WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.180 It is wonderful to be here with all of you. 00:00:03.359 --> 00:00:04.020 And you can hear me. 00:00:04.139 --> 00:00:04.500 It's good. 00:00:04.980 --> 00:00:06.379 It is great to be here. 00:00:06.960 --> 00:00:09.380 Kim and I love your church. 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:11.060 We love the Woos. 00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:12.380 Love Pastor Woo. 00:00:14.519 --> 00:00:18.120 And when he says Mighty Oak, I don't know if I'm a Mighty Oak. 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:19.260 I'm an old Oak. 00:00:20.460 --> 00:00:23.420 I don't know if Mighty is the right description of that. 00:00:23.559 --> 00:00:25.179 But it's great to be here. 00:00:26.440 --> 00:00:28.019 We love this church. 00:00:28.140 --> 00:00:28.920 We love our denomination. 00:00:28.920 --> 00:00:30.360 We do love Sean and Hannah. 00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:35.780 And one of the things that was very interesting, we had good friends last week that were visiting. 00:00:36.140 --> 00:00:37.620 They were up in the Boston area. 00:00:38.179 --> 00:00:39.320 So he emailed me. 00:00:39.380 --> 00:00:40.740 We just had dinner with him last week. 00:00:41.240 --> 00:00:43.859 He emailed me and said, hey, where would you recommend I go to church? 00:00:43.900 --> 00:00:44.700 We're up in Boston. 00:00:45.299 --> 00:00:46.520 He had heard of King of Grace. 00:00:46.640 --> 00:00:47.719 I said, well, that's a great church. 00:00:47.859 --> 00:00:49.640 But actually, you'll be closer to Cambridge. 00:00:49.939 --> 00:00:52.680 So I encouraged him to come here instead. 00:00:52.980 --> 00:00:55.380 And so Anthony and Nicole were here last week. 00:00:55.620 --> 00:00:57.520 They met a number of you. 00:00:57.520 --> 00:01:02.020 And as we had dinner with them this week, they said, this is, they had a couple things. 00:01:02.080 --> 00:01:03.600 One, they said, it's a young church. 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:06.480 And I thought, yeah, it is a younger church. 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:08.040 And praise God for that. 00:01:08.379 --> 00:01:10.420 The other thing they said was just how friendly you were. 00:01:10.859 --> 00:01:13.240 And that's evidence of the gospel in your midst. 00:01:13.239 --> 00:01:15.959 So they are believers. 00:01:16.519 --> 00:01:17.719 They're in leadership in our church. 00:01:17.799 --> 00:01:20.159 But being here, they felt like they were home. 00:01:21.140 --> 00:01:24.379 And the connections they had with you. 00:01:24.419 --> 00:01:26.739 And they heard stories of God's grace here. 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:29.659 So thank you for how you welcome people. 00:01:30.139 --> 00:01:31.840 It's a testimony of the gospel. 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:37.060 When you're together and you love one another, it's the air you breathe. 00:01:37.180 --> 00:01:41.680 And you may be unaware of the effect that it has when people visit. 00:01:42.680 --> 00:01:43.980 It's the aroma of Christ. 00:01:44.859 --> 00:01:47.020 And those in Christ notice it. 00:01:47.240 --> 00:01:50.180 And those who may not know Christ will still notice something's different. 00:01:50.180 --> 00:01:56.040 And so just your greeting and your love for one another becomes a testimony to the gospel. 00:01:56.340 --> 00:02:00.260 So thank you for that testimony of the gospel. 00:02:01.360 --> 00:02:03.440 And again, grateful to be here. 00:02:03.720 --> 00:02:07.800 Well, if you'd open up your Bibles, please, to 2 Timothy chapter 2. 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:10.540 And there are Bibles in the back. 00:02:10.580 --> 00:02:14.060 If you don't have one, the church would give that to you as a gift. 00:02:14.280 --> 00:02:17.120 So you can help yourselves to them in the back. 00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:22.539 But 2 Timothy chapter 2, if you're new or not a Christian or maybe new to the Bible, 00:02:23.020 --> 00:02:24.400 it's near the end of the Bible. 00:02:24.500 --> 00:02:25.500 It's a small book. 00:02:26.280 --> 00:02:29.680 And you'll find it back there as you move towards the end. 00:02:29.800 --> 00:02:32.879 And this is a letter, and it's a precious letter. 00:02:33.240 --> 00:02:35.520 It's a letter from Paul to Timothy. 00:02:36.180 --> 00:02:40.659 And what 2 Timothy is, it's really the last written words of Paul. 00:02:40.759 --> 00:02:46.280 So these are sort of the last words in Testament, in a sense, of a man who's about to face death. 00:02:46.280 --> 00:02:53.039 In fact, he soon, after writing this letter, he's going to end up being beheaded on the Appian Way. 00:02:53.900 --> 00:02:56.460 So he's going to be killed for Christ. 00:02:57.139 --> 00:03:01.800 And so what he's doing in this letter is he's communicating these last words to Timothy. 00:03:02.439 --> 00:03:05.939 Timothy was someone that he sort of was a father in the faith to. 00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:09.759 He was his spiritual father, and he loved Timothy. 00:03:10.099 --> 00:03:12.139 This is a great picture of ministry. 00:03:12.139 --> 00:03:14.559 It's not professional driven. 00:03:14.799 --> 00:03:16.379 It's not resume driven. 00:03:16.679 --> 00:03:18.399 It's really relationally driven. 00:03:19.139 --> 00:03:25.139 And so here Paul has this great love for Timothy, and he calls him his true son, his beloved son. 00:03:25.479 --> 00:03:28.419 And he's investing in Timothy's life. 00:03:28.779 --> 00:03:34.759 And these could be the final words that Timothy might ever hear from Paul. 00:03:34.839 --> 00:03:36.639 So they are important words. 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:41.419 And he's writing Timothy because Timothy's now facing the daunting task. 00:03:41.799 --> 00:03:44.439 And, folks, this was a daunting task. 00:03:45.079 --> 00:03:47.000 Think about Timothy. 00:03:47.959 --> 00:03:49.119 And actually, we know his temperament. 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:56.599 He was actually a timid person, seemed to struggle with some fear issues, maybe even some health issues. 00:03:56.759 --> 00:03:57.979 So here's Timothy. 00:03:58.779 --> 00:04:01.299 You're Paul's right-hand man. 00:04:01.879 --> 00:04:04.439 You're the guy that's going to follow in Paul's footstep. 00:04:04.439 --> 00:04:06.579 That alone would be intimidating. 00:04:07.379 --> 00:04:08.680 Like, Paul's going to be dead. 00:04:09.020 --> 00:04:09.800 I'm next. 00:04:11.060 --> 00:04:16.000 So what's it going to be like when he's gone and people start looking towards me? 00:04:16.060 --> 00:04:16.959 That would be daunting. 00:04:17.459 --> 00:04:25.500 But what's even more daunting to Timothy is he's got to be a steward of the gospel in a hostile culture. 00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:31.920 They were in a very hostile culture at this point. 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:35.160 And please remember, this is a fledgling church. 00:04:36.060 --> 00:04:38.480 I don't know how you view yourselves because you've been a church for a while. 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:41.160 But you would still say, we're a newer church. 00:04:41.640 --> 00:04:43.080 You know, we're not big. 00:04:43.480 --> 00:04:44.680 You know, we're not impressive. 00:04:44.920 --> 00:04:50.220 And we might be in a hostile culture, a hostile environment. 00:04:50.660 --> 00:04:53.700 And hostility can be open or it can be subtle. 00:04:54.759 --> 00:04:54.980 Right? 00:04:55.080 --> 00:04:58.360 Sometimes hostility to Christians is, oh, you're a Christian. 00:04:58.360 --> 00:05:01.680 Obviously, you have not, don't have a brain. 00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:02.540 You don't think. 00:05:02.780 --> 00:05:03.879 You believe in myths. 00:05:04.460 --> 00:05:08.720 You know, you're the responsibility for prejudice in the world and oppression in the world. 00:05:08.860 --> 00:05:12.180 So we can run into hostility in our culture. 00:05:12.780 --> 00:05:14.420 Well, that's Timothy. 00:05:15.400 --> 00:05:20.080 He's running into a hostile culture with a fledgling church. 00:05:20.139 --> 00:05:23.780 Almost a sort of a church that's just still in the cradle. 00:05:23.779 --> 00:05:30.099 And so what's going to happen when Paul leaves this earth? 00:05:30.219 --> 00:05:33.739 So he's talking about suffering in this last letter. 00:05:33.819 --> 00:05:37.339 And the theme of suffering is one of the themes in 2 Timothy. 00:05:37.479 --> 00:05:40.939 So I've entitled this morning's message, Is It Worth the Effort? 00:05:41.859 --> 00:05:42.979 Is it worth the effort? 00:05:43.059 --> 00:05:46.899 Is it really worth the effort to suffer for the gospel? 00:05:46.899 --> 00:05:55.239 Is it worth the effort to experience scorn or condescending looks from people that you know? 00:05:57.219 --> 00:06:00.259 People that might just look at you and go, oh, you're a Christian. 00:06:01.679 --> 00:06:03.060 It might get worse than that. 00:06:03.139 --> 00:06:04.639 Maybe it is worse than that for you. 00:06:05.359 --> 00:06:09.459 Sometimes in families, if you've come from a family of unbelievers and you become a Christian, 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:13.199 your family can have a very negative reaction to that. 00:06:13.579 --> 00:06:15.299 What are you doing with your life? 00:06:15.300 --> 00:06:17.699 How are you investing your life? 00:06:18.460 --> 00:06:19.800 Well, is it worth it? 00:06:20.420 --> 00:06:25.220 It's the question that Paul really is going to present and advocate for Timothy. 00:06:26.100 --> 00:06:27.819 And the main point of the message is this. 00:06:28.100 --> 00:06:32.980 The rewards of the gospel, of gospel mission, outweigh the cost. 00:06:33.740 --> 00:06:41.000 The rewards of gospel mission, and I would say the rewards of gospel mission far outweigh the cost. 00:06:41.460 --> 00:06:45.019 And when I talk about gospel mission, how do I define that? 00:06:45.620 --> 00:06:47.699 Well, one, it's faithfulness to Christ. 00:06:48.740 --> 00:06:55.300 It's not just, it is faithfulness to proclaim Christ, but it starts with being faithful to Christ. 00:06:56.500 --> 00:06:59.120 That's essence, the essence of gospel mission. 00:06:59.460 --> 00:07:02.259 That I'm faithful to my Savior. 00:07:02.259 --> 00:07:04.519 I'm faithful to my King. 00:07:05.379 --> 00:07:08.599 I see Him and I live for His glory. 00:07:08.740 --> 00:07:14.920 It's faithfulness to Christ and then faithfulness to proclaim the gospel to others. 00:07:15.159 --> 00:07:17.680 So, 2 Timothy chapter 2. 00:07:17.779 --> 00:07:19.279 We're going to read verses 1 through 13. 00:07:19.620 --> 00:07:22.959 And would you please stand for the reading of God's word. 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:34.919 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 00:07:34.920 --> 00:07:41.640 And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful men. 00:07:42.280 --> 00:07:44.580 We'll be able to teach others also. 00:07:45.319 --> 00:07:48.160 Share in suffering. 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:50.939 As a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 00:07:51.620 --> 00:07:59.200 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 00:07:59.760 --> 00:08:03.720 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 00:08:04.220 --> 00:08:08.540 It is the hardworking farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 00:08:08.540 --> 00:08:10.760 Think over what I say. 00:08:11.080 --> 00:08:13.800 For the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 00:08:14.819 --> 00:08:16.760 Remember Jesus. 00:08:17.520 --> 00:08:19.040 Risen from the dead. 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:22.860 The offspring of David as preached in my gospel. 00:08:23.320 --> 00:08:25.620 For which I am suffering. 00:08:26.340 --> 00:08:27.980 Bound with chains as a criminal. 00:08:28.900 --> 00:08:31.520 But the word of God is not bound. 00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:36.539 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect. 00:08:36.539 --> 00:08:42.259 That they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 00:08:43.059 --> 00:08:44.539 The saying is trustworthy. 00:08:45.559 --> 00:08:49.839 For if we have died with him, we will also live with him. 00:08:50.259 --> 00:08:53.679 If we endure, we will also reign with him. 00:08:53.879 --> 00:08:58.000 If we deny him, he will also deny us. 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:02.120 If we are faithless, he remains faithful. 00:09:02.699 --> 00:09:05.539 For he cannot deny himself. 00:09:05.539 --> 00:09:05.980 Himself. 00:09:06.339 --> 00:09:07.959 You can take your seats and let's pray. 00:09:10.500 --> 00:09:11.799 Lord, we pray. 00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:14.459 As we've now read your word. 00:09:15.379 --> 00:09:17.339 God, your word is powerful. 00:09:18.179 --> 00:09:19.759 Lord, your word is never bound. 00:09:20.599 --> 00:09:23.059 Lord, your word has intent for us this morning. 00:09:23.439 --> 00:09:25.519 And it's not just information. 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:28.439 It is not just good theology, Lord. 00:09:28.440 --> 00:09:30.880 Lord, I pray it is sound doctrine. 00:09:32.020 --> 00:09:35.520 But God, I pray that your word would have its effect on us. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:37.560 Its claim upon us. 00:09:37.620 --> 00:09:40.480 And Lord, we would see that claim as life-giving. 00:09:41.280 --> 00:09:44.120 Lord, you are a giver, not a taker. 00:09:44.700 --> 00:09:49.140 So Lord, when you instruct us, it is for our good. 00:09:50.540 --> 00:09:52.960 So Lord, I pray that the gospel would be rich. 00:09:52.960 --> 00:09:55.540 That the beauty of Christ would be clear. 00:09:56.420 --> 00:10:02.420 And this exhortation to suffer for this glorious gospel would be real. 00:10:02.519 --> 00:10:06.720 And Lord, we, we would be faithful to this gospel. 00:10:07.220 --> 00:10:09.060 Because it is worth it. 00:10:09.320 --> 00:10:12.100 Because he is worth it. 00:10:12.660 --> 00:10:15.639 Lord, bless now the preaching of your word for the good of your people. 00:10:16.060 --> 00:10:17.100 In Jesus' name. 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:18.139 Amen. 00:10:19.820 --> 00:10:23.040 Teddy Roosevelt, one of my favorite presidents. 00:10:23.259 --> 00:10:26.080 I studied in political science in college. 00:10:26.420 --> 00:10:29.019 And presidential politics particularly. 00:10:29.379 --> 00:10:31.120 And he was one of my favorite presidents. 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:34.139 Because he's one of the most interesting and colorful men. 00:10:34.700 --> 00:10:37.639 If you know anything about Teddy Roosevelt and his life. 00:10:38.800 --> 00:10:41.300 He sort of grew up sort of a sickly boy actually. 00:10:41.399 --> 00:10:42.779 But overcame all that. 00:10:43.060 --> 00:10:44.540 Became a cowboy. 00:10:44.539 --> 00:10:48.099 And he was a rough rider in the, in the Spanish-American war. 00:10:48.419 --> 00:10:51.959 He eventually, when he, after president, he explored the Amazon River. 00:10:52.579 --> 00:10:54.379 In a book called The River of Doubt. 00:10:55.139 --> 00:10:55.459 Spectacular. 00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:57.039 Went places where nobody else went. 00:10:57.240 --> 00:10:58.639 His son died on the journey. 00:10:59.019 --> 00:11:00.339 But Teddy just kept going. 00:11:00.620 --> 00:11:03.480 He was shot as a presidential candidate. 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:05.059 When he was campaigning. 00:11:05.620 --> 00:11:08.120 And at one point they said, Teddy, you know, you've been shot. 00:11:08.179 --> 00:11:10.079 Is a bullet going to, you know, knock you out? 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:14.440 And he goes, it'll take more than a bullet to knock down an old bull moose like me. 00:11:14.540 --> 00:11:16.480 And then it became the bull moose party. 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:20.180 And so he's just bigger than life. 00:11:20.540 --> 00:11:21.720 Big personality. 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:23.920 Aggressive fun. 00:11:24.360 --> 00:11:26.300 When he would have press conferences. 00:11:26.300 --> 00:11:28.400 If you wanted to interview Teddy Roosevelt. 00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:30.180 Very unlike today. 00:11:30.520 --> 00:11:30.860 Tell you what I said. 00:11:30.920 --> 00:11:31.480 You want an interview? 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:32.400 A journalist would come to him. 00:11:32.440 --> 00:11:33.340 Say, you want an interview with me? 00:11:33.420 --> 00:11:33.720 Sure. 00:11:34.100 --> 00:11:35.400 And he goes, well, let's go for a walk. 00:11:35.799 --> 00:11:38.539 And the president of the United States would walk through Washington. 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:41.059 With a reporter by his side. 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:42.159 Interviewing him. 00:11:42.539 --> 00:11:44.659 And the next thing you know, that reporter, they'd be going through fields. 00:11:45.079 --> 00:11:46.019 Climbing fences. 00:11:46.980 --> 00:11:49.340 At one point he stopped at the Potomac River. 00:11:49.679 --> 00:11:50.659 And swam it. 00:11:51.980 --> 00:11:53.480 You know, I don't know if the reporter went with him. 00:11:53.480 --> 00:11:54.500 And be like, excuse me. 00:11:55.220 --> 00:11:57.100 That's the kind of person he was. 00:11:57.379 --> 00:11:58.679 So he's a bigger than life. 00:11:59.079 --> 00:12:01.199 Prominent figure of the 20th century. 00:12:01.500 --> 00:12:02.919 And here's one of the things he said. 00:12:02.919 --> 00:12:09.819 Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing. 00:12:10.079 --> 00:12:14.620 Unless it means effort, pain, difficulty. 00:12:15.339 --> 00:12:21.199 I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:28.179 I've envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well. 00:12:28.179 --> 00:12:32.859 Another prominent figure of the 20th century. 00:12:32.979 --> 00:12:33.859 Winston Churchill. 00:12:34.459 --> 00:12:40.879 Who obviously battled the evil of Germany and Hitler and Nazism prior to World War II. 00:12:40.979 --> 00:12:41.799 And during World War II. 00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:44.739 Here's what he said prior to the war. 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:45.899 Right as the war was starting. 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:49.899 And facing the evil and menace of Hitler. 00:12:50.719 --> 00:12:51.559 He said this. 00:12:52.099 --> 00:12:53.059 I have nothing. 00:12:53.139 --> 00:12:54.179 He had many famous speeches. 00:12:54.919 --> 00:12:55.500 This is one of them. 00:12:55.500 --> 00:13:02.159 I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat. 00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:05.000 We have an ordeal of the most grievous kind. 00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:10.740 We have before us many long months of struggle and of suffering. 00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:12.899 You ask, what is our policy? 00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:16.580 It is to wage war by sea, land, and air. 00:13:16.580 --> 00:13:21.500 With all our might and with all our strength that God can give us. 00:13:21.500 --> 00:13:30.720 To wage war against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalog of human crime. 00:13:31.139 --> 00:13:32.540 You ask, what is our aim? 00:13:33.240 --> 00:13:34.980 I can answer it in one word. 00:13:35.480 --> 00:13:36.500 It is victory. 00:13:37.040 --> 00:13:38.480 Victory at all costs. 00:13:38.980 --> 00:13:40.560 Victory in spite of all terror. 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:46.759 Victory, however long and however hard the road may be. 00:13:48.539 --> 00:13:52.119 So how does this, those quotes relate to this text? 00:13:52.199 --> 00:14:00.579 Well, this text raises the difficulty and the cost of faithfulness to Christ and the gospel. 00:14:01.239 --> 00:14:04.779 It poses the question, is it worth it? 00:14:04.779 --> 00:14:07.579 Is it worth it? 00:14:08.419 --> 00:14:12.459 Timothy, when I leave, life might get harder for you. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:15.799 Is it worth it? 00:14:16.259 --> 00:14:21.959 And it's going to be answered more than once in 2 Timothy, but we're going to look at it in 2 Timothy 2. 00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:23.439 So two points this morning. 00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:25.259 First, the exhortations. 00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:30.259 And then we're going to look at the motives. 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:31.860 First, the exhortation. 00:14:31.939 --> 00:14:35.879 And there are three exhortations given in the first three verses. 00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:42.319 And then three metaphors given in the next three verses to illustrate the exhortations. 00:14:42.439 --> 00:14:46.480 So you have three exhortations, verses 1 through 3. 00:14:46.919 --> 00:14:49.340 Three metaphors, verses 4 through 6. 00:14:49.659 --> 00:14:50.659 First exhortation. 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:52.080 Be strengthened. 00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:54.420 And you then, my child. 00:14:54.540 --> 00:14:55.300 See the affection. 00:14:57.360 --> 00:14:58.200 See the affection. 00:14:59.259 --> 00:15:00.420 You then, my child. 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:07.300 Be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 00:15:08.060 --> 00:15:09.460 In other words, be strengthened. 00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:14.080 Timothy, you are living in a hostile society. 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:18.480 It is hostile politically, culturally, morally. 00:15:19.160 --> 00:15:21.320 Think about our culture right now, folks. 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:24.620 Is it hostile to Christianity? 00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:29.340 Is Cambridge, in one sense, hostile to Christianity? 00:15:29.460 --> 00:15:34.100 I know in New Jersey, South Jersey, there can be hostility to the gospel. 00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:36.180 Right? 00:15:36.460 --> 00:15:37.020 Politically. 00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:38.860 Christians can be marginalized. 00:15:39.540 --> 00:15:41.379 Culturally, we can be irrelevant. 00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:43.680 Morally, we can actually be attacked. 00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:44.740 Right? 00:15:44.800 --> 00:15:48.400 Our moral standards are not well accepted right now. 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:50.919 I mean, in the past. 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:53.000 And Christians are, by the way, reacting to all this. 00:15:53.860 --> 00:15:55.299 Not always in healthy ways. 00:15:57.319 --> 00:16:03.220 Because it used to be Judeo-Christian ethics was the accepted morality in our country. 00:16:03.579 --> 00:16:04.779 Well, no longer. 00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:06.740 No longer. 00:16:06.740 --> 00:16:11.980 So you get into sexual morality, sexual identity itself. 00:16:12.200 --> 00:16:13.940 All these things being questions. 00:16:14.259 --> 00:16:16.799 And Christians are like, what's going on? 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:19.600 And we're viewed as out of step. 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:22.560 Prejudiced. 00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:23.960 Biased. 00:16:24.539 --> 00:16:24.940 Bigoted. 00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:27.080 Hurtful. 00:16:27.620 --> 00:16:28.259 Harmful. 00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:30.539 That's how we're being viewed. 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:33.039 Well, that's the world Timothy lived in. 00:16:34.019 --> 00:16:35.439 It was a hostile society. 00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:39.100 Christians were not accepted in any normative place. 00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:41.080 Politically irrelevant. 00:16:41.939 --> 00:16:43.879 Morally, out to lunch. 00:16:44.539 --> 00:16:45.980 Culturally, out of step. 00:16:47.059 --> 00:16:49.819 They just didn't fit in. 00:16:50.700 --> 00:16:52.319 And that's what he's facing. 00:16:52.319 --> 00:16:56.159 So be strengthened in the midst of a hostile society. 00:16:56.159 --> 00:17:00.379 Be strengthened in the midst of deconstructing Christians. 00:17:02.059 --> 00:17:02.179 Right? 00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:05.259 Think about in Timothy, we have Demas. 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:09.680 At one point, one of Paul's great companions. 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:11.920 You'll find Demas in a couple places. 00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:18.639 You'll find him in Philemon, where he is commended as a fellow believer, as a worker with Paul. 00:17:18.639 --> 00:17:21.039 So this is like a guy, this is Paul. 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:22.539 Demas is on the team. 00:17:22.539 --> 00:17:27.940 Now Demas in 2 Timothy, he has departed the faith. 00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:32.039 Deconstruction, people talk about a lot today in our culture. 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:34.720 Folks, it's not a new concept. 00:17:34.879 --> 00:17:35.819 It's just a new word. 00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:39.379 Christians have deconstructed from the beginning. 00:17:40.399 --> 00:17:44.220 We've just popularized it with a new word and maybe with new reasons. 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:47.980 But he had a deconstructing Christian. 00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:50.940 Christians, Demas is leaving. 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:54.079 There were false teachers and opponents. 00:17:54.519 --> 00:18:00.039 So we have in chapter 4, Alexander the coppersmith, who Paul says, did me great harm. 00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:02.120 Okay? 00:18:02.220 --> 00:18:05.539 Do we have false teachers in our land today? 00:18:06.819 --> 00:18:07.900 Deconstructing Christians? 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:09.640 Hostile culture? 00:18:09.640 --> 00:18:13.240 We can really identify with this chapter. 00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:19.240 We can find hope and strength in a chapter like this. 00:18:19.280 --> 00:18:21.480 Sometimes we feel like we don't have anything in common. 00:18:22.280 --> 00:18:25.160 If Timothy were here, he says, I know exactly what you feel. 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:34.620 Paul would be, if Paul were here, he'd be like, you, this church, this wonderful, beloved church, 00:18:34.619 --> 00:18:38.159 you need to be strengthened for the call. 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:43.599 You need to be strengthened to be faithful to gospel and mission. 00:18:44.579 --> 00:18:45.519 And then think about this. 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:50.159 So Paul's looking at Timothy, deconstructing Christians. 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:51.619 Hostile culture. 00:18:52.119 --> 00:18:55.259 And probably had this thought, and he actually knows he has this thought. 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:58.559 How's Timothy going to relate to my own imprisonment? 00:18:59.239 --> 00:19:02.279 Will my own imprisonment discourage Timothy? 00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:08.440 How would you do as a church if Sean got arrested for preaching the gospel? 00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:19.920 Our pastor, because he preached the gospel, maybe he preached on a controversial topic, faithful to scripture, 00:19:20.839 --> 00:19:26.079 and because of that, he has been labeled and accused. 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:32.639 He has done hate speech in the world's eyes. 00:19:33.379 --> 00:19:36.199 And our pastor has been arrested. 00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:39.079 How does the church respond? 00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:42.359 For some, would fear be a real temptation? 00:19:43.299 --> 00:19:44.240 What's going to happen? 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:45.819 What's going to happen to us? 00:19:46.159 --> 00:19:47.099 What's going to happen to me? 00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:49.139 What if I say the wrong thing? 00:19:49.140 --> 00:20:00.340 And so Paul's looking at Timothy, oh my, culture, false Christians, false teachers, my own imprisonment, 00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:04.280 all these things might land on Timothy. 00:20:05.140 --> 00:20:06.180 What will he do? 00:20:07.040 --> 00:20:10.680 And so Paul, because he loves Timothy, says, I need him to be strengthened. 00:20:10.840 --> 00:20:11.660 Notice what he says. 00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:17.100 Be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 00:20:17.820 --> 00:20:23.160 Be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 00:20:23.380 --> 00:20:26.440 In other words, Timothy, he wasn't giving him a pep talk. 00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:29.200 This wasn't like, now Timothy, be strong. 00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:31.140 This isn't like a football coach in a locker room. 00:20:31.400 --> 00:20:33.320 All right, guys, gird up. 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:35.360 We've, you know, we're going out there and go get them. 00:20:35.660 --> 00:20:39.540 They all get worked up in a fury and go out and then lose the game, you know. 00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:40.980 But they get all worked up. 00:20:42.059 --> 00:20:44.319 That's not what Timothy, that's not what Paul's doing to Timothy. 00:20:45.339 --> 00:20:46.480 It's not a pep talk. 00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:49.079 It's not motivational speaking. 00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:52.119 You know, motivating you, be all you can be. 00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:54.480 It's not the army phrase, be all you can be. 00:20:55.139 --> 00:20:56.960 You know, that's not what he's saying. 00:20:57.799 --> 00:21:01.539 He's saying, I want you to be strengthened by grace. 00:21:01.579 --> 00:21:03.339 Not by personal courage. 00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:06.440 Not by self-effort. 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:08.799 I love this quote by John Stott. 00:21:09.539 --> 00:21:12.579 In his commentary on 2 Timothy, he said the following. 00:21:13.619 --> 00:21:20.279 Of course, if his exhortation had stopped there, be strengthened, it would have been futile, even absurd. 00:21:21.220 --> 00:21:31.299 He might as well have told a snail to be quick or a horse to fly as to command a man as timid as Timothy to be strong. 00:21:31.299 --> 00:21:38.559 But Paul's call to fortitude is Christian, not stoical. 00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:45.659 It's not a summons to Timothy to be strong in himself, to set his jaw and grit his teeth, 00:21:46.379 --> 00:21:54.460 but to be emirately strengthened by means of the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 00:21:54.460 --> 00:21:59.799 He wants him to be strengthened by grace. 00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:02.779 Brothers and sisters, this is the story of the Bible. 00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:06.740 The Bible's not filled with glorious heroes. 00:22:07.880 --> 00:22:08.279 Right? 00:22:08.940 --> 00:22:10.620 It's filled with a glorious God. 00:22:11.220 --> 00:22:14.319 I mean, if you think about the Old Testament, think of the story of Gideon. 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:21.399 And if you know the story at all, God calls him to do something that's unimaginable. 00:22:22.379 --> 00:22:24.200 Gideon does not want to do it. 00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:28.679 And so then he puts out a fleece, you know, and the fleece is, and I always get it confused. 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:30.019 Is it wet first, then dry? 00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:31.059 Like, and the ground's dry. 00:22:31.059 --> 00:22:32.480 I get the story confused. 00:22:32.599 --> 00:22:33.839 But, you know, what's going on? 00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:36.619 And you can just tell Gideon does not want to do this. 00:22:36.919 --> 00:22:38.379 And yet God strengthens him. 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:40.339 Think about Samson. 00:22:40.339 --> 00:22:43.119 And one of the things he's strong, but isn't he a mess? 00:22:44.059 --> 00:22:48.500 I mean, Samson is just, I mean, it's one of the stories in the Old Testament, like, what a messy guy. 00:22:48.619 --> 00:22:51.639 Why would God even use someone like this? 00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:56.539 I mean, you couldn't have a more up and down guy than Samson. 00:22:57.399 --> 00:23:00.539 And yet even there, at the end, God strengthens him. 00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:08.579 You know, after they blind him and put him between two pillars, he calls out to God and God strengthens him. 00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:15.500 David, you know, one of the great figures of the Old Testament, he was a son not even worth considering to be a king. 00:23:16.099 --> 00:23:18.259 They didn't even think about bringing him in from the field. 00:23:19.919 --> 00:23:21.639 You know, Samson goes by, like, who's going to be the king? 00:23:21.699 --> 00:23:23.480 It's going to come from Jesse's family. 00:23:23.799 --> 00:23:25.019 Well, him, him, him, him. 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:27.179 They didn't even think about calling David. 00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:28.119 It's not until the very end. 00:23:28.159 --> 00:23:29.000 Do you have any other sons? 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:30.000 Yes, David. 00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:31.619 And then he calls David. 00:23:31.619 --> 00:23:38.599 And then David does exploits, not because he was strong, because God was strong for him. 00:23:39.659 --> 00:23:41.039 And it just goes on and on. 00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:42.819 The New Testament's very similar. 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:45.179 You know, Peter, messy. 00:23:46.459 --> 00:23:49.039 If you ever worry about you're a messy Christian, can God use you? 00:23:49.459 --> 00:23:50.759 Keep reading the Bible. 00:23:51.379 --> 00:23:52.599 It will encourage you. 00:23:52.599 --> 00:24:00.599 God uses weak and messy people to accomplish his plans strengthened by his grace. 00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:04.799 I mean, it's the story of my life. 00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.659 Weak, messy. 00:24:07.099 --> 00:24:08.419 Start, stop. 00:24:10.939 --> 00:24:16.299 Do things that I shouldn't do and don't do things that I know I should do. 00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:20.419 And yet God's like, it's the story. 00:24:20.519 --> 00:24:21.440 It's the one thing. 00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:23.759 Age gives some things. 00:24:23.839 --> 00:24:27.500 But the one thing, I've been a Christian for almost 55 years. 00:24:28.099 --> 00:24:28.559 It's this. 00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:30.899 God is constant and I am not. 00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:33.180 God is unchangeable. 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:34.180 I am changeable. 00:24:34.659 --> 00:24:36.220 God is always faithful. 00:24:37.159 --> 00:24:38.579 God can do great things. 00:24:38.579 --> 00:24:43.859 And you just have story after story after story of life that shows this. 00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:45.259 The Bible shows it. 00:24:46.119 --> 00:24:49.200 And Paul, by the way, Paul knew this personally. 00:24:50.140 --> 00:24:54.039 So Paul's telling Timothy that he personally experienced. 00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:57.279 He knew the strength that came from grace. 00:24:57.579 --> 00:25:02.500 If you're in 2 Timothy 2, just turn a page, flip over to chapter 4, verse 17. 00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:10.079 And actually, let me back in to verse 16 in chapter 4. 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:15.180 So these are now the final of the final words of Paul to Timothy. 00:25:16.099 --> 00:25:19.879 And so he sort of shares, he's sharing stories, concluding. 00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:26.480 And he says this, at my first defense, no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:28.440 Wow. 00:25:28.440 --> 00:25:36.900 How would you like to be a Christian, serving God with all your heart, facing death, and all your friends leave? 00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:41.820 Jesus certainly knew that. 00:25:41.820 --> 00:25:43.720 But his friends leave. 00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:46.400 And he's gracious and generous to them. 00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:48.360 May it not be charged against them. 00:25:49.040 --> 00:25:50.080 What a gracious heart. 00:25:50.079 --> 00:25:52.139 And then verse 17. 00:25:52.139 --> 00:25:58.359 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me. 00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:14.000 The Lord stood by me and strengthened me so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:18.559 Because Paul knew God's strength. 00:26:18.680 --> 00:26:20.240 So here's that exhortation. 00:26:20.339 --> 00:26:21.039 Be strengthened. 00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:23.460 Second exhortation is entrust. 00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:25.319 So in chapter 2, verse 2. 00:26:26.059 --> 00:26:27.579 So he goes, now be strengthened, Timothy. 00:26:27.579 --> 00:26:32.759 Secondly, now entrust to faithful men who will also be able to teach others. 00:26:33.199 --> 00:26:36.379 So entrust this message of the gospel to others. 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:40.980 Here's what discipleship, if you're a Christian here, here's what God calls you to, right? 00:26:41.139 --> 00:26:42.799 He calls you to have faith in him. 00:26:43.139 --> 00:26:46.679 And then he calls you to pass that on to someone else. 00:26:47.379 --> 00:26:50.779 Now you entrust this message to others. 00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:53.500 You entrust it to others. 00:26:53.579 --> 00:26:55.079 You help others get there. 00:26:55.079 --> 00:26:58.779 Now he's obviously talking pastor, in one sense, to pastor. 00:26:59.579 --> 00:27:02.460 But we're all called to discipleship. 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:05.259 To make disciples. 00:27:05.399 --> 00:27:08.059 That's Matthew 28 in the Great Commission. 00:27:08.139 --> 00:27:09.199 To make disciples. 00:27:09.579 --> 00:27:11.559 So discipleship looks to pass it along. 00:27:12.259 --> 00:27:15.079 We have a number of women authors in our church. 00:27:15.199 --> 00:27:16.259 My daughter's actually one of them. 00:27:17.179 --> 00:27:19.039 And three of them, they're published authors. 00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:22.480 And when I look at these ladies and how they live their life, 00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:25.420 their writing is to pass it along to others. 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:29.039 It's like, well, God's done something in me. 00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:32.779 He's convicting me of things. 00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:34.559 He's put passions in my heart. 00:27:34.839 --> 00:27:38.480 Well, now I'm writing to pass it along to others. 00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:43.460 So how do you pass it along to others? 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:46.360 Think about the stories in this church. 00:27:47.599 --> 00:27:47.799 Right? 00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:48.720 I look out and say, okay. 00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:50.339 Differences. 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:51.640 Okay. 00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:52.980 What's your story? 00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:55.259 How's God been faithful? 00:27:55.920 --> 00:28:01.279 How can you pass his faithfulness and his story in your life on to others 00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:03.299 so they might know Christ? 00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:08.159 By the way, hard times can really be strong discipleship times. 00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:12.720 Because, right, a lot of things around you that hold you up are gone. 00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:15.279 And all of a sudden, it is you and Jesus. 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:17.519 And sometimes you feel it's just you. 00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:21.980 And a lot of times we feel like we're in situations alone and God doesn't see. 00:28:22.639 --> 00:28:23.779 Theologically, we know he does. 00:28:23.859 --> 00:28:25.599 But experientially, we feel he doesn't. 00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:26.899 That we are alone. 00:28:26.900 --> 00:28:29.960 And then all of a sudden, you're on the other side. 00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:31.780 And you look back. 00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:33.960 And you see something very different. 00:28:35.560 --> 00:28:36.759 See, God was faithful. 00:28:37.780 --> 00:28:38.800 God was there. 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:39.519 God helped me. 00:28:39.600 --> 00:28:40.980 God stood with me. 00:28:41.460 --> 00:28:43.820 And ultimately, God did strengthen me. 00:28:44.140 --> 00:28:46.420 Now, share that with others. 00:28:47.360 --> 00:28:52.340 And so I think that church life, you know, if you're older in the Lord or parents, 00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:53.860 what are you doing? 00:28:53.859 --> 00:28:56.939 You are trying to bring the gospel to the next generation. 00:28:58.759 --> 00:29:00.979 And by the way, that's not just a parental responsibility. 00:29:01.879 --> 00:29:10.439 Folks, when you see young people, the power of lives lived for the gospel to young people is massive. 00:29:10.979 --> 00:29:16.799 We have a group of teens that, as they've gone through youth ministry, they're now young adults. 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:19.599 They have come back and they serve in our teen ministry. 00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:21.199 Parents are training. 00:29:21.599 --> 00:29:22.679 But you know what their lives say? 00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:24.560 I know my parents are going to tell me to go to church. 00:29:24.680 --> 00:29:25.900 Like, I know they have to tell me that. 00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:28.120 They're going to tell me to read my Bible and do the right things. 00:29:28.380 --> 00:29:29.820 But these people have choices. 00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:32.560 There's no parent telling them to serve in the church. 00:29:33.820 --> 00:29:40.560 So if you're younger here and married or single, you have all the freedom in the world. 00:29:40.640 --> 00:29:42.259 There's no one telling you how to live. 00:29:42.560 --> 00:29:47.539 When you live for Christ, as a single person, as a young person, as a young couple, 00:29:47.779 --> 00:29:50.000 you are declaring the worth of Christ. 00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:50.079 Christ. 00:29:50.660 --> 00:29:53.059 And you could be doing a lot of other things. 00:29:54.019 --> 00:29:55.819 Remember a single man, he lived with us for a while. 00:29:56.319 --> 00:29:59.240 And he was in financial management. 00:29:59.619 --> 00:30:00.940 He made a lot of money. 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:03.819 And I always looked at him and said, but you don't live to your means. 00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:06.960 Because you have other views in mind. 00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:08.059 You have other goals. 00:30:08.339 --> 00:30:09.180 Other priorities. 00:30:09.180 --> 00:30:12.259 And he was such an example to me. 00:30:12.620 --> 00:30:14.360 Because I thought, he has choice. 00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:16.640 He could spend differently. 00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:18.580 And no one could say anything. 00:30:20.160 --> 00:30:23.160 But he chooses something different. 00:30:23.840 --> 00:30:25.900 And it's a powerful testimony. 00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:30.240 So please don't ever underestimate the testimony. 00:30:30.380 --> 00:30:34.400 There's a single woman in our church who really wants to be married. 00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:35.160 She's older. 00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:37.960 And there's no prospects. 00:30:39.920 --> 00:30:40.940 She's got some good friends. 00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:42.480 She's a very dear friend of our family. 00:30:43.360 --> 00:30:46.240 And every time I see her, one of the things I say to her is, you know, your life, every 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:50.620 day you come to church, your life declares to me, Christ is worth it. 00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:52.780 Because you know what? 00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:54.160 You could have a man. 00:30:55.480 --> 00:30:58.080 It would not be hard to find. 00:30:58.240 --> 00:30:59.420 You're a wonderful person. 00:30:59.580 --> 00:31:01.320 It would not be hard to find a guy. 00:31:01.319 --> 00:31:03.960 It might be very hard to find a godly guy. 00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:08.519 So you suffer, in a sense, in loneliness. 00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:12.919 But in that suffering, you declare to me, and I know where she sits. 00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:14.460 I'm picturing her right now in my eyes. 00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:17.519 And I'll look at her, and I said, her life tells me Christ is worth it. 00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:25.019 Because I don't have just a human happy ending story. 00:31:25.779 --> 00:31:29.599 Because you're following Christ, I know he's going to bring you that dream guy. 00:31:30.159 --> 00:31:31.139 I don't know that. 00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:34.179 But her life declares something to me. 00:31:35.399 --> 00:31:41.339 And now her life testifies to a whole other generation of young people. 00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:43.279 It does. 00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:50.579 My youngest son looks at her life and says, yeah, her life informs me how I should be living 00:31:50.579 --> 00:31:52.480 and what's most important. 00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:53.980 So he entrusted it. 00:31:54.120 --> 00:31:54.539 And what knows? 00:31:54.740 --> 00:31:58.160 To reliable, faithful men who can teach others. 00:31:58.400 --> 00:32:03.940 And reliable, that idea of reliable is we need to be faithful to the truth. 00:32:03.940 --> 00:32:12.620 One of the things I love about Sean is his commitment to sound doctrine and theology. 00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:16.580 He serves in the theology committee of sovereign race churches. 00:32:16.579 --> 00:32:18.759 I'm grateful he does. 00:32:19.439 --> 00:32:23.399 Because he's a man who's going to parse over every word. 00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:27.319 Who's going to think about it and think deeply about it. 00:32:27.319 --> 00:32:32.179 And he uses all the intellect that God's given him, all the skills, all the training to do that. 00:32:32.339 --> 00:32:34.059 He has those things that I don't have. 00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:36.700 I'm not on that committee and shouldn't be. 00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:37.919 Okay? 00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:41.560 His knowledge, he takes there and he applies it. 00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:41.980 Why? 00:32:42.060 --> 00:32:44.300 And I think, oh, Lord, that's a gift to us. 00:32:44.580 --> 00:32:46.740 It's a gift for generations yet to come. 00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:49.880 You know, that's why our statement of faith was so important. 00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:51.759 It took years to develop. 00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:54.360 And he served so faithfully on that committee. 00:32:54.680 --> 00:32:54.940 Why? 00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:56.259 Because truth matters. 00:32:57.480 --> 00:32:59.120 Here's what you're being assaulted with today. 00:32:59.320 --> 00:33:00.300 Truth does not matter. 00:33:02.500 --> 00:33:03.400 And it does. 00:33:03.400 --> 00:33:08.360 You know, loving one another in error is not love. 00:33:09.380 --> 00:33:11.780 We need to love one another in truth. 00:33:12.300 --> 00:33:14.400 So, strengthen and exhort. 00:33:14.600 --> 00:33:16.720 Third, and this gets to the heart of it, suffer. 00:33:16.920 --> 00:33:17.720 Look at verse 3. 00:33:18.360 --> 00:33:23.840 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 00:33:24.380 --> 00:33:27.600 This gets to the heart of this part of the letter. 00:33:27.599 --> 00:33:33.119 It's the second time Paul references suffering to Timothy in 2 Timothy. 00:33:33.240 --> 00:33:35.579 In chapter 1, verse 8, he says this, 00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:42.299 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner, 00:33:43.419 --> 00:33:48.619 but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God. 00:33:49.480 --> 00:33:54.839 Three times in chapter 1, Paul tells Timothy not to be ashamed. 00:33:54.839 --> 00:33:57.720 He says it, don't be ashamed, instruction to Timothy. 00:33:58.119 --> 00:34:01.539 Paul then says, I am not ashamed, even though I'm in chains. 00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:08.199 And he also instructs, talks about Onesimus, Onesimus, who was not ashamed of Paul's chains 00:34:08.199 --> 00:34:09.279 and of the gospel. 00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:12.539 So, it's suffer for this great gospel. 00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:14.699 Don't be ashamed, but suffer. 00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:17.019 See, Paul assumes this. 00:34:17.539 --> 00:34:19.860 Suffering for the gospel is the norm. 00:34:19.860 --> 00:34:25.700 And I don't know where the church stands, and I don't want to be controversial at all. 00:34:25.940 --> 00:34:26.840 I don't seek to be that. 00:34:27.280 --> 00:34:30.300 I think Americans are having a hard time with that message. 00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:37.500 Because American Christians have not typically, historically, suffered in our country for the gospel. 00:34:38.680 --> 00:34:40.519 Because it was the dominant ethic. 00:34:40.840 --> 00:34:43.260 It was the assumed foundations. 00:34:43.260 --> 00:34:49.400 And there can be romanticized and inaccurate views of our history and all that, 00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:56.240 and selective applications of all that, and selective inclusions of all that to that. 00:34:56.360 --> 00:35:01.280 But the idea of suffering that's now coming, it does seem like it's on the precipice. 00:35:02.560 --> 00:35:05.380 You know, there's predictions of persecutions all the time. 00:35:06.280 --> 00:35:08.260 Christians should stay away from predictions. 00:35:08.260 --> 00:35:12.880 Christians, they are wrong over and over and over again. 00:35:13.160 --> 00:35:14.800 And yet, somehow, they still grab our attention. 00:35:16.060 --> 00:35:20.820 But I can see out and say, you know, I can see the storm clouds gathering for persecution. 00:35:21.940 --> 00:35:23.100 Will they dissipate? 00:35:23.240 --> 00:35:23.520 Maybe. 00:35:24.400 --> 00:35:25.720 Will they intensify? 00:35:27.400 --> 00:35:27.840 Maybe. 00:35:29.060 --> 00:35:33.020 Will this storm pass us, or will it hit us? 00:35:33.960 --> 00:35:36.460 And then how will we respond as Christians? 00:35:36.460 --> 00:35:40.199 Right now, you see a lot of anger and a lot of fear. 00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:44.179 Folks, this was the norm in the world. 00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:46.619 This was the norm. 00:35:47.260 --> 00:35:48.500 It's just not our norm. 00:35:48.800 --> 00:35:52.539 And by the way, not only is it the norm historically, it's still the norm globally. 00:35:53.679 --> 00:35:55.199 It's still somewhat the norm globally. 00:35:55.300 --> 00:36:01.039 So Paul assumes, as does the New Testament, that suffering is the norm. 00:36:01.039 --> 00:36:05.280 Here are the words of Jesus in John chapter 15. 00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:12.060 If the world hates you, we're on the brink of experiencing that. 00:36:12.540 --> 00:36:17.300 If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 00:36:17.780 --> 00:36:21.760 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. 00:36:22.220 --> 00:36:29.200 But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 00:36:29.199 --> 00:36:33.599 Remember the word I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master. 00:36:33.879 --> 00:36:38.099 If they persecute me, they will also persecute you. 00:36:38.619 --> 00:36:40.519 This is the words of our Savior. 00:36:40.659 --> 00:36:45.679 This is what he is telling us, and this is what Paul is trying to prepare Timothy for. 00:36:46.179 --> 00:36:50.939 So three exhortations, three metaphors quickly to support those exhortations. 00:36:50.940 --> 00:36:53.740 So you see them in verses four through six. 00:36:53.820 --> 00:36:54.460 What are the metaphors? 00:36:54.840 --> 00:36:57.720 Soldier, athlete, farmer. 00:36:58.700 --> 00:37:01.400 Soldier, athlete, farmer. 00:37:02.039 --> 00:37:04.760 What do they all speak to as metaphors? 00:37:05.500 --> 00:37:14.320 Focus, devotion, discipline, perseverance, effort, being undistracted. 00:37:14.579 --> 00:37:14.760 Right? 00:37:14.760 --> 00:37:17.040 Think about an athlete. 00:37:18.100 --> 00:37:18.940 Think about an athlete. 00:37:19.020 --> 00:37:20.220 You want to be an Olympic athlete? 00:37:20.540 --> 00:37:21.360 You'll be focused. 00:37:21.800 --> 00:37:22.520 You'll be devoted. 00:37:22.860 --> 00:37:23.720 You'll need discipline. 00:37:24.040 --> 00:37:25.080 You'll have to persevere. 00:37:25.360 --> 00:37:26.120 It'll take effort. 00:37:26.420 --> 00:37:28.320 You can't be distracted. 00:37:29.360 --> 00:37:30.560 Soldiers, same thing. 00:37:30.840 --> 00:37:32.120 Farmer, same thing. 00:37:32.760 --> 00:37:34.080 Here's what I think is interesting. 00:37:34.880 --> 00:37:41.400 Whereas a soldier and an athlete can get glory, a farmer doesn't. 00:37:44.760 --> 00:37:45.240 Right? 00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:46.260 Soldiers can get glory. 00:37:46.360 --> 00:37:51.580 Medals, ceremonies, athletes get awards. 00:37:51.660 --> 00:37:52.420 They get glory. 00:37:53.620 --> 00:37:55.840 When has there last been farmer of the year? 00:37:57.500 --> 00:37:59.240 Hey, have you seen this farmer? 00:38:00.020 --> 00:38:01.920 He is really making a difference. 00:38:03.340 --> 00:38:04.840 Farmers just work. 00:38:05.940 --> 00:38:07.060 It's not glorious. 00:38:08.060 --> 00:38:09.780 It doesn't seem grand. 00:38:10.720 --> 00:38:12.040 It's not glamorous. 00:38:12.039 --> 00:38:16.039 I think there's another metaphor he could have used here. 00:38:16.440 --> 00:38:16.739 Mother. 00:38:18.360 --> 00:38:22.380 Just long work over a long time. 00:38:23.119 --> 00:38:24.019 No glory. 00:38:24.820 --> 00:38:26.500 No words, awards. 00:38:26.679 --> 00:38:27.420 No glamour. 00:38:27.840 --> 00:38:37.380 And yet, same faithful, devoted, devotion, focus, perseverance, effort, undistracted. 00:38:39.579 --> 00:38:41.579 Farmer works behind the scenes often. 00:38:42.940 --> 00:38:44.179 Christians, we can do the same. 00:38:44.599 --> 00:38:50.300 There might be the athlete and soldier, but what about the farmer? 00:38:51.059 --> 00:38:53.139 And then Paul says in verse 7, you know what? 00:38:53.159 --> 00:38:53.940 I've said some things. 00:38:54.039 --> 00:38:54.619 Think it over. 00:38:55.579 --> 00:38:56.759 The Lord will give you understanding. 00:38:56.900 --> 00:38:58.099 So let me tell you the same thing. 00:38:58.480 --> 00:39:03.340 Think it over, and the Lord will give you understanding to this. 00:39:04.800 --> 00:39:06.099 There's the exhortation. 00:39:06.259 --> 00:39:07.219 Secondly, the motives. 00:39:07.219 --> 00:39:08.399 And there are several. 00:39:09.379 --> 00:39:12.519 All three metaphors point to something, don't they? 00:39:13.299 --> 00:39:15.719 All three metaphors point to reward. 00:39:16.119 --> 00:39:18.859 Victory, crown, harvest. 00:39:19.719 --> 00:39:31.179 In other words, if you do these hard things over a long period of time, whether they are glamorous and glorious or mundane and just hard work, there is reward. 00:39:31.179 --> 00:39:34.059 Victory, crown, harvest. 00:39:34.739 --> 00:39:42.259 And then in verse 8, we have a great phrase in this exhortation and now in this motive of the exhortation. 00:39:42.519 --> 00:39:44.599 Remember Jesus Christ. 00:39:45.599 --> 00:39:47.759 Remember Jesus Christ. 00:39:48.119 --> 00:39:49.079 And what does he highlight? 00:39:49.419 --> 00:39:50.480 He highlights two things, doesn't he? 00:39:50.480 --> 00:39:51.679 The offspring of David. 00:39:52.159 --> 00:39:52.839 What's he highlighting? 00:39:53.159 --> 00:39:54.199 He was fully human. 00:39:54.839 --> 00:39:55.619 What else is he highlighting? 00:39:55.859 --> 00:39:56.619 He was our king. 00:39:56.619 --> 00:40:00.980 Remember Jesus, who is your king. 00:40:02.599 --> 00:40:04.179 And what else does he say? 00:40:04.900 --> 00:40:05.759 Remember this. 00:40:06.440 --> 00:40:08.900 Remember he was risen from the dead. 00:40:09.980 --> 00:40:11.099 That's his divinity. 00:40:11.679 --> 00:40:12.779 And that's his victory. 00:40:14.339 --> 00:40:15.420 Why remember? 00:40:16.579 --> 00:40:18.159 Because, folks, we tend to forget. 00:40:21.960 --> 00:40:24.839 Old Testament, if you say, boy, 00:40:24.840 --> 00:40:29.920 roots of sins, pride, certainly great root. 00:40:30.240 --> 00:40:31.620 But what is one of their practices? 00:40:31.780 --> 00:40:36.360 What's one of the things that always seem to just trip up Israel? 00:40:36.780 --> 00:40:37.660 They forgot. 00:40:39.780 --> 00:40:40.700 Psalms, remember. 00:40:41.220 --> 00:40:41.720 Remember. 00:40:42.220 --> 00:40:42.720 Remember. 00:40:43.340 --> 00:40:43.980 Remember. 00:40:45.400 --> 00:40:46.120 What are Christians? 00:40:46.300 --> 00:40:47.019 We can forget. 00:40:47.640 --> 00:40:48.280 What's the meal? 00:40:50.380 --> 00:40:50.900 Remember. 00:40:51.740 --> 00:40:52.539 Do this. 00:40:53.039 --> 00:40:53.760 Do this. 00:40:53.760 --> 00:40:53.820 Do this. 00:40:54.840 --> 00:40:55.900 And remember to me. 00:40:56.460 --> 00:40:59.100 Because tomorrow, you may forget this. 00:41:00.640 --> 00:41:02.960 Tomorrow, you may forget the grace of God, 00:41:03.240 --> 00:41:04.559 the beauty of Christ, 00:41:05.220 --> 00:41:07.240 what he did on the cross for you. 00:41:07.559 --> 00:41:09.559 And you might get lost in your day 00:41:09.559 --> 00:41:11.460 and condemned in your day. 00:41:11.920 --> 00:41:14.480 You may not be the Christian you want to be. 00:41:14.880 --> 00:41:15.360 Tomorrow. 00:41:16.940 --> 00:41:18.300 So remember this. 00:41:19.579 --> 00:41:23.740 Christ died for your sins. 00:41:23.739 --> 00:41:24.739 He died for your sins. 00:41:24.739 --> 00:41:25.739 He died for your sins. 00:41:25.739 --> 00:41:26.739 He died for your sins. 00:41:26.739 --> 00:41:27.419 He died for your sins. 00:41:27.419 --> 00:41:28.559 He died for your sins. 00:41:28.559 --> 00:41:29.399 He died for your sins. 00:41:29.859 --> 00:41:31.159 Remember this. 00:41:32.019 --> 00:41:33.239 Remember, he is the king. 00:41:33.459 --> 00:41:34.359 He rules. 00:41:35.259 --> 00:41:37.439 Paul's trying to bring great realities to Timothy. 00:41:38.439 --> 00:41:40.039 Yeah, I know there's Caesar. 00:41:40.579 --> 00:41:41.659 Don't be impressed. 00:41:42.379 --> 00:41:45.879 I know there's Rome and all the power and might of Rome. 00:41:45.880 --> 00:41:47.280 Don't be impressed. 00:41:47.280 --> 00:41:47.300 Don't be impressed. 00:41:47.460 --> 00:41:49.140 We have the king of kings. 00:41:50.260 --> 00:41:54.780 We have a savior who was risen for you. 00:41:55.000 --> 00:41:56.860 Remember, because we can forget. 00:41:57.760 --> 00:42:00.380 And then he's not only having Timothy remember Jesus, 00:42:00.500 --> 00:42:03.200 he's then reminding him of the power of God's word. 00:42:03.280 --> 00:42:04.140 Look at verse nine. 00:42:04.139 --> 00:42:06.099 So remember Jesus. 00:42:06.500 --> 00:42:08.059 And then in verse nine, he goes on. 00:42:08.819 --> 00:42:12.879 Oh, I'm suffering, you know, and I'm bound with chains as a criminal. 00:42:13.359 --> 00:42:17.079 But the word of God is not bound. 00:42:17.519 --> 00:42:19.279 The word of God is not bound. 00:42:19.579 --> 00:42:20.599 I may be bound. 00:42:20.920 --> 00:42:22.139 God's word is not bound. 00:42:23.980 --> 00:42:25.460 Folks, don't predict this. 00:42:25.679 --> 00:42:29.199 If you're a pastor, if Sean was ever arrested, don't predict this. 00:42:29.519 --> 00:42:30.779 This is not a prophetic word. 00:42:31.359 --> 00:42:31.599 Okay? 00:42:32.480 --> 00:42:33.339 Don't predict it at all. 00:42:33.860 --> 00:42:35.500 But the word of God is not bound. 00:42:38.219 --> 00:42:39.319 God is not dependent. 00:42:39.440 --> 00:42:42.000 God is not going to wring his hands of what to do next. 00:42:43.179 --> 00:42:45.559 He says, oh, I've got many agents. 00:42:45.980 --> 00:42:48.400 I've got many ministers of the gospel. 00:42:49.619 --> 00:42:55.139 I've got a whole slew of people that can continue to testify to the grace of God. 00:42:56.239 --> 00:42:58.360 And so, yes, the gospel will not be bound. 00:42:58.440 --> 00:43:00.679 The word of God will not be bound. 00:43:00.679 --> 00:43:03.879 And here's what I think Paul's trying to communicate to Timothy. 00:43:05.039 --> 00:43:08.059 Circumstances may be different than they seem. 00:43:08.419 --> 00:43:10.659 Things are not always as they appear. 00:43:11.119 --> 00:43:13.799 Circumstances don't define ultimate reality. 00:43:14.139 --> 00:43:15.339 Paul says, I'm bound. 00:43:15.759 --> 00:43:16.819 God's word is not bound. 00:43:19.039 --> 00:43:21.919 I'm sure for Timothy, he says, this doesn't make sense. 00:43:22.679 --> 00:43:24.440 Paul shouldn't be bound. 00:43:25.000 --> 00:43:26.419 What's that mean for the gospel? 00:43:26.420 --> 00:43:29.280 Paul's saying, nothing. 00:43:32.780 --> 00:43:34.360 The word of God is not bound. 00:43:35.579 --> 00:43:36.519 Folks, what hope? 00:43:37.599 --> 00:43:39.619 How would that strengthen Timothy? 00:43:41.720 --> 00:43:42.059 Wow. 00:43:42.059 --> 00:43:49.940 Paul, Paul, bound, facing death, is not wringing his hands. 00:43:50.500 --> 00:43:56.860 Not only is God not wringing his hands, Paul's not wringing his hands of, you've got to get me out. 00:43:58.059 --> 00:44:00.920 What will happen to the church without me? 00:44:01.440 --> 00:44:04.119 What will happen to the truth of the gospel without me? 00:44:04.119 --> 00:44:06.960 No, the word of God, not bound. 00:44:07.940 --> 00:44:08.679 Not bound. 00:44:08.779 --> 00:44:09.920 It's power. 00:44:10.719 --> 00:44:13.799 And then in verse 10, what's Paul telling Timothy? 00:44:14.259 --> 00:44:15.380 And what's he telling us? 00:44:15.920 --> 00:44:17.819 He's telling us it's worth it. 00:44:18.199 --> 00:44:19.119 Look what he says in verse 10. 00:44:19.119 --> 00:44:28.819 And therefore, I endure everything for the sake of the elect that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 00:44:30.839 --> 00:44:35.480 Paul's saying, oh, Timothy, it's worth it. 00:44:36.679 --> 00:44:39.819 Chapter 4, verse 8 really makes this clear. 00:44:40.639 --> 00:44:45.259 After Paul talks about his time of departure, he says, I fought the good fight. 00:44:45.260 --> 00:44:47.180 I have finished the race. 00:44:47.460 --> 00:44:48.840 I have kept the faith. 00:44:49.660 --> 00:44:59.980 In verse 8, henceforth, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day. 00:45:00.740 --> 00:45:09.100 And Timothy, and Cambridge Church, Trinity Church here at Cambridge, you as well. 00:45:09.099 --> 00:45:16.940 Not only to Paul and to Timothy, not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing. 00:45:17.539 --> 00:45:22.940 There is reward, award for all that have loved his appearing. 00:45:23.319 --> 00:45:25.079 It is worth it. 00:45:26.679 --> 00:45:31.400 And the final motive he gives, and it's a weighty motive for Paul. 00:45:31.400 --> 00:45:38.840 And actually, verses 12 and 13, 11 through 13, probably were an early Christian hymn is what they thought about it. 00:45:39.019 --> 00:45:40.599 It's got two couplets in it. 00:45:41.160 --> 00:45:44.220 There's a positive and a negative motivation in them. 00:45:44.900 --> 00:45:48.440 Two couplets in verses 11 and 12, and then also 12 and 13. 00:45:48.880 --> 00:45:49.660 So what's it say? 00:45:49.940 --> 00:45:52.280 If we die with him, we live with him. 00:45:52.639 --> 00:45:53.559 That's a promise. 00:45:54.840 --> 00:45:55.639 It's a promise. 00:45:55.820 --> 00:45:57.119 If you die with him, you live with him. 00:45:57.119 --> 00:45:59.779 And if you endure, you reign. 00:46:01.079 --> 00:46:02.420 So there's motive here. 00:46:03.159 --> 00:46:05.299 If you endure, you reign. 00:46:05.799 --> 00:46:12.859 There's also warning in this couplet in the next two verses, in verses 12 and 13. 00:46:13.239 --> 00:46:16.019 If we deny him, he will also deny us. 00:46:17.339 --> 00:46:18.739 Paul is a truth teller. 00:46:19.960 --> 00:46:21.179 He's also giving warnings. 00:46:21.279 --> 00:46:25.799 And by the way, folks, when Scripture gives us warnings, please view that as God's kindness. 00:46:27.119 --> 00:46:28.679 Recently, I've talked to our church recently. 00:46:29.199 --> 00:46:29.960 This is an aside. 00:46:32.699 --> 00:46:34.079 How do you view warnings? 00:46:34.960 --> 00:46:39.759 In national parks, if you read any of the things in national parks, do you know how many times people die because they ignore warnings? 00:46:41.119 --> 00:46:41.719 They do. 00:46:42.039 --> 00:46:45.019 I mean, people still walk up to Bison in Yellowstone. 00:46:45.559 --> 00:46:47.500 And, like, do selfies with them. 00:46:48.299 --> 00:46:49.980 And then they get gored. 00:46:50.880 --> 00:46:51.199 You know? 00:46:51.779 --> 00:46:54.059 And you're just like, what are you doing? 00:46:54.059 --> 00:46:58.239 You know, I've seen selfies in the Grand Canyon, literally, where someone stood on a wall. 00:46:58.599 --> 00:47:00.279 There's nothing but air on the other side. 00:47:00.360 --> 00:47:01.099 And they did this. 00:47:03.259 --> 00:47:05.279 And, folks, people fall. 00:47:06.420 --> 00:47:08.900 Like, they fall off the falls in Yosemite. 00:47:09.519 --> 00:47:11.559 I mean, I'm like, the warnings are there. 00:47:11.900 --> 00:47:12.380 Saw a woman. 00:47:12.840 --> 00:47:13.820 She ignored the warnings. 00:47:13.940 --> 00:47:19.039 She decided to put her hands in one of the hot spots in Yellowstone. 00:47:19.039 --> 00:47:24.920 And she, it's like, this is boiling water that can also be acidic. 00:47:26.119 --> 00:47:28.039 And she put her hand in. 00:47:28.679 --> 00:47:33.739 And you're sort of like, okay, I don't get this. 00:47:35.039 --> 00:47:36.199 Warnings are grace. 00:47:37.779 --> 00:47:42.199 So please hear this warning from Paul as God's gracious warning to us. 00:47:42.539 --> 00:47:44.820 If you deny, he denies. 00:47:44.820 --> 00:47:53.180 And this idea of faithless, if we're faithless, he'll be faithful, that could be an encouragement, maybe comfort. 00:47:53.680 --> 00:48:02.120 I think it's more likely to be a warning that if we are faithless to God, he will be faithful and judge that. 00:48:04.660 --> 00:48:09.160 Now, I'm not talking, folks, because right now I can see everybody like, okay, that's me. 00:48:09.480 --> 00:48:09.780 Right? 00:48:10.100 --> 00:48:11.019 I'm faithless. 00:48:11.019 --> 00:48:14.259 This is hardened indifference. 00:48:15.159 --> 00:48:16.480 Hardened sin. 00:48:17.079 --> 00:48:18.480 This is not the stumble. 00:48:19.519 --> 00:48:19.719 Right? 00:48:20.079 --> 00:48:22.920 This is not, I'm trying, but I'm falling. 00:48:23.739 --> 00:48:25.519 This is, no, I don't care. 00:48:27.219 --> 00:48:37.340 If you're walking in known faithlessness and sinful indifference, Scripture would not bring comforts at that moment. 00:48:37.340 --> 00:48:42.220 Scripture, because God loves your heart, loves your soul, is going to warn you. 00:48:42.760 --> 00:48:43.820 Don't live this way. 00:48:45.300 --> 00:48:46.380 Don't live this way. 00:48:47.260 --> 00:48:50.059 It's one of the hardest conversations a pastor can have. 00:48:50.900 --> 00:48:52.160 Because you love someone. 00:48:52.920 --> 00:48:55.480 And they're starting to walk in hardened sin. 00:48:56.140 --> 00:49:00.220 And you see them, they are walking to a cliff about to walk off. 00:49:01.039 --> 00:49:03.759 And you know, at that point, you're not as gentle always. 00:49:03.839 --> 00:49:04.319 You try to be. 00:49:04.539 --> 00:49:06.159 But you know, at that point, you tackle. 00:49:07.079 --> 00:49:10.699 And you know, sometimes when you're tackling someone who's trying to walk off the cliff, they're kicking. 00:49:11.739 --> 00:49:15.059 But you're warning, please, don't do this. 00:49:16.459 --> 00:49:19.480 Because gravity will be faithful to its essence. 00:49:20.179 --> 00:49:21.739 And you will crash. 00:49:21.739 --> 00:49:27.219 Now, the great thing is God doesn't just try to stop us from going off cliffs. 00:49:27.659 --> 00:49:29.439 He is often at the bottom when we do. 00:49:30.479 --> 00:49:31.639 To still restore. 00:49:32.500 --> 00:49:33.359 So it's not hopeless. 00:49:33.519 --> 00:49:38.759 But it is a warning that we're called to be faithful, not faithless. 00:49:39.519 --> 00:49:50.379 So folks, may these motives, rewards, remembering Jesus, remembering the power of grace, remembering eternity, 00:49:50.380 --> 00:49:54.119 help us to say it is worth it. 00:49:54.380 --> 00:49:55.500 All the cost. 00:49:57.119 --> 00:49:59.180 All the cost here in Cambridge and beyond. 00:50:00.599 --> 00:50:01.720 All the cost. 00:50:03.940 --> 00:50:05.099 What are they for you? 00:50:06.500 --> 00:50:09.460 That you could say, tonight, it's worth it. 00:50:10.140 --> 00:50:10.980 It's worth it. 00:50:11.740 --> 00:50:13.119 I'm almost 65. 00:50:14.220 --> 00:50:16.980 I believe I've known Christ for close to 60 years. 00:50:17.559 --> 00:50:19.200 I've told my church this a number of times. 00:50:19.199 --> 00:50:23.039 I've never followed Christ and ever had a regret. 00:50:24.279 --> 00:50:24.759 Ever. 00:50:25.579 --> 00:50:26.559 Regardless of cost. 00:50:27.879 --> 00:50:28.739 Regardless of sacrifice. 00:50:28.879 --> 00:50:29.159 Never. 00:50:29.939 --> 00:50:32.759 All my regrets are when I've lived for myself. 00:50:34.079 --> 00:50:34.519 Clear. 00:50:36.019 --> 00:50:38.259 My son, my youngest son, saying the same thing. 00:50:38.299 --> 00:50:41.639 Dad, no regrets when I follow Christ. 00:50:42.399 --> 00:50:44.739 My regrets are when I do my own thing. 00:50:45.779 --> 00:50:46.939 He goes, it's really not hard. 00:50:47.039 --> 00:50:47.460 It's simple. 00:50:47.460 --> 00:50:48.440 I said, it is simple. 00:50:48.860 --> 00:50:49.840 It's hard to live. 00:50:50.599 --> 00:50:51.420 It's not simple. 00:50:51.539 --> 00:50:52.539 It's not hard to know. 00:50:53.260 --> 00:50:56.320 Folks, no regrets in following him. 00:50:56.420 --> 00:50:56.800 Why? 00:50:57.420 --> 00:50:58.679 Because the gospel is worth it. 00:50:58.780 --> 00:50:59.099 Why? 00:50:59.559 --> 00:51:00.960 Because the beauty of Christ. 00:51:01.599 --> 00:51:03.780 He makes it worth it. 00:51:04.059 --> 00:51:04.579 Let's pray. 00:51:04.579 --> 00:51:13.239 Lord, thank you for this beautiful gospel. 00:51:14.380 --> 00:51:17.960 Thank you for this letter from Paul to someone who he loved. 00:51:18.799 --> 00:51:20.079 He was going to miss. 00:51:20.799 --> 00:51:22.259 He wanted to see again. 00:51:23.360 --> 00:51:24.739 But Lord, there was something bigger for Paul. 00:51:24.860 --> 00:51:31.059 He wanted Timothy to know that when Paul was gone, that Timothy could continue to run his race. 00:51:31.059 --> 00:51:36.299 That he would have the same thing to say to someone else, to his beloved son. 00:51:36.420 --> 00:51:37.860 It is worth it. 00:51:38.619 --> 00:51:39.659 Run this race. 00:51:40.079 --> 00:51:40.880 Keep the faith. 00:51:42.299 --> 00:51:43.099 Fight the battle. 00:51:44.119 --> 00:51:45.940 Because Jesus will strengthen you. 00:51:46.039 --> 00:51:47.239 He will stand by you. 00:51:47.679 --> 00:51:49.619 And he will reward you. 00:51:50.340 --> 00:51:53.480 We thank you that you are that kind of God to us. 00:51:53.480 --> 00:51:59.019 So therefore, may we be faithful to gospel mission for you. 00:51:59.460 --> 00:52:01.000 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:52:01.800 --> 00:52:02.119 Amen. 00:52:02.619 --> 00:52:03.000 Amen.