WEBVTT 00:00:02.240 --> 00:00:05.280 We'll sing one more song before Marshall's lesson tonight. 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:06.320 Thank you, Laura. 00:03:03.759 --> 00:03:06.800 School's now in the full swing of things. 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:09.680 I think it's getting a little crazy. 00:03:10.479 --> 00:03:13.280 But it's had me thinking a lot about endurance recently. 00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:21.199 Thinking about what it takes to keep up your energy, to keep up your effort throughout a long period of time. 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:24.719 Those three months of the semester, four months. 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:26.960 Feel like a lot longer than that sometimes. 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:29.199 And probably gets even worse after school. 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:30.639 Definitely realized that too. 00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:34.879 But just trying to maintain that endurance. 00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:40.240 And so that had me thinking a little bit as I was looking through which passage to tackle this evening. 00:03:40.400 --> 00:03:42.639 Um a little bit about endurance. 00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:47.439 And so tonight we're going to look at 2 Timothy chapter 2. 00:03:47.520 --> 00:03:50.719 If you've got your Bibles with you, you might be turning over there. 00:03:51.360 --> 00:04:05.919 Take a look through really the first half of this passage and kind of break down a few things from Paul, a few of his thoughts, a little bit of his wisdom, and really focus on the last few verses of this passage. 00:04:07.120 --> 00:04:18.240 If you recall, 2 Timothy 2 is right in the middle of a book or an epistle that we usually consider, at least traditionally, to be one of Paul's last epistles. 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:22.240 One of his last writings before leaving this world. 00:04:22.879 --> 00:04:27.839 Also traditionally, he was executed by a Roman Emperor. 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:30.079 I believe it was Nero, but maybe not. 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:35.040 But that's a thought is that he was sent to Rome for his second imprisonment, not just his first. 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:40.560 And then after waiting a period of years, he was executed and killed. 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:43.360 And so just keep that in mind as we're reading through this passage. 00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:45.279 Umwards the end of his life here. 00:04:45.439 --> 00:05:01.600 He's writing a lot about things that he's had a lot of experience with, especially having to deal with individuals that have left him, that have left the faith, that have abandoned his effort in the gospel, and left him to his own devices. 00:05:01.839 --> 00:05:05.120 We see a couple of those people mentioned in the first chapter. 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:08.560 He talks a lot as he's addressing Timothy. 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:10.720 Just with some encouragement. 00:05:10.879 --> 00:05:16.800 He talks about some things that Timothy needs to keep in mind as he's going about his work as an evangelist. 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:23.439 So tonight, 2 Timothy 2, the focus I'd like you to have is on us being soldiers. 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:26.079 Soldiers as Christians, soldiers of Christ. 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:28.000 And what all goes into that. 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:31.360 We'll try to make some application to our own lives. 00:05:32.319 --> 00:05:43.759 Starting in 2 Timothy 1, sorry, chapter 2, verse 1, we'll start there and kind of work through really the first ten verses, then settle down in verse 11 through 13. 00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:52.560 So to kick it off, he says, You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 00:05:52.879 --> 00:06:01.360 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men, will be able to teach others also. 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:04.480 Pretty good start here. 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:09.439 So he tells Timothy, Be strong, be strong in Christ Jesus. 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:14.480 If you recall when Paul's writing, that's a very common phrase that he uses, is in Christ. 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:28.959 So his encouragement is be strong. 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:31.680 Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:42.319 Not only that, but we see a concern for the truth and a need to commit that truth to people, to individuals who are faithful and willing to teach. 00:06:50.319 --> 00:06:58.879 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:03.839 Okay, so we've got our our uh theme for tonight introduced there. 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:07.040 He wants Timothy to be a good soldier. 00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:12.800 And he uses kind of that that warfare metaphor pretty often in the scriptures. 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:22.720 But here the focus is on hardship, focuses on suffering, and doing so as a soldier would in battle. 00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:27.279 We'll talk a little bit more about that when we get further down. 00:07:27.839 --> 00:07:31.600 There's something to be thinking about Verse 5. 00:07:31.839 --> 00:07:38.240 And also, if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:41.839 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:43.519 Consider what I say. 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:47.040 May the Lord give you understanding in all things. 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:49.920 Okay, so he kind of jumps around there. 00:07:50.079 --> 00:07:52.079 I'll try to summarize as best I can. 00:07:53.040 --> 00:07:54.800 Essentially, he says three things. 00:07:54.959 --> 00:08:03.120 The first is if anyone competes in athletics, in our case, running the race of life, it's important to follow the rules, right? 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:09.279 God has set forth his law, and we're not to disregard that law for our own convenience. 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:12.319 We're not to set that aside when it's when it's easy to do so. 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:16.959 Along with that, he says, the hardworking farmer must be the first to partake of the crops. 00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:20.480 I'll be honest with you, when I first read that, I have no idea what that means. 00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:34.240 But I think in this context, he's saying to Timothy, in your role as an evangelist, you'll have a chance to gain, to be benefited from sharing that message with other people. 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:37.919 And so it's kind of an encouragement to continue that work. 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:46.799 Just as the farmer partakes of the crops first, just having him remember that he's going to benefit from this work, even as tough as it gets. 00:08:47.039 --> 00:08:49.759 Probably more so than a lot of the people he talks to. 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:52.320 And maybe maybe the same as they do. 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:57.039 So he says, Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. 00:08:57.519 --> 00:09:06.159 And he continues, verse 8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel. 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:11.600 For which I suffer suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains. 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:15.360 But the word of God is not chained. 00:09:15.840 --> 00:09:24.720 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:28.000 Three more verses there. 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:31.919 Maybe a whole lot more that than I can unpack right now. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:35.120 But he starts by introducing Christ. 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:43.120 He introduces the fact that A, he was the seed of David, and B, he was resurrected, he was raised from the dead. 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:47.039 All according to this gospel message that that Paul is sharing. 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:51.679 This is nothing new to Timothy, of course, but something worth noting. 00:09:51.840 --> 00:09:56.879 And then in verse 9, because of this gospel, I'm suffering. 00:09:57.600 --> 00:09:59.600 Not only suffering, but I'm in chains. 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:00.960 I'm in prison. 00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:09.519 We've seen that happen before, and you know, when when he was writing those uh prison epistles, as we call them, Philippians and Colossians and others. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:13.600 He wrote those from Rome during his first imprisonment. 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:16.000 So again, we he finds himself in chains. 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:17.039 He's in prison. 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:22.480 He's not in control of his own destiny to some extent. 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:30.480 But regardless of that, he recognized that recognizes that despite his chains, makes kind of a profound statement there. 00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:33.120 The word of God is not chained. 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:39.440 His gospel, his message is not restrained by his own unfortunate circumstances. 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:50.080 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:52.879 So his suffering has a purpose, right? 00:10:53.200 --> 00:10:56.879 It's focused, it's intentional, it's aiming towards a goal. 00:10:57.039 --> 00:11:07.039 And more than that, it's focus on other people, focus on their benefit, and in this case, trying to bring them to a place where they can receive the promise that God has offered. 00:11:08.559 --> 00:11:11.759 Alright, and then we get to those last three verses. 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:13.519 It's kind of set apart in my Bible. 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:16.240 I don't know if it is in whatever version you're reading from. 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:23.200 First glance it looks like a quotation from the Old Testament, but it's actually not, as far as I can tell. 00:11:23.679 --> 00:11:25.679 He says, This is a faithful saying. 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:29.279 For if we died with him, we shall also live with him. 00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:32.799 If we endure, we shall also reign with him. 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:36.240 If we deny him, he will also deny us. 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:40.399 If we are faithless, he remains faithful. 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:42.960 He cannot deny himself. 00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:48.240 These three verses is really where I want to settle for the next few minutes. 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:54.960 Kind of pull out three different things that we've learned and we can apply to our own walk with the Lord. 00:11:56.080 --> 00:12:00.240 If you remember back to the ten verses we just went through, we brought a lot of themes out there. 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:09.519 He talked about endurance, first of all, in verse 3, and along with that, suffering and hardship, what those look like together. 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:17.360 And beyond that, what it looks like to be a soldier, all in connections with that endurance and enduring that struggle. 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:19.600 He also talks about salvation. 00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:22.799 He talks about Christ, the one who brought that salvation. 00:12:27.279 --> 00:12:30.159 And he talks about his focus in life. 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:31.840 We've got a lot of themes there. 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:35.440 We're gonna try to see how they relate to these final three verses. 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:37.600 So to start with, we have verse 11. 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:43.840 This is a faithful saying, for if we died with him, we shall also live with him. 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:47.759 So we've got our first point to take away from tonight. 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:53.279 Paul wants you to remember what happened to you. 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:55.919 When you became a Christian, what happened? 00:12:56.639 --> 00:12:59.759 You entered the waters of baptism, you died, you were buried. 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:03.200 Well, actually, go to Colossians 2 in just a second if you want to turn that way. 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:05.840 But we died. 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:07.360 And Paul says that plainly. 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:19.440 So A, remember your death, remember that you have died, and then look toward the life that's ahead of you. 00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:28.000 Kind of to caveat that, he's not saying, look back on your life, the old life you left behind with longing, right? 00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:32.159 If you remember back to Lot's wife, right? 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:39.279 When she looked back and looked back at the city as it was burning, I always thought it was pretty harsh that that she turned to salt in that moment. 00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:41.759 And I don't think I fully comprehended why. 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:50.960 And I'm not sure if we're told in that passage, I should have gone and checked right before this, but don't remember if we see her heart there, what she was thinking. 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:54.639 But I imagine she was probably looking back with sorrow. 00:13:54.799 --> 00:14:01.440 And part of that's maybe understandable because her city, her home is burning, no matter how bad and and brutal it was. 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:06.799 But what if she was looking back at the life that she just left behind with longing? 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:12.960 Um, instead of looking to where God was literally taking her to the future. 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:16.960 Maybe that's sort of the attitude we should try to avoid. 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:36.480 Thinking about that, if you're over at Colossians chapter 2, look at some of the language here and the fact that as Paul's writing these letters, so often he's trying to get his audience, in this case us, to think back on the old life, and in a way that transition from that old life to the new life. 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:41.039 And so Colossians 2 and verse 11 seem kind of lay this out. 00:14:41.120 --> 00:15:02.879 He says, In him, in Christ, you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:05.440 He finishes that off. 00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:15.360 And you being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he is made alive together with him, having having forgiven you all trespasses. 00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:18.960 So we get that full picture of the transition, right? 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:31.519 I think that's maybe part of the usefulness of that imagery of baptism is um from a practical perspective, you can look back and see, yeah, I did go into water, but but what exactly was that emulating? 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:34.559 Well, he tells us exactly what that is here. 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:39.279 We're buried in the water, we rise again to a new life. 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:49.039 At the same time, looking back, of course, to what Christ did for us, um, but also kind of participating in that death and resurrection ourselves. 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:50.720 So something to think about. 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:52.639 Read again verse 13. 00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:59.440 He has made you alive together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses. 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:03.440 It's really the the big picture here that I want you to take away. 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:05.840 Remember who you were. 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:09.279 Remember where you're going, who you are now. 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:18.559 I think, secondly, going back to 2 Timothy, move on to verse 12. 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:22.240 He says, if we endure, we shall also reign with him. 00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:26.799 If we deny him, he will also deny us. 00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:33.759 Such a short but pretty profound statement there, too. 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:36.799 If we endure, we shall also reign with him. 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:38.480 So that endurance comes back, right? 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:43.279 He mentioned it in verse 3, he mentioned it in verse 10, and he brings it back again. 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:50.720 If you're to be a soldier, the big thing you're gonna have to remember and to hold to is endurance. 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:57.600 I think uh I was thinking about this and how related to actually being a soldier. 00:16:57.919 --> 00:17:03.440 When I was in twelfth grade, senior year, I was thinking back on a little piece that I wrote. 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:05.359 It was maybe a page and a half. 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:10.079 I remember after writing it, I was very, very proud of this uh this piece of work. 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:15.519 And partly because most of what we read in in high school English was pretty uninteresting to me. 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:22.319 But in this case, we read a war short story, and I'm a big fan of like war history, things like that. 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:26.720 So this kind of caught my eye, and and so the story talks about the Vietnam War. 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:30.960 Um, it's one of many stories in this this little collection, and so I had to write about it. 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:35.119 I had to write about what the theme was, what the message he was trying to get across was. 00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:42.400 And it was honestly pretty pretty depressing, pretty, pretty sad. 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:47.839 Which I think is a fair representation of what wars usually like. 00:17:51.440 --> 00:18:05.359 The reason I bring that up though is because he mentions time and time again, as he's telling the title of the story, which is How to Tell a True War Story, if you're curious, he lays out a few things that are realities about war. 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:08.880 They're brutal, they're really tough to get through. 00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:19.200 If any of you are soldiers in here or in the military, probably know way better than I do, but it doesn't take much digging through history to see how how terrible most conflicts are. 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:28.960 So, all that to say, this endurance that he's trying to bring out in us, it has to do with dealing with suffering. 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:38.400 And dealing with suffering in a way that's perseverant, that looks at that suffering and says, you know what, life is kind of terrible at this moment, but it's gonna get better. 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:40.400 It may not get better even in this life. 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:45.359 It may stay terrible for however long we live, at least in some ways. 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:49.519 But look at what he says after that. 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:53.279 If we endure, we shall also reign with him. 00:18:53.920 --> 00:19:06.720 So again, that idea of look past your current situation as much as you possibly can, as much as will help you, in order to realize that we're going to reign with Christ in the future. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:10.240 We have that promise remaining ahead of us. 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:17.279 I think the passage I wanted to go to here was actually in Hebrews. 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:18.799 Hebrews chapter 10. 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:26.000 Towards the end of this passage, he kind of brings out a lot of the suffering that these Christians that he's writing to are dealing with. 00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:37.119 They're probably Hebrew Christians, but at the time they're going through a lot of difficulty, and probably because of the government that's that's surrounding them. 00:19:37.440 --> 00:20:00.240 Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 32, whoever wrote this, this sounds a whole lot like Paul to me, but it says, But recall the former days in which after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings, partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and by tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated. 00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:12.160 For you had compassion on me and my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. 00:20:12.559 --> 00:20:17.519 Therefore, do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:29.279 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have run the race, sorry, after you have done the will of God, same thing, you may receive the promise. 00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:34.240 For yet a little while, and he who is coming will come and will not tarry. 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:39.599 Now the just shall live by faith, but if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him. 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:48.480 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:54.640 Verse 39 summarizes this very, very well. 00:20:55.279 --> 00:21:01.440 We're not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:11.920 That's the main idea from point two, and really from verse 12. 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:19.279 Endurance and a recognition that we've got a life coming that's probably gonna be a whole lot better than the one that we have now. 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:22.400 Um regardless of what struggles we go through. 00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:26.640 The second part of that, if we deny him, he also will deny us. 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:33.279 So part of that endurance is remembering that our denial that denial at least cannot happen. 00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:42.400 It cannot be a part of our lives, it can't be a part of the way that we think, and usually that's that's probably not referring to just the thought of Lord, I'm gonna deny you now. 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:44.079 I'm gonna turn away from you. 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:46.079 I don't want nothing to do with you. 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:48.640 Maybe sometimes it looks like that, unfortunately. 00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:56.720 But sometimes it looks like disregarding what he has asked us to do, disregarding how he's asked us to live and treat other people. 00:21:58.640 --> 00:22:01.920 If we deny him, He also will deny us. 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:05.759 Pretty important reminder. 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:08.000 And finally, verse 13. 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:13.200 If we are faithless, if we do deny him, he remains faithful. 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:15.680 He cannot deny himself. 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:19.759 Focus on that last bit. 00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:23.759 The part where he's talking about who God is. 00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:28.880 So the third thing I want you to take away is remember who you serve. 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:33.599 Remember that we serve a God that is far beyond anything we can imagine. 00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:41.920 In character, in his own perseverance, and in this case, his faithfulness. 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:51.359 So this made me think of a couple passages, maybe 1 John 1, if you'd like to turn there. 00:22:51.920 --> 00:23:03.680 1 John 1, where John writes verse 7, But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:09.759 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:18.799 But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:26.880 He's ready and willing to do that. 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:32.240 He's not going to turn away from us unless we first turn away from him. 00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:37.680 2 Peter chapter 3. 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:52.000 Peter writes here in verse 9, the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:02.160 Sometimes we do well to remember that. 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:14.799 This past week, I think midweek, we we had a pretty long discussion about it. 00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:19.359 And it made me think a few times, or at least once. 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:25.519 A little bit about how we struggle with that idea of human nature. 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:34.000 The idea that you look around and there's a lot of people that are really struggling to do anything close to what God has asked them to do. 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:40.880 They're living with sin in their lives, they're disregarding everything that the Lord has set before us to do. 00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:43.759 And that can be discouraging. 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:56.559 But it's important to remember that even when we think about those things and try to wrap our minds around what it's like coming from just a human perspective, our own perspective, the struggles that we deal with. 00:24:57.680 --> 00:25:09.039 Remember that even if we we struggle with faithfulness, if we struggle with keeping our minds and our hearts where they need to be every day of the week, that's a real struggle. 00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:12.319 One that we need to try to move beyond if we can. 00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:17.119 Well, it's also important to remember that the Lord is ready and waiting to receive us back. 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:20.640 And in this particular case, Peter's talking about repentance, right? 00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:23.440 You struggle with sin and then you put that behind you. 00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:26.400 That seems to be the idea of what repentance is. 00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:30.799 You leave those things behind and walk to the future. 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:34.160 Walk to the new life before you. 00:25:55.680 --> 00:26:03.759 And you don't have to divide them that neatly, but essentially, think through who you were, think through where you're going to and who you are now. 00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:07.839 Beyond that, find your endurance. 00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:13.759 Realize that life requires you to be a soldier sometimes, and that's okay. 00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:20.559 And number three, remember the Lord who we serve. 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:22.960 I think it's as simple as that. 00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:25.119 He's faithful. 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:27.200 He's ready. 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:29.200 He's willing to receive you. 00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:33.200 Whether you're struggling or doing great, it doesn't really matter. 00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:35.279 He's always there. 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:37.759 His presence is constant in our lives. 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:40.079 And I think that's something we can be thankful for. 00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:45.519 That word faithful there. 00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:49.359 Back in 2 Timothy, he remains faithful. 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:51.119 Cannot deny himself. 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:54.960 The word faithful is is really taken from the word for faith. 00:26:55.119 --> 00:27:00.240 In that original language, pistis is that general word for faith or belief in God. 00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:02.640 And so this is kind of an extension of that. 00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:05.599 Maybe a different version of the word, if you will. 00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:07.680 God is faithful. 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:13.279 And when we look at our own faithfulness, we have to consider a part of our faith and our belief in the Lord. 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:18.319 A fundamental part of that needs to be endurance and that perseverance. 00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:25.200 Not only believing that God exists, believing that we should serve Him, but then continuing that belief throughout our lives. 00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:27.279 Making sure that's a constant. 00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:35.279 And so that's why endurance fits so well with the faithless and the faithfulness that he's trying to get across here. 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.960 Really, that that second part. 00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:38.720 Trying to avoid the first. 00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:43.440 Maybe some more some more food for thought. 00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:52.640 Sometimes we forget. 00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:58.640 If you would go to 1 Timothy 6, I think that's where I'd kind of like to end off tonight. 00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:01.759 Should be a page or two behind this chapter. 00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:09.039 This is again Paul writing, of course, in a letter right before, maybe a few years before he wrote 2 Timothy. 00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:14.000 In this case, he seems to be doing okay. 00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:29.200 1 Timothy 6 and verse 11, he says, But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:40.559 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called, and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:44.000 We'll stop there for just a second. 00:28:44.400 --> 00:28:53.680 Verse 12, really the one before that, too, summarizes entirely what we're talking about and what it requires to be a soldier of Christ. 00:28:54.319 --> 00:29:02.640 Pursue righteousness, pursue godliness, pursue faith, pursue love and patience and gentleness. 00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:10.480 As far as practically applying all this, those are the ideas that we should be thinking about. 00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:21.119 And and also thinking about how when it translates to real interactions with other people or decisions we make in our day-to-day lives, how are we pursuing each of these things? 00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:29.839 And along with that, pursuing endurance, making sure that our heart is where it needs to be and that it stays there as well. 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:33.759 So again, we have that war analogy, right? 00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:37.599 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life. 00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:42.640 So he's extending that beyond just the endurance part, the endurance of suffering. 00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:48.559 He extends that and he says, just in general, faith is a fight. 00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:54.640 We're in a battle, we're in a war, and sometimes we need to remember to view it that way. 00:29:54.960 --> 00:30:00.880 Maybe we're getting too relaxed about it, or we're not putting enough effort into our spiritual lives. 00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:05.039 I think that it kind of issue can look like a lot of different things. 00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:07.680 He lays it up plainly. 00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:17.359 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were called, and have confessed the presence of many witnesses. 00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:18.799 Let's continue there. 00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:20.880 This is a pretty great, pretty great passage. 00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:30.799 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Jesus Christ, who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate. 00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:59.599 He who is the blessed and only potentate, the only sovereign, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who alone has immortality dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be the honor and everlasting power. 00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:00.400 Amen. 00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:12.000 If you think back on Paul's life, you think back to Acts 9, where he's on the road to Damascus, and he meets Christ. 00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:15.440 He meets him in a flash of light from heaven. 00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:18.799 I'm not sure what entirely he saw before he was blinded. 00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:21.920 That had to be a pretty amazing sight. 00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:25.440 And we see the description of Christ here. 00:31:25.599 --> 00:31:27.039 Hopefully it's up on the screen. 00:31:27.119 --> 00:31:27.759 There we go. 00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:33.519 The one and only sovereign, the king of kings, the lord of lords, who dwells in that unapproachable light. 00:31:34.079 --> 00:31:36.960 Maybe a good mental picture to keep in your mind. 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.960 But as far as that third point, right? 00:31:39.039 --> 00:31:40.720 Remembering who we serve. 00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:47.119 Also having the highest view that we possibly can of Jesus. 00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:52.559 I think that can help our endurance as a soldier a whole lot. 00:31:54.640 --> 00:32:03.279 But if Paul saw that light, he saw a glimpse of heaven and had a lot of interactions with the Holy Spirit and probably with Christ at other times too. 00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:13.440 Whatever he saw, he was willing, one, to give his life, and two, before he gave his life, to suffer and give his life in a different way, right? 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:16.720 Live his life for something far beyond himself. 00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:22.880 I think if he's willing to do that, then something ahead has to be really, really amazing. 00:32:23.119 --> 00:32:25.839 And we can really take heart because of that. 00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:36.319 Maybe you're here tonight and you begun that walk. 00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:38.079 That walk as a soldier. 00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:40.799 Maybe sometimes it's a trudge. 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:47.839 But if it's become a slog, if it's become a trudge, and you're struggling, you've got people here who are more than willing to help you out. 00:32:48.160 --> 00:32:50.319 To pray for you, to lift you up. 00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:59.519 Just takes you looking around and realizing that you're with brothers and sisters who care for you, who want to love you in the best way that we can. 00:33:00.720 --> 00:33:05.440 But if you are struggling, maybe you have a lesser need than that, or maybe less urgent. 00:33:05.839 --> 00:33:09.839 More than happy to help you with those too and pray for you as a congregation. 00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:18.240 That's okay, but Christ is calling. 00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:20.799 He's calling you to that service. 00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:24.720 He's calling you to take on the armor of God, right? 00:33:26.160 --> 00:33:32.880 One to put on Christ in baptism, but to do so knowing that you have a problem with sin. 00:33:33.920 --> 00:33:36.079 That he's offered a way to solve that. 00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:39.359 A way to get you out of that hole. 00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:44.000 So if you're tonight and you need to respond to the gospel, we'd welcome you to do so. 00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:47.839 You need anything else aside from that, more than happy to help you as well. 00:33:48.160 --> 00:33:52.160 Just ask you to come forward now as we sing his invitation song.