Reading: 2 Timothy chapter 2 verses 1-13.
In this chapter the apostle Paul presented a number of pictures;
• That describe not only the Christian minister, but also each Christian.
• We are going to look at five of those pictures tonight.
• Each picture has many applications;
• We could make three or four points on each picture mentioned.
• I am going to be very disciplined tonight;
• And just choose one or two applications from each of the four pictures mentioned.
(1). The steward (verses 1-2):
“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others”.
Ill:
The word ‘Steward’ is not actually a Biblical word:
• And it is not in the text.
• It comes through the Anglo-Saxon, from the word ‘Sty warden’;
• A ‘Steward’ was someone who had the responsibility of looking after a sty (house),
• A steward was originally a House Warden.
In New Testament times the word translated into English in the K.J.B. as ‘Steward’:
• Is someone who had the responsibility of looking after not the building, house warden.
• But the occupants, those who indwelt the house.
• A ‘Steward’ carried the burden of responsibility for the household;
• To which he was appointed.
• It normally meant that the education and upbringing of the children was entrusted to him.
• It was a burden placed upon him from which he could not escape.
This word (although not biblical) is a great picture of what verses 1-2 are saying:
• Verses 1-2 are telling us two things;
• We are receivers and we are guardians.
(a) We are receivers of the Christian faith;
Timothy had a big advantage in his life that I for one did not have:
• He had a Jewish grandmother called Lois, who was converted to Jesus Christ.
• She was the first one in the family to come to faith.
• He also had a Jewish mother called Eunice;
• She too became a follower of Jesus Christ.
• As for his father we know very little;
• All we can glean about him in the Bible was that he was a Greek.
• Timothy heard the truth of the Christian faith from family members.
• “Faith comes through hearing, and hearing the word of God”.
Quote: BILLY GRAHAM who said:
“Children will invariably talk, eat, walk, think, respond, and act like their parents.
Give them a target to shoot at. Give them a goal to work toward. Give them a pattern that they can see clearly, and you give them something that gold and silver cannot buy”.
• Timothy’s mother and grandmother had given him something that gold and silver cannot buy.
• A sincere faith, that brought him into contact with the living Christ.
• His mother Eunice & grandmother Lois had sown the seed in his heart(chapter 1 verse 5)
• But it was Paul who reaped the harvest, Paul that led him to the Lord;
But notice there is a second witness mentioned in verse 2:
• The words that Paul spoke to Timothy;
• Were confirmed by many witness
• Timothy encountered many people who were willing to say:
• "These words of Paul are true-and I know it, because I have found it so in my own life."
Ill:
• You might not be a great preacher,
• You might not be an upfront, a public person.
• But every Christian is a witness and can back up what is being said;
• "These words are true-and I know it, because I have found it so in my own life."
(b) We are guardians of the Christian faith;
• It is not only a privilege to receive the Christian faith,
• It is a duty to transmit it.
• If we want folks to be saved we must speak out the gospel to them;
• Challenge: When did you last speak to a stranger? Family member or friend?
• Every Christian must look on himself as a link between two generations.
• Quote: E. K. Simpson writes on this passage:
"The torch of heavenly light must be transmitted unquenched from one generation to another, and Timothy must count himself an intermediary between apostolic and later ages."
Ill:
One day King George V:
• Was to give the opening address at a special disarmament conference,
• The speech was to be relayed by radio to the U.S.A.
• As the broadcast was about to begin, a cable broke in the New York radio station,
• And more than a million listeners were left without sound.
• A junior mechanic in the station,
• A man called Harold Vivien,
• Solved the problem by picking up both ends of the cable;
• And allowing 250 volts of electricity to pass through him.
• Harold Vivien became the living link that allowed the king’s message;
• To get through to the people - I am sure you can see the application!
The Christian faith is to be transmitted to faithful men & women;
• The faith is not something we get for ourselves and keep to ourselves.
• We are stewards of the spiritual treasure God has given us.
• It is our responsibility to guard the deposit;
• And then invest it in the lives of others.
• They, in turn, are to share the Word with the next generation of believers.
• And so on……
Quote: E. K. Simpson writes on this passage:
"The torch of heavenly light must be transmitted unquenched from one generation to another, and Timothy must count himself an intermediary between apostolic and later ages."
Notice: That these teachers are to be faithful men & women:
• The word ‘faithful’ refers to someone who is believing, loyal and reliable.
• Evangelism is not for now and then; it is a normal part of the Christian life.
Ill:
• Jim:
• “I keep coming across people who want to know about Christ!”
• I said to him:
• “That’s not an accident, if we are willing to share we will encounter people seeking!”
(2). The soldier (verses 3-4, 8-13):
Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 No-one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs— he wants to please his commanding officer.
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,
9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained.
10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
11 Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;
13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
Ill:
The great American evangelist D.L.Moody;
• Would not allow his song leader Ira Sankey;
• To use “Onward Christian Soldiers” in any of their evangelistic meetings.
• Mr Moody thought that the Church as he knew it;
• Did not look or act like an army of Christian soldiers.
• Ill: The great missionary C.T. Stud would agree with him;
• He wrote the best-selling booklet called “The chocolate soldier”.
Ill:
• A real rebuke to the Christian Church;
• And a challenge to live up to the characteristics found in a true military personal.
The apostle Paul often used this illustration in his letters.
• Paul took this military picture and applied it again and again to all Christians,
• But especially to the leaders and outstanding servants of the Church.
• Ill: In Philemon verse 2.
• He calls Archippus, in whose house a Church met, “Our fellow soldier”.
• Ill: Philippians chapter 2 verse 25:
• He calls Epaphroditus, the messenger of the Philippian Church, "my fellow soldier"
• Ill: In 1 Timothy chapter 1 verse 18.
• He urges Timothy to “Fight a fine campaign”.
• Clearly Paul saw in the life of the soldier a picture of the life of the Christian.
• He often used military illustrations in his letters.
• This is not surprising since he lived in a military state;
• And often was in prison himself.
He describes for us in these verses, various characteristics of a "good soldier of Jesus Christ”:
(a).
• We could focus on the fact that a good soldier (verse 3a):
• ENDURES HARDNESS: Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
(b).
• We could focus on the fact that a good soldier (verse 4b):
• IS OBEDIENT: “…..He wants to please his commanding officer”.
(c).
• We could focus on the fact that a good soldier (verse 10):
• THINKS OF THE WHOLE ARMY.
10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
(d).
• We could focus on the fact that a good soldier (verse 11-13):
• HE TRUSTS HIS COMMANDING OFFICER:
11 Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;
13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
Quote: The great missionary, J. Hudson Taylor, often said,
"It is not by trying to be faithful, but in looking to the Faithful One,
that we win the victory."
The quality I want to focus on is:
• A soldier is consecrated; Set apart (verse 4a).
• 4 No-one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs”
Ill:
• When the Roman soldier joined the army he took the sacramentum,
• The oath of loyalty to his emperor.
• The soldier's supreme promise that he no longer lives for himself;
• But for the emperor he now serves.
• The Christian too must be loyal to Jesus Christ,
• We have too have taken a saramentum, we have died to self and we now live for him!
Once a man or woman has enlisted on a campaign;
• He or she can no longer lives for the ordinary things of this life;
• The Christian has different values, different attitudes, different priorities.
• And a good soldier of Jesus Christ;
• Never forgets that he or she is always on duty, concentrating on their service!
Ill:
• During the American Civil War;
• There was a soldier who happened to be a watchmaker.
• One day the bugle sounded and the men were told to break camp.
• “But I can't go now!" the soldier complained. "I have a dozen watches to repair!"
• Before we criticise him:
• Let’s examine our own lives;
• When God tells us to go and obey and get involved;
• “What excuse do we come up with?”
Ill:
• The Roman code of Theodosius said:
• "We forbid men engaged on military service to engage in civilian occupations."
• A soldier is a soldier and nothing else;
• The Christian too must concentrate on his Christianity.
• Christianity first and foremost is obedience to the one who enlisted him or her;
• That is Jesus Christ!
Ill:
• Shortly after joining the Navy,
• The new recruit asked his officer for a pass so he could attend a wedding.
• The officer gave him the pass,
• But informed the young man he would have to be back by 7 p.m. Sunday.
• “You don’t understand, sir,” said the recruit. “I’m in the wedding.”
• “No, you don’t understand,” the officer shot back. “You’re in the Navy!”
• The first duty of the Christian is obedience to the voice of God,
• Ill: Simon says.
(3). The athlete (verse 5):
“Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.”
• Paul often used athletic illustrations in his writings:
• He mentions wrestling, boxing, running, and exercising.
• The Greeks and the Romans were enthusiastic about sports,
• And the Olympic and Isthmian games were important events to them.
In his first letter (1 Timothy chapter 4 verses 7-8).
• Paul had urged Timothy to exercise like an athlete.
• Now in these verses Paul admonished him to obey the rules.
• The key quality here is honesty,
• Christian character is being like Jesus, walking the talk!
Ill:
• The 1988 Olympic games,
• Saw two of the greatest athletes competing against one another:
• American Carl Lewis was competing against Canadian world-record-holder Ben Johnson.
• Lewis was favourite to win, but the race did not go to plan;
• Halfway through the race Johnson was five feet in front.
• Lewis was convinced he could catch him.
• But at 80 meters, he was still five feet behind.
• It’s over, Lewis thought. As Johnson crossed the finish,
• Johnson stared back at Lewis and thrust his right arm in the air,
• Index finger extended.
• Lewis was exasperated.
• Lewis shook Johnson’s hand and left the track.
• But then came the announcement that Johnson had tested positive for anabolic steroids.
• He was stripped of his medal - The gold went to Lewis.
The apostle Paul is telling Timothy:
• What is the point of winning the race (in our case getting to heaven);
• Only to be disqualified later on! (Lose our reward – not our salvation!)
• Paul was saying to young Timothy,
• You are not running the race to please people, or to get fame.
• You are running to please Jesus Christ!
• He is your motivation and he is your example and inspiration!
(4). The farmer (verses 6-7):
The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.
7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
Ill:
• Farmer who advertised in a newspaper lonely hearts column for a new bride.
• He wrote; “Farmer seeks wife with her own tractor, please send photo of tractor!”
• A farmer and farming is another favourite image found in Paul's letters.
• Again there are some simple analogies that we can draw on.
Focus on just one:
• Often the farmer must be content, first, to work, and, then, to wait.
• Patience!
• More than any other workman,
• The farmer has to learn that there are no such things as quick results.
• The farmer sows their seed and waits and waits and waits;
• In due time they will reap the harvest!
The Christian too must learn to work and to wait.
• Often we sow good seed of the word into the hearts and minds of men and women;
• With no immediate results.
• Ill: One organisation reckon it takes three to four years for people today;
• To come from first contact all the way through to faith in Christ!
In many areas of life we need to be patient:
• Quote Ivor:
• “Lord give me patience……but hurry!”
• Ill: A teacher has often to teach, and see very little difference in those whom they teach.
• Ill: A parent has often to seek to train and guide, and see no difference in the child.
• It is only when the days, weeks, months, years go by;
• That the result is seen;
• The farmer has learned to wait with patience,
• And so must the Christian teacher and the Christian parent and the Farmer!
ONE COMMON THING IN ALL THREE PICTURES.
• The soldier is upheld by the thought of final victory.
• The athlete is upheld by the vision of the crown.
• The farmer is upheld by the hope of the harvest.
Each submits to the discipline and the toil for the sake of the glory which shall be.
• So to with the Christian.
• The Christian life & the Christian struggle is not without a goal;
• It is always going somewhere.
• The Christian can be certain that after the effort of the Christian life,
• There comes the joy of heaven;
• And the greater the struggle, the greater the joy!
(5). The victor (verse 8-13).
• This last picture does not focus on the Christian minister;
• Or the Christian in any capacity,
• Paul now focuses in on Jesus Christ!
• Our greatest example.
13Fix this picture firmly in your mind: Jesus, descended from the line of David, raised from the dead. It's what you've heard from me all along. It's what I'm sitting in jail for right now—but God's Word isn't in jail! That's why I stick it out here—so that everyone God calls will get in on the salvation of Christ in all its glory. This is a sure thing:
If we die with him, we'll live with him;
If we stick it out with him, we'll rule with him;
If we turn our backs on him, he'll turn his back on us;
If we give up on him, he does not give up—
for there's no way he can be false to himself.
Paul has used various pictures to encourage and inspire Timothy:
• A Steward.
• A Soldier.
• An Athlete.
• A Farmer.
Now he comes to the greatest appeal of all-“Remember Jesus Christ”.
• The Bible commentator Falconer calls these words:
• "The heart of the Pauline gospel."
• Even if every other appeal to Timothy's gallantry should fail,
• Surely the memory of Jesus Christ cannot.
In the words which follow, Paul is really urging Timothy to remember three things.
(1). Remember Jesus Christ risen from the dead.
• The tense of the Greek does not imply one definite act in time,
• But a continued state which lasts for ever.
• Paul is not so much saying to Timothy:
• "Remember the actual resurrection of Jesus";
• But rather:
• "Remember your risen and ever-present Lord."
The risen ever present Christ is the Christian’s constant inspiration.
• We do not depend on the memory of Jesus, however great.
• We enjoy the power of his presence.
Ill:
• What an encouragement this is:
• Who knows what task, what circumstances, what difficulties await us this week?
• When a Christian is summoned to a great task that he cannot but feel is beyond him,
• They go to it in the certainty that they do not go alone,
• But that there is with every Christian;
• The presence and the power of his risen Lord.
• When fears threaten, when doubts assail, when inadequacy depresses,
• Paul tells Timothy (and us) “Remember the presence of the risen Lord”.
(2). Remember Jesus Christ born of the seed of David.
• This is the other side of the coin.
• "Remember," says Paul to Timothy, "The humanity of Jesus."
• We do not remember one who is only a spiritual presence;
• An ever present deity.
• We remember one who entered our world, lived this life,
• Faced struggles and difficulties, and who therefore knows what we are going through.
• We have with us the presence not only of the glorified Christ,
• But the Son of man who pitched his tent and lived amongst us!
• The Christ who knew the desperate struggle of being a man;
• And who was willing to follow to the bitter end the will of God.
(3). Remember the gospel, the good news. The message of Jesus!
• At times sharing the message of Jesus demands much,
• It is not always easy to make a stand or be a witness.
• So remember that the message we share is more than words;
• It is more than information,
• It is a person!
• Quote John Wesley: “I offered them Christ”.
Ill:
A page from John Wesley's Diary reads as follows:
• Sunday morning, May 5, preached in St. Ann's,
• Was asked not to come back anymore.
• Sunday p.m., May 5, preached at St. John's,
• Deacons said, "Get out and stay out."
• Sunday a.m., May 12, preached at St. Jude's,
• Can't go back there either.
• Sunday p.m., May 12, preached at St. George's,
• Kicked out again.
• Sunday a.m., May 19, preached at St. somebody else's,
• Deacons called special meeting and said I couldn't return.
• Sunday p.m., May 19,
• Preached on the street, kicked off the street.
• Sunday a.m., May 26, Preached in meadow:
• Chased out of meadow as a bull was turned loose during the services.
• Sunday a.m., June 2, preached out at the edge of town,
• Kicked off the highway.
• Sunday p.m., June 2, afternoon service,
• Preached in a pasture, 10,000 people came to hear me.
We have the good news, the message that the world is waiting for it.
• The might not know it or appreciate it;
• But stick at the task!
• For this gospel is the message of liberation from sin;
• And victory over circumstances and hope for the future!
So Paul kindles Timothy to heroism by calling upon him to remember Jesus Christ:
• To remember the continual presence of the risen Lord,
• To remember the sympathy which comes from the manhood of the Master,
• To remember the glory of the gospel, share Jesus;
• To a world which has never heard it, might not want it, but is in desperate need of it!
