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THE ESSENTIAL OF HOPE 1 TIMOTHY 6:12-21 Pastor Stephen Muncherian March 21, 2010 |
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Merced… Gateway to
Yosemite Seat of
Government Center of
Agriculture Home of
The University of California, Merced For many
reasons a great place to live And yet... Over 50%
of adults have low-literacy skills 17% live
in poverty 26% of
these are children 37% may go
hungry tonight known
unemployment is 19.8% 1 out of
every 18 girls (ages 15-19) will become a teenage mother over 1,000
children will be murdered this year 81% are
unchurched and live without Jesus these
figures are conservative… they
represent… broken families, wounded lives, people who know no hope of anything different The
Essential of Hope
We’ve been looking at the
essentials of the church. What is
essential to our living and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ here in
Merced and beyond. We know this - because if we’ve
got our eyes open - as we’re moving through our lives touching people
around us - we know that Merced is a broken city. Broken
people. Broken homes.
Broken families. Broken down
people - struggling - wounded - angry - bitter - hopeless - who’ve
turned to a number of different ways of trying to cope with their
brokenness. We live in a community where so
many people have either given up hope or they have no clue that there’s
anything to hope for that could be any different. People
around us that live expecting that homes will be broken - children will
be born to single moms by multiple men - that drugs and alcohol and
gangs are a way of life - that what sustains them is some government
agency - that education is not important. Jesus is the only One who can
heal that brokenness. Which is where we
fit into this city. The bottom line of why we’re here - the mission of the Church is to take the
Gospel of Jesus
Christ into the
world - into the
places were we live life. And let’s be honest. There are broken people right here in this
sanctuary. The cowboy lay sprawled across
three entire seats in the posh Amarillo theatre. When
the usher came by and noticed this he whispered to the cowboy, “Sorry, sir,
but you're only allowed one seat.” The cowboy groaned but
didn't budge. The usher became more
impatient. “Sir, if you don't get up from there, I'm going to have
to call the manager.” The cowboy just groaned. The usher marched briskly back
up the aisle. In a moment he returned with
the manager. Together the two of them
tried repeatedly to move the cowboy, but with no success.
Finally, they summoned the police. The
policeman surveyed the situation briefly then asked, “All right
buddy, what's you're name?”
With pain in his voice Sam
replied.... “The balcony.” Ever feel like that? Like you’ve fallen and can’t get up - laid out
waiting to die? Let’s be honest there are
broken down people right here in the congregation.
We need to the essential of hope for our lives. Please join me in your Bibles -
or the blue Bible under the chair in front of you - please join me at 1
Timothy 6 - starting at verse 12. This
morning we are looking at our last essential - The Essential of Hope. Let’s say that together, “The
essential of hope.”
1 Timothy
6:12: Fight the
good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were
called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many
witnesses. What Paul is describing here is The Battlefield that every one of us lives in
every day of our lives. We live in a
battle that is waged to keep us back from Jesus and the hope that we
have in Him. Last Wednesday was what? Saint Patrick’s Day. The
wearing of the green. Shamrocks. Leprechauns. Pots
of Gold. This is actual photograph of
Saint Patrick - or a least a statue of Saint Patrick.
Patrick was born in the town of Kilpatrick - just south of
Scotland - in Britain - probably in the year 389 A.D.
At the age of 16 - while working on his father’s farm - he
was kidnapped by a band of marauding Irishmen and hauled off to Ireland
to become a slave - as a shepherd. It was while he was a slave that
Patrick came to trust Jesus as his Savior. Patrick
wrote, “The Lord opened to me the sense of my unbelief that I
might remember my sins and that I might return with my whole heart to
the Lord my God.” After six years Patrick escaped
slavery and returned to Scotland. While
there he saw a vision of the Irish calling him back to Ireland. After preparing himself - studying for the
ministry - being set apart by the church for ministry in Ireland -
after being prepared - Patrick returned to Ireland and spent 30 years
traveling all over Ireland sharing the Gospel. Significant
numbers of people came to Jesus - churches were planted - monasteries
started. As Patrick traveled around
sharing the gospel - just as there were many who received him and the
gospel - as he traveled he came up against fierce opposition. Heated - hostile opposition from the local
chiefs and Druids. His life was threatened. Difficult times. There
were times when he could have very understandably given up hope packed
his bags and headed back to Scotland. Shook
the dust off his shoes and headed on home. But
he didn’t. Despite terrible persecution he
remained faithful to what God had called him to do. Paul is writing to who? Timothy. Timothy who in this great city of Ephesus is
given a challenge - to serve in a church - in a difficult ministry - in
a city of great evil - where the pressure to compromise - to give in - to give up hope - where that
kind of struggle is
very real. If you’ve ever felt alone -
with the weight of great responsibility on your shoulders - with the
burden of issues deep within - with no one to turn to - you can
understand how Timothy felt. Here in Merced. Here
in California, USA - we live in a wonderful politically correct society.
Where
its popular to speak of faith traditions and belief in God but not the
absolute truth of Scripture that points to the necessity of a personal
saving relationship found only in the living and returning Savior Jesus
Christ. Where 81% of our city has very little if anything to
do with Jesus and His Church. Every day we have to make choices - even here. Our life may not be on the line - not just yet. But, increasingly - in this increasingly
anti-God society - to live for Jesus Christ takes a commitment that is
not easy. The pressure to compromise - to
bend - to remain silent - to cave in - to give up - to live in fear - that pressure is very real and
growing. The Apostle Peter writes, Your
adversary - Satan -
prowls around like a roaring lion, - scheming - plotting -
deceiving - seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
Paul writes in Ephesians 6, our struggle
is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the
spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)
Behind the scenes of life is
Satan - a malicious enemy who’s always looking for people he can get to. Satan and his demonic army arrayed against us
are powerful. He has authority. He’s wicked. He’s
cunning. He looks for any opportunity to
distort truth and lead us into darkness - to demoralize us - to ruin us
- to destroy us - to destroy our relationships - husband and wives -
families - to destroy our effectiveness in ministry - to turn us away
from God. To lead us into despair and not hope.
The Christian life is a battlefield. Life
is a battlefield. It
would be nice if our troubles just sort of disappeared.
God may give us times of peace and joy that we can thank
Him for. But, we’re always going to be in
the fight of our lives. Here in verse 12 - the word “fight” in Greek is
“agonizomai” - related to the word “agnoia” which is where our English word? “agony.” The
Greeks spoke of a wrestler who would “agonize” - struggle - against his
adversary - pursuing victory. Paul encourages Timothy, “Agonize the
good agony of faith.” Its agony - but keep going -
persevere - take hold of the eternal life to which you were called - that’s the victory - its
worth it - take hold of the eternal life to which you were called,
and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. “Timothy -
you chose to follow Jesus. Before
witnesses you confessed faith in Jesus Christ - in His victory over all
this on the cross. Keep it up. God has called you to this.” How do we do that? How
do we fight on - with
everything that our Adversary throws at us - how do we live with the
essential of hope - sharing that hope with those around us? There are a tremendous number of truths and promises in Scripture that God gives us that - in spending time thinking about these truths and promises - God gives us great hope.
Here in verse 13 to 21 Paul is
going to touch on five of those truths. We’re
going to call these Five “C’s” of Hope. The
point of describing these with “C” words is - not to be cute - but to
help us remember what Paul writes here. Look with me at verse 13 - five
“C’s” - truths - that encourage us to fight on with hope. While
we’re fighting on keep focused on these. First - The Confession of Jesus. Let’s say that together, “The
confession of Jesus.” Verse 13: I charge you
in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ
Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate Do you remember this scene? Jesus before Pilate? Jesus
taking the witness stand. “Do you
swear to tell the truth…?” The only reason Jesus was there was because the Chief
Priests hated Him. Jesus claiming to be God incarnate - the
promised Messiah - the Savior - was competing with their authority -
their carefully constructed self focused ordered world. After all his questions Pilate couldn’t find any fault
in Jesus. He knew that Jesus was innocent. He was looking for a reason to let Jesus go -
to wash his hands of the whole thing. Then, there was the question, “Are You the
King of the Jews?” “Are you really Who you claim to be? Jesus. Confess. Is it true?” If Jesus says “No” - denying that He’s the Messiah - He might have
lived. If Jesus answers “Yes” - His fate is sealed - death
awaits. Jesus answers, “It is as
you say.” The clearest response possible.
“Its exactly what you said.” (Matthew 27:11) Jesus makes the good confession. On the stand - as a witness - Jesus gives
testimony to the truth. Jesus testifies -
gives witness - to the truth that He is the God - that He is the Savior
- that He is the Christ - He is the one and only hope of mankind. Choosing to say “yes” costs Jesus His life. Which
ironically - or purposely - proves His point. Jesus’
death and resurrection are the greatest of witness to Who He is. This word “witness” comes from
the Greek word “martur” which is where we get our English word? Martyr. Jesus -
with His disciples after His resurrection - just before He ascends into
heaven - Jesus tells His disciples, “You shall
be my witnesses.” (Acts 1:8) Literally,
“You shall be my martyrs - testifying of me with your
lives.” - same word. When Paul is writing to Timothy about
agonizing in the battlefield of life - Paul writes, “Timothy you
committed yourself to following Jesus - to this battle - you made that
commitment in the presence of many witnesses” - literally - many martyrs -
others who - in the midst of the same battlefield - others who are also
giving their lives as followers of Jesus.
There are times when we’re faced
with the decision to say “no” when everyone around us is saying “yes.” Or there will be times when we need to say
“yes” - times when it will be hard or
embarrassing to admit we’re Christians. That
“no” or “yes” may cost us greatly. But, we
need to remember the confession of Jesus - to remember that there is
more at stake here than just a “yes” or
“no.” When we feel beaten down -
dejected - holding up more than we can possibly uphold and hanging on
to more than we can possibly hang on to. When
we’ve reached the end of our rope - tied a knot - and we’re hanging
there - just barely. When to live for
Jesus only brings more of the same - if
not worse. We need to remember Jesus
before Pilate. Confession isn’t just make a
statement about what we believe. It goes
deeper. It went deeper for Jesus. It means being a witness to what we’re
confessing to. That isn’t an option for a
follower of Jesus. On the battlefield of
life we follow Jesus by testifying with our lives the same truth that
Jesus confessed. But grab this:
Our martyrdom - our living life for Jesus - is not an
empty - pointless - giving up of our lives. When
we struggle through life we struggle through knowing the confession of
Jesus. Our confession is of Him. We are witnesses to the truth that He is the
Savior. We confess that God, “who gives
life to all things” -
is the resurrected Jesus. That even while we were dead in
our sin - Jesus made the good confession going to the cross for us. We confess that God in Jesus gives life to us. We
confess the realization of our salvation and the presence of the living
God in our lives today. That confession is full of hope. First we need to keep before us
the confession of Jesus. Then - second “C” - Paul writes of The Coming of Jesus. Let’s say that together, “The coming
of Jesus.” Verse 14: keep the
commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of
our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time. Notice two things here. First, we’re encouraged to “keep the
commandment” - to
keep living in obedience to God until Jesus does come back. The Bible says that all of us have sinned and
fallen short of the righteousness and holiness of God. We don’t measure up. We don’t deserve to enter into eternity with
God. Ultimately, when
Jesus returns, we’ll have to give an account for ourselves before God. We’ll be judged for our sins. (Romans 3:23) Many people today dismiss the idea of sin and
judgment as outdated - as too narrow minded - not worthy of a God of
love. They want to pursue other politically correct ideas and their own brand of religion. We
have that ability. We can pursue
any philosophy - any goals - any belief we want. But
God is honest with us. He tells us that we’re sinners. Tells us that what’s coming is eternal separation from God. Paul writes in Romans 6, “The wages of sin is
death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus
our Lord.” (Romans
6:23) God
loves us - God desires to give us “Life” - life now and through
eternity. That’s hope. Then notice also that Paul writes that
Jesus will appear “at the
proper time.” Looking at what’s happening
around us - comparing all that to Scripture - so many Christians are
asking, “Are we in the last days? Is
Jesus coming back now? Is this it?” We’re constantly speculating about what comes next. Because we don’t know. When and how do we enter into eternity? When will Jesus come back? When God is good and ready for Him to come
back - in His proper time. The whole of
history is moving according to the plan and program of God. It will happen and nothing can stop it. Jesus - who speaks with the authority of the
only one who has triumphed over death and Himself ascended into
heaven - Jesus says this, “Do not let
your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be
also.” (John 14:1,3). That’s the hope that we share as Christians. Jesus is coming back and we will
spend eternity with Him. We need to be obedient in living and sharing that message of hope
with others. The Confession of Jesus, The
Coming of Jesus, then in verse 15 Paul goes on to The Crown of Jesus. Let’s say that together, “The crown
of Jesus.” Verse 15: He - Jesus - who is the
blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who
alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no
man has seen or can see. To Him be honor
and eternal dominion! Amen. Look with me at how Paul describes Jesus -
verse 16 - Jesus alone “possesses
immortality” That means that only Jesus is
able to conquer death. Immortality is His
possession and what He gives to all those who will come to Him as their
Savior. Jesus “dwells in
unapproachable light” - holy - not darkened by sin as we are.
We can’t even begin to imagine that kind of purity.
Finally, after all this maybe
Paul couldn’t’ contain himself - he exclaims, “To Him - Jesus - be honor and
eternal dominion. Amen.” We get anxious about what President Obama will do - the
mess that is our government. Our society
is changing and not for the better. What
will that mean for us? We’re anxious about
terrorist
attacks - wars in
Iraq and Afghanistan. Will Iran get the
bomb? Will Israel and Iran finally nuke
each other? We stress over the economy - what will happen
tomorrow. Will I have a job? There’s
no end to the possibilities of what we can stress out about. True? But men are not in control. God
is.
The United Nations is the not ultimate authority. God
is.
The circumstances we find ourselves in are not sovereign. God
is.
Even those who would bring us to physical death do not
have power over our lives. Who’s sovereign?
God is. God - Jesus - is
in control. Jesus is the only Sovereign -
the crowned King of kings and Lord of lords. God hasn’t abandoned us here -
left us to muddle along under our own power - to struggle along with
our plans. - to do
the best we can and somehow to survive it all. God is here - behind the scenes
of history - available to us - revealed and known in Jesus Christ. In Jesus we always have hope. We always can know God’s peace and security in
whatever circumstances we may be called to testify of Him. When
our Adversary comes after you with despair and doubt hang on to the
sovereignty of Jesus Christ. The confession of Jesus, the
coming of Jesus, the crown of Jesus, then the fourth “C” - Our Calling. Let’s say that together, “Our
calling.” Verse 17 - Paul writes, Instruct
those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix
their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly
supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct
them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to
share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for
the future -
meaning invest in eternity - in what counts for eternity - not the
worthless temporal stuff of this life that so many people are wasting
their lives pursuing - storing up
for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so
that they may take hold of that which is life indeed - real life - life with God -
lived for eternity the way God has designed life to be lived. Stay with on this.
“Instruct” is a Greek word that’s made up of two words
stuck together to make one word. “Para” is
the first word. It means “from the side
of” - right here next to someone. The
second word is one you know: “aggello”
which is related to “aggelos” which is the English word?
Angel. “Aggello” means to
announce a message. An angel is a being
that God uses to announce His message. To
let us know what God is up to. Still with me?
“To instruct” is to come alongside someone and let them
know what God is doing. God didn’t post an update on
FaceBook. He didn’t email us.
God didn’t text or twitter us. When
we were getting hammered on the battlefield of life without hope God
demonstrated His love for us by showing up in Bethlehem - by taking on
our humanity - by hanging on a cross in our place - by resurrecting
Himself - by doing what was necessary Himself to open up to us life
with Him. God involves us in “His Story.” Right? History is
the story of Jesus. Its all about what God
is doing through Jesus - for Jesus - and how each of us can be a part
of that story - knowing Jesus - being saved by Jesus - trusting Jesus -
serving Jesus. All that doesn’t change because
of adversity. Our role in His Story
doesn’t change because our occupation or status in life may change. We’re called to live alongside our communities
- our families - people in our schools and workplaces - to come
alongside them and let them know what God is doing.
That there’s so vastly more to life than the worthless
stuff we waste ourselves investing in today. What an awesome thing for us to
focus our lives on. What a tremendous
purpose that perseveres through out our lives. Each
of us has a part in the story - God’s unfolding plan of the redemption
of mankind. Hang on to that when you’re
getting hammered. Your life is worth so
much more than the stuff that you’re getting hammered with. You have a calling - a purpose in life - given
to you by God Himself. Confession, Coming, Crown,
Calling, and last - Caution. Let’s say that together, “Caution.” Verse 20: O Timothy,
guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty
chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called
“knowledge” - which some have professed and thus gone astray from the
faith. Grace be with you. Have you seen one of these
signs, “Cuidado, Piso Mojado”? How does
that translate? “Caution.
Wet Floor.”
“Guard” -
here in verse 20 means to take steps to protect - to preserve. It has the idea of depositing valuables in a
safe deposit box. Our most
valuable possession? Our
lives. Specifically the life we have which
has been given to us by God through Jesus Christ. When we looked at chapter 1 -
way back in January - in chapter 1 verse 20 - Paul writes about
Hymanaeus and Alexander - two men who had gotten caught up in their own
egos - who were serving themselves by trying to be known and respected
as teachers of God’s law. They’d gotten
caught up in what Paul describes here in chapter 6 as worldly and empty
chatter and arguments about “knowledge” - what was their own distorted
misunderstanding of the gospel. They’d
walked away from the faith. “Timothy,
don’t go there. Take steps - guard against
getting caught up in all that.” Turn to the person next to you
and tell them, “Keep your
guard up.” This last statement
in verse 21 almost seems like an afterthought. Do you see it? “Grace be
with you.” Those words are integral to
Paul’s point. Crucial to understanding
Paul’s bottom line.
To guard what has been entrusted
to us requires constant vigilance - constant attention - to our
relationship with God - a continual openness to God at work within us
and through us - depositing our lives into His care.
And that really does supply us with hope.
Because if it was up to us we would walk away from our
faith every time. If guarding our lives
was up to us we would have no hope. But,
daily giving our lives to God means living in His hope. Do you see what Paul’s getting
at here? The essential of hope. Ultimately life isn’t about what comfort we
have in our lives - or what we suffer - ultimately what matters is
whether we lived glorifying God - lived according to the purpose for
which He graciously saved us. What matters
is that God is glorified. Our lives are not about the
suffering - or the blessing. Life is not
about the people who desert us or hurt us or who hang with us. Its not about success or failure by the
world’s inconsistent standards. Life isn’t
about us. God - has chosen each of us -
before the creation of the world - to glorify Him.
That’s immense. That’s a
whole lot bigger than the day-to-day stuff we get so focused on. We live in a constant
battle to resist the pressures of our society which are designed to
cool our love for God
- to weaken our commitment - to distract us - to disable us for the
battle Paul writes “Fight the
good fight.” Timothy - regardless of the
circumstances - cling tenaciously to God - keep going forward in what
you know to be true about God - daily giving your live to Him. Daily put your hope in Him. Five “C’s” Hopefully that makes it easier to stay focused on the One “C”
who is Christ Jesus - the bottom line basis of all hope. In the real time of Merced - not
only do we need to keep our lives daily focused on Jesus - to keep our
hope placed in Him - but the world needs to see that hope lived out in
our lives. The hopeless of this world need
to know the hope that is only found in Jesus Christ. Last question:
Where’s your hope? _________________________ Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the NEW
AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968,
1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. |