2 Tim., Pt. 2 (A Soldier, an Athlete, and a Farmer)
 
A Soldier, an Athlete, and a Farmer 2 Timothy, Pt. 2 By Pastor Dan Kennedy © September 20, 2015 www.pastorkennedy.com Discipleship has been a critical factor in Christianity from its beginning and will be a critical factor until its end. What do you emphasize in your discipleship teaching and to whom do you entrust the enduring truth of the message? 2 Timothy 2 begins where we left off last week, with Key Verses regarding Discipleship in the Scripture: 2 Timothy 2 2 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Increasing Personal Depth Increase the Depth of Your Internal Strength and reliance in Jesus Christ. • “Be Strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus” Discipleship Qualifications • Entrust Sound Biblical Truth to those you are teaching o Compare Scripture with Scripture Clarifying Scriptural Truths, thus finding “many witnesses”. • Entrust these Truths to those who are Reliable • Entrust to those who can teach others • Endure Hardship like a good soldier 3 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. A Soldier 2 Tim. 2:4 No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. Authority • Whose authority is a soldier under? • What happens if a soldier chooses to be under his or her own authority? • A Believer in Jesus Christ is under whose Authority? • What does this mean for the Child of God? • What if a Believer in Jesus Christ chooses to be under his or her own authority? o God deals with us as His Children…if we are His Children Proverbs 3:11–12 11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. Hebrews 12:5–9 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6  For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? What does Submission to Authority Give Us? • From Authority comes Direction • From Direction comes Responsibility and Accountability • From Responsibility and Accountability comes Success and Reward, or Incompleteness and Discipline • From Reward or Discipline should come Stability and Growth with Reevaluation, Regrouping, Reestablishment, or further Punishment and Correction. Submission to Authority What are some ways we can “submit” to Authority? We can have grudging submission to Authority. We can merely have obedient submission to the authority over us. Or, we can have Heartfelt Submission to Authority 2 Tim. 2:4 No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. This Soldier wants to Please his Commanding Officer • Paul is identifying those who have heartfelt pleasing and respect in submission to the authority over them. This is also true of… (Eph. 5:22-6:9) Child to parent Wife to husband Husband to God Employee to Employer Employer to God Child of God to God This Soldier wants to Please his Commanding Officer and has heartfelt submission to his authority and does not get involved in civilian affairs. Athletic Restrictions: Expectations and Limitations An Athlete 2 Tim. 2:5 Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. “Playing By the Rules” • Can an athlete honorably compete for the glory of his or her sport’s prize and break the rules in order to win? o Can they cheat to win? o Can you name some who have cheated? o What does that do to the athlete? o What does that do to the sport? • In order for an athlete to compete honorably and obtain the prize for their athletic event, they must compete according to the rules of their sport. o Unfortunately, some athletes want to cheat in order to best their competitors who are competing by the rules. When one wins deceptively, one risks loosing the crown of their coveted achievement. • Who are brought into every game to make sure it is played fairly – by the rules…from T-ball for kids, to all Professional Sports? o Every sport has a group of officials called “umpires”, or “referees”, etc., who are hired because of their knowledge of the game, to make sure each game is played fairly. • What else do leagues use to make sure that the rules are not broken? o Leagues have gone so far, in their desire to “play by the rules”, as to have instant replays available for immediate review – in case the call of the official is in question. • Why is it so important that the rules are the same for everyone? o Without everyone playing by the same rules, the outcome of the game is called into serious question – and thus the validity of the “winning” team. o The final trophy is in jeopardy. What are some notable cases in which deception was used to break the rules in order to secure a win? • Is it better to “win at all costs” – including deceptively cheating with the possibility of dishonorably loosing all you have worked for, or to honorably win the prize and retain the title or crown? • Can we “cheat” at being a Christian? • How do Christians Cheat? • What happens when Christians Cheat? • How is the Athlete similar to the Christian? 1 Corinthians 9:24–27 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 2 Timothy 4:6–8 6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. • The “codes of conduct” expected from the Christian are very similar. If we are seeking to please God, we will want to obey what we know to be honoring to Him from our heart. Our life is not impeded by God’s healthy “restrictions”. Our obedience to Him not only gives us the very best way of living life every day, but also the very best way to enter eternity and gaining His Crown of Life – with a “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joys of your Lord!” What are some healthy “restrictions” for the Christian found in God’s Word,
So we can compete honorably in this life for the Reward that God wants to give us? o The Ten Commandments are a good place to start: 1. Worship God alone – “Have no other gods before Me” 2. Don’t create or allow anything else to consume your time, energy, wealth, respect and worship, other than the One True, Living God. 3. Don’t take the Name of the LORD in vain. 4. Remember to Honor God on His Day, and remember why He rested: Specifically “Resting” in the finished Work of Christ” for your Redemption from sin and Salvation (Heb. 3-4). 5. Honor your father and mother. 6. Do not murder. 7. Do not commit adultery. 8. Don’t steal. 9. Don’t lie. 10. Don’t covet what others have. • We seek to follow the instructions from God’s Word, not our own understanding. (Prov. 3:5-6) Jesus gave us two Commandments: 1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind (Mark 12:28-30) 2. Love your neighbor as yourself. Review: • The Soldier: The soldier reminds us of whose Authority we are under and that we should serve our Lord joyfully pleasing Him. • The Athlete: The athlete reminds us that we need to follow the expectations and limitations in the arena in which we are participating – or we will not receive the prize. A Farmer 2 Tim. 2:6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. When the crops are in, a hardworking farmer should be first to benefit from his labor. • Reward of Harvest: The reward of the hardworking farmer reminds us that God knows everything and He graciously will reward those who serve Him. Galatians 6:7–10 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. 2 Corinthians 9:6 6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. o What we sow, we will also reap. o When we sow to our flesh, we will reap corruption. o When we sow to the Spirit, we reap life everlasting. 2 Tim. 2:7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. Conclusion The Soldier As we live this life, under God’s Authority, we should seek to be like the honorable Soldier – wanting to please our Commanding Officer. The Athlete We should strive to compete in the race of life, like the athlete, realizing that following the guidelines and instructions from the Bible are the right way to live in this world, and we will not be disqualified. The Farmer And like a hardworking farmer, we can be first to benefit from the reward of the harvest, if we are sowing bountifully to the spirit, and not to our flesh! 2 Tim. 2:7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. And as we reflect on the Soldier, Athlete and Farmer, the Lord will give us His insight. http://www.pastorkennedy.comshapeimage_2_link_0