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welcome to everyone it's good to be in the house of our God on this Lord's Day evening for our call to worship you can turn with me in your Bibles to Psalm 16 Psalm 16 as our call to worship I'll begin reading in verse 1 a mikta mum David preserve me O God for in you I put my trust oh my soul you have said to the Lord you are my lord my goodness is nothing apart from you as for the saints who are on the earth they are the excellent ones and whom is all my delight their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another God their drink offerings of blood I will not offer nor take up their names on my lips Oh Lord you are the portion of my inheritance in my cup you maintain my law the lines have fallen to me in Pleasant places yes I have a good inheritance I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel my heart also instructs me in the night seasons I have set the Lord always before me because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices my flesh also will rest in hope for you will not leave my soul in Sheol nor will you allow your Holy One to see corruption you will show me the path of life in your presence is fullness of joy at your right hand are pleasures forevermore amen a psalm pointing to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ that's how the Apostle Peter interprets it in Acts chapter 2 it's written by David but it's written concerning David's greater son well please take your hem book and turn with me to number 325 hymn number 325 will stand as we sing together [Music] amen let us pray our God Almighty we gather together again on the Sabbath evening to come before you and to worship and to praise and to glorify we acknowledge that you are worthy of such things the Bible sets forth a glorious God from everlasting to everlasting the God who exists eternally his Father Son and Holy Spirit the God who is to be revered and worshiped and glorified by his creatures and yet we know in Adam we don't do that as we ought we know father that we were dead in our trespasses and sins that you sought us you saved us you've given us all things necessary for life for Saul salvation and that owing to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ how we thank you for that one that you sent in the fullness of time that one born of a woman and born under the law to redeem those under the law that one who is the the Amen of all the promises of God and that one who has one for us who has secured for us salvation and we give praise to You Lord God Almighty for this salvation we give praise to you for that work of the Lord Jesus Christ on our behalf namely his death father certainly we benefit from his life in the active obedience of our Savior but we benefit as well from that passive obedience that death at Calvary and that is what we've been called together tonight to remember in a specific way that is what we have been called together as a church to proclaim his death even until he comes so god help us tonight to worship you in spirit and in truth help us to ponder and to meditate upon and to contemplate the glories of the Lord Jesus Christ we thank you Father that you made him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him be glorified we pray and help us now help us to shake off any sluggishness help us Lord God to focus upon the things of God and help us Lord to bring glory to your great name and to that end we ask that you would forgive us for our sins and our transgressions your word is clear on how we ought to live and let yet father we find ourselves not doing those good things we are called to do and doing those things that we are forbidden to do and so farther with the Apostle Paul we cry out a wretched man that I am who will deliver me from this body of death how we praise you and thank you for the Lord Christ and how we thank you and praise you that if we confess our sins you are faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and may this speak volumes of encouragement to our hearts not to promote licentiousness not to promote sin that grace may abound but when we do send upon to the fact that we have an advocate with the father even Jesus Christ the righteous lord in heaven we thank you for this benefit we thank you for this provision and blessing and our hearts desires that others would know this as well we pray for those who come in tonight that are strangers to these blessings we pray that through your word preached and through the ministry and power of your Holy Spirit you would call sinners out of darkness into marvelous light to confess faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and to know the joy of being found in him not having their own righteousness which is from the law that that which you supply given by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we pray that for our gathering together here we pray that for other churches in our city we ask God that as your gospel goes forth more and more people would come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior we ask our Father that you'd be with the Saints and Surrey and in Vernon tonight we pray that you would bless our brothers and sisters in both churches that you would use them Lord God in their respective communities to hold forth that glorious gospel of free and sovereign grace we pray as well for those suffering throughout the earth for the cause of God and truth Lord help us never to take for granted the great liberties that we have here that God helped us as well not to forget not to be neglectful of those who suffer for the cause of our Lord Jesus we pray for those steeped in or in nations that are steeped in false religion God we think primarily of those places that are predominantly Muslim we pray for your people suffering under oppressive regimes that you would just gird them up and cause them to persevere and through their witness and their testimony in the declaration of truth more and more of these false religionists would turn from their idols to the true and living God again we pray for the nation of China and for our missionaries there that you would bless and protect them and watch over them and Lord God as oppression continues to grow heavy there we pray that your people would nevertheless know the nearness of God as their good and our father be merciful to this nation we know there is great need and we pray for the revival of God most high upon the Churches of Christ we pray for those who are dead in their trespasses and sins to be awakened by the power of the grace of God and we pray that in your wrath you would remember mercy and with reference to the civil government we pray for those in high places we pray father that you would restrain them from their madness and their lawlessness and their wickedness and Lord we pray that you'd even save some the Apostle tells us to pray for kings and all who are in authority and he specifically mentioned salvation that's pleasing to God to save all kinds or all types of men even civil government and so we commit them to you into the word of your grace and pray that you would be merciful we pray that they would take seriously the counsel of King David in Psalm 2 that these judges these Kings these rulers would kiss the son lest he be angry and they perish in his way when his wrath is kindled but a little we know father and can save by experience by the power of the Holy Spirit blessed are all those who trust in him thank you for your mercy to us thank you for your graciousness to us thank you for blessing us so richly and we pray now that you would be glorified in our worship and we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord amen well turn with me again in your hymn book to Psalm 69 be that Psalm 69 Bravo when you find that we can stand and sing together [Music] we can turn in your Bibles to second Timothy chapter 2 as we complete the section we began last week or in second Timothy chapter 2 our focus is on verses 8 to 13 but I do want to read the chapter so we can see it in its larger context 2nd Timothy chapter 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 hard-working 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 has 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 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 will let us pray our Father we thank you for the written word we acknowledge that it comes from the hand of a gracious God we acknowledge as well that it's authoritative that it's infallible it's inerrant and that it demands our hearing and our attention and our submission so god help us by your spirit lead us into all truth grant us the grace to see that these things are are applied applicable by the power in the presence of the Holy Spirit and father again forgive us for our sins and anything that would darken our minds and our understanding and help us to be encouraged help us to be strengthened help us by our grace to persevere and to endure and to bring glory to you and we ask in the name of Jesus Christ amen well just by way of review remember back in Chapter 1 the Apostle Paul in verse 8 tells Timothy therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord nor of me his prisoner share with me in the sufferings for the Gospel according to the power of God 2nd Timothy is probably the latest epistle in the entirety of the New Testament it is certainly Paul's last letter it is basically his declaration a dying declaration and he acknowledges as much in 2nd Timothy chapter 4 he knows that he's going to die history tells us that he suffered under the neurotic persecution and that he was beheaded for the cause of God and truth and so he's exhorting Timothy who will in turn exhort others on those things most needful with reference to Christian ministry so he wants Timothy to join with them he wants Timothy to endure hardships he wants Timothy to be faithful and persevering and then he highlights his own example there in Chapter 1 in verses 10 verses 11 to 12 he then indicates the specifics with reference to Timothy's ministry in chapter 1 verses 13 and 14 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 he still hold fast the pattern of sound words and he is to keep that which was committed to him by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit he ends chapter 1 by citing negative examples those who have departed those who have apostatized those who did not endure those who were not faithful in persevering he does cite however one faithful man by the name of Onesimus and now in chapter 2 he gives Timothy a series of exhortations a series of commands to help Timothy to encourage Timothy so that Timothy will be the minister that he's supposed to be last week we considered verses 1 to 7 in 2nd Timothy chapter 2 notice that Paul in verse 1 says be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus not be weak not be effeminate but rather as a minister of the gospel you need to be strong you need to be faithful you need to be the kind of man that is serving the Lord Christ he then tells Timothy that he said to to seek out or identify and then instruct man who will be able to instruct others as well so the idea is is that the ministry is never to be a one-man show Timothy is to look out among the churches he's to find those men that are faithful he is to teach those men and those men likewise are to be teaching others then then in verse three he gives in this exhortation you therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ that's the imperative you must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ it's very similar to what he's already said in first Timothy chapter 1 verse 8 and then he gives him a series of examples to encourage him with reference to this and you need to endure hardship you need to demonstrate the devotion of the soldier the discipline of an athlete the diligence of a farmer and the dedication of a disciple that's essentially what he says there in verses 3 to 7 now in verses 8 to 13 he gives incentives for that in other words he tells Timothy not only what he must do and he sets before Timothy examples of how he must do it but he incentivizes Timothy he gives him three particulars that he's supposed to focus on that he's supposed to consider so that he will by God's grace and thinking through these things be able to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ and that's what we find in verses 8 to 13 in the first place he tells him that he needs to contemplate Christ in the second place he needs to consider the conduct of Paul and then in the third place he needs to recognize the communion that he has with Christ so the contemplation of Christ the conduct of the Apostle Paul and communion with Christ are three incentives to aid Timothy so that he will endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ so when we look at these those examples of the of the soldier the example of the farmer the example of the athlete the dedication of a disciple all those things are crucial all those things are helpful all those things are blessing but in the first instance with reference to the motives in verse 8 he says you need to contemplate Christ in other words you're not just slogging it out you're not just being a good soldier to vote or a diligent farmer you're not just a an athlete but you're Christian you need to ponder Jesus and he strength and he help and he grace any power that we succeed in in our Christian life is directly owing to price and that's what the Apostle says in verse 8 he says remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel were not to try to live the Christian life apart from Jesus Christ were not simply called to be stoic or to be Spartan or to be those who grin and bear it are those who knuckle under or those who pull up their bootstraps we do those things in concert with this conscience a conscious contemplation of who Jesus Christ is now notice remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel so he wants us to focus primarily at least in this passage on the incarnation of Jesus Christ and on the resurrection of Jesus Christ and I think these two go hand-in-hand with reference to the larger context because Jesus is one who endured Jesus is one who suffered Jesus is one who persevered but Jesus is one who also reigns enthroned at the right hand of God Almighty so Incarnation and resurrection are key and vital things for Christian soldiers to contemplate with reference to their Savior because it's paradigmatic or a pattern for the lives that we have Christ learned obedience through what through suffering according to Hebrews chapter five in a context where the Apostle is telling Timothy to endure hardship to suffer for the cause of Christ what better place to direct Timothy then to the one who incarnate came into this world was a man of sorrows was acquainted with grief acknowledge that the foxes had their holes the birds had their nests but the Son of man had Alea said he was ultimately delivered up by godless men to godless man he was ultimately crucified as a malefactor on the cross but he was raised again the third day that sets forth the pattern for the people of God brethren we ought never to think there'll be no hardship in the Christian life if it marked our saviors walk on this earth then more than likely it is going to mark our walk on this earth again it's not every single day that we have this ceaseless persecution upon us we have it pretty good for the most part but Paul will say later in 2nd Timothy 3 that all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution and remember chapter 1 verse 8 chapter 2 verse 3 he wants Timothy to endure hardship he wants Timothy to know something about suffering for the cause of God and truth and so Jesus is a perfect example and one that we ought to contemplate certainly the devotion of a soldier the discipline of an athlete the diligence of the farmer and the dedication of a disciple are helpful examples to inculcate in the people of God a persevering attitude but Christ is crucial that's where we focus this is akin to Hebrews chapter 12 were to run with endurance the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus chapter 11 is a great testimony concerning runners who had gone before us a great testimony of those who persevered a great testimony of those who manifested endurance a great testimony of those who live by faith but the primary emphasis in Hebrews 12 is looking unto Jesus we're not looking to Abraham we're not looking to Noah we're not looking to Abel we're not looking at them as our chief example they're certainly helpful but we are looking unto Jesus as we run with endurance the race that is set before us and I think that's Paul's point here you need to remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel now with reference to the Incarnation it stresses obviously the true Humanity of Jesus Christ when Jesus was struck when Jesus bled when Jesus was crucified when Jesus was spat upon when Jesus was mistreated he was in fact a real man he didn't appear to be a man but rather he was a man and he suffered and he learned obedience through that suffering so the Incarnation is most helpful for us to remember in terms of our running with endurance the race that is set before us Paul underscores the royal lineage of David of Jesus he's of the seed of David and then he mentions was raised from the dead according to my gospel he doesn't mention the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief he doesn't mention the various sorts of things that Jesus suffered according to his humanity but the reality is that when he mentions the resurrection of Christ that assumes the previous death of Jesus Christ doesn't it he wasn't resurrected without any idea or consciousness to the death of Jesus no the resurrection presupposes the the previous suffering it presupposes that previous humiliation it presupposes those those blows that he received the spit that was sent upon him all of that is presupposed by this reference to the resurrection of Jesus Christ and it fits the context endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ be like your Savior when you think that you can't do it you need to look to him you need to ponder him you need to run with endurance the race that is set before you always looking to Christ yet I think we fall prey to this idea that it's almost the Galatian heresy not the one where we have to get circumcised in order to be saved but this concept where we start in the spirit and then we continue in the flesh which again touches on the whole idea of salvation by circumcision but I think it extends even further we come to Christ for our justification but we don't stop with Christ and our sanctification we need to depend upon him we need to be looking to him we need to be focused upon him and that's Paul's exhortation to Timothy in particular this reference to the Incarnation and to the resurrection of our Lord Jesus something that Timothy could ponder as he is running with endurance the race that is set before him George Knight said Timothy is to remember that Jesus is raised from that from death itself and that triumph is to encourage him when he contemplates suffering hardship for Christ you see all that functions you focus on the Lord Jesus when you're going through your miserable times because know that as Christ went through miserable times the father raised him from the dead and seated him at the right hand of the Majesty on high now we're not going to be seated at the right hand on the Majesty on high but we will be resurrected and we will be glorified and we will live in the presence of our great and our triune God so the contemplation of Christ is absolutely crucial for the good soldier of Jesus Christ now before we leave and go on to the conduct of Paul notice what Paul says at the end of verse 8 he was raised from the dead according to my gospel Paul describes or Paul indicates a degree of ownership upon the gospel it's not that he was the author of it or rather the originator of it it's not that he put it together but he he showed possession of it because it meant so much to him right we might do that in our own lives or in our own context so yeah that's my church there's a bit of pride perhaps that goes into that exclamation or declaration I'm not suggesting that Paul is proud or anything like that but he calls it my gospel there's ownership with reference to the gospel with reference to his ministry as the apostle to the Gentiles he's not just doing this as a job it is part of who he is it's something that he possesses it's something that possesses him it's something that masters him and it's something that he wants to promote and he wants to declare John Calvin says he calls it his gospel not that he professed to be the author but the minister of it beautiful now notice that leads us to the conduct of Paul in verses 9 to 10 yeah don't forget what the context is in door as a good soldier of Jesus Christ contemplate Jesus in his incarnation and resurrection but also consider the conduct of Paul he's telling Timothy I want you to follow my example here brethren can we live or have we lived in such a way that we're able to tell young believers younger believers follow my example can we say with Paul imitate me as I imitate Christ can we say to the new believer you just watch what I do and you do likewise that might be an embarrassing proposition for some of us and we need to take inventory as to how we are conducting ourselves but with reference to this exhortation of enduring hardship as a good soldier Paul would be negligent to not set forth the example of Paul in Philippians Paul tells us where to scope out what will look around us and where to find examples godly good examples in the context of the local church that we're supposed to follow and it's not necessarily the older people have to go out and find people to sort of sponsor you younger people you younger disciples buddy up to the older ones ask questions talk to them be in their presence invite yourself over for coffee or or set up something like that that's an imperative in the book of Philippians that we look at those who walk in a manner that is consistent with the Christian gospel and we try to be around that in that that that ethical section in Titus chapter 2 what's Paul want the older women to do he doesn't want them to start you know cottage industry and you know godly woman calm and you know have a lot of people said no no no teach the younger women to do certain things you need to be faithful and teach the younger women in the context of the local church to do these things to love their husbands love their kids do the the work of home making I mean these things are so counter cultural today I mean you know older women tell the younger woman how to sweep oh wow I probably go to jail next week for having even said such a thing teach the younger women how to make a turkey teach the younger women how to bake a pie because this glory to God you say well how does that bring glory to God it brings glory to God because it puts persons in their proper place husbands wives have functions in the home and you know what Paul says happens if we don't do this the Word of God is blaspheme according to Paul in Titus chapter 2 so the Apostle wants us to find human examples the Apostle uses human examples again we're to focus on Christ were to be you know oriented toward Christ but it's nice to have a Paul in our lives that we can sort of see practical Christianity fleshed out and that's what Paul does here in verses 9 and 10 he first of all highlights his own suffering notice in verse 9 he says for which my gospel I suffer trouble as an evil doer the repetition of this theme is in order to encourage Timothy to participate in enduring hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ I'm going to keep pounding that nail because I want you to see how it all functions in the context again 1:8 we've already referred to notice in 1:12 he says for this reason I also suffer these things nevertheless I'm not ashamed for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that or keep what I have committed to him until that day notice in chapter 3 at verses 10 to 12 chapter 3 verse 10 but you have carefully followed my doctrine manner of life purpose faith long-suffering law perseverance persecutions afflictions which happen to me at ICON at Antioch at Iconium at Lystra what persecutions I endured and out of them all the Lord delivered me yes and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution but evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse deceiving and being to see but you must continued in the things which you have learned and been assured of knowing from whom you have learned them and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus what Paul says is that there's no shortage of bad example I'm he'll look anywhere and everywhere you're gonna find bad examples the shortage is in the good examples and when you find those good examples you seize upon that you seek by God's grace to model or imitate that in your life turn to Philippians 3 I've alluded to it we should look at it because it speaks to this specific issue Philippians chapter 3 verse 17 he says brethren join in following my example and know those who so walk literally scope them out scope them out find those kinds of people surround yourself with those kinds of people you think that you're super godly and can do it on your own you can't you're not you need to find good influences as bad morals corrupt so good ones help shape and influence so verse 17 brethren join in following my example and note those who so walk as you have us for a pattern now notice is reasoning verse 18 for many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ whose end is destruction whose God is their belly and whose glory is in their shame who set their mind on earthly things for our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior the Lord Jesus Christ who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to his glorious body according to the working by which he is able even to subdue all things to himself you see the logic that verse 17 join in following my example note those who so walk as you have us for a pattern for many walk of whom I have told you often and I'll tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ there is a proliferation of bad examples a whole lot of deadbeats out there even in the professed church you need to find Pauline tight men you need to find godly men godly women you need to note them you need to scope them out and you need to walk in a manner similar to that again focusing upon contemplating the Lord Jesus Christ but people like Paul like Peter people like godly men women in the context of the local church show that element practicality for the lives of God's people so back to second Timothy chapter 2 he says in verse 9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer even to the point of chains he goes on he says but the Word of God has not chained I just think that's a beautiful statement and one that probably deserves a sermon on its own I'm not gonna do that to you tonight but while Paul is incarcerated while the enemies of Christ think they've triumphed and silencing the chief proponent of Christianity you cannot chain the Word of God you cannot stop the Word of God you cannot restrict the extension of Christ's Kingdom murder Stephen if you're on the council like they do in Acts chapter 7 what happens great persecution comes against the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ oh yeah we're going to stop them out with this great persecution no you simply scatter them to other regions where they preach the word you simply open the door to Samaria where now Philip is ministering and Philip is preaching Christ and the whole city is full of joy as a result of it you see the enemies of Christ cannot stop him the enemies of Christ try they desperately try but they'll never be able to stomp out the work of Jesus Christ he must reign till all his enemies are made as footstool that is not the the issue is never the opposite is true it's not the case that the enemies will reign until they stomp out Christ that's not what's going to happen brethren so the Apostle highlights that while he is chained while he is in trouble as an evildoer which is a very strong term it's a very strong word it's a bad bad man he's not just considered you know the preacher of a difference or a story he is considered as a threat to the Roman Empire same language used of the thieves are the men on the cross evildoer insurrectionist terrorist is probably what Barnabas and his patoot cronies were up to you know we talked about the thief on the cross we get it in our head they went into a Walmart and they boost Snickers bar that's not what they were these men deserved the death penalty in the Roman Empire by crucifixion their thievery was not Snickers bars at Walmart they were probably terrorists they were threat to the civil order that's why they were executed via crucifixion and so when Paul says I suffer as an evildoer not that a few people are displeased with Paul in his ministry instead he's perceived to be a threat to the Roman Empire that's the issue at stake but even though that's the case nevertheless the gospel the Word of God is not chained now notice he highlights his endurance in verse 10 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 the Brethren let me just make this real practical we are told by Paul in verse 3 to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ one of the things to incentivize that is a contemplation of our Lord Jesus another thing to incentivize that is to consider the Apostle Paul how did things turn out for him how did it go for him well he was counted as an evildoer he was counted as a criminal he was perceived to be a threat to the civil order at that particular time but they weren't able to stop the Word of God they weren't able to quench the power of the gospel they weren't able to to thwart it they weren't able to sidetrack it they weren't able to stop it and then Paul highlights something concerning his own enduring of hardship when he says I endure all things for the sake of the elect see brethren Paul practiced what he preached but he also preached what he practiced and it ought to be the case that we want that we not only practice what we preach but were able to preach what we practice the model the example the the good soldiering enduring the hardship realizing that God is faithful God is gracious God will see us through you see that's the kind of stuff we need to exemplify in the context of the local church would it be great if some poor young believer said man I'm having a rotten go of it and some older faithful seasoned saint came up and said yeah I had a rot and go of it too and the Lord's always proven himself faithful just like Paul does there in 2nd Timothy chapter 3 sometimes new believers are young believers there they're myopic they don't see the big picture they don't see how many times God does deliver his people they haven't fully embraced the realities of Psalm 103 where the older folk among us have the gray hairs among us have known the presence of God in the midst of great trial great affliction and great suffering our younger brethren need to see that they need it modeled they need to exemplify it so that they will run with endurance the race that is set before that looking unto Jesus but thankful there's a brethren ship around them that is able to encourage them by saying the Lord is faithful and he will never leave you nor forsake you that's Paul's point I endure all things for the sake of the elect that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus our Lord now when he says I endure all things for the sake of the elect it's not as if he's not God centered we might expect Paul to say therefore I endure all things for the glory of God I endure all things for the gospel of Jesus Christ I endure all things for Father Son and Holy Spirit here he says I endure all things for the sake of the elect this is not an inversion of a God first order rather the salvation of the elect is a primary means by which God is glorified so he endures these things for the elect because he knows this is the vehicle by which God is glorified and honored so it is God first it is a god-centered Ness John Calvin says when he says that he endorsed for the sake of the elect this demonstrates how much more he cares for the edification of the church than for himself that's a beautiful statement when he says that he endorsed for the sake of the elect this demonstrates how much more he cares for the edification of the church than for himself that's a key ingredient to a decent pastor is that he's more concerned for the glory of God and the good of the church than he is for himself Kelvin goes on I almost called in Paul it's Kelvin commenting on Paul for he is prepared not only to die but to be reckoned in the number of wicked men that he may promote the salvation of the church it's not really only to die but he's willing to be tarnished he's willing to be tarred and feathered in the Roman Empire he's willing to have what is an excellent reputation dashed into the ground oh did you hear about that apostle he's in prison did you hear about that apostle he's been sentenced to death did you hear about that apostle of the Christians he's an evildoer see Paul doesn't care what he cares about are the elect of God what he cares about is the salvation of God what he cares about is the glory of God and that's what he emphasizes in this statement notice what he says 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 the suffering of Paul did not secure the salvation of the elect Jesus Christ secures the salvation of the ELAC we know that God in eternity past purpose to save a great multitude that no man can number from every tribe tongue people in Asia and God not only purpose to save got not only predestined to save god not only for or for ordained to save but God purposed the means by which sinners would be saved and Paul is one of those means Paul is a preacher to the Gentiles and Paul is an instrument in the hand of God to bring that salvation to pass upon sinners whom the Lord had chosen now again in the context Jesus incarnation suffering death resurrection the Apostle Paul imprisonment as an evildoer to the point of chains endurance knowing that there is salvation for the elect of God so bad and then good just like the examples Paul set forth in verses one to seven the soldier pleases the commander the athlete wins the crown the farmer shares in the crops and the apostles apostle sees those for whom Jesus died saved by grace through faith so the pattern is endure hardship is a good soldier of Jesus Christ because you're good soldiering going through hardship is not neglected by God see that's one of the things I think is a challenge to the people of God we want credit don't we oh no not me brother okay most people want credit that's why Facebook is a hit it's why selfies are you know everywhere we all want credit we all want everybody to see what we do this is why Jesus specifically says when you do a good thing or when you give alms don't sound the trumpet like the hypocrites do why do you think the hypocrites do that because they want credit they want to you know hey everybody I'm about to deposit my offering in the box you know just just pay attention over here it's a big one - I can hardly squeeze it in you know that that's sort of a thing well that's not the way we're supposed to be and I think there's this idea that if we don't get credit for a good deed done it's almost like the good deed wasn't done that whole tree falling in the forest if nobody's there does it actually make a sound the good deed done that nobody sees what is it actually a good deed yeah maybe believers struggle with that from time to time I want my credit I want my notoriety I want to be recognized I want people to see how good and godly I am and then there's that that that pang of conscience that says oh no brother you shouldn't be that way you should be humble you should be lowly you should be insignificant all right good the point is while we may not appreciate anything that you ever do for the kingdom of God God does I just think that's a great boon I think that you know should get everybody out of bed every day in fact I think this is the Apostles point first Corinthians 15 after that long discourse in terms of the resurrection in first Corinthians chapter 15 verse 58 he brings it home he says therefore my beloved brethren be steadfast immovable always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord I want to say this as graciously and as kindly and as delicately as I can but we can be a pretty unthankful lot remember jesus heals 10 lepers and one comes back to express gratitude and he was the foreigner he was the Samaritan he was the mongrel he was the he was the another race guy why didn't the other nine come and thank Jesus for the wonderful thing that he had just done oh those terrible people brethren ingratitude is one of the things that we bear in our hearts for probably ever and there's this unthankfulness when people do genuinely good things but god's not like fat god knows what you do and god will reward you openly some day and I think that this is the point 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 take a man like Paul a man that you know everybody else was a intellectual and religious [ __ ] near I mean Paul was a great intellect Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ Paul was useful in ways that no but no other man has ever been in the history of the church Paul is you know some of said Paul is responsible for you know Western civilization by and large I mean it is just a really an amazing thing but here he is sitting in a dank prison cell waiting to be waiting to be murdered wait waiting to be executed under Nero but that's not what concerns him that's not what bothers him that's not what effective he knows that through the efforts he's engaged in the Lord's blessing it the Word of God can't be changed it's still going forth through the likes of Timothy and through they're companions and sinners are getting saved Paul will happily endure all things for the sake of the elect that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory so brethren endure hardship as good soldiers of Jesus Christ contemplating Christ considering the conduct of Paul and then notice thirdly and finally focusing or thinking through your communion with Christ you are communion with Christ notice in verse 11 he says this is a faithful saying there are six of these in the pastoral epistles first Timothy second Timothy and Titus there are six of these faithful sayings and so Paul is giving us this faithful saying notice he says 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 I think the encouragement is in verses 11 b to 12 a and then a bit of warning in verses 12 b and 13 let's look at the encouragement the first place he wants us to focus on our union with christ when he says for if we died with him we shall also live with him this probably is not physical death it's probably not pointing to the eschaton the death died here is the death to self the death died here is the death of the old man the death died here is what Paul speaks of in Romans chapter 6 specifically in verse 8 now if we died with Christ we believe that we also shall live with Christ the emphasis in verse 11 for if we died with him we were saved by grace through faith in Jesus the old man is dead the new man is alive the new man is resurrected the new man is what we are in Christ Jesus if we died with him we shall also live what with him though its communion with Christ into here and the now run focus door hardship not as some detached sort of thing but rather as one in vital union with the Living Christ you died with him you were buried with him you were raised with him all things symbolized by our baptism now we live with him so as we endure hardship as good soldiers of Jesus Christ it's not in a relationship of absolute independence or autonomy we're doing it in constant union with Christ Jesus our Lord the believers union with Christ is a motivation for participation in suffering with Paul and for Jesus Christ notice then the believers perseverance in Christ in verse 12 a if we endure we shall also reign with him again that's the emphasis heavy in the contact chapter 1 verse 8 chapter 2 verse 3 and then again in chapter 2 verse 10 therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect Paul tells us if we endure we shall also reign with them that's an incentive isn't it one of the biggest problems with say socialism or communism is that it D incentivizes people when you give people stuff they won't go out and work for it when you give people stuff they'll lay on their couch and expect more that D incentivizes incentivization is a good thing and so the Bible does that with us and the Bible does that here specifically in terms of our perseverance yet I brought this message last week because at times believers fall into ruts at times believers grow sluggish at times believers start to walk a bit slower at times believers may even limp along at times they may be on their face just you know eking it out little by little by little so we need encouragement saan endurance encouragement saan perseverance and that's precisely the context in second Timothy chapter 2 endure hardship is a good soldier of Jesus Christ don't whine about it don't snivel about it don't go to a therapy group over it but rather endure it that's the emphasis of the apostle but you're not to endure it the way that a Spartan indoors you know life in the wilderness you endure it by contemplating the Savior you endure it by considering the conduct of that great man that went before you namely the Apostle Paul and you do it consciously realizing your communion and union with Jesus Christ and you do it realizing that if we endure we shall also reign with him it's one of those passages that it's hard to exegete because we really don't know all that's involved there is it great yeah is it glorious absolutely what does it mean precisely I'm not sure it means that we shall also reign with him while if he'd want me anywhere near his tribunal is you know beyond my scope it's above my pay grade but the reality is if we endure we shall also reign with them endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ think about Jesus incarnate second person of the Trinity taking on our humanity all the common essential properties and common infirmities thereof yet without sin diet being crucified being spat on being struck but being raised from the dead think about the Apostle Paul and what he went through for the elect and think about the reality that if you've died you've been converted you've been saved by grace through faith you now presently live with him and then this if we endure we shall also reign with them that's in our future that's where we're headed that's what the Blessed hope is and so the Apostle emphasizes for Timothy and us by extension that if we endure we shall also reign with him now a warning comes a warning in verses 12 B and 13 Paul says if we deny him he also will deny us if we are faithless he remains faithful he cannot deny himself I would suggest that in the first place it is a warning to caution or rather a warning for believer dropped down for just a moment to verse 19 nevertheless the solid found of God stands having this sealed the Lord knows those who are his and let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity there is the reality that sometimes people make this profession of faith but they're not legit they're not genuine they're not real first John 2:19 they went out from us but they were not of us because if they had been of us they would not have gone out from us the the logic is impeccable right there are those who profess the saving faith but they're not legit there are those who profess the saving faith at some point but then they end up denying the Lord Jesus Christ you know what the recurring theme in the letters to the churches in Asia Minor are in the book of Revelation it's to overcome it's to overcome it's to overcome it's to overcome still overcome it's to overcome it's to overcome seven letters in that in that book of Revelation and what's the constant refrain overcome when you get to Revelation 21 and in verse eight and you see the types of people that are going to populate the lake of fire you will see that the Cowardly are in the lake of fire now cowardly there ought not to be thought of of somebody who's afraid of bears I'm a coward if I'm alone with a bear that that's cowardice but that's not what sends somebody to hell I may need to man up and tackle that bear and you know get better at my masculinity but it's not going to you know keep me from from heaven to be afraid of a bear and run it's not spiders or snakes it's not that kind of cowardice the refrain in the letters to the churches in Asia Minor on overcoming would indicate that the Cowardly that go to the lake of fire are those who didn't overcome those who succumb to the beastly pressure those who succumb to the state and to false religion and recanted and renounced their Savior or the Savior they professed that's what cowardice is in Revelation 21:8 it's those who did not endure it's those who did not overcome it's those who did not run with endurance the race that was set before that it is rather the fake the phony the counterfeit the hypocrite and so the Apostle ends this statement with a warning to those people and it's a warning for true believers God uses the warnings given to true believers to keep us in check it's like when you scream at your kid not to lick his finger and put it into a an electrical outlet it's not dispossessing the kid of being your kid you're giving him a warning to keep him in check you're giving him a warning so that he doesn't lick his finger and put it in the outlet you're giving him a warning so that it'll tow the line properly the warnings are not substance less or without substance in the New Testament if we understand predestination and election and the security of the saint are the the perseverance of the saints they are used by God as a means to secure our security they are used by God to hopefully hedge us in and so he ends here on this solemn note of warning the opposite of the perseverance and the endurance in verse 12 a is a denial of Jesus if we deny em he also will deny us that's the contrary - if we endure failing to endure failing to persevere failing to go forward in your confession of faith is tantamount to denying the Lord Christ himself now the background for Paul's warning obviously is Matthew 1033 well I say obviously it's obvious at least to me but whoever denies me before men him I will also deny before my father who is in heaven and the reality is is that a denial of Jesus Christ evidences that the person was never saved Calvin says their base denial of Christ proceeds not only from weakness but from unbelief so you see there is a place for this warning and then verse 13 is quite intriguing if we are faithless he remains faithful he cannot deny himself now this goes one of two ways the first is that the wavering doubting Christian can be assured of salvation because of Christ's faithfulness if we are faithless he remains faithful now I think that truth is taught in the Bible the wavering doubting Christian can be assured of salvation because of Christ's faithfulness that truth is taught but I don't think it's taught here it's taught when Peter denies his master it's taught when David commits adultery and murder it's taught that those whom God saves he saves to the uttermost it's taught in the reality that he who begins a good work in you will complete it onto the day of Jesus Christ and so weak brothers and sisters which is all of us at least at some point or time or many points and times we need to be encouraged that Christ is faithful the one who began this work in us will complete it unto that day it's a blessed thing look at first Timothy I'm sorry 2nd Timothy 1:12 the Apostle says for this reason I also or I also suffer these things nevertheless I'm not ashamed for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep what I have committed to him until that day so the text or rather that teaching is taught in Scripture but don't think that's what's in view here the language here suggests a companion thought with verse 12 be this denial this faith less Nass is not fair it's the absence of it and so when Paul says in verse 13 if we are faithless he remains faithful he cannot deny himself there is punishment there is judgment there is wrath and curse for those who are not legit that's I think the emphasis again it functions as a bit of a warning at the end of an exhortation so that we will examine ourselves on occasion so that we do not delude ourselves and so that we will run with endurance the race that is set before us so brothers and sisters that brings us to the supper it brings us to first Corinthians chapter 11 if a key event or a key incentive in our lives for the promotion of running with endurance or soldiering our being good soldiers is of Jesus Christ if one of the key focuses is the contemplation of Christ I hope that you'll appreciate how intrinsic the Supper is to that end it's not that we don't think about the death of Christ the rest of the month it's not that we don't preach the death of Christ the rest of the month but we bless God that he is as creator spoken to us as creature and given us tangible things by which we connect we think we ponder we meditate and we remember the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on our behalf this ought to promote in us what Paul says in verse 12 if we endure we shall also reign with him the supper is a means of grace it is calculated to help runners in the Christian race it is calculated to fortify good soldiers of Jesus Christ it is calculated to incentivize and to promote that contemplation of our Lord Jesus so that we can know of the truth that God is for us and that being the case what can man do we need to endure hardship as good soldiers of Jesus Christ we don't do it as Spartans we don't do it as Islands unto ourselves we do it as those focused upon Christ this is a great means tonight we do it as those who remember brethren like the Apostle Paul and we do it as those who are consciously aware of the Union they presently bear with Christ we died with them we now live with them if we endure we will reign with him that is a great incentive for us to do what the Apostle says in 2nd Timothy chapter 2 at verse 3 and if you're not a Christian here tonight the way to Christianity or the way to salvation isn't by enduring hardship the way to salvation is by belief in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ enduring hardship as good soldiers of Jesus Christ is a specifically Christian duty if you're not a Christian your responsibility is to look unto Jesus Christ and live that's the means by which sinners are saved it is to look to the one who hung the one who died the one who has raised the one who now reigns and rules at the right hand of the Father it is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ Jesus alone that sinner's no ever lasting life my encouragement do not take the supper if you're not a believer it is for believers your chief duty if I can use that term your chief responsibility perhaps better is to believe the gospel and then participate in the supper will let us close in a word of Prayer father we thank you for your word we thank you for what Christ did on our behalf we thank you for his life his death his resurrection and we thank you that you give us also examples in the Apostle Paul and others in the history of the church and even in our own local churches God made these things promote in us that endurance may these things promote in us that enduring hardship as good soldiers of Jesus Christ and may we realize that if we endure we will reign with them knowing that there is a great future great prospect for all of your people to be where Christ is may this encourage our hearts and may you strengthen us with might in the inner man and may you cause us to run faithfully before you and we ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord amen particular passage of Scripture Matthew chapter 26 I just want to make a few preliminary observations concerning the supper as mentioned it's for believers it's not for the unconverted it's not a converting ordinance it's not something that conveys or Brains salvation but rather it is for those who by grace have believed the gospel we are those who remember in a special way the death of the Lord Jesus so it's not the case that you can take the bread take the wine and get saved no you need to believe the gospel and that is by the means by which God brings you into saving union with our Lord Jesus a second preliminary observation is that we are not Roman Catholics nothing happens substantially to the bread and to the wine they remain what they are they don't become something other there is no hocus-pocus there is no change from one substance to another there is no atoning sacrifice wrought out here it is a memorial to means and grace but it's a memorial we remember specifically what our Savior did on our behalf as well we need to be those who are seeking by grace to live in a manner consistent with our profession this is Paul's point 1st Corinthians chapter 11 within the context of the church at Corinth they had a meal in conjunction with the supper and at that meal the the rich were eating to the point of gluttony and drunkenness and the poor were basically going hungry Paul real rebukes them Paul reproves that you cannot profess to have communion with God and with one another while that kind of strife is going on in the context of the church and Paul emphasizes that a man must examine himself it's not the elders I can't get into your head or into your heart and see okay did you sin or are you in sin you need to do that you need to do that responsibly and it's not something you should just do once a month by the way you you should be living in light of the reality that we should maintain short accounts with God and with men we should not be those who continue in sin we should not be those who continue to resist the that the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit but there is that call to examination so that we and take with a clear conscience not sinlessness but rather seeking to maintain a conscience void of offense toward God and toward men and then in terms of a real practical piece of gatah the juice is in the outer ring if you are inclined to take juice verses or instead of wine the wine is in the center and the juice is in the external or outer ring so those are some necessary things that we should mention I do want to invite the brothers now to come and pass out the bread after they do that we'll read the appropriate section there in Matthew 26 and pray and then take the bread together but you can remain seated and open in your hymn books to number 336 hymn number 336 will remain seated as we sing in matthew 26:26 we read and as they were eating Jesus took bread blessed and broke it and gave it to the disciples and said take eat this is my body let us brain are blessed God and holy father it would seem odd to unbelievers those outside the church to thank you for the death of your son but we know Lord God that this is the gospel of our salvation and we rejoice in this truth we rejoice that he not only died but he was raised the third day that he sits enthroned at your right hand where he ever makes intercession for us and we know that he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead how we thank you for our Lord Jesus Christ and how we thank you for the Blessed prespective of reigning with him one day god grant us grace now to feed upon him grant us grace to do so by faith grant us grace to receive this means of grace for the strengthening of our own hearts and our own commitment and our own desire to walk in holiness and in righteousness that god help us to never ever keep way away from the cross may we do all that we do in light of the cross and may we find our our source of power and encouragement from what Jesus accomplished on our behalf and we pray in his most blessed name amen we'll take together we can turn to number 341 again please remain seated while the brothers pass out the wine number 341 [Music] we continue reading in verse 27 then he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying drink from it all of you for this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins but I say to you I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my father's Kingdom and when they had sung a hymn they went out to the Mount of Olives well let us pray God thank you for the blood of Jesus Christ your son that cleanses us from all sin how we praise you for that fountain that is open for sin and uncleanness and how we thank you that you've made us partakers of it and God as the church right now we proclaim the Lord's death till he comes and this is a great privilege and we pray father in heaven that you would be glorified in this that you would strengthen us with us and that you would bless and encourage our hearts and cause us to reflect not just on this first Sunday in the month but each and every day let us live near the the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ and we pray in his most blessed name amen we'll take together well you can turn in your hem books to number 352 number 352 will stand as we sing together [Music] the Lord bless you and keep you the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace God may we know these blessings experientially in our daily lives may you watch over this flock may you encourage and strengthen each one here may you bless those in our myths that are struggling physically struggling spiritually may we all know that peace of Christ that does surpass all understanding and may you keep us may you protect us and may you use us for your glory in this world go with us now we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation you