In your Bibles, please meet me in the book of 2nd Timothy. 2nd,
Timothy chapter 3. And let's begin together here in
verse 14. Second, Timothy chapter 3.
Beginning in verse 14. but as for you, Continue in what you
have learned and I firmly believe, knowing from whom you
learned it. And how from childhood you have
been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to make
you wise for salvation through faith in Christ, Jesus, Lord,
this is your word, we acknowledge it, as the Living
Word, we acknowledge it as the sufficient word, the perfect
word of God. Lord in our hands today.
We do not take it for granted that we have access to your
word. The complete Revelation that we
have concerning who you are, your will your works.
And we pray that this word would not just be held in our hands.
Not just be read on a screen. Oh God.
Would you impress it on our hearts when it get into our
blood, Lord, make inform us, made it change us.
May it saves some may you be glorified and how we're
reverentially come before your word today in Jesus name we
pray. Amen.
The great Apostle Paul was not just a master Theologian who is
used to channel divine revelation to what we know as
the holy book. The holy scriptures.
This man, Paul, who's writing to an individual in this letter.
Was also a humble tender-hearted compassionate, Pastor who really
cared for the people that God allowed him to minister to in
his lifetime and you and I have been seeing how that is true of
this man throughout this letter. Especially at this point Paul
has a deep concern, even though he is going to be called, to be
executed any moment and writing this, he is so concerned about
Particular individual and how his faith will be and what kind
of, man, he will be in the absence of the one that watched
over him for so many years. And so, he seeks to encourage
Timothy in his faith and not just to believe, but to strive
to bear fruit to be excellent, to be faithful to be firm.
And that is especially needed for this man, because there are
challenges that lay ahead of him.
Challenges from the culture challenges, from within the
church. What is it that Timothy needs to
hear in order to be ready for the things that he is going to
face. Well, it began last week that in
verse 10, and verse 10, when Paul tells them, it's possible
to know faithful endurance, it's possible to burn for the Lord
from the moment of your spiritual conception and birth
to the point where you meet him face-to-face.
It's possible to remain strong and if Any doubt in that
Timothy, look at my own life, you've studied the events that
I've endured the torture from people and yet Christ was
faithful to keep me and he is faithful to keep you, but you
got to extend your hand for him to hold on to it.
But he's not finished yet. Paul is not finished yet and
giving him the necessary ingredients.
The applications that are needed in order to stand firm.
And my brother my sister, what God had in mind for Timothy?
He has in mind for you and me. Because we're told in verse 12,
are we not indeed. This is certain this is for
sure. Indeed all who desire to live a
Godly life in Christ, Jesus will be persecuted. so the truths for
Timothy or truth for you if you desire to live a Godly life in
Christ Jesus, And the next thing that Paul is going to do for
Timothy as he's ready to embrace, as he is ready to sail
into societal and spiritual storms.
Is in the text that we read earlier.
Look at verse 13 quickly just to give context while evil people
and Impostors Will Go On from bad to worse deceiving and being
deceived, but asked for you as for you.
In other words as the culture, and Christendom continues, to
shift, continues to Swerve, continues to seduce Timothy.
There is a charge given to you that you must Embrace and Obey
believer. There is a charge for you as we
witness the decadence around us. There is a charge for you to
embrace and to obey and the theme the overarching idea that
Paul Bob. Holy Spirit has for us has to
deal with a commitment and an engagement with the word of God.
It's all about the word. It's about the word today.
And what we are being told here is so encouraging already
because the response for the believer today with all the
chaos that we're seeing is very simple, it's not complex and
that is to reinforce your relationship with God's word.
And my prayer today is that, as you hear these insights, as you
hear these truths, it would motivate you to love this book
and to engage with it, with greater discipline and hunger
and dependency. It's a very simple message today
because I'm only going to offer you two things from the verses
that we read. The first thing that we see here
is, but as for you while people are getting worse, don't mind
them. As for you your response, the
appropriate reaction primarily is to be all the more committed
to the word of God. As for you, continue in what you
have learned and have firmly, believed not just believed
firmly, believed the word continue here.
That Paul uses is the same word for abide.
Remain stand your ground. It's the same word that Jesus
uses in John 15 when he says abide in me and I in you The
idea here is hold onto the spirit inspired truths that you
have known with a tighter grip. Don't let go don't waver,
especially as you see new teachings arising and as you see
justification for sin through sinful and carnal Notions and
Men made ideas. Hold on to the word.
You have to Timothy believe that this word is worth dying for
even and I find the so sobering I find it.
So sobering that this is even a command in the first place for
somebody. Like Timothy, you had such a
rich spiritual Heritage who had a grandmother and a mother that
trained him up in the faith. And yet he is still told by Paul
continued. Continue implying, what that?
Regardless of your spiritual upbringing, no matter what your
Fidelity to the faith has been over the years.
No one in this place is Out Of Reach of being swayed away from
standing on the word or us. This command doesn't make sense.
Continue in what you have learned.
Proving that it's possible to drift.
And if you need any proof of that, just look at the major
denominations over the past few decades that have drifted away
from Pure truth. That are drifting away today
from Clear truth, you have movements that are shifting and
so this is completely applicable.
And there are many reasons why a man, like Timothy would be
tempted to move away from the word of God would be tempted to
dilute. These truths will be tempted to
not allow it to remain as the authority over his life.
You've heard it. There's the temptation of those
who have an appearance of godliness Who would come in and
some form of religiosity, but are corrupt.
And because of their corruption, they contaminate those who are
pure and they convince him not to be submitted to this word
practically. There are also the temptation to
abandon the truth through intimidation, right?
And what is the intimidation, the intimidation of those who
are threatened you for holding to such a thing and not just
that the intimidation of the cold blade of persecution being
placed on the back of our necks. What about?
The common theme that we're seeing today in the past, few
years of Christians, getting caught up in cultural frenzies
of movements and mantras that seemed to be just and righteous.
But in fact are pulling you away from your heavenly mandate. and
there is, of course, even The temptation to run to another
source to deal with your personal problems.
Whether that is individual perils or even large scale
chaos. Like, we're seeing in Nations
today, there are so many reasons why somebody who has held onto
this Truth for years would be tempted to move away from it and
it was a Temptation for so long for the people of God.
Let me show you one meet me in the book of Isaiah chapter 8.
In verse 19. And Isaiah 8:19.
Here's what we have to understand the people of Judah.
Are terrified. They're experiencing a fear due
to the news of conspiracies and the possible invasion of
neighboring Nations. They are trembling on a daily
basis and this fear is so real, this Panic is so overwhelming to
them. That there is a widespread
suggestion to seek answers from a different source and it's here
in verse 19 of chapter 8, and when they say to you inquire of
the mediums and the Necromancer's who chirp and
mutter should not have people inquire of their God.
Should they inquire of the Dead on behalf of the living?
This fear this anxiety was so real and the need for immediate
answers was so great. You mix up the the evil in the
world, you mix up the uncertainty of tomorrow and the
fear of imminent, danger and even witchcraft can seem
attractive. And reasonable.
And so the Israelites are hearing just go to these men, go
to these women, they can tap into some Transcendent voices
and they can provide some guidance to you.
The Great Deceiver has always proposed empty promises to
mankind. Listen Satan is so tricky.
He not only convinces you that sin won't have consequences but
eventually when you figure out that your sin causes damage and
harm and destruction, Done in that state.
He will then turn your attention to a roster of false saviors.
What I mean by that ever since the universe our universe has
been fractured by sin, our world has been presented throughout
history with thousands of worthless solutions to
Humanity's problems. Are you looking to silence your
fear of death? Here's a few religions to help
guide your efforts to quiet your conscience and to give you a
better chance of attorney of inheriting eternal life.
Is your soul searching for lasting satisfaction.
Here's some substances to numb it or here's endless access to
lustful, perversions to keep your dopamine rushing through
your brain to keep you in a state of ecstasy as long as
possible. How do we eliminate the evil in
this world? While proposed an Implement
man-made solutions that deal with the symptoms?
But never deal with the core. Just trim the branches, but
don't uproot it. Because the only thing that can
uproot is the gospel and in Isaiah's day, not not being able
to sleep, right? Crippled with anxiety, right?
Not finding answers in this world, right?
Well, there's some fortune tellers that can help you find
some answers. Stone, go to Jesus.
I've given you the example before but I think it's worth
repeating here. I remember being in college in
our college campus, they would not allow us to have a Christian
group, they fought us before we had one, but I remember in that
whole ordeal trying to pray Fleek, have a group in our
campus I came to the main cafeteria of that campus.
And there was a lineup of students.
And I didn't understand what this lineup was all about.
And so I approached the line and I realized that there are
fortune tellers that have been hired for five of them at their
own table with cards. And I came up with curiosity to
see how I can get in a line. And when I came up to the person
that was Officiating it. They say well you're going to
have to wait you have to give us your number because there's a
two-hour. Wait for people to have their
Futures told and whatever the case it was I was so upset.
I went up to one of the fortune tellers.
I just skip the line. Do you realize what you're
doing? Do you realize that you're
tapping into satanic Arts? Do you realize that you're
deceiving this people in the poor lady.
Look at me. She was.
I'm just an Entertainer I said that's what you think and I
left. And I thought to myself, they'll
they're willing to bring in people who are dealing with
demons but what impressed me was the hunger of these students to
reach out to something Supernatural to give them
guidance in this life. But what is the profit say, what
does God say to the prophet to say to the people look at verse
22, the teaching and to the testimony, if they will not
speak according to this word, it is because they have no Dawn.
They have no light. What is the solution working
people deal with their problems for today?
The prophet says it go to the word.
Go to the testimony, go to the law.
If they won't speak, according to this word, they have no
illumination. They have no light inside of
them. No matter how clever it is, no
matter how sophisticated is, no matter what kind of power is
backing it, if they do not speak.
According to this word, they have no light and you won't
either you'll remain in darkness.
You will remain in confusion and frustration, this is where you
and I fully Distress. This is where we come to to
receive our Direction and I love what the prophet says, in this
verse. Because it gives us insight to
how you. And I can inquire of the Living
God, what does he say in verse 19?
Should not a people. Inquire of, their God should not
have people seek their God, get guidance from their God, get
answers from their God, and the answer is absolutely.
But then the method of it is in verse 20, go to the word.
Go to the word, you want to inquire of God.
You want God to speak, go to the book, which tells me, what this
book, is his voice. This book is his voice.
This is this is how he's ordained us to hear from him.
I know you want the audible experience I know.
You want the Heavens to write something for you, but God had
ordained it that there's something more effective even
than that, and that is this book.
His word is profound. It's not filled with mutters,
it's not filled with foolish chirping.
Like these mediums, this word will produce and bring the
results that the same voice of God did in the beginning of
creation. When God spoke, you know what
happened? You said, yeah, trees came about
and mountains were erected. Oh yeah, a notion came out of
nothing? No, no, no, let's look beyond
that. Let's look at what It produced
when God's voice resounded. Into the Blackness of the
universe and the chaos of this Earth.
There was life. There was order.
There was light. There was Harmony and what God's
voice did for creation before the fall is the same thing that
will happen in your life. If you submit to the word of
God, you will know life, you will know light, you will know
Harmony, you will know order. And to neglect, this word is to
invite everything opposite. To what I just said in fact,
let's go to another Prophet. A neighboring prophet Isaiah in
your bible. Jeremiah And look what Jeremiah
says, concerning the word of God in chapter 6.
He speaking to a nation and sin, he speaking to a people of
abandoned the truths of God. And in verse 16, we read thus,
says the Lord stand by the roads and look, and ask for the
ancient paths where the good way is, and walk in it and find rest
for your souls. But they said we will not walk
in it. So here's the picture.
This is a picture that this preachers painting.
Would you just stand on the horizon for a moment and look
out into this world and see all these different paths?
All these different ways of life that men have paved out for
themselves. And as you look, you will see
some wide paths that many people are walking on.
You will see some patterns that seem to have attractive signs
and things on the side of those roads.
You will see all these pads. That would even say that at some
point, we We lead to the same thing.
But the prophet says, as you examine all these ways of life,
Ask for the Ancient One. Ask for the ancient paths, ask
for the paths that have been tested and proven to be true.
Ask for the paths in which have been determined from eternity
past. As for the paths, that
historically point to the unchanging ways of God, these
ancient paths deal with what God has established from the
beginning in this word. Notice what he says when you ask
for them, don't just be able to identify it, okay?
You identified that this is God's word.
This is an infallible inerrant, word, praise God.
But that's not what the prophet says.
He says, now walk in it, walk in it. and as you walk in it and
walking in the Bible, often times speaks of a kind of a way
of life of a conviction of a direction in which you're headed
when you walk in this word, by this word, what happens is, you
will find rest for your souls You will know a rest for your
souls. It can only come from this path,
not from newly. Paved ideas, not from broad
Rose, at the majority are walking on but setting the
course of your life and what God has determined to be his will
for us. Is this phrase sound familiar to
you? And you will find rest for your
souls. If you know your savior is
sounds familiar to you. Because Jesus said in that,
amazing portion of scripture take my yoke upon you and learn
from me for, I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find
rest for your souls. Some would say that Jesus is
borrowing the words of the Prophet.
Jeremiah The promise that Jeremiah made to the nation of
Israel, Jesus makes to the world.
The same Prophet who said if you walk on these ancient paths?
If you apply the word of God to your life, you will know a
repose to your soul and Jesus. Dares this man, dares.
To equate following him to the same benefits and Promises to
walking in the ancient Paths of God.
Who is this man? I can imagine that Jewish
audience hearing that. Is he saying what Jeremiah said
was exclusive to the word of God?
Who is this man to say that? The only way we can find rest
for our souls, as if we come to the words of Moses and applied
them and Obey them. And yet Jesus says, follow me,
take my yoke upon you come to me and you will know rest for your
souls. Why?
Because he also said, I am the way.
And the truth, and the life. Those ancient paths pointed to
him. Those ancient paths were
fulfilled in him and when the word was made flesh, he looks
out. And he still says today.
Come to me. And only in me.
Will you find rest for your souls?
You will be at ease. You will not wander and search,
you will be complete, but it's only in the person of Jesus.
Only in him. And I'd love to think that
Timothy was told to continue and what he has learned because he
could have felt the temptation. To join those who are teaching
diluted spiritual truth. From the word of God or new
teachings altogether. As a minister he could have he
could have heard the lies from others who said, you know this
book is irrelevant. How is this ancient book going
to help people with their Modern Problems?
You got to be Innovative man. You Gotta Be You Gotta pick up
some psychology books and understand the times.
Paul says. As the world plunges into
darkness, as they plug their ears to this ancient word.
You stand for a minute. It is sufficient.
It is Supernatural. It is the human Souls, only hope
In fact, look what he says back in our text in verse 15, second
Timothy 3. He says, and how from childhood
you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are
able to make you wise for salvation through faith in
Christ Jesus. I love that because as a child,
as a child, Timothy was familiar with his Bible.
So why are we waiting so long to teach ours?
As a child, he was acquainted with the scriptures.
And yet, Paul here gives an example of how this book, why
this book is unlike any other book, because through these
sacred, writings these, holy letters.
Are men, able to be wise for salvation.
Isn't that an interesting phrase wise for salvation?
What does that mean wise first? Well, if wisdom in a very simple
term, very simple. Definition is the application of
knowledge. Order to live the most
prosperous life, not financially only, I'm not saying prosperous
in that sense, but prosperous for the soul, prosperous for
your family, prosperous and all things.
If wisdom is the way to navigate through life in the best way
possible. Then what Paul is saying, is
this word provides the knowledge and the application of such
knowledge in order to be redeemed.
It is this word that contains the wisdom for salvation in
order to be saved, which tells me that if there's any other
truth. Any other source that
contradicts what this book says about how to be saved?
It's not wisdom. Its foolishness.
It is the opposite of wisdom and the Bible teaches us, what
happens to a fool. They are self-destructive You
know what's encouraging about what he says here?
Not just the fact that this book is the wisdom.
For salvation, but he says, you've been acquainted with the
sacred writings. What was Paul talking about?
Was he talking about the Book of John?
Was to talk about the epistle to the Ephesians.
He's talking about the epistle to the Romans.
No no he was talking about what Timothy only had access to at
the time growing up as a child and that is the library of the
Old Testament. The Old Testament provides the
wisdom for salvation and we have people today that don't want to
teach from it. Who are intimidated by it, who
think it's irrelevant and yet the immediate context teaches us
that it is that part that larger part of your Bible that library
that actually makes you. And I wise for salvation oh yes.
And you know it the prophecies and the shadows and the
promises. But I'm even reminded of a
question that inspired me to love the Old Testament even
more. I had a had somebody approached
me, say, brother, I have a sincere question.
I'm not being a Critic. I just genuinely want to know
why did it take, Jesus, so long to get here.
Why did it take? Why did it take thousands of
years for him to come into this world to die on the cross?
Why didn't he show up immediately after Adam and Eve
ate of that tree and we could have, we could have finished
this up much earlier. And she said, I'm just asking
your sincere question. Why did he come at the time that
he came when he could have come much earlier?
Made me think, maybe meditate and I knew one thing was for
certain and the answer is in Galatians 4, verse 4.
In Galatians, 4, verse 4. We are told something that we
should be confident on Jesus timing of entering into our
world to save Sinners and Galatians 4.
Verse 4. We are told but when the
fullness of time had come God sent forth his son, born of
woman born under the law. So one thing has to be
established is that Christ came at the fullness of time, meaning
at the perfect time. And God's prophetic calendar, he
came at the precise time, it was not random.
It wasn't without purpose. It was strategic when he came,
it was the perfect time and it begs the question.
Okay, I see that. I see he came at a time, that
was calculated. But why why?
Why still why not in 2020? I've had people say that and
witnessing why? Didn't Jesus come ten years ago?
Why didn't he come 30 years ago? We can rest in knowing that if
he said it was the right time that it's done.
But I believe the answer is found in the next verse to
redeem those who were under the law.
So that we might receive adoption as Sons.
Saying that is not very clear. Still, what do you mean?
Well, I mean this that Christ could have come very early, you
could have come before for the Tower of Babel was built.
But the Old Testament stands as a testament.
It is a large account. Of just how Wicked we are.
And that throughout the centuries even though God
chooses one nation and does miracles.
And even if he shows himself in Supernatural ways and even if he
gives laws after laws after laws, man is incapable and man
is unwilling to justify themselves.
And even for those who strive to be right with God, they realize
that they lack the power to see this rock hard heart to be
saved. And to be delivered from the
power of sin, And so the Old Testament stands as a long
history of the failures of mankind.
And as people come to it, they will see how that is true for
themselves that even if God flooded, the world and kept one
family, that one family will corrupt the human race still,
even though there are all these Provisions, all these things
given by God, through the laws, man is unable to restrain
themselves to rebel against him. And even when we read God,
raising up these judges who were able to perform Supernatural
things that people still spiraled lower and lower into
evil, So, so why did he come Shadows?
Many reasons and reasons that we will not know until we see him
Face to Face by. Here's one that we can be
confident in. He came at a time in which he
was able to show undeniably to the world for the years to come
that you are in need of a savior.
Even if I show up on a mountain, even if I split the Red Sea,
even if I do, whatever it is that you see, you will not
unless I change your heart and less, a payment is made.
Your sin is too great. I'm personally reading the book
of numbers in my personal devotions and I actually got mad
as I read it. I got mad because I kept reading
that even after God told this nation, you're not going into
the promised land, you're gonna wander for 40 years, they still
complained, they still rebelled, they still raised their fists
against God and his authority. And I remember I was reading
this just the other day of how the sons of Korah rebelled
against Moses and after God opens the Earth, they all fall
into the core of the earth, closes that mouth, the people
then accuse, Moses of killing those people.
And I actually said this out loud.
I said, wow, are you kidding me? And then, it dawned on me.
As Heaven reads history, they say, wow as well.
Including me. All the things that you've
heard, all the things that you've known and it still took
you that long, it still took you to the age of 22, come to the
knowledge of Jesus Christ and saving way.
And that's why Romans tells us that the law shuts, the mouths
of unbelievers. It does not give you the ability
to make an excuse when you come to the law, when you come to the
Old Testament and see through the commands and I just the
commands. But through the narratives of
just how desperately wicked we are and that we need a savior to
deliver us. He came at the perfect time and
I love Paul's words here to Timothy because I believe it's a
way for the Holy Spirit to call us to not neglect that part of
our Bibles. Don't be lazy with it.
Don't be ashamed of it. Believe that it is the wisdom of
God for salvation. Stand on the word.
Stand in the word. Share this word, don't blush.
When you present this word, it is Humanity's only hope but we
come back into the second point and it is not just to be all the
more committed to the word of God.
But here's a point that perhaps we don't consider Look at this
phrase in verse 14. But as for you, continue in what
you have learned and I firmly believed knowing from whom you
learned it. Why would Paul say that Why
would Paul say that knowing from it's not just important to hold
on, to what you've known throughout your life, concerning
the word of God, it's important for you to also know who taught
it to you and the word whom here is plural.
Not just one person, but several people that have invested in
Timothy's life Timothy was to be reminded he was to rehearse not
just the truth that he knew to be true but also the people who
communicated it to him. How is that going to help?
How is me knowing those who spoke into my life going to help
me endure in these last days? How is Timothy reflecting on his
grandma on his mom on a spiritual teacher?
The Apostle Paul, is that going to assist them in any way and
any lasting way at least. And the obvious answer is yes.
Because what Paul is saying here is, as you reflect not just on
the truth, the eternality of it in the sufficiency of it.
But as you reflect on those who believe that for themselves, you
would be inspired to know what the word of God can do in
someone's life. It'd be much harder for Timothy
to walk away from the word of God, even though there was
someone as they already did and they'll be surprised in your
life in the days ahead. If people you thought were
concrete will say, I don't think I can hold on to this anymore.
It's bigoted. It's hateful discriminates,
don't be surprised. Timothy, was already saying
seeing it. People were not believing in the
resurrection that it already happened.
And as Timothy was ready to even be assaulted for believing this
word, it would be much harder for him to deny being faithful
to it. When he had first hand.
See the power of it in someone's life?
I'll think about it. How could he shake off?
Observing his grandmother? As there was an obvious
connection between her godliness and her faith.
How could he deny watching his mom reflecting the character of
God even while living with an unbelieving spouse?
How could this man even dare to deny after seeing the power of
the word of God work in, and through his mentor, who is wants
a terrorist to the Christian faith?
How could he deny it? And that's why in some sense,
Paul is urging Timothy, to consider the fruit of the word,
consider the effects of it to be a reason for him to remain
faithful. And it for himself, this word
has power this word transforms, it does something deep.
And some might think that we are inferring this point on this
verse. And we want to convince you
today that this is an instruction for you and I
directly in a different portion of scripture you and I as
Christians if we want to know a greater strength During and
faithfulness, you need people that you can look at and say
that's what God's word can do. I want that in my life?
Do you believe that? if you don't meet me in the book
of Hebrews 13:7, Hebrews 13 verse 7.
Remember, your leaders? That's why we're doing
membership. We want you to be able to
identify who your leaders are. Remember your leaders?
Those who spoke to you the word of God goes to show you what
these leaders should be doing. The primary task is to speak the
word of God to you. Those who spoke to you the word
of God. Now, look at this.
Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their
faith. This verse instructs us to have
leaders who not only teach us the word of God but it also
proved to us what the word of God can do in a life.
Notice that it does not say believe their faith.
It says imitate their faith. Not just believe what they say
imitate. What they do.
You want to be a leader, be careful.
Imitate their faith, the steps of their steadfast trust and
submission to the word of God. You and I are supposed to look
at our leaders and let me know whether it's here or elsewhere.
If you're looking for the spiritual covering in your life,
don't just merely look for Doctrine as important as that is
look for the conduct that shows that that man believes what he
preaches. And that's why your pastor can't
live on a screen. You could have favorite teachers
that teach wonderful theology, but if those are your Shepherds,
you're not, you're not considering this verse, you
should be able to watch his life, not just here.
I'm at for an hour on a Sunday. How does he live?
How does he interact with people?
What's his family life like, does he love money?
Is he humble? How does he deal with problems?
And as you look at these leaders God by the Holy Spirit call is
calling each of us to have individuals in our life to say.
Look at the fruit of being under the word of God, I want to walk
in the same steps. In other words, there is an
influence in your life by who you sit under and who you allow
in your inner circle. It's clear.
It's clear here. It's clear what Paul is saying,
no, Those whom taught you, these things.
No, those who have who made these things known to you.
Reflect on them, know who they are.
Realize their way of life, because in doing, so you'd be
able to realize the Glorious results of being Sanctified unto
the Lord. And you would say I want that
for myself. So, here's my question for you
today. Because this is not just limited
to leaders. Remember he says know those whom
you've learned it from well, who did he learn it from his dad was
arguably, not even saved. He was a Greek Gentile.
Probably demon Believe In Christ.
It was his grandma, his grandmother.
It was his own mother. Those were the primary
influences in his life. Paul came much later.
And this is a question we can ask ourselves from this because
listen, the theme is this. This is how we remain faithful.
Here's how we get assistance, who are the people in your life
that inspire you for christ? Who are they?
Who are the individuals? That you can look to and draw
inspiration from. That when the word of God will
be attacked maligned and even have a price on it for obeying.
You can be able to look at other than say I've seen what this
word can do. And I'm not willing to let go of
it, even if it costs me my life. You might say, I don't I don't
have that Heritage. That Timothy had.
I don't have, I didn't have a Godly dad, Godly Mama didn't
have a line of preachers. My, my line, I don't have that.
I'm the first Christian that I can think of in my, my family
line. In fact, it is true.
That's true. You may not have had a choice of
who you were born with or what family you were born into.
But each of us has a choice of who we sit.
At their feet. We all have a choice of who we
draw encouragement from in our fellowship.
Every single one of us has that choice Timothy.
Had both. He had both, he had Paul and he
had his mom and his grandma, but I believe that this verse
encourages Us, in these last days, to make sure that if
you're going to be found, faithful be around those who
have been faithful. I read a quote in a bless me.
A preacher said don't look for the nearest church to your
house. Find the church closest to the
Bible. Don't look for the nearest
church to your house. Find the church closest to the
Bible. I hope that this would be a
community in which you come. And you are strangely
uncomfortable in your lukewarmness.
Who are the people that you can look and be like, man, when I
see that guy, when I hear that guy talk, it makes me want to
love Jesus more. You should have those kind of
people in your life. And if we're going to say in
this place, well, it's very hard to find such.
Okay, come Wednesday night and let's pray for Revival together.
Who's the sister in your life? The older woman.
Maybe the mother. Then when you see the way she
conducts herself, you say, I want to be like that.
I want to be more zealous because of this person.
I want to be more consistent. I want to be more studied, I
want to be more sacrificial. I want to, I want to be more
patient because I've seen this person's life and I seen what
God's word can do and I want it for myself.
That's a wholly jealousy that we should all have not to compete
with people, but to be inspired by people.
It's a big difference. I remember a gentleman.
Barely knew him. He was in a season in my life as
a Christian, the young Christian I knew his name would say hi to
him here and there after church. But he would pray during the
services and he would be there an old man and he would be there
during the prayer meetings and this man who was who lost his
wife to alzheimer's old school. When he prayed.
It inspired me. Because the way he talked to the
Lord crushed me there is such a Brokenness, there is such a
hunger. There is such a knowledge of the
reality of his existence. And when he spoke to the Lord,
it made me think, oh God, I don't want the show.
I want what that man has in his heart.
If you can do it to this man, do it to me.
I want to be like that kind of an old man.
Paul tells Timothy reflect on those that have invested in your
life whether directly or indirectly and we want it
directly, obviously, and realize the potential realize the power
of this word. How dare you even think about
not firmly holding on to it anymore?
Hold on to it. Every more believe that it can
actually translate into people's lives now And that is why let me
end on this point. That is why there is the most
responsibility of you. And I taking this word and
asking God for it to actually change us.
To change us and to mature us. Because I don't know if that
man, who is now with the Lord today.
Knew that his simple prayers were actually stirring my soul,
but it was the charge in these last days is not just to cling
to the word of God as people go from bad to worse.
That's the obvious. But let me add something that
may not be so obvious. Don't just cling to the book.
Cling to those who are gripped by this book.
And we pray that in this place, the leaders that would be
developed here in the leaders. That would be elected here in
due time would be people that as you come and you watch not just
hear them, preach preaching isn't very hard to some, people
would be but for a person who can communicate, they can come
up here and say a few things. what's hard as they study week
after week and asking themselves, is this true and me
before I tell other people's what to do The God would raise
up such people that those who would be in this place would
say, as you heard last week, I want the god that they serve.
As Elijah said, I want the god of Elijah, maybe.
So in this place, not just the leaders, but the community, this
place should so brim with Holy Light.
And not in some weird strange, mystical way, when I'm practical
real-life that we would Inspire one another in these last days
to remain faithful and true. You know, when I come here on
Wednesday nights when it's black outside and when my skin screams
at me because it's frigid cold It never fails to encourage me,
never fails, for all of that to just disappear in the background
of nothingness of irrelevance. When I see souls in here,
saying, let's cry out to God together.
That makes me want to remain faithful to him.
That makes me want to continue to pray and when people pray,
Allah blesses me. Yes, Lord, Keep the fire on my
altar burning for you very, very simple points today.
And these last days cling to this book, I believe that it is
sufficient believe that it is enough, believe it is God's
perfect will but also be close to those who have allowed this
book to transform them and instead of an appearance of
godliness contaminating you and me, let some of that wonderful
burning passion, become a fragrance on our own garments.
Let's pray. Louis, thank you for these
instructions that are very relevant for us in these
perilous times. Will we tell you today that we
believe that these ancient paths are the only directions for rest
for the human soul? We thank you o God that you have
given us the understanding of just how profound this word is
not just in Mirror insights from a Pulpit, but how it has
changed, many of us in this place.
How does take it as from Darkness to light how it is?
Conformed, us convicted us shape us to be the people that we are
today, though. Imperfect nonetheless influence
by this Authority. Lord, we pray that this place
would be a true community of people that invest in one
another from the leadership down.
So that in times of doubt, in times of worry, or concern or
Temptation, even our minds would race to individuals who have
been faithful and we can say it's possible.
And I want that for myself. If they can remain for decades
Living For the Glory of God. So can I oh Lord may this word
be ever more attractive to us. May we sense the power of it as
we study it for ourselves and Lord no matter what happens in
churches or denominations, no matter what happens to the
popular podcast or YouTubers. Oh God, we pray that in this
place. Week after week, we would go to
the law and, to the testimony, and people would see that only
this word can heal and save be blessed and glorified in Jesus
name, we pray. Amen, let's stand together,
please.