SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). Flee (vs 11a).
(2). Follow (vs 11b):
(3). Fight (vs 12-16)
(4). Faithfulness (vs 20-21).
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• In September 194 the Sunday Mail newspaper reported that;
• George and Tina Rollason, of York, Pennsylvania;
• Have steered clear of Biblical names in naming their new baby daughter.
• In fact they have gone to the other extreme and called their baby girl:
• ‘Atheist Evolution’.
• In verse 11 the apostle Paul gives Timothy a new name – ‘Man of God’
• Technically it is a title, a description of his character.
• Now Paul wasn’t suggesting he drop his first name Timothy;
• And from now on use ‘man of God’ as his regular tag,
• Rather he is saying that Timothy should live up to being a man associated with God.
Notice:
• Verse 11 starts with the words, “But you”;
• There is to be a marked contrast between Timothy & the false teachers mentioned earlier
• They are men and women who follow the ways and attitudes of the world;
• But you Timothy are to follow the ways and attitude of God!
Ill:
• Man of God’ is quite a title;
• And was used in connection with some Old Testament greats.
• Moses – Deuteronomy chapter 33 verse 1.
• Elijah – 1 Kings chapter 17 verse 18.
• David – Nehemiah chapter 12 verse 24.
• So Timothy was in very good company!
In tonight’s section of First Timothy:
• The apostle Paul gives Timothy four instructions;
• To help him maintain success in his ministry;
• And to help him keep his testimony as a ‘man of God’.
(1). FLEE (VS 11A).
“But you, man of God, flee from all this…”
• Sometimes running away is an act of cowardice;
• ill: Nehemiah asked the question; “Should a man flee?”
• In Nehemiah chapter 6 verse 11 – in the context of fleeing and cowardice.
• ill: I don’t think it is an exaggeration to say:
• That the frightened disciples ran away at the cross - Matthew chapter 26 verse 31.
• Again the context of fleeing would be fear & failure.
• Yet other times running away is a sign of wisdom.
• ill: Joseph ran away when tempted by Potiphar's wife (Genesis chapter 39 verse 12).
• ill: David fled when king Saul tried to kill him (1 Samuel chapter 19 verse 10).
• When in danger it may often be best to just simply ‘flee’ to ‘run’.
Note: The Greek word translated into English as ‘flee’ does not mean literal ‘running’:
• It refers to ‘separation’.
• Paul is telling Timothy to:
• Separate himself from the attitude that godliness is a means to getting rich.
• As mentioned in verse 5b
• Separate himself from the drive for wealth.
• As mentioned in verses 9-10.
• Separate himself from the teaching, lifestyle and attitude of false teachers;
• As mentioned in verse 3.
Christians are commanded to ‘flee’ to ‘run’ to ‘separate’ themselves from all these things:
• In fact in the original Greek language the command is in the present imperative;
• Which literally means to “Keep on running, keep on fleeing, keep on separating”.
Ill:
Reader's Digest story:
• While my wife and I were shopping at a busy supermarket;
• A shapely young woman in a short, tight-fitting dress strolled by.
• My eyes followed her.
• Without looking up from the item she was examining,
• My wife asked, "Was it worth the trouble you're in?"
Paul says to Timothy:
• If you want to avoid trouble and be a man of God;
• Then “Keep on running, keep on fleeing, keep on separating”.
• Yourself from the lifestyle and attitude of the world and of false teachers.
(2). FOLLOW (VS 11B):
“…and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”
• Separation without positive growth becomes isolation;
• If we do not cultivate these characteristics in our lives;
• Then we become known only for what we oppose rather than what we propose.
Ill:
• At the Church B-B-Q did you notice Jack (the terrier dog);
• He wanted some food and he pursued people until he got some.
• He just went and sat by person after person after person until he got what he wanted;
• If anyone refused him, then he got up and went somewhere else.
• Transition: You and I are called to pursue, to seek after until we find it certain traits;
• Certain characteristics, certain God-like qualities.
• (A). RIGHTEOUSNESS.
• If you want to know what the word ‘righteousness’ means them cut it in half!
• ‘Right’ – Right with God and living a right lifestyle.
• Here it refers to our character – that is living a lifestyle that is pleasing to God.
• (B). GODLINESS.
• Has to do with conduct, our behaviour;
• We are to live lives that reflect the God we follow.
• To reflect godly traits i.e. to be loving, wise, pure etc.
• (C). FAITH.
• This might better be translated ‘faithfulness’.
• Quote: “Our greatest ability is our dependability”.
• God wants people who will stick at the task, through good times and bad.
• (D). LOVE.
• This is the ‘agape’ love that includes the unconditional acceptance of others,
• A tolerance to their opinions, a willingness to listen,
• And the active seeking of their highest good;
• Love values and respects and cares about other people!
• (E). ENDURANCE.
• The term means ‘to abide under’.
• The idea is that we should not live in spurts or buckle under pressure;
• Instead we should seek to move more evenly through life;
• Handling life’s demands with stability, balance, and a strength provided by God.
• Quote: “By endurance the snail reached the ark!”
• (F). GENTLENESS.
• This does not mean, ‘be a doormat; let people walk all over you and take advantage of you’.
• Rather it means, ‘keeping your strength under control’.
• Gentleness is not weakness it is meekness.
• ill: A trait of Jesus (Matthew chapter 11 verse 29).
• “Learn of me for I am gentle and humble…”
(3). FIGHT (VS 12-16)
“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
ill:
• Just before the battle of Trafalgar in 1805,
• The British naval hero Lord Nelson;
• Learned that an admiral and a captain in his fleet were not on good terms.
• Sending for the two men, he placed the hands of the admiral and the captain together.
• Then, looking them both in the face, he said, “Look - yonder is the enemy”
Note: The fight mentioned here in verse 20 is not between believers;
• It is between the Christian and the enemies around us.
• Verse 20 reminds us that we are fighting to ‘guard what has been entrusted to our care’.
Ill:
• The great preacher and writer Charles Haddon Spurgeon;
• Started a magazine called ‘The Sword and the Trowel’.
• The name came from Nehemiah chapter 4 verse 17;
• Where Nehemiah had a trowel in one hand for building up the walls,
• And a sword in the other hand for fighting off the enemy.
We are all required to hold ‘The Sword and the trowel’.
• We are all called to be building up the Church of Jesus Christ;
• We are all called to strive, struggle and contend to win the fight.
• Paul’s phrase "fight the good fight" has become part of our language and culture,
• And today it means; ‘to hang in there in whatever you’re doing’.
• But don’t forget to Paul it was directly connected to Timothy’s faith
• ill: We get our English word ‘agony’ from the Greek word translated here as ‘fight’.
• In other words this fight will not be won easily – but it can be won!
We have noted in earlier studies that Timothy was by nature a timid individual:
• So maybe as he read these words regarding fighting, and battling and confrontation;
• He might naturally have wanted to shrink back from the battle.
• So the apostle Paul encourages Timothy by reminding him of Jesus.
• Verses 13-15a:
13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time”
When Jesus stood before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate he did not relent before the enemy!
• Pontius Pilate. Pilate was the hostile Roman ruler;
• Who interrogated Jesus - asking him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
• Jesus didn’t hedge or waver over his answer,
• He didn’t play word games saying, "It depends how you define the word king,"
• But according to Matthew chapter 27 verse 11 he simply replied, "Yes, I am."
• Jesus gave a good clear confession.
• And of course in one way it cost him his life,
• So the apostle Paul encourages Timothy by reminding him of the example of Jesus.
• And says do not shrink back from the battle.
Ill:
• Remember that back when Paul wrote these words,
• Confessing your faith was linked to baptism.
• In the New Testament Church conversion and baptism were Siamese twins.
• When you got converted you got baptised straight away (Acts chapter 2 verses 41).
• The ideas of ‘waiting’ and baptism classes etc. all came later and are cultural not biblical.
• Confessing your faith was a potentially dangerous thing to do.
• As it is for many believers around the world today,
• It is nearly always at their baptism (not conversion) that persecution,
• Or rejection from their family takes place.
• Because at baptism one totally aligns themselves with Jesus Christ as your Lord.
• In Timothy’s day;
• The very act of baptism was considered politically subversive by the Roman government,
• And by being baptized you were aligning yourself with a group of people;
• That was considered to be fanatical and dangerous by the Roman government.
• So a good confession carried the risk of losing everything,
• Even being imprisoned or murdered for your faith.
• In fact, this is the exact thing (imprisonment & being martyred);
• That what would eventually happen to the apostle Paul a few years after he wrote this letter.
So to encourage Timothy and his readers the apostle Paul says:
• Always look to Jesus Christ:
• Look back as an example (“who stood before Pilate”)
• Look forward to find hope (“until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ”).
Ill:
• The Greek word translated ‘appearing’ in verse 14;
• Gives us our English word ‘epiphany’ which means a, ‘glorious display, a revelation’.
• We must always to Jesus to find hope and encouragement and strength.
The apostle Paul then dwells on the awesomeness of God as yet another reason to keep our good confession.
“…God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honour and might forever. Amen.”
In verse 15b the apostle Paul directs our attention to the character of God:
(a). God alone is the only true ruler:
• So when we stand before important people who ridicule or question our good confession,
• We remember we’re serving a higher authority;
• We stand before the true king of kings and lord of lords.
(b). God alone is immortal:
• God alone is free from death and decay.
• So when a Christian stands before a political ruler who threatens a believer with death;
• For his confession of faith in Jesus.
• The Christian remembers that God is immortal;
• Men may destroy our bodies but they cannot destroy our souls – kept by God himself!
(c). God alone lives in unapproachable light that no one can see.
• No creature can stand before God’s incredible holiness and spender;
• Without being shielded by Christ.
• ill: Cannot look into the sun without causing harm and damage to your eyes.
• So says the apostle Paul:
• Those political rulers and earthly powers who trouble us will day be consumed by God.
• But the Christian will be shielded by Christ.
• And the Christian is going to one day be changed and see God in his glory.
• So the awesomeness of God is yet another reason to keep our good confession.
(4). FAITHFULNESS (VS 20-21).
20 “Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.
Grace be with you all”
Ill:
• The Olympic flame has been in Fareham UK this afternoon.
• It is of course heading towards London and the venue of the Olympic Games.
• For weeks now it has gone from village to village, town to town, city to city;
• Being passed on by one person to another.
Transition:
• Throughout this letter a flame has been passed from person to person;
• It is the flame of truth.
• God committed the truth to Paul (chapter 1 verse 11);
• Paul has committed the truth to Timothy (chapter 6 verse 20);
• Now Timothy must guard and pass it on to other believers.
Note: The word "guard" here in verse 20 means:
“To hold something that doesn’t belong to you close and secure, so that you can keep it protected and safe until you have to return it.”
• The thing entrusted here refers to the gospel, the good news message about Jesus Christ;
• This ‘treasure’, this message has been entrusted to every single follower of Jesus.
• If you are a Christian, then you have been entrusted with this gospel.
• Remember that God has entrusted this message to us to share with others;
• Not for it to be kept locked away in a safe;
• Or even imprisoned within four walls.
• Rather we are to share this treasure with other men and women!
In verse 20: Paul contrasts Timothy:
• With those who have wandered away from the truth of the gospel.
• Other believers who have got distracted and allowed their treasure to slip away!
• They’ve become enamoured with godless chatter,
• Which is controversy and speculation.
• Sadly they have unknowingly embraced ideas opposed to the gospel.
• i.e. ‘Gnosticism’ so called extra knowledge.
• And as a result they’ve wandered away from the gospel.
• What a stark and tragic warning to finish with;
• Although actually he does not finish on that – there are four more words:
“Grace be with you”:
• The Christian life is toil and warefare;
• In ourselves we would fail, and we often do fail.
• But Paul prays, ‘Grace be with you’.
• By the grace of God we can have wisdom, love, strength, all that we ever need.
• We are saved by grace;
• Let us continue to walk in grace day by day!
