1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,440 Second Timothy chapter 2, that's toward the back of your Bible. 2 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:13,720 If you find any book that starts with a T, you close because they're all right there 3 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:15,920 together. 4 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:22,240 Second Timothy chapter 2 verse 8. 5 00:00:22,240 --> 00:00:27,720 This is Paul's last known letter that we have that he had wrote to Timothy. 6 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:32,800 Timothy was continuing on much in the same way that Paul did in the work of sharing the 7 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:33,960 gospel. 8 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:39,320 Paul has given Timothy some instruction, some encouragement, but what he's really been talking 9 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:45,320 about in Second Timothy so far, we've kind of seen a theme, and that is the theme of 10 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:50,320 suffering for the gospel, that Paul talks about the suffering that he is doing for the 11 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:56,120 gospel and acknowledging even for Timothy that it's going to be difficult for Timothy. 12 00:00:56,120 --> 00:01:00,760 That it's not always easy to live for Jesus. 13 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:03,680 It's not always easy to carry out the work of God. 14 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:09,800 It's not always popular to preach and teach the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 15 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:16,000 That was true in Timothy's day, and 2,000 years later, that has not changed. 16 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:21,560 The message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is still not very popular among many people 17 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:22,560 in the world. 18 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:28,120 Sadly, it's becoming less and less popular even in these United States. 19 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:34,240 Nonetheless, however, Paul is encouraging Timothy to be like a soldier. 20 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:36,720 We saw that in the verses before. 21 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:40,680 Don't get tangled up with things of the world, but be like a soldier who is trained, who 22 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:45,360 is ready to carry out his instructions, whatever God calls us to. 23 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:49,160 We want to be those who are faithful to do the will of God. 24 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:51,720 We want to be like the athlete that Paul reverends. 25 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:56,800 Those who are trained and ready for the work that is before us. 26 00:01:56,800 --> 00:02:02,080 He's really giving Timothy some encouragement, and it's good encouragement for us. 27 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:08,560 Even if we are not preachers or missionaries or in ministry in that way, we still all live 28 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:09,760 for Jesus. 29 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:14,280 We still all, in some way, as believers, we are sharing the gospel with people through 30 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:17,040 the way that we live. 31 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:21,180 Sometimes we may have opportunity to really dig into scripture. 32 00:02:21,180 --> 00:02:26,240 Other times it may just simply be our acts of love that people see, but those are the 33 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:33,320 opportunities that God gives us to carry out his will and to show other people the love 34 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:34,320 of Christ. 35 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:40,920 When we show people the love of Christ, that gives us that opportunity many times to tell 36 00:02:40,920 --> 00:02:43,320 them about who Jesus is. 37 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:47,520 Sometimes we have opportunities to share the love of Christ with people, and they don't 38 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:49,200 want to hear it. 39 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:51,160 Sometimes it may be difficult for us. 40 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:52,720 It may be scary. 41 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:58,740 Nonetheless, if God places some opportunity in our life or calls us to serve in some way, 42 00:02:58,740 --> 00:03:01,560 we don't want to shy away from that suffering. 43 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:07,400 We want to be faithful as Paul has encouraged Timothy to be those who suffer for the gospel 44 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:09,320 of Jesus Christ. 45 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:13,120 With that in mind, that's a little refresher of what got us to this point, so we'll kind 46 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:16,280 of continue along that same line of thinking tonight. 47 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:18,800 Let's pray, and we'll get started. 48 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:20,320 Father God, we come to you. 49 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:25,080 We thank you for your good word, and I pray, dear Lord, that you would encourage us, because 50 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:26,880 God, sometimes it's hard. 51 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:31,340 It's hard for us to work up the courage to share your word with others, or maybe to pray 52 00:03:31,340 --> 00:03:36,080 with others, dear Lord, or to really step out, God, and ask somebody about Jesus, or 53 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:37,080 to tell them about Jesus. 54 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:42,320 It shouldn't be hard for us, dear Lord, but the fact of the matter is, it is kind of scary. 55 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:44,300 We don't always know what to say. 56 00:03:44,300 --> 00:03:46,640 People don't always react in a good way. 57 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:50,640 God, I pray that you would help us not to be afraid, but that your Holy Spirit would 58 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:55,400 protect us and guide us, and help us in our opportunities to serve, that we would be those 59 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:59,600 who are willing to suffer for you, if that's what it takes, dear Lord. 60 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:04,080 I suspect that there are, sometimes in our life, that we do have to suffer. 61 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:08,740 I pray, God, that we would be faithful to remember why we are suffering, and we're doing 62 00:04:08,740 --> 00:04:09,740 it for you, dear Lord. 63 00:04:09,740 --> 00:04:11,880 I pray that you bless the reading of your word. 64 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:16,960 I pray that you'd be glorified tonight, and I ask these things in Jesus' name, amen. 65 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:24,200 All right, 2 Timothy chapter 2, verse 8. 66 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:31,400 Keep your attention on Jesus Christ as risen from the dead and descended from David. 67 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:33,800 This is according to my gospel. 68 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:37,800 Okay, so this is real, simple instruction. 69 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:43,880 What do we do when life is before us, and life is difficult, and serving God is difficult, 70 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,160 and sometimes it involves suffering? 71 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:47,160 What do we do? 72 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:49,360 Well, Paul gives us good instruction. 73 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:53,160 Keep your attention on Jesus Christ, okay? 74 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:56,200 Life is not always going to be easy. 75 00:04:56,200 --> 00:05:00,640 It's not always going to be easy to live for the Lord. 76 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:04,200 Sometimes we really have to fight temptations for things of the world. 77 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:09,600 Sometimes it's really hard for us to do the right thing, the thing that God calls us to. 78 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:13,520 Nonetheless, God tells us what the right thing to do is. 79 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:15,000 He gives us His instructions. 80 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:20,360 It's not always easy to follow those instructions, but when we're on life's journey and life 81 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:24,320 gets difficult and things are getting tough and it's hard to stand up for God and it's 82 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:29,860 hard to avoid those sins and it's hard to stay away from that temptation, we need to 83 00:05:29,860 --> 00:05:37,200 remember to keep our attention on Jesus Christ, because it is through Jesus Christ that we 84 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:44,680 will have strength, especially in the context in those situations where we may be suffering 85 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:46,000 for Jesus. 86 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:50,800 Now maybe we've never experienced this before, or maybe you have, I don't know, but there 87 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:58,120 certainly are brothers and sisters in Christ in the world today who are suffering greatly 88 00:05:58,120 --> 00:05:59,120 for Jesus. 89 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:03,120 And you can go back and you can read about some of these people. 90 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:05,640 You can go back and read about Jim Elliot. 91 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:08,720 That's a good one to look up when you go home tonight. 92 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:11,840 You can go home and look up Richard Wurmbrand. 93 00:06:11,840 --> 00:06:17,200 That's a great person to look up and read their stories and read some of the stories 94 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:18,560 about those who are with them. 95 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:21,160 I can't think of the guy's name that was with Jim Elliot. 96 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:22,160 There was a movie about him. 97 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:24,160 I think it's called Tip of the Spear. 98 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:25,160 Fantastic movie. 99 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:28,560 And it talks about Jim Elliot and some of these other missionaries. 100 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:33,560 They go to these folks that are totally unreached and they end up killing them. 101 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:35,680 They end up killing them all. 102 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:39,680 And then eventually, I believe it's Jim Elliot's wife that goes back down and eventually is 103 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:44,480 able to share the gospel with the very people that killed her husband. 104 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:50,360 Beautiful story of people who know that there's going to be great suffering for the Lord and 105 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:52,880 yet they are willing to suffer for the Lord. 106 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:56,600 But why are they willing to suffer for the Lord? 107 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:59,880 Because their hope is in Jesus Christ. 108 00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:03,600 Because they are keeping their attention on Jesus Christ. 109 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:09,040 And what does Paul say that we see when we focus our attention on Jesus Christ? 110 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:15,200 He says we keep our attention on Jesus Christ as risen from the dead. 111 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:16,200 Okay? 112 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:18,080 So there's our hope, right? 113 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:22,460 It's not like we're sitting here saying, okay, we're going to serve this Jesus and he was 114 00:07:22,460 --> 00:07:25,480 nailed to a cross and that was the end of his life and that was it. 115 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:28,280 Well, what kind of Savior would that be worth serving? 116 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:30,840 Well, that wouldn't be a good Savior worth serving. 117 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:32,720 And Paul even acknowledges that. 118 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:37,640 We would be, we're here to be pitied more than anybody if we were just to serve somebody 119 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:41,160 who died, who is not risen from the dead. 120 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:43,280 But here's what Paul is saying. 121 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:47,480 Keep your attention on Jesus Christ as risen from the dead. 122 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:51,180 As the song says, we serve a risen Savior. 123 00:07:51,180 --> 00:07:52,900 We don't serve a dead Savior. 124 00:07:52,900 --> 00:07:54,860 So that's where our hope is. 125 00:07:54,860 --> 00:08:03,000 We are reminded that Jesus Christ has arose, that he has risen from the dead. 126 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:07,840 And that is our hope, to know that even if we are in the midst of suffering for Jesus 127 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:14,400 Christ, even if it should cost us our very life, even if it's our nieces or nephews or 128 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:20,200 sons or daughters or uncles or aunts or mothers or fathers or whoever it is, people that we 129 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:26,440 may know that are doing the work of God, even should their life be taken in service to the 130 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:29,160 Lord, we still can rejoice. 131 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:30,160 Why? 132 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:35,120 Because they have been serving a risen Savior and they have died serving a risen Savior 133 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:40,380 and they themselves have been risen in Jesus Christ. 134 00:08:40,380 --> 00:08:43,800 And so Paul says to Timothy, look, it is going to be difficult. 135 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:49,160 I have suffered for the gospel and you are going to suffer for the gospel if you keep 136 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:50,360 doing this work. 137 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:57,760 Therefore, when the going gets tough, keep your attention on Jesus Christ as risen from 138 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:01,080 the dead and descended from David. 139 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:06,120 Now, I'm not sure exactly why I threw that and descended from David here. 140 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:11,720 Perhaps he's simply reminding Timothy of, by the way, this is the Messiah. 141 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:13,560 There was a Messiah that was said to come. 142 00:09:13,560 --> 00:09:15,640 He was to come from the line of David. 143 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:18,040 And don't forget that this is him. 144 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:19,800 Don't think that there's another one coming. 145 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:23,440 Even today, I suspect that there are still plenty of people in this world that teach, 146 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:25,080 oh, Jesus hasn't come yet. 147 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:26,240 He's coming. 148 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:28,080 Maybe that's what Paul is saying here. 149 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:33,720 No, here, I'm telling you, I'm reminding you that as you focus on Jesus, know that he is 150 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:34,720 the one. 151 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:36,960 He is the one who come from David. 152 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:42,840 Maybe he's simply saying, look, Jesus suffered and died and has risen from the dead. 153 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:44,540 He's also a descendant of David. 154 00:09:44,540 --> 00:09:48,400 That is to say, he is a man just like you are and I am. 155 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:50,240 And he endured these things. 156 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:55,320 And so let that be our example and let that be our motivation that we serve a savior who 157 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:58,800 has been through the things that we are going through. 158 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:02,200 And yet he has been victorious. 159 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:05,360 He has been victorious over those who have come against him. 160 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:07,800 He has been victorious over death. 161 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:13,720 So as we serve the Lord, if we suffer for the Lord, then let us keep our attention on 162 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:19,880 Jesus to know that we are not suffering in vain, that Jesus Christ is victorious. 163 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:24,920 And so maybe tonight we need to refocus our attention, whether we're suffering for the 164 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:29,520 Lord in the same way that maybe Timothy was, or maybe there's just some struggles in our 165 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:32,000 life that just kind of lead to some general suffering. 166 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:36,960 This is good advice for that too, that we need to refocus our eyes on Jesus to say, 167 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:37,960 you know what? 168 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:39,440 Jesus has been victorious. 169 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:40,720 Jesus has got this. 170 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:43,360 Jesus is in control here. 171 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:48,880 And so we need to refocus on our one who has the strength that we need in our times of 172 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:50,560 suffering. 173 00:10:50,560 --> 00:10:53,560 This is according to my gospel, he says at the end of verse eight. 174 00:10:53,560 --> 00:10:54,840 Now what in the world does that mean? 175 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:55,840 My gospel? 176 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:56,840 Wait a minute. 177 00:10:56,840 --> 00:11:00,360 We thought this was the gospel of Jesus Christ, the gospel of the Lord. 178 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:02,880 What does he mean when he says my gospel? 179 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:06,720 Well, this is something that he says on a few occasions. 180 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:10,440 I think at least three times Paul says this in the New Testament. 181 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:12,960 He refers to my gospel. 182 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:19,280 Now as Paul somehow setting himself up as someone special that he's preaching some unique 183 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:24,200 and special gospel that's not that of Jesus Christ, well, no, not at all. 184 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:29,040 Paul is certainly one who is preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. 185 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:33,260 Maybe when he says my gospel, he's simply saying, this is the gospel that I have accepted 186 00:11:33,260 --> 00:11:34,260 and lived by. 187 00:11:34,260 --> 00:11:38,200 It is mine because I have become a follower of Jesus Christ. 188 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:40,160 Perhaps that's what he's saying. 189 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:45,200 Perhaps he's acknowledging that, look, Jesus has revealed himself to me. 190 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:50,920 God has called me to a special task to go to the Gentiles, which was a unique task at 191 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:51,920 the time. 192 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:56,600 You remember, for those of you who come to Sunday school, we've been studying Acts and 193 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:59,640 we've almost made that transition to Paul. 194 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:01,820 It started out mainly about Peter. 195 00:12:01,820 --> 00:12:03,000 We were introduced to Paul. 196 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:08,120 It goes back to Peter for a brief time and Peter has a similar experience where God reveals 197 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:09,120 to him. 198 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:13,800 He says, my word is going to everybody, the Jew and the Gentile, and then pretty soon 199 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:16,840 the focus is going to go back on Paul. 200 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:23,320 But Paul's focus, his mission was very unique and that Paul was called to the Gentiles. 201 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:28,120 Now, certainly he was not the only one, but maybe when he says my gospel here, maybe he's 202 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:33,320 saying, look, what my calling is, what God has called me to do. 203 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:37,960 I'm doing this work according to what God called me to do and this work according to 204 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:41,800 what God called me to do has caused me to suffer. 205 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:46,840 But nonetheless, I'm keeping my attention on Jesus who has been raised from the dead, 206 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:49,360 who is the descendant of David. 207 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:53,040 This, he says, is according to my gospel. 208 00:12:53,040 --> 00:13:01,160 Verse nine, I suffer for it to the point of being bound like a criminal, but God's message 209 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:02,680 is not bound. 210 00:13:02,680 --> 00:13:06,080 Now, that is a good verse right there. 211 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:11,200 Now, if you read through scripture, it does not take you long in the New Testament to 212 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:16,320 see that God's people did not want to hear from Jesus. 213 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:17,760 Now, some of them did. 214 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:19,960 I'm not saying, I'm not throwing everybody under the bus. 215 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:24,200 Some of them did, but some of them wanted to shut him up. 216 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:28,800 You may remember when we talked about rediscovering God's word a couple of Sundays ago, we talked 217 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:34,000 about Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, what he didn't want to hear God's word, right? 218 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:38,040 The Jeremiah, the prophet, had sent the scroll to him and he began to read this, or it was 219 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:39,040 read to him. 220 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:41,360 He began to cut it off and throw it into the fire. 221 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:48,240 So this idea that God wants to send people to tell those who were going to hear about 222 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:52,800 his goodness, about his mercy, about his grace, to call them to repentance, the idea that 223 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:55,920 people don't want to hear that message is not new. 224 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:57,360 That's in the Old Testament. 225 00:13:57,360 --> 00:13:58,640 We see it in the New Testament. 226 00:13:58,640 --> 00:14:01,720 Jesus comes, people do not want to hear that message. 227 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:06,000 Eventually, a bunch of them ended up nailing Jesus to the cross. 228 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:10,200 And so here, the apostles follow in Jesus' footsteps. 229 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:15,360 And while we don't know exactly what happened to all of them, history tells us that most 230 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:19,880 of them died doing the work that God called them to. 231 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:24,560 Here we have this example of Paul, who was continuing to do the work of the Lord and 232 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:27,480 who was suffering in the work of the Lord. 233 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:33,080 And so the fact that people do not want to hear the gospel is nothing new, and it's not 234 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:34,080 new today. 235 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:35,080 It has not changed. 236 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:40,480 There are certainly plenty of people in our world today, even some, believe it or not, 237 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:42,880 right here in Liberty, Mississippi. 238 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:46,840 There are some people here that do not want to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. 239 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:51,560 Now, praise the Lord, we're still in a good spot where we don't get thrown in jail for 240 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:55,840 preaching sermons like this tonight or telling people we see about Jesus. 241 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:58,600 There are plenty of places in the world where that's not the case. 242 00:14:58,600 --> 00:14:59,600 But what does Paul say? 243 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:01,000 He says, I suffer for it. 244 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:02,000 What? 245 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:05,400 For the gospel of Jesus to the point of being bound like a criminal. 246 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:08,600 So Paul, he's saying, look, I know what it means to suffer. 247 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:09,600 I've been imprisoned. 248 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:10,600 I've been bound. 249 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:12,040 I've been treated like a criminal. 250 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:16,400 I know what it means to suffer for the gospel of Jesus Christ. 251 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:22,120 And the people who are coming against me are trying to keep this message suppressed. 252 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:24,760 They don't want the message to get out. 253 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:25,760 Sounds familiar? 254 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:26,760 It should. 255 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:28,800 We see it in our world today. 256 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:33,240 People in our world today do not want the gospel of Jesus Christ to get out. 257 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:35,880 They do not want God's word to be read. 258 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:38,520 They do not want Christians to have a say. 259 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:42,180 They do not want the name of Jesus spoken. 260 00:15:42,180 --> 00:15:44,120 This is what's going on in our world today. 261 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:45,760 We are up against it more and more. 262 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:47,800 We hear more and more against it. 263 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:51,360 Our world does not want to hear about Jesus. 264 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:54,760 Now, I'll give you one praise report to the opposite of that. 265 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:57,200 I had a good experience this past Tuesday. 266 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:01,240 The school asked me to come and speak to the elementary students and I say, praise the 267 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:02,240 Lord for that. 268 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:03,680 Now, I don't know how often they do that. 269 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:09,900 Maybe every week, if I'm not mistaken, but they teach these kids the word of God. 270 00:16:09,900 --> 00:16:13,280 They let them hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. 271 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:14,280 Praise the Lord. 272 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:19,360 That is the most important foundation, way more important than the math and the science 273 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:21,640 and the English and all those things. 274 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:26,320 All those things are important if they are not being taught the word of God, then they 275 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:28,620 are off to a bad start. 276 00:16:28,620 --> 00:16:29,620 Praise the Lord. 277 00:16:29,620 --> 00:16:34,460 There are still places in our world and schools in our world where people have the opportunity 278 00:16:34,460 --> 00:16:40,200 to hear the word of the Lord, but the world does not want the gospel of Jesus Christ and 279 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:42,800 the word of God spoken. 280 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:44,400 What does Paul say? 281 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:48,460 But God's message is not bound. 282 00:16:48,460 --> 00:16:50,560 They can bound the messengers. 283 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:52,440 They can kill God's people. 284 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:54,680 They can kill the ones bringing the message. 285 00:16:54,680 --> 00:17:00,400 They can imprison the ones bringing the message and they have for 2,000 years. 286 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:08,240 Here tonight in 2024, I am standing here preaching to you the gospel of Jesus Christ. 287 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:13,880 Should Jesus Christ not return in 2,000 more years, guess what's going to happen? 288 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:19,680 There's going to be somebody standing behind pulpits all around the world and living rooms 289 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:25,100 all around the world and school campuses all around the world and they are going to be 290 00:17:25,100 --> 00:17:28,100 preaching and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. 291 00:17:28,100 --> 00:17:30,380 It will not be bound. 292 00:17:30,380 --> 00:17:31,380 We need to remember that. 293 00:17:31,380 --> 00:17:32,800 We need not lose hope. 294 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:34,920 Sometimes it may look like, oh, we're losing the battle. 295 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:43,800 I can promise you as I'm standing here that God's word will continue to reign true, but 296 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:52,320 God uses us, you and me, to carry out His work and to teach people His word. 297 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:54,920 So it's important that we listen to instructions like this. 298 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:55,920 Okay, it's tough. 299 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:58,760 Okay, God wants us to keep on doing the work. 300 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:00,740 It's not always easy to do the work. 301 00:18:00,740 --> 00:18:02,760 It's not well received in the Old Testament. 302 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:05,000 It's not well received in the New Testament. 303 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:09,480 It's not well received in 2024, but nonetheless, what does God call us to? 304 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:16,200 He calls us to do the work and we need to remember to be faithful to do that. 305 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:24,480 Verse 10, this is why I endure all things for the elect so they may also obtain salvation, 306 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:27,920 which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 307 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:30,000 All right, this is a good verse. 308 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:31,000 So Paul says, I've suffered. 309 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:32,160 I've been in prison. 310 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:33,160 I'm bound. 311 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:35,120 The message is not bound. 312 00:18:35,120 --> 00:18:37,480 And why do I keep doing this? 313 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:42,640 Why do I put myself through all of this imprisonment, all of these things that I put myself through, 314 00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:44,160 all of this suffering? 315 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:47,520 He says because people need to hear the word. 316 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:50,560 There are those that God wants to save. 317 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:54,760 There are souls that God wants to bring to salvation through Jesus Christ. 318 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:59,560 And how can they be saved if somebody does not tell them the word? 319 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:02,680 Here's a good scripture for us to look at tonight. 320 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:11,760 Romans chapter 10 verse 14, Romans chapter 10 verse 14 says this, but how can they call 321 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:17,600 on him they have not believed in and how can they believe without hearing about him and 322 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:22,100 how can they hear without a preacher? 323 00:19:22,100 --> 00:19:23,100 What is Paul saying? 324 00:19:23,100 --> 00:19:28,920 He says, look, there are people who need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and I am the 325 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:31,160 one who's going to tell them that. 326 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:35,920 Because if we don't tell them those who are in Christ Jesus, if we are not willing to 327 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:40,440 tell people about Jesus, then who else is going to tell them? 328 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:43,360 Well, it's God's people that he calls to tell them. 329 00:19:43,360 --> 00:19:46,920 Now, certainly God can work in miraculous ways to the Holy Spirit. 330 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:51,640 People can stumble upon the word of God, but it's God's people who are going to have the 331 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:56,680 biggest impact and the biggest opportunity to reach other people for the gospel of Jesus 332 00:19:56,680 --> 00:19:57,680 Christ. 333 00:19:57,680 --> 00:19:59,040 And Paul says, look, I have a mission. 334 00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:03,560 I've been sent because there are some who are going to accept Jesus Christ and they 335 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:09,640 need to be told about who Jesus is. 336 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:17,640 Verse 11, this saying is trustworthy for if we have died with him, we will also live with 337 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:18,720 him. 338 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:22,440 If we endure, we will also reign with him. 339 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:26,800 If we deny him, he will also deny us. 340 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:33,000 If we are faithless, he remains faithful or he cannot deny himself. 341 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:39,160 All right, just going to take a little unpacking here for us to kind of try to figure out what 342 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:40,400 this is saying. 343 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:43,960 For the most part, it's pretty simple apart from that last verse. 344 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:46,480 So it gives Timothy this instruction. 345 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:47,480 He gives him this call. 346 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:49,600 He says, look, you're going to suffer. 347 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:56,880 And he gives him what I would call here both a word of encouragement and a word of warning. 348 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:02,520 Now these are good things if you do the right thing, but they are bad things if you do the 349 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:03,520 wrong thing. 350 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:05,400 What's the first one he says there? 351 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:10,880 For if we have died with him, we will also live with him. 352 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:15,280 Now we can presume there that the opposite is also true. 353 00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:19,720 If we have died with Christ, that is we have died to ourself, we have come to faith in 354 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:27,040 Jesus Christ, we have said, Lord Jesus, I am a sinner and I come before you because 355 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:32,020 the wages of sin is death and in my sin, I will die. 356 00:21:32,020 --> 00:21:33,560 So I die to myself. 357 00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:35,600 I die with you. 358 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,600 I lay aside my old self. 359 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:44,080 And therefore, if we have died with Jesus, we will also live with him. 360 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:45,200 Praise the Lord. 361 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:46,200 That's good instruction. 362 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:48,920 But what if we have not died with Jesus? 363 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:51,360 What if we have not given Jesus our sins? 364 00:21:51,360 --> 00:21:52,640 What if we have not repented? 365 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:55,580 What if we have not made him our Lord and Savior? 366 00:21:55,580 --> 00:21:59,080 What if we have not died to our sins, to our self? 367 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:02,120 Well, then we're not going to live with him. 368 00:22:02,120 --> 00:22:05,960 The only way we receive eternal life is through Jesus Christ. 369 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:12,040 And if we have not come to Jesus Christ, then we are not going to receive eternal life. 370 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:15,640 So if we have died with Christ, we will live with him. 371 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:16,640 Praise the Lord. 372 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:17,640 Why? 373 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:21,160 Because we look at Christ as one who has been raised from the dead. 374 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:25,520 Okay, this is good encouragement if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ. 375 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:29,080 That's good news for us today, brothers and sisters in Christ. 376 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:30,680 We've trusted in Jesus. 377 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:32,960 We have eternal life. 378 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:36,160 If you have not trusted in Jesus, you do not have eternal life. 379 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:37,880 For the wages of sin is death. 380 00:22:37,880 --> 00:22:41,080 And one day, we'll stand before God in judgment. 381 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:43,760 And what a scary day that's going to be. 382 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:47,240 We'll either be with God for all of eternity or we'll be separated from God for all of 383 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:48,240 eternity. 384 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:50,000 We'll go to heaven or we'll go to hell. 385 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:51,480 Those are the two options. 386 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:55,160 If we have died with Christ, we will live with Christ. 387 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:59,240 If we have not died with Christ, we will be separated from Christ. 388 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:01,920 All right, verse 12. 389 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:06,640 For if we endure, we will also reign with him. 390 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:09,280 Okay, well, that's pretty easy to understand. 391 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:10,280 If we endure what? 392 00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:13,320 Well, in the context, what is he talking about? 393 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:15,880 Enduring the suffering for doing the work of Jesus. 394 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:17,920 It's not easy to live for Jesus. 395 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:19,520 We have to fight through it. 396 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:21,720 It's tough to do the right thing sometimes. 397 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:26,280 It's tough to follow the commands of God because the temptations of the world are pulling at 398 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:29,000 us and the temptation of sin is pulling at us. 399 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:31,800 And it's not always easy to live for the Lord. 400 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:35,120 It's not always easy to take a stand for the Lord. 401 00:23:35,120 --> 00:23:38,840 Sometimes it leads to suffering and we have to endure. 402 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:40,400 That's what the Bible calls us to. 403 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:42,280 It calls us to endure. 404 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:43,280 What does Paul say? 405 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:47,680 He says, if we endure, we will also reign with him. 406 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:48,760 Praise the Lord. 407 00:23:48,760 --> 00:23:50,480 Jesus is victorious. 408 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:55,400 If we continue to trust in him and endure through the suffering and not turn back, then 409 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:57,740 we will be victorious. 410 00:23:57,740 --> 00:24:00,360 We will be with Jesus for all of eternity. 411 00:24:00,360 --> 00:24:01,640 We will reign with him. 412 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:05,720 We won't have to worry about our sin anymore. 413 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:06,720 Pretty self-explanatory. 414 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:09,440 Well, what if we don't endure? 415 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:15,000 Well, it stands to reason that if we endure, we will reign with him. 416 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:18,640 That is to say, if we do not endure, that we will not reign with him. 417 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:23,000 Now we're seeing this played out for us in the book of Hebrews. 418 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:27,440 What we see is a group of Jewish Christians who are not enduring. 419 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:30,200 They are being tempted to stop enduring. 420 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:35,960 They are those who are suffering and the author of Hebrews is essentially doing the same thing 421 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:41,520 that Paul is doing here by telling them, keep your attention on Jesus Christ. 422 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:43,720 That's what the author of Hebrews is saying. 423 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:44,720 Why? 424 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:50,280 Because in their suffering, they are not enduring and they're wanting to give up. 425 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:55,360 So if they do not endure, then they're not going to reign with Jesus Christ. 426 00:24:55,360 --> 00:24:57,520 But if we do endure, praise the Lord. 427 00:24:57,520 --> 00:24:59,480 This is a good encouraging word. 428 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:03,960 This is what we need to be encouraged by when we're suffering and our struggle with sin 429 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:09,640 and suffering with people who are coming against us, that we want to be those who endure so 430 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:13,080 that we can be those who reign with him. 431 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:21,480 All right, the next part of verse 12 here, if we deny him, he will also deny us. 432 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:22,480 Okay. 433 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:25,280 Well, it stands to reason there. 434 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:30,440 If we don't deny Jesus, then he will not deny us. 435 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:37,360 If we say, no, I'm a follower of Jesus Christ, I'm not going to deny him under any circumstances, 436 00:25:37,360 --> 00:25:39,080 then he's not going to deny us. 437 00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:40,960 But what if we do deny Jesus? 438 00:25:40,960 --> 00:25:43,440 Well, that's a scary thing. 439 00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:44,700 What does Paul say? 440 00:25:44,700 --> 00:25:49,880 If we deny Jesus, he will also deny us. 441 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:57,280 And so he's given Timothy both some encouragement and some warning that as long as we are faithful 442 00:25:57,280 --> 00:26:03,040 to Jesus Christ and obedient to Jesus Christ and trust in Jesus Christ and have died with 443 00:26:03,040 --> 00:26:05,200 Jesus, we will live with him. 444 00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:07,880 And if we endure, we will reign with him. 445 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:10,880 And if we don't deny him, he won't deny us. 446 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:14,880 But if we deny Jesus, he will deny us. 447 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:16,520 And what other hope is there? 448 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:19,000 If we deny Jesus, what other hope is there? 449 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:21,280 There is no more hope. 450 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:24,640 So Paul says, look, you're going to have to suffer, but remember these things. 451 00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:27,880 Now, it appears as though this is some type of saying. 452 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:29,400 I don't really know where it comes from. 453 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:34,240 It's not a scripture, but Paul appears to be quoting something that is known. 454 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:38,160 Maybe it's just some kind of a Christian creed or something of the day. 455 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:39,280 I'm not sure. 456 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:43,120 But this is something obviously that Timothy would have been aware of. 457 00:26:43,120 --> 00:26:47,200 And these are good words, good instructions and good warnings for us tonight. 458 00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:48,920 All right, verse 13. 459 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:51,540 This one is a little more difficult. 460 00:26:51,540 --> 00:26:58,280 If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself. 461 00:26:58,280 --> 00:27:00,880 Okay, so what are we to make of that verse? 462 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:04,680 Well, there's a couple of ways that we could take that verse. 463 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:08,800 Maybe the most popular way that you usually will hear that verse, and maybe you use it 464 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:15,360 in this way, is to say that no matter what we do, if we are faithless, that is, even 465 00:27:15,360 --> 00:27:19,920 if we lose our faith in Jesus, we have nothing to worry about. 466 00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:20,920 Why? 467 00:27:20,920 --> 00:27:25,920 Because if we are faithless, God remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself. 468 00:27:25,920 --> 00:27:30,680 That is to say that if we put faith in Jesus Christ and we've received the Holy Spirit, 469 00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:37,120 even if we lose our faith and we are no longer faithful, that God remains faithful to us. 470 00:27:37,120 --> 00:27:39,880 Now, that's probably the most popular interpretation. 471 00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:43,080 However, I don't know that that's the correct interpretation. 472 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:44,080 It might be. 473 00:27:44,080 --> 00:27:46,480 And if you hold that view, you could be correct in that. 474 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:48,560 That is one view, a very popular view. 475 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:50,480 We'll talk about a couple of more. 476 00:27:50,480 --> 00:27:55,160 However, that doesn't really seem to even fit the context of the rest of the verses, 477 00:27:55,160 --> 00:28:00,360 because just before in the verse, he says, if you deny him, he will also deny you. 478 00:28:00,360 --> 00:28:01,960 So that would seem to kind of contradict. 479 00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:03,140 Okay, wait a minute. 480 00:28:03,140 --> 00:28:09,000 So if I deny Jesus, he'll deny me, but then the next verse, but I can lose my faith and 481 00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:10,280 God will remain faithful? 482 00:28:10,280 --> 00:28:12,600 Well, that doesn't really seem to make sense. 483 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:14,880 And I don't think that that fits the context. 484 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:18,860 However, that could be the correct interpretation. 485 00:28:18,860 --> 00:28:24,840 Another interpretation could be that, well, sometimes even as Christians, we are faithless 486 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:28,880 in the sense that we doubt, not in the sense that we've lost faith in Jesus, not in the 487 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:31,040 sense that we say, I don't believe in Jesus. 488 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:32,040 I don't trust in Jesus. 489 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:33,320 I'm done with Jesus. 490 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:34,320 Not in that sense. 491 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:37,120 But there are times that our faith is weak. 492 00:28:37,120 --> 00:28:40,000 There are times that we really don't have faith at all. 493 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:43,680 There are times where doubt and fear may get the better of us. 494 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:45,800 And maybe that's what it's talking about. 495 00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:52,200 That even if Timothy is suffering, even if there are days where he fails, God is still 496 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:53,920 going to remain faithful. 497 00:28:53,920 --> 00:28:57,440 That God knows that we are human, that God knows that we are going to doubt, that God 498 00:28:57,440 --> 00:28:59,400 knows that we are going to fear. 499 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:04,240 And even if our faith wavers, that is not to say that if we lose our faith completely 500 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:11,240 in Jesus, but if our faith wavers for a moment, that God remains faithful even in those times 501 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:13,400 because God cannot deny himself. 502 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:16,080 That's another possible interpretation. 503 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:20,000 I think that one probably has some strength to it. 504 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:23,040 That seems to fit a little bit into the context. 505 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:24,640 There's also a third, and there may be more. 506 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:28,400 I'm just telling you these that I believe are probably the main three. 507 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:32,320 There's also a third interpretation. 508 00:29:32,320 --> 00:29:39,920 That is to say that God is always going to remain faithful to his plan and to carry out 509 00:29:39,920 --> 00:29:41,260 his plan. 510 00:29:41,260 --> 00:29:44,960 That is to say, okay, Timothy, you've been called to do this work. 511 00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:47,200 I've been called to do this work. 512 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:52,800 But even if we fail, even if those that we go speak to fail, even if people begin to 513 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:59,080 deny Jesus and forget who he is and nobody's turning to Jesus, and even those who are called 514 00:29:59,080 --> 00:30:05,480 to preach and teach, stop preaching and teach, and even if everybody loses their faith, 515 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:06,920 God will remain faithful. 516 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:10,160 That is to say, God's not just going to give up. 517 00:30:10,160 --> 00:30:12,000 God's not just going to say, well, I tried. 518 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:16,400 I had a plan in place, and it's falling apart, and nobody's remaining faithful to me, so 519 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:18,280 I'm just going to give up. 520 00:30:18,280 --> 00:30:19,280 Nope. 521 00:30:19,280 --> 00:30:23,440 God's plan is always going to come to fruition. 522 00:30:23,440 --> 00:30:31,200 God always remains faithful to his plan and to the faithful remnant, no matter how unfaithful 523 00:30:31,200 --> 00:30:32,200 they become. 524 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:36,320 Now, that's not to say the unfaithful are saved forever or that they're not going to 525 00:30:36,320 --> 00:30:37,920 face any punishment. 526 00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:42,520 We certainly see examples in the Old Testament where God brings some big judgment. 527 00:30:42,520 --> 00:30:46,320 You remember those folks that God opened up the ground and swallowed them up, them and 528 00:30:46,320 --> 00:30:47,600 all their families? 529 00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:52,160 We see examples of people like this that rebelled against God. 530 00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:57,380 We see when God lets his people be taken into captivity, where he lets enemies come in and 531 00:30:57,380 --> 00:31:02,680 overtake them, or he kills them in the wilderness by snakes because of their disobedience. 532 00:31:02,680 --> 00:31:07,840 Those who are disobedient and rebel, God brings judgment on them. 533 00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:15,400 But even though some along the way are faithless and not all come to faith and trust in God, 534 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:17,720 God's plan has never stopped. 535 00:31:17,720 --> 00:31:20,480 God has remained faithful from the get-go. 536 00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:24,440 God's people have been rotten and been wicked, and there have been some who have trusted 537 00:31:24,440 --> 00:31:31,920 him and who have turned on him and who have been faithless, and even still, God is faithful 538 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:34,080 from beginning to end. 539 00:31:34,080 --> 00:31:39,360 So even if Timothy should fail, God is going to remain faithful. 540 00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:42,920 God's word will always prevail. 541 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:44,880 And perhaps that's the interpretation. 542 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:51,360 That would seem to fit too in the context that if we are faithless, that is to say, 543 00:31:51,360 --> 00:31:54,280 God's plan is not dependent on us. 544 00:31:54,280 --> 00:32:00,600 It is dependent on Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ was faithful to God and accomplished 545 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:02,420 the will of God. 546 00:32:02,420 --> 00:32:06,440 So even if it looks like everybody in the world is as rotten as they can be, that's 547 00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:11,600 not going to change the plan of God because God cannot deny himself. 548 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:16,120 This is said another way, and maybe another verse helps us to understand this. 549 00:32:16,120 --> 00:32:21,960 Romans chapter 3 verse, or excuse me, yeah, Romans chapter 3 verse 3. 550 00:32:21,960 --> 00:32:22,960 What then? 551 00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:28,000 If some were unfaithful, will their unfaithfulness nullify God's faithfulness? 552 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:32,120 Okay, that's exactly, I believe, what Paul is saying here. 553 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:36,160 If some are unfaithful, that doesn't nullify God's faithfulness. 554 00:32:36,160 --> 00:32:38,480 That's not going to change who God is. 555 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:42,800 If some are unfaithful, will their unfaithfulness nullify God's faithfulness? 556 00:32:42,800 --> 00:32:44,920 Absolutely not. 557 00:32:44,920 --> 00:32:50,040 Let God be true even though everyone is a liar. 558 00:32:50,040 --> 00:32:54,440 Now I think that's probably in the context of what Paul is talking about here since he 559 00:32:54,440 --> 00:32:59,000 used very similar language there in Romans chapter 3 verse 3. 560 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:06,080 That is to say that God is going to be faithful to his plan until the end. 561 00:33:06,080 --> 00:33:09,560 But wouldn't it be better if we were those who were faithful to God? 562 00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:11,940 If we were those who endured? 563 00:33:11,940 --> 00:33:17,360 If we were those who did not deny Jesus Christ but rejoiced in Jesus Christ? 564 00:33:17,360 --> 00:33:22,280 Wouldn't it be better if we were those who died to our sin and who died in Jesus Christ 565 00:33:22,280 --> 00:33:26,120 and are raised to be with him and to live forever? 566 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:30,960 Wouldn't it be better if we are those who do what is right and who stay strong in the 567 00:33:30,960 --> 00:33:32,320 faith? 568 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:40,280 Therefore, full circle back to where we started, let us keep our attention on Jesus Christ 569 00:33:40,280 --> 00:33:43,760 because Jesus Christ is the plan of God. 570 00:33:43,760 --> 00:33:47,280 Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the plan of God. 571 00:33:47,280 --> 00:33:53,680 Jesus Christ is the salvation that comes to those who would put their faith in Jesus Christ. 572 00:33:53,680 --> 00:33:57,600 And Paul tells Timothy, it is Jesus who we serve. 573 00:33:57,600 --> 00:34:00,160 It is Jesus who we suffer for. 574 00:34:00,160 --> 00:34:06,520 And even if our suffering gets intense and ends in death, it is Jesus who will raise 575 00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:09,120 us to life for all of eternity. 576 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:10,720 That is our hope today. 577 00:34:10,720 --> 00:34:13,360 That we keep our attention on Jesus. 578 00:34:13,360 --> 00:34:17,880 In the midst of our struggle, in the midst of our pain, in the midst of our suffering 579 00:34:17,880 --> 00:34:24,440 for the gospel, we keep our eyes on Jesus to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, a gospel 580 00:34:24,440 --> 00:34:29,840 that will never be thwarted, a gospel that will never be stopped, a gospel that will 581 00:34:29,840 --> 00:34:32,080 always be spread. 582 00:34:32,080 --> 00:34:36,680 Let us as brothers and sisters in Christ be faithful in our generation to continue to 583 00:34:36,680 --> 00:34:39,360 tell others the good news of Jesus Christ. 584 00:34:39,360 --> 00:34:40,360 Let's pray. 585 00:34:40,360 --> 00:34:41,960 Father God, we come to you. 586 00:34:41,960 --> 00:34:43,560 We thank you for your good word. 587 00:34:43,560 --> 00:34:45,560 I pray that you would help us to grow in it tonight. 588 00:34:45,560 --> 00:34:48,560 I pray that you would help us to focus our attention on Jesus. 589 00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:50,880 Maybe some of us tonight need to refocus. 590 00:34:50,880 --> 00:34:55,360 We need to kind of get things back into focus, dear Lord. 591 00:34:55,360 --> 00:34:57,560 I pray that you would help us to do so. 592 00:34:57,560 --> 00:35:01,560 Dear Lord, maybe there's just some struggling and some pain and some hardships in our life, 593 00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:05,280 and we just need to remember that our strength comes through Jesus. 594 00:35:05,280 --> 00:35:09,680 Dear Lord, maybe there are some today that you have called to share your word, to share 595 00:35:09,680 --> 00:35:12,840 the love of Jesus, to serve you in some way. 596 00:35:12,840 --> 00:35:17,120 And it's scary and it's difficult, and maybe they're facing some opposition. 597 00:35:17,120 --> 00:35:21,120 But God, I pray that you would help them to continue to be strong, that they would continue 598 00:35:21,120 --> 00:35:24,480 to suffer for you, to do your work, and to do your will. 599 00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:30,640 God, help us to be those who would die to ourselves, who would give our sins to Jesus 600 00:35:30,640 --> 00:35:35,360 Christ, who has died for us, dear Lord, so that we would live with him. 601 00:35:35,360 --> 00:35:40,400 Let us be those, dear Lord, who endure in the midst of living for you. 602 00:35:40,400 --> 00:35:45,520 Let us be those, dear Lord, who do not deny Jesus, but who stay strong in the faith, dear 603 00:35:45,520 --> 00:35:46,520 Lord. 604 00:35:46,520 --> 00:35:50,720 If we are some tonight that our faith is weak and we doubt and we fear, I pray that you 605 00:35:50,720 --> 00:35:52,040 would strengthen that, dear Lord. 606 00:35:52,040 --> 00:35:56,200 We need you, because there are some days, dear Lord, that our faith is not what it should 607 00:35:56,200 --> 00:35:57,200 be. 608 00:35:57,200 --> 00:36:02,360 But dear Lord, we thank you that you are in control and that your plans, dear Lord, are 609 00:36:02,360 --> 00:36:04,680 not dependent on us. 610 00:36:04,680 --> 00:36:06,800 Because God, we are a bunch of failures. 611 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:11,360 But dear Lord, even though your plans aren't dependent on us, you call us to be part of 612 00:36:11,360 --> 00:36:12,480 your plan. 613 00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:13,980 You do call us to serve. 614 00:36:13,980 --> 00:36:17,360 You do call us to share your gospel with others, dear Lord. 615 00:36:17,360 --> 00:36:20,800 Jesus has done everything that was needed, God. 616 00:36:20,800 --> 00:36:22,520 Everything was dependent on him. 617 00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:26,920 So let us, dear Lord, trust him and continue to share him with the world. 618 00:36:26,920 --> 00:36:37,240 And I ask these things in Jesus' name, Amen.