Seasons Changed

Timothy Joins Paul & Silas | Acts 16:1-5 | Alex Sands

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“We exist to glorify God by making disciples that CONNECT passionately with God and His family, GROW progressively to spiritual maturity, SERVEselflessly with their gifts and talents, and GOrelentlessly into the world with the life-giving gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Transcript

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Are a vessel. You have been created, called, anointed, filled with the Spirit of God Himself. Holy, purified, set apart. This is not merely an invitation, it's a command. Too often we settle for less. We let the world in. We rely on our nature, our understanding, our ideas. What would happen? How would God move if we confess that we are not enough? If we surrender what we carried in here, spilling it out onto the altar as an offering. No more striving. No more settlement. No more cynicism. No more selfishness. Five or conceit. Our human nature itself, gone. He would pour out his spirit into us. He would become who we would create it to be. A festive to power. Undeniably. So filled that we can't help us build out. Overflowing unto our platform. A family, our team. A congregation our team. Bringing the living water to a world that is dying to dust. How many lives will we stay? We become a living dust. When we love our first closet more than our platform. When we stop striving, we start building. When it's not us, but the Christ who lives in us. This is your call. This is your life. Lay down. This is your equipment. This is over. Join us Saturday, April 11th at 1 p.m.

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Amen, ladies, amen, ladies, amen. Amen. Just letting you guys know about that uh overflow conference that is coming up next month. Everyone is invited. Invite your friends, invite family. Uh, it's going to be a wonderful time. As you guys get filled up, the others in your lives are filled up as well. If you get filled up in that overflow, it spills over. So take that time, and again, all the ladies who are here, you're welcome to attend. And I just want to encourage everyone, we've got a lot of activities that are coming up in the next five weeks or so. Make sure you take advantage of them. This is not the season to be laid back and let things come to you. It is time to step forward into what God is calling you to be and to do. It's time to step forward into these things. You know, looking into the uh the uh Easter Resurrection Sunday is right around the corner, believe it or not. But we're gonna do something that we have only done one time as a church together. We're going to have a uh Good Friday service at 6 30 p.m. We've only done it one time, but we're gonna do it this year and just kind of remembering what Jesus what he endured and why he went through it. We're gonna take advantage of that. And also on that Saturday coming up between 4 and 8, we're going to do a worship and evangelism uh time at Conesty Park between 4 and 8 on that Saturday. And that uh there's if you're interested in taking part in that, uh there will be a uh information session today in Auditorium B after service. Also, our Easter jam for our children will be on that same uh Saturday uh before uh before Easter. So there are just a number of opportunities and take advantage of our regular Bible studies throughout the week, couples ministry, Wednesday night Bible study, Titus II women's Bible study fellowship, uh, morning glory on Tuesday. There are plenty of opportunities. Look at the back of your scripture journals, take advantage. This is the season to lean in. Can everybody say lean in? Seasons change. You guys heard of that expression before, seasons change. And sometimes seasons change as we lean in and God works to change because we've been obedient in leaning in. But there are other times where seasons change and you weren't prepared for it, things didn't go the way that you wanted, plans fell through, and in that regard, seasons change. We're turning into Acts chapter 16 today, and in Acts chapter 16, what we find is a season has changed. There was a season in which Paul and Barnabas were together like this. There was a season in which the only person who believed in Paul was Barnabas, and Barnabas had his back. There was a season that they traveled together in churches and built churches, uh established churches in Iconium and Lystra and Derby, and they went up through the mountains together, through various challenges and so forth. There was that season that they were going through those things together, but unfortunately there was a falling out, and as we talked about last time, it should never have gotten to this point. As we find out what happens in in uh in Acts chapter 15. In Acts chapter 15, this happened. Paul wanted to go back and visit the churches that they established in their first mission trip together. It'd been a couple years. Let's go back and see how they are. Let's go back and strengthen them and build them up. Barnabas was like, cool, that sounds great. Let's take John Mark. Paul said, No. Not feeling that. Paul thought it best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work, and there arose a sharp disagreement so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. We find that Paul took Silas and went on, and they were commissioned to the work the Lord had sent for them to do to go back and strengthen the churches. But that sharp disagreement, a sharp-pointed disagreement. It means that it was not a, hey, this is kind of how I think about it, and someone, ah, like no, this was energized. This was this was very energized, this was uh vigorous, and it could have divided the church because two of his primary leaders were at an impasse that was unmistakable. That's what it means with this sharp disappointment, sharp disagreement. So much so they couldn't be together. The season had changed. Not in some way that was favorable. Paul wanted his partner to go with him. Seasons changed because of a falling out. But just because there's a falling out between two leaders, that doesn't mean the mission is aborted, blocked, or stopped. God still advances even when his people fall out. When his people are not at their best, God shows forth his greatness. Because we have this treasure in earthen vessels, kind of cracked, held together by the glue of the Holy Spirit, but our imperfections show forth God's greatness. Paul and Barnabas, they go to Cyprus. Excuse me, Barnabas and John Mark go to Cyprus. Paul and Silas, they go and retrace their steps back to the churches that they had planted, that uh Paul and Barnabas had planted earlier. And what we find, church, is this this is going to be one of the uh things that's gonna stand out before us as we go through today's lesson. God strengthens his church through faithful disciples who stand firm in the gospel and set aside personal preferences for the sake of the mission. He strengthens his church through faithful disciples. We'll meet a faithful disciple today, a new one we hadn't seen before, who stand firm in the gospel. We will find this standing firm in the gospel and setting aside personal preferences. That's how God strengthens, builds up his church, and establishes his church. Let's go to verse 1, chapter 16. Paul also came to Derby and Lystra. They left Antioch, the sending church, and went through the region of Cilicia, went through the area that Paul was from, and then they end up in Derby. Now, on their first mission trip, when Paul and Barnabas went, on the first mission trip, Derby was as east as they went and then backtracked. Well, now instead of going east to west, it's west to east. Going from Derby. That's spot number one. And then Lystra. But church, it's Lystra. It's Lystra. And if you remember Lystra, Lystra was where Paul was stoned and left for dead. It was in Lystra where, look, God brought them to Lystra, thoroughly Gentile territory, and not many of the citizens, they didn't even want to speak Greek. They wanted to help hold on to their old language, and they had all of their various religions and so on and so forth. God led them to Lystra, and there was a miracle that God performed in Lystra. A man who had been born lame. God healed him. And he began to walk, and and he was excited, and everybody knew who that was. And so it was a miracle that was an a shown miracle. Shown of and in other times in Acts where some similar miracles took place, the people started to glorify God. But what happened here? People started speaking in languages, their home languages, that Paul and Barnabas didn't understand their home dialects and all of that, come to find out. They thought that Barnabas was Zeus and Paul was Hermes, and they were getting ready to offer a sacrifice to them. Oh, no, you can't do that, Paul said, running out. No, no, don't do that. And then the people, having been twisted by the Jews who had been jealous, the people went from worshiping Paul and Barnabas to stoning them. Same day. You know, you can go from hero to zero real quick. They stoned him to the point. They thought he was dead. Unconscious. But he wasn't. God energized him. He I don't know, probably had a concussion and a number of other injuries, but he got up and the next day went to Derby and shared the gospel of Jesus Christ. Stayed there, preached the gospel. There were a number of believers, and then he backtracked to Lystra and told them through much difficulty, we must enter the kingdom of God. You can see the scars on his back. You can see all of the bruising and all of that. It's through much trial, much tribulation that we enter the kingdom of God. And again, backtracked to the other cities. Well, now it's been a couple of years. And he goes back to Lysra. Remember, the point was to strengthen the believers and also to encourage them with a decision from the Jerusalem Council that Gentiles did not have to be circumcised to become part of the family of God. Jesus is enough. But it's Lyshra. Lystra, a place where there was pain, where there was a heartache, and then he's carrying, I'm sure, the baggage of a broken relationship. He had been at that same place with a partner he had a falling out with, and they couldn't even talk. They were just so angry. They parted. And he goes to a difficult place. Seasons changed. In this season, he goes back to a difficult. How many times? You know, we often avoid difficult places, difficult spots, difficult people, right? I I don't know, I don't know many people who just love conflict, not born-again folk. And to top it off, this is where he had been stoned to an inch of his life. I mean, people throwing like bricks and like cinder blocks kind of stones. We're not talking about pebbles. Those are kind of places you don't go back to. Conventional wisdom says you go around Lystra. But the love of God for God's people, it will make you do things that you wouldn't ordinarily do, make you make sacrifices you wouldn't ordinarily do. It's the love that was in Paul and his desire to see the church built up. That's what led him back to Lystra. A difficult place. Because they needed to be encouraged. You gotta say to yourself, the scars of my past will not determine the calling of my present and future. In spite of the scars and the pain, going back. I won't allow who's there to keep me from going if that's where God wants me to go. Well, there in Lystra, there is a disciple that's there. A disciple was there named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. A disciple was there. Now, literally, in the Greek, is there is a behold, a disciple was there. A certain disciple, but it there's a little bit like a disciple was there. Well, you know, a disciple is uh a follower of Christ, but I mean a follower, someone who's a learner, a follower, one who attaches himself to a teacher and orders his life around that teacher's uh instructions. I I overheard some of the students' fulfillment hour this morning, and they were talking about the Lord's command to go make disciples, not just folks who profess Christ, but disciples are followers of Christ who pattern their lives after Jesus, and there is a disciple there by the name of Timothy. Timothy, Timotheus, it says in the King James Timothy. There are a couple letters addressed to Timothy in your New Testament. Timothy is often called Paul's protege. Paul calls him his son. He's his son in the faith, his son in the gospel. That's the relationship they would develop. He met him in Lystra. Timothy will go on to be a leader in the church. He will go on to shepherd the church at Ephesus. Timothy will go forward to do many things for God and his glory, but before all of that, the word that is used to describe Timothy is disciple. Amen. Before there's a platform, you need to be formed. Before you can lead people publicly, you gotta let Christ lead you privately. That's a disciple. The number one thing about Timothy that made him stand out was that he was a disciple. He was a disciple there, one who loved the Lord and was faithful. What Timothy, what Paul could observe in Timothy, he wasn't looking at his future usefulness, he was looking at his present faithfulness. And it's a faithfulness that wasn't, you know, just something that Timothy said he had, others said he is faithful and he was well spoken of in verse 2 by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Timothy. But there are two bio two biographical descriptions about Timothy. What's the first one? He is the like y'all can read, go ahead, the son of a Jewish woman. All right? Mom was a Jew. And she was a believer. What's the second biological? His father was a Greek. First thing about his Jew, his mom. His mom's name was Eunice. Eunice. She was faithful. She was a believer. And she was rooted in the scriptures herself. Somebody that, you know, Paul, he he refers to Timothy's mother Eunice in 2 Timothy chapter 1, verse 15, excuse me, verse 5, he said, I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and now I am sure dwells in you as well. Oh, not only is Eunice a believer, her mother was a believer. Mom and grandma. Or my mom or ma, whatever that's you know, whatever you call it. So many different names for grandparents, and pop pop and and and then my mom, and Lois, his grandmother, was a believer, and she was rooted in the scriptures as well. And they poured into Timothy, Paul says, later in 2 Timothy 3:15, how from childhood you have known the sacred writings, the sacred scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Even as a child. But what about his daddy? Just says he was a Greek. That means he was not a Jew. And from the fact that Timothy was uncircumcised, something we'll find later as we go on, most likely he was not a proselyte or a God fearer. Most likely he was a pagan Gentile, someone who worshiped other gods, not the living and true God. Probably polytheistic. And Lyshtra was known for that. There wasn't a large Jewish population in Lystra. Folks worshiped all kinds of different gods. Remember, there was a large temple to Zeus and to Hermes. They worshiped all kinds of different things. And so there weren't many. He was probably a pagan Gentile, not a worshiper of God. And because of his status in terms of being in the household, whatever the man said that was it. He is his son or sons. He said they are not going to be circumcised. You can teach Timothy all you want, but no, you're not going to circumcise him. Because his mother was a Jew, the rabbis taught that Timothy, the children, the children of a Jewish woman in a mixed marriage was considered a Jew. But Timothy is an uncircumcised Jew. Which means technically he is an apostate. Maybe early 20s. But again, technically speaking, an uncircumcised Jew, apostate to the faith. That's a label that slapped on him that he can't control. You know, one of the beautiful parts of this story, before we really dive in and do the deep dive, is Timothy did not come from a perfect background. He came from a mixed home where there was, they were unequally yoked. His parents were unequally yoked with mixed faith and so on. He didn't come from a pristine environment. Often we just think about well, there's Eunice and there's Lois, but then there was dad. And oftentimes there is one parent who is faithful to the Lord and another who isn't. One who loves the Lord, maybe came to faith after or after the marriage or what have you, and then, but the other didn't. Many times what happens is the child goes the way of the parent that does not believe. But let this, if you are from that home, or if you find yourself as a parent of someone, a child, and they're growing up in that situation, may this passage give you hope. You be faithful. You pour in as much scripture as you can, you do as much as you can. There were limitations because dad put limitations around, but don't you put a limitation on God? God is saving from all different backgrounds, different family types, all of that, God is working. Don't you ever believe your background is holding you back from being of service to God? Timothy was a disciple. He was a disciple and he followed the Lord even though his daddy didn't. He was faithful in his witness, as we will see here again shortly. But take this home, church. God does not erase the past, but he refuses to let the past be the headline. Grace becomes the headline. Grace is the big, the big player in our story. It's not our pain, it's not our disappointment, it's not where we came from. The biggest part of our lives is God's grace. That's the biggest factor in our lives. Don't define yourself or others by the most awkward situation in their life or things that they're outside of their control. Look, God sees past the outside and he sees the heart. It says in verse 2 that he was well spoken of. He is well spoken of. Because it's literally the Greek word, is where we get martyr from, which is where we get witness from. A martyr is someone who was willing to die for their testimony. They provide uh witness and a testimony, and they're willing to uh affirm so much that what they're saying is the truth, they'll die for it. Men from Iconium and Lystra said, This Timothy is the real deal. He's the real deal. Now it's two cities, Lystra and Iconium were about 20 miles apart. Kind of shows you there that even though there was some distance, you know, churches collaborated. They shared. There's a I was reading this week that not only was Timothy someone who had godly character, he was probably teaching too. In terms for him to be somebody that's going back and forth and regularly being amongst the people and having received the scriptures from an early childhood. We'll find here in verse 3 that Paul wants to take Timothy along with him. But understand, when we talk about God calling and leading, character comes before opportunity. Character, having a heart for God, regardless of circumstance, having a heart for God, that is what leads, and that is what calls attention to God, not someone's status, someone's family, background, etc., etc., etc. Lois and Eunice could have had all the faith in the world, but Timothy still had to make a choice. He had to choose to follow God for himself, and he did, and that's why he was called a disciple of Christ, faithful to the Lord. And think about this for a minute. What a blessing for Paul. Look at God's kindness to Paul. Think about the situation he left. Brokenhearted, heavy. I'm sure he was heavy. He again, he and Barnabas were tight like this. And he goes to Lystra, a place where there had been so much pain, and he finds Timothy, who he has such a kindred, uh such a spiritual, he calls him a son. Look at God. Church, when seasons change, we may be troubled by what we left behind, but God is already preparing what comes next. Oh, church, don't miss the fact that when Paul and Barnabas were arguing about John Mark and it became a strong disagreement, God over in Lystra was refining Timothy, polishing off the rough edges, and and others taking, started taking notice, and God begins to draw their attention to Timothy. And listen, God was doing a work, God was preparing who was next. We don't know what would have happened if Paul and Barnabas and John Mark had showed up in Lystra. They, well, we got a full load, though. We can't go anywhere because we that we got three already. And maybe he wouldn't have stood out. But you know what? He stood out at this point, and at this time, seasons change sometimes in things ways we don't want them to change, but that doesn't mean God isn't working. God is always orchestrating, God is always working, he's always preparing. That's why we shouldn't be stuck. We can be disappointed, but don't be stuck there. Don't just stay and but remember God is working and you want to join him in his work. And let him soothe your pain as you live faithfully for his glory. You see, we can become so we can be so focused on our hurt and our pain, we become self-absorbed, self-centered, and God can't speak. Because we're thinking about all the harm someone else has done to us, all the limitations that they placed on us. I would be able to do this, I would have been able to do that if it wasn't for Jimmy, Bob, and Timmy. No God is greater than Bob, Timmy, Steve. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter about Stephanie or Mom or your auntie, it doesn't matter about that. You can choose to follow God. And when you make that choice, God will take those bad times, those bad seasons and wrap them together to his perfect purpose and plan for your life. Don't dwell on your pain and your disappointment. You dwell on God who's able to work all things together for good. He's either sovereign or he's not. He works everything after the counsel of his own will, and he is perfecting us into the image of Jesus Christ. Timothy is a faithful disciple. And church, take this way. It's God's grace that produces faithful disciples, regardless of one's background or history. Maybe you got some baggage. We all got some baggage. Hey, but you don't know, Pastor, I got four pieces of baggage. I've had to pay extra for my extra baggage. We all got a whole lot of baggage. But you leave all of that at the cross. It's all there, there's a whole lot of baggage at the cross. You leave it right there. Don't you assume that what you can't do because of where you came from, God is greater than your past, your background, your family, history, all of that. He's greater than all of that. You look at God's greatness, and as a matter of fact, it's it's our brokenness that makes God look good. His power is made perfect in our weakness, not in what we bring to the table. Not because Timothy was not attractive to Paul in terms of ministry because his mother was Eunice and his grandmother was Lois. It wasn't about that, it was his faithfulness that Paul could see being used by God in the future. From now on, it says in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, verses 16 and 17, from now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come. And then Galatians chapter 5, excuse me, 6, verse 15. Circumcision counts, neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. What matters is being a new creation in Christ. I'm not who I used to be. I'm not renovated either. I'm new, brand new in Christ. And for parents, grandparents, hey, don't despise steady, quiet, faithful obedience. It matters more than we realize. Lois and Eunice were faithful in giving Timothy instruction in the word. They listen, they did what they could with what they had. You do what you can, you do the best what you can with what you got, and trust God with the rest. You pour into your children as much as you can, and then when they leave, there's nothing. Hey, you gotta turn them over to God, but God already had them to begin with. You just sow the seed. Live faithful, be a disciple, and pray. Don't don't discount just steady, faithful obedience. It has great impact. So verse 3. We turn our attention to verse 3. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places. Interesting. Well, first, Paul wanted Timothy, he wanted Timothy to be with him. Now it's important to understand what what okay, let's not think to ourselves that Paul wanted a substitute for John Mark. Let's not think to ourselves that he was searching for a young protege to come along with him. Because we have no evidence of that. What we do know is John Mark, that was Barnabas' idea. Paul just wanted to go with Barnabas. Let's go to the cities we visited before. Let us go. And then that fell out. And he took Silas and they just journeyed. But God had already had ordained for them to find there, this disciple, Timothy. Maybe he had seen him before, but now he sees him as a young man of God. And he sees him differently. Let's not think again to ourselves that this is what Paul was hunting for. It's what God had for him. It's always so much better when God just orchestrates and he just puts things in, and then you he put within Paul this desire to take Timothy along to accompany him. And he took him and circumcised him. Now that makes us pause and say, what meaneth this? Cut off the foreskin. Circumcision was a sign of the covenant. The Old Testament, sign of the covenant, given to Abraham and for all of his descendants, is a sign you are part of the people of God. Now, part of the Jerusalem Council decision is that one did not need to be circumcised to be saved. That was the whole deal of the previous chapter. Jesus is enough. So what meaneth this? Paul had another companion, partner in ministry by the name of Titus. Well, Paul was adamant that Titus was not circumcised. He put his foot down. But Timothy, he circumcised him. I searched to find out if it was actually Paul. Or if he had someone else do it. All evidence points to he did it. And let's understand, Timothy was old enough to say, no, no, bro. I ain't ready for all that. I love the Lord as much as you do. But you better put that knife away, man. God bless you and keep you. And may his face smile upon you. May you be blessed in the city and blessed in the field. Timothy. Timothy allowed this. He consented to this. He agreed to it. Why? Well, it wasn't because Timothy needed circumcision to be saved, but he needed to be circumcised to not be a hindrance. Timothy and Titus's situations were totally different. Two co-laborers with Paul situations were totally different. He was in circumcising Timothy. Paul was not denying the gospel, he was applying the gospel. For Timothy being circumcised, it served the gospel. For Titus, if he had been circumcised, it would have worked against the gospel. Because here's the thing: remember how I shared with you that Timothy's father was Greek, was a Gentile, and Timothy was not circumcised, although he was a Jew. That was not private knowledge. Many people in the area knew that his father was Greek and that he was uncircumcised. And it's because of the second part of verse 3 why Paul wanted Timothy to be circumcised, it was because of the Jews who were in those places. Because of the Jews who were in those places, who would have known that Timothy was not circumcised and technically an apostate Jew. And Paul always went first to the synagogue and then he would go to the Gentiles. That was always first to the Jews, Jews first, then the Gentiles. If Timothy had gone along with him, a Jew who was uncircumcised, Paul would never get to the gospel. Because Timothy would have been an offense. Timothy's, he would have been, regardless of how much Bible he knew and how much he was a disciple, no one would have been able to get past that in the synagogue. And so, in order for gospel effectiveness, Paul wanted first Timothy to accompany him, and he wanted him to be circumcised, and he circumcised him. Timothy consented to it. Another piece of evidence of Timothy's spiritual maturity. Because it wasn't something he had to do to please God, but it was something that would help the gospel move forward, and he didn't want anything in his life to be a hindrance to someone else hearing about Jesus. If he could stop it, if he could, if, if he could cut it out, he wanted to do that for Jesus to be clear and to be made known. Before he even opened his mouth, this would have been a hindrance. Titus was different because he was a full Gentile. His mama and daddy, they were Gentiles. He came from that background and everything else. If he had gotten circumcised, it would have had a negative effect on the gospel because people would have said, see, Titus had to be circumcised. So you must, Paul, what you're talking about, why would you have circumcised Titus if you didn't believe it? So in Titus' case, it would have worked negatively. But in Timothy's case, circumcision worked positively towards the advance of the gospel, i.e., getting back to Galatians 6.15. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matters. But what furthers the gospel? Being a new creation is what matters, and being a new creation enables you to share this good news in the power of the Holy Spirit. And so, in order to be able to do this, Paul, excuse me, Timothy had to relinquish his preferences. He had to relinquish his liberty for the sake of the gospel. And understand there is a difference between refusing to compromise the gospel and refusing to surrender a personal liberty. There's a big difference between the two. A lot of times people don't understand that there are. Certain things that are non-negotiables in the faith. But then there are some things that are non-essentials that have no bearing on whether or not someone is saved, the clothes someone wears to church. That does not determine someone's salvation. And there are countless other things you can add. But if Jesus is enough, Jesus is enough. Now you have to believe that you're a sinner. You have to believe that Jesus lived the sinless life, the life that you couldn't and didn't. And because he is able to stand before God with all holiness, and we place our faith and trust in him, we are able to stand before God wholly because we've repented, believed Jesus as our Lord and Savior, received the remission of our sins. He paid the price for us all. You have to believe that. Those are non-negotiables. But there are a lot more liberties than a lot of times Christians talk about. There are a lot of liberties we have in Jesus. But if our liberties cause someone else to stumble, there is a law of love that says it's better to give up chicken. Better to give up anything, any comfort, any entertainment, if that is what it takes to help somebody else clearly see Jesus. The last thing you want is for someone to stumble on their way to Jesus because of you. Or something you eat. Or something else. That's the last thing in the world you want. Jesus paid too high of a price. But we can argue and fuss about non-essentials in the world not here, Jesus at all. Paul was a great example of this himself in 1 Corinthians chapter 9, verses 19 through 23. I'm gonna read it quickly. Though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant of all that I might win more of them. To the Jews, I became as a Jew in order to win Jews. Paul knew he could eat anything he wanted, but when he was around Jews, he ate kosher food. To those under the law, I became as one under the law, though, not being myself under the law, that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law, I became as one outside the law, not being outside the law of God, but under the law of Christ. That I might win those outside the law. To the weak, I became weak that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it for the sake of the gospel that I may share with them in its blessings. Whatever it takes, I'm willing to let go of and I'm letting to take on if it's gonna lead to others being one to Jesus. In our culture, that is so countercultural because we always talk about rights. My rights, my rights, my rights. What about you are a slave of Christ. Disciple of Christ means we do whatever Jesus says. You have no autonomy. You give up what's needed to be given up, you pick up what you need to pick up, whatever it is. Well, that's I'm not gonna be true to myself. You are true to Jesus. I'll become all things to all people if by any means I may win some. That means conversations, church, you just need to not have. And people wonder what you think. What's really about that? Well, I'm I I think Jesus. Because I'm not diving into that with you. I'm not going into that. You need to know it's Jesus. Well, do you think you can watch this or watch that? I read the word. I pray, how about you? I keep I'm keeping my eyes on Jesus. Don't dive in a whole lot of mess. Because what people need to hear is the gospel. First and foremost. And sometimes you need to do some reconnaissance. Find out what might cause somebody to trip up. And then move it out of the way. Meet somebody on neutral ground that that's what it takes, you know, whatever is needed. Be that, do that. And man, Timothy was all in. That shows his maturity and humility. He was yielded because he was a faithful disciple. Faithful disciples strengthened churches. Faithful disciples are the ones who hold firmly to the gospel yet freely lay down preference for the sake of the mission. It's not about what am I free to do? The question is, what will best serve the advance of the kingdom? I'm not interested in towing the line. How close can I get without crossing over? Not even about that. What do I need to stay away from in order not to be a hindrance to somebody else? I'm gonna be devoted to the Lord. I'm committed to him, but I'm also committed to his mission. To seeking to save those who are lost. So I've said this in all kinds of different ways, but I'm gonna say it again. Don't make people climb over your preferences just to get to Jesus. Hold tightly to the truth, but hold your preferences loosely. Again, sometimes you just need to be quiet and listen. Because people will tell you what their preferences are and what their hangups are. Just listen first. Then you can talk about what you do or don't do. Amen. Our culture doesn't like to be quiet. We want to broadcast our feelings at the moment, how we feel. Don't muzzle me. Not talking about muzzling you. We want you to talk about the right things at the right time to the right persons. The way that's needed to be communicated, that is love. And Timothy knew that early on. But you know, again, what we know about Timothy is that he is a disciple. We don't know how young he is. Oh, he's that's not even a part of it. It's not about what he's going to be, it's who he was right here. And man, this must have blessed Paul's heart. Seasons changed, but there's a new season coming. God brought somebody to fill that gap. Well, they went on their way, so it says in verse 4, through the cities, they went as they went their way through the cities, they delivered to them the observance. Let me get some water. I'm stumbling all over the verse. Let's try again. Verse 4. As they went on their way through the cities. Just again, they went on their way through the cities. There was a plan. There was a plan. Going through the cities, they delivered to them the observances, the observ for observance, the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. They delivered, handed over, passed off the observance, the observance of the decisions. And so that means to cling to, to guard, things to guard and not let go of, to hold tightly. Here is what you are to observe. These are this is what to hold on to. Grace, not works. And then he says the decisions. Luke says the decisions, and that word means that word literally is dogma. To think, a conclusion, a proposition, decrees church Christianity is a uh it's it's based on truth. There is truth. There's a system of faith. There are truths that have to be believed. It's not your truth, it's your truth, my truth is my truth. There are things to be believed that have to be believed. And look, doctrine is not confining, it's liberating. Truth liberates. They deliver the decisions that have been reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. And everywhere they've gone and shared this, that you are free from the requirements of the law, it brought joy. Grace brings joy. And grace does not weaken one's faith or weakens one's commitment to Christ. Understanding grace, God's love for you, a sinner, that getting in your spirit and how bad of a sinner you were, that makes you love God all the more. And how can I please him? Grace isn't license. Grace shows us God did all of this before I said yes. I was an enemy opposed to God, and he loved me. But again in verse 4, they delivered for them the observance of the decisions, i.e., Paul, Silas, and Timothy didn't bring something new. Because our mission is not to bring something new. I don't have a new word. There may be ways to apply the word for our context, and that's wisdom, but I don't have a new word. I'm just delivering what's been delivered to me. Delivering what's been handed down for centuries. That's all of our responsibilities. That's all that we're called to do, not novelty. Not new, but what's true? There is truth. Truth matters. That's what they communicated, that's what we are to communicate, and the results were the churches were strengthened in the faith. Strengthened in the faith. Two things actually. They were strengthened in the faith, and what was the second thing? They increased in numbers daily. Hmm. They're strengthened, they were established. That's what happens when truth is declared faithfully, consistently. And people understand the good news is good news. And they're rejoicing in the Lord, and you've created an environment, as it says in Colossians 3.16, let the word of God dwell richly among you, not one person, you as a community. As it dwells richly inside of us, and inside of us as a community, oh the saints are built up and there is an atmosphere of joy. Because what binds us is the truth. They are strengthened in the faith. Not works, but they are built up in salvation by grace. Not emotions, but this is truth. They were strengthened in the faith. And as a result, they increased in numbers daily. So as the churches, as the believers are grounded in the truth, and they're no longer afraid of whether or not their running has been in vain, because the false teachers caused like so many to stumble and to lose their confidence. Maybe I'm not really saved. Maybe I do need to be circumcised. Maybe I do need to observe the law. Well, once that is settled, and you know that you know that you're saved, and you reflect on the goodness of God, you don't even need a plan to share the good news. The good news just comes out of you. Have you ever spontaneously shared the gospel? You really didn't want to have it wasn't the plan, but God is good. Do you want to be saved? I mean, it just will come forth. It's oozing out of you. And all God's got to do is put you in the environment with unsaved folk, and the joy of the Lord will just come forth. You just gotta get there, and the Lord will direct you there. God just says, be faithful. And the number of disciples increased daily. It wasn't Paul, Silas, and Timothy. It was the church that caused the numbers to increase daily. Oh, the word was going forth. Paul, Silas, Timothy, they taught and taught, but it's the people going through the day and day life, gossiping the gospel. Lastly, if the gospel is clearly and faithfully taught, guarded, and passed on, kingdom life will grow deeper and reach wider. That is my prayer. My prayer is that we will go wider and deeper. We go deeper into the word, into this truth, and deeper that we will not be shallow Christians. But committed, it's a new season. The time of just kind of being uh so so so and half committed. Well, there's no season for that. There's no time for that. It's time that we all go deep, all together go deep in him and sacrifice for him for the sake of the mission and not be stuck, not have a plateau mentality. Because whenever someone says we got enough, I'm comfortable right where I am, and I don't want such and such because they're going to ruin this, that's when the spirit of just complacency comes in. Because look, this is not our church, it's whatever God wants us to be. And God wants us to go forward, God wants us to advance. So, yeah, there are opportunities coming up, like the the um outreach over Easter weekend. Hey, learn about that this afternoon. As we go out and communicate, let's gossip the gospel and talk about Jesus and find ways to incorporate and fuse him into every conversation. Parents, it's not up to the to Jacob, to Neil, or any of the student and youth teachers. It's not their job to raise up our children in the faith. They are coming alongside us. They shouldn't be the only Jesus that they that students and children hear once a week is on Sunday. It should not be the case. If we have time to talk about algebra, we have time to talk about Jesus. Because this world that we're living in today, it will eat you alive if you are not anchored in the faith. Faithful disciples who are willing to lay down preferences and today strengthen churches and today cause the expansion of the kingdom. Seasons change. Thank God He gives us opportunities to step forward and to change the season. Sometimes God says it's not about a sin you're committing, it's that this prior season there were weights holding you back. It's time to let go. Paul thought it best to take Barnabas, but he didn't know about Timothy around the corner. God later reconciled Paul and Barnabas. God restored John Mark, and Paul calls him useful for ministry. In all of that, though, and what all of that would seem to be turmoil, God was working a plan and he was raising up Timothy. And Timothy did so much for the kingdom. If you're embroiled in turmoil at home or job or whatever, don't ever think God is not working. He is working everything according to his plan, his perfect will, and he's preparing you for it. So you may be not happy with how a season may have changed, but you can look forward with anticipation to what God's got ahead. He's always got a plan. We'll read more about Paul, Silas, and Timothy as they get on and the gospel goes forward into Europe and places it hadn't been before. We'll read that in the upcoming weeks. God is good. You are so wonderful, Lord. We give you praise this morning, this afternoon, because God, you're good. There's no, there's nothing good that you have withheld from us, Lord. Thank you for teaching us. Thank you for uh just the gospel in Jesus. Help us to consider Jesus to be the pearl of great price. We're able, we are willing to push in all of our chips in the table to sacrifice everything for. Help us, Lord, to see that. Put you first in all things. Let you work. God, as we're faithful to you, laying aside whatever needs to be laid aside so you can do your work through us and reach others for Jesus. And it's in his name we pray. Amen.