Final Commands Series

Introduction:

A. How many of you have ever done white-water rafting?

1. I want to use an illustration from white-water rafting as our launching point for today’s sermon, but before we get into the illustration, let’s start with a little humor.

2. White-water river guides get a lot of funny questions from clients and two of the funniest and most frequently asked questions are:

a. “Does the raft trip take out where we put in?” (does our trip end back at the beginning point? I don’t know of many circular rivers, do you?)

b. And “Will I get wet? (of course you won’t get wet!)

3. Here’s a funny one they tell on themselves:

a. What’s the difference between a raft guide and a mutual fund?

b. A mutual fund eventually matures and starts making money

B. Over the years, I’ve done some canoeing on lakes and on mildly challenging rivers, but I have never white-water rafted, and certainly haven’t been on the most challenging rivers in the U.S.

1. Those who have can tell some amazing stories and can teach us some good lessons.

2. One of the best white-water experiences can be found in Northwest Colorado, on a part of a river called “Cujo.”

3. Those who want to experience Cujo are usually first taken down a mild part of the river for practice.

4. On the practice part of the river, they experience a few moderate rapids, not much more than speed bumps in comparison, but sufficient to learn to follow the commands of the guide.

5. After the practice run, they turn to Cujo, the meanest, hungriest rapids on the river.

C. They say that you hear the rapids long before you see them.

1. The guide will say to the group, “Listen, the rapids are just around the next turn.”

2. The paddles are still as each person in the raft stops to soak in the sound of rushing water.

3. The closer you get the louder and louder the sound of the rapids roars.

4. Around the bend you go and there the rapids are: foaming and frothing like a rabid beast.

5. At that point, following orders can save your life.

6. When the guide yells, “Hard Right!” you don’t stop to discuss the finer points of paddling; that was done back in practice.

7. You must immediately and obediently respond with speed and strength.

8. The choice is simple: obey the command…or be Cujo’s next meal.

D. Navigating the spiritual life is a lot like shooting the rapids.

1. There’s a time for discussion and for pondering spiritual truth, and there’s a time to jump into action - just because God said to do it.

2. Paul concluded his letter to Timothy with some firm “Just Do It!” style commands.

3. Let’s look at these commands to Timothy and see how to put them into practice in our own lives.

4. Because as we travel down the river of spiritual life, following God’s orders can save our lives and souls.

I. COMMAND #1: FLEE GODLESSNESS (Vs. 11)

A. Paul wrote: But you, man of God, flee from these things… (Vs. 11).

1. There are times when running away is a mark of cowardice, but there are other times when fleeing is a mark of wisdom and a means to victory.

a. That was true in the case of Joseph in the OT, when he ran from the clutches of his master’s wife as she was trying to drag Joseph into bed with her.

2. What are “these things” that Timothy was told to run from?

a. This command follows the warnings about discontentment and greed, and so that is certainly something we should run away from.

b. But Paul might also have in mind all of the attitudes and actions that characterize the false teachers - pride, preoccupation with trivial matters, and divisiveness, as well as greed.

c. As a “man of God” Timothy’s life should display traits opposite of these, and our lives should also.

3. As with many of the commands we will examine today, the verb here indicates a continuing action.

a. In other words the command really is “Keep on fleeing these things” - make it a habit, a way of life.

b. Rarely do we win a battle with a single act of resistance – we usually have to continue to resist.

4. Just like a good parent who yells to their child: “Get away from that fire,” God is hollering for us to “Flee Godlessness!”

II. COMMAND #2: PURSUE GODLINESS (Vs. 11)

A. Paul wrote: But you, man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. (Vs. 11)

1. We must realize that running from wrong is only half of the plan for godliness.