Scripture:
II Timothy 3:10-17 NKJV
[10] But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, [11] persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. [12] Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. [13] But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. [14] But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, [15] and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Observation:
2nd Timothy is a letter written to a young disciple of Paul’s named… you guessed it, Timothy. It was written to prepare him for the calling that he was stepping into. A calling which Paul knows all too well. He had experienced it, and it had been laid on his heart to get Timothy ready for what was about to happen. Telling the young man about some of the persecution he had faced up to this point and making the statement that all who make a decision to live godly lives through Christ Jesus will face that same kind of persecution was so that Timothy could set his face as to flint or dig his feet in and prepare. Timothy had taken Paul’s example and done his best to live in a like manner. Paul’s warning is that evil men and imposters will get worse as the time draws near to the return of Christ, and that’s something that needs to be paid attention to. The fact that. Timothy had the scripture, which was what would be his saving grace, so to speak. That’s where Jesus is found. Verses 16 and 17 are the kind of important to this morning’s SOAP. It’s not something that can just be glanced over. In a sense, it’s what Paul is telling Timothy throughout the 7 verses that have been chosen this morning. Looking back for a brief overview, what has been said is to hold tight to what you have been shown. Don’t get away from the scripture. Live godly in Christ even though you will suffer for it. Don’t give up, and correct those who need it with love through the word of GOD. People will try to deceive you because they themselves are deceived
Application:
When I first started this journey several years ago. I used to just take people’s word for what the scripture says. In fact, I had an app on my phone that had all kinds of preachers and podcasts that talked about the bible. I would just listen to opening up GOD’S word on occasion but never really diving in. I was only reading at a surface level. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of good stuff you can get from the bible at a surface level. But I just don’t believe that’s what GOD wants. I think he wants us to dive in. Let HIS word be the light to our path and the lamp to our feet. It’s designed to correct the course of our lives. To draw us closer to HIM even if that means the world doesn’t understand us and persecutes us. Staying the course is what’s important. Matthew chapter 24 verse 13 and Mark chapter 13 verse 13 both talk about standing in the face of persecution. That’s something we have to be ready for. Listen, the Bible says all who desire to live godly lives through Christ. Jesus WILL suffer persecution. If you are not experiencing any kind of persecution. If the enemy has just left you alone. You might take a look at that. I’m not saying you have to give in to his attacks. But if you are not experiencing them, maybe it’s time for a deep dive into GOD’S word so that you can course-correct. As for myself, I have drawn some very hard lines in my life. Using GOD’S word as my plumb line, I realize this whole thing is not about me. I don’t want anything for my life that GOD doesn’t want for me. Holding tight to HIS word and trusting what it says and not man’s opinion of what it says. Is the key to living a godly life through Christ Jesus. My encouragement to you this morning is to build a daily relationship with GOD’S word. Spend time with in open and reading it. Letting it sink into your spirit and change the inner most parts of you. Your heart.
Prayer:
Father, this is not about us. Our loves have been bought with a price. A price that was so precious in amazing that we can’t honestly understand it all. Give us a burning desire to allow your word to correct us. Not picking out the fluffy parts that tickle our ears. But the parts that say this is the change that needs to be made. You tell us that we will find you when we seek you, and we know that your spirit works through your word. You are an amazing GOD with a plan of redemption that is way beyond what we can comprehend. That’s what has drawn us to you. We want you to lead us and guide us to be conformed to the image of your sun. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray amen.