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Let's take our Bibles and turn
to 2 Timothy chapter 3. As I've been trying to think
what to preach to you, the title of my message is not real unique. It's what you need to know as
you leave, Ambassador. For those of you leaving for
the summer, For those of you that are graduating and leaving
and going out on your journey of ministry, the men, the ladies,
as you head out, there's some things that I want to remind
you of today. The Apostle Paul, I believe,
trained Timothy very diligently as he had opportunity to be with
him. Let's look at verse 14 through
17. But continue thou in the things
which thou hast learned, and hast been assured of, knowing
of whom thou hast learned them. and that from a child thou hast
known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto
salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture
is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine.
Let me just tell you, doctrine is critical, as we'll talk about
in the message. For reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness, Here's the verse I really want
you to get, that the man of God may be perfect, complete, throughly
furnished unto all good works. Most, if not all of you will
be leaving today for the summer or graduating tonight. I'm sure all of you have been
packing for your trip home. I noticed the trunks were up
on some vehicles out in the guys' parking lot this morning, and
people were packing in the cars. A few weeks ago, I had the privilege
of going out to Big Bear, California. Anybody here from California?
Don't see anyone. All of you guys in ministry looking
for somewhere to serve the Lord, go west, young man. A lot of
open opportunities out there. We prepared for a trip to go
to Big Bear, California. Eleven people from our church
went to help with the startup of a new church there. Our assistant
pastor, the Lord called him to go out and plan a church in Big
Bear, and we've been helping him all along. And it was a very
emotional, very moving experience to see somebody saved in your
church, trained in your church, an assistant pastor in the church,
to go out and plant a church out in California. I was planning
and making my list for the trip. I found out that there was somebody
else planning for my trip. And as I was checking my list,
it was being checked twice. No, it wasn't Santa Claus, it
was my wife, Kara. I thank God for her. It was a
good thing that she was checking and adding to my list. As I piled
up everything that I needed for that week-long journey to California,
I got my Bible, my laptop, just bear with me, I want you to know
what I had to prepare for. I had to take special paperwork
for that trip. Suits, shirts, ties, pants, undergarments,
handkerchiefs, socks, shoes, when you get older like me, pills,
vitamins, Truvia, snacks, and a multitude of other little items.
It became obvious to me all of these things could not possibly
fit into one carry-on bag and one checked bag. As somebody
alluded to this morning, everything that you're learning, making
it fit into your brain as you leave here. In came my wife to
the rescue. She patiently, I think, rolled
all of my shirts. She has this unique way of rolling
clothes that when I get there, I can just flip them out and
they're not wrinkled. She got all of those things,
she got everything in place. She put my medicine, vitamins,
Truvia snacks in Ziploc bags and tucked them in the pockets
of the suitcase. Now why didn't I think about
that? She even put an empty trash bag in for my dirty clothes for
the trip back. She was so deliberate in making
sure that I had everything that I needed for that journey. in
that suitcase. Not to be outdone, I sat around
and tried to find a way to look smart too. And I noticed there
was nothing in my shoes, so I stuffed all of my socks in the shoes. Karen did notice my cleverness
after I told her what I did. You see, the administration here,
your local pastors, faculty and everyone have been
helping you prepare for this journey that you're leaving on
for the summer and that you're leaving on for ministry. They've been helping you pack
for a number of years to be equipped for the journey. Now, you'll be leaving with your
spiritual and knowledge filled suitcases, we hope. You're equipped,
here's two key words, to begin your journey. I pray that on
your journey of life and ministry that you'll continue to grow
in the ministry and help others to prepare for a life of serving
the Lord too. I want to remind you this morning
of some things you must know as you leave prepared for your
journey. First of all, I want you to know
the world you're entering. The world you're entering is
not Ambassador Baptist College. Look with me at verse one. This
know also that in the last days perilous times shall come. For
men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent,
furious, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded,
lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Here's a dangerous
one, having a form of godliness. but denying the power thereof,
from such turn away. Of this sort are they which creep
into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins,
led away with divers lusts, ever learning and never able to come
to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Janus and Jambres withstood
Moses, so do these also resist the truth. Men of corrupt minds
reprobate concerning the faith. but they shall proceed no further
for their folly shall be manifest unto all men as theirs also was. I want to remind you this morning
that when you leave Ambassador Baptist College, whether for
the summer or as you graduate tonight, you're entering a world
that is not friendly to the word of God. Right now, you've been
in a safe, haven of instruction of righteousness and preparation
and ambassador. And that's a great blessing for
you to ever be thankful for. However, the ministry you've
been preparing for will be in a real ungodly world. We just read about it, and it's
hostile to the cause of Christ. Even in our beloved country of
America, God's word is under attack. All I want you to see
in this point is that the world is more belligerent to God's
word and his servants than I have seen and witnessed in my lifetime. Ministry in this environment
will be difficult. Many people only have a form
of godliness. A lot of churches are this way.
They're beautiful on the outside. They're well-maintained, banners
everywhere, but they're empty spiritually. John G. Butler describes it like this.
It's like window displays being most attractive, but the store
being empty of products. That's the way some churches
are even today. But what a wonderful time to
be giving the life changing gospel of Jesus Christ to a world that
desperately needs him. We have 30 to 40,000 people coming
to our little town of about 30,000 people tonight and tomorrow.
My assistant pastor, Tim Brubaker, his family, some others from
our church are in the process of setting up a couple of tents
there, and we've got thousands of bottles of water. We've got
tracks lined up, and for tonight and all day tomorrow, we're gonna
be passing out tracks to people from different states, telling
them about the Lord. And we're going to try to attract
people from our community to our church. We're going to tell
them about the Lord and help us pray about that that we'll
see great results of that. So you've got to know the world
that you're going into. The second thing I want you to
know is to know the wisdom of your mentors. Don't forget what
you learned here from the faculty and staff at Ambassador Baptist
College. In contrast to the evil and the
form of godliness in this world, you've learned from instructors
who are solid in doctrine and character. Both of those words
are critically important. In the years ahead, you're gonna
be tested on doctrine. Your character is going to be
tested. I pray, I'm for you, I want you
to stand true to doctrine. I want you to stand true and
be men and women of character. Your instructors and local pastors
here have invested their lives in you for four years. They have
been helping you pack for the journey of ministry that you're
gonna live in and that you're gonna be doing for the Lord.
Now let's concentrate on why you have been an ambassador for
four years, maybe some of you a little bit longer. Don't worry
about that if it has taken you longer. I crammed four years
of college into four and a half plus summer school. If I had
obeyed the Lord, some of you will pick that up later, if I
had obeyed God sooner, instead of doing what I wanted to do
for two years, I would have finished on time. But from sitting under
chapel services and under strong preaching in chapel, I finally
did what I knew I needed to do all along and surrendered to
preach and become a pastor at the end of my sophomore year.
So I had a lot of catching up to do. Just as Timothy learned
from the Apostle Paul's teaching and serving with him, you've
learned many things in the classroom. Can I just see hands of anybody
who's learned anything? Wow, great, wonderful. What about
the rest of you? Maybe you're visiting, all right. If I had begged God sooner, I
would have finished. We need to make sure that those
things that we've learned, we don't forget. There's gonna be
times in the future that you're gonna be ministering to people
And those Bible verses that you had to memorize on a weekly basis
and that you probably haven't paid a whole lot of attention
to, when you're witnessing to somebody, the Holy Spirit's going
to pull them back and you're going to remember them perfectly.
And as you go out, I want you to live for Christ. I want you to serve the Lord,
but more importantly, God wants you to do that. You need to remember
the doctrine of your mentors. Paul told Timothy, but thou has
fully known my doctrine. You've learned good Bible doctrine
here. I know you have. But Satan's not going to wait
very long after you graduate that he's going to try you on
what you believe. You just wait and see. Someone
will come along wanting to rescue you from what you've learned
in the Word of God here. Be very careful. Know the doctrine
of your mentors. Know the character of your mentors.
Listen to what Paul told Timothy. You know my manner of life, my
purpose, my faith, my long-suffering, my charity, my patience. Have
you learned some of those things from the faculty, from staff,
from administration here? I'm sure that you have. In contrast
to our evil society that we're ministering in, you've learned
great character from those that have mentored you. The days are
coming when you'll remember some notable one thing that one of
your instructors said, or that your pastor has tucked into your
spiritual suitcase. I had a college professor for
history of civilization. I intensely disliked his class. But something he said, stuck
in my head, it's in my spiritual suitcase and it'll be there until
I die, that has been a tremendous help to me in my ministry. What I learned from him had nothing
to do with history of civilization. Before every quiz or test, after
he prayed, he would all say, always say, even this shall pass
away. I didn't realize it then, but
he tucked into my spiritual suitcase a nugget that would be extremely
helpful in being the pastor of the same church for over 35 years. I've become an ancient landmark. When I wake up in the morning
knowing that I have a difficult day ahead of me, I have an extremely
difficult counseling situation, Or I just simply need to have
a difficult conversation with a church member. I always hear
Dr. Edward Pinozian say in my head,
even this shall pass away. And I can go right in to that
situation knowing there's an end coming to that. Thankfully,
history of civilization passed away. but he left a nugget in my head
that for over 43 years of ministry that has helped me, and I'm so
grateful for that. He just literally passed away
in the last year. You know the testimony of difficulties
that your mentors have shared with you. Paul said in verse
11, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch,
at Iconium, at Lystra, what persecutions I endeared, but out of them all
the Lord delivered me. As a dedicated believer, male,
female, you will be a special target of persecution. Preacher,
I want you to encourage me today. I'm getting there. Purity invites
persecution. Faith invites persecution. But Jesus had something encouraging
to say about persecution in Matthew 5, verses 11 through 12. Blessed
are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall
say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice
and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for
so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. What a blessing it is to know
that when difficult days come, that if you survive them, that
if you let them pass away, you work through them, there's reward
in heaven. In verses 12 and 13, you're now
gonna go out and experience the world for yourself. Yea, and
all that will live godly. Is that your plan? Shall suffer persecution. He
said, preacher, that list of stuff that you read at the beginning
of the chapter, that's horrible. That is the world we live in.
But listen to verse 13. Paul tells Timothy, but evil
men and seducers shall wax worse and worse. If you don't believe
me, just watch the news. Deceiving and being deceived. That's the world we're heading
into. That's the world that I want
you to remember what you've learned here doctrine-wise, character-wise,
those that have mentored you. As you minister, live godly as
your members have. Verse 12, yea, and all that will
live godly. I believe Timothy followed the
apostle Paul's godly testimony. May you find in your spiritual
suitcase throughout life godly teaching and start helping others
tuck in things in their spiritual suitcase as well as you learn. As you minister and help people,
some of the things that have been tucked in your spiritual
suitcase for this journey, help pack it in somebody else's as
well. as you minister, live godly as
your best example Christ did. Yea, and all that will live godly
in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. You can be sure
that if you're going to live godly, Satan's going to bring
people across your path to discourage you and to discourage you from
your desire to be godly. It could even be a preacher friend. When people fail you, Christ will not fail you. He has never failed you and he
will never fail you. Please listen to me. If you truly
follow Jesus Christ and not man, you will never be a part of any
recovering movement. Don't let anybody recover you
from the good doctrine that you've learned here. Don't let people change your
character. You stick to what you've learned.
Last thing, know the word of God and it can continue to transform
you. I know you're looking at today
as finally I'm done. No, you're not. If you're going
into ministry, you're just launching out into the world. and you'll continually be learning.
Continue in what you've learned, verses 14 and 15, but continue
thou in the things which thou hast learned and been assured
of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them, and that from a
child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to
make thee wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Continue in the biblical instruction
you've received. Some of you, it's been since
childhood. It appears Paul had known Timothy
for quite a while. He knew of Paul's mother, he
knew of Timothy's mother, he knew of Timothy's grandmother.
I imagine he had witnessed him grow up. I've ministered to people,
families, when babies are being born. I've watched those children go
up and I've watched those parents and that child struggle through
their teenage years. Then I've performed the wedding
ceremonies. Then I've witnessed them have
their own families and start that process all over again. Please get this, be grateful
for the people who've invested their lives in you. I've emphasized this morning
what you've learned here. But if it had not been for your
parents, you may not have ever been here. Be grateful for your parents. You are not smarter than them
because you're getting a diploma. They've lived a lot longer than
you have. You can still learn from them. You might be graduating from
college today, but you've not graduated from Bible study. You
need to know the word of God more and more each day. As a matter of fact, you'll never
graduate from Bible study until you're home from your journey
in heaven. Here's some things I wanna give you real quick.
I'm asking you today to renew, commit. Whatever you need to
do, to the word of God in your life. Number one, verse 16, all
scripture is given by inspiration of God. Do you still believe
that? And is profitable for doctrine. Doctrine is gonna determine what
you do in your ministry. Doctrine is what is right, teaching
that is right. In order for God's word to be
profitable unto you, you must first believe it is inspired
word of God. Then God's word will be of great
value to you and become profitable to you and the ministry. Here's what doctrine should do.
The teaching that you have learned and you will be learning as you
study your Bible will infiltrate every area of your life or at
least it should. Your doctrine will define the
ministry that you have. Then Paul says that the Word
of God gives reproof. How many of you have ever read
the Word of God and you were convicted about what you read?
You're being reproved. If you will accept the reproof
of the Word of God in your life, then nobody else will have to
reprove you. Self-discipline from the Word of God is the best
discipline to have. See, I believe that I read this
when we have the Lord's Supper. If you'll judge yourself, then
you will not be judged. Reproof. Conviction. Commit to the correction of the
Word of God. Correction is how to get right. Aren't you glad
the Bible tells us how to get right? I promise you, if you
are in the Word of God consistently, you will experience correction
of the way you're living by the Holy Spirit of God. And then here's, you know, you
think you're done with instruction, but Paul tells Timothy, the word
of God will give you instruction in righteousness. You're gonna
have to be your own professor now. You're gonna have to open
your Bible, you're gonna have to study your Bible, and instruction
in righteousness is a lifelong endeavor. God's Word has instruction
and righteousness for children. God, it says, children obey your
parents. Is that not instruction and righteousness?
It has instruction and righteousness for young men and young women.
And it has it for senior citizens too, praise the Lord. You will
never outgrow or graduate from instruction and righteousness
in this life. I'm asking you today, to commit
to continuing the word of God to be equipped for the journey.
Verse 17, that the man of God may be perfect, complete. Now I know this is addressing
the men here, but ladies, you can be complete too. The word
of God matures you as you live it in your life's experiences.
Somebody said something about that this morning. The difference
between just reading and studying and preaching the word and reading,
studying, and really living the word is that you will have spiritual
maturity in your life and you will be complete in Christ and
better equipped for ministry. Then you'll have a greater impact
on other people. Verse 17, commit to the word
of God that you may be totally equipped for your ministry. throughly furnished unto all
good works. A man told me one time, this
is like a ship that's leaving for a voyage, that it has everything
on it that it needs for that voyage. You know, God has promised
that we have that. God has given us all things that
pertain to life and godliness. Ambassador Baptist College has
equipped you and will grant you a certificate or some type of
degree tonight. You're to be commended for your
dedication and faithful work, but your work in your ministry
is just now really beginning. Although many people have helped
you pack for this journey, you're gonna need to be in the word
of God more and more after graduation than before. If you will continue
to be adequately equipped for ministry, you will need to spend
adequate time in the Word of God for your own personal growth
and for the growth of those who benefit from your ministry. Congratulations
on your accomplishments that are celebrated today. Enjoy today. The work of ministry is just
really beginning. I pray that God will help you
to be faithful to him. May God help you to be grateful
for those who've helped pack your spiritual suitcases and
be equipped for the journey of ministry. I'm sure your parents
are praying that God will direct you in ministry and in the journey
of life that this takes you to. Graduates, how many of you are
willing to commit this morning that you're not going to put
your Bible on the shelf because you've graduated from Ambassador
Baptist College, but that you're going to get it out. You're going
to be a student in the instruction of righteousness for the rest
of your life. Would any graduates? Hey, I'm
going to do that. Amen. Those of you that are leaving
for the summer, you're going into the same world that the
graduates are. How many of you are willing to
raise your hand and say, I'm gonna commit to the word of God,
to the instruction and righteousness for the summer, so that I can
come back more mature spiritually and stronger character than what
I am now. Anybody willing to do that? Amen. Do that. Serve the Lord this
summer. Serve the Lord for the rest of
your life and dedicate yourself to continue to grow in his word. Let's pray. Heavenly Father,
thank you for such a wonderful opportunity to share your word
with these students. They're on the verge of stepping
out in ministry. Lord, please work in their lives.
Help them to be faithful to your word. Lord, help them to remember
nuggets and things that they've learned here. Lord, help them
to be faithful, to stand strong in doctrine, and be men and women
of character. In Jesus' name, amen.
What You Need to Know as You Leave Ambassador
Series Spring Semester 2022
| Sermon ID | 56221628167262 |
| Duration | 31:17 |
| Date | |
| Category | Chapel Service |
| Bible Text | 2 Timothy 3 |
| Language | English |
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