Wheels Series

INTRODUCTION

Some of you think I don’t know much about cars, but I want to impress you today with what I do know. I know this: have one of your four tires go flat and your car is not going to drive well. You say how do you know that? Because I live in Mississippi, and I have seen some drivers trying to drive down the interstate to the next exit with only three good tires. The best that a three-wheel car can do is crawl down the interstate to the next exit. It does not matter if it is a $50,000.00 fine looking automobile or a used car awaiting to be sent to the junk yard. Cars are not supposed to operate with only three working wheels.

Let me tell you what I assume because I have never seen this. If two tires go flat at the same time, the car is going to work even less efficiently than the three-wheeled car. If three tires go flat at the same time, you better watch out for that car if he is ahead of you. He is probably a danger on the road. And finally, if all four tires go flat at the same, my advice to the driver is leave the car where it is and walk to your destination. You will get there faster.

I know this is an absurd example. But Paul is going to tell us that the Christian life is like a four-wheel car. Have all four wheels operating correctly and you are going down the spiritual highway the way you should be. With each wheel that is flat you are so much less effective in going down that spiritual highway.

And I imagine today that some of us are here in this room have all four tires functioning properly; some may only have three tires functioning properly; some might only have two or one tire functioning properly; and I hope no one here has four spiritual flat tires.

So, what we need to do today is kick your tires and see if they are full or deflated. To do that let me read the Scripture from 2 Timothy 1:1-7.

BIBLE VERSE

2 Timothy 2:1-7 (NIV)

1You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

3Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

4No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.

5Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.

6The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.

7Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

1

WHEEL NUMBER 1

I NEED TO INVEST MY LIFE INTO OTHERS.

2And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

The Bible is full of examples of one person investing their life in someone else. Moses invested his life in Joshua. Eli, the High Priest, invested his life in Samuel. Jesus invested his life into His disciples especially Peter, James and John. And Paul invested His life into Timothy.

The Bible is full of examples, but it also commands each one of us to invest our lives in others.

Matthew 28:19-20New International Version

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

And how about the Biblical command to the older men and women to teach the younger men and women in Titus 2:2-8.

Titus 2:2-8 (NIV)

2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.

4 Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children,

5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.