"Looking for a Man /Saved to be a Soldier"
Eze_22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
June 18, 2017
Pastor/ Teacher Roger Redmond
2 Timothy 2:15-20
In this message, I want us to get a glimpse into the life of a follower of Christ. The life of a Christian and the life of a disciple of Christ are not synonymous lives. Not every person that is saved takes up their cross and follows Christ. In 2 Timothy 1:6-8, Paul put Timothy in remembrance, Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
Some things for Timothy to remember and we as well
- Be not ashamed of the testimony of Christ.
- And of others who serve the gospel.
- Be a partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel. These afflictions would be whatever is bound to the gospel might bring to you. In others, words count it all joy to be a partaker with Christ. There is a promise with this exhortation. "According to the power of God." You can be sure the LORD knows those who suffer for Him.
The blessing is brought on your home by partaking of the afflictions of the gospel, 1 Timothy 1: 16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
Onesiphorus made a choice to be bound to the gospel, But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. 1:17. He looked for an opportunity to serve the gospel. It was not just one thing he did, 1:18b "..... and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.
Paul prayed for his reward, 1:18, The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day. "In that day" The day of accountability for the Christian, the JSOC.
Three (3) times in Chapter two (2) he says, "Therefore". 2Ti 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2Ti 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
The LORD knoweth them that are His
2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
The Church is the foundation of God (Not the foundation of a building but that which God founded) and the Church is standing sure, 1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Four reasons to show it is a sure foundation
Because the Church is the Body of Christ. Many verses of Scripture confirm this but I am going to use one reference, Ephesians 5: 25-32, i.e. Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Because of His promised return for His Body, 1 Thess. 4:13-18. Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Because we are the Bride of Christ, Rev. 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. The Bride becomes the wife at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. We are the wife of Christ in eternity and Israel is the wife of Jehovah.
Because we have His seal"....Having this seal..." Seal shows ownership - means it is genuineness. But this seal is this: you are known by the LORD or owned by the LORD, "...having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his...." So everywhere you go, you belong to the Lord. There is no place you can go that is beyond the security of being His Child.
"Architects always put their mark on a monument, or a statue, or a building, to show that they were responsible for its design. The sphragis can also be the inscription which indicates the purpose for which a building has been built."Barclay, W. (2003). The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon (3rd ed. fully rev. and updated, p. 198). Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press.
This inscription is not a writing that others can see; He wrote His presence in your spirit and your soul by the Holy Spirit. His seal is He knows you: "...having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his...."
Faith in God touches Him! When you believe God's Word when you believe His record about His Son, Christ; faith is counted to you for righteousness. Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Rom 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. What was imputed for righteousness? Faith! Rom 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
God responds to you when you believe on Him: you have His seal, "... The Lord knoweth them that are his...." He knows if you trust Him. Do you believe that God has saved you in Christ? Have you forsaken all other and believing wholly on Him for eternal life?
Salvation is a finished work done for you by the LORD, then why not believe it? If salvation is by grace through faith, then why not let it be the gift of God to you through faith? Why do we think there is a need to add to God's plan? Rom_4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; ...." Are you willing to believe God in spite of all? 1Jn 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Are you willing to believe that God has given you His Son? 1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
If we name the name of Christ, we are to depart from iniquity, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
We are to keep our self from polluting influences. You are charged with the responsibility to turn away from those who are vessels of dishonor. He is talking about people who do not hold to the integrity of God's Word. Those who call evil good - That belittle the wages of sin - that say it matters not about your life. Don't allow anyone to take you away from the simplicity which is in Christ, If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
Will you hear the plea from the LORD?
Around us, in this world, there are gaps and they need to be filled. Filled with the message of Christ, filled with people who will hear the call of God, filled with people who are moved by the need of others, filled with someone who will take up their cross and follow Christ.
There are gaps in the home, there are gaps in the church, there are gaps in our communities, there are gaps in your circle of life, there are gaps in our government, there are gaps in the fields that are white already to harvest, there are gaps at NRBBC. Why? Because no one was willing to stand in the gap! We are reaping the results of living lukewarm lives.
The gap can only be bridged by His body, the Church. By you as a member of that body saying to Him: I will stand in the gap; I will represent you. 2Co 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God
The key to filling the gap is in the Word of God, 2 Timothy2: 3-4 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
No greater work could one do for their Saviour than to understand you are saved to be a Soldier.
Are you willing to stand in the gap for Christ who died for you that the World for whom He died might hear the same as you?
<