1 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:08,520 This is Living Waters of Grace, the teaching ministry of Lewis 2 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:12,200 Harold, assistant pastor of Calvary Chapel of Westmoreland 3 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:16,520 County in Greensburg, PA. Now here's Pastor Lewis as he 4 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:18,920 continues teaching through God's Word. 5 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:39,880 Paul was saying I am already being poured out, I've already 6 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:43,280 given everything. I've given all to the Lord ever 7 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:47,320 since the day that he caught me into ministry back in Acts 8 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:50,920 Chapter 9 when he first stopped me on the road to Damascus. 9 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:55,440 From that point on, I've given it all to him, I've given it all 10 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:57,400 to him. And that is such an inspiration 11 00:00:57,400 --> 00:01:00,080 for us to look at how we serve the Lord. 12 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:02,240 Do we? Give it all to him, do we Give 13 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:04,239 it off to them? Do we hold something back 14 00:01:04,239 --> 00:01:06,800 because in that cup for the drink offering, the whole idea 15 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:10,520 was that totally empty the cup. I like to hear compliments, 16 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:12,400 don't you? I don't really care for 17 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:14,520 criticism. I know that I could lose a few 18 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:16,920 pounds. I know that I can stand to lay 19 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:20,520 off the sweets a bit. But isn't it good to have people 20 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:23,600 in your life who tell it to you? Straight people who won't 21 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:27,360 sugarcoat the truth. In his message today, Pastor 22 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:30,760 Lewis warned you about Bible teachers who just tell you 23 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:33,120 everything that makes you feel good about yourself. 24 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:35,600 The Word of God should challenge you. 25 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:38,800 It should convict you of sin, and it should push you towards 26 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:41,800 holiness. Now here's Pastor Lewis in the 27 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:45,800 Book of Second Timothy, Chapter 4, with today's edition of 28 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:49,440 Living Waters of Grace. He says, and the words should 29 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:54,560 convince or convict or correct. It should rebuke and it should 30 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:58,160 exhort. Every time one of us comes up 31 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:01,880 and teach this word, one of those three things should be 32 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,160 happening. It should either correct us. 33 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:12,320 It should either exhort us or encourage us or should warn us 34 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:16,120 or caution us. But the word should always have 35 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:19,520 impact is what Paul is saying. The word will always have 36 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,200 impact. And this is to be done with 37 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,400 long-suffering and teaching, or in other words, patience. 38 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:29,760 Paul is talking about patience because he understands that as 39 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:35,040 Timothy, as you speak to your congregation, everyone is not 40 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:38,000 going to be at the same place spiritually. 41 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:42,440 So people will need to be. You will need to be patient 42 00:02:42,920 --> 00:02:45,760 because people are going to mature at different levels. 43 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:49,280 As we mature at different rates, we're going to mature 44 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:53,960 differently. So, Timothy, be patient, but be 45 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:58,480 patient through teaching. Don't always want to just call 46 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:01,360 somebody out. Let the word change people, 47 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:04,160 Timothy. So do it through teaching. 48 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:07,160 Let the word help people to mature. 49 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,320 That's the importance of teaching the Word with patience. 50 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:14,160 And then he said for the time will come when they will not 51 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:16,480 endure sound doctrine. And that's why you should teach 52 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:19,160 the Word now, Timothy, because there's going to be a time when 53 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:21,880 there's going to be people who will not want to endure sound 54 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:23,960 doctrine. There will be a time when people 55 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:27,160 will want to not hear a word that convicts them. 56 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,200 They're not going to want to hear things that will hold the 57 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:33,760 mirror up to their lives and cause them to be able to see 58 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:35,880 what they look like or what we look like. 59 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:38,240 They might not want to hear that, Timothy, after a while, 60 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:41,440 they're not going to want to hear about righteousness. 61 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:43,320 They're not going to hear about holiness. 62 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:45,160 They only want to hear, you know, they're going to be 63 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:47,560 looking for people who are only teach the, you know, the 64 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:50,960 goodness of God or the mercy of God or the grace of God or the 65 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,280 love of God. They don't want to hear people 66 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:56,280 that's going to teach about the holiness of God and the law of 67 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:59,080 God or the righteousness of God. They're not going to want to 68 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,920 hear that. I want to hear people talk about 69 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:07,520 sin, things that I want to do. Don't call it sin. 70 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:12,920 That word sounds so bad when you call it sin, but it's things 71 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:15,200 that I want to do. They don't want to hear that, 72 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:18,399 Timothy. So preach the word because 73 00:04:18,399 --> 00:04:19,880 they're not going to hear sound doctrine. 74 00:04:19,959 --> 00:04:23,600 But because of but, but but according to their own desires, 75 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:28,320 because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves 76 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:30,560 teachers. They'll just listen to the 77 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:33,640 teachers, Timothy, that they want to hear the ones that's 78 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:35,840 going to make them feel good when they leave every time. 79 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:39,600 They'll never hear about things that I need to change in my life 80 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:43,000 or or never hear a word that convicts me or challenges me 81 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:45,880 about things that I'm doing or things that I'm thinking about 82 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:48,440 the way that I'm treating people about my unforgiveness. 83 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:50,800 They don't want to hear a word that challenges that. 84 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,360 They want to hear something that just makes them feel good, that 85 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:57,200 just makes them feel good, something that just motivates 86 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:00,480 them, you know, 5 steps to acquire, you know, to acquiring 87 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:04,400 wealth, 5 steps to a good marriage, 5 steps to, you know, 88 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:08,240 to, to really being able to excel in business, 5 steps to 89 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:13,360 making myself a better person. Hear things like that instead of 90 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:16,880 the things that the Bible teaches us about change, about 91 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:19,880 holiness, about the things the Bible teaches us about 92 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:22,240 obedience. They're not going to hear that, 93 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:24,360 Timothy. And then they said they're going 94 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:25,920 to turn away their ears from those things. 95 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:27,560 They're going to turn away their ears from the truth. 96 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:31,640 And they're going to turn to fables, turn aside to myths, to 97 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:36,720 fables, to turn aside to things that are not lined up with the 98 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:40,440 word of God. Turn aside to prosperity 99 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:45,160 teaching or turn aside to, you know, it being OK to live with 100 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:48,840 somebody or turn aside to those things that say everybody's 101 00:05:48,840 --> 00:05:51,320 going to heaven. You know, turn aside to teaching 102 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:56,280 like that because it's easier for them to listen to as opposed 103 00:05:56,280 --> 00:05:58,760 to being challenged through the word. 104 00:05:59,960 --> 00:06:02,600 But then in verse 5, he says, but you Timothy, so he's 105 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:05,520 switching gears here, Timothy. That's what they that that may 106 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:07,920 be what they want to hear. That may be where the false 107 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:10,240 teachers are. That may be where people were 108 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:13,080 the unbelievers are or people who are being challenged in 109 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:14,480 their faith. That may be where they are. 110 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:18,760 But you, Timothy, as a pastor, I want you, Timothy, to be 111 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:23,640 watchful in all things. In other words, that that that 112 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:28,280 that word means to be sober in all things to be sober. 113 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:34,360 And there's a lot of things that can be intoxicating to us that 114 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:38,080 causes us to not think clearly and a lot of things that causes 115 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:42,000 us to not have self-control. To be sober means to have to 116 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,440 think clear and to have self-control. 117 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:48,960 To be sober mean to not be under intoxicating influence. 118 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:52,880 That's what it means to be sober, to think clearly, to act 119 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:56,200 clearly. But there's things out there 120 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:59,920 that we can listen to or things that we allow to get into our 121 00:06:59,920 --> 00:07:04,800 hearts that will cause us to not think clearly, that will cause 122 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:08,000 us to not act under self-control, and it causes us 123 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:09,800 to act like we're under the influence. 124 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:13,000 We can be under the influence of bad things. 125 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:17,280 Intoxicating teaching can put us under the influence and cause us 126 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:22,120 to act that way. And he says, Timothy, be careful 127 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:24,560 that. Be watchful, be watchful. 128 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:27,480 The things that you allow to come into your ear gates. 129 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:30,640 Be watchful. Parents, be watchful. 130 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:32,960 The things that come into your kids ear gates. 131 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:36,480 Be watchful the things that come into your eye gates, the things 132 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:41,360 that you allow your eyes to look upon, David said in Psalms 119. 133 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:48,400 Turn my eyes away from empty things because he knows that to 134 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:51,920 look at things that are empty can be intoxicating and it can 135 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:55,680 change you. And he says, Timothy, I want you 136 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:59,000 to turn away from those things. Guard your ear gates, guard your 137 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:03,720 eye gates, guard your heart. For out of it are the issues of 138 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:07,480 life. So, Timothy, be careful and be 139 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:10,480 watchful. Be aware of the things that 140 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:12,440 people were saying around you, the things that people were 141 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:14,080 teaching. Be aware of that. 142 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:16,880 Be aware of the things that you listen to, the things that you 143 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:20,240 read. Be aware of those things. 144 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:23,000 You know, one thing I, I, I love, you know, Pastor Clark is 145 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:26,720 very well read, very well read a lot more well read than I am. 146 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:33,080 And there are books that can sometimes appear to be OK, but 147 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:35,320 once you get into them, you read them, you'll find out that it 148 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:39,880 that it's not that it does not line up with the word of God. 149 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:43,360 It does not. And a lot of times before you 150 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:47,960 even have to open up the book and be exposed to that, Pastor 151 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:50,920 Clark will have known something about it in some degree. 152 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:54,280 I mean, it's amazing how many times that he's been able to 153 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:58,320 hear an author's name or hear a book that has that has come out 154 00:08:58,560 --> 00:09:02,400 and he's aware of where that book goes, how that book 155 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:05,920 separates from the word of God. Very well read that way. 156 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:08,880 We have to be careful of those things. 157 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:11,320 That's why it's so much easier to just stick with the word of 158 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:13,520 God. We don't have to worry about it. 159 00:09:13,560 --> 00:09:16,840 You know, if I swim in my swimming pool, I don't have to 160 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:19,960 worry about, you know, having to worry about any drop offs or any 161 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:21,560 surprises. You know, if I'm swimming in my 162 00:09:21,560 --> 00:09:24,040 own swimming pool, you know, I have to worry about anything 163 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:27,160 that's going to surprise me. You know, I know what's in it. 164 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:30,760 I know what's in my pool, so I don't have to worry about it. 165 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:33,040 But if I'm swimming out there in some place that's open, where 166 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:35,760 anything can have access to me, that can be a problem. 167 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:38,800 That can be a problem. But he said be watchful in all 168 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:40,080 things. Then he says, endure 169 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:42,240 afflictions. And this is another thing that 170 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:45,440 has been consistent throughout Timothy's life and throughout 171 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:48,640 Paul's life as he has endured afflictions. 172 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:51,760 Paul can definitely talk about enduring fictions. 173 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:54,760 Back in Chapter 3, we just talked about the afflictions 174 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:59,560 that he endured over in Antioch and in Iconium and in Lyster, 175 00:09:59,560 --> 00:10:01,800 where he actually. Suffered the stoning. 176 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:05,400 That took his life or could have taken or we think that actually 177 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:08,240 did take his life. So Paul knows a lot about 178 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:11,560 enduring afflictions and these are all along with these, you 179 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:14,600 know, the commands that Paul gave to Timothy. 180 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:18,800 The first was preach the Word and the second is be watchful in 181 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:21,160 all things. And now the third here is endure 182 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:24,760 afflictions and endure patiently, not just go through 183 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:28,960 them complaining, not go through them, you know, murmuring, not 184 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:31,840 go through them, you know, with a bad attitude, but endure 185 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:36,160 afflictions, endure it in a way that it brings glory to God. 186 00:10:36,560 --> 00:10:39,480 When you go through changes on your job that may afflict you, 187 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:44,040 that may cause some discomfort to your may interrupt the way 188 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:46,480 that you do things on your job. How do you do it? 189 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:49,000 Do you do it with by complaining and murmuring? 190 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:51,720 Do we talk about the boss? Do we, you know, do we get with 191 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:54,880 the water cooler crew and, and put down the people who are 192 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:57,000 making the decisions? Or do we go through it 193 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:00,480 patiently, just trusting the Lord that he will work it out, 194 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:04,000 that he will work it out. That's what makes us different. 195 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:07,400 That's what makes us different. And so he says endure 196 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:12,640 afflictions and then he says do the work of an evangelist, do 197 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:16,120 the work of an evangelist. Now the word evangelist is only 198 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:18,200 mentioned three times in in the Bible. 199 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:21,720 The first time it's mentioned is in the book of of Acts in 200 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:25,800 chapter 21 where he refers to Philip as an evangelist. 201 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:30,240 The next time it's mentioned is over in Ephesians chapter 4, 202 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:34,800 when, when, when, when Paul talks about the gifts that Jesus 203 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:38,840 left with the church and one of those gifts was an evangelist 204 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:42,200 for the purpose of equipping the Saints. 205 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:46,560 And then of course, here in second Timothy chapter 4, he 206 00:11:46,560 --> 00:11:50,720 mentions the evangelists or, or, or evangelism. 207 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:53,000 Now evangelism is very important. 208 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:55,000 It's very important to the whole gospel. 209 00:11:55,000 --> 00:12:00,040 It's the what they call the pre salvation preaching is what they 210 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:04,240 call evangelism, pre salvation preaching because it's the, it's 211 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:06,440 the word. It's the one that introduces you 212 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:09,000 to the gospel. People were introduced to the 213 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:11,880 gospel through evangelism. And then of course, once they 214 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:15,040 become believers, they are discipled through the word of 215 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:17,160 God and they're learning the doctrines and they're coming 216 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:20,360 here and they're being taught the gospel are coming other 217 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:23,920 churches and are being taught the, you know, how to live the 218 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:27,400 life that they were just birthed into. 219 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:31,720 But the purpose of evangelism is to equip and encourage believers 220 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:35,520 to share the gospel, to share that good news and to live that 221 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:38,800 gospel out. He preaches the gospel and calls 222 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:41,040 for repentance is what an evangelist does. 223 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:44,480 He calls for repentance. He, he causes us or lets us know 224 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:48,480 that we can repent and we can turn from that old lifestyle 225 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:52,280 and, and, and, and anyone who's listening who have not given 226 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:55,560 their hearts to the Lord or not trusted Jesus Christ for your 227 00:12:55,560 --> 00:12:58,640 salvation. Repentance is open for you. 228 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:02,680 It's available for you. Evangelism is, is what we're 229 00:13:02,680 --> 00:13:04,800 doing right now is just sharing the gospel. 230 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:09,400 Jesus Christ died for your sins and we are all sinners and Jesus 231 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:13,400 Christ died for those sins. He died for those sins and we 232 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:16,640 all are sinners. Everyone of us have sinned and 233 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:21,480 I've come short of the glory of God and that sin will have to be 234 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:24,000 dealt with. The wages of sin is death 235 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:27,320 according to the word of God. That's the wrath that 236 00:13:27,680 --> 00:13:30,200 unrepentant sinners have to face is death. 237 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:35,600 But Jesus Christ came and died for our sins. 238 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:41,000 He was buried three days, He laid in the grave, and then he 239 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:45,840 arose. And that gives us our hope for 240 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:49,600 eternal life. Anyone who's listening who have 241 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:53,720 not trusted Jesus Christ for your Savior, you can repent 242 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:56,080 right now. You don't even have to say it 243 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:56,680 out loud. You can. 244 00:13:56,680 --> 00:13:59,800 Repent at home. But it's available through the 245 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:02,480 grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 246 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:06,640 So he says, do the work of an evangelist and then he says, 247 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:11,240 fulfill your ministry, fulfill your ministry, finish your 248 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:13,720 ministry. You know, have your ministry, 249 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:16,440 you know, whatever it is that the Lord called you to do, 250 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:21,240 fulfill it. I remember when I was first. 251 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:24,640 Being called to the. Ministry, I personally kind of 252 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:25,840 ran away from it. Actually. 253 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:28,680 I was called from very early age initially, and I definitely ran 254 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:31,920 away from that. And then when I got older, the 255 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:34,040 Lord began to beckon to me again. 256 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:35,560 He began to reach out to me again. 257 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:38,560 And, and, and, and I can remember during the time when 258 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:42,880 different people were, you know, asking about my calling and was 259 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:45,760 talking to me about my calling. And I always ignored the fact 260 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:48,160 that, you know, that I was called to be a minister and 261 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:50,200 definitely did not want to acknowledge being a pastor. 262 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:54,080 I remember when I was being called to be a pastor, I 263 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:56,560 definitely did not want to do that. 264 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:58,960 I, I wasn't a pastor until I came here. 265 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:01,920 Clark is the one that ordained me to be a pastor. 266 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:05,680 Him and the elders that are here, I did not look for that at 267 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:10,200 all. But in fulfilling your ministry, 268 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:13,560 it's acknowledging that call and completing it. 269 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:18,800 And I can remember a phone call that I got from someone who 270 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:21,440 didn't even know what I was dealing with in my heart 271 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:24,640 concerning pastoral work or ministry work. 272 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:27,240 They called me and they gave me a scripture. 273 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:30,120 And today that scripture is still very important to me. 274 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:32,760 It's Colossians chapter 4 and verse 17. 275 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:37,920 And what it says is and say to Archopus, take heed to the 276 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:42,800 ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may 277 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:46,360 fulfill it, that you may fulfill it. 278 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:50,320 That word was so powerful. I actually had to stop the car 279 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:52,640 and pull over because I was, I was tearful. 280 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:57,760 I was tearful because I know that it was the Holy Spirit that 281 00:15:57,760 --> 00:16:00,320 was working in my heart concerning that. 282 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:03,440 Couldn't even believe that that person even said that to me. 283 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:07,200 The point of the matter is, is that we have a ministry to 284 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:10,080 fulfill. Each and every one of us do and 285 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:13,440 God wants us to just do we have to fulfill what it is that God 286 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:16,360 has called us to do. And there's someone, you know, 287 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:19,200 there may be someone out there today that God is working on 288 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:21,880 your heart. God is already acknowledging in 289 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:25,720 your heart or you know that the Lord is giving you a passion for 290 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:29,200 something concerning ministry, regardless of what it may be. 291 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:33,200 I would just suggest that you don't ignore it because he's 292 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:36,400 pretty much 100% he's, he's undefeated in terms of getting 293 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:39,440 people to follow him. He that he goes after, it's 294 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:42,760 pretty much undefeated. So I would suggest that if you 295 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:45,840 know that the Lord is tugging at your heart and he's calling you 296 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:48,680 into something, regardless of what it is, doesn't have to be 297 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:51,760 pastoral, doesn't have to be ministry that way, but or 298 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:54,400 teaching ministry, but there's a lot of different ministries. 299 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:58,040 They all, they all, whatever the ministry is, they're all 300 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:02,680 important and they all add to the body of Christ and they all 301 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:07,400 supply at every joint supplies in the body of Christ. 302 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:09,920 So I would just strongly encourage. 303 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:13,560 You to acknowledge that. Call and allow the Lord to do a 304 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:15,839 work in your heart concerning it. 305 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:20,560 And then we go to verse 6 and he says, for I am already being 306 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:25,760 poured out as a drink offering and the time of my departure is 307 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:28,400 at hand. I want to stop there for a 308 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:31,040 second because this is really significant. 309 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:35,200 Paul described himself as being poured out as a drink offering 310 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:38,280 back in the Old Testament, back in the book of Numbers, around 311 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:44,480 chapter 15, the Old Testament priests, when they would give a 312 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:48,640 sacrifice, they would, at the end of the sacrifice, they would 313 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:51,280 pour out a drink offering to the Lord. 314 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:54,680 They would pour out a drink offering on the altar and that 315 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:58,200 would actually be a sign that the service was completed. 316 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:01,480 The offering was given, the service was complete. 317 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:05,920 And Paul now describes himself as being that drink offering 318 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:07,680 that is already being poured out. 319 00:18:08,360 --> 00:18:11,000 And he's signifying that. He's symbolizing the fact that 320 00:18:11,120 --> 00:18:15,600 his service is complete and he has totally poured himself out 321 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:18,000 to the Lord. Totally. 322 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:22,160 Jesus Christ was a drink offering for us. 323 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:26,520 Jesus Christ was not only the drink offering, He was also the 324 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:31,000 Lamb that was slain. He was the sacrifice and he was 325 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:33,400 the drink offering. When his, when his side was 326 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:38,600 pierced and the blood came out, when he hung on the cross and 327 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:43,240 the blood dripped down, that was him emptying himself as a drink, 328 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:47,400 offering to us, to the Lord for us rather. 329 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:52,040 And Paul was saying, I am already being poured out. 330 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:55,880 I've already given everything. I've given all to the Lord ever 331 00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:59,800 since the day that he caught me into ministry back in Acts 332 00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:03,320 Chapter 9 when he first stopped me on the road to Damascus. 333 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:06,520 From that point on, I've given it all to him. 334 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:09,600 I've given it all to him. And that is such an inspiration 335 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:12,400 for us to look at how we serve the Lord. 336 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:14,320 Do we? Give it all to him, do we give 337 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:16,240 it off to him? Do we hold something back? 338 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:18,920 Because in that cup of the drink offering, the whole idea was 339 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:23,240 that totally empty the cup so that nothing was held back. 340 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:27,560 And that's exactly what Paul says of himself. 341 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:30,760 Then he says, I've fought the good fight, I'll finish the 342 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:32,960 race. I've kept the faith. 343 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:37,360 Paul says. Just like, just like in the old 344 00:19:37,360 --> 00:19:40,080 days of Israel, they fought many battles. 345 00:19:40,360 --> 00:19:43,840 They fought many battles as they were on their way to the 346 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:47,400 promised land. And even in our life we fight 347 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:50,160 many battles, but there's only one good fight. 348 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:54,480 There's only one good fight, and that's the good fight of faith. 349 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:57,800 That's the only good fight. Jude said. 350 00:19:58,360 --> 00:20:01,680 That we are to contend for the faith or we are to strive for 351 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:05,520 the faith which was once delivered to the Saints, once 352 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:09,200 for all delivered to the Saints. We're to strive for that and it 353 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:12,200 is going to be a battle. Now in this battle are the 354 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:15,600 weapons of our warfare. They're not carnal, they're not 355 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:19,600 Spears, they're not bows, they're not clubs, but they're 356 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:24,200 still mighty through God. It's prayer, it's the reading of 357 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:28,120 the Word, it's the giving of ourselves in ministry. 358 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:31,760 Those are the weapons that we now have that we give to the 359 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:34,160 Lord. And then he says, I finished the 360 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:36,480 race. This Christian race, this 361 00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:39,520 Christian battle is a race. This Christian life is a race, 362 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:43,640 and it's not necessarily the one that's rewarded, is not 363 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:46,520 necessarily the one who crosses the finish line first. 364 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:50,640 It's not a race in that way. It's not a race in that way. 365 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:56,360 The idea is to finish, finish. He said I finished the race. 366 00:20:56,360 --> 00:20:59,600 He didn't say I won the race. He said I finished the race. 367 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:02,840 And that's what we need to do, is to finish the race. 368 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:04,880 What we've started. Whatever you've started in the 369 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:09,600 Lord, finish it. Finish it, be able to say like 370 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,840 Paul, I've I've, I've fought the good fight and I have finished 371 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:15,720 the race and I've kept the faith. 372 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:17,600 I've held on to it. I haven't strayed from it. 373 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:21,320 I haven't gotten off into myths and I haven't gotten off into 374 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:25,520 other wild things. I've kept the faith and he says 375 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:27,520 there's laid up for me a crown of righteousness. 376 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:31,040 Finally there's laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which 377 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:35,480 the Lord, the righteous judge will give to me on that day, and 378 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:39,520 not only to me, but on all those who will love his appearing. 379 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:43,680 And what he is saying here is that there are two crowns. 380 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:47,960 There are two crowns that that people can talk about. 381 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:51,000 The one crown is a, is a royal crown and that's given to the 382 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:54,160 king. We won't get that crown that's 383 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:57,120 given to the king, but the other crown is a victor's crown. 384 00:21:57,560 --> 00:22:01,160 And that's the one that we will be rewarded, the victor's crown. 385 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:04,800 And the victor's crown is given to like in the Greek games or 386 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:08,040 the Roman games. It was given to the one, OK, who 387 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:12,240 would run the race well and he would get a reef. 388 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:15,320 If he won the race, he would get a reef and it would be olive 389 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:19,680 leaves or oak leaves that would be on this, this reef, this, 390 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:21,480 this head thing that would go around his head. 391 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:24,200 That would be the reward. Now those things faded. 392 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:26,800 Those things will fade. But the reef. 393 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:30,360 But the, the, the, the reward, the victor's crown that we get, 394 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:34,520 it doesn't fade. It's a crown that does not fade 395 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:37,360 away. And it's not just given to us, 396 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:41,280 but it's given to all who will love his appearing. 397 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:47,160 That is what Paul is looking forward to during his time, his 398 00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:49,440 last minutes. He's looking forward to the 399 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:52,080 victor's crown. He knows he has one and pretty 400 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:54,720 soon he's going to be able to have it on his head and he's 401 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:57,680 looking forward to that. He's not looking at his 402 00:22:57,680 --> 00:22:59,200 condition, he's looking beyond it. 403 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:02,320 He's not looking at his circumstances and feeling bad 404 00:23:02,320 --> 00:23:04,960 about himself. He's looking beyond it and 405 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:08,320 that's where we should be. Yes, things are bad here. 406 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:12,760 Yes, we got challenges here. Yes, things are crazy. 407 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:19,200 But we have a hope. We have a hope we can finish 408 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:23,520 this race. We can keep the faith. 409 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:29,200 We just have to continue to fight the good fight and not let 410 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:34,000 temptation take us out, not let the enemy derail us, not be 411 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:37,400 pulled aside or pulled out of what it is that God wants us to 412 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:40,440 do. Not be convinced to give up and 413 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:44,680 give out. Fight the good fight, finish the 414 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:50,800 race, keep the faith. You've been listening to Pastor 415 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:53,880 Lewis Harrell here on Living Waters of Grace. 416 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:57,840 We're digging into all that Paul shared with Timothy in the books 417 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:01,600 of First and Second Timothy. Timothy was commissioned to do 418 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:05,320 the following fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on 419 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:09,880 eternal life, to which you were also called, and have confessed 420 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:13,600 the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 421 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:18,200 Timothy would be carrying on what Paul had taught him and 422 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:22,160 continuing on in ministry, even though Paul knew that more 423 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:24,160 hardships would come for Timothy. 424 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:28,200 This is the Christian life. It's not glamorous. 425 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:33,640 It's not some celebrity status. It's hard fought, it's gritty, 426 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:36,440 it's unpopular, but it's worth it. 427 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:39,680 Do you believe that today? Are you willing to fight the 428 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:43,320 good fight even at the cost of earthly pleasures? 429 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:47,680 Living the life of a follower of Jesus will have its heavenly 430 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:50,600 rewards. To be a part of a community 431 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:54,440 that's looking forward to that heavenly reward, we invite you 432 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:57,040 to join us at Calvary Chapel Westmoreland. 433 00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:00,880 If you're in the Greensburg, PA area, come be with us this 434 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:07,560 Sunday at 10:30 AM at 400 E Pittsburgh St., Ste. 6B. 435 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:11,800 Check out Calvary Chapel online.com For more information 436 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:15,840 on directions and any other details you might want to know. 437 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:19,600 You can also download our mobile app from our website 438 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:24,800 thatscalvarychapelonline.com. If you have friends or family 439 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:27,880 members who want to tune in, encourage them to listen on 440 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:32,320 Grace FM 91.7. One last thing, this radio 441 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:36,040 ministry relies on your support to keep things going. 442 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:39,800 If you're willing to donate financially, send gifts to Grace 443 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:46,720 FMPO, Box 716, Greensburg, PA 15601. 444 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:50,320 Thanks for prayerfully considering this, and thank you 445 00:25:50,320 --> 00:25:52,920 for listening to Living Waters of Grace.