Being Faithful Until Jesus Comes | Pastor Daniel Batarseh

If your visitor here this afternoon, we welcome you and

we're so glad you can join us and whether you're a visitor or

you are a member or planning to be member.

Join with me in the Bible in 2nd Timothy and chapter 3, and let's

begin together in verse 10. 2nd Timothy chapter 3 beginning in

verse 10, we read. You however, have followed my

teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my

love, my steadfastness, my persecutions.

And sufferings that happened to me at Antioch at Iconium and at

lystra what persecutions I endured yet from them.

All the Lord rescued me. Father, we thank you for these

verses and though we may not understand completely what you

have in store for us. We thank you in advance because

we know that all scripture is breathed out by you and it is

profitable. It is very much profitable for

you will fashion us this afternoon to look more like your

son. We pray Lord that you would Aid

Us in receiving these words and that, oh God we would sense Your

Love in them, your wisdom, your beauty, we pray Lord, that the

result of A time together as a family, unpacking the

scriptures. We would leave here.

Loving our Lord, loving Our Savior, our Master, the raining

and Risen King Lord, you are alive.

You see us in this moment you are present and we ask Lord with

great desperation that you would manifest your realities to us

though. We long for your fellowship and

we hunger for your word, make it known to us.

Now in the name of Jesus, we pray.

Pray, amen. Amen.

Last week, you and I receive the sobering illustration provided

by the Apostle Paul. getting a glimpse of just how corrupt and

warped man can be and how man will continue to be and how

activities as we have learned last week, will only grow and

become more rampant in the days ahead.

The apostles specific example deals with certain Predators

roaming seeking people to take captive and they do this by

twisting the word of God. They do this by assaulting the

word of God, and they intend to lead.

People astray, especially those that the Apostle has categorized

as weak woman. Meaning there's a certain class

of women who are primary targets because they lack spiritual

substance and discernment. We read how these wicked men

long to devour such people. Even if it means their

damnation, for the sake of personal gain, they're willing

to do so much for self. And as Timothy is learning this,

I mean, put yourself in his shoes for a moment.

Everything from people to avoid everything from those, who would

come against the gospel, those who would try to lure, others

away, you can imagine that. As a young Minister, this would

have been challenging to hear. I mean, all you're hearing is

that it's going to get worse days are going to become more

Bleak. There's going to be people who

are going to oppose your message and those that you're trying to

win to Christ will in fact be deceived.

And so I can just imagine what this man felt in his heart as he

was holding this letter from his mentor.

This is what I'm headed towards this is what Ministry is going

to look like. I can't trust certain people,

it's going to only become more violent and aggressive against

the work that I've dedicated my life to And we're read here

that. As these things are true for

Timothy. They're also true for us.

So over the past few weeks, maybe you found it difficult to

hear that what Timothy was warned about you and I are in

and you and I will only experience more and more as long

as God keeps us on the Earth. And I'm sure the past couple of

years here in America and even across the globe has taught us.

I hope that what we've been studying isn't just some

theology, this is an instruction manual.

You and I are seeing it. We're observing it.

We're in it. So this is completely relatable.

But there's no need to be discouraged because Paul in the

verses that you and I just read is trying to encourage his

spiritual son. Yes, he's about to continue to

warn him about the dangers ahead.

He's not going to neglect those things.

He's not going to shy away from the dangers that will come

against a church, but at the same time, well, Paul is going

to do is put his finger ever. So gently on Timothy's chin and

turned his attention toward an encouraging message.

Mainly, the example of Paul, in his testimony And in this

example of how to live for Christ.

That's what he's trying to do here.

In other words, what Paul is trying to say is Timothy, I need

you to look at me for a second here.

I need to remind you my Prodigy. I need you to see and understand

that I myself was committed to the work of Christ during

perilous times. It was not easy for me either

and I'm trying to give you something to imitate Timothy.

But we also read here that he's not only going to have Timothy.

Look at Paul, he wants him to look at God.

How God was faithful to Paul and the same?

God, that was faithful to. Paul is going to be faithful to

Timothy. And the same God that was

faithful to Timothy is going to be faithful to you and me.

And so what Paul is trying to do is look at my example as you put

your hands to the plow and you drive yourself into the

darkness, as you bear the light. But also don't fail to look up

to realize that God is with you Timothy That's culture is

becoming more corrupt as there's more apostasy.

As there's more compromise in Christendom.

Let me give you something that will help you move forward in

faith and strength. And almost an Artful fashion.

You know what Paul does, did you notice it?

He lists certain things about himself, he provides one trait

after the other of what faithfulness looks like.

And it contrasts that ugly list that we read earlier in the

chapter about what the god less are like.

But instead of touching on each of these things like we did

instead of going through every single point and making a

message out of Egypt. We're going to zoom out and look

at the broader application here because here's the main point.

If you're Note Taker whether mentally or on paper.

Here's the main point of today's message.

How to be faithful in the last days.

How to be steadfast in these Final hours how to be effective

and fruitful. And a day, that is becoming more

opposed to the truth and to righteousness.

Because that's what Paul is trying to instruct Timothy about

the necessary applications in order to be faithful in these

last days. Number one, where you read it

and verse 10, you however, have followed my teaching, my

conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my

steadfastness Paul lists nine different attributes about

himself. And what's incredibly important

to understand is that he is not exaggerating about himself, he's

not boasting about Self everything that he is saying.

By the spirit about himself is true.

It's not just true because the Holy Spirit Bears witness is not

just true because he's a vessel of divine revelation.

It is also true because Timothy was an eyewitness to it.

He says, you have followed my teaching, you followed me and

that word, followed means to closely examine.

It means to be accompanied by means to be near and needs.

It means to be very well acquainted with It's the same

word that Luke used in the introduction to his gospel when

he says that he has followed closely, these things concerning

Jesus, and he's going to write a accurate account of his ministry

and his life. It's the same word.

And so as we look at this word, we realize what Paul is saying

is you have studied my life Timothy You're my disciple, you

heard the testimonies about me, you sat underneath my teaching,

you traveled with me from time to time and as a close companion

you have with your own eyes. Observe the events that make

these things that I say to you. True.

You know it's true. You can bear witness to it for

yourself. You've traced my life, you've

witnessed my life, you've considered the instances that

make these things true. And here's the thing, Paul's

mentioning all of this for one main purpose so that as Timothy

is prepared to face great, danger for his faith, he would

have someone to imitate and he would remember that.

He he can imitate someone that he has witnessed being faithful

and troubling times himself. Listen to this, Paul was an

apostle. Yes, but his influence toward

Timothy was not exclusive to his office.

This man had a relationship with Timothy.

He Disciple This Man, it was life on life and what impacted

Timothy was not just the fact that he was an apostle, it was

that he was faithful. And the point I want to make to

you from, this is a you and I, you better believe it.

Today, no matter what your occupation is, no matter what

your personality is like, you have by the grace of God, the

ability to be a blessing to those, even beyond your

lifetime, you can based on one simple thing, faithfulness to

Jesus, Christ's faithfulness, to the gospel, faithfulness, in

your relationship to God, that can be true for you.

Father, that could be true for you wife.

That can be true for you older, brother older.

Stir. It could be true for you.

Best friend. It is possible to live in such a

way in which we can bless people to live.

Even greater ways for Christ even beyond our lifetime.

Do you remember that? You forget that Paul is writing

this as his final letter, he's about to die.

He's about to be executed and he wants to pass the Baton to

Timothy. He wants to meet, either way of

high, the flag of the Gospel without shame or hindrance.

And as he's about to do this, he's reminding him of his life

and he has complete trust. That Timothy can move forward

even though he's not going to be a lot to celebrate it.

That's a discipleship that we should want to give to people

that's the influence that each of us has a ability to offer

another generation. and this encouragement would make

absolutely no sense to Timothy if he could not draw strength

and stimulation from a real life example, And that's the point I

want to make to you today. Listen leaders today will shape

the leaders of tomorrow. Current leaders today will shape

the leaders for tomorrow. The attitude of parents toward

God's word and Ministry. And the local church will set

the standard for the spiritual development of their children.

Those that you associate with their measure of passion for

Christ, whether you want to believe it or not, will have an

influence and no small influence on your own, outlook on the

things of God, and the value that they carry in your own

life. We all know this, you know, this

but instead of making this a text about associating with the

right people in order for us to be encouraged, like Timothy

would be, let's turn it around in.

Paul's perspective, you'd be the person that will encourage you

be the example, the nobody else would be the example that can

bless. Even one person that will take

the Baton of the Gospel forward. And though the influence of this

may vary from each of us there is people.

There is a person at least that you can bless.

There is no doubt about it. And Paul's main concern was

Timothy. And I hope that that would be

your desire. The same desire of Paul that you

would believe in the bottom of your heart that I can live in

such a way. That I can impact at least one

person to be faithful to Christ. There's enough compromise

around, wouldn't you agree? There's enough disappointment,

maybe be a people, an army of people that would actually give

people A disturbance in a holy way to live for Jesus Christ.

So how does he do it? He gives the recipe right here.

You have followed number one, my teaching, my Doctrine, Paul,

yes. He's an apostle.

He received specific and divine revelation as a representative

for truth. But listen, the principle is

still the still true Paul lived. It, he believed that he loved it

and this is not by accident. The fact that teaching is the

first thing on the list. It's not random, it's on purpose

because everything else, that follows, teaching his conduct,

his aim in life, his faith, his love, his steadfast as

everything that follows is built on the foundation of what do you

believe? What do you believe, what is the

ultimate Authority in your life? What do you, what do you govern

your decisions? With what are your, what are you

Guided by? What are your plans determined

by? And the foundation of Bedrock

for Paula is divine truth. What Jesus Christ personally

revealed to me, that is where everything else flows from that

is where everything else is shaped into.

And that's important because if you and I are going to have a

lasting impact on anybody. At least eternally, it's going

to have to come from the place of upholding.

The word of God. As a supreme authority in your

life in mind, it's not just a reference text to you, it's not

just a place where you call tree referred to when you need

something. It's your very source of life.

It's the reason why you live. It is your compass in this

world. It is the determiner of how you

make decisions. Only then will there be even a

step forward into being? An impactful disciple for

Christ. You, and I have to understand.

That what made Paul the man that he was was that he was a man of

God, concerning the word of God, he knew it for himself, he

believed it for himself and he obeyed it even though nobody

else would obey it. And may we so joyfully be

submitted to the word of God. May we be so saturated with the

scripture, may we be so overflowing with the word of

Christ dwelling in us, not just in knowledge but an affection

and passion that those who know us.

Well, unmistakably make the conclusion that you are a person

who trembles at God's word. That person takes that book

seriously. And let those who observe us

realize that the reason why you love the reason why you forgive

the reason why you sacrifice, the reason why you serve is

because you are compelled by this truth, that is the driving

force of all that you do. There's an attack on the word of

God today. And though many people will say

that this is the inerrant word of God.

Those same people by practice would admit that.

It is not sufficient. Is it sufficient not?

Is it just perfect? Is it sufficient?

Is it enough? Is it all that we need to build

a local church? Is it all that we need to know

how to be a Godly husband. A Godly mother, a Godly friend,

a Godly employer, is it sufficient This world is

confused and people don't believe that truth even within

the church. But Paul was a man who said

everything flows from Doctrine, everything flows from my

teaching, and you've noticed that Timothy, haven't you?

But he makes a quick shift. He doesn't stay there.

He goes from my teaching to my conduct.

See, Timothy wouldn't just be stirred by the fact that Paul

had a set of Creed's that he believed in even author.

That wouldn't be enough. What would mole Timothy is They

realized that this teaching that Paul promoted and preached and

was willing to be stoned for this teaching affected his

conduct. You couldn't separate.

That's why it's right there next to each other because what good

is it to be able to quote things and eloquently express it if

practically you deny it and show people that it doesn't have the

power to change you or transform you She Paul was saying this and

Timothy go. Yeah, I understand your vessel

Divine truth. You have a wealth of

information. That's great, you have wonderful

things to teach. You can execute the Old

Testament like nobody else, but I can see Paul I've noticed that

it actually changed you. You are a murderer.

You are persecutor now you're being persecuted.

The love that you have that oozes out of you, the sacrifice.

I can see how what you know, actually changes the way you

behave and think and act. That's what makes an impact.

When people actually realize that that Bible that you hold is

actually in your heart as well. And a pulsates through you and

it gets in your blood. You've seen my conduct and he

couples this together. We would think that Paul would

end there. We would think that that would

be enough to motivate Timothy but it look what he says right

after he goes. Not just my teaching not just my

conduct but my aim in life, I love that phrase.

You have followed you have observed, you have recognized my

aim in life. In other words, you know what,

the purpose of my existence is, there's no question about it,

this isn't just Theology. And this isn't just behavioral

modification. You want to be somebody that

actually impacts somebody else for Christ.

Have a fiery, passionate desire for the Lord.

Let it be the reason why you live, not just the reason why

you do something on Sunday morning.

Let it be. The very reason why you,

breathe, and wake up and whatever it is that you do.

He says, this is my aim in life. That's the goal that I have its

Christ. I'm actually passionate about

this. So he's talking about affection

here, he's talking about devotion.

He's talking about a long-term commitment to Christ and he

says, you know, you've seen it, you've heard it and you even

know that I'm writing to you from prison.

So you know that this is the reason why I actually live. we

don't need firework, Christianity anymore, just a

spurt of emotion for a season and it dies out in terms of the

smoke The thing that Paul had is a thing that you and I can have

in that is a fire on the altar of devotion that continues to

burn, as it did in the tenth and the Wilderness day and night day

and night day and night, that alter remains that alters their,

that's what's going to make an impact.

What I love about Moses is that when he was in the wilderness,

he saw burning bush, that he not burning bushes, were not

uncommon in the wilderness. They would combustion, the flame

all the time. What compelled Moses to look is

that this thing Burning and it is not, it's not stopping, it's

not consuming the bush, it's still burning.

That's what catches people's attention.

I've seen many people, I've seen many people burn for the Lord

and burn out, not too long after it's not their aim in life, they

got excited for a moment, they're good people, they

wouldn't harm or do evil, but the aim in life is not Christ.

Everything else should orbit around this, man.

The god man. And that's what Paul is trying

to say. This is my aim And Timothy as

he's listening to this, and reading this new that he can

face a deteriorating culture, knew that he can face trouble

ahead because in his life, he had witnessed a man who was

Ablaze for the gospel. You couldn't put the thing out

of him. You couldn't Stone it out of

him, you couldn't whip it out of him, you couldn't discourage him

out of it. You could have Gotham out of him

that man could not move. And I pray that each of us would

have a fire in such a way that it would cause those who are

fickle in their faith. It would cause those who are

distracted by trinkets in this world to have a holy disturbance

because no matter what, they justify their compromise with,

they would know in the back of their mind.

I know a man that that is committed to Christ and they

just don't stop. I know a woman.

That is Godly and loves the Lord.

I have no excuse, have no excuse because I've seen a person burn

for the Lord and they haven't stopped burning since I've known

them. That was the person.

Paul was so Timothy's excuses. To be timid and fearful was

becoming less and less possible because Paul in humility.

Yes. But by the spirits leading is

putting himself out and displaying Timothy.

It's possible. Look at me.

Look at my scars. Look at, look at where I'm

writing you from. You've seen it, you've heard it.

And I'm telling you that whatever happened to me can

happen to you. I cannot help in studying this

be reminded of another close relationship between two men of

God, not Paul, and Timothy, but Elijah and Elijah.

Elijah was to replace Elijah in his prophetic office.

As a spiritual spokesman for the nation of Israel.

And Elijah was taken up into heaven, and Elijah was left

himself. And as he was left himself, he

was just left to himself. He was left with a burden, he

was left with a responsibility. He was left with an expectation

from the people. Is this guy going to walk in the

shoes of Elijah? And this man receives a lie,

judgmental, his mentor disappears into the heavens and

he walks up to the bank of the Jordan and he makes an

interesting prayer. It's a very short prayer but

sometimes short prayers are better than long ones if they

mean everything to you, he says this just listen, you don't have

to turn there, you probably know it.

He said in Second Kings to 14. Where is the Lord the god of

Elijah. Where is the Lord the god of

Elijah. You know what?

He didn't say? Where is the Lord?

The god of Israel? Where is the Lord?

That would have been sufficient. He was very specific.

Where is the Lord? The god of Elijah.

Well, isn't God, the god of everyone who puts their faith in

them. Yes.

Yes. But his request is specific.

Where is the god of my mentor? You see, Elijah was very quaint

and to Elijah. He was his servant.

He was his assistant. He traveled with them and Elisha

witnessed many things to the relationship between God and his

spiritual leader. Oh, he saw how God provided for

Elijah. He saw how God protected Elijah.

He saw how God empowered Elijah. I'm sure he is witness.

Elijah, pray, and God answer those prayers.

How God empowered him to be able to be that faithful Minister

that he was though, he had moments of weakness.

How he had this love spillover to the nation of Israel even

though they were in spiritual compromise because he was

energized by loyalty to God. And you know what?

Elijah I believe is saying here among many things.

I believe what he is saying is, oh God.

The God that I saw in the life of Elijah.

I need that God in my life. I want that God in my life.

Can you imagine that father mother would not be the burning

desire of your heart that as you live for the Lord Jesus that

your children would grow up and making that request the god that

my Mommy's served The God that I heard my daddy pray to when we

were in trouble. I want that God to be my God.

I want to serve that God. I prayed that it would be true

of the leaders of this church. And as by God's grace, we raise

up Future Leaders. That has the people who serve

with those leaders be, will be able to witness their lives and

the conviction and the unction that they have.

And say, I want the god, that these pastors serve To be real

in my life. Oh, you think you need to be a

prophet, right? You think you need to be an

apostle? No, you just need to be faithful

and you need to have this to be the aim of your life.

See this, this Christianity, in the corner of your heart will

never influence anybody. But this thing when it's an

all-consuming passion can leave a mark on other generation.

I'm sure you didn't have perfect parents.

I didn't have perfect parent. I'm not perfect.

But I can tell you moments that have marked me, I can tell you

moments where I, my room was in the basement of our house back

in Canada and some days I would climb out of that hole.

Go upstairs and I would see two Bibles on the kitchen table,

open. My parents were at work.

They didn't say anything to me. They didn't sit down with me,

but I know one thing that day as I started my own Day Mom and Dad

met with the Lord together. And that impressed me, that

touched me that meant more to me than any amount of money that

they made. Whatever toys, they can give me.

That marked me. So you and I can know such a

thing. But only when it becomes our aim

in life and the point that Paul is trying to make to Timothy's,

that culture is going south Christendom is becoming very

complicated and compromised. but in these last days, Timothy

strive to live in such a way in which you will burn for God, And

these are the things that will make it possible know what you

believe, let it apply. Let it be applied to your life

and make sure that it doesn't just get to your head but let it

consume your affections. And if that's not possible for

you, if you feel like there's a disconnect between your brain

and your heart, you beg God until it trickles down there.

Cuz that's the only thing that will radiate and influence

others. I remember great friend and

evangelists who is now with the Lord and whenever I would ask

him, how can I pray for you? He would look at me and say pray

that I would die climbing. Pray that I would die climbing.

Pray that I would die with my hands on the plow, not in my

pockets whistling in this world. I'm sure that he did die

climbing. So the first thing is to

establish such a recipe in order for our walk to not only be

concrete, but to be influential. So we don't want this

individualistic idea of Christianity.

In these last days, we don't want to go buy some property out

there and hide from all the evil in the world.

We want our light to shine as a darkened, the darkness thickens

in the evil becomes more evil. But there's something else, it's

not just a walk that can be imitated.

And verse 11, we read my persecutions and sufferings that

happen to me. If you and I are going to be

faithful in these last days, if you and I are going to know and

Effectiveness in our witness in these last days that you and I

must have a comprehension, and a realistic expectation to suffer.

Notice we didn't touch on everything that Paul is talked

about in verse 10. But again, let's zoom out and

look at another broader application here.

Out of all the things that he mentions in this list, there is

one thing that he elaborates on. There's one thing that he

emphasizes on and that is this, my personal sufferings That's

what out of all the things he chooses to unpack.

I suffered much and you will to Timothy I went through great

pains and I traveled through dark alleys and Timothy, if

you're going to be faithful you better know it.

That's why this Prosperity Gospel.

So damn the ball among other things, it is setting up people

for failure. It is setting up people.

To make their hearts Rocky instead of soft.

See, in this Faith, you have Christians who endure for a

while and you have Christians who endure until the end.

Now enduring for awhile. Sounds good, but not according

to Jesus. Because enduring for a while,

According To Jesus speaks of those who receive the word of

God, initially, with great joy and excitement, and even

expressing their gratitude of how they found a church.

That is so serious about the gospel, and they sing these kind

of songs and they know the scriptures, they love it, they

eat it up. But when persecution comes and

tribulation arises on account of the word as fast as that Joy

was, so will it be their departure from the faith?

We don't want to endure for a while we want to endure until

the end and Paul prove that knowing that he is about to have

his head, possibly cut off. He writes here which

persecutions and the second part of verse 11 I endured I didn't

just face it I went through it. And that is what you and I

should strive for. And, as we read this, we realize

not only is he talking about persecution?

He is mentioning three specific locations where he experienced

these hardships and we're in Antioch at Iconium and lystra.

Why these three is that the only places where he experienced

resistance? Oh no.

The man can reveal his back and tell you where he got those

trophies from but by the spirit he chooses to give us these

three and would we praise God? Today, that these three accounts

are given to us in the book of Acts and perfect order.

All you have to do is read acts 13 and 14 to realize what

happened to Paul in these places.

And I think it would do us great service to come to the book of

Acts and to see how these sufferings were various And how

they had different masks and different Expressions.

So term with me to Acts chapter 13,

Acts 13 · chapter mention

And let's begin here. And Antioch.

We read here. And verse 14 of Acts 13 just to

know that we are in Antioch but they went on from Peugeot and

came to Antioch beside you. As we come down to verse 45,

Paul preaches, an amazing sermon, a sermon That Shook

people, a sermon that brought about this result in verse 44,

in Acts 13. The next Sabbath, almost the

whole city gathered, to hear the word of the Lord.

I forgot that today many people are going to be gathering for a

game. I didn't realize it till today,

but could you imagine what it would look like for an entire

city to come to a church to hear another sermon?

That's what Revival does. By the way, that's what Revival

does. It makes bars and strip clubs

and even sporting sport. It's not bad.

Don't email me after this. It's okay, but it makes many

things go out of business, because there's a passion for

the spirit of God. Verse 44, the next Sabbath,

almost the whole city gathered, to hear the word of the Lord.

But look what happens in verse 45, but when the Jews saw the

crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict

what was spoken by Paul revealing him?

Now, the ESV is unique in this because it includes the fact

that they reviled Paul. So not only in other word for

word translation is it might not be so clear, but not only did

these men blaspheme the message. They actually wanted to

ridicule. Messenger.

And so they begin to scorn him. And revile him.

And we don't know exactly what they said.

But one thing came to mind when when Paul was before a great

governor. In fact, when he was before a

king king Agrippa and Acts 26, all I love that site of Paul.

In those chains, he's preaching the gospel and he's trying to

persuade King, Agrippa to become a Christian.

And then the governor Festus is there and he interrupts, he

interrupts Paul in his presentation and he says, Paul

you were out of your mind. Your great learning has driven

you out of your mind. That's not nice.

He's calling him crazy for what he is, sharing and believing

You've lost it, you're you're crazy.

I can imagine that these Jews were saying similar things,

maybe you believe I have heard similar remarks from family

members. You believe that book written by

man. You actually think that this is

applicable today? Are you all right?

Have you heard from co-workers, have you received the Facebook,

comment? Have you been reviled for the

gospel? Paul has he's been ridiculed.

I can imagine what these men spewed out of their mouths.

But the resistance only intensified in verse 50.

And acts 13. We read in verse 50 but the Jews

incited, the devout woman of high standing and the leading

men of the city stirred up, persecution against Paul and

Barnabas and drove them out of their District.

Get out of here. We don't want nothing to do with

you. You're gonna stay here and spew

that leave. So went from verbal assaults to

now saying we don't want your presence.

We don't want you to be around us.

You can no longer work here as much as you've been faithful to

our company, because we've discovered that your beliefs are

bigoted and discriminatory. Paul experienced rejection.

In our context, it would look like you losing your job and

your context, it would look like you not coming and being invited

over by friends or family because you're one of those

loony evangelicals. I remember when I first got

saved and I was expressing myself, one of my friends who's

was in the world, looked at me, says, whatever you do.

Do not become those fanatical evangelicals.

Would you too late? Paul was reviled, Paul was

driven out, you can say, relationships were severed.

There was awkwardness in the air and he was noted, he was marked.

This man is no longer invited in this neighborhood.

But he goes from Antioch at Iconium and chapter 14.

Look at verse 1 and 2. Now, what Iconium, they enter

together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a

way, that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed, but

the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles.

And look at this poison, their minds against the brothers Their

strategy was slightly shifted. They use their words.

Yes, but not to directly assault Paul.

But to now manipulate and to poison, the minds of others

about them, do you believe that people's minds can be poisoned?

Words are powerful. And again, just like Paul being

reviled, we don't have a record of the words that were shared,

but it should not surprise us that whatever was shared was

enough for these people to discredit the man and the

ministry. So I just allow my imagination

to go places. Sometimes do not making a

dogmatic, but I can just imagine these unbelieving Jews

Whispering two people meeting in their homes Gathering to them

and say, you know, this Paul guy what he teaches, whenever people

believe it just like splits up families, it's very ugly there.

I think there are a cult actually, they do this thing

where they eat, eat the blood, and they eat the Flesh of their

leader. Don't list.

It's a crazy cult. This Paul, he's money hungry.

He's doing all of this because he wants more, you know, they

given these things, these churches and I think he just

wants an extra buck So, be careful with this Paul guy.

And slowly. But surely People's minds were

poison potential here as potential disciples were.

Now, we're now so influence that they could not even hear the

man. And it's a sad sight indeed.

But I want to make this admonition to you.

The here's another form of suffering.

Servant of God that is you have set your life to plant the seeds

of the gospel and hearts, there are people who are enemies of

truth that will plant seeds of Suspicion and doubt in others,

concerning you. You think Satan's Arsenal is

limited to a Roman Colosseum with lions?

Now, he has different tricks. And if you can't revile you and

intimidate you head on, he'll just get other people against

you and poison their minds. Are you ready for that?

Are you ready for that? Are you ready for your

reputation, your motivation, your integrity to be put into

question by others, because Satan wants to make sure that

your testimony and Ministry is hindered and can't move forward

in a specific place. Are you ready for that?

Because it will come, it will happen.

And if you're not ready for that, you will not make it very

long and effective Ministry for the Lord Jesus Christ.

So, mines were poisoned, that it stopped there.

No, we come down to verse 19. Now, we go from Antioch at

Iconium to lystra, but Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and

having persuaded the crowds. They stoned Paul.

And dragged him out of the city supposing that he was dead.

So Not only was this man's Ministry, making great strides

and advancement. So was the persecution, the

greater, the success, the greater the viciousness of men,

you want to know how vicious they were.

Did you read it carefully? It wasn't the men at lystra that

necessarily attacked him. Look at verse 19.

Jews came from Antioch and Iconium they, they traveled.

They follow the guy that wasn't enough to say, get out of here.

It was enough to say, you're no longer, welcome in our

community, or in our synagogues. No, no.

They wanted to written from the Earth.

News came this Paul that wherever he went.

Power comes out of him. Truth comes out of him.

He's shaking our streets. Let's go get him.

So they packed her bag and realize as you read this we

think this is just like one suburb to the next.

So this is miles away from each other hatred is just as strong

as a motivation. As Love Is Burning With Envy

burning with jealousy burning with hatred.

For Christ, they packed their bags and they follow the man

like leave him alone. He's not there anymore.

And they find them and they whisper the same garbage to some

of the citizens of this place. And now it wasn't just words

that were hurled against him. Now, actual physical bricks and

stones were launched at his face in his back.

And they wouldn't stop until they believe that this man was

dead. And once they came to that

conclusion and they're all mines, they dragged his

unconscious body. Like it was a bag of garbage and

threw it outside of the city left to rot without a proper

burial. This man, what startles me about

him is not just how much he endured, but once he regains

Consciousness, he gets up, wipes the dust off his shoulders and

he goes to the next city to preach.

II. Look at that and I go I know

what it's like to be revived. I know what it's like to have

people's minds think differently.

I know that but to be stoned and then dragged out of the city.

Only to get up and this man was, you know, maybe I should take a

couple weeks off, he gets up and he goes to the next city.

And that's what blesses me because not just what he

experienced and how he remained faithful and he didn't retaliate

In the Flesh. Those are all glorious things

but his response afterwards after he traveled through these

cities and all the hatred and the things that came against

him, what did he do? Go to verse 22.

When they had preached the gospel to that City and had made

many disciples, they returned to lystra and to Iconium.

And to Antioch, you went back. Doing what?

Strengthening The Souls of the disciples, encouraging them to

continue in the faith and saying that through many tribulations.

We must enter the kingdom of God.

That's what this man did. He gets up and the main concern,

though, his soul was afflicted though, his body had cuts and

bruises. The only thing traveling through

his mind is all we have to take care of those converts.

We have to, we have to make sure that there's leaders established

to nurture them and train them up in the faith.

Barnabas. Come on, let's go and he limped

his way back. He's going, he's going back into

enemy territory. What possesses a man with such a

love? The love of Christ.

The love of Jesus Christ, the love for Souls.

The love for the church. The love for people that is

greater than any stone that is greater than any slander.

Brother and sister, I say this in love week, Christianity is

not going to cut it. Oversensitivity is not going to

cut it. It's not going to happen.

Not having things, our ways not going to make effective

Christianity, expecting to be treated in a certain matter.

In the moment that we received some resistance.

We give up. That's not going to work, it's

not This man is showing his trophies to Timothy and he's

expecting the same from his spiritual son.

Even though he might some believe with his personality

might be more timid and shy. No, no there's something that's

greater than your personality greater than your fears greater

than your concerns. The indwelling power of the

spirit of God, we have to believe that this is real.

We've it can be so real that it helps.

You soar above these things. People give up too easily,

people get discouraged. So quickly people interpret

things and read into things and and and they need to take a

break from Ministry for six months, I'm not talking about

not resting, I'm not talking about needing to be encouraged.

I'm talking about striving for what this man had because it's

possible. I want it.

I hope you would want it as well.

You and I have to realize that if we're going to endure in

these days, you've learned it face on.

And these past two years, if you're going to make it with

fruit hanging from the branches of your faithfulness, you have

to be ready to embrace suffering.

That might look like slander. That might look like stones.

That might look like you losing your job.

That might look like you losing your friends, but it's Christ

Worthy. He is worthy. and Paul believe

that for himself, This man did not allow the lumps on his head.

He then I allow The Whispers of the crowds to deter him.

See, as much as he saw unbelief and resistance, he also saw

Souls that were willing to receive the Gospel and be

trained up and that was enough for him to say even if there's a

handful at Iconium, I'm going. See, Paul had an amazing resume

in second Corinthians, 11 of the things that he suffered

shipwreck. Robberies sleepless nights.

But then the cherry on the top at the end of that list and

second Corinthians 11, he says this in verse 28 and apart, from

other things, there is this daily pressure on me of my

anxiety for the churches. A holy anxiety, a concern for

the people of God, the children of God, this is what drives me.

It hurts me sometimes when I hear Heretics coming, I mean,

can you not see that this was his aim in life?

It's clear, isn't it? Paul suffered.

It's clear isn't it? Timothy's being prepared to

suffer and if it hasn't been made clear to you, let it be

clear to you that all who desire to live a Godly life in Christ,

Jesus will be persecuted. It might look like persecution

and Antioch and Iconium or Lister, but it's coming one way

or another. You know, I was thinking about

this. This is this is sometimes very

difficult to preach in American churches.

It really is because like, we understand it but you preach

this kind of message in China and they'll get it, they'll get

it there. Like I've heard it was true that

you have pastors there. That when they enroll to be a

pastor they're fully convinced that part of that job is that

they will be in prison. Like that's what they know.

But in their minds isn't, it's not having a better building,

it's not having none of that stuff is in the Forefront of

their minds. Know, when they say, oh oh, I

feel like God's call me and password.

They have, they are fully convinced that at one point,

they're going to go to jail and be tortured.

They that's just it. Can you imagine training up

seminarians like that in America, as you graduate, you

most likely go to prison between 3 to 10 years.

So, prepare your family. It's very hard to communicate

these things. Because of the Great Lengths of

peace, that we have known in this nation, but let me remind

you, as we come to the book of Acts.

Again, I want you to see that even the early Church, New

Seasons of Peace. We almost have this idea that I

was just constantly turbulent not.

So here's proof. Acts 9:31.

Acts 9:31

Acts 9:31. We're told this about the

Acts 9:31

church, the early church. So, the church throughout all

Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built

up. No persecution.

No disruption. No laws being placed just peace

people meeting together celebrating potlucks Fellowship

conferences, nothing. No, this nothing and it was

being built up. And in three chapters later,

look what happens. In verse 1 of Acts chapter 12,

Acts 12 · chapter mention

About that time Herod, the king laid violent hands on some who

belong to the church. the image that I have here is if you've

ever if you've grown up in a tropical area, in this in

America or tropical place in the world, you know how quickly it

can go from Sunday and clear to cloudy and downpour And

sometimes you can see those clouds in the Horizon and then

you're just, you're having a conversation.

Next thing, you know, you realize that there's no sun

kissing your skin and you're feeling drops on your head and

it took but a moment. So as much as you, and I in

America are enjoying Great Piece.

I can tell you very quickly. Can we see the church?

Knowing great trouble. So don't be too comfortable with

peace. Enjoy it.

Thank God for it. But prepare yourself for things

to change very quickly. We're almost done.

We come back to 2nd Timothy and we read the final thing that

Paul has in mind for Timothy to know in order to be faithful in

these last days. He says in verse 10 you need to

have a walk that's worthy to be imitated and here here's how it

looks. There's a car there's a there's

a doctrine that you have to believe in.

No let that influence your conduct.

Let It Be Your very aim in life and look at how he can touch

other people. Not only that you have to know

that there are suffering your way, don't be surprised when it

comes and be ready to endure it when it does.

But lastly, look what he says at the end of verse 11, Which

persecutions I endured yet from them.

All the Lord rescued me. If you and I are going to no

faithfulness, then you have to know something about the

sovereignty of God. What he is telling his faithful

disciple is that even though I had no great pain.

I also saw Gods intervene power in each of those places.

God delivered me from each of those situations Timothy and if

you did it for me, he will do it for you.

Now here's the thing. This is where I believe the ESV

might do a disservice because you look at other word for word

translations and it doesn't read the same way.

See here it says yet from them all the Lord rescued me, but

other Translations would say, yet out of them all.

The Lord rescued me and I think that makes more sense.

It's not true that the Lord will rescue and Deliver Us from

trouble. That's not true.

What is true is that you will know afflictions, but from those

afflictions he will deliver you. That's the difference.

And that's what he's saying here.

Yes, I've known those afflictions.

Yes, I've went through them, but I can tell you this.

I felt the hand of God lift me out of them in due time.

In fact, many believe that what Paul is doing here is he is

borrowing the language of the psalmist in Psalm 34:19 where we

Psalms 34:19

are told many are the afflictions of the righteous but

the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Timothy. You have to understand that

though, your foes no Kings do Governor's even though entire

cities would come against you, there is a God who is Sovereign

over all of them, he holds all power.

He is supreme and strength. Nothing can confound his

counsel? He is in control.

Is he Paul? You believe that he'll rescue

from from everything? Yes.

So is he going to rescue you from prison as you write this

because you're telling me that he rescued you from Antioch and

Iconium is he going to rescue you From jail right now.

Here's the answer and Paul knows it.

No. No.

In fact, Paul in this letter is confident, I'm going to Glory.

I'm not going to be delivered. This time.

This imprisonment is different. So wait, does it make your point

less valid? I thought you just said that the

Lord rescues us from death that he will.

Not let the enemy have his way with us though he might come out

scape. Is that is that what's going to

happen to? You know, I'm actually gonna

die. So what does it mean?

Well, it's the same understanding that those three

Hebrew boys had when they were ready to be thrown into a

furnace for not bowing. Down to an idle.

The Lord is able, And he will. But even if he doesn't, We're

not going to worship your gods. Is God a table?

Paul says yes has God. Yes will God this time as much

as you and I believe in his Sovereign power.

We must also believe with it, his perfect wisdom.

He can deliver me. but it doesn't mean he has to He can

save me from Death, he can make sure that your body will never

know even a cold for the rest of your life.

And he can make sure that whatever assassination attempt

on your head is planned will never succeed.

But his deliverance from death. Can also be a Deliverance

through death into his presence forever and ever.

So Paul had a confidence in the sovereignty of God.

He can, he has and he might but I know he won't.

He still Sovereign, though, how can you be discouraged with such

a belief. How can you be discouraged?

It's like he's able to do it in a moment, he can remove that

pain from you in a moment. He can, he can make a way he can

open it, he can do everything, but I also rest in the knowledge

that if he doesn't. There's a greater reason for it.

I think about ax you not to turn there in Acts 12 and acts 12.

When Herod came to put his Filthy Hands, on the pure Church

of Jesus Christ. He takes a hold of James, one of

the Apostles and slays his neck. He kills them.

And in the same chapter in prisons Peter and Peter through

the prayers of the Saints. Knows a miraculous escape from

iron bars. Well why didn't do it for James?

We were you not able know he was able He was able to save James

and Peter but in his perfect wisdom, James had an early

graduation into Glory. And it is perfect, wisdom.

Peter needed to be delivered because Peter still had some

work to do. How do you lose in the Christian

Life? Tell me.

Do you know a loophole that I don't know about?

Because I look at this and I realize that we are more than

conquerors in Jesus Christ. Let's pray.

But we thank you for the inspired word of God.

Oh the life that we felt this afternoon from the scriptures

Lord. We are amazed at your wisdom and

Lord we realize that this is a word for today.

We ask you o God by your grace and by the things that we have

heard that you would make Us Faithful.

Make us faithful in these last days.

Lord, may we be a people of the book who know what we believe.

It may it be translated into our conduct.

It may not just be translated into how we behave, but may it

actually affect the Throne of our affections. maybe are very

aim in life to live for the glory of Jesus O Lord, may we

not be intimidated at the hostility in the Horizon but

maybe look at all persecution with a smile on our face knowing

that you are able to rescue, you will rescue but even if you

don't Lord you are sovereign still and so, Lord, we ask that

you would give us what you put in this man, Paul that despite

the Betrayal, despite all the Despicable things that were done

to him to his reputation, He had a love for the church, I love

for the gospel, love for souls and he wanted to minister to

them even if it costs them, even if it costs him his health his

comfort his safety. Lord we are so selfish Deliver

Us from self crucify us Lord. We pray o.

God that that this old man though met would try to be

resurrected that it would remain, it would remain in the

Tomb. And that we would walk in New

Life In Jesus, but we do not have the power to do this within

ourselves. It must be your grace.

It must be your grace in US. Lord, we pray for the father's

in here. We pray for the disciple makers

in here, we pray for the mentors, the leaders will God,

those who are training, those who are older brothers and

sisters, may our walk be worthy of imitation.

The we may not be Apostles or prophets.

May our love for Jesus Christ. Make an impression those who

watch us. Oh Lord.

This is what we long for it. May not our walk be for the sake

of impressing. Others may just be the simple

devotion to you, that would spill over into other things,

but we worship you for the word today.

We give you all glory as a church in Jesus, Christ's name

we pray. Amen, let's stand and Worship

the Lord shall we?