← ArchiveSunday, November 29, 2020DateNovember 29, 2020Speaker—Text—Passages in this sermon2 Timothy 49:18Psalms 12423:38TranscriptClick any line to jump there.0:00The End Okay, welcome back.0:30Some of you are still suffering from Thanksgiving, eating too much, but you have Christmas to look forward to, so you can eat even more than you've already had. We missed you guys last week, but it's so wonderful to be back with the community of faith.0:59We know we have a ton of people watching this online, so hey, welcome. We also have young ones here today, so if our adults, can you just encourage our boys and girls and just give them a hand clap and say we recognize them. For our kids, as always, our adults promise to be on their best behavior while you're in here. So we're going to try our best. Our desire this day is that if you are a Christ follower, that you will be encouraged.1:28That you leave here strengthened and firmed in your faith. And if you are not a Christ follower, if you've never by faith trusted in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, that today would be the day, today would be the day that you hear something, that you hear the living Word of God and that you say, I need that. I need Christ to forgive me and I need abundant life. So our prayer is that when you hear this message that you will be changed forever through the Word of the Lord.1:57So today is our last message in our sermon series, Faith Over Fear. We've been in 1 and 2 Timothy for what, two or three months now. So this is the concluding sermon of 2 Timothy. But before we get there, let me start with a story. I'm going to give all of our children a moment to be loud in the service. So parents, just chill out because I know my kids are involved in this also.2:26Okay, I want you to yell this out if you know the answer. Okay, if you're under 6th grade. What is the fastest adults you cannot participate? What is the fastest land animal? I think the birthday boy said that. Well done. It is a cheetah, okay? It is a cheetah. But this is why it's important. So did you know that a cheetah can run 94 miles an hour?2:54Give or take. I didn't time it, but that's what scientists tell us. A cheetah, very good. One of our adults just got it. I'm proud of them. We're a little slower sometimes. But what scientists have shown is that really the heart of a cheetah is smaller than it should be. So although cheetahs can run tremendously fast, they cannot run long distances.3:21So if a cheetah does not grab its prey very soon, then it gives up and it has to rest. And as I was thinking about this fact, I realized that many of us, we link our faith to that of a cheetah. We just think that the faith in Christ that we have is a quick faith that we don't have to endure.3:45And so we pray these prayers. Lord, I will do big things for you. And then about two days later, we fizzle out. And yet what we see in the word of God today is a man who is looking back on his life and he says, I have run the race. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course and I have kept my faith.4:11So my heart for you today is this. The reason that a cheetah cannot run long distances is because scientists say it has a smaller heart. How do we run long distances for Jesus? How do you keep the faith? How do we survive 2020? That we ask God every day to grow our heart for him. You see, how do we survive the fight of faith?4:40We say, Lord, today grow my heart for you. Lord, I don't want to give up. I don't want to throw in the towel. I don't want to flame out. I'll just preach like this. I want a heart that is ever increasing and growing for Jesus Christ. Anyone join me in that prayer? Anyone else say, I want a greater heart today for Christ than I did yesterday.5:07That's what we need. So you don't need cheetah faith. We need faith that endures. And so the sermon today is called Faithful Until the End. Faithful Until the End. And this has hit me even harder the last several months because I have friends that I know. People in ministry have just given up. Some have had moral failures because of the stress and because of letting their guards down.5:34Some have walked away. There have been people that I know and care about deeply that have walked away from the church in the last months. They've had enough. And I want God to give us big hearts. Big hearts of faith that we would not give up. That we would not flame out and that we would not get tired. Faithful until the end. So join me in 2 Timothy. Chapter 4.6:04Chapter 4. I think that's going to be this way the whole time. So just power through it. Verse 6. I'm reading from the CSB. 2 Timothy. Chapter 4. Hear the word of the Lord. This is Paul. Apostle writing from prison. Near the end of his life. He says, I am already being poured out as a drink offering. And the time for my departure is close. I have fought the good fight.6:35I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness. Which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day. And not only to me. But listen to this church. But to all those who have loved his appearing. That's us. Right? That's us. Look at verse 16. At my first offense, no one stood by me.7:03But everyone deserted me. But it says this. May it not be counted against the Lord. But. But the Lord stood with me. And he strengthened me. So that I might fully preach the word. And all the Gentiles might hear. That's us. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil work. And will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.7:33To him be the glory forever and ever. And all of God's people said. Amen. And amen. Let's go to God. Father, we thank you for your word. Lord, we confess that so often we want to be like the cheetahs. We want to be fast and flashy. And we want to jump out quick. But Lord, if our heart is not what it should be, we will give up. Lord, give us big hearts today.8:03Help us love you more than we ever have in our lives. Lord, help us desire you and seek you. Lord, for the young lives here, the boys and girls that are with us today. Lord, we thank you for their presence. Lord, give them the boldness to ask spiritual questions. Lord, may we be a church that encourages, even the youngest in our midst. May we be a church that encourages gospel-centered questions.8:32Oh, Lord, give us big hearts. And keep us faithful until the end. Lord, I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen and amen. So I think with the microphone, I'm going to grab a handheld microphone. It's not the baddest thing to do, but it's the right thing to do today. Okay, can you hear me now?9:02Excellent. So, I like this. 2 Timothy chapter 4. And look at what Paul says. Can you hear his heart as we're reading the word? Can you hear a man that says, I want to finish strong? So, he begins right here.9:30He's looking at the end of his life and he's reflecting. And he uses this word in verse 6. He says, the time of my departure. It's the Greek word, analuceos. It's the same word in English that we would say, analysis. It's really a word that means to let the moors of the vessel go. He said, I see that God has, that he's loosened the ropes on my ship and I'm about to leave the dock.9:59We say it this way in English, right? My ship's about to set sail. And so, Paul is looking at his life. And he's looking at everything that God has done. And he says, I know. I know that I'm going to die one day. And in his mind, in his heart, he's in jail. And he knows what the end looks like. He says, I know that my departure is where? He says, it's close.10:29It's close. But he's not doing this with sadness. You hear that there's a hint of hope and joy in the apostle's life. Why? Because for the Christian, death is not the end. It opens the door to everlasting life. Paul's saying, hey guys, God is loosening the moorings of my ship. And I am going to see him face to face one day soon.10:57I don't know about you. But for me, this year has been a greater year of circumspect and reflection. Anyone else join me in that? I've had friends that have passed away this year. I have friends in this church that there is an empty seat at the table. Not necessarily because of COVID, but other reasons. And isolation and quarantine has made me look at my life again and say, God, if this is it,11:26if this is the end, I want to endure. I want to finish strong. Lord, I don't know when that might be, but Father, I want to be a picture of faithfulness. I was reminded again for Thanksgiving. This is the first year of my life that we did not travel somewhere for Thanksgiving.11:52Now, some of you are thinking, well, that's only 12 years. I'm older than 12, and you need to repent.12:08But this is the first time. I remember thinking, man, this, I don't like this. But it caused me to reflect. If I never get to see someone, if I never get to see this friend or this grandparent again, Lord, am I going to finish strong? That's my heart. So would you examine your life? And the simple question, if you died today, would your life...12:50And the first time, if you died today, would you be able to die today? And the last time, if you died today, would you be able to die today? And the last time, if you died today, would you be able to die today? And the last time, if you died today, would you be able to die today? And the last time, if you died today, would you be able to die today? And the last time, if you died today, would you be able to die today? And the last time, if you died today, would you be able to die today?13:20This is a word that has athletic implications and also military commands. He's saying, I have fought this fight.13:50And it's not just any fight. What type of fight is it? What type of fight do Christians fight? Not your own. He said, you don't fight fights about your opinions or your preferences, but we fight the good fight. Why is the fight the good fight? Because it is the fight of the way, the truth, and the life. I want to be a person who fights the good fights. I don't want to be known as a brawler. For brawling's sake.14:20I want people to look at me and say, every fight that he fought, it was for Jesus Christ. Every fight that he fought, it was according to the will and the purpose of the Lord. But not only does an enduring life fight the good fight, but what? He says, I have finished the race. That you run well. So here is your athletic metaphor. He's saying, you're running, you're continuing. Like, finish strong. And it's the reminder that for the Hellenists, for the Greeks here, to run meant that they were striving for truth.14:50Paul says, I am always looking for the truth. Where is truth found? It is found in the word and the authority of God. Is the Bible your principle document? Is it how you live your life? And then he says one more thing. Not only is my life faithful because I fight the good fight.15:17Not only is my life faithful because of what? Because I finished the race. But my life is faithful because I kept something. And what are we supposed to keep, people? Of God. I have kept the faith. You know what Paul is saying? He's saying this. I live my life by the rules of God. He said, I did it God's way. You see, if you are to live a life of faith, you lose the right to do it your way.15:45To live the life, to keep the faith, is to live a life according to the rules of God and to the rules of Jesus Christ. Christian, are you living according to God's standard? Not the church's standard, not the pastor's standard, not your neighbor's standard, not social media's standard.16:10Are you living according to the standard that God wants in your life? That's what it means to keep the faith. You see, really what he's saying is I didn't cut corners. Now, we live in an instant society, don't we? I don't want to go Black Friday shopping anyway.16:39That's just, that's the devil's work in my life. But let's assume I was. I don't even have to do that anymore. I can go online and in one button, I don't have to click. I can use my fingerprint and buy stuff now. And it just, two days later, I go outside and it's on my front door. It's like, poof. This is awesome. But is that not what we try to do with our faith?17:09We try to cut corners. And the Christian life is every day, slowly but surely, one step in front of the other, following Jesus Christ. So let me speak to our young ones, our little ones. You want to learn about Jesus Christ? Find the people with the gray hair. Or without hair. Because the reason they're gray is because of some of us.17:36But you're vital. Listen, you're vital to these young lives. Because they need to see people who have endured. Because you're here because you don't have a microwave faith. You have an enduring faith. And so if you're in that senior category, if you say, well, I don't know when my ship is going to sail. But it is closer than it is later. I want you to know that these little eyes need you.18:06You're valuable to them. And for our young boys and girls, you find someone that's a lot older and let them invest their lives into you. That's exactly what Paul is doing. And he's saying, fight, finish, and keep. Be faithful to the end and let your heart for Jesus Christ grow strong every single day. And when you do this, look at verse 8. Something beautiful happens. When you fight the good fight, when you commit your life to grow your heart for Jesus every day, then Paul says this.18:35He says, because I have kept, because I have finished, because I have run, there is a crown of righteousness. I love that. He says, reserved for me, this crown of righteousness. Now it's interesting that he would use that. Because the crown was given to the winner of athletic events. So to the winner, the crown would be given.19:04So when was the crown given? Well, it wasn't when they won. The crown was always given when the judge showed up. And exactly what Paul says. He says, one day when Christ returns and he judges me, for those who have living, faithful lives, you will receive the crown of righteousness. How can Paul say that? How can he be bold enough to say, well, I'm going to get a crown of righteousness?19:32Because he believes in the promises of God. He believes that those who have faith in Jesus Christ are made righteous in that instance. That's God's, he imputes righteousness. He makes you righteous because the blood of Christ covers you the moment you say yes to Jesus as your Lord and Savior. And he continues to keep you safe until he brings you home.19:59And to Paul, he will receive the crown. But that's not it. Did you catch what the word of the Lord said? Paul says, not only to those, not only to him, but to who? To all who believe. Who is that? That's me. You receive a crown if you have given your life to Christ and if you commit to live a faithful life.20:23In 450 A.D., a man named Theodorette of Sire said this about God judging. He said, by the just judge, I have known him as just. I have known him as the judge and I trust in his judgment. Listen to what he says. He says, I look for a sentence. You see, for the Christian, when God returns, that's not a day of fear.20:53That's a day where we long for his appearing. Because if you are in Christ and God judges you, he will judge you faithful. He will judge you faithful, church. And we need that hope. Look at what Paul says. He says, not only will I be given a crown of righteousness, but to all those who have loved his appearing. If you are in Christ right now, you should long for and love the appearing of God.21:18You should say, Lord, come quick. But if you delay, we will share the gospel until you return. But, Lord, when you come, I know that you will judge me faithful. And that's not arrogant statements. That's a statement of bold faith, knowing that is the promise of God in your life. I want to live this picture of faithfulness. See, anyone else want to be faithful?21:48I want that. And you say, well, how does this happen? As Pastor Jared shared earlier, you know, we sing the song, prone to wonder. None of us are perfect. So how could we ever live up to this ideal? How could we ever live up to what the Apostle Paul is living up to? Well, look at verse 16. Because we have a picture of the faithfulness of God, you can now live faithful lives.22:16So Paul says this in verse 16. I don't want you to think that Paul lived a charmed existence. He's not writing from an ivory tower. He's writing from a prison. And this is what Paul says about his life. Verse 16. He said, at my first offense, not one of you stood next to me. He says, no one stood by me.22:44And in case we missed it, he said, everyone deserted me. And he says, Lord, may it not be held against them. Anyone feel alone like that sometimes? I think one of the greatest sufferings that we have with all the pandemic is that I know people that have died alone in the hospital. I know people who have gone to funerals alone. I know people that have had weddings alone.23:15And as I read this verse, I kind of feel like that sometimes. Lord, no one's there. Because we're mandated. Some of us are mandated to be away from people. Lord, where is our help? But Psalm 124 says this. If the Lord had not been on our side, let Israel say.23:42It's the reminder that if you are in Christ Jesus, you are never alone. There's not a day of your life where you've been alone. Even if you feel that way. And so everyone is deserted if they possible. Look at that next verse. Verse 17. One of these, one of these buts in scripture. Anytime you see a but in scripture, it is either a really good thing or a really bad thing.24:08But in this moment, it's good. Paul says, everyone has deserted me. Everyone has left me. But, but the Lord stood with me. How do you remain faithful to the end? How do you remain faithful to the end? Look at the perfect, faithful Savior. Look to God. And it's His faithfulness in our lives.24:37And as He did with Paul, He will do to you. God will never leave you. He will always stand beside you. He is faithful. But the Lord stood with me. It's the psalm that says, there is a friend who stands closer than a brother. His name is Jesus Christ. He stands with us.25:05So, through the blood of Jesus Christ. Church, do never forget this. God is standing with you. I like that. So, when Satan is tempting me, I can walk up and say, God's with me. I'm not living life by myself. There is someone right next to me. But He not only stands, He does more. He strengthens us. Did you see what Paul said? The Lord stood with me.25:34And He strengthened me. You see, God wants His followers to live bold lives. How does it make you feel to know that God is standing with you? I want to puff out my chest a little bit more, right? Say, you don't know who's standing with me. God is with me. But that's the hope that we have in the Word. And not only is God standing with us, that He is strengthening us. He does more than just show up. It's the same word that Paul uses when he was blinded on the Damascus road.26:03He says, God, strengthen me. It's the same word that Paul uses in Romans. When he says that Abraham was promised an heir of the covenant with his wife, Sarah. And they were getting up in years. I'm not saying 40 or 50. They were 80 and 90. And there was no son. And I can imagine Abraham's thinking, God, you promised. God, you promised that you would make my descendants as great as the stars.26:34God, there's nothing. And then there's this beautiful verse that says, but God strengthened Abraham. Man, we need that strength. And then again, the last time Paul was in prison, he says, when I was in prison the first time and everyone deserted me, God strengthened me. You see, God does more than show up in your life. He strengthens you to remain faithful until the end.27:04Church, the Lord not only stands beside you, but he helps you stand. And I don't know where you are today, but if you've walked in here with wobbly knees, maybe you look like Bambi trying to walk for the first time, right? Spiritually. Because you've been beaten down and beaten down. I want you to know that not only will God stand beside you, but he will give you the strength to stand up.27:31Because he is the picture of the perfect, faithful Savior. That is what we need. And because God strengthened and because God stands, Paul says this in verse 18. He says, the Lord will rescue me from every evil work. And he will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.28:01To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. You see, when you look at Jesus Christ, something changes. Can you hear the heart of Paul change? He's writing from prison. He says, I am about to die. And everyone left me. But God is standing and God is strengthening.28:31And then as he reflects on what God is doing in his life, he says in verse 18. The Lord will rescue me. Scholars call this the wish prayer. They say that Paul is triumphantly praying God's mercy in his life. Because Paul knows that God has given him the strength to remain loyal to the end and be brought safely into his heavenly kingdom.28:55So what are you hoping for today? Maybe you look at this year and you just think, wow. I don't know if I can go another day. Would you cry out to God? The picture of the perfect Savior and say, Lord, work in me.29:21Rescue me. Bring me safely into your heavenly kingdom. Do you find yourself longing every day more and more for the kingdom of God? I don't want to have cheetah faith. Where I run really fast for a moment and I flame out. I want a heart that when I wake up, I say, God, I want more of your kingdom.29:47I want more of your grace. I want more of your mercy today than I had yesterday. And not only do I want that, but God, I need that. I need you to stand beside me. Lord, I need you to strengthen me. And when you do, then I can remain faithful. And in all of this, as we come to the end of 2 Timothy, and as we really come to the end of Paul's life, something happens.30:10Paul says, to him, that is God, to him be the glory forever and ever, exclamation point. Amen. Did you know the word amen means so be it? Let it be.30:40And it really became the congregational response to the truth of God's strength in saving grace. It's a church standing up and saying, man, I want to be strengthened. Amen. Let it be. It's when you hear God stands beside you, you say, amen. I want that. This is the power of a faithful life. So will you live an amen life today?31:11How do we pray? And how do we live boldly like this? I just ask you, one, would you pray and ask God to give you a big heart for him? Say, Lord, I want a bigger heart for you today than I had yesterday. That is only found through spiritual strength. Would you pray that prayer? Would you say, God, give me a big heart for you?31:38That we would not flame out, but that we would endure. I'm reminded that no one receives a medal for how quick they start. A medal is always given for how well you finish. That's the heart that we need. Would you pray a prayer and say, God, give me a constant faith, not a cheetah faith.32:04Lord, give me the ability to put one foot in front of the other every day. That's the picture of the Christ's life. But I'm reminded also that you will never remain faithful until the end unless your faith has a beginning.32:25And maybe that's you. Maybe you realize that your faith has let you down over and over again because you've never put your hope in Jesus Christ. Listen, the Christian life is not to work harder, to try more, to run faster. The Christian life is to say, Lord, I can't do it on my own.32:55But I know that you did it for me. You lived a sinless life and you died on the cross. You rose again. You see, the gospel is simply this. Jesus in my place. D.L. Moody said, A faith that fizzles before the finish was flawed from the very first. A faith that fizzles before the finish was flawed from the very first.33:21And if you're here today, you've never put your faith in Jesus Christ. And if we have some boys and girls, young boys and girls who are, guys, listen to me. If you've never put your hope and trust in Jesus Christ, would you do that today? Would you pray a prayer, prayers, talking with God, and say, Lord, I want to live a life of faith. And I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. And I believe he rose again.33:50And today I want to follow you with everything that I have. But did you know that prayer is not just for kids? That's the same prayer that saves sinners like me and you. But today be the day that you say for the first time, Lord, this is my day of faith. And my faith begins here. I don't want a faith that fizzles. I want a faith that endures. Because that is the Christ life.34:18If you've trusted in Jesus, we would love for you to share it with us. You can go online and fill out a connect card. But I'll be down front to pray with you, to encourage you. For our young boys and girls, tell your parents. If you want to trust in Jesus Christ and you've never done that, will you ask your parents, say, Dad, I want to do that. Mom, I want to do that. Grandparents. I need to follow Jesus. There will be no greater celebration than that.34:45Church, our next baptism service is December 13. And I think we already have six people ready to boldly declare their faith in Believer's Baptism. If that's you, if you've never done that, would you be a part of what God's doing in this church? We would love to celebrate that. May the Lord give you a faith that endures. That we could say, I have fought the good fight.35:11I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Let's pray. Father.
