2tim2v20-26

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2 TIMOTHY 2:15-26 TEXT:20-26 [SERIES #11]

It doesn’t seem that long ago that Paul was urging Timothy to “hang in there” (I paraphrase) and endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (v3)

When Paul said that he endured all things for the sake of the elect (v10) I remind you that the all things which Paul endured were pretty fearsome – e.g. left for dead in Acts 14
He was currently writing this letter from the condemned cell

One would be tempted to think that such circumstances would dictate to us that God should be content with what we can offer
It seems hard enough to get Christians to work for God
Especially in these last days when the love of many will wax cold
We accept that in any age no one will serve God perfectly
Even Paul himself – who laboured more abundantly than any other man – lamented his feeling of personal wretchedness
But the Bible does not allow us to think; any old service will do

This is a key passage to refute any such careless thoughts
We may fall short – but always, at least, aim straight
If we fall short, let it not be because we did not try better
Even though we are all ultimately unprofitable servants
(God Himself is not advanced one iota because of us)
Yet we can still be proclaimed as good and faithful servants
This will not be if we are giving him our second best

Never forget the wee widow in the temple
She did not have much to give (2 mites) but she gave all
God is looking for the 100%’s
Rich men gave of their plenty and extra’s
This wee woman gave all she had – even of her living
It was the wee woman who garnered the praise from Christ

Our passage will yield us 4 main thoughts:

1) THE CHURCH IS LIKENED UNTO A GREAT HOUSE: v20

House here means household rather than bricks/mortar
There are a number/analogies that we can draw here:

A/ Every house hold has a Master – good man of the house
He is the one whose word is law
A household without a master will quickly divide against itself
If so - then who can stand?
Christ is the Master of His own church
Mary gave Him this title in the Garden: Rabboni (John 20:16)

No one else is to take this position in the church/Christ
True: May and does set up underlings to whom we must obey
But they are not to lord it over the consciences of the flock
Once that happens – then they have overstepped the mark
Ought to be resisted or it will get worse instead of better
The words of the Master Himself sound very clear:

But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. (Matthew 23:8-10)

B/ Every house hold has servants
These of course are the Christians who constitute the church
We are servants for two reasons:

[i] We are servants because we have been redeemed
Purchased by His precious blood out of the slave market/sin
What a glorious freedom it is to be a servant of Christ
Once we were bound hand/foot to sin in the bitterest bondage
Now we are slaves of love to Christ

[ii] We are servants because we serve
A Christian is someone who serves the Lord
He is known not only by his creed (vital) but also his deed
Of course, we know: we are not saved by works to any degree
Nor are we kept by works
But we glorify our Master who redeemed us by our works
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
We testify to our faith by our works
They back up, highlight and underline our profession/faith
So we are servants

Of course, we have closer affiliations than that of servants
We are children and joint heirs etc.,
But Paul constantly used this phrase re: himself
And it is a good one because we serve God

C/ Every house hold has its rules and order
These come from the Master/house
In our case, they are written rules i.e. found in the Bible
This is why we are studying this passage today
One passage among many, many others
We take it very seriously
You would be horrified – I hope enraged – if I took this passage lightly and began to denigrate its importance etc.,
If I took the precepts and said: This is outdated stuff! etc.,
We do not (or should not) operate a pick ’n choose policy/Bible
This is the Master’s own word
Household only remains a household when we abide by its rules

2) IN THIS GREAT HOUSE – THERE ARE GREAT VESSELS AND LESS HONOURABLE VESSELS: v21

A/ This is a reference to us as individual Christians
The metaphor changes a little, but the central truth is the same
What are these vessels here for?
Answer: to serve the master/house – to be used in his service

B/ Some disagreement over what all these vessels represent
All agree that they represent professing Christians
However the word professing can be the weak link here

Some commentators pit the true believers against the false
Especially when it refers to dishonourable vessels

If their interpretation is right, then we ought ever to be sure that we are not such
How do we do that? By the grace/God, we keep looking to Christ
As we will see later on/sermon, we quit fooling about with sin
We forsake the worldliness to which we are all liable
We engage ourselves day/daily in the appointed means of grace
Yes – we are kept by the power of God (1 Peter 1:5)
Blessed, blessed truth!
But it is the power of God through faith
I don’t want to sound Arminian here- but it is not Arminianism to insist that Christians should keep themselves in the love/God
If so, then Jude was an Arminian! (v21)

Doctrine/Eternal Security drives me to use the means appointed
I use the means because I am 100% guaranteed that they work

C/ Other commentators think that the division lies between Christians who are more gifted etc., than others
It is like comparing china teapots with clay flower pots
Certainly this view takes the sting out of things
Yet it is no less a vital subject for that

China teapots have their uses – afternoon tea comes to mind
Yet they are not very practical when it comes to gardening

D/ Maybe the answer lies a little in both
Whatever it be – let us not make use of any apparent loopholes to back out of our responsibilities as Christians

It is the greatest privilege ever to be used of God
Illustration: if you lift a bottle of HP sauce, then you will see the royal seal of approval upon it!
IOW: The Queen uses HP sauce on her chips :o)
And HP have the right to display this seal on their packaging
It is nice to be able to say that God is using us for the advancement of His glory and Kingdom

E/ We are not to gripe about the talents that God has given us
Maybe someone else is more talented than us
Someone can articulate things better when we get tongue tied
Someone can read the exact same passage/Bible and bring out greater treasures than we can etc.,
So be it – God is sovereign in the distribution of His gifts

If we get the pint bottle rather than the gallon jar - yet make sure that we make full use of the pint bottle allowance
Why want the gallon jar if we are only using half the pint bottle?
Let’s start counting in the percentages
Are we using 100% of what we have for God

If so and we need more – God will either give it or supply for our help another who has it

Let us not fight over who has what
All these vessels were in the one great house
Many vessels – one house
Many servants – one Master who is Lord of all

3) WE ARE TO BE CLEAN VESSELS FIT FOR GOD’S USE:

A/ Emphasis/ Paul’s writings are seldom on the talents/Christian
He pays tribute to the gifts which Timothy had
He urges his young pastor friend to stir them up (1:16)
There really is no excuse for us neglecting or under using our gifts assuming that we are liberty to use them
But Paul doesn’t go looking for exceptionally talented Christians as if eloquence of speech or a bold brave demeanour was everything

Paul wrote a very troubled letter to the Corinthians
Here were exceptionally talented people with some wonderful gifts
Yet- the letter (as said) can often depress as well as encourage
For with all/talents, Corinth FPC was a carnal place to belong to

Paul looked first/foremost for holiness of thought, word and deed
What are the use/gifts without the holiness/life to accompany them?

B/ I accept that God can use unclean vessels for His own ends
Cyrus was a heathen yet God called him: “my shepherd” (44:28)
God used the wicked Caesar to ensure that Joseph/Mary were in Bethlehem on the night the Saviour was to be born (Micah 5:2)

But this is of little comfort to a carnal Christian
Perhaps we can make a difference along the line here
Let’s say that God overrules the wicked and their designs
Obvious one to think about is Joseph’s wicked brethren: (50:20)
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Here God used the wicked actions/others for His own holy ends
He overruled their wickedness for His own glory

But Christians are not so interested in God overruling our deeds – rather: We want God to rule over our deeds
We do not want Him using us in our uncleanness and carnality
We want to totally yielded to Him – pure vessels in His hand

The wicked will not be rewarded for how God overruled them
They are left to reap their sins (unless they repent)
Pure Christians will be rewarded (in grace) for yielding their bodies as a living sacrifices unto God (Romans 12:1)

The words (overruling/ruling over) may be subtle in their difference – the practical differences are miles apart

4) HOW TO BE A CLEAN AND FIT VESSEL:

Thankfully Paul just doesn’t tell us what we need to do
He gives us pretty full instructions as to how to do it

A/ Negatively ,
[i] Timothy was to flee youthful lusts
Fleshly lusts war against/soul (1 Peter 2:2) – these: no different
Not to be dallied with or even fought with – fled from
It is cowardice to flee from them – only means of survival
It will frustrate the devil no end if you flee these lusts
So if you want to hit back at the Devil – flee his lusts

[ii] Avoid foolish/unlearned questions which gender strife
At best – they are time wasters and you haven’t got time/waste
At worst, they gender strife and so lead to those youthful lusts

It is true that holiness is much more than a load of negatives
But ground needs to cleared in order for God to build
This is a very practical part of things
We need to ask God to help us do these negative things

B/ Positively, we need to do many things, by the Spirit’s help:

[i] We need to follow all these virtues (v22)
Note that we are and will not be alone in these things
All who follow the Lord with a pure heart will be doing them
Isn’t it good; we can band together and encourage one another?

[ii] Not only encourage but without striving (where foolish questions lead: v23) but in gentleness, we can teach with patience and meekness (v24-25)

C/ Really, it is a matter of choices
We all face very powerful temptations
God allows these temptations to afflict us
But he also makes a way of escape
Already thought of the FIRE Exit approach
Need to continually pray for grace to follow it all through

In v25-26 we read of those who get it all so horribly wrong
Whether it be false teaching or false living – Satan triumphs in their lives – holding them captive
Such need
[i] instruction
[ii] to acknowledge truth
[iii] repentance
[iv] recovered
Emphasise is on them to recover themselves (v26)
None can do it for them – they must take the first steps

Let us aim to be vessels fir for the Master’s use

THE END

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