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will you can turn with me in your Bibles to the book of First Timothy 1 Timothy chapter 6 this isn't a baptism text per se but it certainly speaks to this particular occasion our Focus this morning will be verses 11 to2 but I want to read beginning in verse three to the end of the chapter 1 Timothy CH 6 the Apostle Paul is writing to his young ministerial companion named Timothy so beginning in verse three if anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to Wholesome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which Accords with godliness he is proud knowing nothing but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words from which come Envy re uh Strife reviling evil suspicions useless rang wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth who suppose that godliness is a means of gain from such withdraw yourself now godliness with contentment is great gain for we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out and having food and clothing with these we shall be content but those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and predition for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and preach uh Pierce themselves through with many Sorrows but you oh man of God flee these things and pursue righteousness godliness Faith love patience gentleness fight the good fight of Faith l Hold on eternal life to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate that you keep this commandment without spot blameless until our lord Jesus Christ's appearing which he will manifest in his own time he who is the blessed and only potentate the king of kings and Lord of lords who alone has immortality dwelling in unapproachable light whom no man has seen or can see to whom be honor and Glory our honor and everlasting power amen command those who are rich in this present age not not to be hotti nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the Living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy let them do good that they be rich in Good Works ready to give willing to share storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life oh Timothy guard what was committed to your trust avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith Grace be with you amen well let us pray Our God and Father we thank you for your word we thank you for this day we thank you for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ we thank you as well that in the ordinance of baptism we get to see the gospel a demonstration outwardly of what you have done to these young people inwardly we acknowledge with the prophet that salvation is of the lord we look forward to that day in the Eternal State when we stand Before the Throne of God and before the lamb and we ascribe all glory and honor and praise unto you World Without End until that time may we find the Lord's Day a great and a blessed day May it indeed cause us to to rise with joy on Sunday and to gather with your sheep with your people and cause us to to glorify and to honor you and Lord we ask that you would encourage our hearts that you would build us up in our Most Holy Faith that you would be merciful to any and all who've come here this morning that are dead in their trespasses and sins we pray pray that you would awaken them through the preaching of your gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit you would call them out of Darkness into Marvelous Light to lay hold of Jesus Christ and the Forgiveness of sins by him forgive us now for all sin and transgression cleanse Us in that precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ guide us by your Holy Spirit and we pray in Jesus name amen well as we come to this last chapter in the book of First Timothy essentially what the Apostle does is he indict false teachers or we'll call them Heretics as we move on through the sermon a heretic is somebody that engages in false teaching that has damnable consequences a heretic isn't something somebody that just differs a little bit with you on a point of theology on something that isn't essential in terms of acceptance with God a heretic distorts the gospel to the damnation of his own soul and to the damnation of those who hear him or receive him so the Apostle speaks very uh sternly and and and and harshly against such so he does that in verses 3 to 5 and then he warns of the dangers of covetousness in verses 6 to10 which attach themselves to these Heretics these Heretics think that they can make money through religion and then as well he gives or in the rest of the chapter Paul gives Timothy specific commands he exhorts Timothy to be a faithful man of God in verses 11-6 he then tells Timothy to instruct the rich concerning their situation in verses 17 to 19 and then he ends with a final charge in verses 20 and 21 so that's a bit of a overview of the chapter itself but as I said we're going to focus specifically on verses 11 and 12 now there's something we need to appreciate before we look at this passage in this section Paul is not telling Timothy who is an unbeliever on how to get saved in other words he's not telling Timothy that the way to acceptance with God Is by fleeing these things the way to acceptance with God Is by by pursuing these things the way to acceptance with God Is by fighting this fight and the way to acceptance with God is is is by the way that you lay hold on it he's dealing with Timothy who's a Believer he's dealing with Timothy who's already a Christian he's dealing with Timothy who he refers to as man of God so again the emphasis is not in verses 11 and 12 how to get saved but rather this is what it looks like when a man is saved when a man is conquered by Sovereign Grace we know that the apostle Paul was in fact the champion of Sovereign Grace he himself was not seeking salvation by Jesus Christ the Lord in fact he was doing just the opposite he was trying to destroy the Church of God he rejected the claims initially that Jesus was in fact the Messiah or the Christ and so Saul of Tarsus armed with extradition papers was on his way to Damascus to arrest those who were worshiping God through Jesus Christ and bring them back to Jerusalem so that they could be punished by the Civil Court well on that way to Damascus the Lord Christ comes to him and the Lord Christ saves him and then the Lord Christ puts the mission upon him to go and preach the gospel of free and Sovereign Grace indiscriminately to Every Creature everywhere and that's what he took up and the great emphasis of the Apostle Paul is that we're accepted by God we're saved by God not because of things that we do or contribute to God's work but we're saved by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ Alone he was in fact the Apostle of free and Sovereign Grace along with John along with Peter along with the prophet Isaiah along with Jeremiah along with Abraham along with everybody in Scripture it is obvious that by our works we will never attain Heaven by our works we will never achieve God's uh uh uh acceptance it must come by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Jesus Christ so let's make sure we understand that he's not telling Timothy how to be saved he's telling Timothy rather as a man of God how to function as a saved man so let's look at our passage Paul gives Timothy a series of four exhortations first the necessity to flee wickedness in 11a secondly the exhortation to pursue righteousness in 11b third the command to fight the good fight in 12a and then finally the necessity to maintain steadfastness in verse 12b but notice in the first place with reference to the necessity to flee wickedness there's a contrast Paul does this in his letters to Timothy often if you look at second Timothy chapter 3 for just a moment in 2 Timothy 3 and: 1-9 the Apostle highlights the character of men in the last days in the last days is the time frame between the first and second coming of the lord it's not in our future it was upon Timothy because Paul is able to tell Timothy uh uh from such people turn away in verse 5 and so the characteristics of those who are in the last days who find themselves in the church they are professing godliness but they deny its power they're Wicked they're vile they're wretched in fact very quickly notice what he says in verse one but know this that in the last days perilous times will come for men will be lovers of themselves lovers of money boasters proud blashe blasphemy disobedient to parents unthankful Unholy unloving unforgiving slanderers without self-control brutal despisers of good traitors headstrong hotty lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God and this sounds a lot like Romans 1 where the Apostle portrays or describes the Heathen those apart from the grace of God those apart from the revelation of God in the gospel but here it's within the context of the church because again notice what he says in verse 5 these Wicked people people they have a form of godliness but they deny its power and from such people turn away so Paul underscores what's going to happen in terms of even True Churches these kinds of persons are going to find their way in the midst these lovers of themselves these lovers of money these lovers of pleasure will find themselves among the professing people of God and the Apostle tells Timothy to be on the lookout for them and as well to avoid that and then notice in verse 10 the contrast but you have carefully followed my Doctrine manner of life purpose Faith longsuffering love perseverance same thing that he does in 1 Timothy chapter 6 so he highlights the Heretics in verses 3 to uh five he underscores their covetousness in verses 6 to 10 and then he says in verse 11 but you oh man of God flee these things in other words don't be a heretic don't be a false teacher don't be the sort of guy that is indicated there in verses 3 and 4 notice if anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to hold some words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which Accords with godliness notice what Paul goes on to say I mentioned I think last week or the week before Jesus would probably be kicked out of most churches today certainly Paul would because this isn't nice this isn't kind this isn't sacarin this isn't sugary this isn't palatable this isn't pleasing listen to what he says in terms of these men who distort and twist the Gospel of Jesus Christ he says in verse four he is proud he knows nothing but he's obsessed with disputes and arguments over words from which come Envy Strife reviling evil suspicions useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth who suppose that godliness is a means of gain from such withdraw yourself there comes a point in time where it is to cast your Pearls Before Swine there comes a point in time where it is to cast your pearls before dogs now God is most generous and most B benevolent and calls us to preach the gospel to Every Creature but somebody who's antagonistic somebody who is violent somebody who continues to refuse and reject somebody in this class of heresy there comes a point where we withdraw from them and so the Apostle is encouraging Timothy in that vein notice in verse 11 but you oh man of God flee these things Timothy didn't have to ask the question well what things cuz he's listening he's paying attention don't be like the guy who twists the gospel don't be like the guy who adds Works to Salvation don't be like the guy who's Covetous don't be like the guy who thinks that religion is a means to Prosperity or to gain certainly a PEC A fitting word for Our Generation where the so-called health wealth and Prosperity Gospel has infected a multitude if sin is killing its thousands that Twisted version of God's grace is killing its tens of thousands and we need to make sure we understand that God demands truth in his pulpits God demands not a distortion not a twisting but an exposition of God's word h uh accurately so you oh man of God flee these things so notice there is the special function of Timothy as a church office this title of man of God Finds Its tap roots in the Old Testament Moses Samuel David Elijah Elijah Elisha Etc were men of God in the New Testament we see Paul described Timothy in that way Timothy again was his ministerial companion Timothy was met by Paul in Acts chapter 16 Paul definitely approved of him right away and accept him into accepted him into the cause and now he is exhorting him to flee these things so specifically for the man of God who preaches in the Pulpit every Sunday but for all of us generally Paul doesn't want any of us to be caught up in covetousness Paul doesn't want any of us to be caught up in distorting the truth of God's gospel Paul doesn't want any of us to duplicate or replicate the various things that we see condemned there in verses 3 to 5 so for all of that all of us we need to flee these things and that picks up a Biblical emphasis The Godly man is not only seen by what he pursues but by what he flees from remember that instance where Joseph was in Piper's house and pifer's wife was coming on to him day by day the text is specific and conspicuous it was day by day wasn't just a oneoff but each and every day this this wretch this Jezebel this this this horrible woman I don't want to get too bad here with with young people around but this this this this mother or wife of the Year kept coming on to him what does he do he continually resists he continually rejects he continually flees from this even to the point where he actually fle he actually runs out of the house that's what Paul is telling Timothy when it comes to these sorts of Heretics in the church flee these things don't have truck with them don't entertain them don't sort of allow them in don't pat them on the back and see them as sort of a subset of Orthodox Christianity they're not that they're Outsiders they are Heretics they will condemn and destroy the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ for a minister of the Gospel to put his hand favorably on the hand of a heretic is to violate God's holy word and we need to take these things seriously so again specifically the man of God in terms of preaching and pastoring but all of us generally speaking the heretic is condemned for his Doctrine his character and his covetousness and Paul does not want Timothy to go down that road uh Road notice in 2 Timothy 2 same sort of an EMP emphasis on what Timothy is to flee 2 Timothy 2: 22 flee also youthful lusts Timothy don't give into these things don't pursue these things don't go down that particular road again if if sin is damning or killing its thousands sexual sin has killed its tens of thousands of men in pastoral Ministry and the Apostle Paul says flee these things flee youthful losts don't get caught up in it don't get flirty don't get texting don't get engaged in that sort of thing Timothy flee those things and be faithful in your Pursuit after righteousness the Proverbs are filled again not only with the wise man as he pursues good and godly virtues but it's filled with the wise man who is fleeing those things who sees the danger ahead and he and he hides himself he doesn't go and Court it in Proverbs chapter 8 the father tells the son or seven rather tells the son do not go near the door of her house he's talking about the the strange woman there I've always thought that very peculiar information or very peculiar instruction he doesn't say don't go into her bed he says don't go near the door of her house why because if you go near the door guess what the next step is you're not that strong you're not that Holy you're not that righteous you're not that pure in Proverbs one my son if Sinners entice you what does he say listen to them hear them out give them you know some thought and no do not consent with them there this there is this aspect of fleeing godlessness that the people of God need to embi but then notice secondly the exhortation to pursue righteousness so it's not just fleeing from it sometimes people give up bad things and that's to be commended at least at one level I think it's good if a guy gives up crack I think it's good if a guy gives up embezzlement I think it's good if a guy gives up white collar crime or fraud or whatever sorts of things he's into I I'm not going to say no continue in it but just because a person gives something up doesn't mean they're pursuing righteousness just because somebody doesn't go near the door of her house doesn't necessarily mean that he's nurturing a vital communion with his own wife so there are these twin aspects flee from the Godless and pursue the godliness and that's the emphasis of the Apostle here with reference to Timothy here's what the Heretics look like here's what you need to flee from and here's what you need to pursue but you oh man of God flee these things and then notice what he says he says you are to pursue righteousness godliness Faith love patience gentleness the man of God is Not only identified by what by what he flees from but also what he pursues again 2 Timothy chap 2 at verse 22 he says flee also youthful lust but pursue righteousness Faith love peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart we need to understand that two-fold dynamic in Christian sanctification again we need to put to death the Deeds of the body nobody's doubting that uh he uh Romans 88:13 if by the spirit you do mortify the Deeds of the body you will live but in terms of Christianity the killing of the sin is to be replaced by doing the right thing before God Paul sort of captures this this Essence and in Romans 13:14 he says but put on the Lord Jesus Christ put on the benefits put on the protection put on those things that are identifiable with our blessed savior and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts so as far as scripture is concerned yeah we need to flee but we also need to pursue and it's those righteous virtues that Paul outlines here and again just look at the list nothing here should be surprising I can't believe Paul wants Timothy to pursue righteousness of course he wants Timothy to pursue righteousness I can't believe he wants him to pursue godliness of course he wants him to pursue godliness and then notice Faith love patience gentleness William mounts makes the observation in the Pastoral Epistles in the Pastoral Epistles are letters Epistles written to pastors hence the name Pastoral Epistles 1 Timothy second Timothy and Titus mounts makes the observation that love occurs 11 times in the pastoralist its frequency attests to one of the basic problems in Ephesus Paul's opponents are without love when you want to boil it all down what's wrong with the heretic well he doesn't love God and he certainly doesn't love men if somebody's going to make their money off the backs of another person's damnation that's not generated by love Brethren that's hatred that is corruption that is degeneracy that is as bad as it can get to make your money off of the damnation of Rubes that have fallen under your purview and actually pay attention to you there's got to be a special Circle in hell for such a class of Godless men and so the Apostle says to pursue righteousness to pursue godliness to pursue Faith to pursue love to pursue patience to pursue gentleness and there are other places all throughout the New Testament that sort of confirm or affirm this emphasis throughout so it's not a oneoff Paul wants Timothy to be a special class of of man of God no it's for all the people of God this is what we should be pursuing this is what we should be after we should be fleeing Heretics and heresy and we should be pursuing after these virtues now notice thirdly the command to fight the good fight the command to fight the good fight Paul uses Marshal language military language to depict for us the nature of the battle where do you think he got that uh Jesus the the Old Testament everybody that ever walked the Earth before him that tried to live Godly in Christ Jesus what happens when you try to be faithful in a faithless world do people applaud you do they praise you oh yeah you're just doing a bang up job here you're just doing great in your pursuit of righteousness and love we're we're so envious or we're so jealous that that that you're like no they hate it they despise it it's that whole scene in John chapter 3 when Jesus talks about the darkness and the light the darkness doesn't want to come to the light why because its evil deeds will be exposed cockroaches when you turn on the light I don't know this by experience I've read about this uh when you turn on the light the Cockroaches bail they flee they run why because they don't want to be in the light and that's what happens with reference to the believer in the world if we are living and the bar is pretty low right right now just be against killing babies and and old people and and and infirm people and now drug addicts and be against the mutilation of children you're you're going to stand out as an odd duck what what do you mean people don't have the right to chop off perfectly good body parts when they're 12 no they don't have that right at all and that we think they do is a horrible horrible sort of uh uh uh uh an indictment upon this present evil age so again you don't have to be you know John the Baptist out in the you know in the wilderness eating Locust and wild honey you don't have to be Elijah on Mount Carmel you know challenging the prophets of Baal you don't have to be John the Baptist standing before Herod saying everything you're doing is wrong it's a breach of God's law just try to be a little faithful in this present evil age and what's going to happen they're not going to like you so what does that mean it means you're involved in a fight I think a lot of Christians are finally waking up to that reality you you mean they don't love us you you mean they are against us you mean they they they do despise you know the the Lord God most high and his Christ yeah so we've been kind of saying for a while here and starting starting to come in a sharp uh uh uh view so notice what he says here he says fight the good fight of Faith now in terms of this language look back at 1 Timothy 1 1 Timothy chapter 1 again to see this language by Paul I'm sorry verse uh 1 Timothy 1:18 notice in 1 Timothy 1:18 this charge I commit to you son Timothy according to the prophecies previously made concerning you that by them you may what wage the good Warfare of course the Apostle is speaking metaphorically he's not telling Timothy I want you to you know do your reloads I want you to get your banders I want you to you know shine up your Sherman tank I want you to you know go out there and and in the name of God God engage in Jihad and and win Ephesus for Jesus that's not what he's saying it's a metaphor he says in 2 Corinthians chapter 10 the weapons of our Warfare are not carnal they're Mighty for the pulling down of strongholds we need to remember that brothers and sisters we don't Advance Christ's cause by bullets we don't Advance Christ's cause again as the church I'm not speaking as to individuals if they come after you you have the right to defend yourself the Bible Envision envisages that and it does claim that we have that right but in terms of the mission of the church we're not to advance the cause of Jesus by violent Force so Paul is speaking metaphorically but listen to the metaphor that by them you may wage the good Warfare notice in second Timothy Chapter 2 specifically at verse three again he's speaking metaphorically he's speaking analogically he's speaking in terms of some some images that suggest themselves for the Apostle to compare Timothy's Ministry to notice he gives this General admonition in verse one there you therefore my son be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus and then he gives Timothy a very very specific Duty as a pastor as a man involved in leadership in the church notice what that duty is in verse two 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 that's inherent in the Pastoral Ministry duplicate yourselves other words the kingdom of God isn't supposed to stop when Paul dies the kingdom of God is not supposed to stop when John Calvin dies the kingdom of God is not supposed to stop when CH Spurgeon dies those men are to train other men identify them within the congregation train those men see them fit and qualified for pastoral Ministry get the church's approval and affirmation and then bring them into that role of preaching and teaching and Ministry and then notice what he says in verse three 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 these things you need to be devoted like the soldier you need to be disciplined like the athlete and you need to be diligent like the farmer other words Timothy if you under God are going to be instrumental in advance ing the cause of Jesus Christ it's not with military might but it's by faithfulness and steadfastness waging the good Warfare and fighting the good fight and of course Paul signs off his uh Ministry in this same sort of language you can turn to 2 Timothy 4 verse 7 well verse six sets it in context actually we need to go back to verse one to set it in context the last corporate command that the Apostle gives to the church he gives Timothy these some specific commands later uh later on in verses 9 and following he basically says you know bring the cloak in verse 13 that I left with carpus at trass when you come and the books especially the parchment so Paul is in his second Roman imprisonment Paul knows that he's going to die this isn't like the time he writes Philippians in Philippians or the time that he writes Philippians he he thinks there's the potential he could die it's his first Roman imprisonment in about ad 60 to 62 this is later on this is the mid-60s Nero is gone Nero is a beast Nero has you know left the reservation as we might say he's burning Christians as torches in his garden party he's just a foul Wicked beastly man he blames the Christians when the city of Rome burns down he is vicious and animated against the church so Paul knows that his time is short he knows that he's going to die this isn't a hypothetical this isn't a potential this is his last letter and he knows it so look at verse one I charge you therefore before God God and the Lord Jesus Christ who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing in his kingdom notice the last corporate command be the nicest fellow any city has ever seen in terms of the pastor I'm not saying pastors shouldn't try to be nice but that's not the main imperative have coffee with everybody because that really shows that you're nice again not against coffee with everybody but the imperative of the Apostle to his young ministerial Comm uh uh companion is to preach the word why because God is well pleased in the foolishness of the message preach to save those who believe we don't Advance the cause by guns we don't Advance the cause by tanks we don't Advance the cause by f-15s we advance the cause through prayer and the proclamation of God's holy word for since in the wisdom of God the world through wisdom did not know God it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe we ought not to be surprised that the last corporate Comm command by the Apostle to Timothy for the church as a whole is to preach the word at some point in the 20th century we took a different route we wanted cheerleaders we wanted CEOs we wanted high- power businessmen to run our churches we need faithful preachers Theologian pastors men who understand scripture and theology those who labor in the word and in Doctrine those who are worthy of double honor Paul tells Timothy preach the word and then he gives him two reasons why he's supposed to preach the word the first is found in verse three for the time will come when they will not endure sound Doctrine how do I deal with this group of people that doesn't want sound Doctrine preach to them sound Doctrine it's kind of like your child how do I deal with this child that won't eat his protein and fat and all he wants is sugary treats feed him protein and fat but but oh he'll eat it I guarantee you may take a little while but he will eat it what do we do when the church wants puppets and ponies and programs back in the day I don't even know what the current iteration is what do we do do we cater to them oh yeah we're going to get rid of the pulpit and put a Big Easy chair there and I'm going to sit and tell you stories and we'll have a nice cup of coffee preach the word they will not endure sound Doctrine Timothy or or Paul so then give them more sound Doctrine God knows what they need they need the protein and the fat they don't need sugary treats that's what got them into the mess that they're in and then the second reason again you see it marked out by the word for so preach the word verse three for the time will come when they will not endure sound Doctrine notice the second reason in verse 6 for I am already being poured out as a drink offering in the time of of my departure is at hand he knows he's going to die what's the final word of the Apostle to his young ministerial companion preach the word Timothy don't mess with that don't try to reinvent the wheel don't go and adopt military might or power don't go off and engage in holy war or Jihad but you preach the word it is that vehicle that the Lord has chosen among reading the Bible not suggesting that people can't read their Bible and get saved but when you trace the book of Acts typically it comes when the apostles go to the synagogue and preach Christ and him crucified when they declare the truth as it is in Jesus so Paul knows that he's going to die and then notice what he says in verse seven he says I have fought the good fight I have finished the race I have kept the faith it shouldn't surprise us in 1 Timothy CH 6 at verse 12 that he calls his ministerial companion to do the same thing fight the good fight Calvin made the made the observation for carelessness and self uh self-indulgence arise from this cause that the greater part wish to serve Christ at ease and as it were and as if it were Pastime whereas Christ calls his servants to Warfare again find where you know you sign on the dotted line God in his grace opens your heart he gives you the Graces of faith and repentance so you can lay hold of Jesus and then something bad happens in your life and you say but but wait a minute sir I didn't sign up for this many a recruit in the US Military and probably here in Canada has said the same thing you know they give you this dream sheet where you'd like to be stationed guess where everybody picks not Tuli Greenland guess where sometimes people end up Tulie Greenland guess what they say but I didn't didn't want to go there it doesn't matter what you want the needs of the military dictate now I'm not trying to be a harsh sort of mean fellow but God may bring that to you Brethren he may bring that to me but I didn't sign up for this yeah you did back in Matthew 16 Jesus talked about people who followed him and he used the imagery of taking up your cross daily and following him you you remember that oh yeah but I didn't think it would mean difficult people in my life well guess what guess what fight the good fight so Calvin is banging on carelessness and self-indulgence arise from this cause that the greater part wish to serve Christ at ease and as if it were Pastime whereas Christ calls his servants to Warfare but notice that Paul doesn't just say fight the fight it's a good fight we never need we never never must forget this it's not you know slugging out this fight in some horrible cause it's a good fight it's God's fight it's Christ's fight he empowers us and enables us to engage in the fight in fact we are privileged to to get to engage in this fight remember the Apostolic Church in about acts 5 when they were beaten by the Sanhedrin and when they left from there you know what they didn't do call your MP these guys just treated us poorly now I'm not against calling your MP I'm not but that's not what they said they rejoiced why because they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name huh that's just so contrary not to you I'm I'm right here I'm preaching to me here rejoice when bad things happen yeah that's what James says count it all joy when you fall into various trials that is not the way way we operate that is the way that that that that we want to avoid as far as we're able now I'm not saying run out and try to get persecuted run out and try to get thrown down a well that that's not necessarily bright either but we need to understand that the fight is good because it is God's fight again Calvin he says if Earthly soldiers do not hesitate to fight when the result is doubtful and when there is a risk of being killed how much more bravely ought we to do battle under the guidance and banner of Christ when we are certain of Victory that's an assured thing we may not see it in our lifetime you need to reorient yourself that way right well if I I don't see it brethren we are in this for the Long Haul right we hope and pray and try to labor and and and move and have our being in such a way that that our grandchildren's grandchildren's grandchildren will have free Grace Baptist Church of chillak so they can can come sing Psalm 148 and praise God most high and listen to the preached word and then go live like they're supposed to in this present evil age we pray for that we hope for that we want that but we need to understand that this is in fact a fight when he says the good fight of faith I think he's stressing there faith comes in the New Testament in one of two ways objective and subjective objective means it's the content of the Christian faith it's the content or the the stuff that we're to believe the subjective is when we are called to hold on to it and I think that's what he's talking about here fight the good fight of faith when he says lay hold on eternal life I think he's redoubling his efforts there the lay hold on eternal life is not so that you can be accepted by God this has already been given to you by God but steadfast perseverance means you will lay hold on it you will keep airm grip you'll fight the good fight of Faith you won't waver you won't doubt you won't start to well I don't know if it's really good to be in this fight I don't know if it really is something that I'm fit for if you are Christ's Blood Bought child if you have the Holy Spirit you're fit for this fight you need to embrace it you need to receive it and you need to run with it that's what Paul says fight the good fight of Faith so in other words make sure Timothy that your faith isn't wanting that your faith isn't waning that your faith isn't growing cold how do you think he's supposed to feed that Faith he's supposed to feed it through the scriptures he's supposed to feed it in the prayer closet he's supposed to feed it in the public worship of God it's not esoteric it's not mysticism go out to mount sham forget your phone and just tune out and let God invade you now Brethren again it's not wrong to go up to mount sham it's not wrong to go meditate upon God but it's the means of Grace that God has ordained that are calculated to feed our faith and that's his emphasis fight the good fight of Faith now fight the good fight of the faith of faith in the objective sense as well Jude 3 contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the Saints want to make sure you know that it's not just your faith in Jesus that's supposed to grow but it's the faith as the deposit of Christian doctrine that we all need to be engaged in to fight for in other words we ought to pursue truth because that's what God uses to bless his people I've already mentioned the engagement in the fight it's 2 Corinthians 10:4 and 5 the weapons of our Warfare are not carnal But Mighty in God for pulling down strongholds and that brings us finally the to the necessity to maintain steadfastness again don't mess don't don't don't mistake what Paul is saying here when he says lay hold on eternal life it's not saying so that you can be saved he's saying you've got this because God has given it to you don't let It Go Don't Let It Go pretty simple right don't let it go yes pretty simple but at times it can be a bit of a challenge right especially when you live in a in a perverse age when you live in a sinful age when you live in an age where there's a lot of compromise and often times that compromise comes in the church or the professing church I mean they're flying the flags they're they're doing the thing they're they're engaged in this sort of stuff well we need to hear the words of Jesus in Revelation CH 3 he speaks to the church in Leo DEA and he says because you're neither hot nor cold I'll spit you out of my mouth now he picks a theme that you find in the Old Testament we've seen it in our studies in The Book of Leviticus specifically in Leviticus 18 God uses none too righteous Israel to go into Canaan and to judge the the the the less righteous Canaanites it wasn't vindictive punishment on the part of God just go in and destroy those Canaanites they were Sinners they were Wicked they were vile they were wretched when Israel does this and takes the possession of the land and then she Apes the conduct of the the Canaanites she she gets vomited out of the land too God uses Assyria and then he uses Babylon to to to throw up the people right out of that land well Jesus when he says I will vomit you out of my mouth again it's not without a context land in the old covenant theology was Central in terms of Israel's life it was it was by inheritance it was by the promise of God contingent upon their faithfulness contingent upon their their Covenant obedience but Jesus says to the church in Leo because you're neither hot nor cold I'm going to spit you out of my mouth now commentators get really weird there because they say well Jesus would prefer you to be an outright atheist that's not what he means by Cold the city of Le oia was flanked by Two Cities one had uh Hot Springs like haris said and the other had a cool and refreshing sort of a a spring by the time water was piped into Le O deia it was lukewarm lukewarm isn't good we either like hot coffee or cold water most people and there you might say well I like lukewarm you're about one in a billion so you know this isn't really for you but when it was piped in it was lukewarm he's using a convention that they would be familiar with and say if you're not hot or cold if you're not bringing refreshment in terms of cold to your community again do what you're able to do in terms of your vocation if you're not bringing the hot medicinal Healing Waters of the Gospel if you're not doing anything if you're not being faithful if you're not fighting fting the good fight if you're not laying hold on eternal life you're betraying that you're not really his and it's in that context he says I will spit you or vomit you out of my mouth so back to our text notice lay hold on eternal life to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses the Heretics made a profession but it was false the Heretics made a profession and tried to profit from it but it was false the Heretics made a profession but had no power of godliness Timothy conversely or by contrast is to lay hold on eternal life he is to lay hold onto that with which he was called by God so in other words God calls him God gives him and then God calls upon him to live in a manner consistent with that now if You' have been attending our evening Services you'll understand this concept in uh Ephesians 4 for instance in Ephesians 4:1 Paul says let your conduct be worthy of the Gospel let your conduct be worthy of the calling with which God has called you so basically here's what you were dead in your trespasses and sins here's what you've become by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ and here's then how you're supposed to live Walk This Way don't walk the way the Gentiles walked walk in love walk in Light walk in wisdom in Ephesians chapter 5 that's what he's emphasizing here lay hold on eternal life and then that next Clause to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses now that confessing of the good confession is a bit of an ambiguous thing could have been at his baptism when Timothy was baptized it was a public Declaration of what God had done inwardly could have been his ordination when Paul and others laid hands on him to fit him not because they're magic but it was the means by which God the spirit comes upon Timothy to set him apart for the work of gospel Ministry or it could just be his overarching life and conduct and faithfulness as he moved in and about the people of God that they had the that the many witnesses had seen his faithfulness so just back up then to which you were also called that refers to the effectual call now the Bible theology makes this distinction between what we call the effectual call and the outward or general call Jesus tells his church to go and preach the gospel to Every Creature indiscriminately go tell all men everywhere that God is Holy you're not and that Christ has come into this world he lived he died and he was raised again if anyone believes that message he will have everlasting life that's the outward or external call the Bible speaks of an internal or effectual call in other words the Holy Spirit working upon the heart of a man or a woman or a boy or a girl God's good God's gracious God's merciful that's what he's referring here to so again it's not lay hold on something in order to appropriate it for yourself it's already been given to you and your stewardship now is to lay hold of it and don't let it go to move and live and have your being in such a way that is consistent with your calling in Christ Jesus Paul uses the language in Romans chapter 8 we know verse 28 we know that that all things work for good to those who love God to those who are the what the called according to his purpose and then he goes on to say for whom God fornew these he also predestined he predestined them to be conformed to the image of his son the ones who were predestined these he called those he called he justified the ones who just are Justified he will glorify so the emphasis here in verse 12 at the latter part to which you were also called and have confessed is on the effectual call now when you consider Paul the Apostle we're coming to a close here we're not going to be here all day just I love the pastorals let me go like a horse in the meadow and I I want to tromp through them because it's just so much fitting and appropriate stuff for the church today but but when it comes to the life and Ministry of Paul I already kind of alluded earlier way back when at the beginning of the sermon about Paul's salvation what happened he had papers in hand he's going to Damascus and he's going to arrest people now he says it later in his own testimony men and women there's something extremely perverse or not perverse in a sexual way but just Wicked that you'd arest men and women just to haul them back to Jerusalem so they could stay on trial and so that they could be punished for their faith commitment in the Lord Jesus Christ but what happens on that road Jesus comes to him it's pretty amazing that's not usually how it happens Brethren it's usually very imperceptible you sort of pass from Death unto life there's a moment where yeah now I I believe on Jesus now I I understand Jesus now now I get it forgiveness and and a righteousness that that now avails with God but when you think of the conversion of an apostle Paul you you go wow look at the powerful grace of God summons this church have have shown or demonstrated that powerful grace of God sit down sometime at coffee and ask them tell me your conversion tell me your testimony well I was engaged in this and I was doing that and I was going here and I was going there and and God seized me and God pulled me and God gave me Grace to believe the gospel and we go wow but what about a Timothy what about a TOA and a Benjamin I'm not picking on them but I am suggesting that when they're brought up in a Christian home where they haven't gone out and done all that stuff they haven't been out in the distant country they haven't been longing for food that's being given to pigs we don't see that power as vividly do we see Paul does Paul says the same effectual Grace the same effectual call the same power of God that arrested him and stopped him on the road to Damascus and enabled him to be a preacher of the the gospel is the same Grace that God gave to Timothy look at second Timothy 1 and verse3 I thank God whom I serve with a pure conscience as my forefathers did as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day greatly Desiring to see you being mindful of your tears that I may be filled with joy when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and I am persuaded is in you also look at 2 Timothy 3 verse 14 but you must continue 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 the effectual call is as necessary for one brought up under a Godly Unice and Al Lois as it is for a man who's got papers to go to Damascus and arrest the people of God to bring them back to Jerusalem where they will likely be imprisoned and executed in other words that anybody is saved is a testimony to the Glorious and amazing grace of God Almighty there's this mindset well you know it's only the guy who's gone out and done all those things we want him to share his testimony at Coffee we don't want to hear from the person that was brought up in a Christian home and can't really remember the time there was no light bulb that they just imperceptible there was a time I was dead in my sins and now I'm alive and I'm believing in Jesus okay is that our attitude okay praise God that's miraculous regeneration we just sang it in in in the hymn by Wesley listen to the language of the effectual call sort of put into song he says long my imprisoned Spirit lay fastbound in sin and Nature's night thine eye diffused a quickening ray I woke the dungeon flamed with light My Chains fell off my heart was free I Rose went forth and followed thee whether you're 25 whether you're 55 whether you're 1005 and you've lived a propagate Godless vicious life or you're brought up in the the home of a Unice and a and a Lois and they've taught you the Sacred Scriptures from your Youth and around six or seven or eight or 10 or 12 or whatever you believed it's the same effectual call it's the same Grace we celebrate it we sing of it we need to appreciate it when it happens in the lives of our young people and Brethren brothers and sisters may I say we pray for that we pray for that God is great he saves the prodigal even from the pig slop but he's great to save them before they go to the pig slop before they go to the heroin before they go to the to the to the prostitute wherever it is they might end up pray for God's grace in the lives of your children that should be priority number one for every parent every grandparent every single day not binding oh you're telling us legalistic thing you hear what I'm saying make this a prayer make this a priority make this the thing that you plead on behalf of your children righteous man leaves an inheritance for his children's children you may be dirt broke but you know what you have you have what Peter and John said to that man they met on the way to the temple what's the man say he says sir do you have any silver or gold what does Peter say we don't have any silver or gold but what we have we give to you in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord rise up and walk we may not have a lot of money in the bank but we have a great Savior and a great cause and a good fight and we should pray to hand that down to them and praise God when we see them come forward and want to identify publicly with our savior in the waters of baptism this is a day for rejoicing a day for celebration a day to understand God's graciousness now I want to end with two thoughts and that means two thoughts first the elements involved in eternal life the effectual call again we can't change their hearts but we can certainly p put them in the places where they need to be schle them to church commenting on Ro uh John uh John 3 when Jesus Likens the spirit to the wind the wind comes you don't know where from and you don't know where it's going but Spurgeon says when you see that gust open the window to let it in where do we bring our children we bring them to the family altar we bring them to the church family altar doesn't mean a popish idea it means rather that place where you have family worship we bring them under the sound of God's gospel and then with reference to this good confession it's done in baptism but it's done in the totality of one's life in the presence of many witnesses being faithful day in and day out and Brethren that doesn't mean spotless holy Perfection we're going to sin you know there's a bit of a powerful testimony when you tell somebody man I didn't live up to what I'm supposed to be please forgive me I sinned I shouldn't have done that PE people don't know how to proc that side I don't do it with you know the proud virtue hum the proud humility I'm just you know so humble like no but if you mess with somebody and you betray your calling in Christ there's nothing wrong to say please forgive me be nice if some of our government leaders would learn that brief phrase we we made a mistake okay I don't expect infallibility and Perfection but I expect a bit of ownership the one who covers his transgression Proverbs 28:13 will not Prosper but whoever confesses and forsakes it will find Mercy so again the call here isn't to Holy harmless spotless Perfection but it's a faithfulness it's to laying hold of on eternal life it's to fighting the good fight this acknowledgement comes in baptism comes to the life of the believer and then I want to end specifically with reference to DEA and Benjamin the nature of the good fight of Faith you need to remember this and I'm not just talking to them everybody should pay attention here okay I can just tune out now the reason for the fight the reason for the fight is because it's God's fight you don't want to be that guy that goes out and starts fights over your deal no no don't do that start fights or engage in the fight that is God's fight God's good fight the necessity for the fight I don't think that's tough we' got the world we've got the devil and then we've got our own remaining sin so there is a necessity for us to walk watch and pray and to fight as well the perpetuity of the fight it will be present until the consummation in other words if you signed up and you thought well I'm going to have a week or two or five of difficulty and warfare but then it's going to be easy sailing hate to break it to you Brethren the Christian Life often times not for everybody God is good there's not constant misery and torment for every one of God's people I'm not suggesting that but until that day when Jesus comes again in glory to judge the living and the dead there's going to be some heartache there's going to be some hardships there's going to be some challenges the manner of the fight how do we fight the good fight dependence upon the father Faith always in our Lord Jesus Christ and the power and the presence of the holy spirit it's not a again a mystery well how do I fight this good fight you you told me I can't use guns and tanks and f-15s how do I do it with the Triune God and the power of His glory and then the goodness of the fight never lose sight of that we you know we should smile in the midst of the fight I don't know if Samson did when he was dispatching those thousand Philistines with the Jawbone of an ass but knowing his character he might have he liked to pun he liked lyics he liked to you know compose Little Riddles and that sort of thing I mean there's a sense where it's the the good fight of God so we have to be encouraged that we're actually in it and then finally the Triumph in the fight is not ultimately up to us and that ought to give us great encouragement if it was up to us we would certainly fail listen to the psalm Psalm 11 60 verses 11 and 12 and then again replicated or duplicated in Psalm 1082 and 13 He says give us help from trouble for the help of man is useless he's not condemning the church all participating there's a context but listen to what he says through God we will do valiantly for it is he who shall tread down our enemies let us never lose sight of that he will tread down our enemies maybe not in our lifetime maybe not with our eyes seeing it it's going to happen Psalm 1101 the Lord said to my Lord sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your foot stol and then that great famous wonderful biblical declaration by the Apostle in Romans 8:31 B if God is for us what can man do if God is for us who can be against us so fight the good fight believer unbeliever look unto the Lord Jesus Christ in faith and you will have everlasting life let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you for your word we see that the man of God here is a fleeing man he's a fighting man he's a faithful man and we pray that you would help us to be likewise give us Grace to grow in our understanding of your word give us Fidelity to your cause and give us that that joy in being called as Servants of God most high to fight this good fight in this present evil age cause us to do it in a manner that is consistent with your word and give us Grace and the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit to engage as we are able and as we are called bless TOA and bless Benjamin I pray this would be an encouragement for them and that they would look back on this day with great fondness and that they would go forward in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit and