0:11 If you have the word of God in your hands, please meet me in the book of second Timothy. Second Timothy two twenty four reads, and the Lord servant must not be quarrelsome, but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil after being captured by him to do his will. Pray with me. Lord, we ask for the assistance of the power of the Holy Spirit.
1:18 Time that we may receive all that you have to give us through the written word. We ask, Lord, that there would be a tangible sense of your power, of your conviction, of your comfort. Story. Your words set before us, and it is your will today for a day, for those who do not know, they would surrender to the lordship of Jesus Christ and embrace his saving work. We pray for the Striving with sin, with doubt, with temptation, that they would be liberated by the power of the word.
2:00 And we ask, oh God, that your church would be built according to your word. In your word alone. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Our time together last week, we discovered the Our time together last week, we discovered the one condition that God prescribed for for his people to be used by him for his glory.
2:20 Just one condition. And that one condition can be summarized by this, a willingness in the heart of that redeemed soul to be consecrated unto the Lord in holiness. Not skill, not ability, not experience, not pedigree. One thing that God requires of you and me to be able to be used by him for his glory in ways that we can't even imagine, and that is this. Cleanse yourself from that which is dishonorable.
2:47 And praise God, as Christians, we don't have to be in the dark to theorize what it means to be cleansed from that which is dishonorable. The scriptures tell us plainly, clearly, obviously what it means to be a holy people ready for the use of the master of the house. It's right here in verse 22. Flee youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. It's not just ceasing to do certain things.
3:18 It's about pursuing other things, holy things, honorable things, and even making sure that you are surrounded by those who will not contaminate your character and disqualify you from God recruiting you to be used in this generation. But it's beyond that. It's it's even in the next verse here in verse 23, have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies. You know that they breed quarrels. Well, what does that have to do with me being a candidate for God's use?
3:47 What does that have to do with cleansing myself? Well, you see, in order to be a cleansed vessel for God to use, you and I have to be able to continually discern what may be distracting us from God being able to use us. And the distraction that Paul has in mind by the spirit that would limit a believer from being an instrument in God's mighty hands is that they would use all their energy and their focus to argue and debate about things that do not hold any benefit at the end. And here's the thing. The principle is true across the board.
4:23 Whether the distractions are unprofitable arguments or an overindulgence in things like entertainment, you and I have to be careful if we would be used by God. What is it in my life that might be limiting the capacity to which the power of God would flow through my life? I know we don't like to hear it. I know we're people that preach the gospel of grace. Grace will save you.
4:46 The blood of Jesus will redeem you, and it is sufficient. But guess what? You need to do something about being used by God. And those are God's rules, not mine, not Mary, not the Bible church. It is written that there must be a willingness, an eagerness, a longing to be cleansed, not just in the sense of, you know what?
5:05 I'm not gonna do this. No. No. I'm gonna pursue these things. And if there's people in my life that don't wanna pursue it, I love you.
5:11 I might see you in heaven, but I'm gonna be used by God. Distractions? Lord, whatever is in my life. This is mature Christianity, brothers and sisters. We wanna be holy.
5:22 It's more than just if this is sin, let's go further. Is this profitable? Wanna be used by God? You want God's power on your life. Is this beneficial?
5:34 The immature Christian says, is this sinful? The mature Christian says, this has helped me run, or does it hinder me? And yet Paul here is not quite finished about this concept of being ready for the master's use because he wants to now move forward, as we just read in these verses, to further furnish Timothy as a young man, as a young pastor, and not just him but us, so that he can be even more effective for God's kingdom. And so he gives further instructions so that he can polish this vessel and that this vessel could be more clear and clean so that he would be a force against the kingdom of darkness. Oh, I hope you're praying this prayer in the midst of all your other prayers.
6:22 God, make sure that in my life, I do as much damage to the kingdom of darkness as possible. Paul is saying here, I want you to know that there is a work within this master's house that is a great work but requires specific things for you to honor to be a candidate. And the great work amongst every good work that we should be prepared for is the work of what we just read here. It's a very specific word, a very, very important task being part of the kingdom. And it deals with seeing people delivered from the deceptions of Satan.
6:59 This is what we just finished reading. There are things here that Paul lists for Timothy to adopt into his own life. For what reason? Visit again here in verse 26. That they that they who are they?
7:14 Those who are in deception, that they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil after being captured by him to do his will. That fits the context, doesn't it? Didn't we just read a few weeks ago about two individuals causing trouble in the church, Hymenaeus and Philetus, false teachers that were disturbing the faith of some. Paul now focuses on these two people, and he draws principles because he wants Timothy to know how to deal with them. Because although they were causing trouble, although Hymenaeus was even excommunicated, Paul wants him to know that there is a way of dealing with such stubborn people in a way where they can be won to Christ.
7:53 We're about to hear this morning about how you and I, whether you're a pastor or not, can be ready for God to use in the business of saving souls, specifically those who are even preaching and teaching and posting about false things, whether it's about Christ or other beliefs. And If you and I are passionate about being used by God, tune in. Paul says in verse 24, and the Lord's servant, the Lord's servant. Now we might generalize this to believe that this is about all of Christ's servants, but the context suggests that the Lord's servant here speaks about those who have dedicated their lives to preaching divine truth. Paul uses this term servant to himself and many of his epistles.
8:39 I am a bondservant. I am a slave to Jesus Christ. And now he applies it to Timothy, and he applies it to anybody else that has devoted their lives to full time ministry. But before you tune yourself out thinking that this is just for those in the pastorate, remember that one of God's purposes in establishing leadership in the local church is not just to tell you things about God, it's to set an example for you. That's why I'm I'm personally, and even the leaders of this church, are not fond of the idea of churches where you see the pastor on a screen.
9:15 Why? Because the scripture says that you're supposed to be able to observe that life and see how that life beyond the message interacts with people and deals with issues so that you can draw example from. And the Lord's servant here, although these are, yes, in context directed towards those who have said, I will give my life. I've been called by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel. This is also for all of God's servants because these men who have been established in these positions are worthy of imitation if they are walking in light of Christ.
9:50 And so we have a few things listed here. And the first thing about the Lord's servant who would be used from the household of God to be a better instrument to fulfill the Great Commission that has been given to all disciples of Christ is that the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, not be quarrelsome, but kind to everyone. That is the first trait. That is the first characteristic that Paul brings to our attention concerning an effective vessel for God's use in this work. The Lord's servant cannot be characterized as one who is energized by heated arguments, who easily escalates conversations to the point of unnecessary tension between people, or one who is overly sensitive, and when they are challenged about what they believe or what they say without notice explode into embarrassing rage.
10:48 No such thing can be true of the person who serves God. If we're not careful, failure to apply what I just said, this thing can do more damage to the message than you can imagine. The delivery of the message is just as important as the message itself. Sets this as a first thing? He even says this the Holy Spirit says this before the ability to teach, the ability to preach, the ability to expound scripture.
11:28 The first thing that Paul lists is that you and I must not be quarrelsome people, but kind to some, to everyone, Because the principle is true. This is by divine design. Our conduct has the power to convince people about our message, but it also carries the force to push them away to never hear from us again. Turn your Bibles to one Peter chapter three verse one. You know this very well.
11:58 Peter says, Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives. You know what's so amazing about this? You and I believe that people are saved by hearing, understanding, and believing gospel truth. You can't be saved apart from that. You can only be saved by hearing the gospel, understanding the gospel, and then choosing to place your faith and trust in the content of that message.
12:40 And yet I read here in this text that there are some unbelieving people that could be one without a word. Without a word. How can that be? We are people who believe that by the word, you're saved. Well, of course, this is not suggesting that we do not give the message so that people can comprehend what Christ is saying and then choose to do what they would want with that truth, but it does show us this, that we are able to make the transforming grace of Christ more believable by our conduct.
13:18 The danger of that truth is in the opposite sense, that if my behavior can actually dismantle and disarm somebody's skepticism or reluctance to believe, then surely my behavior or conduct, no matter how many words I use, can cause somebody to cancel any receptivity to this message. I wanna give you an example that Charles Spurgeon gave, and I will read it, so please pay attention as my eyes will be looking down. Charles Spurgeon says, quote, we have heard of a wife, a godly woman, who for twenty years has been persecuted by a brutal husband. A husband so excessively bad that her faith at last failed her, and she ceased to be able to believe that he would ever be converted. But all this while, she was more kind to him than ever.
14:14 One night at 12:00 in a drunken state, He told his friends he had such a wife as no other man had. And if they would go home with him, he would get her up to try her temper, and she would get supper for them all. They came and the supper was soon very ready, consisting of such things as she had prepared, as well as rapidly as the occasion would allow. And she waited at the table with as much cheerfulness as if the feast had been held at a proper time. She did not utter a word of complaint.
14:54 At last, one of the company, more sober than the rest, asked how it was she could always be so kind to such a husband. Seeing that her conduct had made some little impression, she ventured to say to him, I have done all I can to bring my husband to God, and I fear he will never be saved. Since, therefore, his portion must be in hell forever, I will make him as happy as I can while he is here, for he has nothing to expect hereafter. Be kind to everyone because without a word, this woman made an impression upon a drunken band of men. You know, some people who are very sound in teaching and doctrine and theology would object to that famous phrase where it says, preach the gospel and when you have to use words.
15:57 Right? Preach the gospel and when you have to use words. Very clever, but you gotta preach the gospel with words. But I'm not gonna go to the other extreme, because who cares if you preach the gospel, if your actions contradict the gospel? I don't care how many views you get.
16:17 I don't care how talented you are. My bible says that you're able to disarm any conviction that your message holds because your conduct contradicts your words. And we have many people today that wanna be so focused on the depth of the theology and the cleverness of their minds, and they neglect their character all the while, not realizing that they are harming themselves and their ministries, whatever is left of it. There is a kindness that we can walk in and obtain and apply that has the ability to kill, kill unbelief, kill skepticism, kill hostility and any resistance to the gospel. The bible speaks about that power.
17:03 In fact, he tells us in different places. In Romans, for example, that that instead of overcoming evil with evil, overcome it with good. Give give bread to your enemy. Give water to your enemy, and it will be like heaping coals on their heads. What is he saying there?
17:20 That if you were to just be kind to the most undeserving and unlikely that has the ability and the power to disturb their conscience. And so if we're serious people who are serious about seeing people rescued by the snare of Satan, you and I will be serious about something as simple as kindness, practical kindness. But from there, we go to the second portion which says, able to teach. If there is going to be any any hope for a Christian to be an agent that would lead people to repentance, they must have an ability to communicate truth. Now this should remind us of one of the qualifications for an elder back in first Timothy chapter three.
18:06 It's the only qualification for a pastor that requires skill. Every other qualification deals with moral makeup, shows you the emphasis that God has for even his leaders. It's about the way you speak and the way you manage your household and the way you respond to people. That's the thing that God cares about. And tucked in with all of that, you must be able to teach.
18:28 Okay. Thank you, pastor. I'm over. No. No.
18:30 No. No. You're not done yet. Just because this is a requirement for pastors doesn't mean that we are off the hook because, yes, this is a requirement for those who are leaders in the church, who would exercise authority in the church. But the great commission is for all disciples.
18:49 All of us have to be able to have, by the power of the Holy Spirit, despite your personality or your temperament, a willingness to be used by God, not to preach at conferences, not to teach a theological class in front of people, but to transfer the truth that saved you into somebody else's heart. And if anybody's not convinced this morning, and maybe I'm reading too much into this text, then I hope you're still in first Peter three because all you have to do is scroll down to verse 15 and realize that the Holy Spirit gives very similar instructions, but guess what? He applies all of us. In one Peter three fifteen, we read, but in your hearts honor Christ as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect. Very similar instructions.
19:44 Only difference is now he applies it to the whole body of Christ. If anyone asks you for the reason that you have this hope in Christ and the gospel, this phrase stood out to me. You and I must always be prepared. That's convicting. It means at least two things.
20:04 Number one, it means that you're always ready to take advantage of the opportunity when someone pursues the knowledge of your faith. You must be always ready. And you're saying, why wouldn't I be ready? Oh, you'd be amazed to know when somebody comes to ask you about your faith. Of work, when you're ready to go home, and you're tired, and you have to commute, and it's snowy, and it's freezing.
20:27 And guess what? Somebody comes from work and asks you, what are you doing this weekend? And you're gonna tell them, I go to bible study on Friday nights, and I got church on Sunday morning. Really? And here you are, you're hungry and you're tired, and somebody's inquiring about your faith.
20:43 Always be prepared. Not just to share, but to know how to answer. Always being prepared, implying that there should be this continual mindset in the life of the believer. Despite your busyness, despite your work, despite anything else, there needs to be an equipping that you apply to your own life so that you are ready for the opportunity that would come your way. And and so this morning, if I were to ask everybody here, are you passionate about souls being saved from Satan?
21:16 I'm sure everybody would lift their hand here without hesitation. But I think there's a better way of asking it. And so I'm gonna ask it with these questions and answer them honestly before the Lord because they are related. And if you can answer these with with certainty, then you are better confident to realize, yes. I am passionate about this this work that God would have me on.
21:37 And if you can't say yes to what I'm saying, then perhaps it is giving an indication that maybe my heart is not as set on this task as much as I thought I was. Though I may not be a theologian or an expert on every subject or difficult passage of the Bible, do I long to grow in my knowledge of the faith? Or is that desire non existent? Am I eager to make a personal investment in order to receive greater light about divine revelation, or do I completely depend on what others share with me, like in this moment right here? When I feel like I am unfamiliar with a certain doctrine, am I comfortable remaining ignorant, or do I make it a joyful ambition to discover the truth of the matter so that I may be better prepared?
22:35 You see, the vessel that God uses to shake souls from the spell of Satan is the one who he sees making the effort to know his word and to know truth. And brothers and sisters, that is not limited to full time ministers. Can I tell you something? I've learned in my own life more from people who are not in full time ministry than I did in seminary, and I'm not shooting down seminary. I went to seminary.
23:00 Seminarians doesn't mean that you know the word of God as deep as other people might know it. And I wanna show you an example of this. I wanna show you an example of this because the one person that came to mind when studying this text about being prepared, always prepared, was Philip. Philip, not the apostle. Philip, the man that was chosen with six others to wait on tables in the church, that was designated the hospitality ministry of the early church.
23:32 Philip, the man later on that we learned had four daughters, and only later on in his life are we told he was an evangelist. Philip was not an apostle. He was not a pastor. Philip was a father who did practical things in the church. And I want you to see what happens with Philip in Acts chapter eight verse 26.
23:54 After revival breaks out in Samaria, and, yes, it was initiated by Philip, but remember, there were other apostles other apostles on the scene. In Acts eight twenty six, we read, now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert place. I'm so encouraged by that verse. Saying what's so encouraging about it?
24:22 I'm so encouraged because God sent an angel, an angel of the Lord, to call a man to be ready to witness to a Gentile. God is ready to do a supernatural work. This is not this is not providential. This is supernatural. This is not circumstances being orchestrated by a divine hand.
24:43 No. This is God speaking clearly to a servant and getting him ready to go to another person who is really wanting to know truth. And then once he deals with them, he's gonna evaporate from the the scene and be transferred somewhere else. This is supernatural. And when God is ready to do this supernatural work, he doesn't go to Peter.
25:03 He doesn't go to John. He doesn't go to Matthias. He goes to Philip. He calls Philip a dad. Philip, whose main ministry was characterized by waiting on tables.
25:17 Philip, I'm calling you, and I want you to go somewhere so that you can preach the gospel. Why Philip? Some would say, well, he had the gift of evangelism. Okay. You can argue that, but I think the reason why God called Philip was for one basic condition.
25:34 He was prepared. And you're gonna see how he was prepared, and some of you already know where I'm going with this. So Philip in Acts eight twenty seven, we're told, and he he rose and went. Think about that. Think about this.
25:46 You wanna talk about obedience. Revival is breaking out in Samaria. You have people being delivered by demons. You have people being healed supernaturally. And in the midst of this move of God, God calls the one who is the vessel to initiate this move of the spirit and says, I need you to leave this revival and go to a desert.
26:06 And guess what? He rose and went and even asked a question. Lord, are you sure? I'm there's a there's a huge move of God happening here, as though God was unaware. I know what you're doing here.
26:15 I know what's happening here, but I need you to go to one. It shows you God's heart for the one. He rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning seated in his chariot.
26:37 And he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the spirit said to Philip, go over and join this chariot. It was amazing. Philip heard from the angel of the Lord, an angel of the Lord, not the angel of the Lord, but an angel of the Lord, and then the spirit speaks him. It just shows how precise, how sensitive he was to the voice of the spirit.
26:59 The spirit says go to this chariot. What's incredible here is that this is what this mission was all about, to meet one Gentile who proved to God that he was yearning to know the truth. How do we know he was yearning to know the truth? Because as a gentile, he traveled all the way from where he was to go to Jerusalem to worship. And not only did he go to Jerusalem to worship, listen to this, he had in his hands one of the scrolls, if not all of them, concerning the writings of the prophet Isaiah.
27:31 That might not impress us because you can download a Bible for free on your app. But in this day, it was not so readily accessible. In this day, you would have to go to the synagogue to hear the word of God because it was not common to have a copy of the scriptures at your home. So this man had a version, had a copy, and he probably paid a very high price for it. He probably paid a lot of money for this so that it would be ready at his disposal.
28:03 And not only that, we're about to find out that Philip hears him reading the scriptures out loud. Wrote out loud. Have you ever wondered why the eunuch was so intrigued by the prophet Isaiah? We don't understand necessarily why it was because there's many writings. There's Jeremiah.
28:34 There's Ezekiel. There's the first five books of the Old Testament. Why was this eunuch, this Ethiopian, so drawn to Isaiah the prophet? Consider this idea, that maybe at one point, he was in Jerusalem at a feast or he went to a synagogue, and he heard this portion being read out of Isaiah. And it so moved his heart that he said, I have to have a copy of that, and I need to know who this God is.
29:06 Don't turn there, but listen to these words. Just imagine with me this eunuch in Jerusalem. And as he's walking around and as he's there to worship, he sits in one of the synagogues or maybe even the temple, and one of those priests gets ready and he pulls out the scroll like we see in Jesus in Luke four, and he reads this portion out of the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah fifty six three. Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, the Lord will surely separate me from his people.
29:33 And let not the eunuch say, behold, I am a dry tree. For thus says the Lord, to the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name. Better than sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. Imagine this eunuch not able to bear children, hearing that this God of this people even gives hope to the eunuch, and that the eunuchs should not consider themselves a dry tree, but that they are invited into the house of God.
30:18 And they will have something better than children, a name in my house, my fellowship, my presence. And I just love to imagine it. That eunuch there, tears streaming down his face, thinking to myself, there's even hope for me. I must know who this God is that invites me, a eunuch, a gentile foreigner, into his presence forever. And so he went into his purse and he paid whatever price it was, convincing whatever priest was there, I must have this, and I must study this, and I must know who this god is.
30:53 And there he is in the chariot, scrolling through the scriptures, and he he comes to Isaiah 53 where we are told about the suffering servant. And then Philip hears him reading it out loud. So in verse 34, we read after the the eunuch is is heard by Philip. Philip says, do you understand what you're reading? Now remember, this is a royal official.
31:17 This is a man in a chariot, probably surrounded by men, and Philip had the boldness to be able to come hear him reading the scriptures out loud, and he took advantage of the opportunity. And says, hey. Do you even understand what you're saying? Do you understand what you're reading? And the man turns to us and says, how can I understand unless someone guides me?
31:35 He invites this stranger up. Look look how hungry he was. He didn't even get to who are you? Where'd you come from? You just appeared.
31:41 He says, if you know something, get in here. So he comes. And then the man asked in verse 34, the eunuch said to Philip, about whom I asked you, does the prophet say this? About himself or about someone else? Jews today are still trying to convince others that the suffering servant is not speaking about Christ.
32:02 He's speaking about the nation. He's speaking about Israel's suffering, which has a lot of problems when you interpret it that way. Verse 35, Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture, he told them the good news about Jesus. From the Old Testament. From the Old Testament.
32:21 Not from John. Not from Ephesians. No. No. From Isaiah.
32:27 From that scripture, he begins to present the gospel. What's happening here? In light of what we're learning today, this is what's happening here. God saw a man so desperate to know the truth, desperate enough to travel, desperate enough to pay a price perhaps, desperate enough to even invite a stranger into his car so that he can better understand this God that intrigued him and pulled his heart toward him. And listen to this.
32:57 When God sees such a person on any corner of the earth, he will move heaven and earth to make sure the gospel gets to him. People often ask this question. What about those who have never heard the gospel? What will happen to them? And I answer it this way.
33:12 I have proof. You have proof in the scriptures that when God sees a man who is desperate, God will make a way for him to receive the gospel. You see here with the eunuch who had the scriptures. You see it with Cornelius who didn't have the scriptures, but he had enough sense to fear God. He knew that there was a God out there.
33:28 He helped the Jews out, but he he didn't have the person of Jesus Christ in mind. And God did with that man what he did with this eunuch. He sent a disciple. He sent a man to preach the gospel. God will move heaven and earth for any person even on the basis of just general revelation from creation who says, I need to know who who is this designer behind these things, these trees in my hands, in my hair, in this food.
33:52 Who is this God? God will move heaven and earth to make sure that the gospel gets to Him. But as much as God saw this man, he saw another man. He saw a a father of four. He saw one in the hospitality ministry, but he saw a vessel that was prepared.
34:13 He saw in Philip a student of the word. He saw in Philip somebody that was willing to sit patiently and expound the scriptures, and he wasn't a pastor. And in his sovereignty and in his supernatural orchestration, he brings them together. And God is willing to do the same today with somebody who's not an elder or an evangelist or a traveling minister. All he's looking for is somebody who is who is able and willing to know the truth and share the truth.
34:48 Now we come to the third characteristic in second Timothy two twenty four. Not only able to teach, but patiently enduring evil. This is perhaps the most difficult qualification. You wanna be used to see souls getting snatched from Satan. You wanna be used for God to even allow supernatural testimonies to be real in your life as in the case of Philip.
35:15 And some of you already know what that feels like. You've been in those moments where it was divinely appointed. You thought it was just an average day. You thought you got lost. You thought that you missed your bus, and all the while, it was God setting you up to meet somebody to hear the gospel.
35:31 Yes. Here we read that not only he or she must be able to share the truth, and you can't share the truth unless you know the truth. You can't answer questions unless you know the answers. And let me say this before people feel condemned. God is not waiting for you to become a PhD before he uses you.
35:49 Just like we heard last week, God is not waiting for you to be completely refined and completely cleansed without a speck of dust on your soul before he utilizes you for the menial task. No. God uses you as he sees you pursuing the truth, as he sees you growing in the knowledge of the truth. I can tell you this, that many of the things that I learn, especially in the realm of apologetics, have not come because I locked myself in my room for hours necessarily. No.
36:15 It came from me willing to just go out, have conversation with people, and they ask me a question. I looked at them and says, I don't know the answer right now, but I'll get back to you. And then I run to my room and I stuff myself in the books, and I try to discover what it is so I can better be prepared. When God sees that, He makes more opportunities real in your life. Patiently enduring evil.
36:39 The King James and New King James would say simply, patient. Patient. The ESV would say, patiently enduring evil. The NASB would say, patient when being wronged. Why?
36:52 Because when you go to the Greek, the word is much more specific than just a general sense of being a tolerant person. The Greek actually says patient with ills and wrongs. And so it's not just being about, you know, calm and collected when things don't go your way. It's specific. It's when you are in the pursuit of presenting truth, evangelizing, sharing, counseling, or being wronged in the process.
37:20 You must be patient. Forbearing. This tells me something. For Paul to use this by the Spirit, this precise word implies this very, very clearly, that if you're gonna get in the business of being of being a vessel to see people saved from Satan's deception, you will be treated wrongly at one point or another. You will be wronged for doing so.
37:49 It's not a pain free mission, brothers and sisters. It's actually filled with pain. Yes, we make ourselves available for supernatural testimonies like Philip, but we also position ourselves to be objects of great scorn and mockery. I remember when I was first saved in college, my second year of college, so people knew me before I was saved, and they knew me when I got saved and after I got saved. And you know what it's like when you're lit on fire by the gospel?
38:21 I have to run around and and try to change people's minds about my testimony, about my reputation. I had to go around telling people that I'm a changed person because I didn't want them to think I'm the same Daniel that I was during frosh week. And I remember people started to catch on and our classrooms were not very big. And there was one specific young lady. I don't know where she is today.
38:45 And she was in that classroom and she was tough. And she heard that Daniel became a Christian. And so she would take advantage to step into that classroom from time to time and make an open mockery of me in front of everybody. And I remember one time before class, just a few minutes before she stepped in there, and she saw me. She goes, oh, guys.
39:06 It's Daniel, the guy that hates gays. And there was somebody in our class who was a a regular attendant in the class who was obviously homosexual, hates gays and doesn't believe gays should be married. And she just went on and on. And I thought, never thought this. I want class to start now.
39:24 Right now. And I just, in that moment, didn't wanna say anything. Just kept my mouth shut and let her do what she wanted to do. And it was a non believer, an atheist that stood up for me and quieted her. Are you ready for that kind of stuff at work?
39:45 You ready for that kind of stuff with your family dinners when you have Christmas, and people know that you're the you're part of a cult as an evangelical? You ready for that? I was reading the gospel of John this week. That's my time, my personal time, and I and I saw something that never caught my attention before. It may not sound profound to you, but it it deeply ministered to me.
40:07 And it had to do with the personal insults that Jesus had to endure. That that's what it was. I remember seeing it and and it and it showed up so real to me as John three sixteen. I was like, I I can't believe what Christ actually endured in the context, in the setting of him giving life transforming truth. Can I show you a couple examples?
40:29 Turn your Bibles to John eight. John eight verse 40. John eight forty in this wonderful, wonderful dialogue between Jesus, where we see his famous words that I am statement about Abraham later on. But we see early on, but now look what Jesus says in verse 40. But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God.
41:01 This is not what Abraham did. And look at verse 41. Look what they say. You are doing the works of your father that the fa your father did, and they said to him, we were not born of sexual immorality. We have one father, even God.
41:17 Do you see what they're saying here? We were not born of sexual immorality. What do you think they meant by that? They were essentially insulting the parentage of Jesus. We know from scriptures that there was much controversy of the origins of Christ.
41:38 And we know that Mary was pregnant before she was even married herself, and and news traveled abroad, and that even carried along to Jesus adult life. And these people, frustrated with Jesus' claims and convicting words, decided to viciously imply that he was illegitimate as a child. Guess what they were calling his mom? A harlot. So as though they were saying, we were not born of sexual mortality, but we don't know about you, Jesus of Nazareth.
42:09 Brother, hot blooded brother, listen to me. What would you do if somebody insulted your mother? What what would you do if somebody called your mom a prostitute as you're evangelizing or sharing your faith? Christ is your example. Amazing how specific the Bible is.
42:28 Christ is your example because he did not retaliate. Though he was reviled, he did not revile in return. Any convicting thing that Jesus said was true. Because he does say in this context, your father is the devil. He does.
42:43 But he wasn't saying that because you called my mom a harlot. You wanna see how patient Jesus is? Scroll down to verse 48. Jesus continues with his amazing words and his wisdom, and they could not confound him and they could not argue against him. The Jews answered them, are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?
43:07 Jesus answered, I do not have a demon, but I honor my father and you dishonor me. So now they went from insulting his mother and his parentage, and they go against his very person and they say, you know what? Word in town is actually true. You're demon possessed. And and you're a Samaritan, which was a scathing thing to say in this time because you know the Samaritans and Jews were not the best of pals.
43:34 They were half breeds. They were not full blooded Jews. And it's almost as though they're they're they're making this claim again. Maybe your dad is actually Samaritan. This doesn't feel good.
43:46 We read it on paper and we just glance by it. That hurts. That stings, and you're trying to help these people. You're a Samaritan. You're a false teacher because Samaritans have false teaching.
44:00 And not only are you a false teacher, you're a false teacher that's energized by a devil, just walk through this life without such things? And I love what Jesus does. Jesus denies that he was demon possessed because he didn't want anybody to think otherwise concerning the purity of his spiritual state. But he doesn't say anything about him being a Samaritan. Notice that?
44:26 He doesn't say anything about him being a Samaritan. He would not entertain that insult from the people. They said, you're a Samaritan. He he just completely bypasses that because Jesus had a different heart for the Samaritans than these Jews did. Are you willing to patiently endure evil?
44:47 And remember this, when people can't answer your arguments, they often will attack your character. Just keep that in mind. But we come to the last point here. Paul says, not only patiently enduring evil, remaining in the spirit even though Satan will try to get under your skin and try to pull out of you fleshly response, but correcting his opponents with gentleness. Correcting his opponents with gentleness.
45:20 Now let me say this. Because in our minds right now, we're all going to that word gentleness, aren't we? And it's true. We need to be gentle. But this point demands something else, and it demands this, that if we're gonna be vessels that God would use, as God used Philip, as God used many people that do not have their names on billboards or in books, but to win souls, you must be, I must be willing to have uncomfortable conversations.
45:45 Because God says here that if you're gonna be such a vessel for my use, you must be able to willing to tell somebody that they're wrong, and that they don't have the right belief, and that their understanding of the Lord is not right, and their interpretation of the scripture is not in line with traditional orthodoxy. You must be willing to say those things with somebody. And that is becoming increasingly difficult in our age. We are living in a time when our culture is discipling a generation to adopt a false sense of respect to the point where even if you dare state your own opinion, you should expect the fury of the cancel police. And so you have people now who are very educated, who are in prominent positions that will not say certain things because you now live in a society where you are threatened and intimidated for even stating what you believe about something.
46:41 Do you think that's just a a cultural phenomenon? Do you think this oversensitivity and and this push for people to be silenced or fired or smeared or canceled? Do you think that's just a, just a human it's spiritual. We're in a spiritual war. So what's happening here?
47:00 Satan is discipling a generation and future generations to make sure that there would be no critics of evil and sin without a price. That's what it is. And if the church is not on guard, what's intimidating the media to not say certain things, what's arresting people from even voicing their opinion about politics or trends, what's even causing students in a learning environment to feel crippled and paralyzed and fearful lest they be highlighted as being rebellious for not adopting the narrative, will come into the church of Jesus Christ. Paul says they must be willing to correct their opponents and face falsehood. And now one might object and say, well, it says right here, gentle.
47:51 They have to be yes. Of course, gentle. We're not arguing against that, but can I challenge your definition of gentle, please? What is your understanding of gentleness? Is it to remain silent for fear of offending those who are clearly in the wrong?
48:06 Is it to remain in a neutral position with everyone even though they are promoting heresy or disruption in the church that would damage the reputation of Christ? What's your definition of gentle? Now if you would think to yourself that gentle means timid and silent and and making sure that what you believe would never cause friction in an environment or in a relationship, you might have very great trouble with the definition of gentle in the Bible. Because instead of debating about it, and instead of coming up with our own ideas, why don't we go to the best example of gentleness as personified and embodied by someone? You know where I'm going.
48:51 Right? Listen to these words from the lips of the perfect son of God in Matthew eleven twenty nine. Heart. And you will find rest for your souls. You know what Jesus just said to us this morning?
49:15 Do you wanna learn what it means to be gentle? Do you wanna learn what it means to be meek? Learn from me. Because gentle doesn't mean bold. Rather, it does mean bold.
49:38 Gentle does mean Rather, it does mean bold. Gentle does mean courageous. Gentle does mean willingness to confront. What Paul has in mind about gentleness, it's about an attitude that is framed by a righteous goal. And that righteous goal is what we read later on in second Timothy with those verses that we heard earlier, to see someone delivered from Satan's snares.
50:02 That you have God's glory in mind and man's good in mind, Paul is not advocating a manner of correction that satisfies self. You're not in the business of heresy hunting online or or finding a minute error in somebody's teaching or their practice so that you can feel better about yourself because you look more superior. That's not what Paul is talking about. It's about, an attitude of the heart that will frame your words and your tone even though it comes in the form of rebuke. Like, you know that there are some people in your life that are passionate about truth, that will even lift their voice if they have to.
50:45 But all the while, you can sense the love. You can sense Christ's love. And there are other people who are trying to do the same thing, but because they don't have the spirit of God operating through them, it shuts people off immediately. Jesus says, learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart. Gentle doesn't mean you keep quiet.
51:10 Gentle doesn't mean that you don't question. Gentle doesn't mean that sometimes you don't even have to rebuke. No. No. No.
51:15 No. You know what I'm worried about? When I read this verse, I'm worried about what's happening in our culture is affecting the church. To what degree? Imagine I just imagine you're oblivious to those certain texts about Jesus and how he dealt with certain people, and I just read to you about a person who spoke these things to certain people.
51:36 You know what I think would happen with most Christians? They would think that Christ was very unchristlike. They would think Christ is very unchristlike. And so we have to understand that there is a righteous boldness and confrontation, but it is always tamed by humility. And it is always tamed by wisdom that knows when to speak up in a certain way and when to be patient in correcting someone.
52:06 Because the opposite extreme. Right? Because I know what can happen with a snippet like this. Somebody can cut this off and say, look what look what this man is saying. Jesus whipped up people in the temple so we should Jesus did it twice in his ministry, not every Sunday.
52:21 Jesus didn't go around with a whip around his belt whipping people every time he saw them. He knew when. He knew when to stand up for the truth. He knew when to sit down with a woman who was in sin and be very patient. And I would say this, look at the connection in closing.
52:39 As we come back to second Timothy, these things are so important, though so simple, so very important that it connects to the sovereign work of God, which says here in verse 25, God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth. God works with human agents in the business of redemption. He does. See, this excludes this concept that if God can move someone's heart and change them and convict them and regenerate them, then I can sit on my hands. No.
53:11 He looks for a specific quality of Christians, and then he works through them. And what I see here in the progression of thought is when we as believers, we furnish ourselves this way. When we place these things in our lives, we better position ourselves and people that we confront to know truth and to be led to repentance. Some of you in here may be more passionate than others. Some of you in here are better at the kindness thing than at the teaching thing.
53:38 And some in here are more better at the teaching thing than at the kindness thing. We need both. And let me say this. This is so important to apply because when we deal with people as a church that is passionate about truth, notice Paul's language. He says that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil after being captured by him to do his will.
53:59 People are not your enemy. They're held hostage. You wanna be gentle. You wanna be soft? You wanna be calculated with your words?
54:07 You wanna know when to say it and how to say it? Realize that they are held prisoner. They are not your enemy. They're duped, and they're clouded, and they need you, by the grace of God, to help them see liberty. May we pray and ask God to help us apply these things in wisdom for the sake of the glory of Jesus Christ and his gospel.
54:30 Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we come before you as vessels in your house, longing to cleanse ourselves from that which is dishonorable so that we may be vessels of honorable use. Lord, we have heard your word concerning the instruments that you see fit for your use in the business of rescuing people from satanic bondage. And, Lord, we wanna be those people. We wanna be those people that would be found ready when you see a a soul in the neighborhood that doesn't know but is longing to know Christ.
55:23 Thank you for the awesome truth that your roster is very large. You do not only have a handful that will do all this work. You have a great roster of people. Fathers and mothers, students, doctors, businessmen, stay at home moms, part time workers at a retail store. Lord, you have a great roster.
55:44 But, Lord, we lay our lives down. We ask you to help us to not be quarrelsome, but to be kind to everyone. Lord, to be able to know the truth and to be able to communicate the truth despite our personalities or our limitations, God. Your Holy Spirit has been given to us to be powerful witnesses. Lord, to patiently endure evil because this is a difficult work where people will scorn us and mock us even within the church.
56:11 Help us be like the master who did not retaliate with personal insults, but remained on the path of not sinning with his mouth, but being bold with the truth. And Lord, we ask that you would give us the the love and the compassion to be able to correct others, but with a certain attitude that would not turn them off, but also at times to be bold when we need to to shake people from their deception. Give us the wisdom to know how to walk in what, at what time, with which person. Lord, we submit ourselves because we wanna be used with our lives, and we give you glory for the wisdom that you have provided this morning so that we would not be left in the dark. We say yes to your will and to your commands, and we ask you, oh, God, in heaven, use us.
56:58 Use us in 2021 for your name's sake. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Can we stand as we worship the Lord?
