Cling to The Word of God | Pastor Daniel Batareh

In your Bibles, please meet me in the book of 2nd Timothy. 2nd,

Timothy chapter 3. And let's begin together here in

verse 14. Second, Timothy chapter 3.

Beginning in verse 14. but as for you, Continue in what you

have learned and I firmly believe, knowing from whom you

learned it. And how from childhood you have

been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to make

you wise for salvation through faith in Christ, Jesus, Lord,

this is your word, we acknowledge it, as the Living

Word, we acknowledge it as the sufficient word, the perfect

word of God. Lord in our hands today.

We do not take it for granted that we have access to your

word. The complete Revelation that we

have concerning who you are, your will your works.

And we pray that this word would not just be held in our hands.

Not just be read on a screen. Oh God.

Would you impress it on our hearts when it get into our

blood, Lord, make inform us, made it change us.

May it saves some may you be glorified and how we're

reverentially come before your word today in Jesus name we

pray. Amen.

The great Apostle Paul was not just a master Theologian who is

used to channel divine revelation to what we know as

the holy book. The holy scriptures.

This man, Paul, who's writing to an individual in this letter.

Was also a humble tender-hearted compassionate, Pastor who really

cared for the people that God allowed him to minister to in

his lifetime and you and I have been seeing how that is true of

this man throughout this letter. Especially at this point Paul

has a deep concern, even though he is going to be called, to be

executed any moment and writing this, he is so concerned about

Particular individual and how his faith will be and what kind

of, man, he will be in the absence of the one that watched

over him for so many years. And so, he seeks to encourage

Timothy in his faith and not just to believe, but to strive

to bear fruit to be excellent, to be faithful to be firm.

And that is especially needed for this man, because there are

challenges that lay ahead of him.

Challenges from the culture challenges, from within the

church. What is it that Timothy needs to

hear in order to be ready for the things that he is going to

face. Well, it began last week that in

verse 10, and verse 10, when Paul tells them, it's possible

to know faithful endurance, it's possible to burn for the Lord

from the moment of your spiritual conception and birth

to the point where you meet him face-to-face.

It's possible to remain strong and if Any doubt in that

Timothy, look at my own life, you've studied the events that

I've endured the torture from people and yet Christ was

faithful to keep me and he is faithful to keep you, but you

got to extend your hand for him to hold on to it.

But he's not finished yet. Paul is not finished yet and

giving him the necessary ingredients.

The applications that are needed in order to stand firm.

And my brother my sister, what God had in mind for Timothy?

He has in mind for you and me. Because we're told in verse 12,

are we not indeed. This is certain this is for

sure. Indeed all who desire to live a

Godly life in Christ, Jesus will be persecuted. so the truths for

Timothy or truth for you if you desire to live a Godly life in

Christ Jesus, And the next thing that Paul is going to do for

Timothy as he's ready to embrace, as he is ready to sail

into societal and spiritual storms.

Is in the text that we read earlier.

Look at verse 13 quickly just to give context while evil people

and Impostors Will Go On from bad to worse deceiving and being

deceived, but asked for you as for you.

In other words as the culture, and Christendom continues, to

shift, continues to Swerve, continues to seduce Timothy.

There is a charge given to you that you must Embrace and Obey

believer. There is a charge for you as we

witness the decadence around us. There is a charge for you to

embrace and to obey and the theme the overarching idea that

Paul Bob. Holy Spirit has for us has to

deal with a commitment and an engagement with the word of God.

It's all about the word. It's about the word today.

And what we are being told here is so encouraging already

because the response for the believer today with all the

chaos that we're seeing is very simple, it's not complex and

that is to reinforce your relationship with God's word.

And my prayer today is that, as you hear these insights, as you

hear these truths, it would motivate you to love this book

and to engage with it, with greater discipline and hunger

and dependency. It's a very simple message today

because I'm only going to offer you two things from the verses

that we read. The first thing that we see here

is, but as for you while people are getting worse, don't mind

them. As for you your response, the

appropriate reaction primarily is to be all the more committed

to the word of God. As for you, continue in what you

have learned and have firmly, believed not just believed

firmly, believed the word continue here.

That Paul uses is the same word for abide.

Remain stand your ground. It's the same word that Jesus

uses in John 15 when he says abide in me and I in you The

idea here is hold onto the spirit inspired truths that you

have known with a tighter grip. Don't let go don't waver,

especially as you see new teachings arising and as you see

justification for sin through sinful and carnal Notions and

Men made ideas. Hold on to the word.

You have to Timothy believe that this word is worth dying for

even and I find the so sobering I find it.

So sobering that this is even a command in the first place for

somebody. Like Timothy, you had such a

rich spiritual Heritage who had a grandmother and a mother that

trained him up in the faith. And yet he is still told by Paul

continued. Continue implying, what that?

Regardless of your spiritual upbringing, no matter what your

Fidelity to the faith has been over the years.

No one in this place is Out Of Reach of being swayed away from

standing on the word or us. This command doesn't make sense.

Continue in what you have learned.

Proving that it's possible to drift.

And if you need any proof of that, just look at the major

denominations over the past few decades that have drifted away

from Pure truth. That are drifting away today

from Clear truth, you have movements that are shifting and

so this is completely applicable.

And there are many reasons why a man, like Timothy would be

tempted to move away from the word of God would be tempted to

dilute. These truths will be tempted to

not allow it to remain as the authority over his life.

You've heard it. There's the temptation of those

who have an appearance of godliness Who would come in and

some form of religiosity, but are corrupt.

And because of their corruption, they contaminate those who are

pure and they convince him not to be submitted to this word

practically. There are also the temptation to

abandon the truth through intimidation, right?

And what is the intimidation, the intimidation of those who

are threatened you for holding to such a thing and not just

that the intimidation of the cold blade of persecution being

placed on the back of our necks. What about?

The common theme that we're seeing today in the past, few

years of Christians, getting caught up in cultural frenzies

of movements and mantras that seemed to be just and righteous.

But in fact are pulling you away from your heavenly mandate. and

there is, of course, even The temptation to run to another

source to deal with your personal problems.

Whether that is individual perils or even large scale

chaos. Like, we're seeing in Nations

today, there are so many reasons why somebody who has held onto

this Truth for years would be tempted to move away from it and

it was a Temptation for so long for the people of God.

Let me show you one meet me in the book of Isaiah chapter 8.

Isaiah 8 · chapter mention

In verse 19. And Isaiah 8:19.

Isaiah 8:19

Here's what we have to understand the people of Judah.

Are terrified. They're experiencing a fear due

to the news of conspiracies and the possible invasion of

neighboring Nations. They are trembling on a daily

basis and this fear is so real, this Panic is so overwhelming to

them. That there is a widespread

suggestion to seek answers from a different source and it's here

in verse 19 of chapter 8, and when they say to you inquire of

the mediums and the Necromancer's who chirp and

mutter should not have people inquire of their God.

Should they inquire of the Dead on behalf of the living?

This fear this anxiety was so real and the need for immediate

answers was so great. You mix up the the evil in the

world, you mix up the uncertainty of tomorrow and the

fear of imminent, danger and even witchcraft can seem

attractive. And reasonable.

And so the Israelites are hearing just go to these men, go

to these women, they can tap into some Transcendent voices

and they can provide some guidance to you.

The Great Deceiver has always proposed empty promises to

mankind. Listen Satan is so tricky.

He not only convinces you that sin won't have consequences but

eventually when you figure out that your sin causes damage and

harm and destruction, Done in that state.

He will then turn your attention to a roster of false saviors.

What I mean by that ever since the universe our universe has

been fractured by sin, our world has been presented throughout

history with thousands of worthless solutions to

Humanity's problems. Are you looking to silence your

fear of death? Here's a few religions to help

guide your efforts to quiet your conscience and to give you a

better chance of attorney of inheriting eternal life.

Is your soul searching for lasting satisfaction.

Here's some substances to numb it or here's endless access to

lustful, perversions to keep your dopamine rushing through

your brain to keep you in a state of ecstasy as long as

possible. How do we eliminate the evil in

this world? While proposed an Implement

man-made solutions that deal with the symptoms?

But never deal with the core. Just trim the branches, but

don't uproot it. Because the only thing that can

uproot is the gospel and in Isaiah's day, not not being able

to sleep, right? Crippled with anxiety, right?

Not finding answers in this world, right?

Well, there's some fortune tellers that can help you find

some answers. Stone, go to Jesus.

I've given you the example before but I think it's worth

repeating here. I remember being in college in

our college campus, they would not allow us to have a Christian

group, they fought us before we had one, but I remember in that

whole ordeal trying to pray Fleek, have a group in our

campus I came to the main cafeteria of that campus.

And there was a lineup of students.

And I didn't understand what this lineup was all about.

And so I approached the line and I realized that there are

fortune tellers that have been hired for five of them at their

own table with cards. And I came up with curiosity to

see how I can get in a line. And when I came up to the person

that was Officiating it. They say well you're going to

have to wait you have to give us your number because there's a

two-hour. Wait for people to have their

Futures told and whatever the case it was I was so upset.

I went up to one of the fortune tellers.

I just skip the line. Do you realize what you're

doing? Do you realize that you're

tapping into satanic Arts? Do you realize that you're

deceiving this people in the poor lady.

Look at me. She was.

I'm just an Entertainer I said that's what you think and I

left. And I thought to myself, they'll

they're willing to bring in people who are dealing with

demons but what impressed me was the hunger of these students to

reach out to something Supernatural to give them

guidance in this life. But what is the profit say, what

does God say to the prophet to say to the people look at verse

22, the teaching and to the testimony, if they will not

speak according to this word, it is because they have no Dawn.

They have no light. What is the solution working

people deal with their problems for today?

The prophet says it go to the word.

Go to the testimony, go to the law.

If they won't speak, according to this word, they have no

illumination. They have no light inside of

them. No matter how clever it is, no

matter how sophisticated is, no matter what kind of power is

backing it, if they do not speak.

According to this word, they have no light and you won't

either you'll remain in darkness.

You will remain in confusion and frustration, this is where you

and I fully Distress. This is where we come to to

receive our Direction and I love what the prophet says, in this

verse. Because it gives us insight to

how you. And I can inquire of the Living

God, what does he say in verse 19?

Should not a people. Inquire of, their God should not

have people seek their God, get guidance from their God, get

answers from their God, and the answer is absolutely.

But then the method of it is in verse 20, go to the word.

Go to the word, you want to inquire of God.

You want God to speak, go to the book, which tells me, what this

book, is his voice. This book is his voice.

This is this is how he's ordained us to hear from him.

I know you want the audible experience I know.

You want the Heavens to write something for you, but God had

ordained it that there's something more effective even

than that, and that is this book.

His word is profound. It's not filled with mutters,

it's not filled with foolish chirping.

Like these mediums, this word will produce and bring the

results that the same voice of God did in the beginning of

creation. When God spoke, you know what

happened? You said, yeah, trees came about

and mountains were erected. Oh yeah, a notion came out of

nothing? No, no, no, let's look beyond

that. Let's look at what It produced

when God's voice resounded. Into the Blackness of the

universe and the chaos of this Earth.

There was life. There was order.

There was light. There was Harmony and what God's

voice did for creation before the fall is the same thing that

will happen in your life. If you submit to the word of

God, you will know life, you will know light, you will know

Harmony, you will know order. And to neglect, this word is to

invite everything opposite. To what I just said in fact,

let's go to another Prophet. A neighboring prophet Isaiah in

your bible. Jeremiah And look what Jeremiah

says, concerning the word of God in chapter 6.

He speaking to a nation and sin, he speaking to a people of

abandoned the truths of God. And in verse 16, we read thus,

says the Lord stand by the roads and look, and ask for the

ancient paths where the good way is, and walk in it and find rest

for your souls. But they said we will not walk

in it. So here's the picture.

This is a picture that this preachers painting.

Would you just stand on the horizon for a moment and look

out into this world and see all these different paths?

All these different ways of life that men have paved out for

themselves. And as you look, you will see

some wide paths that many people are walking on.

You will see some patterns that seem to have attractive signs

and things on the side of those roads.

You will see all these pads. That would even say that at some

point, we We lead to the same thing.

But the prophet says, as you examine all these ways of life,

Ask for the Ancient One. Ask for the ancient paths, ask

for the paths that have been tested and proven to be true.

Ask for the paths in which have been determined from eternity

past. As for the paths, that

historically point to the unchanging ways of God, these

ancient paths deal with what God has established from the

beginning in this word. Notice what he says when you ask

for them, don't just be able to identify it, okay?

You identified that this is God's word.

This is an infallible inerrant, word, praise God.

But that's not what the prophet says.

He says, now walk in it, walk in it. and as you walk in it and

walking in the Bible, often times speaks of a kind of a way

of life of a conviction of a direction in which you're headed

when you walk in this word, by this word, what happens is, you

will find rest for your souls You will know a rest for your

souls. It can only come from this path,

not from newly. Paved ideas, not from broad

Rose, at the majority are walking on but setting the

course of your life and what God has determined to be his will

for us. Is this phrase sound familiar to

you? And you will find rest for your

souls. If you know your savior is

sounds familiar to you. Because Jesus said in that,

amazing portion of scripture take my yoke upon you and learn

from me for, I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find

rest for your souls. Some would say that Jesus is

borrowing the words of the Prophet.

Jeremiah The promise that Jeremiah made to the nation of

Israel, Jesus makes to the world.

The same Prophet who said if you walk on these ancient paths?

If you apply the word of God to your life, you will know a

repose to your soul and Jesus. Dares this man, dares.

To equate following him to the same benefits and Promises to

walking in the ancient Paths of God.

Who is this man? I can imagine that Jewish

audience hearing that. Is he saying what Jeremiah said

was exclusive to the word of God?

Who is this man to say that? The only way we can find rest

for our souls, as if we come to the words of Moses and applied

them and Obey them. And yet Jesus says, follow me,

take my yoke upon you come to me and you will know rest for your

souls. Why?

Because he also said, I am the way.

And the truth, and the life. Those ancient paths pointed to

him. Those ancient paths were

fulfilled in him and when the word was made flesh, he looks

out. And he still says today.

Come to me. And only in me.

Will you find rest for your souls?

You will be at ease. You will not wander and search,

you will be complete, but it's only in the person of Jesus.

Only in him. And I'd love to think that

Timothy was told to continue and what he has learned because he

could have felt the temptation. To join those who are teaching

diluted spiritual truth. From the word of God or new

teachings altogether. As a minister he could have he

could have heard the lies from others who said, you know this

book is irrelevant. How is this ancient book going

to help people with their Modern Problems?

You got to be Innovative man. You Gotta Be You Gotta pick up

some psychology books and understand the times.

Paul says. As the world plunges into

darkness, as they plug their ears to this ancient word.

You stand for a minute. It is sufficient.

It is Supernatural. It is the human Souls, only hope

In fact, look what he says back in our text in verse 15, second

Timothy 3. He says, and how from childhood

you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are

able to make you wise for salvation through faith in

Christ Jesus. I love that because as a child,

as a child, Timothy was familiar with his Bible.

So why are we waiting so long to teach ours?

As a child, he was acquainted with the scriptures.

And yet, Paul here gives an example of how this book, why

this book is unlike any other book, because through these

sacred, writings these, holy letters.

Are men, able to be wise for salvation.

Isn't that an interesting phrase wise for salvation?

What does that mean wise first? Well, if wisdom in a very simple

term, very simple. Definition is the application of

knowledge. Order to live the most

prosperous life, not financially only, I'm not saying prosperous

in that sense, but prosperous for the soul, prosperous for

your family, prosperous and all things.

If wisdom is the way to navigate through life in the best way

possible. Then what Paul is saying, is

this word provides the knowledge and the application of such

knowledge in order to be redeemed.

It is this word that contains the wisdom for salvation in

order to be saved, which tells me that if there's any other

truth. Any other source that

contradicts what this book says about how to be saved?

It's not wisdom. Its foolishness.

It is the opposite of wisdom and the Bible teaches us, what

happens to a fool. They are self-destructive You

know what's encouraging about what he says here?

Not just the fact that this book is the wisdom.

For salvation, but he says, you've been acquainted with the

sacred writings. What was Paul talking about?

Was he talking about the Book of John?

Was to talk about the epistle to the Ephesians.

He's talking about the epistle to the Romans.

No no he was talking about what Timothy only had access to at

the time growing up as a child and that is the library of the

Old Testament. The Old Testament provides the

wisdom for salvation and we have people today that don't want to

teach from it. Who are intimidated by it, who

think it's irrelevant and yet the immediate context teaches us

that it is that part that larger part of your Bible that library

that actually makes you. And I wise for salvation oh yes.

And you know it the prophecies and the shadows and the

promises. But I'm even reminded of a

question that inspired me to love the Old Testament even

more. I had a had somebody approached

me, say, brother, I have a sincere question.

I'm not being a Critic. I just genuinely want to know

why did it take, Jesus, so long to get here.

Why did it take? Why did it take thousands of

years for him to come into this world to die on the cross?

Why didn't he show up immediately after Adam and Eve

ate of that tree and we could have, we could have finished

this up much earlier. And she said, I'm just asking

your sincere question. Why did he come at the time that

he came when he could have come much earlier?

Made me think, maybe meditate and I knew one thing was for

certain and the answer is in Galatians 4, verse 4.

Galatians 4:4

In Galatians, 4, verse 4. We are told something that we

Galatians 4:4

should be confident on Jesus timing of entering into our

world to save Sinners and Galatians 4.

Verse 4. We are told but when the

fullness of time had come God sent forth his son, born of

woman born under the law. So one thing has to be

established is that Christ came at the fullness of time, meaning

at the perfect time. And God's prophetic calendar, he

came at the precise time, it was not random.

It wasn't without purpose. It was strategic when he came,

it was the perfect time and it begs the question.

Okay, I see that. I see he came at a time, that

was calculated. But why why?

Why still why not in 2020? I've had people say that and

witnessing why? Didn't Jesus come ten years ago?

Why didn't he come 30 years ago? We can rest in knowing that if

he said it was the right time that it's done.

But I believe the answer is found in the next verse to

redeem those who were under the law.

So that we might receive adoption as Sons.

Saying that is not very clear. Still, what do you mean?

Well, I mean this that Christ could have come very early, you

could have come before for the Tower of Babel was built.

But the Old Testament stands as a testament.

It is a large account. Of just how Wicked we are.

And that throughout the centuries even though God

chooses one nation and does miracles.

And even if he shows himself in Supernatural ways and even if he

gives laws after laws after laws, man is incapable and man

is unwilling to justify themselves.

And even for those who strive to be right with God, they realize

that they lack the power to see this rock hard heart to be

saved. And to be delivered from the

power of sin, And so the Old Testament stands as a long

history of the failures of mankind.

And as people come to it, they will see how that is true for

themselves that even if God flooded, the world and kept one

family, that one family will corrupt the human race still,

even though there are all these Provisions, all these things

given by God, through the laws, man is unable to restrain

themselves to rebel against him. And even when we read God,

raising up these judges who were able to perform Supernatural

things that people still spiraled lower and lower into

evil, So, so why did he come Shadows?

Many reasons and reasons that we will not know until we see him

Face to Face by. Here's one that we can be

confident in. He came at a time in which he

was able to show undeniably to the world for the years to come

that you are in need of a savior.

Even if I show up on a mountain, even if I split the Red Sea,

even if I do, whatever it is that you see, you will not

unless I change your heart and less, a payment is made.

Your sin is too great. I'm personally reading the book

of numbers in my personal devotions and I actually got mad

as I read it. I got mad because I kept reading

that even after God told this nation, you're not going into

the promised land, you're gonna wander for 40 years, they still

complained, they still rebelled, they still raised their fists

against God and his authority. And I remember I was reading

this just the other day of how the sons of Korah rebelled

against Moses and after God opens the Earth, they all fall

into the core of the earth, closes that mouth, the people

then accuse, Moses of killing those people.

And I actually said this out loud.

I said, wow, are you kidding me? And then, it dawned on me.

As Heaven reads history, they say, wow as well.

Including me. All the things that you've

heard, all the things that you've known and it still took

you that long, it still took you to the age of 22, come to the

knowledge of Jesus Christ and saving way.

And that's why Romans tells us that the law shuts, the mouths

of unbelievers. It does not give you the ability

to make an excuse when you come to the law, when you come to the

Old Testament and see through the commands and I just the

commands. But through the narratives of

just how desperately wicked we are and that we need a savior to

deliver us. He came at the perfect time and

I love Paul's words here to Timothy because I believe it's a

way for the Holy Spirit to call us to not neglect that part of

our Bibles. Don't be lazy with it.

Don't be ashamed of it. Believe that it is the wisdom of

God for salvation. Stand on the word.

Stand in the word. Share this word, don't blush.

When you present this word, it is Humanity's only hope but we

come back into the second point and it is not just to be all the

more committed to the word of God.

But here's a point that perhaps we don't consider Look at this

phrase in verse 14. But as for you, continue in what

you have learned and I firmly believed knowing from whom you

learned it. Why would Paul say that Why

would Paul say that knowing from it's not just important to hold

on, to what you've known throughout your life, concerning

the word of God, it's important for you to also know who taught

it to you and the word whom here is plural.

Not just one person, but several people that have invested in

Timothy's life Timothy was to be reminded he was to rehearse not

just the truth that he knew to be true but also the people who

communicated it to him. How is that going to help?

How is me knowing those who spoke into my life going to help

me endure in these last days? How is Timothy reflecting on his

grandma on his mom on a spiritual teacher?

The Apostle Paul, is that going to assist them in any way and

any lasting way at least. And the obvious answer is yes.

Because what Paul is saying here is, as you reflect not just on

the truth, the eternality of it in the sufficiency of it.

But as you reflect on those who believe that for themselves, you

would be inspired to know what the word of God can do in

someone's life. It'd be much harder for Timothy

to walk away from the word of God, even though there was

someone as they already did and they'll be surprised in your

life in the days ahead. If people you thought were

concrete will say, I don't think I can hold on to this anymore.

It's bigoted. It's hateful discriminates,

don't be surprised. Timothy, was already saying

seeing it. People were not believing in the

resurrection that it already happened.

And as Timothy was ready to even be assaulted for believing this

word, it would be much harder for him to deny being faithful

to it. When he had first hand.

See the power of it in someone's life?

I'll think about it. How could he shake off?

Observing his grandmother? As there was an obvious

connection between her godliness and her faith.

How could he deny watching his mom reflecting the character of

God even while living with an unbelieving spouse?

How could this man even dare to deny after seeing the power of

the word of God work in, and through his mentor, who is wants

a terrorist to the Christian faith?

How could he deny it? And that's why in some sense,

Paul is urging Timothy, to consider the fruit of the word,

consider the effects of it to be a reason for him to remain

faithful. And it for himself, this word

has power this word transforms, it does something deep.

And some might think that we are inferring this point on this

verse. And we want to convince you

today that this is an instruction for you and I

directly in a different portion of scripture you and I as

Christians if we want to know a greater strength During and

faithfulness, you need people that you can look at and say

that's what God's word can do. I want that in my life?

Do you believe that? if you don't meet me in the book

of Hebrews 13:7, Hebrews 13 verse 7.

Hebrews 13:7 Hebrews 13:7

Remember, your leaders? That's why we're doing

membership. We want you to be able to

identify who your leaders are. Remember your leaders?

Those who spoke to you the word of God goes to show you what

these leaders should be doing. The primary task is to speak the

word of God to you. Those who spoke to you the word

of God. Now, look at this.

Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their

faith. This verse instructs us to have

leaders who not only teach us the word of God but it also

proved to us what the word of God can do in a life.

Notice that it does not say believe their faith.

It says imitate their faith. Not just believe what they say

imitate. What they do.

You want to be a leader, be careful.

Imitate their faith, the steps of their steadfast trust and

submission to the word of God. You and I are supposed to look

at our leaders and let me know whether it's here or elsewhere.

If you're looking for the spiritual covering in your life,

don't just merely look for Doctrine as important as that is

look for the conduct that shows that that man believes what he

preaches. And that's why your pastor can't

live on a screen. You could have favorite teachers

that teach wonderful theology, but if those are your Shepherds,

you're not, you're not considering this verse, you

should be able to watch his life, not just here.

I'm at for an hour on a Sunday. How does he live?

How does he interact with people?

What's his family life like, does he love money?

Is he humble? How does he deal with problems?

And as you look at these leaders God by the Holy Spirit call is

calling each of us to have individuals in our life to say.

Look at the fruit of being under the word of God, I want to walk

in the same steps. In other words, there is an

influence in your life by who you sit under and who you allow

in your inner circle. It's clear.

It's clear here. It's clear what Paul is saying,

no, Those whom taught you, these things.

No, those who have who made these things known to you.

Reflect on them, know who they are.

Realize their way of life, because in doing, so you'd be

able to realize the Glorious results of being Sanctified unto

the Lord. And you would say I want that

for myself. So, here's my question for you

today. Because this is not just limited

to leaders. Remember he says know those whom

you've learned it from well, who did he learn it from his dad was

arguably, not even saved. He was a Greek Gentile.

Probably demon Believe In Christ.

It was his grandma, his grandmother.

It was his own mother. Those were the primary

influences in his life. Paul came much later.

And this is a question we can ask ourselves from this because

listen, the theme is this. This is how we remain faithful.

Here's how we get assistance, who are the people in your life

that inspire you for christ? Who are they?

Who are the individuals? That you can look to and draw

inspiration from. That when the word of God will

be attacked maligned and even have a price on it for obeying.

You can be able to look at other than say I've seen what this

word can do. And I'm not willing to let go of

it, even if it costs me my life. You might say, I don't I don't

have that Heritage. That Timothy had.

I don't have, I didn't have a Godly dad, Godly Mama didn't

have a line of preachers. My, my line, I don't have that.

I'm the first Christian that I can think of in my, my family

line. In fact, it is true.

That's true. You may not have had a choice of

who you were born with or what family you were born into.

But each of us has a choice of who we sit.

At their feet. We all have a choice of who we

draw encouragement from in our fellowship.

Every single one of us has that choice Timothy.

Had both. He had both, he had Paul and he

had his mom and his grandma, but I believe that this verse

encourages Us, in these last days, to make sure that if

you're going to be found, faithful be around those who

have been faithful. I read a quote in a bless me.

A preacher said don't look for the nearest church to your

house. Find the church closest to the

Bible. Don't look for the nearest

church to your house. Find the church closest to the

Bible. I hope that this would be a

community in which you come. And you are strangely

uncomfortable in your lukewarmness.

Who are the people that you can look and be like, man, when I

see that guy, when I hear that guy talk, it makes me want to

love Jesus more. You should have those kind of

people in your life. And if we're going to say in

this place, well, it's very hard to find such.

Okay, come Wednesday night and let's pray for Revival together.

Who's the sister in your life? The older woman.

Maybe the mother. Then when you see the way she

conducts herself, you say, I want to be like that.

I want to be more zealous because of this person.

I want to be more consistent. I want to be more studied, I

want to be more sacrificial. I want to, I want to be more

patient because I've seen this person's life and I seen what

God's word can do and I want it for myself.

That's a wholly jealousy that we should all have not to compete

with people, but to be inspired by people.

It's a big difference. I remember a gentleman.

Barely knew him. He was in a season in my life as

a Christian, the young Christian I knew his name would say hi to

him here and there after church. But he would pray during the

services and he would be there an old man and he would be there

during the prayer meetings and this man who was who lost his

wife to alzheimer's old school. When he prayed.

It inspired me. Because the way he talked to the

Lord crushed me there is such a Brokenness, there is such a

hunger. There is such a knowledge of the

reality of his existence. And when he spoke to the Lord,

it made me think, oh God, I don't want the show.

I want what that man has in his heart.

If you can do it to this man, do it to me.

I want to be like that kind of an old man.

Paul tells Timothy reflect on those that have invested in your

life whether directly or indirectly and we want it

directly, obviously, and realize the potential realize the power

of this word. How dare you even think about

not firmly holding on to it anymore?

Hold on to it. Every more believe that it can

actually translate into people's lives now And that is why let me

end on this point. That is why there is the most

responsibility of you. And I taking this word and

asking God for it to actually change us.

To change us and to mature us. Because I don't know if that

man, who is now with the Lord today.

Knew that his simple prayers were actually stirring my soul,

but it was the charge in these last days is not just to cling

to the word of God as people go from bad to worse.

That's the obvious. But let me add something that

may not be so obvious. Don't just cling to the book.

Cling to those who are gripped by this book.

Cling to those who are gripped by this book.

And we pray that in this place, the leaders that would be

developed here in the leaders. That would be elected here in

due time would be people that as you come and you watch not just

hear them, preach preaching isn't very hard to some, people

would be but for a person who can communicate, they can come

up here and say a few things. what's hard as they study week

after week and asking themselves, is this true and me

before I tell other people's what to do The God would raise

up such people that those who would be in this place would

say, as you heard last week, I want the god that they serve.

As Elijah said, I want the god of Elijah, maybe.

So in this place, not just the leaders, but the community, this

place should so brim with Holy Light.

And not in some weird strange, mystical way, when I'm practical

real-life that we would Inspire one another in these last days

to remain faithful and true. You know, when I come here on

Wednesday nights when it's black outside and when my skin screams

at me because it's frigid cold It never fails to encourage me,

never fails, for all of that to just disappear in the background

of nothingness of irrelevance. When I see souls in here,

saying, let's cry out to God together.

That makes me want to remain faithful to him.

That makes me want to continue to pray and when people pray,

Allah blesses me. Yes, Lord, Keep the fire on my

altar burning for you very, very simple points today.

And these last days cling to this book, I believe that it is

sufficient believe that it is enough, believe it is God's

perfect will but also be close to those who have allowed this

book to transform them and instead of an appearance of

godliness contaminating you and me, let some of that wonderful

burning passion, become a fragrance on our own garments.

Let's pray. Louis, thank you for these

instructions that are very relevant for us in these

perilous times. Will we tell you today that we

believe that these ancient paths are the only directions for rest

for the human soul? We thank you o God that you have

given us the understanding of just how profound this word is

not just in Mirror insights from a Pulpit, but how it has

changed, many of us in this place.

How does take it as from Darkness to light how it is?

Conformed, us convicted us shape us to be the people that we are

today, though. Imperfect nonetheless influence

by this Authority. Lord, we pray that this place

would be a true community of people that invest in one

another from the leadership down.

So that in times of doubt, in times of worry, or concern or

Temptation, even our minds would race to individuals who have

been faithful and we can say it's possible.

And I want that for myself. If they can remain for decades

Living For the Glory of God. So can I oh Lord may this word

be ever more attractive to us. May we sense the power of it as

we study it for ourselves and Lord no matter what happens in

churches or denominations, no matter what happens to the

popular podcast or YouTubers. Oh God, we pray that in this

place. Week after week, we would go to

the law and, to the testimony, and people would see that only

this word can heal and save be blessed and glorified in Jesus

name, we pray. Amen, let's stand together,

please.