1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:06,040 400 years ago, 1628, John Bunyan was born. 2 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:12,160 Bunyan was born to a poor family near Bedford, England and he was 3 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:16,079 not well educated, but he was extremely rebellious. 4 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:18,720 He was known especially for his frequent cursing. 5 00:00:19,240 --> 00:00:22,880 By age 16 he joined the army and he fought in the English Civil 6 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:26,480 War. By 1646, he was discharged after 7 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:30,080 a near death experience and the following year he got married 8 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:33,160 and that's really when everything in his life started 9 00:00:33,160 --> 00:00:34,920 to change. We don't know the name of 10 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:39,400 Bunyan's wife, but we know these newlyweds were dirt, were 11 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,600 absolutely dirt poor. Any newlyweds out there know 12 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:44,800 what that's like? Bunyan said. 13 00:00:45,160 --> 00:00:50,000 We didn't have so much household stuff as a dish or a spoon 14 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:53,080 between us. That's not much. 15 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:56,320 But his wife did bring into marriage two books. 16 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:02,240 There were two Puritan books. And Bunyan read the books and he 17 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:04,920 was convicted of his sin. So he started attending church, 18 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:09,600 and he tried to stop cursing. After months of attending his 19 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:13,320 parish church, he actually met some women from another church. 20 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:17,640 He came across them and he heard how they joyfully and zealously 21 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:21,480 talked about Jesus Christ. And that's when Bunyan realized 22 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:24,840 through their spiritual conversation that he was lost, 23 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:29,600 that he had no joy, that he had no Christ. 24 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:33,960 So in 1651, those women introduced Bunyan to their 25 00:01:33,960 --> 00:01:38,080 pastor, John Gifford. And it was Gifford that God used 26 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:42,240 to lead Bunyan to repent of his sins and to believe in Jesus 27 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:45,240 Christ. Eventually, Bunyan and his wife 28 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:48,520 and he had four little children, would have moved to Bedford to 29 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:51,200 where they'd become a member of Giffords Church. 30 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,840 He was a member there and soon after he became a Deacon. 31 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:59,680 And then just a little later he started preaching and then he 32 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:02,520 started writing and he wrote a lot. 33 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:07,120 He published over 50 books, 50 books. 34 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:08,479 You might be familiar with one of them. 35 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,960 His most famous one is called The Pilgrim's Progress. 36 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:17,320 That book, Pilgrim's Progress might be one of the most famous 37 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:21,000 books ever written in English during his own lifetime. 38 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:27,240 It sold over 100,000 copies. Today, over 250 million copies 39 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:29,080 have been sold. In fact, since it's been in 40 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:34,920 print, which was way back in 1677, it's never been out of 41 00:02:34,920 --> 00:02:37,080 print. Friends, you should read it. 42 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:39,480 Kids, I hope your parents have read it to you. 43 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:44,040 If not, ask them to buy you a copy of Pilgrim's Progress and 44 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:46,520 to read it with you. Pilgrim's Progress is an 45 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:49,440 allegorical retelling of the Christian life. 46 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:53,800 The main character's name is Christian, and he's on a journey 47 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:58,600 from the city of Destruction, the world to heaven, which 48 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:03,120 Bunyan calls the Celestial City. But there's many troubles along 49 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:08,960 the way. In 1688, Bunyan made it to the 50 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:13,240 Celestial City. He caught a fever, and he died 51 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:16,160 soon after. But before he died, his friends 52 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:19,760 gathered around his deathbed, and Bunyan encouraged them. 53 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:24,240 He encouraged them, and he told them that his greatest desire 54 00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:30,720 was to be with Christ. And when he died, he lifted his 55 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:33,160 arms to heaven, and he cried out. 56 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:40,960 Take me, for I come to thee. And Bunyan finished his race. 57 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:46,720 He entered glory. His faith became sight. 58 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:56,400 How can we finish the race? How can we cross that finish 59 00:03:56,400 --> 00:04:01,080 line and enter the Celestial City and see our Savior? 60 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:04,960 Friends, if you have your Bible, please turn to Second Timothy, 61 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:07,720 chapter 1. If you don't have a Bible, maybe 62 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:09,640 you forgot one. Maybe you don't even own one. 63 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:13,000 Just raise your hand now. Somebody would be glad to bring 64 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:15,800 you a Bible so you can follow along in the text. 65 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:18,399 We're in second Timothy. If you're not familiar with the 66 00:04:18,399 --> 00:04:22,800 Bible, those big numbers, those are the chapters and the little 67 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:26,040 numbers, those are the verses. We're in Second Timothy, chapter 68 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:31,440 1, verses 6 to 12. This is the Apostle Paul's last 69 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:34,560 letter. It's a letter he wrote to 70 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:38,640 Timothy from a Roman prison while he awaited his execution. 71 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:44,000 And with his final words, the apostle Paul assures us in 72 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:47,040 chapter 4, I have fought the good fight. 73 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:53,480 I have finished the race. I have kept the faith as I read 74 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,280 verses 6 to 12. Hear the word of the Lord. 75 00:04:59,880 --> 00:05:05,320 For this reason I remind you to fan and to flame the gift of 76 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:10,480 God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 77 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:18,000 For God gave us a spirit, not a fear, but of power and love and 78 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:22,760 self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of 79 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:27,720 the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but 80 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:33,360 share in suffering for the Gospel by the power of God, who 81 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:36,920 saved us and called us to a holy calling. 82 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:41,760 Not because of our works, but because of His own purpose and 83 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:47,080 grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages 84 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:52,480 began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing 85 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:56,560 of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life 86 00:05:56,560 --> 00:06:02,800 and immortality to light through the Gospel, For which I was 87 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:06,920 appointed A preacher, an apostle and teacher. 88 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:13,840 Which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know 89 00:06:13,840 --> 00:06:18,520 whom I have believed, and I'm convinced that he is able to 90 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:23,720 guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. 91 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:28,680 Here's the Apostle Paul's invitation this morning. 92 00:06:30,280 --> 00:06:34,160 Share in suffering for the gospel. 93 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:37,280 That's his invitation to you, believer. 94 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:41,000 Share in suffering for the gospel. 95 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:43,760 It's it's a striking it. And if we're honest, it's a 96 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:48,080 strange invitation. Share in suffering. 97 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:50,880 Who? Who wants to share in suffering? 98 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:55,640 If you're not a believer in Jesus, I want you to see that if 99 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:59,320 you want to follow Jesus, following Jesus comes with a 100 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:04,520 cross. The gospel entails suffering, 101 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:08,960 and I want you to see this morning that Jesus is worth 102 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:12,480 suffering for. That's what the apostle Paul 103 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:15,880 tells us with his last words. There's three points to the 104 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:18,920 sermon. If you're following along, .1 is 105 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:26,440 the gospel invites suffering, .1 verses 6-8 the gospel invites 106 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:28,080 suffering. Look at verse 6. 107 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:36,440 For this reason, Paul writes to Timothy, I remind you to fan 108 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:40,400 into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the 109 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:45,320 laying on of my hands. If you remember last week in 110 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:50,080 verses 3 to 5, Paul remembered Timothy's sincere faith. 111 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:53,960 His grandmother and his mother taught him about the Lord, and 112 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:57,560 Timothy ministered alongside Paul for over 15 years and 113 00:07:57,560 --> 00:08:00,440 Timothy's pastoring the church in Ephesus. 114 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:03,560 But his service to God is not finished. 115 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:10,840 So now Paul reminds him to fan into flame the gift of God. 116 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:16,640 What is this gift of God that Timothy has? 117 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:21,080 I think the gift is Timothy's pastor. 118 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:26,840 In other words, Paul's referring to Timothy's installation as a 119 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:29,720 pastor. Notice Paul says it's in him 120 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:33,159 through the laying on of Paul's hands. 121 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:38,840 That was a pattern recognizing leaders by laying hands on them. 122 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:40,919 It was a pattern that was seen in the Old Testament. 123 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:44,520 In the book of Numbers, Moses is transitioning leadership to 124 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:49,400 Joshua and in Numbers 27 the Lord tells him, take Joshua, a 125 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:53,120 man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. 126 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:56,480 And this was done publicly, it was done before the whole camp 127 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:58,520 of Israel. And that pattern in the Old 128 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:00,680 Testament continues in the New Testament. 129 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:05,120 In Acts 6, when the Church of Jerusalem recognizes these proto 130 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:09,080 deacons, they prayed and they laid their hands on them. 131 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:13,080 In Acts 13 when the church at Antioch commissions Paul and 132 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:17,320 Barnabas for missions for church planning, they laid their hands 133 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:21,800 on them and they sent them off. And that's why in First Timothy 134 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:26,680 4, Paul previously tells Timothy, don't neglect the gift 135 00:09:26,680 --> 00:09:32,120 you have which is in you, which was given to you by prophecy 136 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:34,560 when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 137 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:38,800 It's also why Paul warns Timothy in First Timothy 5. 138 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:44,880 He says don't be hasty in the laying on of hands, meaning 139 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,080 don't be hasty in appointing new elders. 140 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:51,640 And that's exactly what you witnessed earlier in the service 141 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:56,240 here with me. Ashok and Brandon laid hands on 142 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:59,200 me as a public recognition of something the congregation 143 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:03,760 affirmed last week in a vote. But some Baptist churches 144 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:07,240 understand the pastor it a little differently. 145 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:09,360 They might understand as a permanent role. 146 00:10:09,680 --> 00:10:11,880 Once you become a pastor, you're always pastor. 147 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:15,400 You know, you could be a pastor even if you're not a pastor of 148 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:19,360 any specific church. And the Roman Catholic Church 149 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:23,800 and some Anglican churches also understand this laying on of 150 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:26,640 hands a little differently. They would say that those set 151 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:30,000 apart for ministry are understood to receive some 152 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:33,280 special grace from God for that ministry. 153 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:37,280 But the pattern in the New Testament is that the ability to 154 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:40,640 hold the office of pastor depends on just two things. 155 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:45,040 One, well, the man has to meet the qualifications. 156 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:49,000 Those are listed out in first and V3 and in Titus 1 he has to 157 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:53,120 meet those. And then second, a congregation 158 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:55,960 has to affirm that man as their pastor. 159 00:10:56,640 --> 00:11:00,600 That's it, those two things. So the laying on of hands is not 160 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:05,280 when some special grace is imparted to a man for pastoral 161 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:07,640 ministry. It's when the congregation 162 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:12,680 affirms the work of the Holy Spirit in a man's life. 163 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:14,880 But how do all these things work? 164 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:19,560 You have the elders and you have the congregation, and then you 165 00:11:19,560 --> 00:11:22,160 have the Spirit. We get a little picture in Acts 166 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:24,720 20. In Acts 20, Paul's addressing 167 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:28,240 the Ephesian elders, and there he says to the Ephesian elders, 168 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:32,600 the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. 169 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:36,440 How does it all work? Well, it's in many ways the same 170 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:40,080 as it's worked in our church. The elders lead Brandon Ashok, 171 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:42,600 we're leading in the process. And then the congregation 172 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:47,440 affirms what the spirits doing. That's how it all plays 173 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:50,120 together. So basically Paul is saying 174 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:56,480 here, Timothy, don't neglect your pastoral ministry. 175 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:02,000 Don't slack on your teaching. Pay attention to your preaching. 176 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:07,520 He says, fan it into flame. And in that sense, pastoral 177 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:11,960 ministry is much like a muscle. If you work out, which I'm sure 178 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:15,800 some of some of you do, what happens when you skip the gym 179 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:19,360 for a week? Well, not a lot happens. 180 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:20,760 Actually. You don't really notice 181 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:23,160 anything. But what if you stay away for a 182 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:30,680 month, or a year or a decade? Your muscles that you work so 183 00:12:30,680 --> 00:12:34,920 hard to get will wither away. You'll grow weak. 184 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:38,840 Your muscles will atrophy. Or, to use Paul's analogy, 185 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:44,040 ministry is like a fire. What happens if you start a fire 186 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:46,760 but you don't tend to it? Well, nothing happens 187 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:50,720 immediately, but eventually, if you do nothing, if you don't 188 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:54,360 stoke the flames, eventually the fire dies out. 189 00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:58,960 It grows cold. So Paul tells Timothy, fan it 190 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:03,560 into flame. Exercise your pastoral muscles. 191 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:06,480 It's very similar to what he charged Timothy in First Timothy 192 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:09,520 for there. He said, practice these things, 193 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:14,000 immerse yourself in them so that all may see your progress. 194 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:17,600 Perhaps you have been going to the gym and you've been working 195 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:20,920 hard and then months later someone looks at you and goes, 196 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:24,480 you look different, something's different about you. 197 00:13:24,680 --> 00:13:27,320 Have you been working out? They notice it. 198 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:30,600 The exact same thing is supposed to happen with your pastors. 199 00:13:31,560 --> 00:13:34,360 They should grow. They've not arrived. 200 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:37,800 So your pastor that you have today, like me and Ashok and 201 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:41,520 Brandon, five years from now, 10 years from now, if we're still 202 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:45,640 pastoring, by God's grace, you should say you've made some 203 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:48,600 progress. Your preaching's gotten better, 204 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:53,040 your praying is more edifying. You're more wise today. 205 00:13:53,560 --> 00:13:56,840 That's the work of the Spirit, and we have a role to play in 206 00:13:56,840 --> 00:14:01,400 it. Fan it into flame and Paul 207 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:06,120 charges Timothy. He grounds the charge in verse 208 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:13,640 7, the gift of God's spirit. Look at verse 7, for God gave us 209 00:14:13,640 --> 00:14:21,440 a spirit, not a fear, but of power and love and self-control. 210 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:26,440 Notice those three things, Power, love, self-control. 211 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:29,800 Those are things that all Christians possess by the 212 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:32,520 Spirit. Jesus promised the apostles you 213 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:35,680 will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. 214 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:39,560 And then we see in Galatians 5, the fruit of every Christian by 215 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:44,320 the Spirit is, among other things, love and self-control. 216 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:49,040 So Timothy, by God's Spirit, is equipped with everything he 217 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:52,560 needs for faithful and fruitful ministry. 218 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:57,600 But Timothy faces a challenge in ministry, which is really the 219 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:00,840 challenge of every pastor. Cowardice. 220 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:04,480 That's what Paul refers to in that phrase. 221 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:09,040 God gave us a spirit, not a fear. 222 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:14,160 He's not talking about fear alone, but a fear that makes you 223 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:20,000 freeze, a fear that stops you in your tracks when you're supposed 224 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:24,760 to act in the face of danger. Perhaps you've been in a 225 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:29,800 situation like that. A dangerous situation arises and 226 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:31,880 you just freeze. You don't know what to do, so 227 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:38,560 you do nothing. Pastors can't be cowards, but 228 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:44,360 that's the temptation and we get it because no one wants to be on 229 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:48,560 a church members bad side. No one wants to have that hard 230 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:52,280 conversation. No one wants to confront those 231 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:54,600 false teachers or that false teaching. 232 00:15:55,080 --> 00:16:00,560 But if a pastor lacks courage, if they fail to act, who suffers 233 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:03,240 for it? The congregation. 234 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:09,920 Pastors must take on trouble to spare the congregation from 235 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:13,000 trouble. It's not that pastors must be 236 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:16,680 fearless, like they never have any fears or they're never 237 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:20,800 anxious about anything. They must be courageous in the 238 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:23,800 face of those fears. Jesus gives us a picture of 239 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:25,520 pastoral ministry in John chapter 10. 240 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:29,880 He shows the difference between a shepherd and a hired hand. 241 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:35,040 When trouble comes, when there's wolves attacking the flock, what 242 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:39,440 does a hired hand do? They flee, but a shepherd 243 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:42,680 doesn't, and Jesus gives himself as a picture of a faithful 244 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:48,480 shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep church. 245 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:54,400 Pray that God would give your pastors even more courage. 246 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:59,840 Pray that we would fear God and not fear you. 247 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:05,359 Pray that we wouldn't check it out when God calls us to step 248 00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:08,160 up. Brothers who aspire to pastor 249 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:13,480 you desire a noble task. Keep making progress in your 250 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:17,319 teaching. Be a man of courage in a world 251 00:17:17,319 --> 00:17:21,560 of cowards. But notice that Paul's focus is 252 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:27,520 not just on courage. It's also love and self-control. 253 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:33,480 Meaning that if you want a pastor, you must be courageous, 254 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:38,280 but you cannot be careless. You must be careful with the 255 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:42,280 sheep. Every action must be constrained 256 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:45,720 by love for the sheep and love for the Lord. 257 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:48,320 You must be compassionate and tender. 258 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:54,400 You must be able to restore sinners in a spirit of 259 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:59,200 gentleness. Church, look for elders. 260 00:17:59,920 --> 00:18:05,280 Look for men who are courageous and careful. 261 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:09,440 Those are the men you want to shepherd your soul. 262 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:15,720 Now in verse 8, Paul gives Timothy his invitation. 263 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:21,440 Look at verse 8. Therefore, do not be ashamed of 264 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:25,280 the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but 265 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:31,160 share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God. 266 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:36,560 It's because Timothy has the Spirit that he must not be 267 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:41,200 ashamed of the gospel, and he must not be ashamed of gospel 268 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:46,560 workers, gospel workers like Paul, who Withers away in 269 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:49,480 prison. Instead, he must share, he must 270 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:53,120 participate. He must join Paul and Jesus 271 00:18:53,120 --> 00:18:56,000 Christ in suffering for the gospel. 272 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:59,280 His willingness to suffer for the gospel is actually evidence 273 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:02,440 and proof that he's not ashamed of the gospel. 274 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:05,040 Now put yourself in Timothy's shoes. 275 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:12,640 You can imagine how tempting and convenient it would have been to 276 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:17,400 just forget about Paul, who's in prison, 1600 miles separate 277 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:19,760 them. There's no FaceTime. 278 00:19:20,360 --> 00:19:22,560 There's just letters that you can send, and it will take 279 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:24,400 months to get to its destination. 280 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:28,000 It would have been easy. And in fact, that's what many of 281 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:31,520 Paul's ministry associates did in his final hour. 282 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:35,280 Paul says in First and Second Timothy, many of them deserted 283 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:41,680 him, but not Timothy. And so Paul reminds Timothy to 284 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:46,680 share in his suffering. He reminds Timothy that he has 285 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:51,840 the power of God, that God has given him the Spirit to do the 286 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:56,160 very work required of him. Now you might wonder, what 287 00:19:56,160 --> 00:20:01,440 difference does the Spirit make to share in suffering? 288 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:09,200 Remember the apostle Peter at Jesus Christ's arrest, a servant 289 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:12,760 girl asked him, weren't you with Jesus? 290 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:18,480 Peter said, don't know him. Another servant girl sees him 291 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:22,760 later and she says to everyone, hey, that man, he was with 292 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:25,080 Jesus. But this time, Peter says with 293 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:29,720 an oath. I don't know the man. 1/3 time 294 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:33,840 someone says to Peter, I can tell by your accent you're one 295 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:36,920 of his followers. And this time Peter invokes a 296 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:45,320 curse on himself, and he swears I don't know the man. 3 denials 297 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:51,240 When it came to suffering with the suffering servant, Peter was 298 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:55,360 ashamed. But that was Peter before he 299 00:20:55,360 --> 00:20:59,400 received the Spirit of God. After receiving the Spirit at 300 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:01,840 Pentecost. It was Peter who powerfully 301 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:05,080 preached at Pentecost. And it was Peter who is charged 302 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:07,160 not to speak in the name of Jesus. 303 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:12,160 But he said we cannot speak of what we have seen and heard. 304 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:17,040 And it was Peter who told the high priest himself who charged 305 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:23,040 him not to preach Christ. We must obey God rather than men 306 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:29,760 empowered by the Spirit. Peter shared in suffering for 307 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:32,760 his Savior. That's what God's Spirit 308 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:39,360 produces in his people. He empowers us and he enables us 309 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:44,160 to not be ashamed of the gospel, but to share in suffering for 310 00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:48,360 the gospel. Now, friends, we should always 311 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:57,000 feel shame when we sin. We should never feel shame for 312 00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:02,400 the gospel. But if we're honest, each of us 313 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:06,160 are far more sensitive to the court of public opinion than 314 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:09,800 we'd like to admit. Don't you find that to be true 315 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:14,920 in your own life? We feel pressure come people's 316 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:17,560 opinions and we're tempted to cave. 317 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:23,520 We sense shame for what we think or believe. 318 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:28,680 We want to shy away. Christian, how are you tempted 319 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:35,160 to feel shame for the gospel? Could it be that shame is what's 320 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:37,560 keeping you from sharing the gospel with your neighbors 321 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:40,480 because you're fearful of what they might think about you? 322 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:44,640 Or could it be that shame's keeping you from acknowledging 323 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:48,280 Christ at your workplace because you're afraid you might miss a 324 00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:52,280 promotion? Or could it be that shame is 325 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:55,200 keeping you from boldness with your family because you're 326 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:58,840 worried you're nervous about what they might say behind your 327 00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:02,000 back? Ask yourself this. 328 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:07,600 Why am I excessively sensitive to the opinions of others? 329 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:16,800 What do my fears say about me and about what I prioritize and 330 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:20,560 ask God for help? Turn to him humbly. 331 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:24,680 He sent you, the Spirit, to be your helper. 332 00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:26,880 On your own. You can do nothing to fight your 333 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:31,160 fears, But you, believer, have the power of God by the Spirit 334 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:33,920 of God. So ask that God might stretch 335 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:38,360 out his mighty hand and free you from your fears so that you can 336 00:23:38,360 --> 00:23:42,160 share in suffering for the gospel. 337 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:48,440 It's the gospel that Paul turns in verses 9 and 10.2. 338 00:23:49,360 --> 00:23:53,200 The gospel is worth our suffering. 339 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:57,000 The gospel is worth our suffering. 340 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:04,720 In verses 9 and 10, Paul really double clicks on that word 341 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:06,160 that's in verse eight. Look at verse 8. 342 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:11,120 There's the word, the gospel. He double clicks on it. 343 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:15,280 And so as we stare at these verses, verses 9 and 10, I just 344 00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:19,360 want you to let the good news soak in. 345 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:29,200 He says God saved us and called us to a holy calling, not 346 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:32,560 because of our works, but because of His own purpose and 347 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:37,600 grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages 348 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:43,000 began and which now has been manifested through the appearing 349 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:48,600 of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolish death and brought life 350 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:52,720 and immortality to light through the gospel. 351 00:24:54,680 --> 00:25:00,720 What is the gospel? That is the most important 352 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:04,640 question you can ask, and Paul gives us the answer in verses 9 353 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:07,760 and 10. It's how God save sinners. 354 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:13,200 Verse 9 he tells us how. Verse 10 He tells us why. 355 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:17,840 Flip that. In verse 9 He tells us why. 356 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:21,120 In verse 10 He tells us how First, why. 357 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:25,640 Why does God save sinners? Look carefully at verse 9. 358 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:34,920 Notice what the answer is not. It is not because of our works. 359 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:38,400 Did you see that, friends? Look, look at verse 9. 360 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:44,560 Not because of our works. God does not save sinners 361 00:25:44,560 --> 00:25:47,880 because of their good works. God doesn't save sinners because 362 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:50,520 they try their best. God doesn't save sinners because 363 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:53,200 they do their best. God doesn't save sinners because 364 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:59,000 of anything they've done at all, which is the opposite message of 365 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:02,760 every major religion. The message of every major 366 00:26:02,760 --> 00:26:08,400 religion is you must do something to be saved. 367 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:11,680 That's the message of Islam. Islam teaches you must follow 368 00:26:11,680 --> 00:26:14,680 the five pillars. Declare that there is no God but 369 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:16,840 God and that Muhammad is his prophet. 370 00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:18,600 Say your prayers five times a day. 371 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:22,840 Give to the poor, fast during Ramadan, travel, make your trip 372 00:26:22,840 --> 00:26:25,920 up to Mecca. That's the message of Hinduism. 373 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:30,080 Hinduism teaches karma, that your deeds become your destiny, 374 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:33,040 that what goes around comes around, that you need to do 375 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:37,680 enough good deeds to liberate you from the endless cycle of 376 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:41,640 rebirth. It's the message of Roman, an 377 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:45,840 Eastern Orthodoxy, which teach that there's grace, but you must 378 00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:48,760 also work. You must do good works, which 379 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:53,200 together the grace and your good works participate for your 380 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:56,240 salvation. In other words, every major 381 00:26:56,240 --> 00:26:58,640 religion is a message of self help. 382 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:01,720 Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps. 383 00:27:02,040 --> 00:27:04,840 Fake it till you make it garbage. 384 00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:07,520 That's what Paul's assessment is. 385 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:12,480 He says he'll have none of it. He says not because of our 386 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:19,240 works, kids. That means that going to church 387 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:23,280 won't save you, or being born in a Christian family won't save 388 00:27:23,280 --> 00:27:25,680 you, or reading your Bible enough won't save you, or 389 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:27,840 obeying your parents won't save you. 390 00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:31,520 God won't save you because of anything you've done. 391 00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:37,280 So we have to ask Paul, why then does God save sinners? 392 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:44,400 He says in verse 9, because because of his own purpose and 393 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:50,160 grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages 394 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:55,680 began. Christian, on what does your 395 00:27:55,680 --> 00:28:02,560 salvation depend? Not your works, but God's grace. 396 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:09,160 Not you, but God. Trace the timeline of your 397 00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:13,800 salvation. How far back do you need to go? 398 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:20,880 Paul says before the ages began. Well, how far back is that? 399 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:24,040 Go to your date of birth. You have to keep going. 400 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:28,160 Go back hundreds of years after that, you need to keep going. 401 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:31,440 Go back another thousand years after that and you need to keep 402 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:35,080 going. Go back before time itself 403 00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:39,000 began. OK, now we're there. 404 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:42,880 And what exactly were you doing way back then? 405 00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:49,280 Nothing. Don't you see Paul's point? 406 00:28:50,160 --> 00:28:54,440 When you trace the river of your salvation to its source, it will 407 00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:59,120 not lead to you or to your works, but to God and His grace. 408 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:01,000 God is the one who calls sinners. 409 00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:02,960 God is the one who chooses sinners. 410 00:29:03,120 --> 00:29:05,120 God is the one who saves sinners. 411 00:29:05,120 --> 00:29:09,640 So salvation does not depend on human effort or initiative or 412 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:13,480 merit at all. It depends on God. 413 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:22,800 He chooses, He saves, He calls. That's why God saves, because of 414 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:25,800 his purpose, because of his grace. 415 00:29:25,840 --> 00:29:28,680 But how? How does God save? 416 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:32,160 Look at verse 10. How does God save sinners? 417 00:29:32,160 --> 00:29:36,280 Paul says, and which now has been manifested through the 418 00:29:36,280 --> 00:29:41,160 appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and 419 00:29:41,160 --> 00:29:44,880 brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 420 00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:50,240 When you trace the river of your salvation to its source, it will 421 00:29:50,240 --> 00:29:56,920 lead you to Christ, to grace that's given in Christ Jesus in 422 00:29:56,920 --> 00:30:02,560 eternity before the ages began appeared 2000 years ago when our 423 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:08,520 Savior Christ Jesus was born. Sin brought death and judgement 424 00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:13,040 into the world, and since we're all sinners, we each deserve 425 00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:16,920 death and judgement. But when Christ came into the 426 00:30:16,920 --> 00:30:20,800 world, he abolished death and brought life and immortality to 427 00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:22,600 light. Through his death and 428 00:30:22,600 --> 00:30:26,760 resurrection, he received the eternal judgement that sinners 429 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:30,360 deserve, and he defeated death and gave eternal life to 430 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:33,920 undeserving sinners. That's what happened on the 431 00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:37,560 cross. He died for sinners and had his 432 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:41,800 resurrection. He rose for sinners, and it's 433 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:46,280 all grace. It's not because of works, it's 434 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:50,080 God's work. It's not ours, friends. 435 00:30:50,080 --> 00:30:54,480 That is the Apostle Paul's unpacking of that little word 436 00:30:55,080 --> 00:31:00,040 gospel. There's a scene in the movie 437 00:31:00,040 --> 00:31:03,640 Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, which I think depicts 438 00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:07,720 this very well. It's the scene, the Battle of 439 00:31:07,720 --> 00:31:10,440 Helms D If you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about. 440 00:31:10,440 --> 00:31:14,360 King Theoden and his people are being attacked by an army of 441 00:31:14,360 --> 00:31:15,920 orcs. They're in a mountain fortress 442 00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:20,880 with a huge wall between them and an ocean of enemies. 443 00:31:21,760 --> 00:31:26,520 And on the 5th day of this siege, the wall breaks, the 444 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:30,320 enemies flood in, and it seems like all is lost. 445 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:35,680 It seems like this is the end. But the wizard Gandalf told one 446 00:31:35,680 --> 00:31:41,440 of them, look to my coming at first light on the 5th day at 447 00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:46,400 dawn, look to the east. And it's just when you think 448 00:31:46,680 --> 00:31:51,720 it's all lost that Aragorn looks up to the Ridge on the east and 449 00:31:51,720 --> 00:31:57,120 the sun begins to rise and peek through, and there's Gandalf 450 00:31:57,840 --> 00:32:01,160 with an army to save them all from their enemies. 451 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:07,000 If you're not a believer. When it seems like all hope is 452 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:14,120 lost when Christ is crucified, when he's died and darkness 453 00:32:14,120 --> 00:32:17,760 descends in Jerusalem and he's in the grave for three days and 454 00:32:17,760 --> 00:32:21,280 all his followers are mourning because they think it's over. 455 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:26,240 It's then that life and immortality are brought to light 456 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:31,040 through the gospel. Because on Sunday, on the third 457 00:32:31,040 --> 00:32:35,760 day, Christ rises from the grave and that's when the enemies are 458 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:39,640 defeated forever. If you're not a believer, do you 459 00:32:39,640 --> 00:32:44,120 see the light dawning in the darkness? 460 00:32:44,680 --> 00:32:48,920 Do you feel the warmth of Christ's love for sinners? 461 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:51,680 Do you understand? Do you believe that there's 462 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:54,960 nothing you can do to save yourself? 463 00:32:55,160 --> 00:33:00,360 You contribute nothing, but Christ has done it all by grace. 464 00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:06,400 Will you this morning leave behind your sin and trust in 465 00:33:06,400 --> 00:33:14,080 Jesus Christ for salvation? Church, If there's no gospel, 466 00:33:15,320 --> 00:33:20,560 there's no light, and there's no life without Christ, we'd be 467 00:33:20,560 --> 00:33:24,400 walking in darkness today. Or, CS Lewis said it would 468 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:28,040 remain always winter but never Christmas. 469 00:33:28,240 --> 00:33:31,880 But the light has dawned and death has been defeated, and 470 00:33:31,880 --> 00:33:38,480 Christ has risen victorious. Which is why you and I need the 471 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:43,160 gospel preached to us every single week. 472 00:33:44,720 --> 00:33:49,280 Think about this for a moment. The apostle Paul ministered 473 00:33:49,280 --> 00:33:51,600 alongside Timothy for over 15 years. 474 00:33:52,840 --> 00:33:57,120 Timothy was even a pastor of the church at Ephesus. 475 00:33:57,480 --> 00:34:06,120 And yet here Paul reminds Timothy of the gospel because in 476 00:34:06,120 --> 00:34:11,239 the face of suffering, he needed a reminder of what he was 477 00:34:11,239 --> 00:34:15,239 suffering for. And that's a reminder each of us 478 00:34:15,239 --> 00:34:18,120 need. We need to be regularly reminded 479 00:34:18,639 --> 00:34:23,560 of why God saved us and how God saved us. 480 00:34:23,600 --> 00:34:28,560 And we need to regularly remind one another that this gospel is 481 00:34:28,560 --> 00:34:35,920 worth suffering for. In fact, this gospel is the very 482 00:34:36,040 --> 00:34:39,560 motivation to share in suffering. 483 00:34:40,440 --> 00:34:45,480 It was Paul's motivation, which we'll see in point 3.3. 484 00:34:46,679 --> 00:34:50,480 Our suffering can't stop the gospel. 485 00:34:54,480 --> 00:34:57,800 Friends, I want you to see how this passage fits together. 486 00:34:59,280 --> 00:35:01,400 In verse 8, Paul challenges Timothy. 487 00:35:02,360 --> 00:35:06,280 Timothy, don't be ashamed. Share in suffering for the 488 00:35:06,280 --> 00:35:08,640 gospel. And then in the middle verses, 489 00:35:08,640 --> 00:35:12,160 verses 9 and 10, you have the gospel that's worth suffering 490 00:35:12,160 --> 00:35:14,240 for. Here we are. 491 00:35:14,240 --> 00:35:18,440 Now in verses 11 and 12, Paul does not issue a challenge. 492 00:35:19,280 --> 00:35:23,160 He comforts Timothy. He puts his arm around Timothy. 493 00:35:24,040 --> 00:35:29,120 He says to Timothy, Timothy, I've suffered too. 494 00:35:30,320 --> 00:35:34,280 I'm not ashamed. God's going to take care of 495 00:35:34,280 --> 00:35:38,720 everything. Verses 11 and 12 look at verse 496 00:35:38,720 --> 00:35:41,880 11. Paul says, for which I was 497 00:35:41,880 --> 00:35:47,840 appointed A preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I 498 00:35:47,840 --> 00:35:52,360 suffer as I do. God's the one who appointed Paul 499 00:35:52,360 --> 00:35:54,760 to his ministry. He appointed him to be a 500 00:35:54,760 --> 00:35:57,920 preacher and teacher and apostle of the gospel. 501 00:35:58,240 --> 00:36:01,600 Remember back to Acts 9, which was read early in the service. 502 00:36:02,480 --> 00:36:07,600 Paul was promised suffering. Jesus told Ananias that Paul was 503 00:36:07,600 --> 00:36:13,080 his chosen instrument. He said I will show him how much 504 00:36:13,080 --> 00:36:17,080 he must suffer for the sake of my name. 505 00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:22,320 Christian, do you see the intrinsic connection between 506 00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:25,680 preaching the gospel and suffering for the gospel? 507 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:28,680 That's what Christ promised Paul. 508 00:36:29,320 --> 00:36:31,920 That's what Paul knew himself by experience. 509 00:36:32,240 --> 00:36:36,800 Paul does not then ask Timothy to do something that he's not 510 00:36:36,880 --> 00:36:41,160 willing to do himself. He practices what he preaches. 511 00:36:41,640 --> 00:36:45,920 He preaches and that is why he suffers. 512 00:36:46,920 --> 00:36:50,000 Brothers and sisters, we need to set our expectations of the 513 00:36:50,000 --> 00:36:55,400 Christian life accordingly. Following Jesus is costly. 514 00:36:56,360 --> 00:36:58,880 Christians and non Christians like face God's bitter 515 00:36:58,880 --> 00:37:03,280 Providence, sickness, the loss of a job. 516 00:37:04,160 --> 00:37:09,000 But suffering for the gospel is exclusive to following Jesus 517 00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:11,360 Christ. For following Jesus Christ comes 518 00:37:11,360 --> 00:37:16,720 with a cross, and sharing the gospel invites suffering itself. 519 00:37:16,880 --> 00:37:21,720 It is why Paul suffers, but he's not ashamed. 520 00:37:22,680 --> 00:37:28,240 Verse 12. I'm not ashamed, for I know whom 521 00:37:28,240 --> 00:37:32,200 I have believed, and I'm convinced that he is able to 522 00:37:32,200 --> 00:37:37,760 guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. 523 00:37:40,000 --> 00:37:43,400 Notice Paul's great confidence in prison. 524 00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:48,720 I know whom I have believed. He's met Jesus Christ. 525 00:37:49,160 --> 00:37:53,840 He's believed in Jesus Christ. He's not ashamed of Jesus 526 00:37:54,040 --> 00:37:56,760 Christ. And notice what Paul's convinced 527 00:37:56,760 --> 00:38:02,480 of in prison. He's convinced that God is able 528 00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:04,720 to guard what's been entrusted to him. 529 00:38:05,040 --> 00:38:08,680 What has God entrusted Paul with? 530 00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:13,360 The gospel. He's been entrusted with the 531 00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:15,640 gospel. Yes, his life is in danger, and 532 00:38:15,640 --> 00:38:17,760 he does trust God with his life also. 533 00:38:18,040 --> 00:38:22,200 But it's the gospel that's his focus, and it's the gospel that 534 00:38:22,200 --> 00:38:31,440 Paul believes is in good hands. And notice what day is on Paul's 535 00:38:31,440 --> 00:38:38,920 mind in prison That day. Yes, he's going to be executed 536 00:38:38,920 --> 00:38:41,520 shortly. Perhaps he already knows when 537 00:38:41,520 --> 00:38:44,440 that's coming. That's not the day he's thinking 538 00:38:44,440 --> 00:38:47,480 of. He's thinking of the final day 539 00:38:47,640 --> 00:38:51,920 when Christ returns. Christ, second coming and final 540 00:38:51,920 --> 00:38:55,200 judgement. That's where Paul's mind is. 541 00:38:55,640 --> 00:39:00,560 That's where his heart is here in his last days in prison. 542 00:39:03,240 --> 00:39:06,920 Back in college, the Burtons got me into rock climbing. 543 00:39:08,320 --> 00:39:11,400 I started rock climbing. I'd go down to Arkansas and go 544 00:39:11,400 --> 00:39:15,360 to Horseshoe Canyon Ranch and there I would climb these 30 545 00:39:15,360 --> 00:39:19,600 foot tall cliffs. And I'm personally afraid of 546 00:39:19,600 --> 00:39:21,360 heights. Rock climbing was one thing that 547 00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:25,920 helped me with that. You get to the top and you need 548 00:39:25,920 --> 00:39:28,920 to clip into anchors. You know, you bring the rope up 549 00:39:28,920 --> 00:39:30,480 yourself. There's these little bolts in 550 00:39:30,480 --> 00:39:34,720 the mountain and you have clips, and every 5 to 8 feet or so you 551 00:39:34,720 --> 00:39:37,480 clip in so that if you fall, you only fall a few feet. 552 00:39:37,480 --> 00:39:40,320 But when you get to the very top, there's these anchors you 553 00:39:40,320 --> 00:39:43,200 need to clip in. And to clip into the anchors, 554 00:39:43,200 --> 00:39:47,040 you have these slings. There are these little cords 555 00:39:47,200 --> 00:39:52,520 this big, less than half an inch thick, and you just take those 556 00:39:52,520 --> 00:39:55,560 two things, you clip them in and then that's it. 557 00:39:56,160 --> 00:39:58,720 Those will hold you. And then you need to feed the 558 00:39:58,720 --> 00:40:01,440 rope in, use your hands. So there's a moment you have to 559 00:40:01,440 --> 00:40:06,880 clip in with the slings and then lean back on them 30 feet in the 560 00:40:06,880 --> 00:40:10,800 air and then use your hands to feed the rope through. 561 00:40:12,480 --> 00:40:18,160 Imagine if you were the one up there. 30 feet in the air and 562 00:40:18,160 --> 00:40:20,200 you've got the clips and it's your first time. 563 00:40:20,920 --> 00:40:24,400 Your slings are on the anchors, but you're a little nervous, as 564 00:40:24,400 --> 00:40:26,200 I can imagine. I've been there. 565 00:40:26,680 --> 00:40:30,520 What encouragements might I yell up your way to get you to 566 00:40:30,520 --> 00:40:36,600 actually let go and lean back? I might tell you, hey, those 567 00:40:36,600 --> 00:40:41,520 little half inch thick slings, they can withstand 11 568 00:40:41,520 --> 00:40:45,560 kilonewtons of force. And you might just stare at me 569 00:40:45,560 --> 00:40:50,960 blankly like you're doing now and I might tell you that's 2500 570 00:40:50,960 --> 00:40:54,280 lbs of force. You know, that's those slings 571 00:40:54,280 --> 00:40:57,720 can hold a small car. You can lean back. 572 00:40:58,360 --> 00:41:02,400 You can trust them. Just do it, lean back. 573 00:41:03,600 --> 00:41:06,800 But the truth is, and maybe you'd know this, the truth is 574 00:41:06,800 --> 00:41:10,800 that even those little slings which can withstand 2500 lbs of 575 00:41:10,800 --> 00:41:16,240 force, well, that's just £2500. There's a breaking point. 576 00:41:16,560 --> 00:41:20,480 There is a point where if you lean back hard enough or 577 00:41:20,480 --> 00:41:23,960 something happened, or you did put a small car there and it was 578 00:41:23,960 --> 00:41:27,160 2600 lbs, those slings would just snap. 579 00:41:28,120 --> 00:41:32,280 You can be confident in them, but only to a certain point. 580 00:41:34,640 --> 00:41:37,760 They're strong, but they have limits. 581 00:41:39,360 --> 00:41:44,120 Friends, the apostle Paul in prison, look where his strength 582 00:41:44,120 --> 00:41:49,320 relies. He says God is able. 583 00:41:50,640 --> 00:41:56,600 He is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to 584 00:41:56,640 --> 00:42:00,200 me. He is able. 585 00:42:01,840 --> 00:42:05,400 The apostle all sits in prison with his life on the line. 586 00:42:06,240 --> 00:42:10,440 He remembers that God is able. That's his confidence. 587 00:42:11,160 --> 00:42:14,320 He serves the God who is the Almighty. 588 00:42:15,160 --> 00:42:18,240 He's all powerful. The Old Testament Saints called 589 00:42:18,240 --> 00:42:21,400 him Psalm 46. One our strength. 590 00:42:21,920 --> 00:42:26,080 There's no limit to his power. There's never a single moment 591 00:42:26,080 --> 00:42:29,960 where he's exhausted, Isaiah declared of him, He does not 592 00:42:29,960 --> 00:42:35,040 faint or grow weary. And Jeremiah said, Lord, nothing 593 00:42:35,040 --> 00:42:40,280 is too hard for you. That is our God. 594 00:42:41,520 --> 00:42:45,200 He's able. There's no limits, yet there's 595 00:42:45,200 --> 00:42:51,360 infinite power, which means you and I and our church can have 596 00:42:51,360 --> 00:42:56,400 great confidence as we look to the future of gospel ministry. 597 00:42:57,480 --> 00:43:00,400 Because God is able. We have nothing to worry about. 598 00:43:00,560 --> 00:43:04,200 God is able. We can labor and toil and then 599 00:43:04,200 --> 00:43:07,200 relax and rest because God is able. 600 00:43:07,200 --> 00:43:12,680 We can even share in suffering and take on suffering and trust 601 00:43:13,480 --> 00:43:19,960 that God is able. He is able, called, suffered in 602 00:43:19,960 --> 00:43:23,400 prison, He suffered for the preaching of the gospel. 603 00:43:23,400 --> 00:43:28,480 And he invites Timothy and he invites us to do the same, to 604 00:43:28,480 --> 00:43:33,560 share in suffering for the gospel. 605 00:43:36,160 --> 00:43:42,200 In 1661, John Bunyan was arrested for preaching the 606 00:43:42,200 --> 00:43:44,960 gospel. They threw him into prison, and 607 00:43:44,960 --> 00:43:47,920 they told him that if he wanted to be set free, all he had to do 608 00:43:47,920 --> 00:43:51,680 was stop, stop preaching the gospel, and they're at home. 609 00:43:51,680 --> 00:43:55,040 He had his wife and his four kids, and his first daughter was 610 00:43:55,040 --> 00:43:57,160 blind. They needed his help. 611 00:43:58,760 --> 00:44:05,080 And yet, Bunyan replied, if I'm free today, I will preach 612 00:44:05,080 --> 00:44:10,360 tomorrow. So he remained in prison for a 613 00:44:10,360 --> 00:44:14,560 total of over 12 years. Those days were particularly 614 00:44:14,560 --> 00:44:19,200 hard and painful as he was separated from his family, but 615 00:44:19,200 --> 00:44:22,040 he endured. It was in prison, actually, when 616 00:44:22,040 --> 00:44:24,120 he wrote his famous Pilgrim's Progress. 617 00:44:25,760 --> 00:44:28,960 At one point in Pilgrim's Progress, Christian, the main 618 00:44:28,960 --> 00:44:31,120 character, meets another character named Faith. 619 00:44:32,040 --> 00:44:36,960 And Christian asks Faith about shame, the shame that we might 620 00:44:36,960 --> 00:44:40,440 feel for following Jesus Christ and for suffering for Jesus 621 00:44:40,440 --> 00:44:45,200 Christ. And Faith tells Christian what 622 00:44:45,200 --> 00:44:51,040 God says is best is best, though all the men in the world are 623 00:44:51,040 --> 00:44:54,920 against it, seeing that they make themselves fools. 624 00:44:54,920 --> 00:44:58,160 For the Kingdom of heaven are the wisest, and that the poor 625 00:44:58,160 --> 00:45:02,360 man that loveth Christ is richer than the greatest man in the 626 00:45:02,360 --> 00:45:05,960 world that hates him. Shame depart. 627 00:45:06,640 --> 00:45:10,760 Thou art an enemy to my salvation. 628 00:45:13,560 --> 00:45:17,560 Brothers and sisters, when you're faced with suffering for 629 00:45:17,600 --> 00:45:22,040 Jesus Christ, let's say with Bunyan shame, depart. 630 00:45:22,880 --> 00:45:26,320 Let's share in suffering for the gospel. 631 00:45:27,000 --> 00:45:37,660 Let's pray, Father, we pray that you'd fill us up with the Spirit 632 00:45:38,700 --> 00:45:43,100 so that we can stomach these difficult truths, so that we can 633 00:45:43,100 --> 00:45:48,800 share in suffering for the very gospel that saves us. 634 00:45:49,760 --> 00:45:55,520 And Lord, help us trust that you are the one who's able to guard 635 00:45:55,600 --> 00:46:00,280 until that day what you've entrusted to our church. 636 00:46:00,880 --> 00:46:03,320 We pray in Jesus name, Amen.