Well, we're continuing on in the pastoral epistles, getting towards the end of 2 Timothy, still in the third chapter though. 2 Timothy 3, verses 10 through 19. 2 Timothy 3, verses 10 through 19. If you remember, I won't read the verses, but previous verses to this are those giving the catalog of corruption, those who oppose the gospel, those who Paul tells Timothy to avoid. And then Paul says this, starting with verse 10, but you have carefully followed my doctrine. manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, perseverance, 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. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing them from whom you have learned them, 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. All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. Grass withers and the flower falls away. May God bless the reading of Proclamation of His holy enduring word. You know, while I was putting this sermon together, Maggie's high school graduation hadn't happened yet, but it put me in mind of some of her thoughts towards her school. I was just discussing with Catherine previously, 40 years of education our children have gone through. Maggie being the final of that. Catherine, 37 of those years were homeschool years, right? No? Excuse me? 36. I try to get hand grenade close, and that's good enough for me. Thirty-six years of home educating. In the last four years, Maggie was at a private Christian school. But I really appreciated Maggie's appreciation of the school. And it seemed that the more she interacted with some of the teachers outside of the classroom really confirmed what they taught in the classroom. It enhanced that, so to speak. Her appreciation for the teachers even grew more so with the extracurricular, the outside, the classroom discussions and interactions they had. This also put me in mind of a bio of a pastor I read recently, and he mentioned how influential some high school teachers at his Christian school were in his life, even influencing him going into the ministry. Now that type of influence is not just a, as you know, a student learning a certain amount of information from a teacher, but it's more of a mentoring, better yet a discipleship. It's a pattern setting that is more than, again, just transmitting a certain amount of information of a book of knowledge. In fact, at Maggie's school, Westside Christian Academy, the philosophy of the teachers is, the teachers are the curriculum. The teachers are the curriculum to be read and studied. And we already know that, don't we? Our lives are being, our books being read by others. You've heard it said that Christians might be the only Bible that non-believers read. Folks don't have to sit down and open up the cover of a book to read our life like it's a biography. It's a book simply read by observation. We trust that by God's grace it is a book worth reading. Now the Apostle Paul's life was such a book, it was the book that declared in bold letters the grace and mercy of God, the chief of sinners who went from a life of trying to tear down the church to a life of building up and propagating the church. His life had been a book read for thousands of years and it's still being read through the pages of scripture today. And what a source of edification has been for everyone who goes by the name of Christian throughout history. Now, Timothy was in a unique situation of having read Paul's words, his written words, but also one who has studied and gleaned from the Apostle Paul in what he practiced and what he preached by simply observing his life. You know, you've heard it said that it's better caught than taught. like better felt than felt, better caught than fought. Well, I dropped a few of those words off for tonight's message title. I titled it Taught and Caught. Because that's the message the Apostle Paul, his life was indeed an illustration of what he taught. It is both. Caught couldn't really happen if it wasn't taught. Throughout Paul's letters we see that laying out of doctrinal truth, that doctrinal information first, and then confirming that with application of that truth as well. Now, Paul put this out for Timothy to give him solid footing in the fight against the false teaching we read previously in the letter, those in opposition to the gospel, and also to encourage his heart in the continuation of the gospel. Now, we see in this text this evening, there's a twofold equipping of the gospel ministry. One, and that is the example of a godly minister is a major part of equipping a consistent persevering in the gospel ministry. And the second thing we see in our text is that the word of God is sufficient to equip the minister to continue and persevere in the work of the gospel. And in the spelling out of these two areas, I see three things the Apostle puts forth to encourage young Timothy in his walk in ministry, and that is the contrast, the conflict, and the continuation, as I said. The contrast of the Apostle Paul's life, which was a life that Timothy, actually the contrast of Timothy's life, which was one that mimicked and followed the Apostle Paul of instruction and walk, that they both were in harmony with one another. It was a walk that was walked out in the light that he was given. It was in sharp contrast to those mentioned earlier in the chapter. But that contrast of walking in light had the consequences as well. and in that it caused conflict. The verse 12, yes, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. So that conflict that came with living such a life, we know that darkness hates light and will oppose it wherever it is. And we see that in our text tonight. And then we see a continuation, even in that conflict, a continuation of faithful ministry. The firm, inspired, unchanging word of God is that which gives Timothy and every believer equipment to continue in every good and necessary work. Thank you for your patience. I had a strong cup of coffee. Well, contrast is the first thing the apostle Paul lists here. But you, Timothy, you're different. You aren't like those is the inference here. Paul says, Timothy, in contrast to those who are characterized by their three loves. If you remember last week, the catalog of corruption and the three loves of those that were in that catalog of corruption, whereas they love themselves, they love money, and they love pleasure. Of these things, Paul compares Timothy's life and he states, but you have carefully followed my doctrine and my life. That word, but, again, brings into contrast what was previously stated. But Paul warned Timothy of the perilous times that would come and that Timothy was not to follow those who had marked these perilous times. Timothy was influenced by Paul. And Paul's influence was greater because Timothy gave careful study to the doctrine and life of the apostle Paul. You know, that word for careful study we see here in verse 10 means to follow near, attend, to conform to. It was to communicate such a careful study that it would bring about application of that study. It would affect one's behavior. It wasn't just simply, again, to gain information. It was to have application. It was the same words used in Luke chapter one, verse three, where Luke tells Theopolis that he made perfect understanding of That word, that understanding, is the same as careful study that the apostle uses here in 2 Timothy. Luke gave careful understanding to the life of Christ so that he could write an orderly account of the things that happened. The study had an intended goal, and so too did Timothy's careful study of the apostle Paul. It had an intended goal, and that was to follow that life. Now, just like a number of the Apostle Paul's letters, he would lay out doctrinal truth and then present how it applies to life. And here, the Apostle Timothy, excuse me, Timothy studied his doctrine and then the Apostle's life. We read in verse 15 that Timothy was from his childhood have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Timothy, had somewhat of a built-in Berean-like character in that he tested the soundness of teaching against the Word of God that he had known since he's been a child. Paul's teaching was biblical. It was apostolic and sound, and it was consistent. And his doctrine, his teaching, was backed up by Paul's unwavering proclamation of that same gospel truth. No matter how bad the opposition was, there was no wavering in it. Now as we see in the world today, especially in the United States, even in the church in the country, people are governed more by precedent than they are by precept. governed more by precedent than by precept. Precedents are subjective to whims and whims of society. Precepts are based on objective truth. Because of the flow and the direction of the culture, we might even hear it said in churches that they're forming committees or special groups to study controversial subjects like woman pastors or homosexual marriages. We hear these people claim that these are complicated issues with no easy answer. And we have to look at these things at various angles and be sensitive to the nuances of these issues. I heard one pastor say that when the plain truth of God's word is ignored, it does indeed become complicated. It takes some real conniving to come up with a statement to get around the clear teaching of scripture. Now, somehow it seems that the length of time a committee spends on a so-called controversial subject, then that amount of time gives substance to the conclusion of that particular committee, the statement they may make. This committee took three years to study thoroughly the subject at hand of, say, women's ordination. Now, you can be sure When it is made clear on how long that study took, you can surmise pretty accurately what the outcome is going to be. The conclusion will be contrary, again, to the clear, plain, historical, biblical teaching of the subject. It becomes somewhat of a piece of modern artwork that's twisted and formed. The words are convoluted into a conclusion and then the only one thing is clear and that is it is against that which the Bible and historical Christianity has taught and stood by for centuries. In today's church, you think of the whole issue of universalism has gripped much of Christianity. That is thinking basically everybody is going to be saved and make it into heaven in the end. Perhaps these folks might allow for a few exceptions, the worst of the worst perhaps, but basically it holds that salvation for all means all will be saved. Dear ones, do you think That thinking is more prevalent today than it's ever been. I do. I think it's more prevalent. That message of universalism isn't going to garner much opposition from those of the world. The world welcomes a universal message because it despises the message of exclusivity that comes with the preaching of the cross. If the Apostle Paul would have gone around saying, you're all good, we're all in, no reason to get upset here. There's no judgment to fear. Again, we're all in. Do you think he would have met the opposition? He did, if he made such a proclamation. He wouldn't have, he wouldn't have. but the cross demands a consideration of the very incarnation of God. Why was the son of God incarnate? Why did he have to die? Was mankind so terribly lost, so badly off that they needed a savior to come from heaven? And if we finally do come to the conclusion that we do and did need indeed that savior, then are all then automatically saved because he did come? Does the benefits of the cross automatically apply to every human being just because they are human beings? That's what Universalists would proclaim. Well, the Apostle Paul answers that in Acts 17 verses 30 and 31 where he declares, "...truly these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands men everywhere to repent." Because he has appointed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising him from the dead. If God is judging the world in righteousness, then we have to be in the righteous one by churning to him in repentance from sin and trusting in his atoning work, his life, his death, and resurrection. That was Paul's consistent message. As he said in 1 Timothy 2.5, that message never changed, for there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus. And because of this one mediator message of Christ and His cross, Paul met fierce opposition. Paul says, Timothy, you carefully followed my doctrine, you carefully followed my manner of life. And what was the Apostle Paul's manner of life? Pastor Dabney said it this morning. To live is Christ. To live is Christ, to die is gain. And from that flowed purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, and perseverance. Now isn't it noteworthy that in the midst of those two words that communicate hardship and trials, the words long-suffering and perseverance, the Apostle Paul places the word love right between them. Now, normally people aren't all that loving when they are attacked and severely opposed. There's a tendency to react, to bristle, to even retaliate. But the love that the Apostle Paul writes of is not an earthly love. It's not a love summoned up within himself, but it's a love that comes from heaven. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13, love is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Dear ones, that is love from above. And that love remained even after what he experienced in Antioch, in Iconium, in Lystra. Now Timothy was from the area of Lystra, so he was familiar with those cities and all the events that took place there. In fact, some think that Timothy actually witnessed some of the persecutions and trials that Paul went through there. He was forced out of the city of Antioch. He was also, the same thing happened in Iconium and the citizens there threatened to stone him and he fled. In Lystra, the people did stone Paul to the point where they left him for dead. Now, did that cause the apostle to change his message or to lose hope? No, as he wrote in Romans 5.5, now hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. See, that's where that love comes from above. That's a supernatural love. It does not disappoint. It's been poured out abundantly into our hearts. And where did such love, hope and love, long suffering and perseverance come from? Well, as I said, it comes from above, but we also see it demonstrated in God's hand of deliverance from all those persecutions. Paul writes, out of them all the Lord delivered me. You know, the Apostle Paul just doesn't leave Timothy with that horrid list of things I read before, last Lord's Day, and those sobering list of persecutions as well, for that would have maybe left him with a degree of discouragement. But he also points out the Lord's deliverance of those things. As Matthew Henry writes, about the Apostle Paul, as he never failed his cause, so his God never failed him. As he never failed his cause, he continued in the work faithfully. God never failed him." And that was a great example for young Timothy, young Timothy to read and study and watch. Now, Timothy watched the hardships and deliverance which the Apostle Paul experienced. Both things, the hardships and the deliverance. Deliverance is an experience when there's no hardship to be delivered from. You can't experience God's special provision of daily manna if you have your refrigerator full and food pantry and spare freezer are jam-packed with food. It's hard to experience God's miracle provision of food, but in the hard times to see it. Like the old song, Through It All says, for if I never had a problem, I wouldn't know that God can solve them. I'd never know what faith in God can do. Timothy knew of God's keeping hand on the Apostle Paul, especially in the times of hardship. Not keeping him from the hardship, as we all know, but keeping him through the hardship. Then the Apostle Paul gives two certain facts in verses 12 and 13. The first one being a promise. It is a promise, but I think it's one of those promises. Some of us might remember the little promise boxes that used to be sold in Christian bookstores years ago. You'd open it up and you'd pull out a little promise for the day and you read it. I don't think verse 12 was one of those promises. Yes, all those who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Let me paraphrase. Yes, Timothy, our Lord's words are true as he said, and you'll be hated by all for my name's sake, the Lord said in Matthew 10.22. If they persecute at me, they'll persecute you. All who desire, all those who intend to live godly will suffer persecution. Now Timothy, that was to be your expectation, Paul is telling him. And also dear ones, the scripture is written for our admonition as well. It should be our expectation. More and more in our own country, we're seeing any semblance of Christianity or something connected to Christianity will be indeed maligned and attacked as some form of bigotry stemming from an archaic superstition. You know, last week, some of you may have heard of this, but last week, a football player, I think the man's a Catholic, and he was speaking at a commencement at a Catholic college, a small Catholic college. He made a couple comments about some moral issues of today. The most inflammatory thing he said that made the news was something that would not even have gone being noticed beyond the walls of that college just a handful of years ago. To quote a CNN reporter, Butker, I don't know if I'm pronouncing his name correctly, the football player, he suggested that a woman's accomplishments at home are more valuable than any academic or professional goals. What a horrific thing to say. Such a radical statement. Now, again, a decade ago, maybe not even that long ago, such a comment wouldn't even garnered any type of response. Not that it would have had universal agreement, but even those who disagreed would have disagreed quietly. But today, That comment received a lot of backlash. Even the National Football League was quick to put out their own statement how they didn't agree with what the football player said and that the league's sentiments are more inclusive of all people. I don't know how his statement was exclusive, but that's what the NFL. And so this thing has actually taken on a life of its own from that simple statement to say that being a homemaker is more rewarding than a career. And I think even any woman who's a mom who has both a career and a homemaker would say I place more value in the homemaking. But anyhow, what does this tell us? Well, it's an indicator of the direction of the country. That anything that has its roots in biblical Christianity is seen as either oppressive or misogynistic and even hateful. Now, why do I even mention such an incident as this? Because we're seeing a rising temperature against Christianity that doesn't view godly living as a good thing, but actually detrimental to the inclusiveness the country is striving towards. In John 16.2, Jesus said of future persecution, that the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. Well, as that type of thinking, which opposing Christian and Christians is seen more and more as a good thing, as it increases, we should remember Paul's words to Timothy. Yes, all who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Now that's the first fact that the Apostle Paul gives us. The second fact is that evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse. These men, Paul writes, deceive themselves and they deceive others. And this is how that deception grows. Again, I can't help to think in our own country, the situation of some of the largest churches as far as people attending these churches, if I could use that word, The largest ones are what's called health and wealth churches, prosperity churches. Leaders in these churches own private planes, they live in mansions, they wear the best clothes, and they are ever, ever so popular. You don't buy a number of jets with no one sending you money. And they clearly, unashamedly show their three loves that mark those earlier in chapter three. You know, when I was a child, there was a man on TV named Reverend Ike. And he used to preach, boldly preach, bring me your money. And when you bring me your money, God will give you money. And he wore all kinds of diamond rings on his hands. And it almost looked like it was a joke. And this was like a lone guy that was saying such a thing. Well, the truth of the matter is he was a forerunner of what we see today that is popular. Today that type of message, God wants you to be materially rich and healthy, and that is the end goal of Christian living. Now there's many Christians that enjoy health and wealth, but that's not the end goal to their life. And it's increased, you know, worse and worse, scripture says. And the sheer number of people that flock to that type of stuff, it appeals to the flesh. It appeals to man's fallen state. This is the false teaching that spread like what Paul said in chapter 2, verse 17, and their message will spread like cancer. You know, it's bad enough that this prosperity message is in our own country, but they take that message into other lands as well. Africa and South America are two continents that have suffered from that false teaching. Now, that word imposter. can be translated sorcerer. This would put us in mind of our text last week of Janus and Jambres, whom the Apostle Paul referred to in verse 8. Those men who opposed the truth and performed sorcery tricks to deceive others into thinking they had some power. Again, you think of people who are popular for doing certain miracles. A leg lengthening is one of the miracles that they a purport that God does. I think of all the miracles within scripture. That's one that scripture did not record is a leg lengthening. Well, I don't want to go down that road. I had a little joke that wasn't, remind me afterwards. Anyhow, But these trickery, these things, these headaches gone, sore back is gone, things that miracles you can't actually witness and see, not people's eyesight improving that could see, people getting out of wheelchairs that could walk, but folks like Johnny or others that their legs just don't work, there's no miracles like that. They claim to do these miracles and they don't. But the trickery they do put forth deceives many." Now these things, Paul says, will increase, increase. But Paul gives Timothy the antidote to such deception, a steadfast continuance in the unchanging Word of God. In verse 14, Paul underlines what he wrote in verse 10 concerning careful study of what he taught and how he lived. He writes in verse 14, but you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. Know what you have learned and remember who you have learned them from. If the message is true, then it will bear fruit in the messenger. Isn't that what we read in Hebrews 13.7? Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follows. Consider the outcome of their conduct. It is truth confirmed by truth being lived out. Now Timothy heard truth from his grandmother and his mother and he learned truth from the apostle Paul and he learned it not only from their teaching but from their lives. In verse 10 Paul tells Timothy that he's carefully studied my doctrine. Paul's doctrine is true because it is biblical doctrine. And this is what Paul reminds Timothy. You have known scripture, you have known who taught you the scripture, and the result is salvation. And from childhood, you have known the holy scriptures that are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Then the apostle Paul lies before Timothy, lays before him what true profitable profit or true wealth is, not that which perishes like the false teachers who have a love for money, but that which is profitable not only for Timothy, but for all. And what is that which is so profitable? Verse 16, all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. You think of young Timothy and all that came against him in ministry, all the influences out there, trying to pull him in different directions. The temptation perhaps to implement ideas that maybe are popular, what are going around, or perhaps even expedient, they get quick results. Paul tells Timothy to hold to and proclaim scripture. How did Timothy become wise for salvation? Through the Scriptures. How are believers built up in Christ? Through the Scriptures. How is one corrected from false teaching or kept safe from false teaching? By the Scripture. Continue in these things. And we'll see that encouragement even more so in the fourth chapter, Lord willing, as we go into that. But let me close with this. Paul showed Timothy the contrast of his life with the false teachers earlier in the chapter. Paul also put forth that the conflict that will come from that contrasting life. But even in that conflict and hardships, Paul says, continue on, persevere, keep going on the path that was set before. Yes, like some of the prophet Jeremiah referred to it as the old path. Thus says the Lord, stand in the ways and see and ask for the old paths where the good way is and walk in it. Then you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6.16. The old path is the inspired word of God. He sent his word and healed them and delivered them from their destruction. Psalm 107.20. Yes, that is what God's word does. Salvation, correction from false teachers, righteousness and sanctification that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. And let us always remember as well that loving the word and keeping it before us, in doing so we are keeping Christ before our eyes and in our hearts. Jesus told the Pharisees at John chapter five, verse 39, you search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life and these are they which testify of me. Dear ones, if there's a contrast in your life of before and after, it's evident that God has done a work in your life. There's a conflict going on because of walking in newness of life. Before you lived in happy fellowship, hand in hand with sin, but now you fight sin. You have a growing hatred for it, for sin, and also a growing love for righteousness. then continue in the scripture, for they speak of our Savior, and there's nothing more richer or more profitable than knowing our Savior better and better. To know Him and to make Him known, there's nothing better than that. Let's pray together, dear ones. Our Father and our God, how grateful we are for the deposit of your word. Lord, how we're grateful even for this Lord's day, to have this evening time together, to have a short time around your word and also lifting our voices once again in praise and adoration. How grateful we are for the light for our feet to walk in this dark world. Lord, we ask that you indeed would raise up more Apostle Paul's and faithful Timothy's who follow those who set an example of living out truth that doctrine and life are in harmony. And Lord, where would such a walk be but by your spirits enabling and strengthening and calling and leading. Lord, we ask that you continue to give us a great love for your word, that we would indeed see Christ in it, for they speak of him. And may Christ continue to grow in our hearts and our minds, thus creating a greater love we have for one another. Lord, even as persecutions come, even as we see a growing more and more out of favor with the greater society around us, something new in this country, May we indeed be lights set on a hill because you've placed us there, and Christ indeed does burn in our hearts. Be with us as we continue our time of worship and also our time of corporate prayer, and may Christ's name be exalted in our midst, for it's in that precious name we pray, amen.