Some Encouragement
My very first youth ministry, I was fresh out of Bible College, and I went to work at a church that I had actually been told had a reputation as a 'preacher killer'. The record for any youth minister before me was only one year, and most had only lasted about 6 months. I made it 2 ½ years and was then ready to throw in the towel. In fact, I was so discouraged I was ready to leave the ministry all together.
But a professor from Lincoln Christian College sat down with me as I was contemplating my next move. And after much discussion and prayer, he persuaded me to try it again, in another congregation. That was about 30 years ago, and I'm still in the ministry. It's amazing what a little encouragement can do.
The Apostle Paul was a bold preacher but was also a great encourager. And as a man who had definitely been through a lot - shipwrecks, death threats, multiple arrests and beatings - the man had some credibility when he talked about getting through tough times. Paul mentored a young man named Timothy who was just starting out in ministry. He knew Timothy's mother and grandmother - so there was a bit of history there.
And of course, knowing the struggles that Paul had already endured, Timothy had to be a bit nervous. I want to look at a passage where Paul was challenging Timothy to stand firm in his faith despite everything around him. Paul wanted him to remember his true source of security and strength - Jesus. Let's read part of Paul's letter to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:11-12 (NIV)...
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. (12) Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
This advice that Paul gave to Timothy was given under the direction of God's Holy Spirit. It's important that we understand from where this advice is coming. This isn't just Paul's well intentioned opinion, but...
I. God's wisdom
This is God's instructions through His apostle. It's one thing to casually dismiss the opinions of those around us, but quite another thing to ignore the instructions of God. - God's plans always works best. And I speak as one with experience - because every time I try things my way I end up disappointed. God has given us His Holy Spirit in us to help guide us - but I don't think we always pay that close attention.
- On Tuesday, I had to drive a rental car home from Cincinnati because the weather was too poor to fly. The car I ended up with had what is called 'radar assisted cruise control with lane assist'. Some of you may be familiar, but I'd never used this before. Basically, the system controlled my speed and where I was in the lane. I was not a fan...
When going 70, in the rain, right next to a semi who was swerving with the wind - I wanted to be less close to the truck on each turn. But the system beeped at me and kept pulling the steering wheel back to where it thought I should be. I had to keep resisting its pull, the system kept beeping, and I finally turned it off. Now, it may have been completely fine being that close to the truck in the other lane - assuming some computer was driving the truck, too..? But I didn't trust it and wanted a bit more of a buffer between me and the truck.
I think that may be how we view the Holy Spirit sometimes. God is nudging us one way or another - but we want to go somewhere else. There's several differences, though... I might not be able to trust some computer system - but I guarantee God will never lead us somewhere against our best interest. Yes, He'll take us to places that may not feel safe - but He will always be there with us. And another big difference - God's Spirit will not force us to go anywhere. God gives us free will - even if our choices will end up causing us pain.
One thing I'm learning about God's wisdom...
A. Don't fight it
I turned off the radar assisted system and drove myself home, just fine. But it doesn't work that way when we ignore God's directions.
Paul wasn't telling Timothy that it'd be nice if he were to follow his advice from God - but that it was essential if he was going to effectively serve Jesus. In order for us to more fully understand this passage, let's look back to the previous verses, 6-10. Paul had written about false teachers making money off the Gospel, and then wrote this, in 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NIV)...
But godliness with contentment is great gain. (7) For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. (8) But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. (9) People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. (10) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Does this sound like any culture we know today...? And this passage is actually about more than just money. It describes placing wealth and things a top priority in one's life. It has to do with relying on things for physical security. It isn't necessarily money and things that are the problem, but rather the pursuit of them to the neglect of spiritual things.
Paul's advice to Timothy - which applies to any follower of Jesus - is not to fall into the trap of depending upon the things of this world to give us meaning and security.God's wisdom...
B. Brings contentment
There's that phrase at the beginning of verse 6, "But godliness with contentment is great gain." The idea of contentment doesn't seem to go along with the call to action expressed in the following verses 11 and 12 where Paul encouraged Timothy to "flee", to "pursue", to "fight" and to "take hold" - all actions.
If you asked the average person if they would like to be content - they'd probably say 'yes'. But then that same person would probably spend most of their life getting educated and working and spending and saving all just in pursuit of that contentment. There seems to be a tension between actively working and contentment.
And contentment, in itself, is not an awful thing to pursue. But it's a matter of with what you seek to be content. Here, Paul is telling Timothy to be content with God's provision and God's provision alone. God would provide all of Timothy's basic spiritual and physical needs. With that understanding, Timothy is then to move forward in actively following Jesus.
The action on Timothy's part would be a response to the contentment found by relying on God's provision. Timothy wasn't encouraged to simply seek contentment - but rather to actively pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness - and the act of following God's plan would then bring great contentment and gain.
Let's look again at…
II. Paul's advice
With this context, let's look again at what Paul was telling Timothy to do...
1 Timothy 6:11-12 (NIV)
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. (12) Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
When Paul says, "But you, man of God" - he's saying 'since you are a man of God, this is what you have to do. This is how you have to live.' So let's start with applying the first two things…
A. Flee and pursue
Timothy was to 'flee' from false teachings and 'flee' placing his trust in money and things to then 'pursue' Godly values. There are things that Christians should actively avoid - things from which we should 'flee'. And this is not an act of weakness - but strength of conviction.
Have you ever participated in something that you knew probably didn't fit into the category of 'godliness' or 'righteousness' - but you didn't want to be seen as a 'puritan', a 'killjoy' or a 'religious fanatic'? Have you ever invested your time in the 'things of the world' to the extent that you made excuses that you just don't have time to participate in regular worship, Bible study or Christian service? Have you ever been more than willing to make commitments to the world but reluctant to make commitments to God, or His Church?
In order to take a stand for what's right, you need to actively move away from what's wrong! This calls for 'flight' as well as 'fight'. - Have you ever been in a conversation with someone who mocks 'Christian values', but hesitated to say anything because you were afraid to make waves? "When good men do nothing, evil flourishes."
- It's not enough just to walk away from evil - Paul tells Timothy that he's to actively pursue all the right things - righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. These virtues involve doing what's right and living the right way - God's way. - Righteousness: actively doing what's right. - Godliness: seeking to develop the character of God in you. - Faith: putting your trust completely in God - Love: responding to others with God's grace. - Endurance: remaining steadfast, no matter what. - And Gentleness - letting God's love and compassion flow through you to others.
Paul's challenge to everyone who wants to follow Jesus - is to continuously make every effort to let God make you more like Jesus! It's not about earning salvation, but a matter of responding to God's grace in your life! This 'pursuing' has to do with changing your priorities so you can accomplish the greatest good with your life for Jesus!
And then after Paul instructs Timothy to flee from the bad and to pursue the good - Paul encourages him to...
B. Fight and take hold
"Fight the good fight of the faith." Struggle, compete for the prize, rely on Christ alone for salvation! It's an ongoing action that doesn't let up. It's a continual battle we have to go through to become who God wants us to become!
The summer Olympic games will be held this year in France. If you've ever watched the games - you've probably been amazed at the strength, the power and the discipline the top athletes demonstrate. They do things at a level we couldn't even imagine doing! And every one of them who wins a gold medal - it doesn't just happen. It's the result of years of training, sacrifice, and discipline.
But our confidence is not in our ability, but rather in The One who qualifies and equips us! When we put our trust and our faith in God - we can't lose! Many people give up the fight against 'un-righteousness' around them- and in their own lives - because they think they just aren't capable of fighting off temptation or evil. The truth is - none of us are - by ourselves. That's why we fight by faith. Our trust is not in us, but in God.
1 Timothy 6:12b (NIV)
Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
While the other instructions were continuous actions, this one is a one-time event. While the fight of faith is a continuous process, the assurance of eternal life is a settled reality because God has already given us the victory in Jesus! Our part is to trust God and to put our confidence in Him.
This 'Good confession' which Paul mentions is then referenced again where Paul wrote...
1 Timothy 6:13-16 (NIV)
In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you (14) to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, (15) which God will bring about in his own time- God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, (16) who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
When Pilate asked Jesus if He was the Son of God, Jesus simply replied - "I am". That's the same confession that Peter made when Jesus asked him who he believed He was. Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God".
Paul was reminding Timothy of his confession - his faith in Jesus alone. We must be thoroughly convinced of the fact that Jesus is indeed THE Son of God or we'll never be able to fully commit ourselves to serving Him with everything we've got. We need to 'take hold' of that confession. We're to make it our primary defense against any and all opposition. - With THE Son of God at our side, we can't lose!
So What?
Over 30 years ago, when my professor encouraged me to stay in ministry and to try another congregation - that's where I met my wife. God's plans are always better than ours...
What I'm talking about this morning is not about 'beating you up' for not being good enough. Sure, sometimes we do need a 'kick in the pants', but you're here listening to me now – which means you are trying to become more like Jesus. I want to encourage you to keep it up - to fight the good fight!
What does God want to do with your life? Spreading the Good News of Jesus isn't just for the 'professionals'. Absolutely every one of you has a God given purpose. God has placed within you an amazing potential for ministry! He wants to use you for His Kingdom work. There are people in your world that need to be reached. He didn't save you from an eternity in Hell, just so you could attend church services. His plans for you are so much bigger than that!
The only way that the work of God's Church is going to be done is through people committing themselves to do it. The church will only fulfill its purpose when Christians within the body get serious about their purpose. We need to leave the things of the world behind and re-arrange our priorities. Then we can get on with the Kingdom work.
You, child of God, reject the false promises of this world, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith!