1 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:20,600 In your Bibles, please meet me in the book of 2nd Timothy. 2nd, 2 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:29,700 Timothy chapter 3. And let's begin together here in 3 00:00:29,700 --> 00:00:33,400 verse 14. Second, Timothy chapter 3. 4 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:46,100 Beginning in verse 14. but as for you, Continue in what you 5 00:00:46,100 --> 00:00:50,500 have learned and I firmly believe, knowing from whom you 6 00:00:50,500 --> 00:00:53,600 learned it. And how from childhood you have 7 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:58,100 been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to make 8 00:00:58,100 --> 00:01:04,300 you wise for salvation through faith in Christ, Jesus, Lord, 9 00:01:04,300 --> 00:01:07,300 this is your word, we acknowledge it, as the Living 10 00:01:07,300 --> 00:01:12,400 Word, we acknowledge it as the sufficient word, the perfect 11 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,300 word of God. Lord in our hands today. 12 00:01:15,300 --> 00:01:19,000 We do not take it for granted that we have access to your 13 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:21,800 word. The complete Revelation that we 14 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:26,200 have concerning who you are, your will your works. 15 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:29,800 And we pray that this word would not just be held in our hands. 16 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,500 Not just be read on a screen. Oh God. 17 00:01:32,500 --> 00:01:36,200 Would you impress it on our hearts when it get into our 18 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:40,800 blood, Lord, make inform us, made it change us. 19 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:45,700 May it saves some may you be glorified and how we're 20 00:01:45,700 --> 00:01:49,800 reverentially come before your word today in Jesus name we 21 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:51,600 pray. Amen. 22 00:01:53,100 --> 00:01:59,500 The great Apostle Paul was not just a master Theologian who is 23 00:01:59,500 --> 00:02:02,900 used to channel divine revelation to what we know as 24 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:05,900 the holy book. The holy scriptures. 25 00:02:06,500 --> 00:02:11,200 This man, Paul, who's writing to an individual in this letter. 26 00:02:11,500 --> 00:02:18,600 Was also a humble tender-hearted compassionate, Pastor who really 27 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:22,300 cared for the people that God allowed him to minister to in 28 00:02:22,300 --> 00:02:27,400 his lifetime and you and I have been seeing how that is true of 29 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:32,000 this man throughout this letter. Especially at this point Paul 30 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:35,600 has a deep concern, even though he is going to be called, to be 31 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:41,200 executed any moment and writing this, he is so concerned about 32 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:46,200 Particular individual and how his faith will be and what kind 33 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:48,900 of, man, he will be in the absence of the one that watched 34 00:02:48,900 --> 00:02:53,400 over him for so many years. And so, he seeks to encourage 35 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:57,700 Timothy in his faith and not just to believe, but to strive 36 00:02:57,700 --> 00:03:01,900 to bear fruit to be excellent, to be faithful to be firm. 37 00:03:02,300 --> 00:03:05,900 And that is especially needed for this man, because there are 38 00:03:05,900 --> 00:03:08,000 challenges that lay ahead of him. 39 00:03:08,900 --> 00:03:12,000 Challenges from the culture challenges, from within the 40 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:14,900 church. What is it that Timothy needs to 41 00:03:14,900 --> 00:03:18,000 hear in order to be ready for the things that he is going to 42 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,800 face. Well, it began last week that in 43 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:26,000 verse 10, and verse 10, when Paul tells them, it's possible 44 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:30,100 to know faithful endurance, it's possible to burn for the Lord 45 00:03:30,100 --> 00:03:33,200 from the moment of your spiritual conception and birth 46 00:03:33,500 --> 00:03:35,500 to the point where you meet him face-to-face. 47 00:03:35,500 --> 00:03:39,700 It's possible to remain strong and if Any doubt in that 48 00:03:39,700 --> 00:03:43,700 Timothy, look at my own life, you've studied the events that 49 00:03:43,700 --> 00:03:47,300 I've endured the torture from people and yet Christ was 50 00:03:47,300 --> 00:03:51,000 faithful to keep me and he is faithful to keep you, but you 51 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:53,200 got to extend your hand for him to hold on to it. 52 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:57,400 But he's not finished yet. Paul is not finished yet and 53 00:03:57,400 --> 00:03:59,400 giving him the necessary ingredients. 54 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:03,500 The applications that are needed in order to stand firm. 55 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:07,600 And my brother my sister, what God had in mind for Timothy? 56 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:11,900 He has in mind for you and me. Because we're told in verse 12, 57 00:04:11,900 --> 00:04:15,000 are we not indeed. This is certain this is for 58 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:18,800 sure. Indeed all who desire to live a 59 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:25,300 Godly life in Christ, Jesus will be persecuted. so the truths for 60 00:04:25,300 --> 00:04:29,400 Timothy or truth for you if you desire to live a Godly life in 61 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:33,400 Christ Jesus, And the next thing that Paul is going to do for 62 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:38,300 Timothy as he's ready to embrace, as he is ready to sail 63 00:04:38,300 --> 00:04:42,500 into societal and spiritual storms. 64 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:45,400 Is in the text that we read earlier. 65 00:04:46,100 --> 00:04:49,400 Look at verse 13 quickly just to give context while evil people 66 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:54,900 and Impostors Will Go On from bad to worse deceiving and being 67 00:04:54,900 --> 00:04:59,300 deceived, but asked for you as for you. 68 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:04,800 In other words as the culture, and Christendom continues, to 69 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:11,100 shift, continues to Swerve, continues to seduce Timothy. 70 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:16,100 There is a charge given to you that you must Embrace and Obey 71 00:05:16,700 --> 00:05:21,300 believer. There is a charge for you as we 72 00:05:21,300 --> 00:05:25,600 witness the decadence around us. There is a charge for you to 73 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:30,000 embrace and to obey and the theme the overarching idea that 74 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:33,500 Paul Bob. Holy Spirit has for us has to 75 00:05:33,500 --> 00:05:39,600 deal with a commitment and an engagement with the word of God. 76 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:44,400 It's all about the word. It's about the word today. 77 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:50,200 And what we are being told here is so encouraging already 78 00:05:50,500 --> 00:05:53,600 because the response for the believer today with all the 79 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:58,400 chaos that we're seeing is very simple, it's not complex and 80 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:01,500 that is to reinforce your relationship with God's word. 81 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:05,200 And my prayer today is that, as you hear these insights, as you 82 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:10,300 hear these truths, it would motivate you to love this book 83 00:06:11,300 --> 00:06:15,200 and to engage with it, with greater discipline and hunger 84 00:06:15,500 --> 00:06:19,200 and dependency. It's a very simple message today 85 00:06:19,300 --> 00:06:21,600 because I'm only going to offer you two things from the verses 86 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:25,000 that we read. The first thing that we see here 87 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:29,500 is, but as for you while people are getting worse, don't mind 88 00:06:29,500 --> 00:06:33,100 them. As for you your response, the 89 00:06:33,100 --> 00:06:38,400 appropriate reaction primarily is to be all the more committed 90 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:44,100 to the word of God. As for you, continue in what you 91 00:06:44,100 --> 00:06:48,400 have learned and have firmly, believed not just believed 92 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:52,200 firmly, believed the word continue here. 93 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:55,600 That Paul uses is the same word for abide. 94 00:06:56,400 --> 00:07:01,400 Remain stand your ground. It's the same word that Jesus 95 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:08,500 uses in John 15 when he says abide in me and I in you The 96 00:07:08,500 --> 00:07:13,200 idea here is hold onto the spirit inspired truths that you 97 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:18,600 have known with a tighter grip. Don't let go don't waver, 98 00:07:18,900 --> 00:07:23,700 especially as you see new teachings arising and as you see 99 00:07:23,900 --> 00:07:29,400 justification for sin through sinful and carnal Notions and 100 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:32,900 Men made ideas. Hold on to the word. 101 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:39,300 You have to Timothy believe that this word is worth dying for 102 00:07:39,300 --> 00:07:42,900 even and I find the so sobering I find it. 103 00:07:42,900 --> 00:07:47,400 So sobering that this is even a command in the first place for 104 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:49,000 somebody. Like Timothy, you had such a 105 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:53,800 rich spiritual Heritage who had a grandmother and a mother that 106 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:57,100 trained him up in the faith. And yet he is still told by Paul 107 00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:02,600 continued. Continue implying, what that? 108 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:05,800 Regardless of your spiritual upbringing, no matter what your 109 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:08,900 Fidelity to the faith has been over the years. 110 00:08:09,100 --> 00:08:14,400 No one in this place is Out Of Reach of being swayed away from 111 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:18,800 standing on the word or us. This command doesn't make sense. 112 00:08:19,300 --> 00:08:22,000 Continue in what you have learned. 113 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,600 Proving that it's possible to drift. 114 00:08:26,300 --> 00:08:29,000 And if you need any proof of that, just look at the major 115 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:33,100 denominations over the past few decades that have drifted away 116 00:08:33,299 --> 00:08:37,900 from Pure truth. That are drifting away today 117 00:08:37,900 --> 00:08:43,100 from Clear truth, you have movements that are shifting and 118 00:08:43,100 --> 00:08:44,900 so this is completely applicable. 119 00:08:45,900 --> 00:08:48,700 And there are many reasons why a man, like Timothy would be 120 00:08:48,700 --> 00:08:53,700 tempted to move away from the word of God would be tempted to 121 00:08:53,708 --> 00:08:56,600 dilute. These truths will be tempted to 122 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:59,100 not allow it to remain as the authority over his life. 123 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:01,900 You've heard it. There's the temptation of those 124 00:09:01,900 --> 00:09:06,300 who have an appearance of godliness Who would come in and 125 00:09:06,300 --> 00:09:08,800 some form of religiosity, but are corrupt. 126 00:09:08,900 --> 00:09:11,600 And because of their corruption, they contaminate those who are 127 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:15,500 pure and they convince him not to be submitted to this word 128 00:09:15,500 --> 00:09:20,100 practically. There are also the temptation to 129 00:09:20,100 --> 00:09:23,200 abandon the truth through intimidation, right? 130 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:27,400 And what is the intimidation, the intimidation of those who 131 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:30,300 are threatened you for holding to such a thing and not just 132 00:09:30,300 --> 00:09:35,900 that the intimidation of the cold blade of persecution being 133 00:09:35,900 --> 00:09:41,000 placed on the back of our necks. What about? 134 00:09:42,700 --> 00:09:47,000 The common theme that we're seeing today in the past, few 135 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:51,700 years of Christians, getting caught up in cultural frenzies 136 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:57,500 of movements and mantras that seemed to be just and righteous. 137 00:09:57,500 --> 00:10:02,900 But in fact are pulling you away from your heavenly mandate. and 138 00:10:02,900 --> 00:10:06,900 there is, of course, even The temptation to run to another 139 00:10:06,900 --> 00:10:09,700 source to deal with your personal problems. 140 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:14,100 Whether that is individual perils or even large scale 141 00:10:14,100 --> 00:10:15,800 chaos. Like, we're seeing in Nations 142 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:20,500 today, there are so many reasons why somebody who has held onto 143 00:10:20,500 --> 00:10:25,400 this Truth for years would be tempted to move away from it and 144 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:28,200 it was a Temptation for so long for the people of God. 145 00:10:28,700 --> 00:10:32,600 Let me show you one meet me in the book of Isaiah chapter 8. 146 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:48,700 In verse 19. And Isaiah 8:19. 147 00:10:48,700 --> 00:10:51,000 Here's what we have to understand the people of Judah. 148 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:55,900 Are terrified. They're experiencing a fear due 149 00:10:55,900 --> 00:10:59,300 to the news of conspiracies and the possible invasion of 150 00:10:59,300 --> 00:11:02,700 neighboring Nations. They are trembling on a daily 151 00:11:02,700 --> 00:11:07,800 basis and this fear is so real, this Panic is so overwhelming to 152 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:10,200 them. That there is a widespread 153 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:15,500 suggestion to seek answers from a different source and it's here 154 00:11:15,500 --> 00:11:20,300 in verse 19 of chapter 8, and when they say to you inquire of 155 00:11:20,300 --> 00:11:23,700 the mediums and the Necromancer's who chirp and 156 00:11:23,700 --> 00:11:27,700 mutter should not have people inquire of their God. 157 00:11:28,700 --> 00:11:32,500 Should they inquire of the Dead on behalf of the living? 158 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:39,000 This fear this anxiety was so real and the need for immediate 159 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:43,600 answers was so great. You mix up the the evil in the 160 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:46,700 world, you mix up the uncertainty of tomorrow and the 161 00:11:46,700 --> 00:11:51,100 fear of imminent, danger and even witchcraft can seem 162 00:11:51,100 --> 00:11:54,200 attractive. And reasonable. 163 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:58,800 And so the Israelites are hearing just go to these men, go 164 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:02,200 to these women, they can tap into some Transcendent voices 165 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:04,700 and they can provide some guidance to you. 166 00:12:06,700 --> 00:12:11,500 The Great Deceiver has always proposed empty promises to 167 00:12:11,500 --> 00:12:15,000 mankind. Listen Satan is so tricky. 168 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:19,900 He not only convinces you that sin won't have consequences but 169 00:12:19,900 --> 00:12:23,400 eventually when you figure out that your sin causes damage and 170 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:28,300 harm and destruction, Done in that state. 171 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:34,000 He will then turn your attention to a roster of false saviors. 172 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:39,500 What I mean by that ever since the universe our universe has 173 00:12:39,500 --> 00:12:43,600 been fractured by sin, our world has been presented throughout 174 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:47,300 history with thousands of worthless solutions to 175 00:12:47,300 --> 00:12:52,800 Humanity's problems. Are you looking to silence your 176 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:56,900 fear of death? Here's a few religions to help 177 00:12:56,900 --> 00:13:00,600 guide your efforts to quiet your conscience and to give you a 178 00:13:00,608 --> 00:13:03,500 better chance of attorney of inheriting eternal life. 179 00:13:05,300 --> 00:13:07,700 Is your soul searching for lasting satisfaction. 180 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:15,600 Here's some substances to numb it or here's endless access to 181 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:19,800 lustful, perversions to keep your dopamine rushing through 182 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:23,300 your brain to keep you in a state of ecstasy as long as 183 00:13:23,300 --> 00:13:27,600 possible. How do we eliminate the evil in 184 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:30,000 this world? While proposed an Implement 185 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:32,300 man-made solutions that deal with the symptoms? 186 00:13:32,300 --> 00:13:36,500 But never deal with the core. Just trim the branches, but 187 00:13:36,500 --> 00:13:38,400 don't uproot it. Because the only thing that can 188 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:44,000 uproot is the gospel and in Isaiah's day, not not being able 189 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,700 to sleep, right? Crippled with anxiety, right? 190 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:50,600 Not finding answers in this world, right? 191 00:13:50,900 --> 00:13:54,400 Well, there's some fortune tellers that can help you find 192 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:57,200 some answers. Stone, go to Jesus. 193 00:13:58,900 --> 00:14:00,900 I've given you the example before but I think it's worth 194 00:14:00,900 --> 00:14:03,000 repeating here. I remember being in college in 195 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:05,800 our college campus, they would not allow us to have a Christian 196 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:09,400 group, they fought us before we had one, but I remember in that 197 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,300 whole ordeal trying to pray Fleek, have a group in our 198 00:14:12,300 --> 00:14:16,100 campus I came to the main cafeteria of that campus. 199 00:14:16,100 --> 00:14:17,500 And there was a lineup of students. 200 00:14:17,500 --> 00:14:19,500 And I didn't understand what this lineup was all about. 201 00:14:19,500 --> 00:14:22,200 And so I approached the line and I realized that there are 202 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:25,300 fortune tellers that have been hired for five of them at their 203 00:14:25,300 --> 00:14:29,400 own table with cards. And I came up with curiosity to 204 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:32,800 see how I can get in a line. And when I came up to the person 205 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:36,200 that was Officiating it. They say well you're going to 206 00:14:36,208 --> 00:14:38,300 have to wait you have to give us your number because there's a 207 00:14:38,300 --> 00:14:39,800 two-hour. Wait for people to have their 208 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:43,700 Futures told and whatever the case it was I was so upset. 209 00:14:43,700 --> 00:14:45,300 I went up to one of the fortune tellers. 210 00:14:45,300 --> 00:14:48,100 I just skip the line. Do you realize what you're 211 00:14:48,100 --> 00:14:50,300 doing? Do you realize that you're 212 00:14:50,300 --> 00:14:53,900 tapping into satanic Arts? Do you realize that you're 213 00:14:53,900 --> 00:14:55,300 deceiving this people in the poor lady. 214 00:14:55,300 --> 00:14:55,700 Look at me. She was. 215 00:14:55,700 --> 00:14:57,700 I'm just an Entertainer I said that's what you think and I 216 00:14:57,708 --> 00:15:01,700 left. And I thought to myself, they'll 217 00:15:01,700 --> 00:15:05,300 they're willing to bring in people who are dealing with 218 00:15:05,300 --> 00:15:11,600 demons but what impressed me was the hunger of these students to 219 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:14,300 reach out to something Supernatural to give them 220 00:15:14,300 --> 00:15:19,700 guidance in this life. But what is the profit say, what 221 00:15:19,700 --> 00:15:23,900 does God say to the prophet to say to the people look at verse 222 00:15:23,900 --> 00:15:29,300 22, the teaching and to the testimony, if they will not 223 00:15:29,300 --> 00:15:34,100 speak according to this word, it is because they have no Dawn. 224 00:15:34,100 --> 00:15:40,000 They have no light. What is the solution working 225 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,100 people deal with their problems for today? 226 00:15:43,700 --> 00:15:46,400 The prophet says it go to the word. 227 00:15:47,300 --> 00:15:49,800 Go to the testimony, go to the law. 228 00:15:50,100 --> 00:15:52,700 If they won't speak, according to this word, they have no 229 00:15:52,700 --> 00:15:55,300 illumination. They have no light inside of 230 00:15:55,300 --> 00:15:56,900 them. No matter how clever it is, no 231 00:15:56,900 --> 00:15:59,800 matter how sophisticated is, no matter what kind of power is 232 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:01,800 backing it, if they do not speak. 233 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:05,500 According to this word, they have no light and you won't 234 00:16:05,500 --> 00:16:07,600 either you'll remain in darkness. 235 00:16:08,300 --> 00:16:12,500 You will remain in confusion and frustration, this is where you 236 00:16:12,500 --> 00:16:16,100 and I fully Distress. This is where we come to to 237 00:16:16,100 --> 00:16:21,500 receive our Direction and I love what the prophet says, in this 238 00:16:21,500 --> 00:16:23,100 verse. Because it gives us insight to 239 00:16:23,108 --> 00:16:25,400 how you. And I can inquire of the Living 240 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:28,400 God, what does he say in verse 19? 241 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:33,300 Should not a people. Inquire of, their God should not 242 00:16:33,300 --> 00:16:36,500 have people seek their God, get guidance from their God, get 243 00:16:36,500 --> 00:16:39,300 answers from their God, and the answer is absolutely. 244 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:44,100 But then the method of it is in verse 20, go to the word. 245 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:48,300 Go to the word, you want to inquire of God. 246 00:16:48,300 --> 00:16:53,200 You want God to speak, go to the book, which tells me, what this 247 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:59,100 book, is his voice. This book is his voice. 248 00:16:59,500 --> 00:17:03,300 This is this is how he's ordained us to hear from him. 249 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:06,800 I know you want the audible experience I know. 250 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:09,200 You want the Heavens to write something for you, but God had 251 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:11,700 ordained it that there's something more effective even 252 00:17:11,700 --> 00:17:13,400 than that, and that is this book. 253 00:17:15,599 --> 00:17:19,800 His word is profound. It's not filled with mutters, 254 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:22,400 it's not filled with foolish chirping. 255 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:27,300 Like these mediums, this word will produce and bring the 256 00:17:27,300 --> 00:17:30,200 results that the same voice of God did in the beginning of 257 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:32,800 creation. When God spoke, you know what 258 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:34,800 happened? You said, yeah, trees came about 259 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:37,900 and mountains were erected. Oh yeah, a notion came out of 260 00:17:37,900 --> 00:17:39,900 nothing? No, no, no, let's look beyond 261 00:17:39,900 --> 00:17:42,500 that. Let's look at what It produced 262 00:17:42,500 --> 00:17:46,800 when God's voice resounded. Into the Blackness of the 263 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:49,000 universe and the chaos of this Earth. 264 00:17:49,100 --> 00:17:53,600 There was life. There was order. 265 00:17:55,200 --> 00:18:00,600 There was light. There was Harmony and what God's 266 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:05,000 voice did for creation before the fall is the same thing that 267 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:07,300 will happen in your life. If you submit to the word of 268 00:18:07,300 --> 00:18:12,200 God, you will know life, you will know light, you will know 269 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:17,900 Harmony, you will know order. And to neglect, this word is to 270 00:18:17,900 --> 00:18:21,900 invite everything opposite. To what I just said in fact, 271 00:18:21,900 --> 00:18:25,300 let's go to another Prophet. A neighboring prophet Isaiah in 272 00:18:25,300 --> 00:18:29,900 your bible. Jeremiah And look what Jeremiah 273 00:18:29,900 --> 00:18:34,900 says, concerning the word of God in chapter 6. 274 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:46,400 He speaking to a nation and sin, he speaking to a people of 275 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:52,000 abandoned the truths of God. And in verse 16, we read thus, 276 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:58,300 says the Lord stand by the roads and look, and ask for the 277 00:18:58,300 --> 00:19:04,300 ancient paths where the good way is, and walk in it and find rest 278 00:19:04,300 --> 00:19:07,600 for your souls. But they said we will not walk 279 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:11,000 in it. So here's the picture. 280 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:13,300 This is a picture that this preachers painting. 281 00:19:13,500 --> 00:19:16,500 Would you just stand on the horizon for a moment and look 282 00:19:16,500 --> 00:19:20,100 out into this world and see all these different paths? 283 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:23,900 All these different ways of life that men have paved out for 284 00:19:23,900 --> 00:19:26,500 themselves. And as you look, you will see 285 00:19:26,500 --> 00:19:29,400 some wide paths that many people are walking on. 286 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:32,500 You will see some patterns that seem to have attractive signs 287 00:19:32,500 --> 00:19:34,500 and things on the side of those roads. 288 00:19:35,100 --> 00:19:38,600 You will see all these pads. That would even say that at some 289 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:41,300 point, we We lead to the same thing. 290 00:19:42,500 --> 00:19:46,000 But the prophet says, as you examine all these ways of life, 291 00:19:47,100 --> 00:19:53,700 Ask for the Ancient One. Ask for the ancient paths, ask 292 00:19:53,700 --> 00:19:56,700 for the paths that have been tested and proven to be true. 293 00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:02,400 Ask for the paths in which have been determined from eternity 294 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:05,900 past. As for the paths, that 295 00:20:05,900 --> 00:20:09,800 historically point to the unchanging ways of God, these 296 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:13,500 ancient paths deal with what God has established from the 297 00:20:13,508 --> 00:20:19,900 beginning in this word. Notice what he says when you ask 298 00:20:19,900 --> 00:20:24,100 for them, don't just be able to identify it, okay? 299 00:20:24,100 --> 00:20:26,000 You identified that this is God's word. 300 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:28,800 This is an infallible inerrant, word, praise God. 301 00:20:28,900 --> 00:20:30,200 But that's not what the prophet says. 302 00:20:30,300 --> 00:20:36,900 He says, now walk in it, walk in it. and as you walk in it and 303 00:20:36,900 --> 00:20:39,600 walking in the Bible, often times speaks of a kind of a way 304 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:42,600 of life of a conviction of a direction in which you're headed 305 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:46,600 when you walk in this word, by this word, what happens is, you 306 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:51,500 will find rest for your souls You will know a rest for your 307 00:20:51,500 --> 00:20:55,100 souls. It can only come from this path, 308 00:20:55,100 --> 00:20:57,200 not from newly. Paved ideas, not from broad 309 00:20:57,200 --> 00:20:59,600 Rose, at the majority are walking on but setting the 310 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:03,800 course of your life and what God has determined to be his will 311 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:08,300 for us. Is this phrase sound familiar to 312 00:21:08,300 --> 00:21:11,000 you? And you will find rest for your 313 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:15,000 souls. If you know your savior is 314 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:18,800 sounds familiar to you. Because Jesus said in that, 315 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:24,300 amazing portion of scripture take my yoke upon you and learn 316 00:21:24,300 --> 00:21:28,300 from me for, I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find 317 00:21:28,300 --> 00:21:33,700 rest for your souls. Some would say that Jesus is 318 00:21:33,700 --> 00:21:35,300 borrowing the words of the Prophet. 319 00:21:35,300 --> 00:21:39,400 Jeremiah The promise that Jeremiah made to the nation of 320 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:41,500 Israel, Jesus makes to the world. 321 00:21:42,500 --> 00:21:45,000 The same Prophet who said if you walk on these ancient paths? 322 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:48,900 If you apply the word of God to your life, you will know a 323 00:21:48,900 --> 00:21:53,600 repose to your soul and Jesus. Dares this man, dares. 324 00:21:54,900 --> 00:21:59,600 To equate following him to the same benefits and Promises to 325 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:02,200 walking in the ancient Paths of God. 326 00:22:02,700 --> 00:22:07,600 Who is this man? I can imagine that Jewish 327 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:11,000 audience hearing that. Is he saying what Jeremiah said 328 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:13,400 was exclusive to the word of God? 329 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:17,400 Who is this man to say that? The only way we can find rest 330 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:20,800 for our souls, as if we come to the words of Moses and applied 331 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:24,500 them and Obey them. And yet Jesus says, follow me, 332 00:22:25,500 --> 00:22:29,500 take my yoke upon you come to me and you will know rest for your 333 00:22:29,500 --> 00:22:31,400 souls. Why? 334 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:34,500 Because he also said, I am the way. 335 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:42,400 And the truth, and the life. Those ancient paths pointed to 336 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:44,900 him. Those ancient paths were 337 00:22:44,900 --> 00:22:48,700 fulfilled in him and when the word was made flesh, he looks 338 00:22:48,700 --> 00:22:50,300 out. And he still says today. 339 00:22:51,700 --> 00:22:54,600 Come to me. And only in me. 340 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:56,500 Will you find rest for your souls? 341 00:22:56,700 --> 00:23:00,400 You will be at ease. You will not wander and search, 342 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:05,100 you will be complete, but it's only in the person of Jesus. 343 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:10,400 Only in him. And I'd love to think that 344 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:14,800 Timothy was told to continue and what he has learned because he 345 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:19,400 could have felt the temptation. To join those who are teaching 346 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:22,400 diluted spiritual truth. From the word of God or new 347 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:25,600 teachings altogether. As a minister he could have he 348 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:28,000 could have heard the lies from others who said, you know this 349 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:30,500 book is irrelevant. How is this ancient book going 350 00:23:30,500 --> 00:23:32,300 to help people with their Modern Problems? 351 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:36,500 You got to be Innovative man. You Gotta Be You Gotta pick up 352 00:23:36,500 --> 00:23:39,600 some psychology books and understand the times. 353 00:23:43,100 --> 00:23:48,100 Paul says. As the world plunges into 354 00:23:48,100 --> 00:23:53,000 darkness, as they plug their ears to this ancient word. 355 00:23:53,700 --> 00:23:57,300 You stand for a minute. It is sufficient. 356 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:01,600 It is Supernatural. It is the human Souls, only hope 357 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:07,500 In fact, look what he says back in our text in verse 15, second 358 00:24:07,500 --> 00:24:12,500 Timothy 3. He says, and how from childhood 359 00:24:12,500 --> 00:24:15,200 you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are 360 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:18,600 able to make you wise for salvation through faith in 361 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:24,000 Christ Jesus. I love that because as a child, 362 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:27,300 as a child, Timothy was familiar with his Bible. 363 00:24:27,700 --> 00:24:29,600 So why are we waiting so long to teach ours? 364 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:33,600 As a child, he was acquainted with the scriptures. 365 00:24:34,100 --> 00:24:38,100 And yet, Paul here gives an example of how this book, why 366 00:24:38,100 --> 00:24:41,900 this book is unlike any other book, because through these 367 00:24:41,900 --> 00:24:44,500 sacred, writings these, holy letters. 368 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:48,200 Are men, able to be wise for salvation. 369 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:51,900 Isn't that an interesting phrase wise for salvation? 370 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:56,500 What does that mean wise first? Well, if wisdom in a very simple 371 00:24:56,500 --> 00:24:59,700 term, very simple. Definition is the application of 372 00:24:59,700 --> 00:25:01,600 knowledge. Order to live the most 373 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:05,500 prosperous life, not financially only, I'm not saying prosperous 374 00:25:05,500 --> 00:25:08,400 in that sense, but prosperous for the soul, prosperous for 375 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:10,200 your family, prosperous and all things. 376 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:13,600 If wisdom is the way to navigate through life in the best way 377 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:16,100 possible. Then what Paul is saying, is 378 00:25:16,300 --> 00:25:21,500 this word provides the knowledge and the application of such 379 00:25:21,500 --> 00:25:24,000 knowledge in order to be redeemed. 380 00:25:25,500 --> 00:25:30,800 It is this word that contains the wisdom for salvation in 381 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:35,400 order to be saved, which tells me that if there's any other 382 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:37,500 truth. Any other source that 383 00:25:37,500 --> 00:25:41,100 contradicts what this book says about how to be saved? 384 00:25:41,100 --> 00:25:43,400 It's not wisdom. Its foolishness. 385 00:25:44,300 --> 00:25:47,800 It is the opposite of wisdom and the Bible teaches us, what 386 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:53,800 happens to a fool. They are self-destructive You 387 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:55,400 know what's encouraging about what he says here? 388 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:58,100 Not just the fact that this book is the wisdom. 389 00:25:59,100 --> 00:26:02,800 For salvation, but he says, you've been acquainted with the 390 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:04,900 sacred writings. What was Paul talking about? 391 00:26:04,900 --> 00:26:06,600 Was he talking about the Book of John? 392 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:10,000 Was to talk about the epistle to the Ephesians. 393 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:12,100 He's talking about the epistle to the Romans. 394 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:16,400 No no he was talking about what Timothy only had access to at 395 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:19,700 the time growing up as a child and that is the library of the 396 00:26:19,700 --> 00:26:25,700 Old Testament. The Old Testament provides the 397 00:26:25,700 --> 00:26:29,300 wisdom for salvation and we have people today that don't want to 398 00:26:29,300 --> 00:26:32,800 teach from it. Who are intimidated by it, who 399 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:36,700 think it's irrelevant and yet the immediate context teaches us 400 00:26:36,700 --> 00:26:40,800 that it is that part that larger part of your Bible that library 401 00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:45,300 that actually makes you. And I wise for salvation oh yes. 402 00:26:45,300 --> 00:26:47,600 And you know it the prophecies and the shadows and the 403 00:26:47,608 --> 00:26:52,600 promises. But I'm even reminded of a 404 00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:56,000 question that inspired me to love the Old Testament even 405 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:57,600 more. I had a had somebody approached 406 00:26:57,600 --> 00:26:59,000 me, say, brother, I have a sincere question. 407 00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:01,600 I'm not being a Critic. I just genuinely want to know 408 00:27:02,300 --> 00:27:04,300 why did it take, Jesus, so long to get here. 409 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:10,000 Why did it take? Why did it take thousands of 410 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:12,800 years for him to come into this world to die on the cross? 411 00:27:12,900 --> 00:27:15,800 Why didn't he show up immediately after Adam and Eve 412 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:18,800 ate of that tree and we could have, we could have finished 413 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:22,200 this up much earlier. And she said, I'm just asking 414 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:25,400 your sincere question. Why did he come at the time that 415 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:28,700 he came when he could have come much earlier? 416 00:27:29,900 --> 00:27:34,500 Made me think, maybe meditate and I knew one thing was for 417 00:27:34,500 --> 00:27:38,800 certain and the answer is in Galatians 4, verse 4. 418 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:43,300 In Galatians, 4, verse 4. We are told something that we 419 00:27:43,300 --> 00:27:46,800 should be confident on Jesus timing of entering into our 420 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:50,200 world to save Sinners and Galatians 4. 421 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:52,500 Verse 4. We are told but when the 422 00:27:52,500 --> 00:27:57,700 fullness of time had come God sent forth his son, born of 423 00:27:57,700 --> 00:28:01,500 woman born under the law. So one thing has to be 424 00:28:01,500 --> 00:28:06,600 established is that Christ came at the fullness of time, meaning 425 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:10,200 at the perfect time. And God's prophetic calendar, he 426 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:13,500 came at the precise time, it was not random. 427 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:19,300 It wasn't without purpose. It was strategic when he came, 428 00:28:19,300 --> 00:28:22,300 it was the perfect time and it begs the question. 429 00:28:22,300 --> 00:28:25,100 Okay, I see that. I see he came at a time, that 430 00:28:25,100 --> 00:28:26,700 was calculated. But why why? 431 00:28:26,700 --> 00:28:29,700 Why still why not in 2020? I've had people say that and 432 00:28:29,700 --> 00:28:32,200 witnessing why? Didn't Jesus come ten years ago? 433 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:37,000 Why didn't he come 30 years ago? We can rest in knowing that if 434 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:39,400 he said it was the right time that it's done. 435 00:28:39,700 --> 00:28:44,200 But I believe the answer is found in the next verse to 436 00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:45,900 redeem those who were under the law. 437 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:50,000 So that we might receive adoption as Sons. 438 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:55,200 Saying that is not very clear. Still, what do you mean? 439 00:28:56,500 --> 00:29:00,600 Well, I mean this that Christ could have come very early, you 440 00:29:00,608 --> 00:29:04,300 could have come before for the Tower of Babel was built. 441 00:29:05,900 --> 00:29:08,700 But the Old Testament stands as a testament. 442 00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:14,800 It is a large account. Of just how Wicked we are. 443 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:19,100 And that throughout the centuries even though God 444 00:29:19,100 --> 00:29:21,400 chooses one nation and does miracles. 445 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:26,600 And even if he shows himself in Supernatural ways and even if he 446 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:31,600 gives laws after laws after laws, man is incapable and man 447 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:35,600 is unwilling to justify themselves. 448 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:41,000 And even for those who strive to be right with God, they realize 449 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:46,200 that they lack the power to see this rock hard heart to be 450 00:29:46,500 --> 00:29:48,900 saved. And to be delivered from the 451 00:29:48,900 --> 00:29:54,700 power of sin, And so the Old Testament stands as a long 452 00:29:54,700 --> 00:29:57,300 history of the failures of mankind. 453 00:29:58,900 --> 00:30:03,700 And as people come to it, they will see how that is true for 454 00:30:03,700 --> 00:30:06,500 themselves that even if God flooded, the world and kept one 455 00:30:06,500 --> 00:30:09,400 family, that one family will corrupt the human race still, 456 00:30:10,300 --> 00:30:13,100 even though there are all these Provisions, all these things 457 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:17,100 given by God, through the laws, man is unable to restrain 458 00:30:17,100 --> 00:30:21,400 themselves to rebel against him. And even when we read God, 459 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:24,400 raising up these judges who were able to perform Supernatural 460 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:27,900 things that people still spiraled lower and lower into 461 00:30:27,900 --> 00:30:31,900 evil, So, so why did he come Shadows? 462 00:30:31,900 --> 00:30:34,200 Many reasons and reasons that we will not know until we see him 463 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:35,800 Face to Face by. Here's one that we can be 464 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:38,800 confident in. He came at a time in which he 465 00:30:38,800 --> 00:30:43,500 was able to show undeniably to the world for the years to come 466 00:30:43,600 --> 00:30:46,400 that you are in need of a savior. 467 00:30:48,900 --> 00:30:53,800 Even if I show up on a mountain, even if I split the Red Sea, 468 00:30:55,300 --> 00:30:59,000 even if I do, whatever it is that you see, you will not 469 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:04,100 unless I change your heart and less, a payment is made. 470 00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:08,500 Your sin is too great. I'm personally reading the book 471 00:31:08,500 --> 00:31:10,900 of numbers in my personal devotions and I actually got mad 472 00:31:10,900 --> 00:31:15,600 as I read it. I got mad because I kept reading 473 00:31:15,600 --> 00:31:19,500 that even after God told this nation, you're not going into 474 00:31:19,500 --> 00:31:24,300 the promised land, you're gonna wander for 40 years, they still 475 00:31:24,300 --> 00:31:29,500 complained, they still rebelled, they still raised their fists 476 00:31:29,500 --> 00:31:33,000 against God and his authority. And I remember I was reading 477 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:36,000 this just the other day of how the sons of Korah rebelled 478 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:39,200 against Moses and after God opens the Earth, they all fall 479 00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:43,300 into the core of the earth, closes that mouth, the people 480 00:31:43,300 --> 00:31:45,300 then accuse, Moses of killing those people. 481 00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:48,000 And I actually said this out loud. 482 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:53,200 I said, wow, are you kidding me? And then, it dawned on me. 483 00:31:54,600 --> 00:31:58,400 As Heaven reads history, they say, wow as well. 484 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:03,800 Including me. All the things that you've 485 00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:06,700 heard, all the things that you've known and it still took 486 00:32:06,700 --> 00:32:09,200 you that long, it still took you to the age of 22, come to the 487 00:32:09,200 --> 00:32:11,000 knowledge of Jesus Christ and saving way. 488 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:17,500 And that's why Romans tells us that the law shuts, the mouths 489 00:32:17,800 --> 00:32:23,100 of unbelievers. It does not give you the ability 490 00:32:23,100 --> 00:32:26,600 to make an excuse when you come to the law, when you come to the 491 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:29,500 Old Testament and see through the commands and I just the 492 00:32:29,500 --> 00:32:31,200 commands. But through the narratives of 493 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:36,100 just how desperately wicked we are and that we need a savior to 494 00:32:36,100 --> 00:32:41,200 deliver us. He came at the perfect time and 495 00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:44,500 I love Paul's words here to Timothy because I believe it's a 496 00:32:44,508 --> 00:32:47,700 way for the Holy Spirit to call us to not neglect that part of 497 00:32:47,700 --> 00:32:50,400 our Bibles. Don't be lazy with it. 498 00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:54,700 Don't be ashamed of it. Believe that it is the wisdom of 499 00:32:54,700 --> 00:32:59,300 God for salvation. Stand on the word. 500 00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:04,200 Stand in the word. Share this word, don't blush. 501 00:33:04,300 --> 00:33:09,200 When you present this word, it is Humanity's only hope but we 502 00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:12,500 come back into the second point and it is not just to be all the 503 00:33:12,500 --> 00:33:14,000 more committed to the word of God. 504 00:33:14,400 --> 00:33:20,700 But here's a point that perhaps we don't consider Look at this 505 00:33:20,700 --> 00:33:24,100 phrase in verse 14. But as for you, continue in what 506 00:33:24,100 --> 00:33:29,100 you have learned and I firmly believed knowing from whom you 507 00:33:29,100 --> 00:33:34,400 learned it. Why would Paul say that Why 508 00:33:34,400 --> 00:33:39,300 would Paul say that knowing from it's not just important to hold 509 00:33:39,300 --> 00:33:41,200 on, to what you've known throughout your life, concerning 510 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:44,600 the word of God, it's important for you to also know who taught 511 00:33:44,600 --> 00:33:47,800 it to you and the word whom here is plural. 512 00:33:47,900 --> 00:33:51,800 Not just one person, but several people that have invested in 513 00:33:51,800 --> 00:33:56,200 Timothy's life Timothy was to be reminded he was to rehearse not 514 00:33:56,200 --> 00:34:00,200 just the truth that he knew to be true but also the people who 515 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:03,200 communicated it to him. How is that going to help? 516 00:34:05,300 --> 00:34:10,500 How is me knowing those who spoke into my life going to help 517 00:34:10,500 --> 00:34:15,300 me endure in these last days? How is Timothy reflecting on his 518 00:34:15,300 --> 00:34:18,300 grandma on his mom on a spiritual teacher? 519 00:34:18,300 --> 00:34:22,000 The Apostle Paul, is that going to assist them in any way and 520 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:26,400 any lasting way at least. And the obvious answer is yes. 521 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:31,600 Because what Paul is saying here is, as you reflect not just on 522 00:34:31,600 --> 00:34:35,699 the truth, the eternality of it in the sufficiency of it. 523 00:34:35,900 --> 00:34:39,500 But as you reflect on those who believe that for themselves, you 524 00:34:39,500 --> 00:34:43,000 would be inspired to know what the word of God can do in 525 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:49,500 someone's life. It'd be much harder for Timothy 526 00:34:49,500 --> 00:34:52,500 to walk away from the word of God, even though there was 527 00:34:52,500 --> 00:34:55,000 someone as they already did and they'll be surprised in your 528 00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:57,000 life in the days ahead. If people you thought were 529 00:34:57,000 --> 00:35:00,400 concrete will say, I don't think I can hold on to this anymore. 530 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:06,100 It's bigoted. It's hateful discriminates, 531 00:35:06,100 --> 00:35:08,200 don't be surprised. Timothy, was already saying 532 00:35:08,200 --> 00:35:09,700 seeing it. People were not believing in the 533 00:35:09,700 --> 00:35:11,700 resurrection that it already happened. 534 00:35:12,700 --> 00:35:15,600 And as Timothy was ready to even be assaulted for believing this 535 00:35:15,600 --> 00:35:20,100 word, it would be much harder for him to deny being faithful 536 00:35:20,100 --> 00:35:21,200 to it. When he had first hand. 537 00:35:21,200 --> 00:35:23,800 See the power of it in someone's life? 538 00:35:25,200 --> 00:35:28,700 I'll think about it. How could he shake off? 539 00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:31,900 Observing his grandmother? As there was an obvious 540 00:35:31,900 --> 00:35:34,400 connection between her godliness and her faith. 541 00:35:35,900 --> 00:35:41,300 How could he deny watching his mom reflecting the character of 542 00:35:41,300 --> 00:35:44,900 God even while living with an unbelieving spouse? 543 00:35:46,700 --> 00:35:51,300 How could this man even dare to deny after seeing the power of 544 00:35:51,300 --> 00:35:55,500 the word of God work in, and through his mentor, who is wants 545 00:35:55,500 --> 00:35:57,600 a terrorist to the Christian faith? 546 00:35:58,700 --> 00:36:02,000 How could he deny it? And that's why in some sense, 547 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:05,100 Paul is urging Timothy, to consider the fruit of the word, 548 00:36:05,800 --> 00:36:09,100 consider the effects of it to be a reason for him to remain 549 00:36:09,100 --> 00:36:11,600 faithful. And it for himself, this word 550 00:36:11,600 --> 00:36:16,400 has power this word transforms, it does something deep. 551 00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:19,500 And some might think that we are inferring this point on this 552 00:36:19,500 --> 00:36:21,900 verse. And we want to convince you 553 00:36:21,908 --> 00:36:24,200 today that this is an instruction for you and I 554 00:36:24,200 --> 00:36:27,300 directly in a different portion of scripture you and I as 555 00:36:27,300 --> 00:36:31,200 Christians if we want to know a greater strength During and 556 00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:34,700 faithfulness, you need people that you can look at and say 557 00:36:34,900 --> 00:36:37,900 that's what God's word can do. I want that in my life? 558 00:36:39,400 --> 00:36:42,300 Do you believe that? if you don't meet me in the book 559 00:36:42,300 --> 00:36:52,400 of Hebrews 13:7, Hebrews 13 verse 7. 560 00:37:01,200 --> 00:37:04,500 Remember, your leaders? That's why we're doing 561 00:37:04,500 --> 00:37:06,500 membership. We want you to be able to 562 00:37:06,500 --> 00:37:11,000 identify who your leaders are. Remember your leaders? 563 00:37:11,600 --> 00:37:14,500 Those who spoke to you the word of God goes to show you what 564 00:37:14,500 --> 00:37:18,000 these leaders should be doing. The primary task is to speak the 565 00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:21,800 word of God to you. Those who spoke to you the word 566 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:22,900 of God. Now, look at this. 567 00:37:22,900 --> 00:37:26,800 Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their 568 00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:30,900 faith. This verse instructs us to have 569 00:37:30,900 --> 00:37:34,400 leaders who not only teach us the word of God but it also 570 00:37:34,400 --> 00:37:37,300 proved to us what the word of God can do in a life. 571 00:37:40,200 --> 00:37:42,500 Notice that it does not say believe their faith. 572 00:37:43,500 --> 00:37:46,800 It says imitate their faith. Not just believe what they say 573 00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:48,400 imitate. What they do. 574 00:37:48,600 --> 00:37:49,900 You want to be a leader, be careful. 575 00:37:51,200 --> 00:37:55,500 Imitate their faith, the steps of their steadfast trust and 576 00:37:55,500 --> 00:37:58,900 submission to the word of God. You and I are supposed to look 577 00:37:58,900 --> 00:38:01,400 at our leaders and let me know whether it's here or elsewhere. 578 00:38:01,400 --> 00:38:05,300 If you're looking for the spiritual covering in your life, 579 00:38:05,300 --> 00:38:08,300 don't just merely look for Doctrine as important as that is 580 00:38:08,500 --> 00:38:12,600 look for the conduct that shows that that man believes what he 581 00:38:12,600 --> 00:38:18,200 preaches. And that's why your pastor can't 582 00:38:18,200 --> 00:38:23,000 live on a screen. You could have favorite teachers 583 00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:25,700 that teach wonderful theology, but if those are your Shepherds, 584 00:38:26,100 --> 00:38:28,300 you're not, you're not considering this verse, you 585 00:38:28,300 --> 00:38:31,000 should be able to watch his life, not just here. 586 00:38:31,000 --> 00:38:34,900 I'm at for an hour on a Sunday. How does he live? 587 00:38:35,000 --> 00:38:36,400 How does he interact with people? 588 00:38:36,500 --> 00:38:40,100 What's his family life like, does he love money? 589 00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:43,600 Is he humble? How does he deal with problems? 590 00:38:46,100 --> 00:38:50,200 And as you look at these leaders God by the Holy Spirit call is 591 00:38:50,200 --> 00:38:53,300 calling each of us to have individuals in our life to say. 592 00:38:54,000 --> 00:38:59,100 Look at the fruit of being under the word of God, I want to walk 593 00:38:59,100 --> 00:39:03,100 in the same steps. In other words, there is an 594 00:39:03,100 --> 00:39:08,800 influence in your life by who you sit under and who you allow 595 00:39:08,800 --> 00:39:13,000 in your inner circle. It's clear. 596 00:39:13,200 --> 00:39:15,200 It's clear here. It's clear what Paul is saying, 597 00:39:15,300 --> 00:39:17,700 no, Those whom taught you, these things. 598 00:39:18,000 --> 00:39:21,000 No, those who have who made these things known to you. 599 00:39:21,700 --> 00:39:23,700 Reflect on them, know who they are. 600 00:39:24,100 --> 00:39:29,200 Realize their way of life, because in doing, so you'd be 601 00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:32,900 able to realize the Glorious results of being Sanctified unto 602 00:39:32,900 --> 00:39:35,000 the Lord. And you would say I want that 603 00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:37,200 for myself. So, here's my question for you 604 00:39:37,200 --> 00:39:40,200 today. Because this is not just limited 605 00:39:40,200 --> 00:39:43,100 to leaders. Remember he says know those whom 606 00:39:43,100 --> 00:39:48,000 you've learned it from well, who did he learn it from his dad was 607 00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:50,100 arguably, not even saved. He was a Greek Gentile. 608 00:39:50,100 --> 00:39:51,900 Probably demon Believe In Christ. 609 00:39:52,100 --> 00:39:55,000 It was his grandma, his grandmother. 610 00:39:55,900 --> 00:39:58,500 It was his own mother. Those were the primary 611 00:39:58,500 --> 00:40:00,800 influences in his life. Paul came much later. 612 00:40:02,400 --> 00:40:04,400 And this is a question we can ask ourselves from this because 613 00:40:04,400 --> 00:40:07,300 listen, the theme is this. This is how we remain faithful. 614 00:40:07,400 --> 00:40:10,600 Here's how we get assistance, who are the people in your life 615 00:40:10,600 --> 00:40:15,600 that inspire you for christ? Who are they? 616 00:40:18,000 --> 00:40:22,100 Who are the individuals? That you can look to and draw 617 00:40:22,100 --> 00:40:25,900 inspiration from. That when the word of God will 618 00:40:25,900 --> 00:40:31,000 be attacked maligned and even have a price on it for obeying. 619 00:40:31,600 --> 00:40:34,300 You can be able to look at other than say I've seen what this 620 00:40:34,300 --> 00:40:36,900 word can do. And I'm not willing to let go of 621 00:40:36,900 --> 00:40:43,700 it, even if it costs me my life. You might say, I don't I don't 622 00:40:43,700 --> 00:40:46,100 have that Heritage. That Timothy had. 623 00:40:46,700 --> 00:40:49,300 I don't have, I didn't have a Godly dad, Godly Mama didn't 624 00:40:49,300 --> 00:40:55,000 have a line of preachers. My, my line, I don't have that. 625 00:40:55,000 --> 00:40:58,500 I'm the first Christian that I can think of in my, my family 626 00:40:58,500 --> 00:41:01,000 line. In fact, it is true. 627 00:41:02,200 --> 00:41:04,800 That's true. You may not have had a choice of 628 00:41:05,100 --> 00:41:08,000 who you were born with or what family you were born into. 629 00:41:08,200 --> 00:41:10,800 But each of us has a choice of who we sit. 630 00:41:12,000 --> 00:41:16,700 At their feet. We all have a choice of who we 631 00:41:16,700 --> 00:41:20,500 draw encouragement from in our fellowship. 632 00:41:20,500 --> 00:41:26,600 Every single one of us has that choice Timothy. 633 00:41:28,100 --> 00:41:31,900 Had both. He had both, he had Paul and he 634 00:41:31,900 --> 00:41:35,700 had his mom and his grandma, but I believe that this verse 635 00:41:35,700 --> 00:41:38,900 encourages Us, in these last days, to make sure that if 636 00:41:38,900 --> 00:41:42,300 you're going to be found, faithful be around those who 637 00:41:42,300 --> 00:41:46,800 have been faithful. I read a quote in a bless me. 638 00:41:47,300 --> 00:41:50,400 A preacher said don't look for the nearest church to your 639 00:41:50,400 --> 00:41:52,400 house. Find the church closest to the 640 00:41:52,400 --> 00:41:56,500 Bible. Don't look for the nearest 641 00:41:56,500 --> 00:41:58,900 church to your house. Find the church closest to the 642 00:41:58,900 --> 00:42:02,600 Bible. I hope that this would be a 643 00:42:02,600 --> 00:42:06,200 community in which you come. And you are strangely 644 00:42:06,200 --> 00:42:08,100 uncomfortable in your lukewarmness. 645 00:42:12,300 --> 00:42:14,300 Who are the people that you can look and be like, man, when I 646 00:42:14,300 --> 00:42:18,300 see that guy, when I hear that guy talk, it makes me want to 647 00:42:18,308 --> 00:42:21,900 love Jesus more. You should have those kind of 648 00:42:21,908 --> 00:42:24,900 people in your life. And if we're going to say in 649 00:42:24,900 --> 00:42:26,700 this place, well, it's very hard to find such. 650 00:42:26,800 --> 00:42:29,400 Okay, come Wednesday night and let's pray for Revival together. 651 00:42:34,000 --> 00:42:37,700 Who's the sister in your life? The older woman. 652 00:42:37,700 --> 00:42:41,900 Maybe the mother. Then when you see the way she 653 00:42:41,900 --> 00:42:45,100 conducts herself, you say, I want to be like that. 654 00:42:45,500 --> 00:42:47,200 I want to be more zealous because of this person. 655 00:42:47,200 --> 00:42:49,600 I want to be more consistent. I want to be more studied, I 656 00:42:49,607 --> 00:42:52,300 want to be more sacrificial. I want to, I want to be more 657 00:42:52,300 --> 00:42:54,800 patient because I've seen this person's life and I seen what 658 00:42:54,800 --> 00:42:57,200 God's word can do and I want it for myself. 659 00:42:58,400 --> 00:43:01,800 That's a wholly jealousy that we should all have not to compete 660 00:43:01,800 --> 00:43:04,800 with people, but to be inspired by people. 661 00:43:04,900 --> 00:43:08,000 It's a big difference. I remember a gentleman. 662 00:43:08,200 --> 00:43:11,400 Barely knew him. He was in a season in my life as 663 00:43:11,400 --> 00:43:15,400 a Christian, the young Christian I knew his name would say hi to 664 00:43:15,400 --> 00:43:21,100 him here and there after church. But he would pray during the 665 00:43:21,100 --> 00:43:25,500 services and he would be there an old man and he would be there 666 00:43:25,500 --> 00:43:30,600 during the prayer meetings and this man who was who lost his 667 00:43:30,600 --> 00:43:36,800 wife to alzheimer's old school. When he prayed. 668 00:43:38,500 --> 00:43:42,800 It inspired me. Because the way he talked to the 669 00:43:42,800 --> 00:43:47,300 Lord crushed me there is such a Brokenness, there is such a 670 00:43:47,300 --> 00:43:49,300 hunger. There is such a knowledge of the 671 00:43:49,300 --> 00:43:54,300 reality of his existence. And when he spoke to the Lord, 672 00:43:54,900 --> 00:43:58,400 it made me think, oh God, I don't want the show. 673 00:43:58,400 --> 00:44:00,500 I want what that man has in his heart. 674 00:44:01,800 --> 00:44:04,200 If you can do it to this man, do it to me. 675 00:44:04,200 --> 00:44:06,300 I want to be like that kind of an old man. 676 00:44:10,200 --> 00:44:14,000 Paul tells Timothy reflect on those that have invested in your 677 00:44:14,000 --> 00:44:16,000 life whether directly or indirectly and we want it 678 00:44:16,000 --> 00:44:20,000 directly, obviously, and realize the potential realize the power 679 00:44:20,000 --> 00:44:22,300 of this word. How dare you even think about 680 00:44:22,300 --> 00:44:24,100 not firmly holding on to it anymore? 681 00:44:25,200 --> 00:44:28,100 Hold on to it. Every more believe that it can 682 00:44:28,100 --> 00:44:32,800 actually translate into people's lives now And that is why let me 683 00:44:32,800 --> 00:44:34,800 end on this point. That is why there is the most 684 00:44:34,800 --> 00:44:38,800 responsibility of you. And I taking this word and 685 00:44:38,800 --> 00:44:41,700 asking God for it to actually change us. 686 00:44:43,500 --> 00:44:48,300 To change us and to mature us. Because I don't know if that 687 00:44:48,300 --> 00:44:49,800 man, who is now with the Lord today. 688 00:44:49,800 --> 00:44:53,900 Knew that his simple prayers were actually stirring my soul, 689 00:44:54,500 --> 00:45:01,400 but it was the charge in these last days is not just to cling 690 00:45:01,400 --> 00:45:03,600 to the word of God as people go from bad to worse. 691 00:45:03,600 --> 00:45:05,300 That's the obvious. But let me add something that 692 00:45:05,300 --> 00:45:07,900 may not be so obvious. Don't just cling to the book. 693 00:45:09,000 --> 00:45:11,800 Cling to those who are gripped by this book. 694 00:45:14,900 --> 00:45:17,000 Cling to those who are gripped by this book. 695 00:45:18,500 --> 00:45:21,100 And we pray that in this place, the leaders that would be 696 00:45:21,107 --> 00:45:24,700 developed here in the leaders. That would be elected here in 697 00:45:24,700 --> 00:45:28,300 due time would be people that as you come and you watch not just 698 00:45:28,300 --> 00:45:32,000 hear them, preach preaching isn't very hard to some, people 699 00:45:32,000 --> 00:45:34,700 would be but for a person who can communicate, they can come 700 00:45:34,700 --> 00:45:39,100 up here and say a few things. what's hard as they study week 701 00:45:39,100 --> 00:45:42,400 after week and asking themselves, is this true and me 702 00:45:42,400 --> 00:45:47,300 before I tell other people's what to do The God would raise 703 00:45:47,300 --> 00:45:49,600 up such people that those who would be in this place would 704 00:45:49,600 --> 00:45:54,200 say, as you heard last week, I want the god that they serve. 705 00:45:56,400 --> 00:45:59,200 As Elijah said, I want the god of Elijah, maybe. 706 00:45:59,200 --> 00:46:02,300 So in this place, not just the leaders, but the community, this 707 00:46:02,300 --> 00:46:05,400 place should so brim with Holy Light. 708 00:46:05,400 --> 00:46:08,500 And not in some weird strange, mystical way, when I'm practical 709 00:46:08,500 --> 00:46:12,100 real-life that we would Inspire one another in these last days 710 00:46:12,100 --> 00:46:15,100 to remain faithful and true. You know, when I come here on 711 00:46:15,100 --> 00:46:18,900 Wednesday nights when it's black outside and when my skin screams 712 00:46:18,900 --> 00:46:24,600 at me because it's frigid cold It never fails to encourage me, 713 00:46:24,600 --> 00:46:27,500 never fails, for all of that to just disappear in the background 714 00:46:27,500 --> 00:46:31,600 of nothingness of irrelevance. When I see souls in here, 715 00:46:31,600 --> 00:46:33,700 saying, let's cry out to God together. 716 00:46:34,700 --> 00:46:36,900 That makes me want to remain faithful to him. 717 00:46:37,800 --> 00:46:41,000 That makes me want to continue to pray and when people pray, 718 00:46:41,000 --> 00:46:45,900 Allah blesses me. Yes, Lord, Keep the fire on my 719 00:46:45,900 --> 00:46:49,600 altar burning for you very, very simple points today. 720 00:46:50,100 --> 00:46:55,000 And these last days cling to this book, I believe that it is 721 00:46:55,000 --> 00:46:58,000 sufficient believe that it is enough, believe it is God's 722 00:46:58,000 --> 00:47:03,900 perfect will but also be close to those who have allowed this 723 00:47:03,900 --> 00:47:07,200 book to transform them and instead of an appearance of 724 00:47:07,200 --> 00:47:11,100 godliness contaminating you and me, let some of that wonderful 725 00:47:11,200 --> 00:47:15,000 burning passion, become a fragrance on our own garments. 726 00:47:15,500 --> 00:47:39,500 Let's pray. Louis, thank you for these 727 00:47:39,500 --> 00:47:42,900 instructions that are very relevant for us in these 728 00:47:42,900 --> 00:47:46,200 perilous times. Will we tell you today that we 729 00:47:46,200 --> 00:47:52,000 believe that these ancient paths are the only directions for rest 730 00:47:52,000 --> 00:47:55,900 for the human soul? We thank you o God that you have 731 00:47:55,900 --> 00:47:59,700 given us the understanding of just how profound this word is 732 00:47:59,700 --> 00:48:05,200 not just in Mirror insights from a Pulpit, but how it has 733 00:48:05,200 --> 00:48:07,300 changed, many of us in this place. 734 00:48:08,600 --> 00:48:10,800 How does take it as from Darkness to light how it is? 735 00:48:10,900 --> 00:48:14,700 Conformed, us convicted us shape us to be the people that we are 736 00:48:14,700 --> 00:48:18,300 today, though. Imperfect nonetheless influence 737 00:48:18,900 --> 00:48:22,500 by this Authority. Lord, we pray that this place 738 00:48:22,500 --> 00:48:25,800 would be a true community of people that invest in one 739 00:48:25,800 --> 00:48:27,600 another from the leadership down. 740 00:48:28,500 --> 00:48:33,200 So that in times of doubt, in times of worry, or concern or 741 00:48:33,200 --> 00:48:37,200 Temptation, even our minds would race to individuals who have 742 00:48:37,200 --> 00:48:40,500 been faithful and we can say it's possible. 743 00:48:42,100 --> 00:48:46,800 And I want that for myself. If they can remain for decades 744 00:48:46,800 --> 00:48:51,300 Living For the Glory of God. So can I oh Lord may this word 745 00:48:51,300 --> 00:48:55,100 be ever more attractive to us. May we sense the power of it as 746 00:48:55,100 --> 00:48:58,700 we study it for ourselves and Lord no matter what happens in 747 00:48:58,700 --> 00:49:01,800 churches or denominations, no matter what happens to the 748 00:49:02,100 --> 00:49:05,800 popular podcast or YouTubers. Oh God, we pray that in this 749 00:49:05,800 --> 00:49:08,900 place. Week after week, we would go to 750 00:49:08,900 --> 00:49:12,700 the law and, to the testimony, and people would see that only 751 00:49:12,700 --> 00:49:18,400 this word can heal and save be blessed and glorified in Jesus 752 00:49:18,400 --> 00:49:21,300 name, we pray. Amen, let's stand together, 753 00:49:21,300 --> 00:49:21,700 please.