OVERCOMING a HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT-III—2Timothy 3:10-17
A—IMITATION of APOSTLES(3:10-14)
B—KNOWLEDGE of SCRIPTURES(3:15-17)
A—IMITATION of APOSTLES-III-(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.....
Previously we found:
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)
5. Authority’s PATIENCE(:10e)
6. Authority’s LOVE(:10f)
7. Authority’s CONTINUANCE(:10g)
8. Authority’s DANGER / Pain / Sufferage(:11a-b)
9—A hostile environment is overcome by Adherence to…
Authority’s DELIVERANCE(:11c)
Explanation:(:11c)
:11c—“persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra--what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.”
“Delivered”—ruomai—To draw one’s self, to rescue, to deliver; The deliverer.
Paul’s Deliverance “out of” required his suffering thru!
Deliverance thru suffering is nonetheless Deliverance!
Likewise, anytime WE speak or take a stance, OUR words & actions become the focus of either acceptance or anger.
Our DELIVERANCE cannot be accomplished apart from our sharing the Gospel—both physically(decisions/choices) & verbally.
Argumentation:
Ps. 34:19—“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.”
*Dan. 3:17-18—Shadrach, Meshach, & Abed-Nego to King Nebuchadnezzar upon not worshiping his gods & threatened with death in the fiery furnace—“If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, & He will deliver us from your hand, O king. “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.””
Ex. 6:5-7—““And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, & I have remembered My covenant. “Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, & I will redeem you with an outstretched arm & with great judgments. ‘I will take you as My people, & I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.”
—This was before the Pharaoh made them fetch their own straw while keeping their quota of bricks the same.
2Cor. 3:17—“.... where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
Gal. 2:3-5—“Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.”
Gal. 5:1—“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, & do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”
Illustration:
Carolina Rubber hose Co./Working in roll dept./Feeding raw rubber sheet thru pressure roller onto core/Have to pull & stretch sheet just as it is clamped to prevent wrinkles/My hand entered the clamped rollers!/My co-worker immediately hit the emergency stop & release!/Authority’s DELIVERANCE
(See :11a-b)Pool/Always battling foreign objects—Leaves, sticks, seeds, pollen, earthworms, centipedes, spiders, crickets, frogs, frog eggs, snakes, birds, voles, etc./We go to pool store—Buy nets & chemicals @ their designation/Constant attention & labor!/Authority’s DELIVERANCE
Application:
?You Adhere to Authority’s DELIVERANCE?
?You overcome the Hostile Environment created by ungodliness?
10—A hostile environment is overcome by Adherence to…
Authority’s DESIRE /Standard(:12-13)
Explanation:(:12-13)Godliness Contrast
:12—“Yes, & all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
“Yes, & all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus...”
“Desire”—yelw—To will, have in mind, intend. Denotes the active resolution, the will urging on to action.
“Godly”—eusebwv— From—‘eusebhv is distinguished from yeosebhv in two ways. It is used to include the fulfillment of obligations of all kinds, both towards God & man. It is thus applied to the fulfillment of the duties involved in human relations, as towards one's parents. Furthermore, when used in the higher sense, it means not any kind of worship, but, as the etymology indicates, the worshipping of God aright.’—Thayer
“...Will suffer persecution.”
“Suffer Persecution/Persecuted”—diwkw—To make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away; To run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after; To harass, trouble, molest one; Without the idea of hostility—to run after, follow after; To pursue.
PERSECUTION:
Mat. 5:10-12—“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile & persecute you, & say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. “Rejoice & be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Mat. 10:24-25—““A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. “It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, & a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!”
Mat. 10:17-22—““But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils & scourge you in their synagogues. “You will be brought before governors & kings for My sake, as a testimony to them & to the Gentiles. “But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; “for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, & a father his child; & children will rise up against parents & cause them to be put to death. “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
Mk. 4:5-6; 16-17—Parable of the Soils—“Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; & immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. “But when the sun was up it was scorched, & because it had no root it withered away.”.....““These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; “& they have no root in themselves, & so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.”
Lk. 6:22-23—“Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, & cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day & leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.”
Jn. 15:17-23—““These things I command you, that you love one another. If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come & spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also.”
Jn. 15:21—““But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.”
Rom. 8:35-37—“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
:13—“But evil men & impostors will grow worse & worse, deceiving & being deceived.”
“But evil men & impostors will grow worse & worse,”
“Will grow worse & worse,”
Isa. 9:16—“For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed.”
Mat. 15:14—“Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.””
“Evil”—ponhrov—Full of labors, annoyances, hardships; Bad, of a bad nature or condition. It means mischief-making, delighting in injury, doing evil to others, dangerous, destructive.
“Imposters/Seducers”—gohv—A wailer, a howler; a juggler, enchanter(because incantations used to be uttered in a kind of howl); A deceiver, imposter. Strong—from goaw (to wail); properly, a wizard (as muttering spells), i.e. (by implication) an imposter:-- seducer. Used 1X.
“Deceiving & being deceived.”
“Deceiving”—planaw—To cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way.
The Christian standard is truth, not deception.
2Tim. 1:7-8—“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power & of love & of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,”
No deception here! but victory over deception.
Argumentation:
2Cor. 1:12-14—“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. For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end (as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
1Tim. 2:1-3—“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, & giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings & all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet & peaceable life in all godliness & reverence. For this is good & acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,”
God’s DESIRE, is Authority’s DESIRE, is our DESIRE!
Illustration:
Mockingbirds(representing Christians-smaller) attacking Blackbirds-Crows-Grackles (representing the Lost-larger)/Will not allow them to enter their territory/Will attempt to scare them off & are successful/Why?/The Christian arena is indefensible for the larger birds/Authority’s DESIRE to hold the territory!
Pilgrims to America/Desire to live godly out from under tyranny & pretense of state-sponsored religion/Authority’s DESIRE
Chinese churches/Registered churches corrupt message/House church thrives!/Authority’s DESIRE to live godly
Cold War Russian churches/Registered churches corrupt message/House church thrives!/Authority’s DESIRE to live godly
Application:
?You Adhere to Authority’s DESIRE?
?You overcome the Hostile Environment created by ungodliness?
11—A hostile environment is overcome by Adherence to…
Authority’s PACKAGE/Way(:14)
Explanation:(:14)The Whole/Comprehensive Package
:14—“But you must continue in the things which you have learned & been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,”
Not just following rules but doing what you know is right by God’s compulsion over the flesh, thru the Holy Spirit.
Having so consistently served God, that life in Him is ?2nd? nature & obedience to Him takes precedence.
Not just holding a membership to a church. Not just being an attender.
“Continue”—menw—To remain, abide; To wait for, await one.
“Learned”—manyanw—To learn, be appraised.
“Assured”—pistow—To make faithful, render trustworthy; To be firmly persuaded of.
Argumentation:
CONTINUANCE can WEARY:
Gal. 6:8—“For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
Lk. 18:1—“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray & not lose heart,”
Eph. 3:13 “Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.”
1Tim. 4:16—“Take heed to yourself & to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself & those who hear you.”
COMPREHENSIVE:
1Tim. 4:12-15—“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. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.”
1Thes. 1:5-7—“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. And you became followers of us & of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia & Achaia who believe.”
Acts 9:1-2—“Then Saul, still breathing threats & murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest & asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.”
Acts 19:8-10—“And he went into the synagogue & spoke boldly for three months, reasoning & persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened & did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them & withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews & Greeks.”
1Cor. 1:4-8—“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance & all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2Cor. 7:13-16—“Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true. And his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear & trembling you received him. Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.”
—The Corinthian Christians brought comfort, refreshment, & confidence to Paul & Titus...They had received the whole package as it were.
Illustration:
Positive:
Getting braces for children/Thruout alignment period, adjustments & repairs included/Stopping in middle of the process leaves unfulfillment/Authority’s PACKAGE yields fulfillment!
Car purchase/Customized with the Stereo pkg.-Leather pkg.-Chrome pkg.-Power pkg.-Towing pkg./Package deal makes a particular aspect of the vehicle itself work well/Partial pkg. unappealing & limits effectiveness/Authority’s PACKAGE
Negative:
One of my former churches/Swollen membership roll—400/Worship Attendance ~100/Sunday School-Bible Study~75/Most of ‘members’ never supported the local church in any way/& never led another to saving faith/Never led fulfilled lives in Christ/Most NEVER bought into Authority’s PACKAGE
House for sale in GQ/Nice neighborhood-House-Yard-NO Parking!/Homeowner did not own the driveway or the parking space within inches of the house!/Authority’s PACKAGE incomplete!
Application:
?You Adhere to Authority’s PACKAGE/Way?
?You overcome the Hostile Environment created by ungodliness?
CONCLUSION:
Action:
A hostile environment is overcome by Adherence to…
9. Authority’s DELIVERANCE(:11c)
10. Authority’s DESIRE/Standard(:12-13)
11. Authority’s PACKAGE/Way(:14)
1. Authority’s TEACHING / Doctrine(:10a)
2. Authority’s PATTERN/Manner/Mentor(:10b)
3. Authority’s PURPOSE(:10c)
4. Authority’s TRUST(:10d)
5. Authority’s PATIENCE(:10e)
6. Authority’s LOVE(:10f)
7. Authority’s CONTINUANCE(:10g)
8. Authority’s DANGER / Pain / Sufferage(:11a-b)
Presented 04/25/2010pm to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
