2 Timothy, chapter 2, verses 1 through 7. Follow along with me as I read the first seven verses of the second chapter of 2 Timothy. You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life that he may please those who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. A hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Consider what I say, may the Lord give you understanding in all things. Grass withers and the flower falls away, but the word of God endures forever. And may God richly bless the reading and proclamation of his holy word this evening. You know, since I've been on these epistles, the epistles of Timothy in particular, I've mentioned to you that which a number of commentators have put forth, and that being that Timothy was a timid, gentle, young man. Now, we know he was young, as we read in 1 Timothy 4.12, Paul writes, let no one despise your youth. So right there, we know he was a young man. How young he was, we're not quite sure. Most commentators think he was in his early 30s, not in his early 20s, but in his early 30s. We also read of Paul's concern of Timothy when he wrote to Corinthian believers. Again, I've mentioned this scripture several times in chapter 16, verse 10 of 1 Corinthians. And as Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear. Look out for Timothy. Take care of him. And we could pick up this timidity in this letter as well, as we've already read in the seventh verse earlier on in chapter one, for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind. Paul wrote that to Timothy. So this verse seems to indicate that Timothy was indeed somewhat timid nature and in need of much encouragement. And I have no reason to contradict or differ with the commentators that put forth this type of disposition of Timothy. However, one thing we want to observe as we read the various things about Timothy is that which the Apostle Paul also said about Timothy and the views, how he views Timothy, in particular in the various assignments he puts Timothy to task at. You know, a few weeks ago in our Wednesday night Philippians study, I mentioned the complimentary things that the apostle Paul said about Timothy. He said a number of them. I gave my opinion. I thought probably the greatest compliment the apostle Paul gave Timothy was in Philippians chapter two, verses 20 and 21. There the apostle writes, for I have no one like him. Paul writes this of Timothy, this timid young man, I have no one like him who would be genuinely concerned for your welfare, for they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with the father he has served with me in the gospel. Actually that verse, those verses 20 through 22. Now, there seems to be an aspect of Timothy's life that Paul trusts above all others. And that's quite a statement. And in those two verses in Philippians, we read that Timothy has a concern for others. His own interests are put behind the interest of the Lord's and his work and life. And he's proven himself. He was young, but there's enough experience under his belt to have proven himself among others and the result being The Apostle Paul says, I have no one like him. Now I mention this because I don't want to put forth a picture of Timothy that's not a total picture of who the man is. I don't want to leave one aspect of his character out at the expense of the other one. So we simply want to consider the whole of the man. And I believe Timothy is one of those men whose natural disposition is one to avoid a fight. He would rather stay away from a fight. However, that being said, Timothy was not one to run from a fight. He would stay in the fight. I don't think he would be an associate of the Apostle Paul nor receive such accolades from the Apostle Paul if he didn't stand in a fight as well. However, Timothy was like any other minister of the gospel, and that is he needed encouragement. He needed help in holding up his hands, like Moses. He needed help in keeping his hand to the plow and the work. And in the giving of this encouragement, the Apostle Paul, here in this evening's text, uses three vocations to illustrate how Timothy was the focus and be intentional in his work as a gospel minister. Now the Apostle Paul could have easily used any one of these three occupations to illustrate this perspective of perseverance. But he uses the three with an emphasis on each one in a different way, a different aspect of the work and also a different aspect of the goal of that work. Now a soldier is engaged in warfare, as the scripture says, but he's mindful of the one he serves, his commander in chief. An athlete was to compete, but he was to compete according to the rules. But he also, as he competes according to the rules, he has in mind the goal of the prize, which is the prize. And the farmer is to be a hard worker, but he was to be mindful of the harvest to come. Perhaps not seeing much fruit in the work, but he was to be mindful of the harvest to come. So when we look at these three occupations that the Apostle Paul puts forth here in Timothy, it's for Timothy to consider. And we know he wants Timothy to consider these things. That's how our text ended tonight. Consider these things, the Lord will give you understanding. We want to think of whom he served, how he was to serve, and to consider the purpose why he served, whom he served, how he was to serve, and the purpose why he served. And using the soldier, athlete, and the farmer, the Apostle Paul is reiterating by way of illustration all those challenges he has given to Timothy already in chapter one. In the first one, the soldier, we read in verse 1-8, therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord. There is no reason to draw back or not to be bold in the Lord. Timothy was to consider the one who called him into that work. As verse nine states, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which he has given to us in Christ Jesus. Remember who you serve, Paul said in that verse nine, like a soldier who serves and pleases the one who called him. And two, like an athlete in verse 13 of the first chapter, hold fast the pattern of sound words, which you have heard from me. In that, Timothy was to think how he serves. It's not turning to his own ideas, but holding the word of God. And he was to be like an athlete, to compete according to the rules, according to the word, And third, like a farmer, verses 12 and 18 of the first chapter, the apostle writes, of that day, of that day of being face to face with the Lord, being with him forevermore. That's what the farmer was to look forward. So these things, all three occupations we see previously stated in principle in that first chapter. And the three occupations we see an emphasizing and underlining of those very things. Now there's much to glean from these passages for us today and to consider how the aspects, different aspects of these occupations even apply to our own lives as well. That we always be mindful that in this Christian walk, it's always to be for our Lord. We're to be mindful who we serve. We serve at his pleasure. And that we are to serve him according to his rules, according to his word. And that we are to remember that in Christ our labor is not in vain. Though the harvest may seem sparse at times and dry, we don't labor in vain. There is a harvest to come. So it's who we serve, how we serve, and why we serve. Giving the examples of those who have deserted the Apostle, the Apostle then gives the wonderful example of the tenacious Onesiphorus, who sought out the Apostle Paul, if you remember last time we were in Second Timothy, and as he sought out the Apostle Paul, he ministered to him as well, not ashamed of his chains, but boldly declared that the Apostle Paul was a brother. And then the Apostle Paul makes this connection between, from Onesiphorus to the charge he lays before Timothy by writing, you therefore. Onesiphorus, he talks about, and then he connects that to Timothy. You, therefore, my son. This positive example. And then, you know, it's interesting how the Apostle Paul has a big place in his heart for Timothy. You know, at the beginning of this letter, the beginning of 2 Timothy, he calls him his beloved son. You know, the Apostle Paul wasn't simply given commands to a brother to the Lord, a regular brother to the Lord or a co-worker. He's given these commands to who's one whose affections where he was connected with Timothy. They were connected to him. He loved Timothy and he knew Timothy was in a hard place. But not only that, he knew Timothy's position was going to get even harder and more difficult, tougher circumstances. So as he writes to Timothy, we see this level of deep affection and love for him. Now the apostle writes that he is to be strong. He is to be strong, but just not be strong in himself. In verse 7 of this chapter, Paul is not telling Timothy to suck it up and strengthen himself. Earlier, excuse me, in verse 7, we see where he says, God has not given you or given us a spirit of fear, but of love and a power of sound mind. And we see the continuation of that verse 7 here with the, to be strong, but that strength is to be found You know, Paul is always quick to point out our the true source of our Christian life, isn't he? So as to make it clear our living for the Lord and our serving the Lord is to be done not in our own strength, but in his strength. So often he connects the doing of the Christian life with the enabling power that comes from above and comes from our union with Christ. You know, one commentator wrote, when we attempt to strengthen ourselves through self-effort, We are like the man who tried to make his stalled boat move by pushing against the mast. We exert ourselves a great deal, but we actually get nowhere. You know, in Ephesians 6.10, the same apostle writes, finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. So we see this often with the apostle Paul. It is as if the apostle was keenly aware how quickly one would put dependence on themselves. And he didn't want to be misunderstood in his exhortations to duties, but to connect all those duties with the grace and power of God. We read of this in Philippians 2 and 12 and 13. Again, something we went over Wednesday night, not long ago. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. And though that exhortation is one of working, it is working in the context of God's enabling. For we read in verse 13, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to do for his good pleasure. Now Timothy needed such strength from the Lord because the call was to do what the apostle Paul did to him, and that is to mentor him, to disciple him. Timothy was to lead other men in the ministry as well. This is how the gospel ministry was passed along. In verse 2 we read, The things that you've heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also." Now, two things about this verse I think are essential. The things that Timothy was to teach others were things that he learned from the Apostle Paul. This was true apostolic procession based on the teaching of the Apostle. It wasn't based on succession of those who laid hands on others as if that unbroken succession is where the authority came from. No, not at all. It's the succession that was primarily based on the deposit of faith, the word of God that Paul proclaimed. Timothy didn't have to be creative and come up with a novel teaching to make the gospel more appealing to outsiders. Putting forth the Word of God, that which he received from the Apostle Paul was the duty and his call in it. And it was not just given to Timothy in a private meeting. That's interesting that Paul said it was among many witnesses. It wasn't a one-on-one with Timothy that he had. It wasn't a Gnostic mystery type of revelation that Timothy had that was only for a few others. No, but it was a message Timothy had heard with many other witnesses. This was public knowledge. It was out there. So you can see how important it was for Timothy to hold fast the pattern of sound words. What you've heard from me, said the apostle Paul in verse 13 of the first chapter. The second thing about this verse is that Timothy was to give these faithful words to faithful men who were able to teach as well. Faithful words given to faithful men to be taught in a faithful way. Not just believing men, but men who have shown themselves faithful. Timothy wasn't to bring on acquaintances, good friends of his. There wasn't to be any type of nepotism or perhaps influenced by a wealthy church member to put the men forth as leaders. No, that was to be given to faithful men that also had the ability to teach. And then these were to pass it on, which they received from Timothy to others, from Christ to Paul to Timothy. to disciples of Timothy and them, others, and so on, it goes. This was Timothy's task and charge, and because of that, because of the weightiness of the work and the obstacles that come with it, we read a very important truth in verse three. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. You must therefore endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. The ministry of the gospel was to be full of hardships, and it required endurance. Now, besides the Lord Jesus Christ, no one epitomized this more so than the Apostle Paul did, enduring hardship. in the gospel ministry. We read in the first chapter of 12th verse where the Apostle Paul writes, for this reason I also suffer these things. It was the gospel, hardships, so to speak. that were faced by the apostle. Now the Greek word suffer in this verse four communicates with a suffering with, a company of others with it. Some translations like the New American Standard Bible translate this verse, suffer hardship with me. The Apostle Paul writes, "...as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." And this would have been a good reminder for Timothy that not only was he strong in the Lord, but he was also strengthened by the very fact that others were in a similar situation. You know, it's a unique phenomenon that there's a a bit of comfort, a bit of relieving of the hardship with a community of those who have a common suffering. To know others, know and understand that empathy or sympathy or identity with seems to have a degree of lifting the weightiness of the suffering. And so here the Apostle Paul's suffer with me and endure the hardships as a good soldier would. Now it's interesting that the apostle Paul doesn't say, you might have some rough patches as you minister there. There may be some difficulties you come across. No, he says, you must, you must endure hardships. And then the apostle shows that these things are endured by using the illustration of the soldier and the athlete and the farmer. Now, the first one, the soldier, the apostle Paul states that a soldier has as his main focus, the one thing that is in his mind is pleasing him who's enlisted him as a soldier. Now, there's a number of things we could draw from the analogy or the illustration of a soldier. Think of a couple of them here. But a soldier does one thing. He leaves the comforts of his home. I still remember the day my oldest brother, Jim, in the morning, I remember the door shutting. I could hear the door shut early in the wee hours of the morning as my mother took him to the recruiting office in downtown Cleveland as he was going to the boot camp there. And he leaves the comforts of his home and he leaves those who he loved, his immediate family. And he's also left his former profession as well. Now, unlike a track and field athlete who more often than not competes on his own, a soldier also has the heavy obligation of serving with those other fellow soldiers. And this is applicable to Timothy as well as he's discipling these others in the ministry of the gospel. Now the apostle writes that the soldier's engaged in one thing and disengaged in others. It's almost a play on words there. He's engaged in warfare and disengaged from worldly attachments. A good soldier responds to the commands of his commanding officer and a quick response requires not being distracted by other things, not being entangled with other affairs. He's engaged in warfare, therefore he's disengaged in other occupancies or other responsibilities. You know, I saw a small illustration of this a few months back at my son Jed's graduation from Air Force boot camp in Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Catherine, I, and Maggie, and Jed's wife, Mia, went down there to watch the ceremonies. And after the ceremonies, we took Jed out from the base. He was able to leave for the afternoon and had to come back in the evening. And there was two days of that and he had to come off and then return. And I said, what would happen if you were late? He said, well, the second day I wouldn't be able to go out. So there was strict rules on that. But on the second day when we returned Jed to base, we were all saying our goodbyes and we gave Mia and him an extra little private moment as they hung together there. And right when Mia was hugging Jed, the national anthem came on, the loudspeaker system of the base. As soon as it did, all the soldiers, all the airmen that were there stopped what they were doing and saluted as the National Anthem played. And Jed stopped hugging Mia and stepped aside and saluted as the National Anthem played. And Catherine said, wow, what a symbolic illustration that he has a different allegiance now. And I said, I'm going to use that in a sermon sometime. So tonight was it. But it's just a small little snippet. I mean, boot camp is different than warfare. It could be a precursor, but it's much different. It's a small little snippet of what Paul is telling Timothy. Timothy's allegiance is for another. All other pursuits were to pale in comparison with the serving of his commander, the Lord Jesus Christ. It was who he served was the foundational truth to enduring hardship. And it's the love and the joy for the one he served that made him not lose heart in the warfare and the hardship experienced in that warfare. Now it's interesting, of all the things the Apostle Paul lists that makes a good soldier, training and fitness, courage or fearlessness, skillfulness in weaponry use and combat, such things, he puts the greatest motivation is who he served. Who he served was the goal here. It is the preeminent characteristic for all other characteristics to find their proper place behind that. In Matthew 22, when asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus said in verse 37, You know, how many ministers of the gospel of Christ go through a time of great disillusionment because their minds are consumed with the task at hand and take their eyes off the one who called them to that task. It's always essential to remember the one we serve. Now the apostle Paul puts forth the example of an athlete and that has the unique characteristic toward endurance. Now here the apostle draws on the aspect of competing, as I said before, competing according to the rules. Timothy, as well as all of us, are to serve according to the prescribed way we have in Scripture. Jesus gave this warning in Matthew chapter 7. Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father. in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name, done many wonders in your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you. Depart from me ye who practice lawlessness." According to Jesus, many were competing, as it were, as athletics. They were serving, but not according to the rules, not according to the will of the Father, not according to the Word of God. What they were truly proficient at was practicing lawlessness. In their practice sessions, they look to hone in and sharpen their lawless skills. Not repentance of things gone wrong, not repentance of turning back to the Lord and submitting those things, not dependence on the Lord, but actually practicing lawlessness, making their lawless skills even better and better, or sharper and sharper, if you could use the word better when you consider lawlessness. You know, what comes to mind is Nadab and Abihu. You know, Sons of Aaron in Leviticus 10. These men totally ignored the commandment of God in sacrifice and how to offer sacrifices. And because of that, they brought judgment upon themselves. You know, Matthew Henry includes competing by the rules to also contain personal piety. He writes, we are striving for mastery, to get the mastery of our lust and corruptions, to excel in that which is good, but we cannot expect the prize unless we observe the laws. Now one's personal walk, the walk of piety, holding fast to sound words are both components of competing by the rules. And I think we see that in one verse that we've already gone over in 1 Timothy. 1 Timothy 4.17, take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. For continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. So but the athlete is mindful of the rules, he competes according to the rules, and his goal is still to win the prize. Otherwise, why compete, right? Unlike today that sports teams where everyone's a winner, no one's a loser, most competition was based on one person winning or one team winning. So athlete competes to win. The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9.24-25, Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. He's mindful to stay in shape as he makes this run. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. You know, let me just throw out here, remember the time that the Cleveland Cavaliers won the National Basketball Association title. Do folks remember that? Grant, I think we were up watching that over at David's office. And it was an exciting time. But a few days after that, something on Facebook or some, LeBron James, I don't know if he got Most valuable player for the series. I think he did Was working out in the gym a few days after winning a national champion he's in the gym working out preparing for the next year and I thought for a perishable crown, for recognition, how much greater to exercise ourselves as believers in the things of the Lord for that which is imperishable. And sometimes the world could give us examples of someone whose focus is so good We can learn from it. We can actually learn from it. And I'm thinking, if this man could do it for another applause or a few more points or throwing a ball through a hoop, ought we not to do it for God's glory and our own spiritual well-being? It isn't a monetary gift that a Christian is going after, a trophy, a record book entry, bragging rights. No believer competes for that which is imperishable. Now the apostle Paul spells this out towards the end of this epistle. Some of the last words he ever wrote is this very verse in the fourth chapter of 2 Timothy. This is Paul's final chapter of what he wrote under inspiration. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day. And not to me only, but also to all who have loved his appearing. And doesn't this segue into Paul's third illustration, the farmer? Paul writes the hard-working farmer. Is there any other kind of farmer? I mean, all the farmers I knew, hard work comes with it. A farmer's rest comes for a short period of time after the harvest. Outside of that, a farmer is always working. I just talked with a man the other day who grew up working on his grandfather's farm, and he said, we're always doing something. I said, what about church? He says, even on church days, we'd go to church, but there were still things we had to do. A farmer is always, always working. And think of that which a farmer is dependent on. I think of all the three occupations the Apostle Paul lists here, the farmer is more dependent on those things that are outside of his control than an athlete or a A soldier. The weather is the main thing a farmer is dependent on. He needs sunshine and rain, but not too much and not too little. And he needs it at the right time. It can't be too early and it can't be too late. And he's dependent on the health of his animals. He's concerned about a disease destroying a crop before harvest and bugs and things of that nature. And why is the farmer such a hard worker? because he's the first to partake of the fruit of the harvest. Just as an athlete has to compete to win, a farmer has to labor hard. in order to receive the benefit of the harvest. But he has to be patient, and he has to endure through the growing season, the setbacks. He has to persevere through the harvest is a long way off, and he must depend upon the Lord. One may plant, another may water, but the Lord gives the increase, 1 Corinthians 3.7. A farmer was someone who looks forward to that day, and because of that, he endures. In Hebrews chapter 10, verse 35 and 36, we read, Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. Every believer's promise is both in the Lord And it is the Lord, I should say confidence. Every believer's confidence is both in the Lord and our confidence is the Lord himself. Verse seven states, consider what I say and the Lord give you understanding in all things. Now may we consider how these three occupations are ongoing illustrations for our walk today. Let us consider who we serve, for it is the Lord Jesus. He is our commander in chief. How we serve, we serve according to his word and his working in us as well, and why we serve. We serve not for the perishable day today, but the imperishable, that day when we are with the Lord. And as we do, may the Lord give us grace to endure until that day, that day when this corruptible puts on incorruption and that this mortal puts on immortality to the praise and the glory of God. Would you pray with me, dear ones? Our gracious Heavenly Father, how we do thank you for the deposit of scriptures that you've given to us and the abundance of it that we've had this day. Lord, we think of this day and the meal of your word and how it has indeed fed our souls. And Lord, we do pray that you would make all of us, your ministers, as well as all believers here in this room this evening, make us all good soldiers, good athletes, and good farmers, that we remember that we serve you and we serve at your pleasure because you're the one who's given us new life. You're the one who's put strength in our limbs that hang low. You're strength in our weak knees. You've raised us up from spiritual death to life. And Lord, we serve according to your word. We have the light of your word lighting the path and also giving us the words of eternal life to share with others. And Lord, We have the perseverance given to us by the Spirit of God to look onto that day in the future. We walk by faith and not by sight. And we look for that great harvest in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Lord, be with us as we continue this evening to worship you. as we gather to have a time of corporate prayer and give you words of thanks for that which you have done in our lives and our church, and also to submit to you things that are heavy upon our heart and needs that we are aware of. Be with us as we continue this time, in Christ's name we pray, amen.