Caring Enough to Confront
II Timothy 2:24-26
Purpose: To show how wayward believers should be dealt with.
Aim: I want the listener to be alert and ready to help other believers who may be straying.
INTRODUCTION: Here at Bethel, we are family, bound together by something more profound and real than blood. A lot of people- a lot of societies- put a lot of stock in blood-lines, and a lot of people talk about being ‘family’ or ‘blood-relatives’. This is important, without question. But blood is not everything. As believers we are tied together by something more permanent, something deeper, and more exciting- even eternal- than blood, and that’s because we are all joined to the same Creator and Savior.
This is why our relationships with each other are so important. Relationships are built on what we have in common, but those relationships will deepen and grow ONLY as we learn to support and encourage each other.
So far we have learned that in order for a Christians to relate to each other they need to:
REVIEW:
1:1-2:13 I. How Should a Christian React to Stress?
Vs.1-5 A. Paul’s example of how to encourage others “remember you in my prayers”
Vs.6-18 B. Paul’s explanation of how to be bold “power and love and discipline”
2Vs.1-7 C. Paul’s exhortation to spread the Word “men who will be able to teach others”
Vs.8-13 D. Paul’s exaltation of serving Christ “Remember Jesus Christ”
2:14-26 II. How Should a Christian Relate to Fellow Believers?
Vs.14-19 A. Be a guide to other believers “remind them of these things”
Vs.20-23 B. Honor God before other believers
Vs.20 1. The illustration “in a large house...honor...dishonor”
Vs.21-232. The explanation of how to honor God
Vs.21a a. Take responsibility for your holiness “cleanses himself”
Vs.21b b. Flee from ungodly companions “from these things”
Vs.21c c. Depend on God’s ability “he will be...sanctified...useful ...prepared”
Vs.22a d. Flee from ungodliness “flee from youthful lusts”
Vs.22b e. Follow godliness “pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace”
Vs.22c f. Find godly companions “with those...from a pure heart”
Vs.23 g. Flee from ungodly controversies “ignorant speculations”
Now, these personal qualities are important so that we can truly honor God, but they are also important for us so that we can:
LESSON:
Vs.24-26 C. Counsel believers who don’t honor God
Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (NAU) What is the GOOD that we need to do?
We find the answer to that in Hebrews 10:23-25 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (NAU)
Vs.24-25a 1. The work we must do “must not”
Vs.24a a. We must not overpower others “not be quarrelsome”
Quarrel translates a military term for hand-to-hand combat.
This word was also used in the Greek language for a wind that was so powerful that it leveled everything in its path, like a hurricane. A Christian must resist the temptation to “blow away” those who disagree with him.
We don’t want to follow the example that Diotrophes set: 3 John 9-10 9 . . . Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. 10 For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church. (NAU)
Vs.24b b. We must treat others gently “kind to all”
The Lord’s servant must not battle with words, but instead must be gentle and kind to all.
The only other time that this word is used in the NT is in 1 Thessalonians 2:6-7 6 . . . even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. 7 But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. (NAU)
Notice how Jesus told us to treat those who oppose us: ☛ Luke 6:32-36 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 “If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 “If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 35 “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. 36 “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (NAU)
Vs.24c c. We must be able to explain God’s Word “able to teach”
This doesn’t mean that you have to be able to stand in front of a group, but you should be able to explain what the Bible teaches. The Bible is our only rule book. If we are going to help others get back on the path of honoring God then God’s truth is the only way it will happen.
Vs.24d d. We must be able to take criticism without striking back “patient when wronged”
The word PATIENT means “to bear evil without resentment.”
Jesus told us that we would be hated and persecuted then He said, John 15:21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. (NAU) ✔ It is an honor to suffer for following Christ.
We can endure being lied about only as we trust God to take care of us. 1 Peter 2:21-23 21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; (NAU)
This characteristic was well demonstrated by John Selwyn, a missionary in the South Pacific some years ago. While in a university, Selwyn became renowned for his boxing skills and great strength. During his years in the South Pacific, he had occasion to strongly rebuke a native, and that native struck him violently across his face. Selwyn responded by folding his arms and looking intently into the eyes of the native, who realized that Selwyn could easily have knocked him cold. But Selwyn made not the slightest effort to retaliate and simply gazed at him with loving concern. The native ran into the jungle, too ashamed to face this missionary. Several years after John Selwyn had returned home, that same native came forward to confess Christ and be baptized by Selwyn’s replacement. When asked what new name he wished to be called by, the native replied, "Call me John Selwyn, for it was he who taught me what Jesus Christ is like.." May the same be said of us!
Vs.25a e. We must stand for the truth without being obnoxious “with gentleness correcting”
A good follower of Christ is gentle without being a doormat. The word GENTLENESS was used to describe a gentle breeze or voice. It was also used of a wild horse that had been tamed.
Correcting means “training” or “bringing to maturity. This is part of what Paul did in verse 17 when he mentioned the problem with Hymenaeus and Philetus.
To correct in humility is to recognize that our present understanding of truth is a gift of God and not our own achievement.
✔ Sometimes we act as though we have been commanded to win arguments rather than to love people. The reason we are to avoid arguments is stated simply: “They generate strife.” Strife is never the climate for communicating the love of God or developing human relationships.
Vs.25b-26 2. The work God must do “God may grant”
✔ It is only the hand of God which can untangle the twisted thoughts of men. – Dwight Edwards
We are helpless to change any person’s mind. We must depend completely on God’s power to change lives.
1 Corinthians 3:5-7 5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. (NAU)
✔ Our job is to BE right (Vs.24-25a) and it is God’s job to DO right (Vs.25b-26).
Vs.25b a. God must give them repentance “grant them repentance”
Repentance is a gift that only God can give, and when He gives it God’s truth is learned.
✔ We will either live for the world’s lusts, or we will live for God’s will. 1 Peter 4:1-2 . . . he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. (NAU)
Vs.26a b. God must sober them up “may come to their senses”
COME TO THEIR SENSES means “to be sober again”
The world offers us three different drugs that will numb our lives to the truth. They are listed for us in, 1 John 2:15-16 15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. (NAU)
Three Drugs the World Offers Us
#1 the lust of the flesh – which is an intense desire for pleasure
#2 the lust of the eyes – which is an intense desire for things
#3 the boastful pride of life – which is an intense desire for recognition
Vs.26b c. God must set them free “escape from the snare”
Here Paul changes the picture from drugs to traps. The kind of bait that traps us may change, but it always has the same purpose: To hold us captive to do the devil’s will. Satan wants to capture us alive for his own purposes.
Paul has already warned Timothy about two traps that Satan loves to set for us.
#1. The snare of pride in, 1 Timothy 3:6-7 6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. 7 . . . so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (NAU)
#2. The snare of materialism in, 1 Timothy 6:9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. (NAU)
CONCLUSION: It is interesting that the original word for HELD CAPTIVE is only used in one other place in the Bible, Luke 5:10 where Jesus tells His disciples, . . . “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” (NAU)
There is no middle ground! ✔ Either we are snared by Satan or we are working to see others snared by Christ.
In order for us to avoid the traps that the world and Satan have laid out for us, we must begin by working to let Christ capture our thoughts. 2 Corinthians 10:5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, (NAU)
✔ We are either slaves of Christ (Vs.24) or we are enslaved to the world. Jesus said,
Matthew 12:30 “He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters. (NAU)
