Message Through Word
Title: Be Faithful To The Faithful One
Bible Verse: 2 Timothy 2:8-13
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,
9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained.
10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
11 Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
12 if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
13 if we are faithless,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.
Introduction:
Thoughts and words are not enough -- our lives reveal whether we are truly kind and faithful
Do your actions measure up to your attitudes?
I. By Confessing His Gospel (v.8-9)
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,
9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained.
The Good News about Jesus Christ will save us if we firmly believe it and Faithfully follow it
(1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
1 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.
2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
If you focus on God and on what God is doing in the world rather than in your own inadequacy, you won't be ashamed the Gospel (Romans 1:16)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
If we are ashamed because of our disobedience, then we cannot witness to others, (Psalms 119:46) and we will be ashamed of our hope (Psalms 119:116)
Psalms 119:46 I will speak of your statutes before kings
and will not be put to shame,
Psalms 119:116 Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live;
do not let my hopes be dashed.
We must boldly proclaim that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God
II. By Performing His Work (v.10)
10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
If God has given us a space of time when we can freely work without hindrance, we need to embrace it as a God-given gift and fervently seek to fulfill what He has called us to do (John 9:4)
Those who realize how much they are loved are able to love much
When God changes a life, He does not take away personality characteristics, but puts them to effective use in His service
It is discouraging to continue to do right and receive no word of thanks or seeing no tangible results.
But it is a challenge to us to keep on doing good and trust God for the results. In due time, we will reap a harvest of blessing. (Galatians 6:9-10)
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
III. But Trusting His Promises(vv. 11-13)
11 Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
12 if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
13 if we are faithless,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.
God is faithful to His children, and although we may suffer great hardships here, God promised that someday we will live eternally with Him.
We are looking for Christ to return (Hebrews 9:28) and we are seeking that city that is yet to come (Hebrews 13:14). God is faithful to fulfill His promise of Eternal life
(Hebrews 10:23).
Hebrews 9:28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Hebrews 13:14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
We may be faithless at times, but Jesus is faithful to us until the end of times
(Matthew 28:20)
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Our hope is not only for the future, eternal life begins when we trust Christ and join God's family.
Conclusion:
Being faithful is putting our faith in action
"Ability + opportunity = responsibility"
If we know what our abilities/talents are and we are given the opportunity to use them, then it is our responsibility to do so.