Be Faithful To God Because He Is Faithful To You

“Be Faithful To God Because He Is Faithful To You”

2 Timothy 4:9-18

David P. Nolte

We all remember someone who gave his or her life in defense of this land and freedom. And we are grateful. Or we should be! We are the most blessed of all nations.

Usually we think of veterans as those who served in some branch of the military. .But those who serve Jesus faithfully even when it is difficult, and who stand for Jesus even if they stand alone, are also veterans.

Ivan wanted to be a faithful soldier for Jesus and for that he endured the horrors of a Soviet prison camp. One day he was praying when a fellow prisoner noticed him and said with ridicule, "Prayers won't help you get out of here any faster." Ivan answered, "I do not pray to get out of prison but to do the will of God." He was a true veteran for Jesus.

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In light of what our veterans did, and are doing, for us we ought to pray to do the will of God and to be the best of citizens even in distress or affliction.

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.The One we ought always to remember most also gave His life for our freedom and salvation. In light of that we ought to pray that we do the will of God!

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There are more kinds of warfare than nation against nation. . We fight the war of pain; the war of broken relationships; the war of poor health and the war against sin, Satan and secularism. Sometimes it seems we are alone in the fray.

Linda sang a song that touches upon that.

When there's no place to go, you think no one knows

What you're going through.

You've done all you can, you're exhausted my friend

There's nothing else left you can do.

Life overwhelms you, someone betrays you,

You feel like nobody cares.

There's one place I know, when there's no place to go.

I can go to the Master in prayer.

I can go to the Master, He always listens,

He welcomes my pleas cause He cares about me.

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Because Paul was so embattled and attacked by enemies of Jesus, he was a frequenter at the Throne of God.. Yet this veteran of the faith had his difficulties and sorrows. So he wrote to Timothy in the midst of his sad situation, describing his needs and expressing unfaltering faith in God. Others failed him, God did not! .So, like Paul, we need to be faithful to God because He is faithful to us!

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THE VETERAN PAUL WROTE: “Make every effort to come to me soon; for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service. But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching. At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever.” 2 Timothy 4:9-18 (NASB).

.It is a given that we will all have conflicts in life; we will either turn tail and run .or stand in God’s strength and become veterans for Jesus in the battles of life! . WE NEED TO DO THAT ALWAYS BUT PARTICULARLY WHEN

I. WE MAY BE DESERTED BY THOSE WE TRUSTED:

A. Listen to Paul, “Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. .... At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.”

1. Crescens and Titus may have had legitimate business in Galatia and Dalmatia, but Paul felt the loss of their presence.

2. Demas, however, was another story – he deliberately turned his back on his friend in a time of need to pursue personal gain.

B. .But even Jesus had His deserters:

. 1. Some disciples found His teachings to be hard to understand, “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.” John 6:66 (NASB).