Hey, good morning.
I want to invite you to turn with me, if you would, in your Bibles to 1 Timothy chapter 1.
! 1 Timothy chapter 1 in our continuing series in this letter.
! If you're using the Pew Bible in front of you, it's on page 991.
The last song just kind of set the tone for the passage for today,
where we're called to listen to the call from Christ the Captain,
and we're reminded about the call to war that we have been given as God's church,
both of which will be themes of this morning's message.
A call to war and following after the message and the marching orders of our Captain Jesus Christ.
But how much do we see the Christian life as a battle?
How much awareness is there in our life about the enemy that we fight
and the battle that rages around us?
That song also helped to allude to the fact that there is a battle that happens,
and in order to be prepared for that battle,
there's weaponry that we're given.
There's armor that the Christian has given to help engage this battle in a way
that will help to protect him, help to safeguard him.
Ephesians chapter 6 verse 10.
Be strong in the Lord and the strength of his might.
Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against
the wiles or the schemes of the devil.
We have an enemy that is ferocious.
We have an enemy that is out to destroy your faith.
We have an enemy that is interested in dismantling truth
so he can disassemble and deconstruct your confidence in God and in his word
and help you or cause you to abandon the faith that you have.
We live in a time and an age where the word deconstruction perhaps has become more and more familiar.
You become more and more aware of deconstruction that's happening all around us.
So that prominent leaders and pastors,
maybe the most prominent that you would know is Joshua Harris,
who because of deconstruction has essentially abandoned the faith
and has postured himself against the gospel.
A book that's been written recently, it's called The Deconstruction of Christianity.
It's by Alyssa Childers and Tim Barnett.
I would recommend that book to you.
It helps to provide some understanding related to this topic.
They describe the deconstruction movement this way.
They say faith deconstruction is a postmodern process of,
excuse me, rethinking your faith without regarding Scripture as a standard.
The desire is for you to evaluate those things, those tenets of truth,
and reevaluate them in light of the culture
and then push them away because of the arguments that they will give
to try to undermine those truths.
One of the first and prominent leaders of this,
his name is Blake Chastain.
They say that he grew up in an evangelical church
and began to deconstruct during college.
Although he attends a mainline church,
he articulates that he is, to some degree, an agnostic.
In 2016, he birthed the hashtag,
and for those of you who are aware of hashtags,
those of us in my generation, maybe not so much,
but a hashtag movement called Exvangelical.
Not evangelical, but Exvangelical,
which has since grown into a movement
with multiple millions of views on TikTok
and over 100,000 impressions on Twitter every day.
100,000 impressions on Twitter
with the hashtag, Exvangelical.
Blake Chastain has penned a blog post
in which he has fleshed out what it means
to use this hashtag, Exvangelical.
He referred to it as a working definition
and acknowledged that there is more work to do.
But the number one tenant of those
who would follow after the Exvangelical hashtag
is they push against a literal reading of the Scripture.
They don't want a literal reading of the Scripture.
They don't want a standard of truth
that is over us and provides a measure of accountability.
They want to undermine the faith
by disarming and discrediting the truth.
It's the age-old problem
that goes all the way back to creation.
It's the same thing that the enemy did in the garden
when instructions were given to Adam and Eve
about how to live.
What were they told?
Don't eat of the tree in the midst of the garden
because you eat of the tree
that's in the midst of the garden,
you will surely die.
And what does Satan do?
Satan does what every deconstructionist does,
and that is to call the truth claims,
the commands of God into question.
He says,
Did God really say?
And that becomes the hallmark
of the deconstruction movement,
to call into question
the truth claims of God.
And then to turn and twist those truth claims
and to present them as not true.
And Satan then will say,
in response to Eve,
he will say,
You will not surely die.
This is the age in which we live.
This age of deconstruction,
of calling into question
the truth claims of Scripture
and to discredit them
and dismantle them,
not just to try to deconstruct
the truth for you,
but especially to deconstruct your faith
so that you will totally abandon God.
Here's the deconstruction project.
It works in three stages.
Stage one,
identify a problem in society.
Step two,
show how the church
has actively endorsed
or passively allowed injustice
in that area.
And then step three,
conclude that because the church
was passive
in this seeming area
of injustice,
then it just helps
to underscore the fact
that they don't really embrace
the truths that are in the word of God
at all.
And so,
you need to abandon
the church altogether.
Of course,
we understand,
as Paul will say
in this letter to Timothy,
that the church
is the pillar
and the buttress
of the truth.
And so,
if we as God's people
are going to preserve
and protect ourselves
and to safeguard ourselves
from the error
of deconstruction,
we need to follow
the instructions
that were given
by the Apostle Paul
in this letter
to help safeguard our hearts
to maintain
this consistent appeal
and love
for the truth.
Forever to remain
in the truth
and to stand strong
in the face of opposition
and uncertainty,
we need to heed
the warning
and the instructions
the Apostle Paul
will give to us
in our passage this morning.
So,
if you're not already there,
please turn with me
to 1 Timothy 1.
We're going to begin
in verse 12,
kind of pick it up
in the midway
and carry it
through the end.
We're going to begin
to recognize
that one of the first
safeguards for us
in helping to preserve
our hearts
and our minds
and to preserve them
in the truth,
we need to celebrate
God's work in our life.
We must celebrate
God's work in our life.
Notice verse 12.
I thank Him
who has given me strength,
Christ Jesus our Lord,
because He has judged me
faithful,
appointing me
to His service.
Though formerly
I was a blasphemer,
a persecutor,
and an insolent opponent,
I received mercy
because I acted
ignorantly in unbelief.
And the grace
of our Lord
overflowed for me
with the faith
and love
that are in Christ Jesus.
Then He concludes
this section
in verse 17
with this.
To the King of Ages,
immortal,
invisible,
the only God,
be honor and glory
forever and ever.
Amen.
Safeguard your heart
by celebrating
the work of God
in your life.
You see,
it's hard to be critical
when you're thankful.
It's hard to have
the posture
of one who is skeptical
when your heart
is moving towards worship,
is moving in the direction
of praise.
And so the Apostle Paul
throughout the course
of his life
is always seeming
to amplify his heart
in his life
in celebrating
the work of God
in his life.
It becomes
and has become
for him
a bastion,
a stronghold
for him
to safeguard
his own heart
in the face
of deconstruction.
This section
is punctuated
by praise
to God
from the beginning
to end.
Paul is blown
away
by God's
gracious work
in his life.
This opening phrase,
thanks,
is emphatic,
meaning thanks
is put at the very beginning
so literally
it should read,
thanks I have
to God.
This word thanks
is the word kindness,
grace,
gift,
and thanks.
And Paul's
begins with this
thanks to God
because he understands
that it's God
who has strengthened
Paul for ministry.
That everything
that the Apostle Paul
has to be grateful for,
everything that has been
good in his life
is due
to the work of God.
He's been strengthened
by God.
So it leads his heart
to thanksgiving.
Paul is thankful
for two significant reasons
in our passage.
He's first
rejoicing
in the strengthening
power of Christ
and second
we're going to see
in this little piece
that he's thankful
for God
in appointing him
to ministry.
Everything
that Paul has,
everything that Paul
has cherished,
everything that Paul
has accomplished
in life
is due
to the work
of Christ.
First,
thankful for strength.
This word for strength
is the word
cause
to be able
to give strength
or to strengthen.
It's in the passive voice
which means
that the Apostle Paul
is a recipient
of this strengthening power.
It's not a power
that he brought
to the table.
It's not a strength
that he put
into practice.
It was a work
of God
in strengthening
him for a task.
This word
is used
seven times
in the New Testament
but three times
we find it here
within 1 Timothy.
We see it
in Acts 9
verse 22
where Paul's
describing
this work.
I don't have
this slide for you
but listen.
It says,
but Paul increased
all the more
in strength
and confounded
the Jews
who lived
in Damascus
by proving
that Jesus
was the Christ.
This strengthening
work of God
in Paul's life
to help him
to work out
ministry.
In Ephesians
chapter 6
verse 10
the verse
that we
have quoted
at the beginning
of this time
together.
Finally be strong
in the Lord
in the strength
of his might.
That same strength
that was available
to the Apostle Paul
is available
to every believer
in Christ.
in 2 Timothy
chapter 4
verse 17
but the Lord
stood with me
and strengthened me
so that through me
the message
might be fully
proclaimed
and all the Gentiles
might hear it
so I was rescued
from the lion's mouth.
Strengthening
power of God
to Paul
to help him
carry out
the work of ministry
that God had entrusted
him to carry out.
This testimony
of Paul's life
is that every
good work
in and through Paul
is because
of Christ's
empowering work
through him.
Second
he judged him faithful
notice
appointing him
to service.
This word for judge
is the word
to consider
the word to be
of an opinion
or to think
or regard.
God regarded
or considered
that Paul
was faithful.
So when did
God consider
that Paul
was faithful
and then appointed
him to ministry?
Well on the surface
perhaps it doesn't
seem so surprising
but when you know
the life
of the apostle Paul
and when you come
to understand
when this appointment
took place
it will take your breath
away
to recognize
that God's
call for ministry
coincided
with God
choosing
the apostle Paul
and setting apart
for salvation.
You remember
those of you
who've read through
the book of Acts
in Acts chapter 9
you'll remember
the story
that Saul
we don't need
this slide
quite yet
but the apostle
Saul
who was Saul
and then the apostle
Paul
he was given
orders
and letters
to go to
Damascus
and the reason
why he was going
to Damascus
is for the express
purpose of rounding
up the Christians
both men and women
and hauling them
off to jail
but just outside
of Damascus
what happens
a light shines
on Saul
the apostle Paul
shines on him
and a voice
comes from heaven
and says
Saul
why are you
persecuting me?
Jesus then instructs
Paul to go
into Damascus
and wait for him
there
wait for further
instructions
those instructions
would be that
a man by the name
of Ananias
would come
lay his hands
on Paul
and Paul
would receive
his sight
meanwhile
God shows up
to Ananias
in the city
of Damascus
Ananias
has heard
what Paul
is going to do
and
in Acts chapter 9
verses 15 and 16
these are the instructions
that now
God will give
to Ananias
the Lord said
go
for he is a chosen
instrument
instrument of mine
to carry my name
before the Gentiles
and kings
and the children
of Israel
for I will show him
how much
he must suffer
for the sake
of my name
a chosen
instrument
to carry
my name
before Gentiles
how was he
faithful
well he was
faithful
on the basis
of the faithfulness
of God
not on the basis
of the faithfulness
of Paul
Paul
at this point
hadn't become
a Christian
until
a light
shone on him
on the road
to Damascus
he hadn't
gone to seminary
he hadn't been
established
in a church
he hadn't
proven himself
as a faithful
Christian
for any
length of time
no
God
had set him
apart
God
had appointed
him for ministry
at the moment
of his conversion
it was God's
faithfulness
that shines
in the foreground
of this passage
this is how
Paul describes it
later in
his letter
to Galatians
in Galatians
chapter 1
verses 15 and 16
he says this
but when he
who had set me
apart
before I was born
and who called
me by his grace
was pleased
to reveal his son
in me
in order that I
might preach him
among the Gentiles
God in his grace
shone on the heart
of the apostle Paul
set him apart
for salvation
and simultaneously
set him apart
and appointed him
for ministry
this work
of God
was happening
in and through
the apostle Paul's
life
through no credit
of Paul himself
so that at this point
Paul is now
emphasizing
I thank him
who has given me
strength
Christ Jesus
because he
judged me faithful
appointing me
to his service
God's grace
caused
this ever
abounding
ever present
thankfulness
in Paul's heart
which helped
to strengthen him
not only
in the ministry
but helped
to preserve him
in the face
of the danger
of deconstruction
in verses 13 to 15
we find that God
delivered Paul
from sin
God delivered
Paul from sin
notice
though formerly
!
though formerly
I was a blasphemer
a persecutor
an insolent opponent
I received mercy
because I had acted
ignorantly
in unbelief
and the grace
of our Lord
overflowed for me
with the faith
and love
that are in Christ Jesus
this saying
is trustworthy
and deserving
of full acceptance
that Christ Jesus
came into the world
to save sinners
of whom
I am
the foremost
the apostle Paul
his posture
of humility
before the Lord
not only
in having
a posture
of thankfulness
in understanding
that God's mercy
has caused him
to be strengthened
and set apart
for ministry
but here
in verses 13 to 15
recognizing
what he deserved
who he really was
and as one
who is a recipient
of the mercy
and grace
of God
he stands
as one
who receives
God's kindness
he's not one
who is in a place
of passing judgment
he's not one
who's in a place
of being a judge
over God
and over the truths
that God has
set before him
he stands
as one
who is a
humble recipient
of those truths
Paul uses
some strong language
here to describe
his condition
we work through
all of these
these attitudes
and characteristics
that he
that he spells out here
a blasphemer
a persecutor
an insolent opponent
foremost
among sinners
the worst
of the worst
I'm the chief
of sinners
it's especially
interesting
considering
what Paul
has just
expounded on
in verses
8 to 11
just back up
with me for a moment
I want to remind
you of this
because this is
I think one of the
big reasons
why the apostle
Paul takes this
approach
he says
now we know
this is verse 8
we know that the
law is good
if one uses it
lawfully
understanding this
that the law
is not laid down
for the just
but for the lawless
and disobedient
for the ungodly
and sinner
for the unholy
and profane
for those who
strike their fathers
and mothers
and for murderers
the sexually immoral
men who practice
homosexuality
enslavers
liars
perjurers
and whatever else
is contrary
to sound doctrine
in accordance
with the gospel
of the glory
of the blessed God
with which
I have been
entrusted
what is the apostle
Paul doing here
why does he spell
out his sins
why does he begin
to compare himself
with the sinners
and insolent people
the unholy
and profane people
of verses 8 to 11
Paul's personal testimony
is by design
Paul wants
those in Ephesus
and especially
Timothy
to recognize
the posture
of one who should be
a true leader
of God's church
those who were
in Ephesus
who were teaching
a different doctrine
were not using
the law
in a correct way
that's why
the apostle Paul
spells that out
the law is good
if one uses it
lawfully
and the implication
then is that
those who
Timothy was to address
were not using it
in the right way
they were teaching
a different doctrine
a doctrine
that was totally
unrelated to
the doctrine
and the gospel
that the apostle Paul
had originally
provided
a doctrine
that is dependent
upon depravity
a doctrine
that points
to our unworthiness
rather
it's likely
that those
Judaizers
those teachers
those leaders
in Ephesus
were seeking
to draw attention
to themselves
hey look at us
our ministry
that's approved
by the law
look at our ministry
that is validated
by our morality
look how godly
we are
how exemplary
our lives
look at the example
that we set
and the people
we become
Paul addresses this
again
in his second letter
to Timothy
in 2nd Timothy
chapter 3
verses 1 to 5
he says
understand this
the law
excuse me
that in latter days
there will be
there will come
times of difficulty
people will be
lovers of self
lovers of money
proud
arrogant
abusive
disobedient
to their parents
ungrateful
unholy
having
the appearance
of godliness
but denying
the power
avoid
such
people
these teachers
these leaders
these spiritual
authorities
in the church
of Ephesus
were promoting
their own
goodness
their own
righteousness
their own
adherence
to the law
similar to what
we find in
other churches
in the region
and in the book
of the letter
to the Philippians
in Philippians 3
4 to 8
the apostle Paul
addresses a similar
thing
he says
though I myself
have reason
for confidence
in the flesh
also
if anyone
thinks he has
reason for confidence
in the flesh
I more so
let me just
pause there
for a moment
basically
those who are
teaching
those who are
promoting
themselves
and looking
at their
credentials
as it were
of being
the kinds
of teachers
that are
exemplary
and want
you to have
that same
kind of life
they want
you to be
validated
by that same
kind of
posture
apostle Paul
says
well if they
think they
have credentials
then let me
explain
my credentials
circumcised
on the eighth
day
of the people
of Israel
of the tribe
of Benjamin
a Hebrew
of the Hebrews
as to the law
of Pharisee
as to zeal
a persecutor
of the church
as to righteousness
under the law
blameless
how about that
for credentials
but whatever
gain I had
I counted
as loss
for the sake
of Christ
indeed
I count
everything as loss
because of the
surpassing
worth of knowing
Christ Jesus
my Lord
for his sake
I have suffered
the loss
of all things
and count them
as rubbish
in order
that I
might gain
Christ
is worthy
and the power
of the gospel
is what my life
demonstrates
the fact
that I am
a blasphemer
an insolent man
that I am
the chief
of sinners
that helps
to prove
that God's
gospel
the gospel
of salvation
has power
it's not built
on my merit
it's not built
on my ability
to follow through
in some way
and so
when we look
at the law
we understand
the law
is good
if it helps
to underscore
the need
that we have
for God
and the power
of God
to save
God's power
to save
this was
the way
that the apostle
Paul
sought to encourage
and address
Timothy
to help call
attention
to the work
of God
in his life
verse 14
and 15
draws that out
some more
and the grace
of our Lord
overflowed for me
with the faith
and love
that are in
Christ Jesus
the gospel
has power
the grace
of God
overflows
this word
for grace
that overflows
is to be poured
out abundantly
in the Greek
it is this
emphatic word
that the apostle
Paul puts
another emphatic
term in front
of it
to help it
mean it's
overabundant
it's a super
charged
kind
of grace
super abounding
grace
Paul's life
is proof
that the gospel
has power
Paul's life
demonstrates
his need
and dependence
on the
savior
Jesus
as Paul
will say
in Ephesians
2 8 9
for by grace
you've been saved
through faith
and that not
of yourselves
it is the gift
of God
not of works
so that no one
should boast
that's what the law
is meant to do
for us
that's what the gospel
accomplishes
for us
and when we come
to a place
of recognizing
where we really
stand before God
we recognize
his place
is a place
of supremacy
our place
is a place
of dependence
that helps
preserve
and protect
us
from the
deconstruction
work of calling
into question
the truths
that God
has given
to us
and then
in your note
God uses
Paul's life
as an example
Paul uses
God uses
Paul's life
as an example
1 Timothy
1 16 and 17
says
but I receive mercy
for this reason
that in me
as the foremost
Jesus Christ
might display
his perfect patience
as an example
to me
to those who
were to believe
in him
for eternal life
to the king
of ages
immortal
invisible
the only God
be honor
and glory
forever and ever
amen
in other words
I received
mercy
so that
Jesus Christ
might display
that he
is everything
it was
meant
to help
me
be an example
for those
who might
wonder
if God
could possibly
save them
all who follow
after Paul's
example
all who
see his life
might be able
to say
God
if God
can save
the apostle
Paul
then God
can save
me too
Paul
is meant
to be a prototype
a pattern
for the grace
of God
in coming over
in rescuing
sinners
this attitude
that Paul
demonstrates here
will provide
the stabilizing
power
for us
because it
removes
a heart
of entitlement
it helps
to erase
the spirit
of criticism
it replaces
that spirit
with a spirit
of worship
in us
and reinforces
the wonder
of God
in salvation
the apostle Paul
is interested
in helping
to make sure
that Timothy
understands
his responsibility
to safeguard
this church
and it begins
with a posture
towards God
in the gospel
of recognizing
that he
strengthens us
for ministry
and he saves
us
according to
his grace
then
the apostle
Paul
turns his
attention
his focus
on Timothy
now that he
has spoken
about the
work of God
in his life
now he
turns the page
turns the focus
and wants
Timothy
to understand
the responsibility
that he has
now over
the church
he is to
wage war
against
false teaching
wage war
against false
teaching
there in
verse 18
notice
this charge
I entrust
to you
Timothy
my child
in accordance
with the
prophecies
previously made
about you
that by them
you may wage
the good
warfare
holding faith
in a good
conscience
by rejecting
this
some have
made shipwreck
of their
faith
among whom
are Hymenaeus
and Alexander
whom I've
handed over
to Satan
that they may
learn not
to blaspheme
Timothy
was tasked
with a
responsibility
a responsibility
to as we
see here
at the end
of verse 18
to wage
the good
warfare
we are in a
battle
for truth
the war
for faith
is fought
on the
battleground
of truth
you must
know the
truth
or you will
shipwreck
your faith
that's what
Paul is saying
here
and now
this war
that Paul
had fought
and had led
now he is
allowing Timothy
and turning
over the keys
as it were
this continuing
charge to
Timothy
to take up
this mantle
and to carry
it on
the continuing
charge to
Timothy
remember this
word
means command
this word
for charge
is the word
for command
the first time
we saw this
word was in
verse 3
where Paul
urges Timothy
to charge
or command
some
that they
teach no
other doctrine
Paul uses
military language
to enforce
this statement
to charge
this urgent
command
that's handed
down
from a
superior
officer
Paul has
been issued
a command
from Christ
we saw that
at the very
beginning
of this
chapter
Paul himself
had a command
Paul himself
was directed
into ministry
by the commandment
of God
we saw that
in verse 1
Paul an apostle
of Jesus Christ
by the command
of God
our Savior
and of Christ
Jesus
and now
because of
this command
we recognize
in verse 12
that there's
not just a
command
to engage
but this
appointment
that is
happening
verse 12
I thank him
who has given
me strength
Christ Jesus
our Lord
he judged
me faithful
appointing
me
to his
service
now this
charge
that Paul
had received
this command
that Paul
had been
given
by Christ
now Paul
will issue
to Timothy
to continue
the ministry
of serving
Christ's church
this charge
to serve
Christ
to be
strengthened
by Christ
to preserve
the message
of Christ
to protect
the church
of Christ
to carry out
the responsibility
to the Lord
and the church
Timothy
had a command
a command
to obey
in 1st Timothy
chapter 5
verse 21
we see this
charge
that Timothy
that Paul
will continue
to give
Timothy
I charge
you in the
presence of
God
and of
Christ Jesus
it wasn't
just a
command
without
teeth
it was a
command
that was
issued
by God
himself
in the
presence
of God
accountability
to him
and then
in 2nd
Timothy
chapter 4
verses 1
and 2
I charge
you in
the presence
of God
and of
Christ
Jesus
preach
the word
be ready
in season
and out
of season
reprove
rebuke
exhort
with
complete
patience
and teaching
the same
charge
now is
entrusted
to every
spiritual
leader
every
leader
who's
been
entrusted
with
the
leadership
and
teaching
of
Christ's
church
now has
been
given
this
same
charge
this
same
entrustment
this
word
to
entrust
is
to
be
responsible
for
Paul
will
use
the
same
word
in
2nd
Timothy
chapter 2
verses 1
and 2
you then
my child
be strengthened
by the
grace
that is
in Christ
Jesus
and what
you have
heard
from me
in the
presence
of many
witnesses
entrust
that's
our word
to faithful
men
who will
be able
to teach
others
also
Paul
have been
entrusted
with the
ministry
of
Christ
strengthened
by the
power
of
Christ
now
Paul
is
issuing
this
charge
to
continue
this
succession
of
responsibility
to
Timothy
who
then
in turn
in the
second
letter
is to
entrust
that
same
ministry
to
other
faithful
men
be
strengthened
Timothy
entrust
this
work
to
others
Timothy
God
will
strengthen
you
for
this
process
God
will
help
to
direct
you
and
guide
you
and
help
you
to
be
bold
in
waging
the
good
warfare
Paul
sets
this
military
context
because
he
recognizes
how
fierce
the
battle
is
and
how
aggressive
the
enemy
is
and
the
ways
in
which
the
enemy
would
seek
to
dismantle
the
leaders
that
God
has placed
over
his
people
through
discouragement
through
persecution
and even
through
disqualification
those of
you
who
have
been
tuning
in
to
any
of
the
news
from
this
weekend
will
understand
that
a
very
prominent
pastor
just
this
weekend
had
to
step
down
from
ministry
because
of
being
disqualified
our
enemy
will
seek
to
dismantle
the
church
any
way
he
can
but
especially
through
the
perversion
of truth
the
twisting
of truth
the
corruption
of truth
he
wants
to
rob
you
of
the
truth
and
thus
rob
you
of
faith
and
that's
where
Paul
turns
next
in
verses
19
to
20
he
wants
you
to
understand
what
is
at
stake
why
is
this
warfare
so
important
what
is
at
stake
in
verse
19
holding
faith
and
a
good
conscience
by
rejecting
this
some
have
made
shipwreck
of
their
faith
among
whom
are
Hymenaeus
and
Alexander
whom
I've
handed
over
to
Satan
that
they
may
learn
not
to
blaspheme
what
is
at
stake
is
the
very
foundation
of
your
faith
you
lose
the
truth
you
pervert
the
truth
you
lose
your
faith
remember
these
are the
elemental
principles
that
Paul
pointed
to
earlier
in
this
letter
in
verse
5
he
says
the
aim
of
our
charge
is
love
that
issues
from
a
pure
heart
and
a
good
conscience
and
sincere
faith
the
doctrines
the
good
doctrines
of
God
are
meant
to
lead
you
to
these
things
to
a
pure
heart
to
a
good
conscience
and
sincere
faith
the
sincere
!
faith
which is
genuine
without
hypocrisy
we find
it
throughout
the
New
Testament
five
or six
times
we find
it
throughout
the
New
Testament
it
is
always
connected
either
to
love
or
to
faith
genuine
love
in
Romans
12
9
we see
genuine
love
again
in
2nd
Corinthians
chapter
6
we see
sincere
faith
in
2nd
Timothy
1
5
we see
a
sincere
love
in
1st
Peter
chapter
1
verse
22
sincerity
and without
hypocrisy
that are
coupled
with genuine
character
of faith
and love
this
is what
good doctrine
is meant to produce
in us
and the foundation
of faith
is at stake
and Paul will
emphasize this point
again in
chapter 4
where he says
in chapter 4
verses 11
to 13
and then
verse 16
he says
command
and teach
these things
let no one
despise
you for
your youth
but set
the example
in speech
in conduct
in love
in faith
in purity
until I come
devote yourself
to the public
reading of
scripture
to exhortation
to teaching
and keep
a close
watch on
yourself
and on
the teaching
persistent
this
for by
so doing
you will
save
yourself
in your ears
the word
of God
the
uncorrupted
truth
the doctrines
that we get
from the word
of God
that will help
to save
your soul
any pollution
any corruption
any perversion
to that truth
any calling
that truth
into question
you run
the risk
of being
shipwreck
like Hymenaeus
and Alexander
two men
who seem
to have
some sort
of teaching
or leadership
role
in the church
two men
who had veered
from sound
doctrine
two men
who because
of their
doctrinal drift
had shipwrecked
their faith
this word
for shipwrecked
is only used
twice
in the scripture
one here
speaking metaphorically
of totally
abandoning
or
deconstructing
as it were
their faith
and the second
is in 2nd Corinthians
where Paul
refers to
an actual shipwreck
where the ship
was destroyed
and he is
stranded
on the water
we find more
about these two
in Paul's second
letter
Paul speaks
of Hymenaeus
in 2nd Timothy
chapter 2
verses 16
to 18
where he says
avoid
irreverent
babble
for it will
lead people
into more
and more
ungodliness
and their talk
will spread
like gangrene
among them
are Hymenaeus
and Philetus
who have
swerved
from the truth
saying that
the resurrection
has already
happened
they are upsetting
the faith
of some
and that is
the danger
because in
deconstruction
and dismantling
truth
it never
remains
in one
individual
but there's
always collateral
damage
these individuals
who have
deconstructed
are now
on an agenda
to try to ruin
your faith
as well
so take
warning
understand
the danger
the significance
they want
to destroy
your faith
by dismantling
the truth
in your mind
and then in
Alexander
we find in
2 Timothy
chapter 4
verses 14
and 15
Alexander
the coppersmith
did me great harm
the Lord
will repay him
according to his deeds
beware of him
yourself
for he strongly
opposed
our message
now I want
to just
draw that out
just a bit
more
here is Timothy
who has been
given spiritual
leadership
of the church
in Ephesus
he brings
this
foundation
of doctrine
that he's received
from the apostle
Paul
he's demonstrated
some level
of spiritual
maturity
and love
for Christ
and love
for the church
and here
Paul is saying
you know
who Alexander
is
have nothing
to do with him
keep your distance
don't listen
to him
don't get
sucked in
by him
don't entertain
his lies
don't give him
any hearing
recognize
that he is
no longer
a wanderer
but now
he has become
a warrior
and that's
where we begin
to understand
what we need
to be doing
in terms of
our response
to those
who
once
wandering
and kind of
unsure
about
what the
truth
is
and at
least
at that
point
there is
some level
of teachability
and they're
asking good
questions
and they may
be teaching
wrong things
but there's
some level
of receptivity
but as soon
as they turn
into a warrior
where they know
the clear direction
of their heart
and now they're
trying to take
shots
at God's
people
you know
you need to
have nothing
to do with them
have nothing
to do with them
whom
I have handed
over
to Satan
as Paul
will say
delivered them
to Satan
turned them
over
so that Satan
can have his
way
and it's
always
with the
purpose
of seeking
God
to do
something
in their
life
to bring
them
to a
point
of clarity
as we saw
with the
prodigal son
the prodigal
wanders away
he spends
all of his
resource
and then it
says
that he
finally
came
to his
senses
that's
Paul's
heart
for these
two
that they
would
finally
come
to their
senses
this
morning's
passage
gives us
some
pause
it helps
us to
understand
the
significance
of the
battle
that we're
in
and that
all of
us are
called
to wage
the good
warfare
the
apostle
Paul
will
talk
about
this
in
2nd
Corinthians
10
verses
3-6
and just
share
this
verse
to
close
kind
of
brings
all
of
this
front
and
center
before
us
for
though
we
walk
in
the
flesh
we are
not
waging
war
according
to
the
flesh
for
the
weapons
of
our
warfare
are
not
of
the
flesh
but
have
divine
power
to
destroy
strongholds
we
destroy
arguments
in
every
lofty
opinion
raised
against
the
knowledge
of
God
and
take
every
thought
captive
to
obey
Christ
being
ready
to
punish
every
disobedience
when
your
obedience
is
complete
the
war
for
your
mind
the
war
for
your
heart
the
war
for
truth
is
front
and
center
these
philosophies
that are
bombarding
us
day
by day
the
enemy
wants
to use
these
philosophies
to
totally
dismantle
your
faith
but
God
has
given
us
weapons
of
warfare
not
of
the
flesh
but
weapons
of
warfare
that
are
of
the
spirit
divine
weapons
divine
power
to destroy
those
strongholds
and that
only
happens
as you
allow
yourself
to be
under
and
humbly
!
humbly
submissive
to the
truth
of God's
word
to
govern
your
heart
to
know
what
does
the
Bible
say
how
can
the
word
of
God
help
me
to
understand
where
these
philosophies
are coming
from
and how
to
understand
them
based
upon
the
scripture
and his
truth
perhaps
there's
someone
that you
know
in your
own
family
perhaps
there's
a
loved
one
perhaps
there's
a
neighbor
that
you're
acquainted
with
!
maybe
even
in your
own
heart
there's
some
spiritual
drift
that's
taking
place
there
is
a
call
to
confusion
and
maybe
asking
questions
that are
taking you
along the
road of
deconstruction
as it
were
can I
encourage
you
to find
someone
to help
order
your
thoughts
to help
you align
your
understanding
of those
philosophies
and help
guide and
direct
them
into
alignment
with
the
scripture
God
has
given
us
the
weapons
we
need
to
remain
strong
in the
Lord
in the
strength
of his
might
but it
only
happens
as we
submit
and surrender
our hearts
and our
lives
to the
word of
God
and to
his
work
in our
lives
oh may
God
help us
to remain
strong
as the
pillar
and buttress
for the
truth
what a
joy
that we
have
God
has
given
us
this
great
responsibility
but
incredible
privilege
to be
the
mouthpiece
of
truth
to shine
the light
of God
in the
gospel
into this
world
may God
help us
to be
faithful
with that
significant
responsibility
let's pray
oh Lord
thank you
for this
passage
this morning
and for the
reminder
of our
beginnings
God
we bring
no strength
to the
table
that any
of the
ministry
any of
the work
that we
might
accomplish
for you
is ministry
that is
empowered
by you
we are
so
dependent
on you
to do
your work
and Lord
thank you
that even
though our
beginnings
are
ungodly
and wicked
although our
lives deserve
condemnation
because all
have sinned
and come
short of
the glory
of God
thank you
that because
of your
mercy
you've
called us
to yourself
thank you
that because
of your
mercy
and your
grace
you've
allowed us
to be
forgiven
you've
allowed us
to be
cleansed
you've
robed us
with the
righteousness
of Christ
may we
stand
in strength
with that
truth
and Lord
may we
like
Timothy
carry out
the charge
as it were
in the
areas of
responsibility
that you've
given to
us
in our
families
in our
relationships
in our
friendships
Lord
help us
to be
faithful
to wage
the good
warfare
in our
own
hearts
first
but Lord
also in
the lives
of those
we love
around us
God I pray
that you
help us
to be
faithful
to know
the truth
because the
truth
alone
will set
us free
we praise
you for
this in
Jesus name
amen
God bless
you
have a
great
week
miracle
Thank you.