November 17, 2019
Morning Service

In the first part of this chapter Paul challenged us to have the resolve of a soldier, the discipline of an athlete, and the patience and work ethic of a farmer as we follow Jesus.  He makes it very clear that our life journey as a Jesus follower will include hardships and persecutions.  We will need all of these attributes in our life along with a strong faith and the aid of the Holy Spirit to be able to not only complete our journey, but to be able to do it successfully.  Paul encouraged us to live our life with the same mind of and athlete; “run to win.”  Let’s not just go through the motions of living a Christian life, but work at doing it well.  In the evening service, Paul revealed to us where a life like that begins.  We looked deeper into what it really means to die to ourselves and live for Christ.  He summed up that point well in a verse from the Galatian letter.

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

            That is a verse to take some time alone with the Lord and see how we can apply it to our daily walk.  We begin today with Paul encourages us to be careful what voices we listen to.

 

2Ti 2:14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.  

            Remember last week we talked about an athlete focusing in on his training and not to just “beat the air,” but to do the things that bring results.  We were challenged to examine our lives and remove the activities that were unprofitable to us and focus on the things that are important to being a faithful follower.  Here Paul basically says the same thing only he is talking about what we are listening to and we could include watching.  Are there things we are allowing to enter our mind and heart through the radio, television or internet that are of “no profit and the ruin of the hearers?”  The old adage of “you are what you eat” is true and can also apply like this “you will resemble what you listen to.”  Is the music you listen to, the shows that you watch, and the sites that you frequent profiting you or hurting you in your walk with Jesus?  As parents we filter out what we will let our children be exposed to.  If it is harmful for them how can it be profitable for us?  Jesus said this:

 

Mat 18:3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

            Protect your own heart as you would your child’s.  If there are words or scenes that would harm your child, what profit is gained by you listening or watching them.  What goes in is what comes out.  Put in filth and trash and guess what comes out.  Guard your own ears and eyes just as you would that of your child.  Here is where Paul encourages us down the right path.

 

2Ti 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

            Diligent-to have or show care and conscientiousness in one’s work or duties; putting in the effort to do something the right way.

            Paul is calling us to be diligent about our Bible study.  As we examine our own lives, how much time and effort are we putting into things that are unprofitable to us compared to what we are investing into our relationship with our Lord and Savior?  How much of your time and energy do you give to the Lord?  Would you describe your efforts as being diligent or perhaps lacking?  These are the real life questions that we have to be honestly asking ourselves when we try to die out to me and live to Christ.  How are you spending your time?  Where are you spending your money?  What occupies your thoughts most of the time?  The answer will be the owner of your heart.  All of us desire to say that it is Jesus that owns our heart, but is it really true?

            In verse 14 Paul encouraged us not “strive about words to no profit” and now he is encouraging us to “be diligent” about our study of the scriptures; words that bring profit to us. He says we are not to be “ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  That means we are diligently seeking what God says is true and then trying to apply it to our lives.  To be diligent means we are not simply “beating the air” in our Bible study, but I am really giving the effort needed to find out what God is speaking to me personally.  I am to be diligent about both reading and doing God’s will as I die out to me and live to Christ.  I am trying to “rightly divide” the Word looking for what it really says, no what I want it to say (Eph. 5:22 example).  Some wrongly make this sacrificial life a burden that they have to carry; making it something they “have” to do.  It is designed to be an act of love on our part to “present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Rom. 12:1) I don’t have to live this way; I choose to live this way as an act of worship to the One who gave His all for me!  The open, honest and diligent study of God’s Word will change your life.  It speaks to you, convicts you, and guides you in things that bring you in line with what God has designed and created you to do.  Paul now returns to the idea of being careful of what we are listening to.

 

2Ti 2:16-18 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.  (17)  And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, (18) who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.

            These were false teachers that were teaching that the resurrection had already come and gone and those left had missed the boat.  Believers who were listening to them were at the least very confused and even “strayed” some from the truth.  We through the technology we have today are exposed to so much information that it can be overwhelming.  For instance, all the election commercials which run back to back saying terrible things about one candidate and then the other.  Which one is the truth?  It can be so confusing that we simply quit seeking the truth and allow the world’s media to guide us where they want us to go!  We need a solid foundation to stand on to keep us from being “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting” (EPH 4:14).

 

2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

            That foundation is available to each of us this morning and can be revealed to us through the diligent studying or our Bible.  As we study the Holy Spirit reveals truth to us and aids us to apply that knowledge to keep us from being deceived standing on the truth of God’s Word.

 

1Jn 2:27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

            The anointing is the gift of the Holy Spirt that is given to you at the time of your conversion.  Its presence in your life is how the Lord is able to “know those who are His.”  It is a personal relationship between you and your Creator.  The Holy Spirit leads and guides us to the truth.  Since there is only One Spirit that we all share, He will teach me the same thing that He is teaching you.  The Holy Spirit will help you to “rightly divide the word of truth” and lead you to a more intimate relationship with our Savior through that study.  As I stated before, it will change your life for the better.  The deeper you dig the sweeter it is!

            To summarize this morning, we need to guard the things that our eyes and ears are exposed to.  Get rid of those things that are of no profit to us.  Diligently study and read your Bible along with the aid of the Holy Spirit that is within you to “rightly divide the word of truth.”  He will guide you to its real and personal meaning that you can then apply to your life to be found a faithful follower of our Lord and Savior.  It can change your life.

            Tonight we will dig deeper into the application of the Word into our everyday lives as, the Lord willing, we finish this chapter.

 

Heavenly Father open the eyes of our hearts to see the things in our lives that we need to remove and help us to be diligent in our study and application of your Word in our lives.