,400 officer. 449 00:23:37,566 --> 00:23:39,633 Embrace suffering. 450 00:23:39,633 --> 00:23:42,333 Can you imagine? 451 00:23:42,333 --> 00:23:44,366 Can you imagine a military 452 00:23:44,366 --> 00:23:47,366 whose soldiers gave up when stuff got hard? 453 00:23:48,466 --> 00:23:51,000 Can you imagine? 454 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:54,000 Well, what kind of military would that be? 455 00:23:58,100 --> 00:24:00,100 Did you say the Navy? 456 00:24:00,100 --> 00:24:03,033 The Army, of course, of marine says it would be the army. 457 00:24:03,033 --> 00:24:06,033 Okay. 458 00:24:06,866 --> 00:24:09,333 So here's here's what he's saying. 459 00:24:09,333 --> 00:24:10,333 Don't interweave. 460 00:24:10,333 --> 00:24:10,766 Go back to that. 461 00:24:10,766 --> 00:24:13,366 Don't enter with your life with things that are not 462 00:24:13,366 --> 00:24:16,200 of the interests of the kingdom, nor of your commanding officer. 463 00:24:18,366 --> 00:24:19,133 Just don't 464 00:24:19,133 --> 00:24:22,133 interweave your life with that stuff. 465 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:26,400 If it's not the interests of the kingdom or the commands of the commanding officer, 466 00:24:26,466 --> 00:24:29,500 don't let that intermingle with your life, is what he's saying. 467 00:24:30,333 --> 00:24:33,333 You cut ties with the civilian world 468 00:24:34,133 --> 00:24:37,133 because you want to please your commanding officer. 469 00:24:38,500 --> 00:24:40,866 And athletes not crown unless he competes according to the rules. 470 00:24:40,866 --> 00:24:42,233 Verse five. 471 00:24:42,233 --> 00:24:45,366 Now Paul's talking in the difference between a professional athlete 472 00:24:45,366 --> 00:24:46,600 and an amateur athlete. 473 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:48,900 And in that context, you're talking about Olympians, 474 00:24:48,900 --> 00:24:51,900 those training for the Olympics and those who were just weekend warriors. 475 00:24:52,733 --> 00:24:55,733 And he says, you can't compete if you don't do it according to the rules, 476 00:24:55,733 --> 00:24:59,666 like there's a right way to do this and there's a wrong way to do this. 477 00:24:59,833 --> 00:25:02,566 And you, he says, you can't. You gotta do it right. 478 00:25:03,533 --> 00:25:06,133 And actually, for the Olympic athletes, 479 00:25:06,133 --> 00:25:12,000 they couldn't even compete in any type of athletic activity until they had signed 480 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:16,366 an affidavit that they had trained a properly for ten months beforehand. 481 00:25:17,333 --> 00:25:20,100 Because if you don't train appropriately beforehand 482 00:25:20,100 --> 00:25:23,500 and then you try to compete, you lessen the standard 483 00:25:23,500 --> 00:25:27,433 and the quality of the competition and the games and the title of an athlete. 484 00:25:28,500 --> 00:25:31,266 Do you understand 485 00:25:31,266 --> 00:25:34,033 sin? So listen, if you're going to claim this title, 486 00:25:34,033 --> 00:25:36,533 then you gotta put the work in. 487 00:25:36,533 --> 00:25:40,166 Because if you just try to work it out, when it's time to work it out, 488 00:25:40,166 --> 00:25:43,166 you're going to lessen the standard, you're going to lessen 489 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:46,400 the quality 490 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:49,133 of everybody who came before you 491 00:25:49,133 --> 00:25:52,133 and claim the same title. 492 00:25:52,500 --> 00:25:55,500 You feel this is. 493 00:25:59,166 --> 00:25:59,666 It's. 494 00:26:03,566 --> 00:26:04,033 When I was 495 00:26:04,033 --> 00:26:07,033 thinking about this, I thought, Carl, I don't know 496 00:26:07,300 --> 00:26:10,300 how much I say and how much I don't say, but I might say anyway, 497 00:26:10,666 --> 00:26:11,933 I was thinking about this. 498 00:26:11,933 --> 00:26:14,933 I thought, you know, this just just reminds me, 499 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:18,000 basically what Paul is saying is don't be a poser. 500 00:26:18,366 --> 00:26:21,366 Yeah. Just don't be a poser. 501 00:26:21,366 --> 00:26:25,600 And we are back in, in Boston or standing, 502 00:26:27,166 --> 00:26:31,266 in, in, just outside of Lexington, standing in Concord of the bridge 503 00:26:31,266 --> 00:26:34,366 where the redcoats and the 504 00:26:35,066 --> 00:26:38,066 and the militiamen and minutemen met. 505 00:26:38,233 --> 00:26:41,233 And our guide was saying, you know how, 506 00:26:42,900 --> 00:26:44,600 the British armor call the rebels not British? 507 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:45,033 Because he said, 508 00:26:45,033 --> 00:26:48,900 because, you know, we're we're all British anyways, where we came from. 509 00:26:48,900 --> 00:26:53,366 And and this one guy, I don't know, because I'm American. 510 00:26:56,366 --> 00:26:59,366 And I thought this, this is 511 00:26:59,766 --> 00:27:02,766 this is what I had in mind when I, when I thought of this analogy. 512 00:27:04,500 --> 00:27:07,500 There are. 513 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:12,000 There are poser preppers. 514 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:16,133 Those guys 515 00:27:16,133 --> 00:27:19,266 that can't run a mile under ten minutes, but they sure look good 516 00:27:19,266 --> 00:27:22,266 wearing a sidearm. 517 00:27:24,233 --> 00:27:25,000 And I thought, 518 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:28,000 that's that's what Paul saying. 519 00:27:28,366 --> 00:27:31,200 There are poser disciples 520 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:32,866 who don't serve and don't lead, but sure look 521 00:27:32,866 --> 00:27:35,866 good carrying a Bible. 522 00:27:36,900 --> 00:27:39,900 You know what I'm saying? 523 00:27:40,700 --> 00:27:41,533 He said, don't, don't 524 00:27:41,533 --> 00:27:44,533 don't be one of those guys. 525 00:27:46,100 --> 00:27:48,300 Don't act like you're this almost patriot guy. 526 00:27:48,300 --> 00:27:51,300 You can't even, like, run like, don't. 527 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:56,000 What defender are you? 528 00:27:57,100 --> 00:27:59,566 Preaching. 529 00:27:59,566 --> 00:28:01,233 And I think Paul would tell Timothy. 530 00:28:01,233 --> 00:28:03,566 Look, unless you're putting in this. 531 00:28:03,566 --> 00:28:06,366 Unless you really are, 532 00:28:06,366 --> 00:28:08,000 don't try to look good. Carrying a Bible. 533 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:14,400 To make sense? Yes. 534 00:28:18,166 --> 00:28:18,733 And he says it's 535 00:28:18,733 --> 00:28:22,000 the hard working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crop. 536 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:24,500 Shares were saying, 537 00:28:24,500 --> 00:28:27,433 look, you got to put the work in first 538 00:28:27,433 --> 00:28:29,500 and you need to eat. 539 00:28:29,500 --> 00:28:32,133 You have the first share the crops. 540 00:28:32,133 --> 00:28:34,466 And if a farmer, 541 00:28:34,466 --> 00:28:37,600 unless you're taking it and consuming it 542 00:28:38,233 --> 00:28:42,033 from here to here, you can't give it out there. 543 00:28:42,033 --> 00:28:43,266 It's got it. 544 00:28:43,266 --> 00:28:44,700 First share here. 545 00:28:44,700 --> 00:28:48,566 It's got to be, planted here before you can plant it there. 546 00:28:48,566 --> 00:28:49,333 And the farmer 547 00:28:49,333 --> 00:28:53,700 who it isn't doing this first with the Word of God has nothing to give. 548 00:28:53,700 --> 00:28:56,700 There. Amen. 549 00:28:56,933 --> 00:28:59,666 And the interesting thing about these three the soldier, 550 00:28:59,666 --> 00:29:03,566 the athlete, the farmer, now all three of them suffer. 551 00:29:04,766 --> 00:29:06,133 We have to understand that 552 00:29:07,233 --> 00:29:09,233 all three of them so. 553 00:29:09,233 --> 00:29:12,233 But, but but but listen, listen. 554 00:29:13,333 --> 00:29:14,900 When we settle for lesser 555 00:29:14,900 --> 00:29:17,900 things we forfeit greater victories. 556 00:29:18,366 --> 00:29:20,966 When the soldier settles for lesser 557 00:29:20,966 --> 00:29:24,266 things and comfort, he forfeits greater victories. 558 00:29:24,900 --> 00:29:28,833 When the athlete settles for lesser things of, of, 559 00:29:29,700 --> 00:29:32,100 of not competing, not training. 560 00:29:32,100 --> 00:29:33,866 Well, he sells for lesser victories. 561 00:29:33,866 --> 00:29:36,866 You understand this? 562 00:29:37,100 --> 00:29:39,766 The soldier and the athlete, 563 00:29:39,766 --> 00:29:42,266 they get an immediate reward. 564 00:29:42,266 --> 00:29:45,266 The farmer. 565 00:29:45,533 --> 00:29:47,700 They toil 566 00:29:47,700 --> 00:29:50,700 and they don't see any fruit of their labor for a long time. 567 00:29:51,766 --> 00:29:55,800 And even the fruit of their labor that they see, they don't experience. 568 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:58,800 It's on behalf of somebody else. 569 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:01,366 The athlete and the soldier. 570 00:30:01,366 --> 00:30:04,466 They do it for crowds and their heroes. 571 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:08,000 The farmer does it in anonymity, 572 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:12,066 in the dark hours where no one sees. 573 00:30:13,466 --> 00:30:16,000 And what he's saying, he's saying, Timothy, listen, 574 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:19,000 you have to embrace the suffering. 575 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:23,000 Yeah, because as a soldier, you're going to suffer and you have to 576 00:30:23,100 --> 00:30:27,000 let go of the civilian stuff when it entangles your commands. 577 00:30:27,900 --> 00:30:30,900 As an athlete, you have to train hard 578 00:30:31,933 --> 00:30:33,633 all the time. 579 00:30:33,633 --> 00:30:36,400 You can't just show up and play. 580 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:39,400 And as a farmer, it's going to be in the shadows. 581 00:30:39,533 --> 00:30:41,166 It's going to be lonely. 582 00:30:41,166 --> 00:30:44,800 Nobody's going to cheer for you, and you might not see 583 00:30:44,933 --> 00:30:49,800 the results of your labor for a long time, and you may never really enjoy 584 00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:53,000 the full benefit of it, because it's for someone else who will never tell you. 585 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:54,900 Thank you. 586 00:30:54,900 --> 00:30:56,866 You understand? Amen. 587 00:30:56,866 --> 00:30:59,866 And so share in that suffering. 588 00:31:00,300 --> 00:31:02,233 This is what it means to be a disciple. 589 00:31:03,466 --> 00:31:06,466 To share all three of them. 590 00:31:06,766 --> 00:31:09,766 All three of them. 591 00:31:10,533 --> 00:31:11,433 Will settle 592 00:31:11,433 --> 00:31:14,433 for lesser victories if they tap out, 593 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:17,666 you know, 594 00:31:17,666 --> 00:31:20,666 all three of them. 595 00:31:21,633 --> 00:31:24,533 Have to endure suffering. 596 00:31:24,533 --> 00:31:26,500 What I know is this 597 00:31:26,500 --> 00:31:30,333 wholeness is when my life is aligned 598 00:31:30,333 --> 00:31:33,333 with my mission, not my distractions. 599 00:31:34,233 --> 00:31:36,400 Now he's saying, soldier, 600 00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:39,400 don't get distracted by civilian stuff. 601 00:31:39,500 --> 00:31:42,500 Athletes don't get distracted. 602 00:31:43,500 --> 00:31:46,500 Farmers don't be distracted. But 603 00:31:46,500 --> 00:31:49,666 wholeness comes when my life is aligned 604 00:31:50,033 --> 00:31:53,033 with my mission. 605 00:31:53,066 --> 00:31:53,933 Not my distractions. 606 00:31:53,933 --> 00:31:56,933 And so, friends, let's make sure 607 00:31:58,200 --> 00:31:59,400 that we're not getting distracted 608 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:02,400 by distractions. 609 00:32:02,566 --> 00:32:03,666 You follow me on this? 610 00:32:03,666 --> 00:32:06,500 Yeah. 611 00:32:06,500 --> 00:32:09,500 Don't live for lesser things 612 00:32:10,200 --> 00:32:13,200 and for greater victories. 613 00:32:14,100 --> 00:32:15,700 You're a soldier. You're an athlete. 614 00:32:15,700 --> 00:32:16,600 You're a farmer. 615 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:19,600 Don't live for the lesser things. 616 00:32:21,266 --> 00:32:23,333 Share in the suffering that it requires. 617 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:25,200 Because they're 618 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:28,200 great victories and great produce that's coming. 619 00:32:28,433 --> 00:32:31,433 Share in this. 620 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:35,500 All three of these will endure suffering. 621 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:37,933 So must you. 622 00:32:37,933 --> 00:32:39,500 And I. 623 00:32:39,500 --> 00:32:42,233 And we can't think that because we're suffering, God is against 624 00:32:42,233 --> 00:32:44,366 us, has given us, or we've done something wrong. 625 00:32:44,366 --> 00:32:48,333 Matter of fact, if we've done it right, suffering will be a part of the mix. You? 626 00:32:48,866 --> 00:32:51,866 Oh yes. 627 00:32:52,666 --> 00:32:55,666 Let me press on here. 628 00:32:57,600 --> 00:32:58,366 Verse seven. 629 00:32:58,366 --> 00:33:01,766 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding and everything. 630 00:33:01,766 --> 00:33:03,000 And basically what he's saying is just like, 631 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:05,600 just don't let this like come on one ear and out the other. 632 00:33:05,600 --> 00:33:08,100 Like think about this because as you contemplate 633 00:33:08,100 --> 00:33:11,133 this, God will give you through the whole of your understanding to it. 634 00:33:12,133 --> 00:33:14,700 There's a lot more understanding coming for you 635 00:33:14,700 --> 00:33:16,766 than what I'm giving you right now. 636 00:33:16,766 --> 00:33:20,066 As you continue to think through this and ponder this and consider this 637 00:33:20,066 --> 00:33:21,300 and the implications for your life, 638 00:33:21,300 --> 00:33:24,300 the Holy Spirit will start to flesh this out, is what he's saying. 639 00:33:24,800 --> 00:33:26,800 Press friends, please press into this. 640 00:33:28,100 --> 00:33:29,000 Verses eight and nine. 641 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:32,366 Remember Jesus Christ risen from the dead, the offspring of David as preached 642 00:33:32,366 --> 00:33:35,933 in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. 643 00:33:35,966 --> 00:33:38,200 But the Word of God is not bound. 644 00:33:38,200 --> 00:33:40,033 He's saying, and also remember Jesus Christ. 645 00:33:40,033 --> 00:33:43,033 And he says two things about Jesus what you say 646 00:33:43,500 --> 00:33:46,366 risen from the dead, the offspring of David. 647 00:33:46,366 --> 00:33:48,866 He's claiming two things about Jesus. 648 00:33:48,866 --> 00:33:52,966 He's claiming Jesus's full divinity and full humanity. 649 00:33:53,100 --> 00:33:56,033 And this is what sets Christianity apart from every other religion. 650 00:33:56,033 --> 00:33:58,200 It's what we call the hyper static union. 651 00:33:58,200 --> 00:34:02,100 This this truth that in Jesus there is full 652 00:34:02,100 --> 00:34:05,100 God and full human, fully God and fully human. 653 00:34:05,633 --> 00:34:09,133 It's called a hyper static union, the only one that this has ever existed in 654 00:34:10,033 --> 00:34:11,033 being fully human. 655 00:34:11,033 --> 00:34:14,866 He knows what it is to be tempted like you and I, yet without sin being fully God. 656 00:34:14,866 --> 00:34:17,866 He's the only ransom for our sin on the cross. 657 00:34:18,300 --> 00:34:21,600 He's the only pure holy sacrifice that's settled. 658 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:24,600 All the sacrifice, all the sacrificial system. 659 00:34:24,966 --> 00:34:28,866 And he's saying, Jesus, this one, fully God, fully human, remember him. 660 00:34:29,666 --> 00:34:30,733 He is unique. 661 00:34:34,166 --> 00:34:36,566 For which I am suffering, bound in chains as a criminal. 662 00:34:36,566 --> 00:34:38,033 But the Word of God is not bounded. 663 00:34:38,033 --> 00:34:41,033 You know, the Bible has been the most maligned, 664 00:34:41,066 --> 00:34:44,466 the most attacked, the most burned book in the world. 665 00:34:44,466 --> 00:34:47,733 Yet it is without fail and will never go away. 666 00:34:49,166 --> 00:34:51,600 It can never be bound. 667 00:34:51,600 --> 00:34:53,200 And Paul says, Even I'm in chains here. 668 00:34:53,200 --> 00:34:54,433 I'm going to be beheaded soon. 669 00:34:54,433 --> 00:34:57,433 But the Word of God endures forever. 670 00:34:58,033 --> 00:35:01,033 And remember this. 671 00:35:04,133 --> 00:35:07,266 And I love the fact that Paul expected suffering in his. 672 00:35:07,566 --> 00:35:10,566 He wasn't one of those preachers 673 00:35:11,266 --> 00:35:15,033 that sought a life of ease, some life of privilege. 674 00:35:15,600 --> 00:35:18,033 He wasn't a pastor that had his own private parking 675 00:35:18,033 --> 00:35:21,033 spot or a green room to retreat to. 676 00:35:22,133 --> 00:35:22,900 He was a pastor. 677 00:35:22,900 --> 00:35:25,333 So look, this is just part of the sufferings, part of the gig, 678 00:35:26,733 --> 00:35:29,233 and I know I'm doing it right. 679 00:35:29,233 --> 00:35:31,366 When I embrace suffering, it's going to come. 680 00:35:31,366 --> 00:35:32,966 It's all right. 681 00:35:32,966 --> 00:35:34,066 But look at what he says. 682 00:35:34,066 --> 00:35:39,300 Therefore, I endure all of this for the sake of the elect, that 683 00:35:39,300 --> 00:35:42,933 they may also obtain the salvation is in Christ Jesus with the eternal glory. 684 00:35:43,300 --> 00:35:46,166 I would expect him to say, I endure all the suffering 685 00:35:46,166 --> 00:35:49,666 for God, or I endure all this for me because of what Jesus went through for me. 686 00:35:49,666 --> 00:35:52,033 Or I endure all the suffering because it's for the kingdom, 687 00:35:52,033 --> 00:35:54,433 or I endure all this suffering because God told me to. 688 00:35:54,433 --> 00:35:57,666 He didn't say any of that because I endure all the suffering for whom? 689 00:35:58,933 --> 00:36:01,166 The elect, those who will accept Christ. 690 00:36:01,166 --> 00:36:02,233 Here's what he's saying. 691 00:36:02,233 --> 00:36:06,866 He's saying, I know that my suffering and how I go through 692 00:36:06,866 --> 00:36:11,600 suffering is a benefit for you because as you watch me 693 00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:16,233 be strong in the grace of God, not in my ability to handle it, 694 00:36:16,366 --> 00:36:19,800 not in my own effort to give through it, but on the grace of God. 695 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:21,333 Because it's bigger than what I am. 696 00:36:21,333 --> 00:36:23,066 It's heavier than what I can carry. 697 00:36:23,066 --> 00:36:25,600 But I'm reliant upon the grace of God, the power of God. 698 00:36:25,600 --> 00:36:27,466 This made perfect in my weakness. 699 00:36:27,466 --> 00:36:29,966 Other people will see me go through this and to realize there's 700 00:36:29,966 --> 00:36:32,666 something different about this Jesus that I follow. 701 00:36:32,666 --> 00:36:36,300 Yeah, it's for your sake that I endure this suffering. 702 00:36:37,500 --> 00:36:40,500 You know, you have seen people 703 00:36:40,833 --> 00:36:44,900 go through hell on earth as a Christ follower, 704 00:36:45,100 --> 00:36:48,400 and they've endured it with such grace. 705 00:36:50,633 --> 00:36:53,066 Yes, yes. 706 00:36:53,066 --> 00:36:55,866 And they've endured it with such patience 707 00:36:55,866 --> 00:36:58,800 and an element of joy in their suffering. 708 00:36:58,800 --> 00:37:01,966 And you've watched them walk this road of faithfulness 709 00:37:02,133 --> 00:37:07,033 with the embracing of suffering because of the grace of God given them. 710 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:10,200 And you look at them, are these something's different. 711 00:37:10,200 --> 00:37:13,800 Oh, and when people who claim the name of Jesus 712 00:37:14,066 --> 00:37:18,000 look just like the world, when we go through suffering difficult times, 713 00:37:18,166 --> 00:37:21,533 it tells the world they nothing special about Christ. 714 00:37:22,966 --> 00:37:25,766 He says, sorry for your sake 715 00:37:25,766 --> 00:37:28,166 I will endure this 716 00:37:28,166 --> 00:37:29,800 relying on the grace of God. 717 00:37:29,800 --> 00:37:33,166 Yes, his undeserved merit and favor 718 00:37:33,166 --> 00:37:36,166 for me that gives me strength when I am weak. 719 00:37:37,200 --> 00:37:38,700 Yeah. 720 00:37:38,700 --> 00:37:41,700 And I want you to watch me suffer. 721 00:37:41,933 --> 00:37:43,166 Isn't that what Jesus did? 722 00:37:43,166 --> 00:37:45,500 Yes, yes. 723 00:37:45,500 --> 00:37:47,133 The lamb before the shears opened. 724 00:37:47,133 --> 00:37:50,133 Not his mouth. 725 00:37:52,800 --> 00:37:55,333 That they may obtain the glory 726 00:37:55,333 --> 00:37:57,566 of eternal life. 727 00:37:57,566 --> 00:37:59,900 Look at verse 11. The saying is trustworthy. 728 00:37:59,900 --> 00:38:03,133 For if we died with him, we will also live with him. 729 00:38:03,633 --> 00:38:05,833 If we endure, we will also reign with him. 730 00:38:05,833 --> 00:38:08,833 If we deny him, he will also he will deny us. 731 00:38:09,166 --> 00:38:11,700 If we're faithless, he remains faithful. 732 00:38:11,700 --> 00:38:13,566 Listen. He's saying, listen, here's the deal. 733 00:38:13,566 --> 00:38:16,066 If you die with Christ, you're going to live with him. 734 00:38:16,066 --> 00:38:16,633 What's he talking? 735 00:38:16,633 --> 00:38:17,600 What do you mean, die with Christ? 736 00:38:17,600 --> 00:38:19,733 Well, one thing you talk about martyrdom. 737 00:38:19,733 --> 00:38:22,500 Do you live your life in such a way that you suffer the point of death? 738 00:38:22,500 --> 00:38:24,966 Guess what? There's a special reward for you in heaven. 739 00:38:24,966 --> 00:38:26,466 Martyrdom is a spiritual gift. 740 00:38:26,466 --> 00:38:28,700 It's a gift you only use once. But it's a spiritual gift. 741 00:38:33,000 --> 00:38:34,533 Well, Celebes a spiritual gift. 742 00:38:34,533 --> 00:38:36,633 Celibacy is a gift to you. It's a gift you never use. 743 00:38:36,633 --> 00:38:39,633 So, I mean, there are those things. 744 00:38:43,600 --> 00:38:45,800 If it's also if you die with Christ, 745 00:38:45,800 --> 00:38:49,033 Paul will say in baptism you died with Christ. 746 00:38:49,033 --> 00:38:50,433 In baptism you were raised with Christ. 747 00:38:50,433 --> 00:38:54,800 So when you profess your faith in Christ, you live with him. 748 00:38:55,366 --> 00:38:58,366 And it's seen by others in baptism, baptism, water. 749 00:38:58,766 --> 00:39:01,100 But he says, if we endure, we'll also reign with him. 750 00:39:01,100 --> 00:39:05,066 Some of you, you got to know that the endurance now 751 00:39:05,066 --> 00:39:09,633 is leading to reigning later, so you endure it now. Why? 752 00:39:09,700 --> 00:39:12,566 Because what's coming is greater. 753 00:39:12,566 --> 00:39:15,566 But if we deny him, he'll deny us. 754 00:39:15,666 --> 00:39:18,300 This is a twofold thing. Here. 755 00:39:18,300 --> 00:39:23,100 One of it is, look, as a Christ follower, I cannot be faithful all the time. 756 00:39:23,333 --> 00:39:27,100 And that's why he will say, if we're faithless, he remains faithful. 757 00:39:27,866 --> 00:39:29,266 Praise God. 758 00:39:29,266 --> 00:39:31,800 But if I deny God, 759 00:39:32,833 --> 00:39:35,466 he is so faithful 760 00:39:35,466 --> 00:39:38,466 that he cannot 761 00:39:38,733 --> 00:39:40,500 acknowledge me. 762 00:39:40,500 --> 00:39:43,500 If I deny him. 763 00:39:43,833 --> 00:39:45,233 So when he says, when you're up 764 00:39:45,233 --> 00:39:48,233 for he cannot deny himself 765 00:39:48,300 --> 00:39:52,733 so, so, so this whole idea, if we deny him, he'll deny us. 766 00:39:53,000 --> 00:39:54,766 If we're faithless, he remains faithful. 767 00:39:54,766 --> 00:39:58,333 It's by the grace of God that he is faithful to his promises 100%, 768 00:39:58,333 --> 00:39:59,600 even when I'm not faithful to him. 769 00:39:59,600 --> 00:40:02,600 But if I deny him, 770 00:40:03,433 --> 00:40:06,000 he is so faithful to His Word, 771 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:08,866 he cannot acknowledge me. 772 00:40:08,866 --> 00:40:11,866 You understand? 773 00:40:13,700 --> 00:40:16,200 So be careful. 774 00:40:16,200 --> 00:40:19,200 This is the warning. 775 00:40:20,166 --> 00:40:22,800 Verse 14 remind him of these things, and charge them before 776 00:40:22,800 --> 00:40:26,200 God not to quarrel about words which does no good, 777 00:40:26,233 --> 00:40:29,233 only ruins hearers. 778 00:40:29,300 --> 00:40:32,300 So, Timothy, your job is just simply to remind them of Scripture, 779 00:40:32,800 --> 00:40:36,833 to remind the people of good, solid doctrine and the gospel of God. 780 00:40:38,266 --> 00:40:39,600 He said, there are some things 781 00:40:39,600 --> 00:40:42,700 that that that that can ruin each other. 782 00:40:44,566 --> 00:40:46,166 These 783 00:40:46,166 --> 00:40:50,700 when we get in these stupid, ridiculous quarrels and arguments about stupid stuff 784 00:40:50,700 --> 00:40:53,733 that have nothing to do with the gospel, nothing to do with God's Word. 785 00:40:55,633 --> 00:40:58,633 And unfortunately, church people are famous 786 00:40:59,000 --> 00:41:02,000 for getting into stupid arguments about stupid stuff. 787 00:41:02,700 --> 00:41:04,733 They have nothing to do with the gospel and nothing Luke 788 00:41:04,733 --> 00:41:07,033 and Paul says to me, just keep the main thing, the main thing, 789 00:41:07,033 --> 00:41:09,133 and keep telling your people to keep the main thing, the main thing. 790 00:41:09,133 --> 00:41:10,133 You understand that. 791 00:41:10,133 --> 00:41:13,133 That's why I will never preach the front page. 792 00:41:15,066 --> 00:41:17,500 You understand what that means, like whatever's hot on the news. 793 00:41:17,500 --> 00:41:20,533 But I'm not going to preach that it's front page preaching. 794 00:41:21,533 --> 00:41:23,600 And Paul says all that's going to do is ruin people. 795 00:41:23,600 --> 00:41:25,500 Just keep the main thing, the main thing. 796 00:41:25,500 --> 00:41:27,600 There's plenty of other church of the preacher front page. 797 00:41:27,600 --> 00:41:29,300 You want one of those churches? Go, please. 798 00:41:29,300 --> 00:41:31,800 I welcome you to go there. I'm not preaching the front page. 799 00:41:31,800 --> 00:41:33,600 I'm gonna stick true to the gospel. 800 00:41:36,466 --> 00:41:37,366 Do your best. 801 00:41:37,366 --> 00:41:40,300 Verse 15 to present yourself to God as one approved. 802 00:41:40,300 --> 00:41:44,100 A workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 803 00:41:45,566 --> 00:41:47,100 Do your best. 804 00:41:47,100 --> 00:41:49,866 You know, the best way to refute error is to embody 805 00:41:49,866 --> 00:41:52,866 the truth of God's Word yourself. 806 00:41:53,533 --> 00:41:55,133 The best way to refute error 807 00:41:55,133 --> 00:41:58,133 is to embody God's Word in your life. 808 00:41:58,533 --> 00:42:02,566 It says, do your best to present yourself to God as one approved. 809 00:42:03,366 --> 00:42:05,900 Literally, he said, make haste to this. 810 00:42:05,900 --> 00:42:09,200 Make this year prior to get this right, get to it, 811 00:42:09,300 --> 00:42:13,500 and exert yourself to show yourself as approved to God. 812 00:42:13,600 --> 00:42:17,266 When he says, make this your prior to be approved of God. 813 00:42:17,366 --> 00:42:22,200 That word approved his use regarding money and he's saying don't be a counterfeit, 814 00:42:23,200 --> 00:42:25,200 be the real deal. 815 00:42:25,200 --> 00:42:25,700 It's the thing 816 00:42:25,700 --> 00:42:28,833 they would use to prove what is legitimate and what is illegitimate. 817 00:42:29,366 --> 00:42:30,666 Listen off. 818 00:42:30,666 --> 00:42:33,333 He's talking about authenticity over imitation. 819 00:42:33,333 --> 00:42:37,200 Do the work to show yourself as the authentic one, 820 00:42:37,566 --> 00:42:42,600 not the poser one, not who looks legit but has no real value 821 00:42:43,500 --> 00:42:46,500 to the kingdom. 822 00:42:47,366 --> 00:42:50,366 And rightly handle the word of truth. 823 00:42:50,800 --> 00:42:53,800 Make the road you cut 824 00:42:54,533 --> 00:42:57,266 by this word so apparent 825 00:42:57,266 --> 00:43:00,266 that all deviations are obvious. 826 00:43:01,766 --> 00:43:04,766 Like this is the standard and it cuts a straight line. 827 00:43:04,966 --> 00:43:08,366 And when this is firmly cut, that line is straight. 828 00:43:08,366 --> 00:43:10,233 All deviations become apparent. 829 00:43:10,233 --> 00:43:12,366 You understand that 830 00:43:12,366 --> 00:43:15,233 this is the guide. 831 00:43:15,233 --> 00:43:16,466 Now listen. 832 00:43:16,466 --> 00:43:19,466 Rightly handling the word he says 833 00:43:19,666 --> 00:43:23,600 there is a correct interpretation for all of Scripture. 834 00:43:24,566 --> 00:43:28,000 It is illegitimate for us to say, well, the Scripture means this to me, 835 00:43:28,000 --> 00:43:28,833 and it means that for you. 836 00:43:28,833 --> 00:43:31,266 And I mean whatever it means for you is right. It's not right. 837 00:43:32,333 --> 00:43:32,700 There's a 838 00:43:32,700 --> 00:43:36,900 legitimate right interpretation to the Word of God and Christ. 839 00:43:36,900 --> 00:43:41,566 Followers need to be under teaching that rightly discerns 840 00:43:41,933 --> 00:43:45,733 and interprets the Word of God, so that the line that is cut 841 00:43:45,733 --> 00:43:49,466 in life is straight and all detours are apparent 842 00:43:49,466 --> 00:43:52,466 and obvious. 843 00:43:55,900 --> 00:43:56,666 When he says, 844 00:43:56,666 --> 00:43:59,666 present yourself as one approved, 845 00:44:00,200 --> 00:44:03,200 I mean, think about it. 846 00:44:03,900 --> 00:44:06,300 How embarrassing is it 847 00:44:06,300 --> 00:44:09,300 to have your work inspected by your boss, 848 00:44:09,766 --> 00:44:12,766 and have your boss disappointed with your work? 849 00:44:15,000 --> 00:44:17,900 Do you understand? 850 00:44:17,900 --> 00:44:20,400 He's saying you press into this Timothy 851 00:44:20,400 --> 00:44:23,133 so that when it is inspected, 852 00:44:23,133 --> 00:44:26,133 you got nothing to be ashamed of. 853 00:44:26,966 --> 00:44:29,966 Let me finish this out. 854 00:44:30,700 --> 00:44:32,600 Let me jump down to verse 19. 855 00:44:32,600 --> 00:44:34,966 God's firm foundation stands bearing this seal. 856 00:44:34,966 --> 00:44:37,266 The Lord knows who are his. 857 00:44:37,266 --> 00:44:40,500 And let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity 858 00:44:41,600 --> 00:44:42,666 is in the foundation. 859 00:44:42,666 --> 00:44:47,833 And all this is built on is two things one, that the Lord knows who he is. 860 00:44:47,900 --> 00:44:50,900 He's talking way back in the Old Testament, the Book of numbers, 861 00:44:51,266 --> 00:44:55,700 chapter 16 called Coras Rebellion. 862 00:44:55,700 --> 00:44:57,433 Read it sometime later. 863 00:44:57,433 --> 00:45:00,700 And he says, this whole sound is based on two things God knows who are his. 864 00:45:01,066 --> 00:45:04,533 Let God sort out who are his and who's are like, that's not our job 865 00:45:04,533 --> 00:45:08,600 to determine who are who, who God's kids are like, God will take care of that. 866 00:45:08,666 --> 00:45:11,066 That's first thing. Like he is sovereign. He knows. 867 00:45:11,066 --> 00:45:15,200 The second thing is everybody who claims the name of Christ has to depart 868 00:45:15,200 --> 00:45:16,566 from iniquity. 869 00:45:16,566 --> 00:45:19,833 I mean, you gotta get away from those things that entangle you. 870 00:45:21,066 --> 00:45:23,200 You have to choose to depart from iniquity. 871 00:45:23,200 --> 00:45:23,700 He says. 872 00:45:25,500 --> 00:45:27,266 So therefore, 873 00:45:27,266 --> 00:45:30,933 if anyone cleanses himself, verse 21, from what is dishonorable, 874 00:45:30,933 --> 00:45:34,866 he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as solely useful 875 00:45:34,866 --> 00:45:38,400 to the master of the house, ready for every good work said so. 876 00:45:38,400 --> 00:45:41,400 There are some things that you have to cleanse yourself from. 877 00:45:42,133 --> 00:45:43,866 We rely on God's grace first. 878 00:45:43,866 --> 00:45:45,900 Salvation, forgiveness. He does all that work. 879 00:45:45,900 --> 00:45:47,266 But our responsibility 880 00:45:47,266 --> 00:45:51,000 is to cleanse ourself from everything that is dishonorable to God. 881 00:45:51,566 --> 00:45:54,200 And as we cleanse ourself from those things that are dishonorable 882 00:45:54,200 --> 00:45:57,400 to God, we become ready for every good work. 883 00:45:57,400 --> 00:45:59,033 Do you understand that? 884 00:45:59,033 --> 00:46:02,033 Like God, he expects us 885 00:46:02,566 --> 00:46:05,733 to do our job of cleansing ourself. 886 00:46:05,900 --> 00:46:08,900 We're forgiven by his grace, but we are cleansed by our choice. 887 00:46:09,400 --> 00:46:10,800 You understand? 888 00:46:10,800 --> 00:46:12,566 And we have responsibility to that. 889 00:46:16,266 --> 00:46:17,366 It means literally 890 00:46:17,366 --> 00:46:21,666 to purge yourself of everything that dishonors God, 891 00:46:22,233 --> 00:46:24,866 everything that dishonoring to your commanding officer, 892 00:46:24,866 --> 00:46:26,700 everything that's dishonoring to the kingdom. 893 00:46:26,700 --> 00:46:29,600 We're to purge ourselves of all of that. 894 00:46:29,600 --> 00:46:30,966 Here's what here's what I'm saying. 895 00:46:30,966 --> 00:46:33,966 If it dishonors God, it deforms me. 896 00:46:38,133 --> 00:46:41,133 If it dishonors God, it deforms us. 897 00:46:45,833 --> 00:46:48,333 True joy comes 898 00:46:48,333 --> 00:46:51,333 when I let go of it, dishonors my creator. 899 00:46:57,266 --> 00:47:00,266 We have, our difficulty 900 00:47:01,500 --> 00:47:04,500 is seeking in something 901 00:47:05,600 --> 00:47:09,233 a joy and a peace that that thing was never intended to give us. 902 00:47:09,233 --> 00:47:11,633 Only God was. 903 00:47:11,633 --> 00:47:14,633 And when we seek those things 904 00:47:15,366 --> 00:47:18,366 to bring us joy, contentment, and peace, 905 00:47:19,633 --> 00:47:22,033 it dishonors God, 906 00:47:22,033 --> 00:47:24,433 and it deforms me, and I 907 00:47:24,433 --> 00:47:27,433 will never have joy. 908 00:47:28,333 --> 00:47:31,333 To understand. 909 00:47:33,933 --> 00:47:36,000 So then, Timothy, 910 00:47:36,000 --> 00:47:41,166 verse 22, flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, 911 00:47:41,166 --> 00:47:44,600 love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord 912 00:47:45,300 --> 00:47:48,833 from a pure heart have nothing to do with foolish, 913 00:47:49,000 --> 00:47:52,933 ignorant controversies and rabbit holes and posts online. 914 00:47:53,900 --> 00:47:55,466 You know that they only breed 915 00:47:55,466 --> 00:47:58,466 quarrels with your friends and family. 916 00:47:59,966 --> 00:48:02,966 The Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome. 917 00:48:05,333 --> 00:48:08,333 But be kind to everyone. 918 00:48:09,766 --> 00:48:12,566 Even those we disagree with. 919 00:48:12,566 --> 00:48:15,566 Do you know that we can disagree without being disagreeable? 920 00:48:15,733 --> 00:48:18,533 Yeah. 921 00:48:18,533 --> 00:48:21,366 Able to teach 922 00:48:21,366 --> 00:48:24,366 patiently enduring evil. 923 00:48:25,033 --> 00:48:28,033 Endure it patiently. 924 00:48:28,200 --> 00:48:31,200 It doesn't say riot and revolt. 925 00:48:31,866 --> 00:48:34,866 There's some bad stuff in this world. 926 00:48:36,400 --> 00:48:39,400 Patiently enduring evil. 927 00:48:39,433 --> 00:48:41,466 Correct your opponents with gentleness. 928 00:48:41,466 --> 00:48:42,233 That's meekness. 929 00:48:42,233 --> 00:48:43,100 You know what meekness is? 930 00:48:43,100 --> 00:48:45,700 Meekness is strength under control. 931 00:48:45,700 --> 00:48:48,266 It's an uncaged lion that chooses not to devour you. 932 00:48:48,266 --> 00:48:48,600 That's. 933 00:48:48,600 --> 00:48:51,600 That's meekness, strength under control. 934 00:48:51,600 --> 00:48:52,166 It looks. 935 00:48:52,166 --> 00:48:55,166 Just because you're right doesn't mean you have to prove it all the time. 936 00:48:56,300 --> 00:48:58,766 Just because someone wrong doesn't mean you get to beat them up all the time. 937 00:48:59,900 --> 00:49:01,633 You understand, 938 00:49:01,633 --> 00:49:03,600 can win an argument and lose a heart. 939 00:49:03,600 --> 00:49:06,366 That's not right. 940 00:49:06,366 --> 00:49:09,666 God may perhaps grant them repentance, leading to a knowledge of the truth, 941 00:49:09,666 --> 00:49:13,033 and they may come to their senses and escape 942 00:49:13,033 --> 00:49:17,266 from the snare of the devil after being captured by him to do as well. 943 00:49:17,266 --> 00:49:18,366 They just might. 944 00:49:18,366 --> 00:49:21,366 When we live this way, people just might come to their sentence, 945 00:49:21,533 --> 00:49:24,466 to their senses, because they've been deluded. 946 00:49:24,466 --> 00:49:27,466 The Bible says by the influencers. 947 00:49:30,666 --> 00:49:31,566 There are minds 948 00:49:31,566 --> 00:49:34,566 that are deluded by the influencers. 949 00:49:35,066 --> 00:49:38,066 And when God's people live this way, 950 00:49:38,233 --> 00:49:41,233 they just might come to their senses. 951 00:49:41,366 --> 00:49:44,366 And so, dear friends, flee 952 00:49:45,000 --> 00:49:49,400 those things that dishonor God and that entangle you. 953 00:49:50,333 --> 00:49:53,766 Flee means to run away from and get out of the danger zone. 954 00:49:54,766 --> 00:49:55,633 Quit flirting 955 00:49:55,633 --> 00:49:58,633 with stuff you're flirting with, he says. 956 00:49:58,700 --> 00:50:01,700 Quit letting this stuff entangle your life. 957 00:50:02,100 --> 00:50:04,400 It's screwing you up. It dishonors God. 958 00:50:04,400 --> 00:50:06,600 It deforms you. 959 00:50:06,600 --> 00:50:11,000 And pursue faith and agape love. 960 00:50:12,300 --> 00:50:14,166 Pursue Christ. 961 00:50:14,166 --> 00:50:17,166 It means you run fast to catch them. 962 00:50:18,633 --> 00:50:21,066 And by doing that, 963 00:50:21,066 --> 00:50:24,066 some people may come to their senses. 964 00:50:26,900 --> 00:50:29,566 Because they've been duped 965 00:50:29,566 --> 00:50:32,566 by influencers. 966 00:50:33,333 --> 00:50:36,333 It's just so pertinent to our world right now. 967 00:50:36,366 --> 00:50:39,366 It's so pertinent to our lives and so. 968 00:50:41,333 --> 00:50:43,033 Here's the questions. 969 00:50:43,033 --> 00:50:46,033 We end where we started. 970 00:50:47,033 --> 00:50:50,033 What you flee determines your purity, 971 00:50:50,533 --> 00:50:53,533 and what you pursue determines your destiny. 972 00:50:54,666 --> 00:50:56,533 So the question is, 973 00:50:56,533 --> 00:50:59,533 what must you flee? 974 00:51:03,233 --> 00:51:06,233 What must you flee? 975 00:51:06,400 --> 00:51:07,466 There are some things you need 976 00:51:07,466 --> 00:51:10,466 to run away from fast. 977 00:51:11,966 --> 00:51:13,533 There's some things that are even good things, 978 00:51:13,533 --> 00:51:18,833 but it entangles you fulfilling the command of your commanding officer. 979 00:51:20,966 --> 00:51:22,700 Flee! 980 00:51:22,700 --> 00:51:25,233 Quit flirting. 981 00:51:25,233 --> 00:51:28,233 Quit acting like it doesn't matter. 982 00:51:28,900 --> 00:51:31,100 Quit playing around. 983 00:51:31,100 --> 00:51:32,066 You're a soldier. 984 00:51:32,066 --> 00:51:33,000 You're an athlete. 985 00:51:33,000 --> 00:51:35,866 You're a farmer. 986 00:51:35,866 --> 00:51:38,866 And what must you pursue? 987 00:51:38,900 --> 00:51:42,500 Or better said, whom must I pursue? 988 00:51:44,966 --> 00:51:47,966 Christ. 989 00:51:48,600 --> 00:51:51,600 Without him, we can do nothing. 990 00:51:51,900 --> 00:51:52,900 And so. 991 00:51:52,900 --> 00:51:54,733 Amen. 992 00:51:54,733 --> 00:51:55,633 You okay? 993 00:51:55,633 --> 00:51:58,633 Yeah. 994 00:52:00,466 --> 00:52:03,466 Let's pray. 995 00:52:05,433 --> 00:52:08,433 I've said enough. 996 00:52:10,533 --> 00:52:13,100 I expect the Holy Spirit to speak now. 997 00:52:13,100 --> 00:52:16,100 Yeah. 998 00:52:16,400 --> 00:52:19,400 You've done a good job listening to me 999 00:52:19,500 --> 00:52:22,500 do a better job listening to him. 1000 00:52:24,833 --> 00:52:27,833 Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you. 1001 00:52:29,066 --> 00:52:32,066 And say, Holy Spirit, what must I flee? 1002 00:52:39,166 --> 00:52:41,466 Bible says, ask and you will find her. 1003 00:52:41,466 --> 00:52:44,433 Ask and you will receive. Seek and you'll find. 1004 00:52:44,433 --> 00:52:46,666 Knock and there will be opened. 1005 00:52:46,666 --> 00:52:49,200 Ask him right now. 1006 00:52:49,200 --> 00:52:52,200 Seek his voice right now. 1007 00:52:52,700 --> 00:52:54,300 Holy spirit, what must I flee? 1008 00:52:59,600 --> 00:53:02,600 Listen to what he's saying. 1009 00:53:04,800 --> 00:53:07,800 Holy spirit, what must I flee? 1010 00:53:12,000 --> 00:53:15,000 And when you hear his voice respond. 1011 00:53:18,933 --> 00:53:19,566 Say, father, 1012 00:53:19,566 --> 00:53:22,566 I hear you telling me I must flee. 1013 00:53:23,300 --> 00:53:26,233 Whatever this is. 1014 00:53:26,233 --> 00:53:29,233 And by your grace, not my strength. 1015 00:53:31,766 --> 00:53:34,766 I choose to run away from it right now. 1016 00:53:34,800 --> 00:53:37,800 I choose to reject its power and its hold on my life. 1017 00:53:39,300 --> 00:53:42,300 By your grace, 1018 00:53:42,333 --> 00:53:45,333 I am free. 1019 00:53:46,333 --> 00:53:47,566 Free? 1020 00:53:47,566 --> 00:53:50,566 What must you pursue? 1021 00:53:51,233 --> 00:53:53,066 And if you've never pursued Jesus. 1022 00:53:53,066 --> 00:53:55,433 You pursued religion. You pursued church. 1023 00:53:55,433 --> 00:53:58,633 You pursued being good, but you've not pursued Jesus. 1024 00:54:01,433 --> 00:54:06,166 Bible says you will find me when you seek me with all your heart. 1025 00:54:07,000 --> 00:54:09,200 Yeah, 1026 00:54:09,200 --> 00:54:12,200 for God is not far from any of us. 1027 00:54:14,200 --> 00:54:17,900 If you've not pursued Jesus yet, I wouldn't encourage you in this moment 1028 00:54:19,400 --> 00:54:22,633 to pursue him, because he will be found. 1029 00:54:26,166 --> 00:54:29,100 And to say, God, I need you in my life. 1030 00:54:29,100 --> 00:54:31,266 I need you, 1031 00:54:31,266 --> 00:54:31,800 Jesus. 1032 00:54:31,800 --> 00:54:34,700 I want you, 1033 00:54:34,700 --> 00:54:37,066 and I receive you, 1034 00:54:37,066 --> 00:54:40,266 and I trust you as the leader 1035 00:54:40,266 --> 00:54:43,266 and liberator of my soul. You. 1036 00:54:44,800 --> 00:54:46,233 Thank you for your forgiveness. 1037 00:54:46,233 --> 00:54:49,233 I accept it. 1038 00:54:51,300 --> 00:54:53,566 And I will choose to do 1039 00:54:53,566 --> 00:54:57,600 what I can do with my responsibility as a soldier, 1040 00:54:57,600 --> 00:55:00,600 as your athlete, and as your farmer. You. 1041 00:55:06,033 --> 00:55:06,433 Father. 1042 00:55:06,433 --> 00:55:09,433 Thank you. Thank you that you love us. 1043 00:55:09,733 --> 00:55:12,733 Thank you that when we are faithless, you remain faithful. 1044 00:55:13,733 --> 00:55:16,733 Thank you that you cannot deny yourself. 1045 00:55:16,966 --> 00:55:18,400 That we've attached ourselves to. 1046 00:55:18,400 --> 00:55:20,033 You will never be denied. 1047 00:55:20,033 --> 00:55:23,033 Thank you, thank you, thank. 1048 00:55:24,600 --> 00:55:26,300 Holy spirit, I pray that you continue to speak 1049 00:55:26,300 --> 00:55:29,300 to us. 1050 00:55:29,366 --> 00:55:30,833 Calling us to flee those things. 1051 00:55:30,833 --> 00:55:31,533 We need to flee. 1052 00:55:32,800 --> 00:55:34,233 Pursuing you 1053 00:55:34,233 --> 00:55:37,233 with our whole heart and soul and mind and strength 1054 00:55:38,133 --> 00:55:41,133 and father, for that will give you thanks. 1055 00:55:41,700 --> 00:55:42,366 In your name I pray. 1056 00:55:42,366 --> 00:55:44,233 Amen. 1057 00:55:44,233 --> 00:55:46,733 Let's not love you, Second Timothy. 1058 00:55:46,733 --> 00:55:49,200 It's good, isn't it? Yeah, it's good words. 1059 00:55:49,200 --> 00:55:50,200 Good words. 1060 00:55:50,200 --> 00:55:55,000 This and this week read second Timothy two again and let it challenge you. 1061 00:55:55,766 --> 00:55:59,766 Paul just told Timothy like he'll give you understanding as you apply yourself. 1062 00:55:59,933 --> 00:56:01,633 So read it again and pray through 1063 00:56:01,633 --> 00:56:02,733 and let the Holy Spirit 1064 00:56:02,733 --> 00:56:06,266 talk to you in the kind of flesh this stuff out and within you. 1065 00:56:06,266 --> 00:56:07,400 That makes sense. 1066 00:56:07,400 --> 00:56:10,233 You understand like, let this keep living on. 1067 00:56:10,233 --> 00:56:13,533 Remember, you're Nancy, you got ten months of training before you get to compete. 1068 00:56:13,533 --> 00:56:16,533 So train hard this week. You got that? 1069 00:56:17,100 --> 00:56:20,666 Don't walk from here and be a militiaman, right? 1070 00:56:20,666 --> 00:56:21,566 Like warfare. 1071 00:56:21,566 --> 00:56:24,900 You got your your your musket in your gunpowder. 1072 00:56:24,900 --> 00:56:26,966 Like be a minuteman. 1073 00:56:26,966 --> 00:56:28,866 Press into this training. 1074 00:56:28,866 --> 00:56:30,000 All right. 1075 00:56:30,000 --> 00:56:31,333 You good? 1076 00:56:31,333 --> 00:56:33,800 All right. We got one more song. Right. 1077 00:56:33,800 --> 00:56:34,833 This is about Jesus. 1078 00:56:34,833 --> 00:56:38,200 Jesus, that's a good song. I like that song. 1079 00:56:38,400 --> 00:56:40,733 I love that song. That stand up and sing.