I AM SO PERSUADED
2 TIMOTHY 1:1-12
THROUGHOUT HISTORY MEN AND WOMEN HAVE MADE STATEMENTS OF FAITH THAT ENCOURAGED PEOPLE, AND GAVE THEM THE COURAGE TO STAND FOR THEIR BELIEFS. THESE PEOPLE MADE STATEMENTS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD.
IN 1517 MARTIN LUTHER PUBLISHED HIS 95 THESIS WHICH FOREVER CHANGED THE FACE OF CHURCH HISTORY, AND BEGAN WHAT WAS KNOWN AS THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION.
IN THE EARLY YEARS OF WORLD WAR II WINSTON CHURCHILL ENCOURAGED THE PEOPLE OF ENGLAND WITH THESE GREAT WORDS “We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France,
we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing Strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender,
AND CHANGED THE FACE OF HISTORY FOREVER.
IN 1963 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. STOOD PROUDLY IN WASHINGTON AND SAID I HAVE A DREAM. HE CHANGED THE HISTORY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES, AND IN THE WORLD.
IN 1977 TERRY FOX HAD HIS LEG AMPUTED SIX INCHES ABOVE HIS KNEE. HE WAS SO OVERCOME BY THE SUFFERING OF CHILDREN AROUND HIM DUE TO CANCER THAT HE DECIDED TO RUN ACROSS CANADA. HIS GREAT HOPE, TO GET EVERYONE IN CANADA TO DONATE $1.00 TO CANCER RESEARCH. AS OF THIS YEAR THE TERRY FOX FOUNDATION HAS RAISED OVER $550,000,000.00 WORLDWIDE FOR CANCER RESEARCH, AND IS FOREVER CHANGING THE FACE OF HISTORY IN THE WORLD.
OVER 2000 YEARS AGO, ON A LONELY HILL OF CALVARY, THE SON OF GOD, HUNG ON A CROSS, SLOWLY DYING, TO PROVIDE AN ANSWER FOR THE SIN OF THE WORLD. ON THAT DAY JESUS CHRIST FOREVER CHANGED NOT ONLY THE HISTORY, BUT THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD.
THE CROSS AND RESURRECTION ARE THE DEFINING POINTS OF CHRISTIANITY. WITHOUT THEM THERE WOULD BE NO CHRISTIAN RELIGION. THE CROSS AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST MAKES CHRISTIANITY UNIQUE AMONG THE OTHER RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD.
THE CHURCH STANDS UNIQUE IN THE WORLD TODAY AS WE PRESENT THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL OF GOD.
THAT GOD LOVES US AND WANTS A RELATIONSHIP WITH US.
HE PROVED HIS LOVE TO US IN AN EXTRAVAGANT WAY BY GOING TO THE CROSS. NO OTHER RELIGION TEACHES OF A GOD THAT DIED FOR HIS PEOPLE. THIS MAKES CHRISTIANITY UNIQUE.
NO OTHER RELIGION TEACHES THAT GOD HAS PREPARED A HOME FOR US WHERE HE WILL ALSO DWELL. WE DO NOT SERVE A DISTANT GOD, WE SERVE A GOD WHO WANTS A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS PEOPLE, WHO WANTS TO LIVE WITH HIS PEOPLE.
CHRISTIANITY IS UNIQUE AMONG THE OTHER RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD, AND WE STAND ON THE WORLD OF GOD AS BEING THE ONLY TRUE WORD THAT CAN LEAD US TO A SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOR TODAY.
THERE ARE MANY RELIGIONS AND BELIEFS IN OUR WORLD TODAY. WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS AND I BELIEVE WANTS IS A CHURCH THAT IS RELEVENT AND ONE THAT IS CONSISTENT AND TRUE. THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE BELIEVE AND THEN WALK CONSISTENTLY WITH THAT BELIEF.
IN RESPONSE TO THIS THE TIME HAS COME FOR THE CHURCH TO STAND ON ITS PRINCIPLES. IN OUR PASSAGE TODAY PAUL EXHORTS A YOUNGER BROTHER IN TIMOTHY.
2 TIMOTHY 1:8: “So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,”
IN OUR WORLD TODAY WE MUST MAKE THE SAME STAND. PAUL WOULD LATER WRITE THESE LAST WORDS TO BROTHER TIMOTHY:
2 TIMOTHY 4:1-8: “1 ΒΆ In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage— with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
WHAT THEN IS OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH TO THE WORLD TODAY?
PAUL BRINGS IT TO OUR EYES IN THIS PASSAGE AS WE LOOK AT VERSE 12.
2 TIMOTHY 1:12: “That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.”
LET’S THEN TAKE THE REST OF OUR TIME TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT PAUL BELIEVED, AND THAT WE SHOULD BELIEVE TODAY.
POINT ONE: PAUL BELIEVED IN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD AND SO MUST WE
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD? THE ANSWER IS BOTH SIMPLE AND COMPLEX.
IT MEANS THAT WE GIVE OUR LIVES OVER TO GOD AS LORD AND ALLOW HIM TO LIVE THROUGH US. AS JOHN STATES “HE MUST INCREASE AND I MUST DECREASE”. THIS IS EASY TO SAY, BUT IT IS SO HARD TO DO.
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IMPACTS ALL ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES. IT MEANS THAT CHRIST IS SOVEREIGN ON THE WORKPLACE, THAT WE DO OUR BEST BECAUSE IT IS A REFLECTION ON CHRIST.
I CAN’T TELL YOU MANY TIMES I’VE HEARD IN CONVERSATION IT SAID “HE OR SHE CAN DO THAT AND STILL CALL THEMSELVES A CHRISTIAN.”
WHEN WE ACCEPT CHRIST AS LORD OF OUR LIFE, WE ARE SAYING TO THE WORLD “GO AHEAD, JUDGE GOD BY WHAT WE SAY AND DO” FOR THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE WILL DO.
HOW IS IT WITH YOU?
IF CHRIST WERE TO COME BACK TODAY WOULD HE BE HAPPY WITH:
1. YOUR LIFE AS YOU WORK
2. YOUR LIFE OF RECREATION
3. WITH YOUR FAMILY LIFE.
IF YOUR LIFE IS SO BUSY THAT YOU CAN ONLY STEAL A MOMENT EVERY NOW AND THEN FOR GOD, THEN GOD IS NOT SOVEREIGN IN YOUR LIFE, AND FOR THAT MATTER NEITHER ARE YOU. YOU ARE ALLOWING THE BUSINESS OF THIS WORLD TO GET THE BEST OF YOU.
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD GIVES GOD FIRST PLACE IN YOUR LIFE AND THE LIFE OF YOUR FAMILY. IT PLACES THE THINGS OF GOD AS FIRST PRIORITY.
WHEN MY NEICES WOULD ASK THEIR FATHER (MY BROTHER) IF THEY COULD HAVE A SLEEP OVER ON SATURDAY NIGHT HE WOULD SAY SURE. ON SUNDAY THEY ALL WENT TO MORNING SERVICE.
LISTEN IF PEOPLE KNOW YOU’RE A CHRISTIAN THEY WILL EXPECT YOU TO ACT AS A CHRISTIAN.
THEY WILL COME TO YOUR HOUSE EXPECTING YOU TO PRAY BEFORE A MEAL.
IF THEY STAY OVERNIGHT AT YOUR HOUSE, THEY WILL EXPECT TO COME TO CHURCH WITH YOU, NOT TO HAVE YOU STAY AT HOME WITH THEM.
IT’S TIME TO GET RID OF THE IDEA THAT BRINGING PEOPLE TO CHURCH IS BAD FOR THEM. IT CHANGED YOUR LIFE FOR THE BETTER DIDN’T IT. ISN’T IT TIME TO INTRODUCE THEM TO THE GOD WHO CAN CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOR THE BETTER TOO.
WE BELIEVE IN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD, AND THAT BY ALLOWING GOD TO BE SOVEREIGN IN OUR LIVES, WE CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE WORLD.
POINT TWO: PAUL BELIEVED IN THE GOSPEL AND SO MUST WE.
PAUL BELIEVED THERE IS SALVATION IN CHRIST AND IN CHRIST ONLY. THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS, THAT SALVATION IS OPEN TO ALL WHO BELIEVE. THE MAN WHO SO FEROCIOUSLY OPPOSED THE GOSPEL NOW WAS JUST AS ENTHUIASTICALLY PREACHING IT.
ROMANS 1:16: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”
CHRISTIANITY IS THE ONLY RELIGION THAT PREACHES SALVATION BY FAITH. WE BELIEVE THAT A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, BY ACCEPTING JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOR, IS NECESSARY TO SPEND ETERNITY WITH GOD IN HEAVEN.
JESUS SAID TO NICODEMUS IN JOHN 3 “YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN”. THIS IS WHAT THE GOSPEL OR THE GOOD NEWS IS. IT IS TALKING ABOUT THAT RELATIONSHIP.
AS THAT RELATIONSHIP GROWS, THROUGH BIBLE STUDY, PRAYER, FELLOWSHIP, AND WITNESSING, SO TOO WILL YOUR CALMNESS AND STEADFASTNESS AS YOU FACE THE TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS OF LIFE.
THERE ARE FAITHS TODAY THAT TEACH THAT THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO GO TO HEAVEN. THIS IS NOT TRUE. THE BIBLE SAYS THERE IS BUT ONE WAY, AND THAT IS THROUGH CHRIST. JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES “I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT BY ME.”
WE MAKE OUR STAND ON THE GOSPEL, FOR IT IS THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD’S LOVE, GRACE AND MERCY TO THE WORLD. IT IS THE GOOD NEWS OF A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP THAT CAN BE STARTED AND DEVELOPED WITH JESUS CHRIST THAT NO OTHER RELIGION IN THE WORLD DECLARES.
POINT THREE: WE MAKE OUR STAND THAT THE WHOLE BIBLE IS THE WORLD OF GOD:
PAUL MAKES THIS BOLD TEACHING IN 2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17:
2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17: “16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
WE BELIEVE THAT THE BIBLE IS THE 100% FULLY INSPIRED, FULLY TRUSTWORTHY WORD OF GOD TRANSMITTED TO US THROUGH ITS WRITERS WHILE UNDER THE INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
I BELIEVE IT HAS THE ANSWER TO ALL ISSUES THAT MAY BE FACED IN LIFE, AND CAN LEAD US SAFELY HOME TO LIVE WITH CHRIST IN HEAVEN.
PEOPLE TODAY DON’T WANT TO BELIEVE IN THE BIBLE, OR THEY WANT TO BELIEVE IN THE BIBLE AS THEY UNDERSTAND IT. THE FACT IS THAT YOU CAN’T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE UNLESS THE HOLY SPIRIT ILLUMINES IT FOR YOU, AND HE WILL ONLY ILLUMINE IT TO CHRISTIANS WHO ARE WALKING WITH GOD.
PEOPLE WILL SAY IT’S JUST A BOOK OF MYTHS, OR I BELIEVE PARTS OF THE BIBLE BUT NOT ALL OF IT. SOME SAY I DON’T BELIEVE THE BIBLE BECAUSE IT JUST TELLS ME WHAT I CAN’T DO.
I DON’T KNOW WHAT BIBLE THESE PEOPLE ARE READING BUT IT’S NOT THE ONE WE FOLLOW.
MY BIBLE TELLS ME:
FIRST OF ALL THAT GOD LOVES ME. AND WANTS A RELATIONSHIP WITH ME THAT WILL LAST THROUGHOUT ETERNITY.
MY BIBLE GUIDES ME THROUGH THIS COMPLICATED THING THAT WE CALL LIFE AND LEADS ME SAFELY HOME TO BE WITH HIM.
LISTEN WHEN PEOPLE SET DOWN TO MAP OUT A JOURNEY, THEY DON’T STOP BELIEVING IN THE MAP WHEN SOMEONE SAYS “THE MAP TELLS US NOT TO MAKE THAT TURN.” THEY TRUST IT TO GET THEM THROUGH THEIR JOURNEY.
A FEW YEARS AGO THE BOOK “THE DIVINCI CODE” WAS THE TALK OF THE TOWN. PEOPLE BELIEVED WHAT THIS NOVEL, THE WORK OF FICTION, STATED, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ONLY OUT FOR A SHORT TIME. IT MUST BE RIGHT IT’S IN THE BOOK.
LISTEN THE BIBLE HAS BEEN AROUND A LOT LONGER THAN THE DIVINCI CODE. PEOPLE HAVE TRUSTED THEIR LIVES TO IT FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS. PEOPLE HAVE DIED FOR THEIR BELIEF IN IT. FOLLOWING THE BIBLE HAS CHANGED THE LIVES OF PEOPLE FOREVER AND IS STILL CONTINUING TO DO SO TODAY, AND WILL UNTIL THE RETURN OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
REV.DR. DAVID COOK WAS THE DIRECTOR OF MISSIONS FOR OUR CONVENTION UNTIL HIS DEATH. DAVID WAS A GREAT MAN OF FAITH. WHEN THEY HAD VISITATION FOR THE PUBLIC AT THE FUNERAL HOME, ON A TABLE IN FRONT OF HIS CASKET THEY PLACED HIS FAVORITE BIBLE.
THERE WAS VISITATION AT THE CHURCH BEFOFRE THE FUNERAL AND WHEN IT WAS TIME TO CLOSE THE CASKET THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR WAS FACED WITH A DILEMMA. THEY HAD TO MOVE THE TABLE AND WHAT WOULD HE DO WITH THE BIBLE? HE LOOKED AT THE BIBLE AND THEN AT DAVID. A SMILE CAME TO HIS FACE AND THEY PROCEEDED TO CLOSE THE CASKET. HE THEN TOOK DAVID’S BIBLE, WHICH HELPED HIM SO MUCH IN HIS WALK WITH THE LORD, OPENED IT, AND GENTLY LAID IT ON HIS CASKET.
THE BOOK THAT HELPED DAVID LEAD HIS LIFE FOR THE LORD IN THIS WORLD, WAS THE BOOK THAT WAS GOING TO LEAD HIM SAFELY TO HIS RESTING PLACE UNTIL THE RESURRECTION.
I BELIEVE THAT THE BIBLE IS THE INFALLIBLE, TOTALLY INSPIRED WORD OF GOD, AND THAT BY FOLLOWING IT, WE WILL COME TO A SAVING FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, AND THAT IT WILL LEAD US THROUGH THIS LIFE AND SAFELY HOME TO BE WITH HIM FOR ETERNITY.
POINT FOUR: WE BELIEVE THAT WE WILL REIGN WITH CHRIST IN A PLACE CALLED HEAVEN
FOLKS WE HAVE A HOME TODAY, NOT MADE OF HUMAN HANDS, WE HAVE A HOME IN HEAVEN WAITING FOR US.
WE HAVE A HEAVENLY FATHER WHO IS WAITING TO SAY “WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.”
PAUL TELLS HIS BROTHER TIMOTHY THESE WORDS:
2 TIMOTHY 1:12: “That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.”
HEAVEN IS NOT A MAKEBELIEVE FANTASY LAND THAT WE SPEAK OF AT FUNERALS IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL BETTER.
IT IS OUR HOME, PREPARED BY THE MASTER CARPENTERS HANDS JESUS.
IT IS OUR HOME, WHERE WE WILL BE REUNITED WITH LOVED ONES WHO HAVE GONE ON BEFORE.
IT IS OUR HOME, WHERE WE SHALL RECEIVE THE REWARDS FOR OUR LABORS AND BASK IN THE GLORY AND VICTORY OF GOD.
WE BELIEVE THAT CHRISTIANS WILL HAVE THE FINAL VICTORY AND ENJOY AN ETERNAL HOME WITH CHRIST IN HEAVEN, AND THIS BELIEF CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.
CONCLUSION:
THERE ARE MANY BAD THINGS IN THE WORLD TODAY.
HOLLYWOOD MARRIAGES THAT LAST 72 DAYS OR LESS GET THE NEWS, BUT MARRIAGES THAT LAST 20 YEARS OR MORE ARE NEVER MENTIONED.
WE HEAR OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHO ARE IN THE COURTS FOR CHILD ABUSE, AND FRAUD. LEADERS WHO HAVE COMMITTED ADULTERY, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT MAKES NEWS.
PEOPLE ARE SEARCHING FOR TRUE PEACE AND LOOKING TO SEX, DRUGS, ALCOHOL, AND OTHER MEANS TO FIND THEIR ILLUSIVE PEACE.
THE ONLY PLACE TO FIND TRUE PEACE TODAY IS IN CHRIST. CHRIST WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN. HE HAS PROMISED US A PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, A PEACE YOU CAN’T EXPLAIN, BUT ONLY EXPERIENCE.
I PRAY THAT YOU WILL COME TO CHRIST AND ALLOW HIM TO CHANGE YOUR WORLD, AS HE HAS DONE FOR ME.
