WEBVTT 00:00:08.689 --> 00:00:14.250 Good morning, family. Please turn to 1 Timothy 00:00:14.250 --> 00:00:16.370 chapter 6. We'll be finishing up the book today. 00:00:16.629 --> 00:00:19.250 Before we start there, we're going to do the 00:00:19.250 --> 00:00:23.809 catechism reading today from Heidelberg Catechism. 00:00:23.809 --> 00:00:28.269 It's question number 21. So I will read the question 00:00:28.269 --> 00:00:32.390 and you will read the answer. By God's grace, 00:00:32.570 --> 00:00:34.490 I will help to guide you through it because it's 00:00:34.490 --> 00:00:41.929 quite long. Okay. What is true faith? True faith 00:00:41.929 --> 00:00:47.009 is a sure knowledge whereby I accept as true 00:00:47.009 --> 00:00:51.109 all that God has revealed to us in his word. 00:00:51.310 --> 00:00:55.969 At the same time, it is a firm confidence that 00:00:55.969 --> 00:01:01.039 not only to others, but also to me. God has granted 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:04.719 forgiveness of sins, everlasting righteousness 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:09.859 and salvation out of mere grace, only for the 00:01:09.859 --> 00:01:13.879 sake of Christ's merit. The faith of the Holy 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:19.459 Spirit works in my heart by the gospel. If you 00:01:19.459 --> 00:01:21.719 ever get a chance, please take the time to go 00:01:21.719 --> 00:01:24.519 through these catechisms, especially with the 00:01:24.519 --> 00:01:28.730 kids. There is a... a children's catechism, catechism 00:01:28.730 --> 00:01:32.349 for kids. Also, there's an app you can download 00:01:32.349 --> 00:01:34.950 called the Reform Companion. I do encourage you 00:01:34.950 --> 00:01:38.109 that if you don't have that, do it. There's a 00:01:38.109 --> 00:01:39.790 couple of other things we're going to be looking 00:01:39.790 --> 00:01:44.969 to work on and implement over this next year. 00:01:45.530 --> 00:01:47.890 One of those is family worship as we teach and 00:01:47.890 --> 00:01:51.090 train our people to do worship at home. And catechism 00:01:51.090 --> 00:01:54.409 reading is part of that process and also song 00:01:54.409 --> 00:01:58.450 and prayer. So these things are, I think, that 00:01:58.450 --> 00:02:02.530 have been missing in the church for many years 00:02:02.530 --> 00:02:04.969 because we've modernized it to the point that... 00:02:05.129 --> 00:02:07.250 We miss those opportunities to teach our children 00:02:07.250 --> 00:02:09.349 deep theology and the truth about God's scripture 00:02:09.349 --> 00:02:11.509 and his doctrine. So these are opportunities 00:02:11.509 --> 00:02:13.009 for you to be able to do it at home with your 00:02:13.009 --> 00:02:16.789 kids. It also starts to instill in them a reverence 00:02:16.789 --> 00:02:21.530 and an awe for the holy places. And I'm excited 00:02:21.530 --> 00:02:24.650 about that. Anyway, I've been praying for you 00:02:24.650 --> 00:02:27.550 guys, and let's pray as we dig in. Father, I 00:02:27.550 --> 00:02:29.050 want to thank you so much for your goodness and 00:02:29.050 --> 00:02:30.629 faithfulness. Thank you, Lord, for your word. 00:02:31.150 --> 00:02:33.030 Help us to honor and glorify you in all that 00:02:33.030 --> 00:02:35.680 we do. full counsel of your word is spoken, that 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:39.379 your word hits upon the heart. Holy Spirit, that 00:02:39.379 --> 00:02:44.780 you use it to convict and to prick the soul and 00:02:44.780 --> 00:02:47.879 that we would respond in repentance and honor 00:02:47.879 --> 00:02:50.500 and glory of you. We thank you for your faithfulness. 00:02:50.819 --> 00:02:52.719 We thank you that your word is living and active, 00:02:52.759 --> 00:02:55.259 sharper than a double -edged sword. And Lord, 00:02:55.340 --> 00:02:57.840 you take out of us everything that is evil and 00:02:57.840 --> 00:03:00.860 you put in us all that is good and righteous. 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:05.159 and that this work is a continual work of sanctification 00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:10.780 until our one day return to you. Lord, we give 00:03:10.780 --> 00:03:12.819 you honor, glory, and praise, and thank you for 00:03:12.819 --> 00:03:15.479 your faithful work in and of our lives in which 00:03:15.479 --> 00:03:18.800 you have destined us to be completed through 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:21.580 the glory and honor of Christ. Lord, we praise 00:03:21.580 --> 00:03:25.319 you and we thank you. In Jesus' name, amen. So 00:03:25.319 --> 00:03:27.400 I'm going to start off reading in verse 3, and 00:03:27.400 --> 00:03:29.360 I'm going to go through the whole chapter because 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:32.259 it's important that we kind of grasp what Paul's 00:03:32.259 --> 00:03:34.680 talking to Timothy about. As you guys know, this 00:03:34.680 --> 00:03:37.460 letter was written to a pastor. He was a young 00:03:37.460 --> 00:03:40.280 pastor, probably around 19 or 20 years old, as 00:03:40.280 --> 00:03:44.039 I said before. And this was really a call and 00:03:44.039 --> 00:03:48.099 a charge and a responsibility to Timothy as a 00:03:48.099 --> 00:03:50.759 man on how he should live his life as a pastor, 00:03:50.879 --> 00:03:53.750 not only as a pastor but at home. And so we've 00:03:53.750 --> 00:03:57.110 started this journey this year on biblical manhood, 00:03:57.129 --> 00:03:58.990 biblical womanhood, and we're going to continue 00:03:58.990 --> 00:04:01.669 this journey through the rest of this year and 00:04:01.669 --> 00:04:04.930 maybe even part of next year as we start to really 00:04:04.930 --> 00:04:06.849 understand what does it mean to be a man and 00:04:06.849 --> 00:04:08.889 what does it mean to be a woman. Because in our 00:04:08.889 --> 00:04:12.969 culture today, everything is antithetical to 00:04:12.969 --> 00:04:15.189 the Scripture and to the Gospel, and there's 00:04:15.189 --> 00:04:18.329 this push among the secular world to continue 00:04:18.329 --> 00:04:22.110 to push out. God's standard as a man and a woman 00:04:22.110 --> 00:04:28.050 and try to instill or institute a worldview or 00:04:28.050 --> 00:04:30.769 a standard that is secular and anti -God. And 00:04:30.769 --> 00:04:33.550 it doesn't really help our country at all. It 00:04:33.550 --> 00:04:37.329 actually tears it apart. I'm not going to get 00:04:37.329 --> 00:04:39.449 into the historicity of all those things, but 00:04:39.449 --> 00:04:41.930 we'll one day maybe talk about it in Bible study, 00:04:42.029 --> 00:04:45.079 how we've gone from... Adam and Eve, all the 00:04:45.079 --> 00:04:48.779 way to a world society that is embracing all 00:04:48.779 --> 00:04:54.459 kinds of secularism, humanism, and it's just 00:04:54.459 --> 00:04:56.680 really reflecting the reality of their hatred 00:04:56.680 --> 00:04:59.959 of God and the hatred of his things. That being 00:04:59.959 --> 00:05:02.920 said... Let's see what he says to Timothy in 00:05:02.920 --> 00:05:05.459 the rest of this chapter. He says, If anyone 00:05:05.459 --> 00:05:07.720 teaches a different doctrine and does not agree 00:05:07.720 --> 00:05:10.519 with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ 00:05:10.519 --> 00:05:13.360 and the teaching that accords with godliness, 00:05:13.500 --> 00:05:16.240 he is puffed up with conceit and understands 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:20.920 nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy 00:05:20.920 --> 00:05:24.060 and for quarrels about words, which produce envy 00:05:24.060 --> 00:05:27.160 and dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and 00:05:27.160 --> 00:05:30.540 constant friction among people who are depraved 00:05:30.540 --> 00:05:34.439 in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining 00:05:34.439 --> 00:05:38.279 that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness 00:05:38.279 --> 00:05:42.500 with contempt is great gain, for we brought nothing 00:05:42.500 --> 00:05:45.680 into the world, and we cannot take anything out. 00:06:01.710 --> 00:06:16.410 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. 00:06:17.029 --> 00:06:20.850 Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, 00:06:21.149 --> 00:06:24.689 steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight 00:06:24.689 --> 00:06:28.810 of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which 00:06:28.810 --> 00:06:31.069 you were called and about which you have made 00:06:31.069 --> 00:06:33.550 a good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 00:06:34.430 --> 00:06:37.230 I charge you in the presence of God who gives 00:06:37.230 --> 00:06:40.709 life to all things and of Christ Jesus who in 00:06:40.709 --> 00:06:43.810 his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the 00:06:43.810 --> 00:06:47.230 good confession to keep the commandment unstained 00:06:47.230 --> 00:06:50.069 and free from reproach until the appearing of 00:06:50.069 --> 00:06:53.089 our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display 00:06:53.089 --> 00:06:56.790 at the proper time. He who is the blessed and 00:06:56.790 --> 00:07:00.449 only sovereign and the King of kings and Lord 00:07:00.449 --> 00:07:05.250 of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells 00:07:05.250 --> 00:07:08.250 in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever 00:07:08.250 --> 00:07:12.170 seen or can see, to him be honor and eternal 00:07:12.170 --> 00:07:16.110 dominion. Amen. As for the rich in this present 00:07:16.110 --> 00:07:19.810 age, charge them not to be haughty. nor to set 00:07:19.810 --> 00:07:23.269 their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but 00:07:23.269 --> 00:07:26.129 on God, who richly provides us with everything 00:07:26.129 --> 00:07:30.990 to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in 00:07:30.990 --> 00:07:34.170 good works, to be generous and ready to share, 00:07:34.410 --> 00:07:38.829 thus storing up treasures for themselves as a 00:07:38.829 --> 00:07:42.209 good foundation for the future, as that they 00:07:42.209 --> 00:07:47.730 may take hold of that which is truly life. O 00:07:47.730 --> 00:07:50.589 Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. 00:07:50.930 --> 00:07:54.790 Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions 00:07:54.790 --> 00:07:58.910 of what is falsely called knowledge, for by professing 00:07:58.910 --> 00:08:02.709 it, some have swerved from the faith. Grace be 00:08:02.709 --> 00:08:05.790 with you. It's very important that we understand 00:08:05.790 --> 00:08:09.269 the importance of the Word of God in the life 00:08:09.269 --> 00:08:12.540 of a believer. Now, As we sit and we look and 00:08:12.540 --> 00:08:15.779 we read about what Paul says to Timothy here, 00:08:15.939 --> 00:08:19.139 it says, first principle, godly leaders must 00:08:19.139 --> 00:08:23.939 pursue godliness, hold to the faith, and live 00:08:23.939 --> 00:08:28.259 obediently. Do you hear that, men? Godly men, 00:08:28.519 --> 00:08:32.779 godly women, especially the men, should be leaders 00:08:32.779 --> 00:08:36.019 that must pursue godliness, hold to the faith, 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:39.100 and live obediently. You don't get the choice 00:08:39.100 --> 00:08:42.000 of doing what you think you should do. You have 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:46.139 to do what God says you should do. For this very 00:08:46.139 --> 00:08:49.059 reason, make every effort to supplement your 00:08:49.059 --> 00:08:52.299 faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 00:08:52.340 --> 00:08:55.399 and knowledge with self -control, and self -control 00:08:55.399 --> 00:08:58.779 with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 00:08:58.980 --> 00:09:01.940 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly 00:09:01.940 --> 00:09:05.179 affection with love. For if these qualities are 00:09:05.179 --> 00:09:08.730 yours and are increasing, They keep you from 00:09:08.730 --> 00:09:12.730 being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge 00:09:12.730 --> 00:09:16.629 of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1, 5 -8. Do 00:09:16.629 --> 00:09:18.789 you understand that? And what we're going to 00:09:18.789 --> 00:09:22.509 read is almost the same list that Paul gives 00:09:22.509 --> 00:09:25.259 Timothy. But pay attention to what Peter says 00:09:25.259 --> 00:09:29.000 here. For if these qualities are yours and are 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:32.720 increasing, they keep you from being ineffective 00:09:32.720 --> 00:09:35.919 and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus 00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:38.480 Christ. You want to know why the church is struggling 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:41.340 here in America? Because it doesn't seek holiness, 00:09:41.620 --> 00:09:45.159 godliness, righteousness, and truth. It seeks 00:09:45.159 --> 00:09:50.000 only that which pleases itself. Whatever feeds 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:53.779 the sinful nature is what we want. Why? Because 00:09:53.779 --> 00:09:56.759 we love that momentary feel -goods, right? We 00:09:56.759 --> 00:10:00.220 love to be told how awesome we are. 1 Timothy 00:10:00.220 --> 00:10:05.659 6, 11 through 16. But as for you, O man of God. 00:10:06.299 --> 00:10:10.600 I like how Paul uses this immediately. He reminds 00:10:10.600 --> 00:10:14.440 Timothy that, hey, you're a man that belongs 00:10:14.440 --> 00:10:19.840 to the living God. You're a man that has a responsibility 00:10:19.840 --> 00:10:24.519 to God. Any authority or anything that God has 00:10:24.519 --> 00:10:28.840 given you to steward is his and you belong to 00:10:28.840 --> 00:10:34.480 him. This word flee, fugo, fugo means to run 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:38.720 from all things abhorrent. Do we run from everything 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:42.320 that's abhorrent? Or do we sit back and just 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:45.259 enjoy things that are abhorrent? This is a difficulty 00:10:45.259 --> 00:10:47.980 for each and every one of us, I'm sure. But are 00:10:47.980 --> 00:10:51.159 we really thinking through? Do we run from the 00:10:51.159 --> 00:10:55.440 things that harm us spiritually? Do we run from 00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:59.379 the things that harm and affect our families 00:10:59.379 --> 00:11:04.460 as men and as women in the household? Do we really 00:11:04.460 --> 00:11:08.480 flee? Do we really run from the abhorrent? Lord 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:12.080 knows we see the abhorrent every day. And then 00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:16.159 he gives them this. He says, pursue, diako, means 00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:23.680 to seek eagerly or to endeavor to acquire. Are 00:11:23.680 --> 00:11:28.139 you endeavoring to acquire God's righteousness, 00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:31.419 godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness? 00:11:31.559 --> 00:11:35.799 And how do I acquire these things? How do I get 00:11:35.799 --> 00:11:39.379 them? There is only one place on all the planet 00:11:39.379 --> 00:11:42.389 that God has given you. to grow in righteousness, 00:11:42.710 --> 00:11:45.490 to grow in godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, 00:11:45.509 --> 00:11:47.450 and gentleness, and that's his word. There is 00:11:47.450 --> 00:11:51.330 no other place that you can go in order to grow 00:11:51.330 --> 00:11:55.970 and acquire, pursue these things. As a matter 00:11:55.970 --> 00:11:59.129 of fact, it says in Psalm 1, it's a psalm that 00:11:59.129 --> 00:12:02.350 I memorized, but I'll read it from the ESV because 00:12:02.350 --> 00:12:05.490 I memorized it in the NIV. I said that at early 00:12:05.490 --> 00:12:09.580 service. Look what it says in Psalm 1. It's actually 00:12:09.580 --> 00:12:11.960 bigger than I thought. Here we go. Blessed is 00:12:11.960 --> 00:12:15.399 the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, 00:12:15.500 --> 00:12:18.360 nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:21.480 the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:24.379 law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates 00:12:24.379 --> 00:12:30.279 day and night. Does God's Word saturate your 00:12:30.279 --> 00:12:34.299 life? Do you think about God, His Word, every 00:12:34.299 --> 00:12:37.460 minute of every day? You're like, well, that's 00:12:37.460 --> 00:12:39.379 a little bit of a Jesus freak stuff. That's too 00:12:39.379 --> 00:12:42.120 much Jesus for me. You can't get enough of Jesus. 00:12:42.539 --> 00:12:44.500 One, you have all the Jesus you're going to get. 00:12:44.639 --> 00:12:46.820 The question is, how much do you want to know 00:12:46.820 --> 00:12:49.240 him? How much do you really want to be changed? 00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:52.860 Because you cannot change if you don't change 00:12:52.860 --> 00:12:54.740 the mind. We're going to talk about that in a 00:12:54.740 --> 00:12:59.120 little bit. So seek God's righteousness, godliness, 00:12:59.179 --> 00:13:01.379 faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness in the 00:13:01.379 --> 00:13:03.960 word. How can a young man keep his way pure? 00:13:04.019 --> 00:13:06.100 By living according to your word. I have hidden 00:13:06.100 --> 00:13:07.980 your word in my heart that I might not sin against 00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:11.100 you. Psalm 119 verse 11 and I think it's 12. 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:15.840 It is Psalm 119 though. Verse 12 in 1 Timothy 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:22.080 chapter 6 verse 12. Fight. Agonizome. Agonizome 00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:25.139 means to contend or struggle with difficulties 00:13:25.139 --> 00:13:28.440 and danger. In other words, what this means is 00:13:28.440 --> 00:13:31.889 I have to be willing to fight the good fight. 00:13:32.110 --> 00:13:35.110 I need to be willing to contend for the faith 00:13:35.110 --> 00:13:37.529 through struggles, difficulties, and danger. 00:13:38.190 --> 00:13:41.549 In other words, we've gotten comfortable here 00:13:41.549 --> 00:13:44.250 in the Church of America because we can come, 00:13:44.409 --> 00:13:48.029 gather together, talk about Jesus, be told how 00:13:48.029 --> 00:13:51.269 awesome we are, go home, and not think about 00:13:51.269 --> 00:13:53.269 Him all day, all week, and then come back and 00:13:53.269 --> 00:13:56.009 go, I got my fill again. But that's not the way 00:13:56.009 --> 00:13:58.700 relationship with God works. Because in every 00:13:58.700 --> 00:14:01.220 single day, you are literally struggling with 00:14:01.220 --> 00:14:03.220 difficulties and dangers. What kind of struggle 00:14:03.220 --> 00:14:05.879 are you fighting? What fight are you really fighting? 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:08.179 The greatest fight that you're going to have 00:14:08.179 --> 00:14:13.779 and the greatest enemy that you have is not Satan. 00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:17.759 You can't blame it on the devil. The greatest 00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:22.519 enemy that you live with is yourself. Every day 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:25.440 you wake up at war. Every day you're fighting 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:28.220 and battling. Every day you've got to deal with 00:14:28.220 --> 00:14:31.080 your mind and the issues that are going on in 00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:33.340 your life. Every single day you wonder why Christians 00:14:33.340 --> 00:14:35.539 continue to struggle and never live victorious 00:14:35.539 --> 00:14:38.899 lives because they're too busy trying to blame 00:14:38.899 --> 00:14:41.419 it on someone or something else. The greatest 00:14:41.419 --> 00:14:44.419 enemy you have is you. How do we know that? Because 00:14:44.419 --> 00:14:47.279 Paul tells us that why do I do the things I do 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:49.399 not want to do but the things I hate, those I 00:14:49.399 --> 00:14:51.480 keep on doing. So I find at work within the members 00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:54.940 of my body a law. It's called the law of sin. 00:14:55.769 --> 00:14:59.529 Sin wants to kill you. And it may kill your body 00:14:59.529 --> 00:15:03.289 one day. It will if the Lord tarries. But when 00:15:03.289 --> 00:15:06.370 we get old, sin has won that one. But he hasn't 00:15:06.370 --> 00:15:09.529 won the victory. It's temporary. Because the 00:15:09.529 --> 00:15:12.129 dead in Christ will rise and those who are left 00:15:12.129 --> 00:15:13.990 will be caught up to meet him in the air and 00:15:13.990 --> 00:15:16.750 will forever be with the Lord. But sin wants 00:15:16.750 --> 00:15:19.570 to kill you. How do we win this battle? How do 00:15:19.570 --> 00:15:23.419 we deal with the issue of endeavoring and purposing 00:15:23.419 --> 00:15:25.980 to fight the good fight of faith, living for 00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:28.240 the purpose of the gospel, fighting for the gospel. 00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:32.059 How do we hold on to these things? Well, the 00:15:32.059 --> 00:15:35.440 word the good fight in the Greek means, with 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:39.159 all things praiseworthy, exert oneself to the 00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:41.460 utmost against all things opposed to Christ. 00:15:41.940 --> 00:15:45.879 Am I exerting myself to the point that I am exhausted 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:50.399 in the fight of war? but I am using all things 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:52.500 that are praiseworthy. I am using righteousness, 00:15:52.860 --> 00:15:56.860 godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness, 00:15:57.080 --> 00:16:01.539 faithfulness, self -control. Am I applying the 00:16:01.539 --> 00:16:03.860 Word of God in my life to the point that I am 00:16:03.860 --> 00:16:08.179 fighting and contending in the struggle of difficulties 00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:11.220 and dangers? Because the battlefield is not out 00:16:11.220 --> 00:16:15.179 there. The battlefield is right here. How do 00:16:15.179 --> 00:16:19.399 we know? Romans 12, 1 and 2. Verse 2, do not 00:16:19.399 --> 00:16:21.200 be conformed to the pattern of this world, but 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:23.419 be transformed by the renewing of your mind so 00:16:23.419 --> 00:16:25.159 you can test and approve what God's will is, 00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:27.820 his good, pleasing, and perfect will. If you 00:16:27.820 --> 00:16:31.820 cannot win the wars here, you will never win 00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:35.379 the victory of life. And you can't win without 00:16:35.379 --> 00:16:38.740 Christ because he's already won it. So what do 00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:41.789 we do? It's actually verse 1. Therefore I urge 00:16:41.789 --> 00:16:44.149 you, brothers, in the view of God's mercy, to 00:16:44.149 --> 00:16:46.269 offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy 00:16:46.269 --> 00:16:48.429 and pleasing unto God, for this is your reasonable 00:16:48.429 --> 00:16:50.429 act of worship. How do you win the Christian 00:16:50.429 --> 00:16:52.669 life? How do you continue to fight the good fight? 00:16:53.090 --> 00:16:58.029 Die. Surrender. Self -sacrifice. Take up your 00:16:58.029 --> 00:17:02.379 cross daily and follow me. That's what he's talking 00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:05.180 about here. When we're pursuing, when we're endeavoring 00:17:05.180 --> 00:17:07.779 to acquire righteousness, godliness, faith, love, 00:17:07.900 --> 00:17:10.220 steadfastness, and gentleness, it starts here. 00:17:10.619 --> 00:17:16.700 We win here because Christ has won. Die. That's 00:17:16.700 --> 00:17:19.559 the idea. So he says, fight the good fight of 00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:24.240 faith. Take hold of eternal life. Embrace the 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:27.880 life you are given in Christ. Are you content? 00:17:28.809 --> 00:17:32.650 Is Christ enough for you? Godliness with contentment 00:17:32.650 --> 00:17:37.089 is great gain. Take hold of eternal life. Embrace 00:17:37.089 --> 00:17:40.569 the life you are given in Christ to which you 00:17:40.569 --> 00:17:44.450 were called. God has called you out of the kingdom 00:17:44.450 --> 00:17:47.130 of darkness into the kingdom of his light. You 00:17:47.130 --> 00:17:51.130 belong to him. He has picked you out of all the 00:17:51.130 --> 00:17:53.869 people on the planet. You sitting in the chair. 00:17:54.190 --> 00:17:58.470 He has chosen you to be part of his family. What 00:17:58.470 --> 00:18:02.509 a privilege. And then he says this concerning 00:18:02.509 --> 00:18:06.230 Christ, that he has called you about which you've 00:18:06.230 --> 00:18:09.190 made a good confession. You have professed Christ 00:18:09.190 --> 00:18:13.230 as Lord because of the gospel. And you've done 00:18:13.230 --> 00:18:16.309 that in the presence of many witnesses. When 00:18:16.309 --> 00:18:18.670 you come to Christ, you don't keep it to yourself. 00:18:18.769 --> 00:18:23.329 You tell the world. Why? Because that's a good 00:18:23.329 --> 00:18:26.569 confession. Look what Christ has done for me. 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:29.839 And what's the response? How do you do that? 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:33.359 What do you do? What's the scripture say? Go 00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:35.799 and make disciples of all nations, baptizing 00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:38.059 them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy 00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:42.539 Spirit. Go and be baptized. Baptism is a proclamation 00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:45.819 to the entire world that you are a follower of 00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:48.759 the King. And I have nothing to be ashamed of 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:52.200 because of his sacrifice for me. It's interesting 00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:55.200 that even Jesus does this same thing. We're going 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:58.230 to read that in a second. Timothy made a profession 00:18:58.230 --> 00:19:01.630 in many witnesses. And then Paul says this, I 00:19:01.630 --> 00:19:04.930 charge you in the presence of God who gives life 00:19:04.930 --> 00:19:09.829 to all things and of Christ Jesus, who in his 00:19:09.829 --> 00:19:12.650 testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good 00:19:12.650 --> 00:19:15.730 confession. He says to Pontius Pilate, my kingdom's 00:19:15.730 --> 00:19:19.230 not of this world. If it were of this world, 00:19:19.349 --> 00:19:23.069 would not my servants take up arms? Wouldn't 00:19:23.069 --> 00:19:26.259 they fight? The kingdom I come from is not of 00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:28.440 this world. You don't belong to the world. You 00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:31.480 belong to him. The good confession is that he 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:35.839 is the king of his kingdom. That the gospel is 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:41.019 the answer to the disease who in his testimony 00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:44.839 before Pontius Pilate made the good confession. 00:19:45.339 --> 00:19:49.180 Then he urges Timothy to keep the commandment. 00:19:49.180 --> 00:19:53.589 Keep all that God commands, unstained and free 00:19:53.589 --> 00:19:56.589 from reproach. Don't let anyone look at your 00:19:56.589 --> 00:20:00.349 life and go, you're a hypocrite. Then he says, 00:20:00.430 --> 00:20:02.450 until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:20:02.589 --> 00:20:06.130 Why? Because when Christ comes back, perfection 00:20:06.130 --> 00:20:09.730 is coming. Behold, I make all things new. His 00:20:09.730 --> 00:20:12.369 kingdom will be established forever, and we will 00:20:12.369 --> 00:20:16.069 be with him forever as he's promised. No more 00:20:16.069 --> 00:20:18.809 sin. And then he says, which he will display 00:20:18.809 --> 00:20:21.789 at the proper time. This word proper time means 00:20:21.789 --> 00:20:25.089 exact time concerning himself. He will come when 00:20:25.089 --> 00:20:28.329 he's ready. Why do I say that? Because as we 00:20:28.329 --> 00:20:30.890 get a little bit further down, we start to deal 00:20:30.890 --> 00:20:33.910 with some issues, and I want to mention Bethel 00:20:33.910 --> 00:20:36.470 Church. They're trying to bring the kingdom here. 00:20:36.670 --> 00:20:40.089 It's called dominion theology. The seven mountain 00:20:40.089 --> 00:20:44.470 mandate. It is evil, it is sinful, and it's wrong. 00:20:44.930 --> 00:20:50.279 Do not, as God's people, listen or watch. anything 00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:54.200 from Bethel. It is evil. Why? Because they want 00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:56.920 to say they've been given the authority by Christ 00:20:56.920 --> 00:20:59.920 to take dominion. And you'll see why I'm saying 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:02.619 this in a minute. There is only one sovereign. 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:06.500 They want to say that God has given them sovereignty 00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:11.400 and that they give God permission to use them. 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:14.440 This I didn't give in the first service, but 00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:16.440 I need to clarify a little bit so people aren't 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:19.869 confused. When you are not sticking to the sound 00:21:19.869 --> 00:21:22.190 doctrine of the scriptures and you are leaning 00:21:22.190 --> 00:21:24.710 on other teachers through television or radio 00:21:24.710 --> 00:21:27.170 that are extremely dangerous and that pull you 00:21:27.170 --> 00:21:30.150 away by every kind of argument, which he warns 00:21:30.150 --> 00:21:33.670 Timothy about later in the same chapter, you're 00:21:33.670 --> 00:21:35.670 setting yourself up for a lot of disappointment. 00:21:36.369 --> 00:21:40.190 If you ever get a chance to watch a series called 00:21:40.190 --> 00:21:43.490 American Gospel, there's a third part of that 00:21:43.490 --> 00:21:45.670 series called Spirit and Fire. I do encourage 00:21:45.670 --> 00:21:52.079 you. It's a... It's a documentary series. It's 00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:55.119 probably going to be like 12 videos long. I do 00:21:55.119 --> 00:21:57.000 encourage you to watch it. It'll be eye -opening. 00:21:57.380 --> 00:22:00.299 But that requires us as men of God to preach 00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:02.000 the full counsel of His Word and to teach doctrine 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:05.960 and to warn the people of what's coming. We're 00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:08.059 in a day where the onslaught of false doctrine 00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:10.579 and false teaching is being permeated through 00:22:10.579 --> 00:22:13.759 our culture. And the only way it's going to stop 00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:17.200 is when men of God stand and say, No! and expose 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:20.339 them. I don't do it because I find joy in exposing 00:22:20.339 --> 00:22:22.500 them. It angers me that I have to do it in the 00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:26.019 first place. But their work is always continuing, 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:28.900 which means we must continue to work also. Look 00:22:28.900 --> 00:22:30.900 what it says. If Christ appears at his proper 00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:32.799 time, why is he going to appear at his proper 00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:36.579 time? Why is Christ going to come? Because he 00:22:36.579 --> 00:22:40.680 who is the blessed and only sovereign, he is 00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:43.400 sovereign, always was sovereign, and always will 00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:46.519 be sovereign. He was on the throne at the beginning 00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:50.019 of time. He's still on the throne now. God rules 00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:54.119 and God governs. You may not like the way He 00:22:54.119 --> 00:22:57.160 does it, but He doesn't really care. It's His 00:22:57.160 --> 00:23:00.819 way and it's the right way. It's pretty simple. 00:23:01.099 --> 00:23:04.660 Who is the blessed and only sovereign? He is 00:23:04.660 --> 00:23:08.920 the King of kings, the Lord of lords, who alone 00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:12.599 has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable 00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:16.160 light, whom no one has ever seen nor can see. 00:23:16.539 --> 00:23:22.559 That is God. He is king and he reigns. Why is 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:25.880 this so important? Because we don't rule our 00:23:25.880 --> 00:23:29.759 own lives. God rules. God allows us as creatures 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:33.660 to make some decisions within the parameters 00:23:33.660 --> 00:23:36.579 of what we are. We don't have true free will, 00:23:36.660 --> 00:23:40.500 do we? It's pretty limited. I mean, I would love 00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:43.390 to fly like a bird. I mean, if I had free will 00:23:43.390 --> 00:23:46.210 to do that, then I would find any way possible 00:23:46.210 --> 00:23:49.990 to do it, like a bird. But I can't, because I'm 00:23:49.990 --> 00:23:52.950 not a bird. So I am within the confines of what 00:23:52.950 --> 00:23:57.230 I am. Remember that. Why is this important? Because 00:23:57.230 --> 00:24:00.109 we miss the point of God's sovereignty. I think 00:24:00.109 --> 00:24:01.789 we have a hard time with the reality that God 00:24:01.789 --> 00:24:04.990 rules, because man wants to rule. That has been 00:24:04.990 --> 00:24:07.369 the problem from the beginning. He wants to make 00:24:07.369 --> 00:24:11.220 his own decisions. He's volitional. So, if God 00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:14.079 is King of kings and Lord of lords and alone 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:17.420 has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable 00:24:17.420 --> 00:24:19.400 light, who no one has ever seen nor can see, 00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:23.400 well, to Him be glory and honor and eternal dominion 00:24:23.400 --> 00:24:29.220 forever. To Him and Him alone. So, second principle, 00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:32.460 God's stewards, godly stewards are committed 00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:35.539 to doing good, being generous, and sharing all 00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:37.680 the Lord has given. You know why many people 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:40.240 are rich? It's because they know how to manage 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:44.119 money. Think about it. Okay? They're stewards 00:24:44.119 --> 00:24:47.920 because they have learned the principle of stewardship. 00:24:48.660 --> 00:24:50.700 We talked a little bit about that last week. 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:54.400 Look what it says here. Through him, then, let 00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:57.539 us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise 00:24:57.539 --> 00:25:01.740 to God. That is the fruit of lips that acknowledge 00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:05.839 his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:09.680 what you have. for such sacrifices are pleasing 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:13.960 to God, Hebrews 13. God is pleased when people 00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:17.579 are generous. God demands, commands us to be 00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:22.079 generous. You think 10 % is enough? God doesn't 00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:26.259 want 10%. He wants all of you. He wants your 00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:29.039 wallet. He wants your feet. He wants your house. 00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:31.779 He wants your TV. He wants it all. He doesn't 00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:34.240 just want parts. And you know what people do? 00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:35.920 They come in, they give their 10%, and they go 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:38.220 home and say, I gave God enough, because that's 00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:40.839 all he requires. That's not New Testament covenant. 00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:44.339 New Testament covenant says, I give all my life 00:25:44.339 --> 00:25:49.099 to him. All. Do we keep our promises and our 00:25:49.099 --> 00:25:52.619 giving towards him? He doesn't want 10%, like 00:25:52.619 --> 00:25:55.039 that's enough to please him. He wants all of 00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:59.000 you. He wants your heart. Being said, this deals 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:01.569 with the issue of the rich. It says, as for the 00:26:01.569 --> 00:26:04.730 rich in this present age, charge them not to 00:26:04.730 --> 00:26:07.049 be haughty. In other words, don't go around saying, 00:26:07.170 --> 00:26:11.150 I'm good. It's all good. I can live whatever 00:26:11.150 --> 00:26:15.049 I want. I'm good. Nor to set their hopes on the 00:26:15.049 --> 00:26:17.849 uncertainty of riches. In other words, that I'm 00:26:17.849 --> 00:26:21.150 going to be okay because I got enough. Trust 00:26:21.150 --> 00:26:24.329 me, you can't take anything out of the world. 00:26:24.369 --> 00:26:26.390 You came in with nothing, you will leave with 00:26:26.390 --> 00:26:29.859 nothing. That's what it says, doesn't it? I just 00:26:29.859 --> 00:26:34.220 read that in verses 3 through 10. He says, don't 00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:36.099 set your hopes on the uncertainty of riches, 00:26:36.119 --> 00:26:39.619 but on God. Why? Who richly provides us with 00:26:39.619 --> 00:26:42.960 everything to enjoy. Do you guys enjoy what God 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:46.059 has given you? Do you guys sit back and enjoy 00:26:46.059 --> 00:26:50.119 and look at what God has lavishly blessed you 00:26:50.119 --> 00:26:53.180 with? Or do you go, that's all my hard work. 00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:56.690 We don't keep a beautiful home because We're 00:26:56.690 --> 00:26:58.170 trying to impress people. We keep a beautiful 00:26:58.170 --> 00:27:02.410 home because God is beautiful. We steward because 00:27:02.410 --> 00:27:05.250 God commands us to steward the home he's given. 00:27:05.390 --> 00:27:08.089 And one of the things that we do to show we have 00:27:08.089 --> 00:27:11.289 dominion is to beautify the things that God beautifies. 00:27:11.769 --> 00:27:16.210 It's not to rule. He rules. We steward. Look 00:27:16.210 --> 00:27:19.069 what it says, continues in verse 18. They are 00:27:19.069 --> 00:27:22.890 to do good and to be rich in good works, to be 00:27:22.890 --> 00:27:26.460 generous and ready to share. thus storing up 00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:29.920 treasures for themselves as a foundation, storing 00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:32.819 up treasures, not earthly treasures, storing 00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:37.000 up treasures, heavenly treasures, as a good foundation. 00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:40.099 What foundation? The foundation laid by the apostles 00:27:40.099 --> 00:27:43.359 and Christ our cornerstone for the future. The 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:46.480 future of what? The future wealth we get to give 00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:50.640 to our grandkids? Or do we store up the treasures 00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:55.380 for the future? meaning the gospel and the generations 00:27:55.380 --> 00:27:58.160 upon generations upon generations of believers. 00:27:58.680 --> 00:28:01.660 Which legacy do you think is going to last? Now 00:28:01.660 --> 00:28:04.460 I say this, I want you to get this. We look at 00:28:04.460 --> 00:28:07.180 our president today. Many of us like what he's 00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:10.359 doing. Let's say he does all this stuff, but 00:28:10.359 --> 00:28:13.920 he dies without Jesus. What legacy does he leave? 00:28:14.339 --> 00:28:18.039 He leaves nothing because Christ is not supreme 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:20.690 for him. Think about that. It does not matter 00:28:20.690 --> 00:28:22.650 what you think this man is doing, and it does 00:28:22.650 --> 00:28:25.490 not matter what the church says concerning him, 00:28:25.529 --> 00:28:30.529 that this is God's sovereign work. If the man 00:28:30.529 --> 00:28:34.410 dies without Christ, what does it matter? Momentary 00:28:34.410 --> 00:28:37.869 comfort for Christians. Think about it. What 00:28:37.869 --> 00:28:40.210 kind of legacy is he going to leave? He's a billionaire. 00:28:40.470 --> 00:28:42.930 He's got enough money that will last generations. 00:28:43.549 --> 00:28:46.210 But he dies without Jesus. What does he leave? 00:28:46.890 --> 00:28:49.950 His money. He came into the world with nothing. 00:28:49.970 --> 00:28:53.089 He dies with nothing. That's sad. That's what 00:28:53.089 --> 00:28:55.490 he's talking about here. If the president ever 00:28:55.490 --> 00:28:59.049 listens to this, I pray that he stores up treasures 00:28:59.049 --> 00:29:03.509 in heaven upon the good foundation, that the 00:29:03.509 --> 00:29:06.009 future of what he leaves is the legacy of the 00:29:06.009 --> 00:29:09.309 gospel and of godliness in the life of his family. 00:29:09.950 --> 00:29:13.730 Why? So that they may take hold of that which 00:29:13.730 --> 00:29:20.069 is truly life. Godly leaders must preserve all 00:29:20.069 --> 00:29:22.970 that the Lord has entrusted them. And I, when 00:29:22.970 --> 00:29:29.150 I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming 00:29:29.150 --> 00:29:32.069 to you the testimony of God with lofty speech 00:29:32.069 --> 00:29:35.089 and wisdom. For I've decided to know nothing 00:29:35.089 --> 00:29:39.029 among you except Christ and Him crucified. We 00:29:39.029 --> 00:29:42.470 don't come with eloquent speech and we don't 00:29:42.470 --> 00:29:45.920 come with dollars, dollars. We come with the 00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:48.380 gospel and the gospel alone. Christ is enough 00:29:48.380 --> 00:29:50.680 and the gospel is enough. It's the only thing 00:29:50.680 --> 00:29:53.380 that he's given to man by which men can be redeemed. 00:29:53.819 --> 00:29:55.720 And we look at our churches today and wonder 00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:58.640 how many people can preach that truth. I remember 00:29:58.640 --> 00:30:02.220 when I first started preaching the gospel, started 00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:04.279 doing missionary work, and I went from church 00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:08.319 to church. 98 % of the people that went to Baptist 00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:11.380 churches, when you ask them what is the gospel, 00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:14.569 could not answer that question. In a room of 00:30:14.569 --> 00:30:18.349 10 people, two people knew the answer. In a room 00:30:18.349 --> 00:30:21.029 of 100 people, maybe four people would know the 00:30:21.029 --> 00:30:25.130 answer. Why? Because we've been told, all you 00:30:25.130 --> 00:30:28.130 got to do is say this prayer. Welcome to the 00:30:28.130 --> 00:30:31.150 family. Look what Paul says to Timothy here. 00:30:31.829 --> 00:30:36.970 He says, oh, Timothy, guard, preserve, keep from 00:30:36.970 --> 00:30:41.519 being snatched away. The deposit entrusted to 00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:43.960 you. What deposit? The deposit of the gospel. 00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:47.380 The deposit of the truth of God's word. The deposit 00:30:47.380 --> 00:30:51.039 of sound doctrine. Timothy, this has been entrusted 00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:55.220 to you as a pastor. Are you going to let it be 00:30:55.220 --> 00:31:00.829 snatched away? I will not. I will not. I will 00:31:00.829 --> 00:31:02.569 preach the full counsel of God's word, and I 00:31:02.569 --> 00:31:05.910 will preach the gospels in its entirety, and 00:31:05.910 --> 00:31:08.430 I will call you to obedience and into a holy 00:31:08.430 --> 00:31:10.650 life. That's what godly men should be doing. 00:31:10.930 --> 00:31:14.289 In the same way that Paul urges Timothy to guard, 00:31:14.470 --> 00:31:17.250 to keep from being snatched away, the deposit 00:31:17.250 --> 00:31:20.869 entrusted to him. The best way that we as men 00:31:20.869 --> 00:31:23.970 of God can do this is to avoid irreverent babble 00:31:23.970 --> 00:31:28.609 and contradictions of what is falsely called 00:31:28.609 --> 00:31:32.500 knowledge. that we speak against the false, and 00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:35.420 that we speak the truth of sound doctrine. That 00:31:35.420 --> 00:31:38.279 is our responsibility. Too many books out there. 00:31:38.539 --> 00:31:42.539 Look what it says in verse 21. For by professing 00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:46.160 these contradictions, by professing these irreverent 00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:50.079 babbles, is the idea here. For by professing 00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:52.700 it, some have swerved from the faith. Can you 00:31:52.700 --> 00:31:55.980 imagine that? They're so committed to the false 00:31:55.980 --> 00:31:58.720 doctrine and the false gospel and the prosperity 00:31:58.720 --> 00:32:02.559 gospel and the feel -good gospel that they just 00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:04.640 shipwreck their life. Their ministry is a mess. 00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:07.359 No, it's not. Look at how many people go to their 00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:09.519 church. Look at how many people are going to 00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:11.960 go to hell with them. You know what's amazing 00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:15.740 is Paul says this, right? To O Timothy, guard 00:32:15.740 --> 00:32:18.619 the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent 00:32:18.619 --> 00:32:21.400 babble, contradictions. of what is falsely called 00:32:21.400 --> 00:32:24.039 knowledge, for by professing it, some have swerved 00:32:24.039 --> 00:32:26.180 from the faith. Grace be with you. And he stops 00:32:26.180 --> 00:32:29.359 the letter. It's the end of the letter. No benediction. 00:32:29.640 --> 00:32:34.000 He just leaves Timothy there. I'm like, what's 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:37.539 that about? Here's why I think Paul did that. 00:32:37.740 --> 00:32:39.380 Because he's like, Timothy, you need to think 00:32:39.380 --> 00:32:42.039 about these things. I don't need to give you 00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:45.960 a data boy. Real men, when they're being challenged, 00:32:46.609 --> 00:32:48.869 and exhorted, because this is what this letter 00:32:48.869 --> 00:32:52.190 is. This letter is a letter of exhortation. You 00:32:52.190 --> 00:32:54.450 don't go, oh, by the way, you're doing great. 00:32:54.829 --> 00:32:57.950 No, it's grace be with you. I pray that you can 00:32:57.950 --> 00:33:02.569 work these out. I pray that you can do what God 00:33:02.569 --> 00:33:05.170 has commanded you. Think about it. Read the letter, 00:33:05.250 --> 00:33:08.390 and then he says, grace be with you. I mean, 00:33:08.410 --> 00:33:11.190 he leaves all kinds of stuff on Timothy's lap. 00:33:11.910 --> 00:33:14.589 As a 19, 20 -year -old, this is one of the other 00:33:14.589 --> 00:33:17.339 things I wanted to share. It's sort of like when 00:33:17.339 --> 00:33:19.460 I played football. The men will get this. The 00:33:19.460 --> 00:33:22.599 women, you won't get this. It's not chauvinistic 00:33:22.599 --> 00:33:25.660 at all. Trust me. When we would go into practice 00:33:25.660 --> 00:33:28.859 or we're in a game, halftime, we go in the locker 00:33:28.859 --> 00:33:31.640 room or we sit on the sideline with the coach 00:33:31.640 --> 00:33:34.019 and we're getting our rear ends kicked. That's 00:33:34.019 --> 00:33:36.039 bad. Do you think he goes, you know what? You 00:33:36.039 --> 00:33:40.660 guys are doing great. Keep trying. No. What he 00:33:40.660 --> 00:33:44.829 says is, he says, you guys are terrible. What 00:33:44.829 --> 00:33:47.769 is wrong with you? You practice better than this. 00:33:47.910 --> 00:33:50.390 You're better than this. You should be working 00:33:50.390 --> 00:33:54.029 harder at this. What is your problem? And we 00:33:54.029 --> 00:33:57.109 go, I don't know, coach. He's like, B -men, stand 00:33:57.109 --> 00:34:01.029 up and go take the field. Now, think about that. 00:34:01.069 --> 00:34:06.269 How come men can be talked to like that? See, 00:34:06.849 --> 00:34:10.130 Donna knows. The reason why you can't talk to 00:34:10.130 --> 00:34:14.420 a woman like that, they'll be like, oh, no. They 00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:18.119 get hurt feelings. For men, it's like, yo, let's 00:34:18.119 --> 00:34:22.619 go. I'll follow a guy like that. That's what 00:34:22.619 --> 00:34:25.519 Paul's doing here. Hey, Timothy, grace be with 00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:28.460 you, bro. What are you going to do? Go do what 00:34:28.460 --> 00:34:31.699 you were told to do. That's the idea. Then he 00:34:31.699 --> 00:34:33.780 gives him a second letter, which we'll talk about 00:34:33.780 --> 00:34:37.260 after Resurrection Sunday. Okay? So what kind 00:34:37.260 --> 00:34:40.139 of men and women are you going to be? Especially 00:34:40.139 --> 00:34:42.099 the men. What kind of men are you going to be? 00:34:42.489 --> 00:34:45.489 Are you willing to out -serve, be the first, 00:34:45.690 --> 00:34:49.449 work the hardest, love God supremely, lead your 00:34:49.449 --> 00:34:52.070 families, or are we just going to continue giving 00:34:52.070 --> 00:34:54.309 up our responsibility as men and let our wives 00:34:54.309 --> 00:34:57.030 take over? How about if we invite them to partner 00:34:57.030 --> 00:34:59.809 with us? How about if we ask them to, hey, won't 00:34:59.809 --> 00:35:01.949 you come alongside me? Let's go do this together. 00:35:02.590 --> 00:35:05.489 That's what real leadership is about. Father, 00:35:05.550 --> 00:35:06.789 I want to thank you so much for your goodness 00:35:06.789 --> 00:35:09.389 and faithfulness. Thank you, Lord, for your word. 00:35:10.510 --> 00:35:13.949 Thank you that you have called us as men to guard 00:35:13.949 --> 00:35:18.289 the deposit that has been entrusted to us, to 00:35:18.289 --> 00:35:20.570 avoid irreverent babble and contradictions, but 00:35:20.570 --> 00:35:24.269 to stand firm in the word, to stand on the truth, 00:35:24.369 --> 00:35:27.590 to teach sound doctrine, even when it's difficult, 00:35:27.849 --> 00:35:30.510 even when people don't want to hear it. But you 00:35:30.510 --> 00:35:33.030 deserve all honor and glory. Help us to contend 00:35:33.030 --> 00:35:36.090 for the faith, to give you glory and honor in 00:35:36.090 --> 00:35:38.309 all that we do. We praise you and thank you in 00:35:38.309 --> 00:35:39.570 Jesus' name. Amen.