Well, please turn with me in your Bibles to 2 Timothy chapter 2. 2nd Timothy chapter 2. I had alluded to verses 8 and 8 to 10 this morning in our sermon and wanted to deal with that, but I didn't want to bypass that first section. So God willing, we'll take up verses 8 to 10 next Sunday. But I want to look at chapter 2 verses 1 to 7.
I think these are some good instructions for us with reference to the thought of persecution. We looked at that in our passage in Acts this morning. There was great persecution upon the church. And Paul here is telling Timothy and equipping Timothy on how he must deal with hardship, with affliction, with trial, and with difficulty.
And he does so in a series of commands. In fact, the bulk of chapter 2 are commands or imperatives given to Timothy on how he is to conduct himself in gospel ministry. So, I want to read the chapter, and then, as I said, our focus will be on verses 1 to 7. So 2 Timothy 2, beginning in verse 1, you, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You, therefore, must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also, if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains. But the word of God is not chained.
Therefore, I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. This is a faithful saying, for if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
If we are faithless, He remains faithful. He cannot deny Himself. Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. but shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness, and their message will spread like cancer.
Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection has already passed, and they overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal. The Lord knows those who are His, and let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.
Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts, but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. but avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel, but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient in humility, correcting those who are in opposition. If God perhaps will grant them repentance so that they may know the truth and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
Amen. Let us pray. Father, we thank You for the written Word. We thank You that it's given to us by inspiration of God Almighty, and that it's profitable for our souls.
And we pray tonight that the Spirit who gave the Word would guide us in our understanding of that Word, and that You would help us to appropriate it by faith, help us to put into practice the things that are indicated here, by the Apostle Paul. Again, forgive us for our sins and our unrighteousness. Help us to see the mindset that is necessary for the Christian people, for the people of God in this lower world. And do fill us now with the Spirit and guide us in our understanding.
We pray this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Introduction
Well, as I said, this morning we studied Acts chapter 8, where there was a great persecution against the church. And we looked at 2 Timothy chapter 2, verses 8 to 10. Notice what he says in terms of his position relative to the Word of God. He says, Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead, according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains, but the Word of God is not chained.
Under Christ, the persecution of the church nevertheless yields beneficial results. Under Christ, the persecution of the church oftentimes promotes holiness on the part of the people of God, evangelism, as we see there in Acts chapter 8, on the part of the people of God. There are remedial purposes for the persecution that Christians do face in this world. So I thought it would be good for us to look at the exhortation specifically in verses 1 to 7, as Paul is preparing Timothy for a life that is punctuated by trials, afflictions, and hardships.
But to appreciate chapter 2, verses 1 to 7, we need to go back into chapter 1. Specifically, Paul tells Timothy in verses 8 to 10 that Timothy needs to join with Paul in suffering for the cause of the gospel. Notice in 2 Timothy 1.8, Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God. So Timothy is to join with Paul.
He is to endure hardship. He is to suffer affliction. He is to undergo persecution and the heartaches associated with Christian ministry. Paul highlights Paul's example in the verses that follow, specifically in verses 11 and 12.
He gives Timothy specific exhortation in verses 13 and 14 of chapter 1 on how he is to conduct himself. Notice he says, hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me. In faith and love which are in Christ Jesus, that good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. So Timothy is to hold fast the pattern of sound words.
He's not to hold them lightly, he's not to be effeminate, but rather he is to be a man that holds fast to the word of truth. He goes on to say he is to keep that which has been committed to him by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. Now in the remainder of the chapter, here in chapter 1, he gives examples of those who have departed, those who have reneged, those who have not persevered, and those who have abandoned or deserted the Apostle Paul. So there's negative examples, but there is this one positive example in this man Onesimus, and God, or Paul rather, wants him to find mercy on that day.
So the apostle there is very much concerned with Timothy's faithfulness. He is very much concerned with Timothy's perseverance. He is very much concerned that Timothy endure hardship, that he participate in it, and that he does not apostatize or reject the faith. And that's the purpose of chapter 2.
He gives him this series of commands to show to him how he needs to function in light of the things that have been stated in chapter 1. So I wanna look at verses one to seven this evening under three considerations. There is first the command to be strong in verse one. Secondly, the duty to train pastors in verse two, and then the exhortation to suffer hardship in verses three to seven.
But
Be Strong in Grace
note in the first place, this command to be strong in verse one. You therefore, that therefore connects us with everything he's already said previously in chapter one. He is to not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. He is not to be ashamed of Paul as prisoner, but he is rather, according to verse 8, to share with Paul in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God.
In order for Timothy to do this, in order for Timothy to be the man of God that Timothy is supposed to be, Paul now exhorts him in verse 1, you therefore, my son, be strong. You're not to be passive, you're not to be weak, you're not to be a coward, but rather you are to be strong. But it's not a native strength. He says, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
So it's not just dispositionally sort of alpha males that are to be the leaders in the church. Rather, it is those who are strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. So there's obviously a need for strength in the Christian ministry, but we also ought to appreciate that this is a general exhortation for all of the people of God. I don't want anybody here to tune out tonight and say, well, you know, this doesn't apply to me because I'm not a Timothy in a local church.
This doesn't apply to me because I'm not a vocational pastor. This doesn't apply to me because I'm not set apart for gospel ministry. Whatever is true for gospel ministers ought to be pursued by everybody in the church of Jesus Christ. For example, in 1 Timothy chapter 3, you have the qualification for elders and you have the qualification for deacons.
No man should ever come to that passage and skip it and say, well, you know, I don't have to be the husband of one wife. I don't have to have good conduct. I don't have to be the sort of person that's in view in this passage because I'm not being considered for the eldership or for the diaconate. This is the calling of God for each and every person.
But with reference to 1 Timothy 3, it must be exemplified in those men that are going to be called by God through the church into service as elders and deacons. But in terms of the specific exhortation of Timothy, yeah, it obtains. He's a Christian minister. He's in a difficult situation.
He needs to be strong. But each and every one of us need to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. There is that need. John Gill says, to be strong in it is to preach it boldly, to defend it bravely and courageously, oppose every error and heresy and every better thereof.
You see this back in 1st Timothy chapter 1. Notice what Paul says in 1st Timothy 1.18. He says, excuse me, this charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some, having rejected concerning the faith, have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme." So Timothy is to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. You'll know that I oftentimes invoke 1 Corinthians 16.3.
The verb in our New King James has be brave. The actual definition, according to a very, you know, basic standard lexicon or dictionary of the Greek, the definition is conduct oneself in a manly or courageous way. This morning I made the observation that the church doesn't just need males, it needs men to preach and teach and to be bold and be full of courage. But that's the specific definition given.
And so the NASB-ESV render it better. Act like men. The old King James says, quit ye like men. In other words, men and women are to act like men.
The idea is courage, boldness, bravery. steadfastness, perseverance, endurance, dealing with the various things that come upon you in a way that is well-pleasing to God. Again, it's not a natural disposition that only a certain few men have or possess because they're by nature strong. He says, you be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. It originates with the triune God.
It is specifically connected to the Lord Christ. Kelly says, Timothy is to show manly resolution. Not my daughter, Kelly, but a commentator named Kelly. Timothy is to show manly resolution, but the real strength of his efforts will come from the grace Christ freely gives.
You see that interplay there. There must be that boldness and courage on the part of the man, but there must be that grace of Christ. Again, not just for ministers of the gospel, but for all of us in our Christian lives.
The Duty to Train Pastors
Now notice, secondly, what Paul says, In verse 2, there is a duty to train pastors. And I love the way he just transitions here. He doesn't say, well, you know, this is something unique to a few churches. If they have the time, they can develop a pastoral training program and then equipment for gospel ministry.
No, it's never a matter of if you have time. This is a responsibility laid upon local churches and elders to look out among them to find faithful men and to equip those faithful men so that they may in turn teach others. This isn't an add-on to an already busy ministry, but rather this is incorporated into a busy ministry. This is part and parcel of pastoral ministry, is to develop or identify and develop men so that they may likewise teach others.
That's the emphasis in verse 2. And it's not a digression or a diversion. So in verse 1 he says, I want you to endure I want you to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And then in verses 3 to 7, I want you to endure hardship.
But before I get into that, I want to digress and just talk about equipment. No, it's vital and necessarily connected to the whole. In other words, the Christian ministry was never envisaged to operate alone. Men aren't supposed to be a one-man operation when it comes to the ministry of the gospel in the context of the local church.
There needs to be a team of men. There needs to be a plurality of elders. There needs to be many servants in the church of Jesus Christ. If a church is carrying out her role, her particular task, in a responsible, godly, and biblical way, it will require a great deal of work.
And no one man should ever be called to shoulder the entirety of that work. And so men are called specifically to identify faithful men. Notice what he says. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses commit these two faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
So Paul assumes that Timothy will be able to identify in the context of the local church who is a faithful man. who has the potential or the capacity to learn doctrine, to learn the Bible, and then to teach others also. And Timothy and his fellow elders, churches today in their eldership, ought to be identifying faithful men. ought to be equipping those faithful men so that in turn those faithful men can be ordained or installed in the gospel ministry that they may teach others also. As I mentioned this morning, brethren, the harvest is plentiful and the laborers are few. We need men.
We need men that are biblically qualified, men that are biblically trained, men that are biblically set apart for gospel ministry.
Identifying Faithful Men
Vernon needs a pastor. Vancouver needs a church. Lower Mainland needs more churches. I'll get calls or I'll get requests.
Can you recommend a church in Vancouver? This is a large city full of many, many people, and it's tough at times to recommend a good church. Brethren, these things ought not to be. We ought to pray to God the Lord to raise up men and to send them out so we can plant churches. so that we can preach the gospel, so that we can do what those disciples did when they left Jerusalem.
They go into Judea and Samaria, they are scattered and they are preaching the word of the Lord. That is the crying need of our day. Churches don't need more programs. They certainly don't need more puppets and they don't need more ponies.
They don't need more rock bands. They don't need more entertainment. They don't need more hip guys in their torn jeans holding their lattes. They need faithful men that are described in 1st and 2nd Timothy, faithful men that are qualified according to 1st Timothy 3, men that will stand up that will cry aloud, that will spare not, but will prosecute the truth of God's holy word in a godless and vile age.
That is the need for our day. And if we are not praying to that end, shame on us. If we as a church are not trying to bring that to pass, shame on us. If we are not looking around and seeing faithful men, then we ought to be on our knees praying that the Lord will bring them.
Again, parents, bring your boys up just to encourage them. Gospel ministry is a legitimate calling under God, and it's most valuable and most necessary today. You don't have to treat it as some esoteric, mysterious thing. They have to have a vision.
The heavens have to open before they'll ever feel the call to go into gospel ministry. Encourage them. kids at 15, 16, 17, 18, boys that make confessions of faith and exhibit godliness. Why wouldn't we try to produce or promote in them the pursuit of gospel ministry, the pursuit of a theological education, the pursuit of faithfulness in the context of the local church? Now, brethren, when it comes to this identification of faithful men, I don't think it's that hard.
I really don't think it's that hard. Well, you know that guy, he glows. No, that's not it. That guy has a halo.
No, that's not it. He's faithful. He shows up at every meeting. I've often said and will continue to say, nobody ever ought to be considered for the eldership in a church that hasn't proven themselves as faithful members.
If you don't come to church regularly, if you don't participate in the means of grace, if you are not a team player in that regard, why would we want you to preach to us? Good churchmanship is the first and necessary ingredient before we ever put a man forward for gospel ministry. He's the sort of guy that's there. He's the sort of guy that's faithful.
He's the sort of guy that doesn't whine. He's the sort of guy that doesn't complain. He's the sort of guy that does what he's supposed to do. Again, it's not magic, it's not mystery, but rather it is faithfulness, as our brother just exhorted us from Malachi chapter 2.
It ain't fame that preachers should be seeking. It's faithfulness that preachers should be seeking. It's not sensationalism, but rather it's the normal, the ordinary, and the persevering that God blesses in the long run. And Paul says to Timothy, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
But Timothy, you can't do this on your own. Timothy, you will die if you try to be the faithful man of God, apart from having any help or any assistance. You have to look out among you. You have to identify those men.
You have to commit gospel truth to them, and then give them the opportunity to likewise teach these things to others. You see, gospel ministry can never be undertaken by one man. There must be a plurality of men, and this is Paul's point.
Faithfulness Defined
George Knight says, faithfulness negatively consists in their not losing, with reference to these men, not losing, neglecting, ignoring, or falsifying, like the false teachers mentioned in this letter, what Paul has said, and positively consists of their handling accurately the word of truth. Notice that Paul mentions by name specific persons that have defected. Notice this Hymenaeus and Philetus in chapter 2, verse 17, their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort.
What was their heresy? What was their error? Verse 18, who have strayed, concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past and they overthrow the faith of Sodom. Now, some of us might go, wow, that's an odd thing that anybody would ever believe that.
Well, there's a doctrine out there called hyperpreterism, which teaches essentially the same thing. It's also identified as the Hymenaean heresy. It is a denial of the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ bodily, gloriously, and for the express purpose to judge the living and the dead. This affected or plagued the church in Corinth as well.
Paul deals with that in 1 Corinthians 15. Some have said the resurrection has already occurred. Again, we think this is odd and awkward, but it's out there in our own generation, vis-a-vis hyper-preterism. Now, don't go home.
Google hyperpreterism. It's not a very edifying thing to do. I can't forbid you, but you know just don't waste the time on that because it can be dangerous. These aren't fools.
They're not dumb. I always tell new believers, I don't know always, I like to think I always tell new believers, you're not ready and equipped to go against a 20-year veteran of Jehovah's Witnesses. Even though you're absolutely right and they're absolutely wrong, you don't know enough yet. And that happens with hyperpreterism.
It's kind of like if you've ever gone to the beach and there's an undercurrent. You start off here, and then lo and behold, you end up half a mile down the beach. Why is that? Because there's undertow or an undercurrent, and it takes you astray.
Hyperpreterism, I think, functions that way because there's a rationality about it, an internal logic about it, and people get sucked into it. So that's my sort of qualifier to not go home and Google hyperpreterism. But the point is, is that the Apostle Paul tells Timothy that he cannot do it on his own. The Apostle Paul tells Timothy he is to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
He tells Timothy that he's also to identify and equip other men so that they will be able to teach others also. In other words, this is not a one-man show, Timothy. You need to be strong, but you need to be wise. You need to be strong, but you need to be smart.
You need to be strong, but you need to multiply your efforts by training men so that they can, in turn, go out and teach others also.
Enduring Hardship as a Soldier
Now, notice thirdly, the exhortation to suffer hardship, verses 3 to 7. He says, you therefore must endure, you must share with me hardship as a good soldier, of Jesus Christ. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Go back to 1.8.
Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God. Paul knows what's happening in terms of his own life and ministry. Paul knows he's at the end. Paul knows that this is probably it for him.
And history tells us he was right. He knew the time of his departure was at hand. He knew that he was going to go the way of all flesh. He knew that he was going to be inducted into that blessed place where the spirits of just men made perfect dwell in the presence of God Most High.
He knew that. And so there's a specific emphasis by Paul on equipping Timothy so that Timothy can in turn carry the baton for the next generation. And so Paul wants Timothy to function in a way that is Pauline. He wants Timothy to function the way that Paul himself had functioned.
And Paul knows he did it by the grace of God. He's not saying, I'm the model, I'm the bestest guy ever. But God poured grace out on Paul. God used Paul mightily.
And Paul says to Timothy, I want you to follow my example. So that's the emphasis here in chapter 2, verses 3 to 7. So he first issues this command, verse three, you must, you therefore must endure or you must share hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Now that military or martial imagery is used often by the apostle Paul.
In fact, let's look at a few places. Notice in Philippians chapter two. Philippians chapter 2 at verse 25, this idea of being a good soldier of Jesus Christ. It's a blessed or beautiful analogy of what life in the Christian ministry is like.
Notice in Philippians 2.25, yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need. 1 Timothy chapter 1. 1 Timothy 1, we already read it. Verse 18, wage the good warfare. Wage the good warfare. In other words, what you're doing, Timothy, is not CEOism.
What you're doing, Timothy, is not pep rally. What you're doing, Timothy, is not just giving the people a shot in the arm so they can make it through the present week. Timothy, you're engaged in warfare. There's bullets whizzing by.
There's napalm. There's all kinds of enemy oppression, and you need to be aware of that, and you need to be mindful of that. Philemon, too. Philemon, too.
To Philemon, our beloved friend and fellow laborer, to the beloved Aphia, our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house. 1 Timothy chapter 6, while the soldier reference is absent, the fighting emphasis is present. Notice in 1 Timothy 6.12, "...fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you are also called, and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." And then in 2 Timothy 4.7, 2 Timothy 4, 7, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only, but also to all who have loved his appearing. So the presupposition is clear.
The Christian life generally, and the Christian ministry specifically, is filled with hardship. It's filled with trial. It's filled with difficulty. It's not easy.
Again, we're not just looking at the gospel ministry, but in the general sense, to live the Christian life in an obviously non-Christian age is a tough thing for the people of God. So Paul says you're supposed to do it like a good soldier.
Devotion of the Soldier
And what's indicative of good soldiers? They're devoted. They're devoted. They're not of two minds.
They're not divided, but rather they are devoted to the one who had enlisted them. And that's Paul's point in 2 Timothy 2 at verse 4. He says, no one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. So he is engaged in warfare and he is engaged in it in a devoted manner.
He's not of two minds, he's not of two opinions, he's not of two loyalties, but rather he follows his general, he follows his master, and he does whatever the master bids. John Calvin says, we see how many there are every day that throw away their spears, who formerly made a great show of valor. When does this arise? Because they cannot be inured.
That means to habituate to something undesirable. They cannot be inured to the cross. First, they are so effeminate that they shrink from warfare. Next, they do not know any other way of fighting than to contend haughtily and fiercely with their adversaries, and they cannot bear to learn what it is to possess their souls in patience.
So on one hand, they're too effeminate to even engage in the warfare, but on the other hand, they're hotheads. They don't know how to engage in a manner that is distinctly Christian. And Paul gives counsel with reference to that later in the chapter. Notice in verse 24, a servant of the Lord must not quarrel, but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient in humility, correcting those who are in opposition.
If God perhaps will grant them repentance so that they may know the truth and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. We are good soldiers of Jesus Christ. We're not good soldiers out there to promote the cause of Jesus Christ using worldly or satanic methodology. Cursing at people on Facebook doesn't promote the cause of God and truth.
Cursing at people in a private dialogue and shouting at them on why they're wrong or foolish and how they need to submit to the truth of God's holy word does not advance the cause of God and truth. This is Paul's point with reference to later in the chapter. But in terms of 2 Timothy 2, 3, and 4, the soldier is devoted. And with reference to gospel ministry in particular, notice he says in verse 4, no one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
The Roman soldier did not farm and engage in commerce. The Roman soldier didn't work at 7-Eleven and then go out to battle. The Roman soldier didn't work at wherever else and then go out to battle. He was devoted to his master.
And this is Paul's point here. And when we come to this particular passage, I don't think the emphasis is on ministers withdrawing. Oh, they're cloistered away in their little monastery and you can't ever bug them. That's not the point.
It's not withdrawal, but it's rather don't be distracted. That Malachi 2 thing again. It's that what is the calling of the Christian minister thing again. It's not to rev up the people of God.
It's not to be a holy cheerleader. It's not to be a CEO. It's not to be a manager. or one that is task-oriented to make sure it's to be a preacher of God's holy word. Do not be distracted from that.
I read recently of a seminary professor who said that whenever one of his students are late with a paper for submission, he either fails them or gives them a letter grade less. I think he should fail them. But maybe he just gives them a letter grade less. You know what his rationale is?
You've got to preach on Sunday. You've got to preach on Sunday. There's no, well, you know, I didn't get to it this week. It's one of the things about the life of a preacher.
There's always two deadlines every week. Well, three, depending on what the week looks like. Maybe four, depending on what the week may, could be five, depending on what the week looks like. There's always deadlines.
And Paul's point is not withdrawal, but it's rather don't be distracted. Certainly the church should look after her ministers and make sure they have adequate support so that they don't need to work at 7-eleven and so they can give themselves to the ministry of the word and to doctrine. But differently than other positions in this world, Steve or other deacons don't call me on Thursday and say, did you get your sermon done? Are you ready for Sunday?
Maybe they should once in a while. might, you know, light the candle under me for even further exploits under God. But there's no micromanagement going on there. If a man of God isn't disciplined, if he's not devoted to his cause, he's going to fritter away time. He's going to waste time.
He's not going to do the thing that God has called him to do. And the soldier of Jesus Christ is devoted to his master, and he functions in a manner that is appropriate. Towner says, the soldier's goal is to please or satisfy the wishes of the commander who expects nothing less than complete attention to duty so that the military objectives will be accomplished. Now, having been in the military, I understand this.
When the commander gives orders, you don't say, but wait a minute, I just don't think I want to do that. You never say that. You do what you're told. You obey.
You're devoted to the mission, to the master. You don't ask questions. You function the way you're supposed to. And this is what Paul wants for Timothy.
Again, as our brother said, you're not to be novel. You're not to be innovative. You're not to be creative. You're to be obedient.
You're to be devoted to the master who called you. You're to do his will, his bidding. It's not your task to reorient things. Do you ever get that where people go to work and they tell the boss, well, there's a better way to do this.
You've just been hired. Maybe you ought to just be quiet for a while and learn the ropes before you try to manage everybody and everything else. You see, Paul says, Timothy, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, you need to be devoted.
Discipline of the Athlete
But notice what else Paul does. And again, I hope that you're not all saying, boy, this only applies to Jim Butler. It doesn't. You all need to be devoted soldiers of Jesus Christ.
You all need to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. But as well, you need to have the discipline of an athlete, the discipline of an athlete. Paul says devotion of a soldier. Notice as well, he says, you need the discipline of an athlete.
Verse five. And also, if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. Go back to first Corinthians chapter nine. I love Paul, he uses manly metaphor.
Manly metaphor. Soldiering, running, fighting, manly metaphor. Fathers, train your sons up with manly metaphors. Not ballet or, you know, I don't know, maybe ballet is a manly thing, I don't know.
But notice in 1 Corinthians chapter 9 at verse 24, do you not know that those who run in a race all run but one receives the prize? It's another thing. We've got, you know, participation trophies today. Boy, we don't want to hurt anybody's self-esteem.
We have to give them a participation trophy. You get rewarded for just showing up? Come on. Used to be you got rewarded when you won.
That's the way it ought to be, and that's the basis upon which Paul's metaphor works. Oh, he participated, so let's give him an award. No, let's teach him he should participate without any sort of external stimuli. You get these perfect attendance awards at work.
Just show up. That's why they pay you. It's to show up. You shouldn't get a reward for doing what you're expected to do, but such is the age in which we live.
We have to reward basic behavior because it's so lacking among so many today. Well, you know, he showed up. That's great. That deserves a reward.
You know, there was a time in at least Canada and America when it wasn't like that. You just did what you were supposed to do without the external stimuli. But notice what Paul says. 1 Corinthians 9.24. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize?
Run in such a way that you may obtain it. Now, kids, don't go home and throw away your participation trophies. I'm not trying to rain on your parade here. Go ahead and keep them.
But as I'm speaking this, it's occurring to me Some of these little guys might be shattered and go throw their trophies away. Don't do that. Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things.
Now, they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. It's an interesting thing. Everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. We've heard of what athletes go through in order to get shredded and ripped and 8% or 10% body fat.
They don't even use toothpaste because there's a hint of sugar in it, and it might bring out some water weight. They don't do that. They're temperate in all things. They don't go out and party on Friday night.
They don't knock back beers the day before a competition. They go to bed early, they get up early, and they buffet their body. And Paul says they do that to get a temporal crown. They do that to get a laurel wreath wrapped around their head and maybe tickets to the theater.
That was the prize for athletics at this particular time. You see Paul's point. These guys put their bodies through such rigor to get a laurel wreath wrapped around their head for a time and get theater tickets. But what do we have going for us?
What is it that is our prize? What is in our future? And how should we learn to fight? And everyone who competes for the prize, verse 25, is temperate in all things.
Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus, not with uncertainty, thus I fight, not as one who beats the air. but I discipline my body and bring it into subjection lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." Turn over to 1 Timothy 4. Again, just to see this athletic imagery utilized by the Apostle Paul, and then we'll work our way back to Timothy. 2nd Timothy but in 1st Timothy chapter 4 verse 7 well verse 6 if you instruct the brethren or by Instructing the brethren we might translate by instructing the brethren in these things you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ Nourished in the words of faith and of good doctrine which you have carefully followed but reject profane and old wives fables and notice exercise yourself toward godliness The NAS renders it, discipline yourself for godliness. The athletic imagery obtains here and Paul uses it for Timothy.
He says, reject profane and old wives' fables and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things. Before you say, well, I don't need to exercise physically, because Paul says it's profitable for little. The comparison is that godliness profits for now and the age to come.
Bodily exercise does profit now, and we should utilize it. Don't ever go to 1 Timothy 4 and say, well, you know, Paul denigrates the place of bodily exercise, so therefore, I'm going to lay on my couch, and the only exercise I'm going to get is throwing food into my mouth. That's not Paul's point. It's a comparative.
Godliness is profitable for now and the age to come versus physical discipline, physical exercise, which is profitable now. It is profitable. It profits a little, again, in comparison with the lot that godliness profits, but the emphasis here is primarily upon Timothy's need to exercise himself toward godliness. Back to 2 Timothy chapter 2.
He is to exhibit the devotion of the soldier. He is to exhibit the discipline of the athlete.
Diligence of the Farmer
And then notice thirdly, he is to exhibit the diligence of the farmer. Verse 6, the hard-working farmer must be first to partake of the cross. It's been a nice thing to live in Chilliwack for the last 20-plus years. I have seen this displayed.
I have seen this evidenced. I have seen firsthand what this passage looks like among some even in this room. Growing up in Southern California, I didn't ever visit dairy farms. No, I guess I should have, but I just never did.
But having lived here, I have. I've seen what farmers do. I've seen how they do it. And my hat's off to them.
They are most diligent in the execution of their duties. They correctly know that if they don't get up at oh, dark 30, and they don't go out and do what they're supposed to in terms of their animals or land, they're likely to starve to death. That's a great motivator and a great impetus for one to get out of bed. And these men are, in fact, diligent, and they do these things so that they can participate in the crops themselves.
We need to understand Paul's point. He wants Timothy to do what he calls him to do with the devotion of the soldier, the discipline of the athlete, and the diligence of the father. George Knight again says, Paul has called on Timothy to suffer hardship and has placed before him three models for him to consider in that service. The soldier who pleases his commander and is not distracted from his service to him.
The law-abiding athlete who gains the crown. I love that with reference to... I bypassed that in verse 5. Also, if anyone completes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
He doesn't revise the rules. He doesn't develop new rules. He doesn't say, well, you know, I don't want to do a 440. I'd rather do a 330.
He does what he's supposed to do. And then he goes on to say, and the hardworking farmer who receives his share of the crops, together they speak of a vigorous and undivided service that is rewarded. But as we close out this particular section, what do we do with verse seven? Verse seven seems to sort of almost hang there.
You've got the devotion of the soldier, the discipline of the athlete, the diligence of the farmer. At least back when I initially preached this, I must have worked out in my head or thought through this, and I came up with the dedication of the disciple. Or I saw it in George Knight, or Kelly, or one of these other brothers. But
Dedication of the Disciple
notice the dedication of the disciple. You're to be devoted like a soldier, disciplined like an athlete, diligent like a farmer, but you're supposed to be dedicated like a disciple. Notice in verse 7, consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. He wants Timothy to reflect.
He wants Timothy to understand. He wants Timothy to apply the things that he has heard. And then he says, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. The Lord gives understanding with reference to things that have already been revealed.
In other words, Paul has instructed Timothy didactically. Paul has given him information. Paul has passed on knowledge, but Paul realizes that apart from the Lord's blessing, that knowledge will not be internalized and then exemplified in Timothy's ministry, life, and conduct. And I want you to notice the interplay here between serious thought and sovereign grace.
The interplay between serious thought and sovereign grace. Verse 7, consider what I say. Serious thought, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. Sovereign grace.
See, we're not supposed to suspend serious thought. We're not supposed to say, well, I'm just going to empty my mind and may the Lord give me wisdom in all things. No, we're not supposed to do that. We're not supposed to bypass serious thought, banking on sovereign grace to deliver us from our ineptitude.
We're supposed to use our minds. We're supposed to exercise our minds. We're supposed to be intellectually rigorous. We're supposed to give thought to and contemplation of what the apostle has spoken by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, understanding ultimately that it is the Lord who gives us an understanding in all So there is this command to Timothy to listen, and there is this petition for Timothy that God's grace would bring this message home to him.
Application: Presence of Hardship
Well, in conclusion, I want to first notice that there is, I have here in my notes, the perpetual presence of hardship. Perhaps I should just say the presence of hardship. We can overdo it on the perpetuality of hardship as well. God is good.
God is kind. We're not being arrested presently. We get to worship here. We've got brand new, wonderful hymn books that make a nice sound when you pull them out of the slot there.
I've been told that by several, and I witnessed it for myself sitting out there this evening, and it is quite pleasing. We have many good things. It's not a constant, rigorous, oppressive thing going on in our lives. The Lord is good.
He is kind. Go to 1 Timothy chapter 4 for just a moment. I think we forget this at times. First Timothy 4.1, now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times, or that in latter times, some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies and hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.
Now, what's the particulars involved? Look at what Paul says are deceiving spirits, doctrines of demons, speaking lies and hypocrisy. He says in verse three, forbidding to marry. Again, I've thought, how can Roman Catholics ever read that and continue to subscribe to a celibate clergy?
It's just never the intention of God to do that to his servants. God's far more kind than the papal church. But that is a doctrine of demon to forbid marriage, but as well and commanding to abstain from foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. God's not at war with you having a good steak.
God's not at war with you having a good meal. And by God's grace, we get to enjoy such things. In fact, look at verse four. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Now, probably what's in view there is some sort of incipient Gnosticism, this idea that matter is bad, marriage bad, steak bad, spirit good. That's not Christianity. Christianity recognizes that God is not at war with us as creatures. He's at war with us as sinners.
We are creatures. Marriage is given for our benefit. Stakes are given for our benefit. There are many good things given by God, and the sanctified mind has no problem enjoying those blessings and benefits.
Now, I say all that to simply highlight that at least for us in Chilliwack and Abbotsford in the 21st century, our lives are not marked by perpetual hardship. That would be an overstatement. But with reference to Christianity, there is hardship. There is persecution.
There is that enmity against the people of God, directed at them by Satan, through the agents that he has in this world. And we need to appreciate the reality, not only in the gospel ministry, but in the Christian life. You will be opposed from time to time. You will be resisted from time to time.
You may be persecuted from time to time. What's the answer? To run home and cry? No.
Be a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Be devoted to your master. Be disciplined like an athlete. Be diligent like a farmer and be dedicated like a disciple.
That's how you face the suffering and the persecution and the affliction and the trial that you may face. You can't put your thumb in your mouth and fall down and assume the fetal position and just hope that everything goes away. That is not the response from the people of God. The people of God are supposed to imbibe what Paul portrays here in terms of a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Exhortation to Perseverance
Secondly, I'd like to give us all an exhortation on perseverance. Long timers here will understand the reference to the middle mile. There's a devotional I read many, many years ago. It must have been, I don't know, 18, how long have I been trotting this one out for? 15, 18 years?
But there was this devotional that I read and the fellow highlighted the importance of the middle mile. And when you look at a race, for instance, and if you were to say it was 26 miles, let's say it was a marathon, that first mile is where a lot of people gather to see the running begin. The 26th mile is a place where you would gather because you want to see the running end, especially if you are one of the runners. But there's pomp and show at the beginning, at the end.
It's that middle stuff. You know, nobody goes and stakes out mile marker 13 at a marathon. Oh, I really like to watch them wheeze and almost collapse there. They don't typically do that.
They're at the beginning or they're at the end. What do you think is probably the most difficult spot for the marathon runner? It's not the beginning when everybody's cheering him on. Go, go, go.
It's not the end when everybody's cheering him on. Go, go, go, go. It's the middle mile when there's nobody there cheering him on. It's the middle mile where it's him alone.
It's the middle mile where he's got to persevere, where he's got to endure, where he's got to keep himself on his legs, where he has to resist the temptation to vomit and to lose every sense of his being. He has got to be faithful and persevering. And it occurs to me that this is an apt analogy of the Christian life. We get converted.
Everybody's happy for us. We're dying on our deathbed. Everybody's happy for us. Not that we're dying, but that we're going to go into the presence of our Lord.
But it's the middle mile. It's what we are before God on our own. We need to persevere. We need to endure.
And the tendency or the temptation might flood our hearts to shave off some rough edges. To not manifest the same sort of zeal that we did in the first few miles. We're going to just adopt a position or a posture where we're going to coast, and hopefully we are going to make it. That's unacceptable.
What Paul describes here in terms of the devotion of the soldier, the discipline of the athlete, the diligence of the farmer, and the dedication of the disciple must obtain throughout the career of the man of God. It is never okay to say, well, you know, I used to really love to hang out with the people of God. Now, not so much. I used to really love my Bible reading, but now not so much.
I used to really like to pray, but now not so much. Brethren, we need to take ourselves by the scruff of the neck and give ourselves a good shake and put finger and face and say, you need to run. You need to endure. You need to persevere.
Our confession of faith is wonderful here. What's the basis of our perseverance? This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father, upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ, and union with Him. the oath of God, the abiding of the Spirit, and the seed of God within them, and the nature of the covenant of grace, from all which arises also the certainty and infallibility thereof." Essentially, we persevere by God's grace. But then the confession ends on a most practical note, and I don't read this to sort of justify any inactivity on our part, or any compromise on our part, but to encourage us.
Because perhaps we are sluggish. Perhaps we are in a rut. You know the only difference between a rut and a grave is depth. And maybe God will use this to stir some of us up, to look at ourselves afresh and say, do I need to run the way I used to run?
Our confession highlights, and though they may, through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins, and for a time continue therein, whereby they incur God's displeasure and grieve His Holy Spirit, come to have their graces and comforts impaired, have their hearts hardened and their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves. Yet shall they renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end." Again, I don't read that so that we'll go out and be neglectful, so that we'll go out and be sluggish in that middle mile. But if, under God, this sermon finds us out and we can conclude that we've been in a rut, There's great encouragement. There's forgiveness with God that he may be feared.
There's mercy with God. There's renewal of repentance. There's renewal of that desire to run the race with endurance, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith. Well, brethren, I hope that this is helpful, and I hope that we together will persevere, that we together will endure hardship, and that we together will show the devotion, the discipline, the diligence and the dedication that Paul says Timothy is to manifest, and by extension, not just all gospel ministers, but every disciple of Jesus Christ.
Well, let us close in a word of prayer.
Closing Prayer
Father, we thank you for your word. We thank you for these admonitions and exhortations in our Bibles. And we pray that your Holy Spirit would be at work in our hearts and in our lives. Help us to not be sluggish.
Help us to shake off any sorts of things that we've developed in our own hearts or lives that are contrary to the Christian race. Give us grace, Lord God, to endure. to run, to be diligent, to be devoted, to be disciplined in all the things that Paul says in 2 Timothy 2. I thank you for the brothers and the sisters here. I thank you for our local church.
Help us to be healthy. Help us to pursue the things that are pleasing in your sight. And would you go with us now and cause your face to shine upon us. May we know your peace.
May we know your preservation. May we know your protection in this coming week. And we ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
We'll close with a brief time of meditation and then be dismissed.