OVERCOMING a HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT-I—2Timothy 3:10-17
A—IMITATION of APOSTLES(3:10-14)
B—KNOWLEDGE of SCRIPTURES(3:15-17)
A—IMITATION of APOSTLES-I-(3:10-14)
Timothy’s imitation of Paul was pivotal/formative to his overcoming a hostile environment.
Imitation of godly people is pivotal to our overcoming a hostile environment.
Why is the imitation of godly people pivotal to our overcoming a hostile environment?
Pivotal to our overcoming a hostile environment is Adherence to Authority’s.....
1—A hostile environment is overcome by Adherence to…
Authority’s TEACHING / Doctrine(:10a)
Explanation:(:10a) “My doctrine”
:10a—“But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,”
“Carefully followed/Fully known”—parakolouyew—Strong—To follow near, i.e. (figuratively) attend (as a result), trace out, conform to:-- Attain, follow, fully know, have understanding. From—para— from, of at, by, beside, or near; & —akolouyew— ‘To Follow.” In ancient Greece, it meant to shadow someone. Apprentice.
“My Doctrine/Teaching”—didaskalia—Teaching, instruction; Teaching—That which is taught, doctrine, Teaching, precepts.
Rom. 2:16—“in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.”
Rom. 16:25-27—“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel & the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, & by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith-- to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.”
2Tim. 2:8-9—“Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.”
Lk. 1:1-4—“Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses & ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.”
1Tim. 4:6—“If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith & of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.”
Acts 2:38-43—“Then Peter said to them, “Repent, & let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; & you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. “For the promise is to you & to your children, & to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” And with many other words he testified & exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; & that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine & fellowship, in the breaking of bread, & in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, & many wonders & signs were done through the apostles.”
Rom. 16:17-18—“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions & offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, & avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, & by smooth words & flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.”
Eph 4:14-15—“that we should no longer be children, tossed to & fro & carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--”
1Tim. 4:13—“Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”
Titus 2:7-8—“in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.”
Heb. 13:9-10—“Do not be carried about with various & strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.”
*2Jn. 8-11—“Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. Whoever transgresses & does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father & the Son. If anyone comes to you & does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.”
Argumentation:
1Thes. 2:3-5—“For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness--God is witness.”
Illustration:
An Apprenticeship/Traveled to Athens GA for training in using c14/Hands-on experience/Precautionary measures/Applications/Effectiveness/Limitations/Authority’s TEACHING
My seminary degree vs. Online course/In person—See the teachers Interactions, Reactions, Thinking processes, Knowledge, Belief systems/Authority’s TEACHING Online—Unsure of origination & thus...No TEACHING Authority
Application:
?You Adhere to Authority’s TEACHING / Doctrine?
?You overcome the Hostile Environment created by ungodliness?
2—A hostile environment is overcome by Adherence to…
Authority’s PATTERN/Manner/Mentor(:10b)
Explanation:(:10b) “Manner of life”
:10b—“But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,”
“Manner of life/Conduct/Way of life”—agwgh—A leading; Conduct.
Argumentation:
Acts 20:18-21—“And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, “serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears & trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; “how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, & taught you publicly & from house to house, “testifying to Jews, & also to Greeks, repentance toward God & faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Jn. 1:35-41—“Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him speak, & they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, & seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?” He said to them, “Come & see.” They came & saw where He was staying, & remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). One of the two who heard John speak, & followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, & said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ).”
—Observed Jesus ‘at home’ & thus Jesus’ “manner of life.” Very telling!
2Cor. 1:12—“For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity & godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, & more abundantly toward you.”
2Cor. 6:3-12—“We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand & on the left, by honor & dishonor, by evil report & good report; as deceivers, & yet true; as unknown, & yet well known; as dying, & behold we live; as chastened, & yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, & yet possessing all things. O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.”
2Thes. 3:6-9—“But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly & not according to the tradition which he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor & toil night & day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.”
1Thes. 2:7-12—“But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. For you remember, brethren, our labor & toil; for laboring night & day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, & God also, how devoutly & justly & blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, & comforted, & charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom & glory.”
1Thes. 1:5—“For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, & in the Holy Spirit & in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.”
Dan. 1:7-8—“To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; & to Azariah, Abed-Nego. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”.....“And at the end of ten days their features appeared better & fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies.”
2Tim. 1:13—“Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith & love which are in Christ Jesus.”
Illustration:
3-2010 @Carowinds’ The Intimidator/Billed as the ‘tallest, fastest, longest rollercoaster in the SE/Designed & manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard of Monthey, Switzerland/35 ft deep pylons/5,316 feet of track/232-feet (23-stories) tall at its highest peak/Reach speeds in excess of 75 mph/2 yr process for design/Detailed instruction as to how to construct it/When assembled it fit perfectly!/Authority’s PATTERN
Application:
?You Adhere to Authority’s PATTERN?
?You overcome the Hostile Environment created by ungodliness?
3—A hostile environment is overcome by Adherence to…
Authority’s PURPOSE(:10c)
Explanation:(:10c) “Purpose”
:10c—“But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,”
The Apostle’s purpose was to impart the Gospel thru an exemplary life. His motivation, passion & driver.
“Purpose”—proyesiv—A setting forth of a thing, placing it in view; A purpose.
Argumentation:
1Tim. 1:5—“Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, & from sincere faith,”
1Tim. 4:12—“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
1Thes. 2:7-12—“But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. For you remember, brethren, our labor & toil; for laboring night & day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, & God also, how devoutly & justly & blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, & comforted, & charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom & glory.”
Illustration:
Since I was a kid, I’ve known that I wanted to do something related to Biology/Enjoyed the life of a naturalist(Identification-Taxonomy)/Recieved a BA in Biology/Employed in oceanographic research/Then God saved me!/& called me to preach & pastor/I had no choice/Authority’s PURPOSE
What is your PURPOSE in life? Is it your own or God’s?...
....To have a huge house, Live in an affluent neighborhood, Be surrounded by friends, Have money by the boatloads, Be the life of the party, Be recognized wherever you go, etc..
Application:
?You Adhere to Authority’s PURPOSE?
?You overcome the Hostile Environment created by ungodliness?
OR have you become the Authority?
4—A hostile environment is overcome by Adherence to…
Authority’s TRUST(:10d)
Explanation:(:10d) “Faith”
:10d—“But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,”
“Faith”—pistiv—Conviction of the truth of anything; Fidelity, faithfulness.
The Apostle’s commitment to the call of God & the Gospel
Argumentation:
1Tim. 1:11-12—“....the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust. And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,”
1Tim. 6:20 -21—“O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane & idle babblings & contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge-- by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.”
2Tim. 1:12—“For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed & am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”
2Tim. 2:2—“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
2Tim. 1:14—“That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.”
1Cor. 4:1-2—“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ & stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”
Illustration:
Working for Coastal Transport(CT)/I was faithful to TRUST the Dispatcher’s instruction/Send me to places familiar & unknown/Ohio to South Florida to Mississippi/Authority’s TRUST
Application:
?You Adhere to Authority’s TRUST?
?You overcome the Hostile Environment created by ungodliness?
OR have you become the Authority?
CONCLUSION:
Action:
A hostile environment is overcome by Adherence to…
1—Authority’s TEACHING / Doctrine(:10a)
2—Authority’s PATTERN/Manner/Mentor(:10b)
3—Authority’s PURPOSE(:10c)
4—Authority’s TRUST(:10d)
Presented 03/14/2010pm to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
