2 Tim. 2:2:3
II Timothy is Paul’s last will and testament to his spiritual son Timothy. Writing from a Roman prison cell, Paul imparts his final words of wisdom and encouragement to Timothy who is ministering in the midst of hardship and opposition in Ephesus. Paul stresses the importance of Godly living, preaching the Word in season and out of season, and preparing for the coming apostasy within the church. Underlying all that. Paul says, is the importance of God’s Word - the only foundation strong enough to withstand persecution from without and within.
In the second chapter the believer is presented in eight different aspects.
1. Vs. 1 A Son
2. Vs. 2 A Steward
3. Vs. 3 A Soldier
4. Vs. 5 An Athlete
5. Vs. 6 A Farmer
6. Vs. 15 A Worker
7. Vs. 21 A Vessel for God’s Glory
8. Vs. 24 A Servant
Paul often used military illustrations in his letters. This is not surprising since he lived in a military state and was in prison himself. He is described as a “good soldier of Jesus Christ” He endures hardship.
When I was a child, at the church I attended the choir sang this song during the processional:
We are soldiers in the army.
We have to fight, although we have to cry.
We have to hold up the blood stained banner.
We have to hold it up until we die!
In our daily lives as Christians we have many trials and sometimes even get persecuted. We have to hold up the blood stained banner until we die. We are commanded to endure hardships as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. In other words, we are commanded to be faithful.
Faithfulness to God is not always easy. Faithfulness to God may result in some problems. Some Folk don’t like you when you are faithful to God. Don’t expect folk to support you when you are faithful to God. Don’t expect folk to say amen, when you are faithful to God. Don’t expect folk to pat you on the back, when you are faithful to God.
The call to Christian service is a call to unknown situations and circumstances.
• Moses heard a voice from a burning bush, but that was just the start.
• Abraham heard a voice saying leave, but he didn’t get a map.
• David knew he was anointed as King, but didn’t know how or when.
Paul was called to turn around, but he couldn’t see which way to go.
• Peter knew Jesus said follow me, but he didn’t know where he was going.
The bible is not just a book in comparison to other books. It is not a magazine, that you just look at. It is not a novel, that you just read to enjoy, but it is the direct revelation of God to mankind. Until he returns the bible has been sealed. God is not going to add anything to it. Nor take away anything from it.
The value of God’s word is not upon the writer who wrote the book; Matthew or Mark or Luke or John or Paul, for these men were nothing more than scribes that God chose to use to bring direct revelation from the throne room to the living room.
You do know that when God chooses to speak to us, he uses mankind?
He allows birds to sing praises, but not write the psalms.
He allows the rivers to roll but not to write any scrools.
He allows the sun to shine, but it’s heat cannot translate to us His Will.
He allows the storms to move on the ocean but fish don’t write.
But he has chosen men to write and record His word. However, there is more to this concept. There is the written word and then there is the keeping of His word. Many of us can get an A+ on the reading of his word and flunk out on the keeping of his word.
I don’t mean no harm, but God’s word is undergoing a tremendous beating. It’s been misinterpreted, misunderstood, and taken out of context, culture and climate.
We’re living in a time when anointing oil has replaced the Holy Spirit. We’re living in a time when throwing money at the altar has replaced presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice.
We’re living in a time when By-Laws, procedures and traditions have replaced the authority of the Word of God.
We’re living in a time when servants of the Church have become managers rather than servants according to Acts 6.
We’re living in a time when Choirs are now performance “artist’s rather than giving God the praise.
We’re living in a time when the audience of our worship has become the people instead of a Holy and Righteous God.
I have come to suggest that the problem is that the Church has not been too careful in whom we are entrusting the Word of God too. We are careful everywhere else but in the Word of God.
We demand and expect competent musicians to lead the music ministry.
We demand and expect competent deacons to minister to the sick and shut in.
We demand and expect competent ushers to handle crowd control.
But the word of God ought not to be handled by people who are not qualified to teach it or live it properly.
Too many folk handle the Word like bad produce—they can’t stand the smell of it.
Too many folk handle the Word like a leper—they don’t want to be around it.
However, if you’re going to endure hardness, the Apostle Paul gives to Young Timothy ways to ensure that the Word will be powerful.
First there has to be a proclaimer.
Secondly, there has to be commitment.
Thirdly, there has to be a carrier.
The writer Paul says that Timothy, you have to understand the divine plan in order to demonstrate Biblical understanding. Look at the words, “and the things you’ve heard of me…”
There has to be a proclaimer. A proclaimer simply is a voice heard or a word read that proclaims to us what the word of God is saying.
In the gifts of the Holy Spirit outlined by Paul, he lists two proclaimers—preachers and teachers. In Romans 10, he says “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. He drops down in the text and asks the question “How can they hear without a preacher?” Then he goes on to say, “How can they preach unless they be sent.”
The emphasis here is that there has to be a proclaimer. There has to be someone standing in the gap, attuned and sensitive to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church. There must be some to proclaim, “He that hath an ear let him hear what the Sprit sayeth to the Church.
However, the problem is that the proclaimer often times want to change the proclamation to satisfy the crowd. However, in this passage, God is saying that the proclaimer must be involved in telling the Word without changing the Word.
If Jesus turned water into wine, tell that.
If Jesus created walkways on waterways, tell that.
If Jesus healed the sick and raised the dead, tell that.
If God created the Heavens and the Earth, tell that.
If God sent raised Jesus from the grave tell that.
If you are on your way to Hell, tell that.
The proclaimer can’t change the message. The proclaimer can’t bring his own message. The proclaimer can’t speak for God.
Have you ever noticed that whenever someone refuses to take head to the message that god has sent through the proclaimer, you’re left with a mess.
I don’t mean any harm, but you can’t carry the word if you’ve never heard the Word. Paul says to Timothy, you heard the word directly from me.
Secondly, there has to be a commitment. Let me suggest that just because you’re saved doesn’t mean that you’re faithful. Being faithful to the Lord is not like being faithful everywhere else.
Too many people may be faithful to their spouse, but not faithful to God.
Too many people may be faithful to their children, but not faithful to God.
Too many folk may be faithful to their employer, but not faithful to God.
Too many folk may be faithful to the Los Angeles Lakers, but not faithful to God.
This faithfulness must be rooted in trust. If you’re committed, I won’t have to beg you to come to Bible Study and Prayer Meeting, I won’t have to beg you to give your offerings, I won’t have to beg you to come to church on time, I won’t have to beg you to praise God in the sanctuary.
You will never show up on Tuesday Night for Bible Study – until you have made a personal commitment to God.
You will never love your husband or wife right – until you have made a personal commitment to God.
You will never praise God like He’s Alpha and Omega – until you have made a personal commitment to God.
You will never treat your neighbor right – until you have made a personal commitment to God.
You might be good-looking, but you must be faithful.
You might be rich, but you must be faithful.
You might have it all going on, but you must be faithful.
We are Not required to be brilliant—but FAITHFUL.
o Not required to be intelligent—but FAITHFUL.
o Not required to be articulate—but FAITHFUL.
o Not required to be literate—but FAITHFUL.
o Not required to be handsome—but FAITHFUL.
o Not required to be eloquent—but FAITHFUL.
Ø Faithfulness is the will of God for us and is possible.
Many people argue over the weather—but somebody ought to stand up for the word.
Many people argue about the best Basketball team, but somebody needs to stand up for the Word.
Many people argue about the stock market, but somebody needs to stand up for the word.
I heard the word say, “I’m not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, It is the power of God unto salvation.
When I understand these principles, I understand that the Word should not be placed into the hands of just anyone because of their ancestors and predeccessors.
Paul does not mention the faith of Timothy’s grandmother, Lois and mother Eunice. He says that Timothy you have to be faithful on your own.
Somebody here knows that just because your granddaddy was a deacon and your daddy was a deacon doesn’t mean that you can be a good deacon.
Somebody here knows that just because your grandfather was a preacher and your father is a preacher, that doesn’t make you a preacher.
Let me tell you that just because your grandmother-in-law can cook, and your mother-in-law can cook, doesn’t mean that your wife can cook.
Faithfulness is Not hereditary.
Joy is Not hereditary.
Salvation is Not hereditary.
Peace of mind is not hereditary.
But also, I’ve got some good news.
If your mother was a junkie—you can still be faithful.
If your father was a playa- you can still be faithful.
If your grandfather was a alcoholic— you can still be faithful.
No matter what your background is, you can still be faithful to the Lord.
There is somebody in this room who knows that God can use anybody…
No matter what color.
No matter what social status.
No matter what background.
No matter the education.
You can be faithful.
1 Corinthans 4:2 – “It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful…”
1 Corinthians 7:25 –“I am one who hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.”
n 1 Timothy 1:12, Paul sums it all up, “and I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who had enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.
Lastly, there has to be a carrier. Paul understood something about the Word of God. And that is that the word has a longer lifespan than those who carry it.
We rejoice when a man pastors for 20, 30, 40, 50 years… but the bad news is that time will eventually come to an end. We are not here to stay. We are only carrying the message for a little while. Some of the great preachers have come and gone.
Our mistake has been that we’ve given the living word to dead people:
People that don’t want to hear the word.
People that don’t want to live the word.
People who don’t want to support ministry.
People who think carnal and not spiritual.
Paul says that the great gospel needs to be given to those that don’t won’t to play “finders keepers, losers weepers”.
The older I get, the more I want to be faithful in the Word of God. I want to leave the Word of God onto faithful people.
There is a phrase found throughout the Word of God that has power to encourages all of us. No matter how bad things get, no matter what kind of hardship you are under, no matter the stress and strain of this existence, if you can just hold on, if you can just be patient - wait for the phrase "but God."
• Genesis 31:7 - "Your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times, BUT GOD suffered him not to hurt me." (Jacob & Laban)
• Genesis 50:20 - "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; BUT GOD meant unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." (Joseph & his brothers)
• 1 Samuel 23:14 - "And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him everyday, BUT GOD delivered him not into his hand." (David & Saul)
• Acts 7:9 - "And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt, BUT GOD was with him," (Stephen & Pharasees)
Whenever there is a hardship, there can be a BUT GOD situation.
• I may be poor; BUT GOD will feed me when I’m hungry.
• I may suffer hardship; BUT GOD is my rock and my fortress.
• I may be lied on, BUT GOD knows.
• I may be torn asunder; BUT GOD will put the pieces back together again.
• I may be born a sinner; BUT GOD has saved me anyhow.
• Yes, hardships will come.
• Yes, suffering will come.
• But GREATER is He that is within me than he than is in the
Is there anybody here that could be called faithful? Is there anybody here that can tell the story? Is there anybody here that can say I know a man from Gailee if you are in sin, he’ll set you free.
Tell the story that Jesus was born in a manager.
Tell the story that Jesus was born in a manger.
Tell the story that Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River.
Tell the story that Jesus healed the sick and raised the dead.
Tell the story that Jesus was arrested at the Garden of Gethsename.
Tell the story that Jesus was beaten all night long.
Tell the story that Jesus was marched up Golgotha’s hill.
Tell the story that Jesus died on a rugged cross.
Tell the story that Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb.
Tell the story that early Sunday morning He got up with all power in his hand.
And when I’m dead and gone, the story will still be here!
When I’m dead and gone, souls will still hear the gospel story!
And when I’m dead and gone, somebody will be shouting because of the good news of Jesus Christ!
And when I’m dead and gone, somebody will testify, I heard the voice of Jesus say, come unto to me and rest.
So pass it on!
Pass on the good news of the gospel.
Pass it on to generations coming.
Pass it on to your children.
Pass it on to your grandchildren….
The war is rough. The problems of life are rough, but I’m so glad that I can testify today:
• THE LORD IS my shepherd.
• THE LORD IS my protector.
• THE LORD IS my provider.
• THE LORD IS my bread in a starving land.
• THE LORD IS my water in dry places.
• THE LORD IS my hope for tomorrow
• THE LORD IS my all and all!
