WEBVTT 00:00:09.100 --> 00:00:16.019 Good morning, family. All right. Excellent. All 00:00:16.019 --> 00:00:18.940 right. If you guys would, please turn to 2 Timothy 00:00:18.940 --> 00:00:24.460 chapter 2. Before we do that, we will read. So 00:00:24.460 --> 00:00:27.579 we will read from the 1689 London Baptist Confession, 00:00:27.640 --> 00:00:34.740 chapter 13, section 1 of... They who are united 00:00:34.740 --> 00:00:39.740 to Christ, effectually called and regenerated, 00:00:39.780 --> 00:00:44.579 having a new heart and a new spirit created in 00:00:44.579 --> 00:00:47.899 them through the virtue of Christ's death and 00:00:47.899 --> 00:00:53.509 resurrection. are also farther sanctified really 00:00:53.509 --> 00:00:58.109 and personally through the same virtue by his 00:00:58.109 --> 00:01:02.189 word and the spirit in dwelling in them. Amen. 00:01:02.950 --> 00:01:06.969 So love those things. Such good stuff. So we're 00:01:06.969 --> 00:01:08.549 going to pray and we're going to get started. 00:01:09.030 --> 00:01:11.310 Okay. Father, I want to thank you so much for 00:01:11.310 --> 00:01:13.430 your goodness and faithfulness. Thank you, Lord, 00:01:13.469 --> 00:01:16.090 for your word. Thank you that you are at work 00:01:16.090 --> 00:01:19.799 molding and shaping and growing your people into 00:01:19.799 --> 00:01:23.099 the full maturity of Christ. I pray, Lord, that 00:01:23.099 --> 00:01:26.739 we would be people willing to make a stand on 00:01:26.739 --> 00:01:30.500 the truth, proclaim it boldly, walk in humility, 00:01:30.739 --> 00:01:34.239 and be wise in our conversations. May everything 00:01:34.239 --> 00:01:37.340 we do bring honor and glory to you, being obedient 00:01:37.340 --> 00:01:39.719 to the chief and commander in chief of our faith, 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:44.760 run the race. to win the prize, and Lord, as 00:01:44.760 --> 00:01:49.599 farmers, that we would work the field so that 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:52.280 we can enjoy the harvest. To you be honor and 00:01:52.280 --> 00:01:55.579 glory forever, in Jesus' name, amen. Chapter 00:01:55.579 --> 00:02:00.000 2, 2 Timothy, you then, my child, be strengthened 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:03.180 by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what 00:02:03.180 --> 00:02:05.760 you have heard from me in the presence of many 00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:10.330 witnesses, entrust to faithful men. who will 00:02:10.330 --> 00:02:13.310 be able to teach others also, sharing in suffering 00:02:13.310 --> 00:02:16.389 as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier 00:02:16.389 --> 00:02:19.289 gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his 00:02:19.289 --> 00:02:23.229 aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An 00:02:23.229 --> 00:02:26.550 athlete is not crowned unless he competes according 00:02:26.550 --> 00:02:30.610 to the rules. It is the hardworking farmer who 00:02:30.610 --> 00:02:33.990 ought to have the first share of the crops. Think 00:02:33.990 --> 00:02:37.129 over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding 00:02:37.129 --> 00:02:41.810 in everything. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from 00:02:41.810 --> 00:02:44.830 the dead, the offspring of David, as preached 00:02:44.830 --> 00:02:48.889 in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound 00:02:48.889 --> 00:02:52.810 with chains as a criminal, but the word of God 00:02:52.810 --> 00:02:55.810 is not bound. Therefore, I endure everything 00:02:55.810 --> 00:02:58.849 for the sake of the elect, that they also may 00:02:58.849 --> 00:03:01.909 obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus 00:03:01.909 --> 00:03:05.810 with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, 00:03:06.090 --> 00:03:09.990 for if we die with him, we will also live with 00:03:09.990 --> 00:03:13.389 him. If we endure, we will also reign with him. 00:03:13.469 --> 00:03:18.129 If we deny him, he also will deny us. If we are 00:03:18.129 --> 00:03:21.530 faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot 00:03:21.530 --> 00:03:24.629 deny himself. Remind them of these things, and 00:03:24.629 --> 00:03:27.689 charge them before God not to quarrel about words, 00:03:27.909 --> 00:03:31.129 which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:34.599 Do your best to present yourself to God as one 00:03:34.599 --> 00:03:37.719 approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, 00:03:38.060 --> 00:03:41.659 rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid 00:03:41.659 --> 00:03:45.740 irreverent babble, for it will lead people into 00:03:45.740 --> 00:03:49.060 more and more ungodliness, and their talk will 00:03:49.060 --> 00:03:52.919 spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus 00:03:52.919 --> 00:03:57.039 and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, 00:03:57.139 --> 00:03:59.740 saying that the resurrection has already happened. 00:04:01.419 --> 00:04:05.300 upsetting the faith of some, but God's firm foundation 00:04:05.300 --> 00:04:10.139 stands bearing this seal. The Lord knows those 00:04:10.139 --> 00:04:13.620 who are his, and let everyone who names the name 00:04:13.620 --> 00:04:17.800 of the Lord depart. from iniquity. Now in a great 00:04:17.800 --> 00:04:20.819 house, there are not only vessels of gold and 00:04:20.819 --> 00:04:24.480 silver, but also wood and clay, some of honorable 00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:28.540 use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone 00:04:28.540 --> 00:04:31.639 cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he 00:04:31.639 --> 00:04:34.879 will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart 00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:39.259 as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready 00:04:39.259 --> 00:04:43.600 for every good work. See, so flee youthful passions, 00:04:43.819 --> 00:04:47.120 pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, 00:04:47.300 --> 00:04:50.819 along with those who call on the Lord from a 00:04:50.819 --> 00:04:53.699 pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, 00:04:53.819 --> 00:04:58.339 ignorant controversies. You know that they breed 00:04:58.339 --> 00:05:02.060 quarrels. The Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:05.980 but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently 00:05:05.980 --> 00:05:09.600 enduring evil. correcting his opponents with 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:12.819 gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance, 00:05:13.079 --> 00:05:16.420 leading to a knowledge of the truth. And they 00:05:16.420 --> 00:05:19.959 may come to their senses and escape from the 00:05:19.959 --> 00:05:22.660 snare of the devil after being captured by him 00:05:22.660 --> 00:05:27.199 to do his will. It's quite a bit. Question is, 00:05:27.259 --> 00:05:28.480 are we going to get through the whole chapter? 00:05:28.600 --> 00:05:33.360 We are. You're like, that's a lot. Yes. Five 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:37.990 points, five sections. and let's go for a ride. 00:05:38.189 --> 00:05:42.290 You guys ready? All right, first one. A genuine 00:05:42.290 --> 00:05:45.110 godly leader obeys the commander -in -chief of 00:05:45.110 --> 00:05:48.810 faith, runs the race to gain the prize, works 00:05:48.810 --> 00:05:51.589 the field with patience and endurance to receive 00:05:51.589 --> 00:05:55.149 its fruit at harvest. Therefore, do not throw 00:05:55.149 --> 00:05:58.490 away your confidence. which has a great reward, 00:05:58.810 --> 00:06:01.930 for you have need of endurance, so that when 00:06:01.930 --> 00:06:04.350 you have done the will of God, you may receive 00:06:04.350 --> 00:06:08.529 what is promised, Hebrews 10, 35 through 36. 00:06:08.949 --> 00:06:11.689 I want you to notice a couple things here. You 00:06:11.689 --> 00:06:15.730 then, my child, be strengthened by the grace 00:06:15.730 --> 00:06:21.759 that is in Christ Jesus. Jesus is your strength. 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:24.839 You don't get strength anywhere else. You get 00:06:24.839 --> 00:06:27.920 strength from Him. It is an absolute necessity 00:06:27.920 --> 00:06:31.439 that you are fully dependent upon the King of 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:34.420 kings and the Lord of lords. You need Him to 00:06:34.420 --> 00:06:38.439 be strong. When you're weak, He makes you strong. 00:06:38.699 --> 00:06:41.779 In your weakness, you find your strength. He 00:06:41.779 --> 00:06:45.839 is your strength, and it's in Him. Second, and 00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:49.889 what you have heard, Now this word means learn 00:06:49.889 --> 00:06:53.350 from hearing. Now I want you to get that. So 00:06:53.350 --> 00:06:56.689 what you've heard or what you learned from hearing 00:06:56.689 --> 00:07:00.649 from me in the presence of many witnesses. So 00:07:00.649 --> 00:07:04.029 what Paul is saying to Timothy is all the things 00:07:04.029 --> 00:07:06.649 that you've heard concerning the doctrine and 00:07:06.649 --> 00:07:09.790 the truth of Christ, you've heard and learned 00:07:09.790 --> 00:07:13.750 from me in the presence of many witnesses. You 00:07:13.750 --> 00:07:19.230 have grown in faith. He says now, this entrust, 00:07:19.389 --> 00:07:22.350 these things, these truths, you need to give 00:07:22.350 --> 00:07:25.589 to faithful men. This word entrust means to be 00:07:25.589 --> 00:07:29.930 kept and taught to others. You must be obedient 00:07:29.930 --> 00:07:33.029 in the trust, and then you must teach others 00:07:33.029 --> 00:07:35.490 to do the same. Exactly what we talked about 00:07:35.490 --> 00:07:40.410 to the kids. Do we keep the Word of God and teach 00:07:40.410 --> 00:07:44.790 others to do it also? And it's one thing to give 00:07:44.790 --> 00:07:48.209 it away. To people who aren't faithful, it's 00:07:48.209 --> 00:07:50.370 another to give it away to faithful men. The 00:07:50.370 --> 00:07:53.009 question is, what kind of man are you? What kind 00:07:53.009 --> 00:07:56.170 of believer are you? Are you faithful? Are you 00:07:56.170 --> 00:07:58.970 not faithful? What's interesting is this word 00:07:58.970 --> 00:08:01.069 faithful men means reliable and trustworthy. 00:08:02.449 --> 00:08:06.230 Reliable and trustworthy. Are you reliable and 00:08:06.230 --> 00:08:11.509 trustworthy to keep, hold, and do the Word of 00:08:11.509 --> 00:08:16.079 God? teach it. This word here, meaning who will 00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:20.600 be able, this is hikanas. Hikanas is the word 00:08:20.600 --> 00:08:24.740 fit, sufficient, or competent. Fit, sufficient, 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:28.199 or competent to teach others also. That's one 00:08:28.199 --> 00:08:29.939 of the major problems in our churches today, 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:33.480 is because there are men who are not fit, who 00:08:33.480 --> 00:08:36.419 aren't even competent to teach the word. And 00:08:36.419 --> 00:08:39.200 they're there standing behind a pulpit with thousands 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:42.100 of people following them. And they have no clue 00:08:42.100 --> 00:08:43.720 what the word of God says. They just tell you 00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:47.159 what you want to hear. You get the fluffy. I 00:08:47.159 --> 00:08:49.600 talk about this like every week because it's 00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:52.750 so prevalent in our day to day. We have to have 00:08:52.750 --> 00:08:55.409 men who have been entrusted with the truth of 00:08:55.409 --> 00:08:58.590 God's word, who can teach it to others, who are 00:08:58.590 --> 00:09:01.629 reliable and trustworthy, and who are fit and 00:09:01.629 --> 00:09:05.250 sufficient and competent to do it. Too many. 00:09:06.070 --> 00:09:09.950 I can't help but think about the, it's not a 00:09:09.950 --> 00:09:11.470 political statement, so I'm just letting you 00:09:11.470 --> 00:09:14.690 know that. But I watched the Rose Garden signing 00:09:14.690 --> 00:09:20.049 of this declaration of the National Day of Prayer. 00:09:20.700 --> 00:09:23.799 Does anyone realize the representatives of the 00:09:23.799 --> 00:09:26.740 religious community that were present there? 00:09:27.259 --> 00:09:32.220 Paula White? Are we serious? That's the Christian 00:09:32.220 --> 00:09:36.120 evangelical representative of the faith of Jesus 00:09:36.120 --> 00:09:40.080 Christ for the National Day of Prayer, along 00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:44.559 with all the ecumenical, non -believing, quote 00:09:44.559 --> 00:09:47.659 -unquote Christians of all kinds of, we call 00:09:47.659 --> 00:09:51.250 that a National Day of Prayer. That's crazy. 00:09:51.889 --> 00:09:55.929 Why? Because we have entrusted the truth of God 00:09:55.929 --> 00:09:59.529 to people who are not fit, sufficient, or competent, 00:09:59.710 --> 00:10:01.950 which means they don't give out truth. They just 00:10:01.950 --> 00:10:06.610 give out lies. Come on. I can't help but, as 00:10:06.610 --> 00:10:10.750 a pastor, sit there and just cringe at some of 00:10:10.750 --> 00:10:12.730 these quote -unquote teachers of the gospel. 00:10:13.629 --> 00:10:18.129 Now, Share in suffering. So not only should these 00:10:18.129 --> 00:10:20.429 people be fit, sufficient, and competent to teach 00:10:20.429 --> 00:10:23.570 others, but he also tells Timothy, share in suffering. 00:10:23.809 --> 00:10:27.230 Suffer hardship together with one another. Do 00:10:27.230 --> 00:10:30.549 we suffer hardship together with one another? 00:10:30.950 --> 00:10:33.230 I will tell you, it's one of the things as a 00:10:33.230 --> 00:10:38.070 pastor that as a believer in Christ, you must 00:10:38.070 --> 00:10:41.629 learn to do and do well. If you don't learn to 00:10:41.629 --> 00:10:44.429 suffer well, you can't shepherd well. And if 00:10:44.429 --> 00:10:46.909 you don't learn to, if you can't suffer well 00:10:46.909 --> 00:10:49.529 and learn to suffer well, then when you suffer 00:10:49.529 --> 00:10:52.370 with others, you actually don't really spend 00:10:52.370 --> 00:10:54.669 time with them at all. And I've seen this in 00:10:54.669 --> 00:10:57.730 some pastors too, where there's hurting within 00:10:57.730 --> 00:10:59.909 the church, within the family of God, there's 00:10:59.909 --> 00:11:03.750 hurting within people and they don't spend time 00:11:03.750 --> 00:11:07.370 talking with them. They give like 30 minutes. 00:11:08.059 --> 00:11:11.120 Like 30 minutes is enough time to help. When 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:15.019 you counsel, it's not a timeline. God guides 00:11:15.019 --> 00:11:18.080 the conversation. God guides the counseling. 00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:22.500 God determines what that person needs in that 00:11:22.500 --> 00:11:26.379 conversation. Learn to suffer with one another. 00:11:26.500 --> 00:11:31.000 Do you suffer with others? Are you willingly 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:35.100 suffering with those who are suffering? Are you 00:11:35.100 --> 00:11:37.929 putting yourself out there? Hebrews chapter 10 00:11:37.929 --> 00:11:43.169 says that the believers willingly went out and 00:11:43.169 --> 00:11:46.389 suffered with them and accepted the plundering 00:11:46.389 --> 00:11:49.309 of their property. Are you willing to suffer 00:11:49.309 --> 00:11:53.990 with each other? As a good soldier of Christ 00:11:53.990 --> 00:11:58.090 Jesus, Paul says. Notice he doesn't say as a 00:11:58.090 --> 00:12:01.009 good believer. He says as a good soldier. Why? 00:12:01.230 --> 00:12:03.070 How many of you guys have been in the military? 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:06.740 What's the number one responsibility being on 00:12:06.740 --> 00:12:12.820 the field? No one gets left behind. That's what 00:12:12.820 --> 00:12:16.360 it means. No one gets left behind. If you suffer, 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:20.860 I'm suffering with you. We go together. You're 00:12:20.860 --> 00:12:25.639 not alone in this. No soldier, no one who leads 00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:28.679 soldiers to battle gets entangled in civilian 00:12:28.679 --> 00:12:32.000 pursuits. This is hard for me. I will be honest 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:35.580 with you. Lord knows there are times I want to 00:12:35.580 --> 00:12:38.879 get on my soapbox. There's times when it's proper 00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:45.440 to deal with issues. But this is difficult. It's 00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:46.919 one of the reasons why if you go on my Facebook, 00:12:47.019 --> 00:12:50.679 either I delete things because I guess the Lord 00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:56.980 convicts me and so does my wife. But I don't 00:12:56.980 --> 00:13:00.379 put stuff on there. Why? Because we get involved 00:13:00.379 --> 00:13:02.100 with things that have nothing to do with the 00:13:02.100 --> 00:13:05.419 kingdom. Notice what it says here. No soldier 00:13:05.419 --> 00:13:08.379 gets entangled in civilian pursuits. This word 00:13:08.379 --> 00:13:11.360 civilian pursuits is the idea of getting involved 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:14.480 with issues not related to the kingdom. I mean, 00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:16.320 how many things do we get involved in that have 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:22.059 nothing to do with Jesus? A lot. Why do we, why 00:13:22.059 --> 00:13:28.320 should we as leaders of the church not get involved 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:32.299 in the junk because our aim is to please the 00:13:32.299 --> 00:13:35.779 one who has enlisted us into his army. I want 00:13:35.779 --> 00:13:40.080 to make Jesus happy, pleased with my service. 00:13:40.759 --> 00:13:47.039 Now, that's hard. I know it's hard. An athlete 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:49.620 is not crowned unless he competes according to 00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:52.679 the rules. So if I'm running a race and I cross 00:13:52.679 --> 00:13:55.500 the finish line and the judge comes to me and 00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:57.100 says, you know what? You just tripped that guy, 00:13:57.139 --> 00:13:59.700 you know, trying to get into just like right 00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:01.460 there. You just did in front of everybody. I'm 00:14:01.460 --> 00:14:04.299 like, no, I'm first. I crossed the finish line 00:14:04.299 --> 00:14:07.200 first. I'm the winner. Well, there's a rule. 00:14:07.340 --> 00:14:09.320 You can't trip the runner running next to you. 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:13.259 You know, how many guys have saw the girl running 00:14:13.259 --> 00:14:16.500 with the baton? And this girl is chucking right 00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:19.320 past her and she just like hauls up, like not 00:14:19.320 --> 00:14:21.299 running like this, like who in the world comes 00:14:21.299 --> 00:14:24.240 up like this and kabong somebody? Kabong! How 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:28.039 many of you guys have seen Bugs Bunny? I'm a 00:14:28.039 --> 00:14:30.539 big, if you haven't seen, so all you young people 00:14:30.539 --> 00:14:35.519 have no idea of Bugs Bunny. But Bugs Bunny kabongs. 00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:39.419 You know, I crown you king of Nottingham. Kabong! 00:14:39.820 --> 00:14:44.360 You know, she kabonged her really badly. That 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:47.899 picture just floods my brain. That being said, 00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:51.100 do you run the race according to the rules? God 00:14:51.100 --> 00:14:54.340 has set the rules for the Christian race right 00:14:54.340 --> 00:14:57.179 here. You don't get the choice of what rules 00:14:57.179 --> 00:15:01.240 you obey and follow. You follow them all. Jesus 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:04.840 says, if you love me, you will obey my commands. 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:11.539 Now, second, it is the hardworking farmer. who 00:15:11.539 --> 00:15:14.440 ought to have the first share of the crops. I 00:15:14.440 --> 00:15:16.940 mean, don't you want to enjoy the harvest and 00:15:16.940 --> 00:15:21.179 the work that you have put in? So Paul then turns 00:15:21.179 --> 00:15:25.220 and says to Timothy, think over what I say. The 00:15:25.220 --> 00:15:27.700 Lord will give you understanding. What's the 00:15:27.700 --> 00:15:31.200 understanding of all this? It's very simple. 00:15:32.179 --> 00:15:35.460 Obey the commander in chief of the faith. Run 00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:39.919 the race to gain the prize. Work. the field with 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:44.139 patience and endurance to receive the harvest. 00:15:44.539 --> 00:15:48.620 Your work is not forgotten if you do it well. 00:15:49.490 --> 00:15:52.690 Godly leaders are not ashamed of Christ the King 00:15:52.690 --> 00:15:55.990 and his gospel. They are willing to suffer for 00:15:55.990 --> 00:15:58.970 it. For I have been crucified with Christ, yet 00:15:58.970 --> 00:16:02.110 I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The 00:16:02.110 --> 00:16:04.710 life I now live in this body, I live by faith 00:16:04.710 --> 00:16:07.409 in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself 00:16:07.409 --> 00:16:11.149 for me. Galatians 2 .20. You're like, how do 00:16:11.149 --> 00:16:13.909 you know that's my favorite verse? After all, 00:16:13.950 --> 00:16:17.250 it's on the wall in my office. It's the key to 00:16:17.250 --> 00:16:21.649 the Christian living. The key, you're dead. Let 00:16:21.649 --> 00:16:25.870 Jesus live it. Remember, call to mind, recollect. 00:16:26.070 --> 00:16:30.389 Paul says to Timothy, remember, recollect Jesus 00:16:30.389 --> 00:16:34.289 Christ. What about him? Risen from the dead. 00:16:34.370 --> 00:16:36.950 He's the risen savior. The offspring of David, 00:16:37.129 --> 00:16:42.340 reigning king. As preached in my gospel. Not 00:16:42.340 --> 00:16:45.399 only did Jesus come to die on the cross, but 00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:48.799 he rose from the dead to show he has victory 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:51.960 over sin, death, and the grave. And he reigns 00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:57.580 as king on the throne of David. Does your gospel 00:16:57.580 --> 00:17:01.940 carry the weight of the risen Christ and the 00:17:01.940 --> 00:17:06.599 reigning king? And he says, for which I am suffering, 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:12.160 bound with chains as a criminal. In arrest. He's 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:16.559 been arrested. He's locked up. And he is stuck 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:19.460 there. He can't leave. He's in house arrest. 00:17:20.359 --> 00:17:24.900 And what does he do? He writes letters. All of 00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:29.059 the letters you read. He writes letters. The 00:17:29.059 --> 00:17:31.759 Word of God is not bound. You might be able to 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:34.960 bound the person. You might be able to imprison 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:37.079 the person, but you can't imprison the Word of 00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:41.759 God. Take it from me. God will speak regardless 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:46.240 of whether I have the written word or not. He 00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:48.720 speaks regardless because his word is living 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:52.940 and active. The word of God is not bound. It's 00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:57.460 not stuck by chains, regardless of anything that 00:17:57.460 --> 00:17:59.500 someone would try to do, especially in the days 00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:03.000 to come. Therefore, he says, I endure everything 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:06.839 for the sake of the elect. I endure. everything 00:18:06.839 --> 00:18:11.579 for the family. Do you? Are you willing to endure 00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:14.240 everything for the family? And are you willing 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:17.519 to endure everything for the family that have 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:21.119 not come home yet? We have brothers and sisters 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:27.119 that aren't home yet. That being said, says this, 00:18:27.380 --> 00:18:31.400 he says it this, he says that they also may obtain 00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:35.359 salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:39.579 glory, not temporary temporal glory, eternal 00:18:39.579 --> 00:18:43.319 glory. Are you going and getting the family? 00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:47.440 Bring them home. Bring them home. The saying 00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:50.890 is trustworthy. If we died, with him, we will 00:18:50.890 --> 00:18:54.930 also live with him. If we endure, we will also 00:18:54.930 --> 00:18:59.730 reign with him. If we deny him, he also will 00:18:59.730 --> 00:19:04.589 deny us. If we are faithless, he remains faithful, 00:19:04.730 --> 00:19:08.289 for he cannot deny himself. Regardless of what 00:19:08.289 --> 00:19:15.589 we do, Christ always wins. Godly leaders avoid 00:19:15.589 --> 00:19:19.569 foolish controversies. not pertaining to the 00:19:19.569 --> 00:19:24.789 kingdom and of Christ. What's this mean? Don't 00:19:24.789 --> 00:19:28.009 get into stupid arguments about nothing. It's 00:19:28.009 --> 00:19:32.190 a waste of time. Walk in wisdom towards outsiders, 00:19:32.490 --> 00:19:35.950 making the best use of the time. Let your speech 00:19:35.950 --> 00:19:40.269 always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that 00:19:40.269 --> 00:19:43.690 you may know how you ought to answer each person. 00:19:43.910 --> 00:19:48.700 Colossians 4, 5 through 6. Remind them of these 00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:52.660 things, Paul says to Timothy. Timothy, remind 00:19:52.660 --> 00:19:56.460 the people of these things. What things? All 00:19:56.460 --> 00:19:59.279 the things I just told you. Don't get involved 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:03.180 in civilian affairs. Preach the gospel. Christ, 00:20:03.180 --> 00:20:06.019 the risen Savior, the reigning King. All the 00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:08.400 things that I've just said, remind them of them 00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:13.450 and charge. Earnestly affirm is the idea here. 00:20:13.730 --> 00:20:18.029 Earnestly affirm them before God not to quarrel 00:20:18.029 --> 00:20:21.930 about words, not to dispute over trivial things. 00:20:22.589 --> 00:20:25.809 It's crazy. Why do Christians do this all the 00:20:25.809 --> 00:20:28.650 time? Because I have an opinion. I'm going to 00:20:28.650 --> 00:20:32.250 say this as lovingly as I possibly can. God doesn't 00:20:32.250 --> 00:20:34.730 care about your opinion. Your opinion doesn't 00:20:34.730 --> 00:20:38.150 matter when it comes to the truth. God says what 00:20:38.150 --> 00:20:40.799 he says, whether you like it or not. God don't 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:44.960 care about your opinion. Opinions are like, nevermind. 00:20:45.980 --> 00:20:49.980 It was always lit somewhere. Sounds kind of harsh, 00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:53.119 doesn't it? Because if God was moved by everyone's 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:57.019 opinion, would he ever get anything done? Therefore, 00:20:57.119 --> 00:21:02.480 look what it says. Why are these things important? 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:06.799 Why should we not quarrel or dispute about trivial 00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:09.559 things? Because they're not good, which does 00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:15.279 no good, but only ruins. Catastrophe is the word 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:17.519 here. It's the word we get the word catastrophe 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:21.400 from. It only subverts, overthrows, and destroys 00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:25.619 the errors. It doesn't help anybody. Paul says 00:21:25.619 --> 00:21:28.240 it this way. Do not let any unwholesome talk 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:30.279 come out of your mouths, but only that which 00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:34.039 is useful for building up others. Stay out of 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:36.460 disagreements and arguments that mean absolutely 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:40.119 nothing. And what we do as Christians is we find 00:21:40.119 --> 00:21:43.799 a reason to fight instead of preaching the gospel. 00:21:44.599 --> 00:21:47.420 We got all kinds of things that we can get involved 00:21:47.420 --> 00:21:51.019 in and picket at. Picketing doesn't do anything. 00:21:51.559 --> 00:21:53.440 How about if you sit down with that person and 00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:56.019 preach them and teach them and bring them the 00:21:56.019 --> 00:22:01.259 love of Jesus? Drives me nuts. Anyway, we should 00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:03.599 be totally different. I mean, can you see the 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:06.079 difference between the believer who pickets and 00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:09.400 complains because it's our freedom to do so in 00:22:09.400 --> 00:22:11.960 the country versus the non -believer? Is there 00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:15.960 any real difference? No. They're both complaining 00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:19.799 about something they can't control. Just saying. 00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:24.740 Look what it says here. Do your best. Spudazzo. 00:22:24.859 --> 00:22:27.420 I kind of like that. Spudazzo sounds a little 00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:34.339 Italian. Spudazzo. Spudazo, hasten, exert oneself. 00:22:35.880 --> 00:22:38.519 Are you hastening? Are you exerting yourself 00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:42.380 to present yourself to God as one approved? Are 00:22:42.380 --> 00:22:46.059 you putting in the work? Or do you come to church 00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:50.200 to be told what you should do? Or are you spending 00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:54.119 time challenging what you've been told? proving 00:22:54.119 --> 00:22:56.180 that that teacher is right. And then if he is 00:22:56.180 --> 00:23:00.519 right, are you willing to change what is wrong 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:03.740 in your theology? Because every one of us are 00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:08.039 theologians. Now, look what it says. This word 00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:12.259 approved, dakemas is the word here. It means 00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:15.859 to approve by testing, tried, and genuine. Do 00:23:15.859 --> 00:23:19.059 you approve? Have you proved it by testing it, 00:23:19.140 --> 00:23:22.200 trying it, and finding it to be genuine? That's 00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:27.059 the type of person that you should become, one 00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:31.339 who is approved, one who has been proven by detesting, 00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:35.299 by being tried and proven to be genuine, a worker, 00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:39.660 a doer, a laborer, a practitioner of the Word 00:23:39.660 --> 00:23:43.960 of God, who has no need to be ashamed, no cause, 00:23:44.140 --> 00:23:48.059 or has anything to do with being ashamed. There 00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:50.960 can be nothing brought against you whatsoever. 00:23:52.170 --> 00:23:55.130 That you could be ashamed that you have mishandled, 00:23:55.130 --> 00:23:59.069 misused, misappropriated the word and the truth 00:23:59.069 --> 00:24:02.430 of God. Rightly handling is the word here. And 00:24:02.430 --> 00:24:04.529 this word rightly handling means to make straight 00:24:04.529 --> 00:24:08.170 and smooth as if you were cutting a paper. What 00:24:08.170 --> 00:24:10.069 are we cutting? What are we making straight and 00:24:10.069 --> 00:24:13.410 smooth? The word of truth. Are we making straight 00:24:13.410 --> 00:24:17.710 and smooth the word of truth that we are fitting 00:24:17.710 --> 00:24:21.289 into that according to his purpose and will? 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:26.079 Notice again, verse 16, he says, but avoid irreverent 00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:30.460 babble. Reference verse 4 and 14 again. This 00:24:30.460 --> 00:24:33.400 is now the second time, almost the third time 00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:35.720 that he tells them, stop arguing about stupid 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:40.339 stuff. Why? Because it will lead people into 00:24:40.339 --> 00:24:45.480 more and more palas, or palus is the word here, 00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:48.960 means much ungodliness. And their talk will spread 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:52.839 like gangrene. Mortification. Now, you ever looked 00:24:52.839 --> 00:24:55.559 at something that was gangrenish? Once it's gangrene, 00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:58.700 you can't make it un -gangrene. You can't heal 00:24:58.700 --> 00:25:02.680 gangrene. You cut it off. It's mortified. It's 00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:06.539 beyond repair. It is dead. The only way to get 00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:08.200 rid of something that's dead is to cut it off. 00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:10.559 That's the idea here. Now, think about that. 00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:14.940 When we get involved in this foolish conversations, 00:25:15.299 --> 00:25:20.079 this irreverent babble, Then we lead people into 00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:25.619 much ungodliness. And as a result, the talk spreads 00:25:25.619 --> 00:25:29.079 like gangrene. If you have any question about 00:25:29.079 --> 00:25:31.700 that, look at some of these guys who are teaching 00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:34.119 and preaching today. Why do I talk about this 00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:36.400 all the time? One, I'm going on sabbatical for 00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:41.359 a month. And we have five godly men who are going 00:25:41.359 --> 00:25:44.619 to come and give you the word. Praise God. Do 00:25:44.619 --> 00:25:46.779 you know how many churches don't have that? Holy 00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:50.380 smokes. Now, he mentions these two particular 00:25:50.380 --> 00:25:53.859 guys. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus. 00:25:54.319 --> 00:25:57.859 Now, if you went to Bible study on Wednesday, 00:25:58.119 --> 00:26:01.180 we talked about 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians. 00:26:01.359 --> 00:26:05.420 And these two gentlemen went around saying that 00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:08.640 Jesus returned and they got left behind. We read 00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:11.599 that in a minute. Isn't that interesting? Why 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:14.640 would Paul mention these two guys in his letter 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:18.869 to Timothy? Because Timothy... went to meet Paul 00:26:18.869 --> 00:26:23.410 in Corinth when he left Thessalonica. Isn't that 00:26:23.410 --> 00:26:26.369 interesting? So, the very thing that Paul's talking 00:26:26.369 --> 00:26:31.150 about here is mentioned in 1 Thessalonians chapter 00:26:31.150 --> 00:26:36.210 2 and 2 Thessalonians, I mean, 1 Thessalonians 00:26:36.210 --> 00:26:40.390 chapter 5 and 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. Now, 00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:44.339 What happens with these men? Well, they swerved 00:26:44.339 --> 00:26:47.380 from the truth. They've shipwrecked their life. 00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:52.980 They've become ineffective, worthless, saying 00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:56.259 that the resurrection has already happened. Now, 00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:59.980 I'm a Reformed guy. You guys know that. So to 00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:04.180 some of our Reformed gentlemen who teach, this 00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:06.960 may be a little bit of a problem, I think, in 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:09.960 how they present that the resurrection has already 00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:13.740 happened. If it is, we're in trouble. So it has 00:27:13.740 --> 00:27:17.380 not. Not the second one. You're like, there was 00:27:17.380 --> 00:27:20.920 a first resurrection? Yes, there was a first 00:27:20.920 --> 00:27:24.700 resurrection. When Jesus was crucified, all the 00:27:24.700 --> 00:27:26.900 graves were open and they were just waiting for 00:27:26.900 --> 00:27:31.259 Jesus to come out. And many saw them after his 00:27:31.259 --> 00:27:34.140 resurrection, saw the resurrected people afterward. 00:27:34.380 --> 00:27:36.079 That's the first resurrection. There is a second 00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:39.380 coming. A second resurrection is coming. That's 00:27:39.380 --> 00:27:40.880 the resurrection they're talking about here. 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:45.180 It has not happened yet. How do we know? But 00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:48.500 this is what it says. But God's firm foundation 00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:52.980 stands bearing this seal. Now I want you to notice 00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:55.839 he uses this terminology for a reason. He says 00:27:55.839 --> 00:28:00.299 God's promise concerning your redemption is absolutely 00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:06.119 guaranteed. It's a seal for you. A guarantee. 00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:10.180 This truth you can stand on, and it is an absolute 00:28:10.180 --> 00:28:13.400 guarantee. The Lord knows those who are his. 00:28:13.799 --> 00:28:17.220 Get that. The reason why he hasn't returned yet 00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:21.000 is because you're here. He hasn't forgotten you. 00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:24.539 And let everyone who names the name of the Lord 00:28:24.539 --> 00:28:27.779 depart from iniquity. Get your life cleaned up. 00:28:28.599 --> 00:28:32.700 You want to make sure that when he returns, he 00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:37.769 finds you busy. And he finds you full, controlled 00:28:37.769 --> 00:28:40.289 by the Spirit, living a life that is holy and 00:28:40.289 --> 00:28:44.289 good. Godly leaders must maintain a holy and 00:28:44.289 --> 00:28:49.569 faithful life to be useful and usable. Now, if 00:28:49.569 --> 00:28:51.730 anyone builds on the foundation with gold and 00:28:51.730 --> 00:28:54.990 silver, precious stones, hay, wood, and straw, 00:28:55.210 --> 00:28:58.289 each one's work will become manifest, for the 00:28:58.289 --> 00:29:01.650 day will disclose it. Because it will be revealed 00:29:01.650 --> 00:29:05.089 by fire, and the fire will test what sort of 00:29:05.089 --> 00:29:08.650 work each one has done. If the work that anyone 00:29:08.650 --> 00:29:11.930 has built on the foundation survives, he will 00:29:11.930 --> 00:29:15.630 receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned 00:29:15.630 --> 00:29:19.230 up, he will suffer loss, though himself will 00:29:19.230 --> 00:29:23.559 be saved. but only as through fire, 1 Corinthians 00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:27.460 3, 12 through 15. Interesting enough, Paul uses 00:29:27.460 --> 00:29:32.200 the same terminology here. 2 Corinthians 2, 20 00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:37.200 through 21. Now, in a great house, Paul uses 00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:41.720 this term, God's family, God's house. There are 00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:45.980 not only vessels of gold and silver, but also 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:50.170 of wood and clay. So this is not... The scripture, 00:29:50.410 --> 00:29:54.089 contextually, that talks about the God out of 00:29:54.089 --> 00:29:57.369 the same lump of clay creates vessels for noble 00:29:57.369 --> 00:30:00.569 use and vessels of ignoble use. It's not what 00:30:00.569 --> 00:30:03.250 he's talking about there. Here he's talking about 00:30:03.250 --> 00:30:05.950 vessels that are already in the house. Vessels 00:30:05.950 --> 00:30:09.450 that are clean and vessels that are dirty. That's 00:30:09.450 --> 00:30:12.769 why I use 1 Corinthians 3, 12 through 15. God's 00:30:12.769 --> 00:30:15.529 vessels. Notice what he says here. They're not 00:30:15.529 --> 00:30:17.589 only vessels of gold and silver, but also wooden 00:30:17.589 --> 00:30:20.289 clay, some for honorable honorable use, meaning 00:30:20.289 --> 00:30:24.009 usable, and some dishonorable, meaning unusable. 00:30:24.369 --> 00:30:27.309 I don't know about you, but sometimes my dishwasher 00:30:27.309 --> 00:30:31.910 doesn't do the job. I go in, get a cup of coffee. 00:30:31.970 --> 00:30:34.910 What do I find? Caked and burnt on the bottom 00:30:34.910 --> 00:30:38.049 of the coffee cup. Yep, you guessed it. Like 00:30:38.049 --> 00:30:41.670 why did not, why did that not clean? It's pretty 00:30:41.670 --> 00:30:43.950 disgusting. So I don't want to use it. It's not 00:30:43.950 --> 00:30:47.309 usable. That's the idea here. Therefore, if anyone 00:30:48.029 --> 00:30:53.390 this word tis, if any certain one among the vessels, 00:30:53.609 --> 00:30:59.809 cleanse himself to clean thoroughly, purify or 00:30:59.809 --> 00:31:03.109 clean out himself from what is dishonorable, 00:31:03.269 --> 00:31:07.589 meaning his sin. Get your stuff right. That's 00:31:07.589 --> 00:31:10.250 what he's talking about up here. Let everyone 00:31:10.250 --> 00:31:12.950 who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity. 00:31:13.230 --> 00:31:17.539 Clean up your junk. Notice how he continues in 00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:21.880 this thought. If he cleans up his stuff, he will 00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:25.880 be a vessel for honorable use. He will be usable 00:31:25.880 --> 00:31:30.460 and a valuable object for God, set apart as holy, 00:31:30.619 --> 00:31:34.859 meaning that God has set apart from profane things 00:31:34.859 --> 00:31:39.500 and dedicated for his use, meaning useful. He 00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:41.559 can use you when you clean up your trash. Can 00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:45.519 you imagine if I was shepherding and my life 00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:48.099 was a shipwreck and it was a disgusting mess. 00:31:48.440 --> 00:31:53.339 What kind of value or use would I be? They expect 00:31:53.339 --> 00:31:55.559 it from pastors, but God expects it from every 00:31:55.559 --> 00:31:58.319 one of his children, not just the leaders of 00:31:58.319 --> 00:32:01.259 the church. Lord knows we have a lot of them 00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:05.720 that are in question. So useful to the master 00:32:05.720 --> 00:32:09.200 of the house, meaning that the value, the vessels 00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:12.240 that are already in the house. are for his bidding. 00:32:12.619 --> 00:32:15.799 And if your life is dirty, he can't use you. 00:32:16.380 --> 00:32:18.799 Notice what he says here. Useful for the master 00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:22.740 of the house, ready for every good work. I guess 00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:28.539 if I was a dirty, messed up vessel, I might take 00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:31.700 it out back to go use it to dig something maybe. 00:32:32.720 --> 00:32:35.500 That'd be kind of nasty. Bring it back in and 00:32:35.500 --> 00:32:40.720 drink some soda out of it. Godly leaders grow 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:44.059 and develop in loving God, his word, his ways, 00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:47.519 and his things. You want to be a vessel for honorable 00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:50.960 use? You want God to use you? You want to clean 00:32:50.960 --> 00:32:54.500 up your vessel? Here it is. This is the answer. 00:32:55.059 --> 00:32:59.230 Grow. and develop in God's love, his word, his 00:32:59.230 --> 00:33:01.509 ways, and his things. Look carefully then how 00:33:01.509 --> 00:33:03.970 you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, making 00:33:03.970 --> 00:33:06.750 the best use of the time, because the days are 00:33:06.750 --> 00:33:10.029 evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand 00:33:10.029 --> 00:33:13.730 what the Lord's will is. Ephesians 5, 15 through 00:33:13.730 --> 00:33:17.250 17. What's his will? Be obedient. End of the 00:33:17.250 --> 00:33:22.970 chapter. Here we go. 22 through 26. So flee youthful 00:33:22.970 --> 00:33:27.970 passions. Epithume. Epe Thume means get rid of 00:33:27.970 --> 00:33:30.529 forbidden desires, cravings, and lusts. Young 00:33:30.529 --> 00:33:35.250 men, clean up your stuff. Do you know how many 00:33:35.250 --> 00:33:38.529 men are addicted to pornography? Just in this 00:33:38.529 --> 00:33:43.609 room. If we had 100 men, it'd be 99%. That's 00:33:43.609 --> 00:33:47.930 the average. 90%. Nine out of every 10 men. You're 00:33:47.930 --> 00:33:50.349 like, what? Do you know what it is for women? 00:33:51.170 --> 00:33:54.349 Almost the same. Pornography is not a man's issue. 00:33:54.910 --> 00:33:58.529 It's a lust issue. Now, it's hard. It's not easy. 00:33:58.890 --> 00:34:02.829 Flee youthful lusts. Get rid of forbidden desires, 00:34:03.130 --> 00:34:08.409 craving lusts, and pursue diako. Earnestly endeavor 00:34:08.409 --> 00:34:12.309 to acquire. Seek with all your heart righteousness, 00:34:12.630 --> 00:34:17.329 faith, love, and peace. Seek the kingdom of God 00:34:17.329 --> 00:34:21.829 and his righteousness. Notice it says that. Same 00:34:21.829 --> 00:34:25.869 idea here. Earnestly endeavor to acquire righteousness, 00:34:26.110 --> 00:34:29.949 faith, love, and peace along with those who call 00:34:29.949 --> 00:34:33.110 on the Lord, along with the true family of God 00:34:33.110 --> 00:34:36.949 from a pure heart. We do it together. We don't 00:34:36.949 --> 00:34:40.650 live life apart from each other. We live life 00:34:40.650 --> 00:34:44.929 with each other. When you struggle, I struggle. 00:34:45.289 --> 00:34:48.530 When you're hurting, I'm hurting. When you're 00:34:48.530 --> 00:34:53.039 in need, I'm in need. We do it together. never 00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:56.679 alone, have nothing to do, here it is again, 00:34:56.820 --> 00:35:01.760 with foolish, ignorant controversies. Why? You 00:35:01.760 --> 00:35:04.840 know they breed quarrels. I mean, why do you 00:35:04.840 --> 00:35:07.260 think people like, there's two things we don't 00:35:07.260 --> 00:35:12.199 talk about at the dinner table. Go ahead. Okay. 00:35:12.860 --> 00:35:15.619 Now think about that. Can't talk about religion. 00:35:17.019 --> 00:35:18.880 What else are Christians going to talk about? 00:35:24.590 --> 00:35:27.750 Makes no sense. Just don't get involved with 00:35:27.750 --> 00:35:30.030 dumb stuff. Talk about the things that matter. 00:35:30.190 --> 00:35:34.730 Why? Because the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome. 00:35:35.050 --> 00:35:38.750 This word quarrelsome means war with words. He 00:35:38.750 --> 00:35:41.889 must not be fighting over foolish things that 00:35:41.889 --> 00:35:44.130 don't matter because he wants to try to make 00:35:44.130 --> 00:35:48.989 a point. But he must be kind to everyone, able 00:35:48.989 --> 00:35:53.690 to teach. patiently enduring evil. In other words, 00:35:53.710 --> 00:35:56.590 patiently enduring the ills and wrongs of life. 00:35:56.929 --> 00:36:00.889 What kind of man should he be? He should correct. 00:36:01.190 --> 00:36:04.750 He should castigate. He should be molding the 00:36:04.750 --> 00:36:08.010 character of others by reproof and admonition. 00:36:08.289 --> 00:36:11.690 He should be castigating. He should be admonishing 00:36:11.690 --> 00:36:14.530 his opponents with gentleness, with the truth 00:36:14.530 --> 00:36:17.769 of the word of God. God may, perhaps, he may 00:36:17.769 --> 00:36:21.440 give them repentance. And repentance is one brought 00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:25.800 to repentance, and then God changes the mind. 00:36:26.079 --> 00:36:30.619 He brings them to a changed life, then the mind 00:36:30.619 --> 00:36:33.659 is changed. That's called sanctification. You 00:36:33.659 --> 00:36:35.400 don't change your mind about God and then come 00:36:35.400 --> 00:36:38.579 to Jesus. You know what, God? I really hate you. 00:36:38.659 --> 00:36:40.599 Oh man, you know what? I'm changing my mind. 00:36:40.619 --> 00:36:43.320 I just decided I think you're amazing. But that's 00:36:43.320 --> 00:36:45.599 what we were taught. Repentance is not the change 00:36:45.599 --> 00:36:49.849 of mind. Repentance is a change. Of the creature. 00:36:50.929 --> 00:36:53.769 The creature is no longer a creature of death 00:36:53.769 --> 00:36:56.449 and evil. He's been a creature of life. And as 00:36:56.449 --> 00:36:59.289 a result of being changed to life, made a new 00:36:59.289 --> 00:37:02.789 creature, God changes the mind. He renews the 00:37:02.789 --> 00:37:05.409 mind with the word of God. If you have any question 00:37:05.409 --> 00:37:08.769 about that, Romans chapter 12, verse 2. Okay. 00:37:09.170 --> 00:37:14.829 Now, here we go. This change of mind may lead 00:37:14.829 --> 00:37:18.269 to the knowledge of truth. May lead to faith. 00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:22.039 which was given, faith and truth, which was given 00:37:22.039 --> 00:37:25.139 through the partaking of faith. This whole change 00:37:25.139 --> 00:37:27.380 of the knowledge of the truth of God, of the 00:37:27.380 --> 00:37:30.860 truth of Christ, comes as a result of God giving 00:37:30.860 --> 00:37:36.260 his faith to the dead creature. It's interesting. 00:37:36.539 --> 00:37:40.159 Sort of like a spiritual shock pad, I guess. 00:37:40.960 --> 00:37:46.139 Now, what happens to these people? They may come 00:37:46.139 --> 00:37:49.130 to their senses, maybe. But you ever have people 00:37:49.130 --> 00:37:50.869 that you share the love of God with and you just, 00:37:50.889 --> 00:37:53.070 you look at them, they look at you like a deer 00:37:53.070 --> 00:37:54.949 in headlights and going, how come you can't understand 00:37:54.949 --> 00:37:57.590 this? I mean, you can't get any more simple than 00:37:57.590 --> 00:37:59.829 that. It's because they're not supposed to understand 00:37:59.829 --> 00:38:03.710 it. They may, not always, but may come to their 00:38:03.710 --> 00:38:06.469 senses and escape the snare of the devil. For 00:38:06.469 --> 00:38:08.849 those of us who have been on the conversation 00:38:08.849 --> 00:38:11.929 for several months on the issue of Satan, the 00:38:11.929 --> 00:38:14.599 devil, and the demons. This is an example of 00:38:14.599 --> 00:38:18.139 that. We talked about that he snares people. 00:38:18.400 --> 00:38:21.739 He entraps them. He puts a noose around them 00:38:21.739 --> 00:38:27.360 with false accusations and slander and lies. 00:38:27.920 --> 00:38:30.960 And as a result, all of those people who have 00:38:30.960 --> 00:38:35.800 been ensnared and entrapped and noosed by him 00:38:35.800 --> 00:38:38.440 are now out there teaching the same nonsense. 00:38:38.539 --> 00:38:41.079 And it gets taught from person to person. It's 00:38:41.079 --> 00:38:44.900 the same idea. As discipleship. If you have any 00:38:44.900 --> 00:38:47.460 question about that, Jesus says that to the Pharisees, 00:38:47.480 --> 00:38:50.179 does he not? What's he say to the Pharisees? 00:38:50.739 --> 00:38:56.539 He says, you are like your father, the? Okay. 00:38:56.980 --> 00:38:58.980 And they went about teaching. And that's exactly 00:38:58.980 --> 00:39:03.019 what these two men did. Called a lie. Ensnared 00:39:03.019 --> 00:39:06.519 people in lies. What happens when they're ensnared? 00:39:06.559 --> 00:39:11.769 Where after being captured, caught. by his lies, 00:39:12.070 --> 00:39:17.150 by his snares, by his entrapments to do his will, 00:39:17.349 --> 00:39:21.789 to go out and propagate the same stuff. Don't 00:39:21.789 --> 00:39:24.650 we see that going on in the world today? Propagating 00:39:24.650 --> 00:39:28.010 the same stuff, doing the same things. And we 00:39:28.010 --> 00:39:34.449 see that all the time, i .e. the Pope. When are 00:39:34.449 --> 00:39:38.349 God's people going to have the courage and strength 00:39:38.349 --> 00:39:41.429 and determination to stand solely on the truth 00:39:41.429 --> 00:39:45.170 and not argue about foolish things. It's very 00:39:45.170 --> 00:39:50.929 difficult and it's not easy, but God is good. 00:39:52.409 --> 00:39:57.469 God is good. All right. Father, I want to thank 00:39:57.469 --> 00:39:59.090 you so much for your goodness and faithfulness. 00:39:59.150 --> 00:40:00.630 Thank you, Lord, that we got through this chapter. 00:40:01.469 --> 00:40:04.150 Thank you for all that you're doing in the lives 00:40:04.150 --> 00:40:08.719 of your people. draw us, help us, Lord, to seek 00:40:08.719 --> 00:40:14.280 righteousness, faith, love, to endeavor, to walk, 00:40:14.320 --> 00:40:16.500 and to learn, and to grow in truth. We praise 00:40:16.500 --> 00:40:18.199 you and thank you for your faithfulness, your 00:40:18.199 --> 00:40:20.320 goodness. In Jesus' name, amen.