WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.919 Good morning, Church. 00:00:07.919 --> 00:00:16.879 The reading today is from 2 Timothy 1, verse 8 to 18. It's found on page 1195. 00:00:18.339 --> 00:00:19.000 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.420 By the power of God, he has saved us and called us to a holy life, not because of anything 00:00:36.420 --> 00:00:43.280 we have done, but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:49.340 Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing 00:00:49.340 --> 00:00:56.760 of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light 00:00:56.759 --> 00:01:04.659 through the gospel. And of this gospel, I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 00:01:05.579 --> 00:01:13.680 That is why I'm suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I 00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:19.780 have believed, and I'm convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him 00:01:19.780 --> 00:01:27.920 until that day. What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching with faith 00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:34.879 and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you. Guard it with the 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:40.879 help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. You know that everyone in the province of Asia 00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:48.899 Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Homorgens. May the Lord show mercy to the household of 00:01:48.899 --> 00:01:56.479 Manisuerus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. On the contrary, when he was 00:01:56.479 --> 00:02:03.539 in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the 00:02:03.540 --> 00:02:11.099 Lord. On that day, you know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus. Amen. 00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:18.879 Thanks, Dorette. If you keep your Bibles open to that page, if you've closed them already, it's page 1195. 00:02:19.879 --> 00:02:27.060 And we'll look at that passage together. Let's ask God to help us, shall we, as we look together at his word today. 00:02:27.060 --> 00:02:37.620 Father, thank you for your word. Thank you for what you've taught us week by week. Thank you for this book of 2 Timothy. 00:02:38.340 --> 00:02:45.340 And we pray that you would quieten our hearts and speak to our souls this morning through this passage 00:02:45.340 --> 00:02:55.140 and show us what you want us to see. Give us responsive hearts that we may respond correctly to you. 00:02:55.139 --> 00:02:56.899 In Jesus' name. Amen. 00:02:59.539 --> 00:03:06.579 Well, you're in good voice this morning. And we've all been singing and rejoicing at how wonderful it is 00:03:06.579 --> 00:03:16.099 that God loves us. He loves us so much that he sent Christ to die on the cross for us. And we've been enjoying 00:03:16.099 --> 00:03:24.339 those songs today. So it's rather shocking as we look at this passage this morning, that Paul is urging 00:03:24.340 --> 00:03:34.819 Timothy not to be ashamed of the gospel. This suggests that it's very possible that you and I, who have 00:03:34.819 --> 00:03:43.699 experienced God's love, we can be ashamed of this message. We're going to explore this a little bit further 00:03:43.699 --> 00:03:55.379 this morning and hopefully see how this applies to us. If you're new to the book of 2 Timothy, if you haven't been here for the last couple of weeks, 00:03:55.939 --> 00:04:03.459 then let me set out for you very briefly what the passage has, what the book is about. 00:04:03.460 --> 00:04:12.819 Paul is chained up in prison, probably chained to a soldier, and he's chained up. He's in prison because he's been preaching the gospel, 00:04:12.819 --> 00:04:17.540 and he is awaiting execution. He has a death sentence. 00:04:17.540 --> 00:04:31.700 Yet his concern we've seen already is not for himself, for his relief or his comfort. But it's this, that the gospel will continue to be preached faithfully, 00:04:31.700 --> 00:04:37.780 and will continue to be passed on to the next generation faithfully. 00:04:37.779 --> 00:04:47.419 So in our passage today, verses 8 to 18, we're given at least two clear commands there. And there are these. 00:04:48.299 --> 00:04:52.319 Don't be ashamed of the gospel, and guard the gospel. 00:04:53.759 --> 00:05:02.519 Now Steve showed us two weeks ago in our overview of 2 Timothy, that these are themes that run right through the book of 2 Timothy. 00:05:02.519 --> 00:05:08.079 But they're particularly concentrated in the passage we're going to be looking at this morning. 00:05:08.219 --> 00:05:11.479 So that's, don't be ashamed of the gospel, and guard the gospel. 00:05:11.639 --> 00:05:15.599 So the first command is this, don't be ashamed of the gospel. 00:05:16.439 --> 00:05:20.639 Paul links shame and suffering three times in this passage. 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:23.979 I wonder if you've noticed it as we've gone through the reading. 00:05:23.979 --> 00:05:26.979 In verse 8, he says this, 00:05:32.519 --> 00:05:56.060 You see those, the idea of shame and suffering coming through there. 00:05:56.060 --> 00:05:57.139 Verse 16, 00:05:57.259 --> 00:06:09.439 Shame is a dreadful thing. 00:06:09.639 --> 00:06:14.899 Now we looked at it a bit lightheartedly just now, telling each other of embarrassing moments. 00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:18.740 I wonder how honest we were to the person next to us. 00:06:19.100 --> 00:06:21.300 Is there something else which is deeper than that? 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:23.399 Which of course I wasn't going to share anything. 00:06:23.399 --> 00:06:25.219 I told Alvina sitting next to me. 00:06:25.659 --> 00:06:26.859 I'm not telling you my secrets. 00:06:30.479 --> 00:06:32.519 But shame is a dreadful thing. 00:06:32.899 --> 00:06:38.159 It's a feeling that we have all had, and we all feel it at various points in our lives. 00:06:39.039 --> 00:06:40.620 Perhaps we've been caught out lying. 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:45.419 Perhaps we've acted very badly to a good friend. 00:06:46.899 --> 00:06:49.560 Someone we should have loved we've treated badly. 00:06:49.560 --> 00:06:55.139 And perhaps we still feel the pain of those experiences today. 00:06:55.740 --> 00:06:58.500 Perhaps our mind goes to them from time to time. 00:06:58.860 --> 00:06:59.959 It haunts us. 00:07:01.379 --> 00:07:02.579 Well let me tell you this. 00:07:02.980 --> 00:07:05.920 Sometimes shame is well placed. 00:07:06.860 --> 00:07:09.540 And sometimes it's misplaced. 00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:11.079 Let me explain what I mean. 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:14.000 Well placed shame we probably understand. 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:16.899 It's when we act badly to God. 00:07:17.180 --> 00:07:18.100 We're ashamed of that. 00:07:18.379 --> 00:07:19.939 Or when we act badly to others. 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:24.000 And that kind of shame is right to feel. 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:28.319 It's right to feel ashamed when we've acted in that way. 00:07:28.860 --> 00:07:29.819 And we should apologise. 00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:30.819 We should repent. 00:07:31.560 --> 00:07:32.519 And then move on. 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:35.519 But there is also misplaced shame. 00:07:35.959 --> 00:07:38.740 Let me give you two examples of that. 00:07:38.740 --> 00:07:40.879 If we're Christians. 00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:46.300 And we keep feeling the guilt of past sins. 00:07:46.780 --> 00:07:49.420 That we already know we've been forgiven of. 00:07:50.139 --> 00:07:52.780 That is misplaced shame. 00:07:53.579 --> 00:07:53.939 Why? 00:07:54.800 --> 00:07:58.379 Because we're forgetting that the wrong has already been forgiven. 00:07:58.680 --> 00:08:00.460 Christ has died for those sins. 00:08:01.139 --> 00:08:02.100 Our sins are covered. 00:08:02.100 --> 00:08:10.520 And to continue to feel shame denies the fact that God's forgiveness is complete and covers every sin. 00:08:11.300 --> 00:08:15.820 So if you have that shame, stop it because it's misplaced. 00:08:16.620 --> 00:08:19.960 You are forgiven if you are a Christian of every sin. 00:08:21.320 --> 00:08:23.620 There's another category though of misplaced shame. 00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:27.580 And that's when we're embarrassed about doing the right thing. 00:08:27.579 --> 00:08:32.720 And we're embarrassed because of what it looks like to other people. 00:08:33.740 --> 00:08:35.759 This too is misplaced shame. 00:08:36.419 --> 00:08:41.860 And it's this category, this last category that Paul is talking about here in 2 Timothy. 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:48.559 His opponents felt that he should be ashamed for declaring the gospel. 00:08:49.460 --> 00:08:51.179 But he says, I'm not ashamed. 00:08:51.699 --> 00:08:54.679 I'm going to continue to declare the good news. 00:08:55.379 --> 00:08:57.399 And you're not going to silence me. 00:08:58.580 --> 00:09:00.500 Even in prison, he wasn't silenced. 00:09:00.940 --> 00:09:02.639 That's why we have the book of 2 Timothy. 00:09:04.400 --> 00:09:06.700 He urges Timothy to be like-minded. 00:09:06.860 --> 00:09:08.560 He says at the end of verse 8 this. 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:12.639 Join with me in suffering for the gospel. 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:15.139 What's he saying here? 00:09:15.220 --> 00:09:20.639 Is he urging Timothy to become imprisoned himself and to face a death sentence? 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:21.400 Well, no. 00:09:21.940 --> 00:09:23.340 Clearly he's not doing that. 00:09:23.340 --> 00:09:31.019 But he is urging him to endure whatever suffering comes his way for the gospel. 00:09:31.019 --> 00:09:35.039 So how does this apply to us today? 00:09:35.159 --> 00:09:39.059 We've seen perhaps what it meant to Paul, what it meant to Timothy. 00:09:39.379 --> 00:09:40.860 How does it apply to us today? 00:09:41.559 --> 00:09:43.299 I'd like to ask two questions. 00:09:43.620 --> 00:09:45.419 And that may tease it out. 00:09:45.419 --> 00:09:53.059 First of all, to ask you, what opposition do we face as Christians in 21st century London? 00:09:54.219 --> 00:09:57.399 Thank God it's not at this moment imprisonment and death. 00:09:57.399 --> 00:10:05.639 But perhaps it's rejection or exclusion by friends or even sometimes family. 00:10:07.199 --> 00:10:15.240 Maybe our work colleagues don't understand why we won't cut corners and cheat a little bit. 00:10:15.539 --> 00:10:17.039 Or tell the odd white lie. 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:23.059 And they may even accuse us of being dogmatic or too puritanical. 00:10:24.459 --> 00:10:25.059 Puritanical. 00:10:27.539 --> 00:10:29.000 But there's another question. 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:35.240 When are we tempted to pull back because we're embarrassed about being a Christian? 00:10:36.439 --> 00:10:38.939 Let me put a few scenarios to you again. 00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:42.740 Friends at school are sharing unkind jokes about someone. 00:10:42.740 --> 00:10:45.740 Or posting inappropriate messages. 00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:48.779 Do you say something? 00:10:49.839 --> 00:10:53.099 Or do you just want to disappear and become invisible? 00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:58.240 Or maybe you're asked at school or at work. 00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:00.839 This question often came up to me at work. 00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:02.480 What did you do at the weekend? 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:05.360 And what do you reply to that? 00:11:06.219 --> 00:11:11.699 Well, you try and think of everything you could say without mentioning that you went to church. 00:11:12.039 --> 00:11:13.579 Because that's just too embarrassing. 00:11:14.199 --> 00:11:16.360 Because you know they don't know the gospel. 00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:18.259 You know they don't love the Lord. 00:11:18.419 --> 00:11:21.500 And you don't want to be seen as different from them. 00:11:22.300 --> 00:11:28.600 Though painful, we have to admit that this is the other end of the scale of suffering. 00:11:29.860 --> 00:11:34.700 Yet even these small things can cause us to keep quiet about the message. 00:11:35.659 --> 00:11:40.320 Or compromise our lifestyle so that we don't cause waves. 00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:42.800 We fit in with what's around us. 00:11:42.800 --> 00:11:45.860 Look, the honest truth is this. 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:55.120 Sometimes you and I fear rejection of friends more than we feel we want to honour God. 00:11:55.120 --> 00:12:04.919 The good news is that when you and I find ourselves in this position, and we all do from time to time, there's forgiveness. 00:12:06.539 --> 00:12:13.120 Do you remember Peter who blatantly denied Jesus three times just before Jesus' crucifixion? 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:22.899 Well, he found reinstatement as Jesus restored him at their beach breakfast when he asked him three times, Peter, do you love me? 00:12:24.840 --> 00:12:26.519 Paul is not ashamed of the gospel. 00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:33.299 This next section here, verses 9 to 12, tell us why Paul is not ashamed of the gospel. 00:12:34.059 --> 00:12:37.980 And up there on the screen are two verses, verses 9 and 10. 00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:42.720 I'll read them, but please follow along on the screen or in your Bibles. 00:12:42.720 --> 00:13:11.800 Why is he not ashamed? 00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:17.740 Because he sees and rejoices at what God has done for him in the gospel. 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:26.899 Now, if you've closed your Bibles, you need to keep them open because when I've got my slides wrong, when the next slide comes up, the text disappears. 00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:31.580 So if you can follow in your Bibles those two verses, it will be helpful for you. 00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:35.580 What has God done that makes Paul rejoice so much? 00:13:36.340 --> 00:13:41.560 Well, we're given here at least three reasons, and they're not in order, so follow with me. 00:13:41.559 --> 00:13:49.699 Verse 10, we're told that through Jesus, God has destroyed death and brought life. 00:13:51.419 --> 00:13:58.559 Is this not a strange thing for the Apostle Paul to be saying at this point in his life? 00:13:59.959 --> 00:14:01.899 Remember, he's awaiting execution. 00:14:02.839 --> 00:14:03.500 Death is imminent. 00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:07.480 Yet he says death is destroyed. 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:09.759 So what is he saying? 00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:15.500 It's not that death is eliminated, but rather that death has been defeated. 00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:17.600 And there's a difference there. 00:14:18.700 --> 00:14:24.639 It doesn't hinder, death doesn't hinder the reality of eternal life that the believer enjoys. 00:14:24.779 --> 00:14:27.960 It starts now and will go on into eternity. 00:14:27.960 --> 00:14:31.080 Physical death is a certainty. 00:14:32.160 --> 00:14:36.220 But so is life with Christ because of his resurrection. 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:42.800 Paul talks extensively about this in 1 Corinthians 15 that we're not going to look at now. 00:14:43.300 --> 00:14:51.500 But if you want a treat later on, you can go through 1 Corinthians 15 and see the great benefits we have because of Christ's resurrection. 00:14:51.500 --> 00:14:57.539 Because Christ has been raised, so will we. 00:14:58.320 --> 00:15:01.460 So the second thing he rejoices about here is in verse 9. 00:15:02.139 --> 00:15:04.220 He rejoices that he has been called. 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:05.840 God has called us. 00:15:07.019 --> 00:15:14.779 Now most translations here say he's called us with or called us to a holy calling. 00:15:14.779 --> 00:15:19.240 We're therefore not just called for any old purpose. 00:15:20.319 --> 00:15:23.639 We're not called primarily to preach. 00:15:24.059 --> 00:15:27.579 We're not called primarily to serve in the Sunday school. 00:15:28.059 --> 00:15:29.259 We're not called prilement. 00:15:30.620 --> 00:15:36.220 We're not called, first of all, to welcome people at the door. 00:15:36.299 --> 00:15:38.600 Whatever it is, the ministries that we're involved in. 00:15:38.600 --> 00:15:50.460 We're called primarily to a holy calling to be set apart for God and to be living for him in every area of our life. 00:15:51.620 --> 00:15:58.940 So can you see salvation here in verse 9 is not small, as Steve was saying two weeks ago. 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:00.220 It's huge. 00:16:01.139 --> 00:16:05.840 It's not just about forgiveness of sin, although that's fantastic. 00:16:06.340 --> 00:16:07.019 It's wonderful. 00:16:07.019 --> 00:16:17.240 It's about being called by God to live a holy life, set apart for God and living holy for him. 00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:21.120 Third point he rejoices about, verse 9. 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:25.639 What we have in salvation is totally undeserved. 00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:32.740 It's not something we've earned, achieved, decided or conceived. 00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:37.700 It's something God has done, and it says here why he's done it. 00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:41.779 He's done it because of his own purpose and grace. 00:16:42.840 --> 00:16:52.000 So this is why Paul is not ashamed of the gospel, because it's life-giving, a high calling, and all of God's grace. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:17:01.500 If we're Christians, we can rejoice as Paul did through hardships, because the gospel is true, and it is marvellous. 00:17:01.980 --> 00:17:04.579 It's bigger than any circumstance we may be in. 00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:08.579 It's much more significant than our temporary suffering. 00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:17.859 Maybe you're here this morning, and what I've said has sounded very strange to you. 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:31.179 Maybe the idea that people would gladly endure suffering for what they believe, particularly about a message which came to us 2,000 years ago. 00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:33.880 Maybe that's a bit strange. 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:40.840 Talk of resurrection after life, and after physical death, well, that seems strange too, perhaps. 00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:48.560 The idea of being called to follow God is something that others may experience, but not you. 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:50.120 That's not your ball. 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:51.259 It's not your game. 00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:58.840 Well, perhaps you can't accept that there's nothing that you can do to please God. 00:17:58.839 --> 00:18:13.220 Have you spent your whole life trying to do good, trying to gain God's approval, or at least be kind to other people? 00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:28.619 And to accept that God's gospel is nothing to do with that, but it's only the undeserved favour that God shows you in the gospel, 00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:30.720 that can save you, that can save you. 00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:36.059 And it's a blow to our pride when we hear that, perhaps. 00:18:37.439 --> 00:18:44.119 But as we've seen in this passage, this life, this salvation, is not for those who are good enough. 00:18:44.599 --> 00:18:50.799 It's not for those who aspire to it, or who deserve it, or who are religious enough. 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:53.579 And you've proved it this morning by coming to church. 00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:55.139 It's not about that. 00:18:58.259 --> 00:19:02.079 It's not what we can do, but it's what God has already done. 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:05.879 What has God done? 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:09.740 Let me try and be as clear as I can in this. 00:19:09.740 --> 00:19:16.579 There's a verse in Hebrews chapter 12, verse 2, which is there on the screen, if it's not too small for you to read. 00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:22.620 And it tells us that it's through the shame and suffering of Jesus that we have this gospel. 00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:28.480 So suffering is indeed the foundation of the gospel. 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:32.660 Hebrews 12, verse 2 says, 00:19:32.660 --> 00:19:37.599 Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:41.200 for the joy set before him, he endured the cross, 00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:43.720 scorning its shame, 00:19:44.620 --> 00:19:49.319 and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 00:19:50.120 --> 00:19:54.180 Can you see in that verse shame and suffering? 00:19:54.180 --> 00:20:00.620 Christ was the initiator of this gospel, 00:20:01.100 --> 00:20:05.759 and he did this in shame and suffering for us. 00:20:07.080 --> 00:20:12.060 He experienced shame of death on the cross so that we could have the treasures of the gospel. 00:20:13.620 --> 00:20:15.340 So as we think on that this morning, 00:20:16.420 --> 00:20:18.140 how can we be ashamed? 00:20:18.360 --> 00:20:23.060 How dare we be ashamed of that gospel, of that good news? 00:20:24.180 --> 00:20:29.620 Even if it's going to cost us friendships or credibility with others. 00:20:31.320 --> 00:20:35.480 Now we're going to skip a few verses and come back to them at the end. 00:20:36.340 --> 00:20:42.860 Verses 15 to 18 are a list of people who have been ashamed of Paul, 00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:45.360 and therefore ashamed of the gospel. 00:20:47.100 --> 00:20:48.420 Many had deserted. 00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:51.820 One stood by him. 00:20:51.820 --> 00:20:53.140 Let me read it to you. 00:20:53.140 --> 00:20:57.020 You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, 00:20:58.200 --> 00:21:01.360 including Phygelus and Hymogenes. 00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:06.400 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Anesiphorus, 00:21:07.140 --> 00:21:11.520 because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 00:21:12.360 --> 00:21:16.620 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. 00:21:16.619 --> 00:21:21.139 May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day. 00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:25.559 You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus. 00:21:26.439 --> 00:21:34.559 So Paul had preached and planted churches in Ephesus and in the surrounding province that was then called Asia, 00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:37.599 but now it's known as Western Turkey. 00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:41.379 And we read about that in Acts chapter 19. 00:21:42.379 --> 00:21:44.440 Many seem to respond to the gospel. 00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:46.879 There was a great turning to the Lord. 00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:56.300 But it seems now that many from this region had deserted Paul, had given up on that gospel. 00:21:57.680 --> 00:22:00.640 And Paul refers to this in 2 Timothy 4.16. 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:12.120 They were enthusiastic and responsive in good times, 00:22:12.440 --> 00:22:17.700 but they were fearful of standing by Paul and his uncompromising gospel. 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:26.520 They were fearful when it came to the possibility of persecution and suffering. 00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:30.839 But this guy, Onesiphorus, I hope that's the right pronunciation. 00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:33.460 If any of you want to correct me after, please do. 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:40.700 Onesiphorus is singled out as one who stood by him and was not ashamed of his chains in verse 16. 00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:49.759 The challenge to us then, as we sit here today and as we go into our week, this coming week, 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:56.259 is to stand fast for the gospel in tough times and not to be ashamed. 00:22:57.460 --> 00:23:00.980 There's a second application I'd like you to think about this morning. 00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:11.220 And that's to remember to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world who live in areas where there's intense persecution, 00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:16.539 either from governments or from religious extremists. 00:23:17.180 --> 00:23:24.460 Many of them regularly face the prospect of imprisonment or even death. 00:23:24.460 --> 00:23:31.860 So how are we to pray for our brothers and sisters who are imprisoned or mistreated for the gospel? 00:23:32.860 --> 00:23:36.240 You don't need to turn to it, but you can make a note if you want to. 00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:44.900 So Hebrews 13 verse 3 tells us that we're to remember them as though in prison with them. 00:23:48.120 --> 00:23:53.420 It's hard to imagine perhaps what it's like being in prison if we haven't experienced it. 00:23:53.420 --> 00:24:00.180 But we're told to imagine that we are in their position, that we have been imprisoned. 00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:03.080 We face a death sentence. 00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:08.779 We are under persecution because we have preached the gospel. 00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:16.299 And what would you like somebody to pray for you if you were in that situation? 00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:22.539 Courage, strength, endurance, peace, joy through suffering. 00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:28.039 Perhaps pray for your family who have no father or mother at that time. 00:24:29.099 --> 00:24:30.599 Pray for the persecuted church. 00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:33.680 Keep yourself informed of what's going on. 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:35.960 There's organisations that can help you with that. 00:24:36.620 --> 00:24:39.860 Open doors, which we talk about regularly here. 00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:42.700 And they will help you to pray regularly for them. 00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:47.900 The second command, and this will be briefer, is to guard the gospel. 00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:50.060 This is found in verses 9 and 10. 00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:55.740 The passage tells us that there are two ways we can guard the gospel. 00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:57.539 Two things about guarding the gospel. 00:24:57.539 --> 00:25:03.619 The first is this, in verse 12, that God guards the gospel. 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:10.180 Paul says, this is why I'm suffering as I am, yet this is no cause for shame, 00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:12.779 because I know whom I have believed. 00:25:12.940 --> 00:25:20.019 And I'm convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. 00:25:20.639 --> 00:25:25.119 Read that again because it gets quite dense at the end there. 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:32.739 I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. 00:25:34.399 --> 00:25:36.579 Now, just to confuse things further, 00:25:37.459 --> 00:25:41.359 different Bible translations translate this slightly differently. 00:25:42.439 --> 00:25:44.979 The NIV says what we just read, 00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:49.279 he's able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:52.619 The English Standard Version says, 00:25:53.359 --> 00:25:58.339 he is able to guard until that day what's been entrusted to me. 00:25:59.339 --> 00:26:02.460 So it could be that it's been entrusted to us, 00:26:02.980 --> 00:26:05.420 or it could be what we've entrusted to God. 00:26:06.099 --> 00:26:06.259 Okay? 00:26:07.339 --> 00:26:09.819 But whatever it is, whatever way around it is, 00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:11.579 it doesn't matter too much. 00:26:11.579 --> 00:26:13.179 The question is, 00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:17.960 what is this thing that has been entrusted to us, 00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:19.779 or that we have entrusted to God? 00:26:20.699 --> 00:26:22.000 And we're not told, 00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:24.460 but the context is, 00:26:24.659 --> 00:26:26.240 it's the message of the Gospel. 00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:31.339 This whole chapter is about the message of the Gospel. 00:26:31.339 --> 00:26:35.220 So this means two things, 00:26:35.379 --> 00:26:39.819 both that the Gospel will continue to be proclaimed until Christ's return, 00:26:40.959 --> 00:26:46.519 and that the Gospel will continue to be effective in your life, 00:26:46.959 --> 00:26:48.559 and my life, if we're Christians, 00:26:49.159 --> 00:26:50.419 until Christ returns. 00:26:51.919 --> 00:26:53.339 Why does God guard the Gospel? 00:26:54.699 --> 00:26:57.639 Well, for our sake, yes, for our benefit. 00:26:57.640 --> 00:27:03.380 But also, God guards the Gospel for his own honour and glory. 00:27:04.900 --> 00:27:06.000 Think about this. 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:09.960 It's the Gospel that declares who God is, 00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:12.060 and what he has done for us. 00:27:13.360 --> 00:27:15.080 Is that not honour and glory to God? 00:27:15.540 --> 00:27:17.640 He guards the Gospel because it is defending, 00:27:18.560 --> 00:27:19.400 it is proclaiming, 00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:22.700 it is guarding his own honour and glory. 00:27:22.900 --> 00:27:23.940 It brings him glory. 00:27:24.940 --> 00:27:25.780 So, secondly, 00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:29.339 Timothy must guard the Gospel. 00:27:29.639 --> 00:27:31.619 Read this in verses 13 and 14. 00:27:32.139 --> 00:27:33.099 What you've heard from me, 00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:35.740 keep as the pattern of sound teaching, 00:27:36.440 --> 00:27:39.000 with faith and love in Christ Jesus, 00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:42.180 guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you. 00:27:42.639 --> 00:27:44.259 Guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit, 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:46.279 who lives in us. 00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:49.460 How is Timothy to guard the Gospel? 00:27:50.399 --> 00:27:52.940 How are you and I, therefore, to guard the Gospel? 00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:56.259 Well, it's put in two ways in these two verses. 00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:57.299 The first is, 00:27:58.100 --> 00:28:00.580 keep as the pattern of sound teaching, 00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:01.580 verse 13. 00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:04.480 Can you see there in verse 14, 00:28:04.620 --> 00:28:06.120 to guard the good deposit. 00:28:06.900 --> 00:28:07.860 These statements, 00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:09.640 they're talking about the same thing, 00:28:10.580 --> 00:28:12.840 but they have different emphases. 00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:16.759 Keep in the pattern of sound or healthy teaching, 00:28:16.759 --> 00:28:20.319 as Paul advised Timothy. 00:28:21.119 --> 00:28:23.099 Timothy had to remember the example 00:28:23.099 --> 00:28:25.680 of godly living from his mother and grandmother, 00:28:26.099 --> 00:28:27.900 that we read in verse 5. 00:28:28.379 --> 00:28:29.660 We read that last week. 00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:31.700 And that he's also had, 00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:33.960 the teaching he's already had from Paul. 00:28:34.619 --> 00:28:35.920 He's to keep it, 00:28:36.680 --> 00:28:38.619 and he's not to deviate from it. 00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:40.680 He's to guard it. 00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:43.200 He's to keep the pattern of sound teaching, 00:28:43.700 --> 00:28:44.619 what he's been told. 00:28:44.619 --> 00:28:47.899 When Paul is, 00:28:48.099 --> 00:28:49.919 and he's also to guard the good deposit. 00:28:50.139 --> 00:28:51.859 Well, what is the good deposit? 00:28:52.359 --> 00:28:53.479 It's the Gospel again. 00:28:54.119 --> 00:28:55.899 A treasure worthy of guarding. 00:28:56.899 --> 00:28:59.939 So when Paul is executed, 00:28:59.940 --> 00:29:06.039 and when Timothy is left to pass on this Gospel, 00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:11.860 he's to remember what he has been taught, 00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:15.400 and he's not to deviate from the pure Gospel. 00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:17.960 He's told this particularly, 00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:22.160 because we read about chapter 4, verse 3 and 4, 00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:25.660 there will come those into his church 00:29:25.660 --> 00:29:28.920 that will teach a false Gospel. 00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:31.160 So he has to guard it. 00:29:32.580 --> 00:29:34.540 Okay, so that's enough about Paul and Timothy. 00:29:34.660 --> 00:29:36.660 How again does this apply to us today? 00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:42.160 False teaching was not only rife in the first century, Church. 00:29:42.660 --> 00:29:45.000 It's all about us today as well. 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:50.059 What I mean is those who would add to the Gospel, 00:29:51.059 --> 00:29:55.160 or those who would take away, subtract from the Gospel. 00:29:58.279 --> 00:30:00.420 I've got one illustration in this talk, 00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:02.000 or I'm very poor on illustrations, 00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:03.279 and I apologise now, 00:30:03.700 --> 00:30:05.319 but this one is worth listening to. 00:30:06.140 --> 00:30:07.940 You have a glass of water, right? 00:30:08.339 --> 00:30:09.200 Well, you have water. 00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:13.680 I was told in my chemistry lessons 00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:17.640 that water is made up of hydrogen and oxygen. 00:30:19.799 --> 00:30:20.640 David's nodding. 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:21.340 Thank you, David. 00:30:21.900 --> 00:30:23.840 So if you take out the hydrogen, 00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:25.720 what have you got? 00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:27.160 Have you got water? 00:30:28.100 --> 00:30:29.420 No, you've got oxygen. 00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:30.180 Okay? 00:30:31.460 --> 00:30:36.140 My grandchildren love kind of ribena or blackcurrant squash, 00:30:36.299 --> 00:30:38.319 and when I pour that into the water, 00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:40.599 is it still water? 00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:42.579 No, it's squash. 00:30:42.700 --> 00:30:43.240 It's juice. 00:30:43.899 --> 00:30:45.159 If you add anything, 00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:47.500 or if you take anything away from the Gospel, 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:49.599 it's no longer the Gospel. 00:30:50.200 --> 00:30:52.159 That's why it's so important. 00:30:52.659 --> 00:30:54.159 It's important as a church, 00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:58.500 but it's important for you and I too, 00:30:58.559 --> 00:30:59.200 as individuals, 00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:02.339 that we guard the Gospel. 00:31:02.659 --> 00:31:04.460 We don't add additional rules. 00:31:04.460 --> 00:31:08.579 We don't take out essential elements, 00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:10.840 even though they're unpopular, 00:31:11.340 --> 00:31:13.600 like you need to repent of your sin. 00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:18.620 If the Gospel is God's initiative, 00:31:19.019 --> 00:31:20.100 he is guarding it, 00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:22.299 then to change it in any way, 00:31:22.380 --> 00:31:23.319 for whatever reason, 00:31:24.380 --> 00:31:25.340 it won't be the Gospel, 00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:27.380 it won't be profitable, 00:31:27.380 --> 00:31:31.600 and it's actually fighting against God. 00:31:33.600 --> 00:31:35.200 So pray that as a church, 00:31:35.380 --> 00:31:36.980 we will stay true to the Gospel. 00:31:37.880 --> 00:31:40.440 We won't be tempted to add in extra rules. 00:31:42.820 --> 00:31:46.660 We won't be tempted to soften up the message 00:31:46.660 --> 00:31:48.360 to make it more palatable, perhaps. 00:31:48.359 --> 00:31:51.219 So just finally, 00:31:51.419 --> 00:31:52.599 how are we to guard the Gospel? 00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:54.619 There in verse 14, we're told, 00:31:55.219 --> 00:31:56.579 with the help of the Holy Spirit, 00:31:56.839 --> 00:31:58.099 who lives in us. 00:31:58.919 --> 00:32:00.199 That's what the NIV says. 00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:01.539 The original, more accurately, 00:32:02.579 --> 00:32:04.059 puts it slightly differently, 00:32:04.859 --> 00:32:06.379 and some translations have, 00:32:06.979 --> 00:32:08.019 by the Holy Spirit. 00:32:09.240 --> 00:32:10.459 I prefer that, 00:32:10.519 --> 00:32:12.779 because it helps me to realise 00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:16.039 that it's not something I have to do. 00:32:16.039 --> 00:32:18.379 It's not up to me 00:32:18.379 --> 00:32:20.379 to guard the Gospel, in a sense. 00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:22.460 The Holy Spirit, 00:32:22.899 --> 00:32:24.200 as we call on him, 00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:25.839 as we plead with him, 00:32:25.899 --> 00:32:26.960 as we pray to him, 00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:29.839 he would do that for us. 00:32:29.920 --> 00:32:32.139 He would do that through us. 00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:34.700 So, as individual Christians, 00:32:34.839 --> 00:32:35.619 and as a church, 00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:38.240 we need to regularly seek God about this, 00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:40.059 that we may keep this Gospel pure. 00:32:41.940 --> 00:32:43.819 Just in summary then, 00:32:44.180 --> 00:32:45.279 we've seen that Paul 00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:46.759 was not ashamed of the Gospel. 00:32:47.720 --> 00:32:49.779 We've seen his charge to Timothy, 00:32:49.879 --> 00:32:50.399 and to us, 00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:51.299 to guard the Gospel. 00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:53.180 And, 00:32:53.379 --> 00:32:55.119 we need to ask God, 00:32:55.240 --> 00:32:56.039 to help us, 00:32:56.700 --> 00:32:57.839 to do that very thing. 00:32:59.339 --> 00:33:00.279 Let's pray now. 00:33:03.619 --> 00:33:04.899 Father, we do thank you, 00:33:05.059 --> 00:33:07.019 for your marvellous Gospel. 00:33:08.220 --> 00:33:09.220 For those of us, 00:33:09.299 --> 00:33:10.859 that have experienced forgiveness, 00:33:10.859 --> 00:33:13.079 a new life in Jesus. 00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:14.619 Lord, we rejoice. 00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:17.259 We thank you so much. 00:33:18.939 --> 00:33:20.879 Thank you that it wasn't up to us. 00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:21.939 We couldn't do it. 00:33:22.159 --> 00:33:23.479 So you did it for us. 00:33:23.579 --> 00:33:24.240 Thank you, Lord. 00:33:25.439 --> 00:33:26.539 Help us, Father, 00:33:26.639 --> 00:33:27.319 as a church, 00:33:27.379 --> 00:33:28.119 and as individuals, 00:33:28.459 --> 00:33:30.759 to guard this precious Gospel, 00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:33.019 and to be true to you, 00:33:33.099 --> 00:33:33.779 and not ashamed. 00:33:33.779 --> 00:33:35.079 In your name. 00:33:35.379 --> 00:33:35.700 Amen.