Take Hold of Usefulness - 2 Timothy 2:1-26 - October 22, 2006

Sunday School Lesson – Take Hold of Usefulness – October 22, 2006

This is lesson four (4) in our series of study “Equipped for Real Life.”

All of us want to be useful and serve our LORD. It is important for us to let the LORD lead us to the work HE wants us to do. This can be very difficult for those who are task oriented because it may mean waiting on the LORD. There is work that is obvious and needs to be accomplished. If the church has a function there is preparation, implementation and clean-up. We volunteer to assume a role in this effort, which is good. Helps is a gift of the spirit.

But regardless of our gift, we must not neglect building a loving intimate relationship with our LORD. In other words, we must not let our doing take the place of spending time with our LORD.

This lesson is a message to both teachers of the scripture, as well as the hearers.

Our background scripture is 2 Timothy 2:1-26.

Our focus scripture is 2 Timothy 2: 1-2, 14-26.

Let’s read 2 Timothy 2:1-2:

1 You, therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

When we take hold of usefulness, we must also consider training others to help us. Often some of us would just rather do it ourselves. Then we know it will be done exactly like we want it done. But doing it ourselves limits what can be accomplished because getting others involved multiplies the effort. Doing tasks ourselves can result in great frustration for us.

One of the key points of being more useful is to train or involve others to help us. When we invest in others to help us, we have multiplied our effort many fold. When we involve or train others we are responsible to GOD. We must seek the guidance of our LORD in whatever we do and in involving and training others.

Let’s read 2 Timothy 2:14-19:
An Approved Worker
14 Remind them of these things, charging them before God[2] Other mss read before the Lord not to fight about words; this is in no way profitable and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent, empty speech, for this will produce an even greater measure of godlessness. 17 And their word will spread like gangrene, among whom are Hymenaeus (high-meh-NEE-uhs) and Philetus (fih-LEE-tuhs). 18 They have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and are overturning the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, having this inscription: The Lord knows those who are His,[3] Nm 16:5 and Everyone who names the name of the Lord must turn away from unrighteousness.[4]

There are two (2) kinds of workers (1) Approved (2) Not Approved.

We teachers must be very careful that we are not teaching for the wrong reason. A worker must also not work for the wrong reason. The wrong reason is to do a task for the approval of man. Our motivation is to work as unto the LORD. GOD is the ONE to whom we are accountable and HE knows our true motivation for the work we do. Empty speech leads to confusion and destruction.

A teacher’s responsibility is to correctly teach the truth. A teacher must never teach to please those he teaches to gain the approval of man. The authority for what a teacher teaches is the scripture, confirmed by the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT. If a person is uncomfortable with the teaching they are hearing. They should go to the scripture to test what you are hearing. If the scripture does not confirm what you are hearing, then you are encountering false doctrine being taught.

Paul tells Timothy to remind his congregation that fighting about words only turns a person’s focus away from the gospel. When we fight over words, the goal of the argument becomes to win the argument and not to seek the truth. So focus on the truth and not on empty words.

“Be diligent” is an interesting statement. It means to put all of your effort in gaining whatever you want to obtain.

“Approved” is a word used for testing metals to ensure they are fit for service.

Whatever we do, the LORD is the ONE WHO knows our hearts and the truth. HE wants us to present the truth. We are to strive to seek and know the truth of HIS WORD, the Gospel of CHRIST and to present both without compromise. Sometimes the truth is not pleasant but never-the-less we are to always present the truth.

In verse 16, the word “produce” is used. Produce relates to progress. It carries the meaning of cutting down or removing something that prevents progress. When irreverent, empty words are used, they are a barrier to Godliness. They are like gangrene. Gangrene is a disease that causes the tissue to die, cuts off the blood supply to the infected area and spreads to others parts of the body unless stopped. Godlessness is like gangrene. It only gets worse and spreads to other people, unless stopped. So it is vital that you deal with this issue, quickly.

Then Paul refers again to Hymenaeus, who was mentioned in 1Timothy 1:20 and Philetus. This is the first and only mention of Philetus. Paul uses these two (2) as examples of what can happen if you do not deal with this problem.

In verse 18, Paul tells us how they distorted the truth. They were saying the resurrection had already occurred. If the resurrection had already occurred, then why live a Godly life?

In that day there were the Gnostics who considered anything material or physical as being evil. This led to two (2) approaches.

1. Asceticism – depriving oneself because the physical body is evil.

2. Do whatever you want to do because the body doesn’t matter since you have already been resurrected spiritually.

This doctrine regarding resurrection resulted in Christians being confused and compromising their faith and lifestyle toward Godly living.

In verse 19, Paul talks about GOD’S solid foundation with this inscription, “The LORD knows those who are HIS.” When a building was built it carried a seal of genuineness and ownership. The architect would place his mark on the building to show he was responsible for the building. The building could also carry a seal to tell the purpose of the building.

GOD’S building is the church. It is the living church and HE has placed HIS seal upon each Christian and HIS desire is for us to become more Godly and to come closer to HIM. GOD knows HIS true children and we are sealed with the HOLY SPIRIT.

Let’s read 2 Timothy 2:20-21:

Lv 24:11, 16; Nm 16:26–27; Jos 23:7; Ps 6:9; 33:15; Pr 3:7; Isaiah 26:13; 52:11; Jr 20:9 20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver bowls, but also those of wood and earthenware, some for special[5] Or honorable use, some for ordinary. 21 So if anyone purifies himself from these things, he will be a special[6] Or an honorable instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

Paul refers to items in a house which are used to serve guests. Some are for special use and others for ordinary use. Again, Paul refers to these items to distinguish between true and false teachers in the church. Timothy is the true teacher and Hymenaeus and Philetus are not true teachers.

In a house there are items for two (2) purposes. Paul uses three (3) conditions for serving the LORD:
1. We are set apart or we are sanctified for a holy purpose to serve the LORD.
2. Since we have been called or set apart we have choices. Since we are Holy we must choose that which is pure.
3. Understanding that we have been set apart and when we make choices that are pure then we are prepared to serve our LORD at the moment HE calls us into action.

How often do we encounter a situation and we have not chosen to act like a Christian should act or respond. Then there is an opportunity to witness to a person we have encountered but possibly have been rude or cut short. It is very difficult to tell them about the love of CHRIST, when we have not let them see CHRIST in us. Wow! This hurts me as I write this because it has happened to me.

We as Christians are to flee from the things that are not pure. GOD never violates our right to choose. We decide whether or not we will commit our lives to GOD and serve HIM. Paul tells us along with Pastor Timothy, when we dedicate our lives to HIM, we will be used as a special instrument in GOD’S symphony.

Recently I wrote a brief article for our Senior Scoop. I was listening to a beautiful symphony orchestra playing a piece. I was led to think about each instrument in the symphony. I could hear each instrument. Some of the instruments sounded as if they were making a limited, consistent sound and I thought how boring. Then the thought came to me to listen to the complete symphony not just the individual instruments. When I listened to all the instruments it was beautiful, inspiring music. Then the thought came to me, often our lives may seem boring and monotonous but when we follow the direction of our LORD, HE is using our lives according to HIS plan to create a masterpiece. Our part is to be obedient to HIM.

Let’s read 2 Timothy 2:22-26:

22 Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they breed quarrels. 24 The Lord’s slave must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach,[7] Or everyone, skillful in teaching and patient, 25 instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance to know the truth. 26 Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil’s trap, having been captured by him to do his will.

Paul tells Timothy to flee from youthful passions. We likely think of lust but the word “passions” carries a broader definition which includes any cravings or passionate desires. Such passion is not necessarily wrong; it just needs to be properly directed. It is easy to be misdirected by the lure of many things but as a Christian, we are to use our drives toward right living and purity. We are not to compromise our lives.

Paul tells Timothy if he is to keep himself pure, he is to flee from youthful passions. Youthful passions can be a desire for recognition, desire to control, to obtain material things and includes the desire to satisfy the flesh – sex, food and pleasure.

Paul tells Timothy to pursue – righteousness, faith, love and peace.

Then Paul tells Timothy to reject foolish and ignorant disputes.

Timothy is to keep in mind that he is a salve of the LORD. He has been bought with a price and he is to serve his MASTER.

This message is just as fresh for us today as the day Paul wrote it to Timothy. Satan uses false doctrine to enslave and confuse.

The LORD’S slave knows it is GOD and only GOD WHO can bring salvation to an individual. It is not up to us to judge an individual and assume they are hopeless. We are to present the truth and GOD can reveal the truth to that person. That person can repent, which is to turn around and go in the opposite direction. Repentance is a gift from GOD.

Satan can use youthful energy to lure them away from the truth and explore their freedom of expression and thought. Youth may consider it mundane to agree with others around them. Often youth want to explore new ideas and concepts, which is good but also can result with them being misled. This is one danger when we explore new and un-chartered territory. We need to be on a firm spiritual foundation if we explore other territory or else there are traps that can ensnare us and lead to destruction.

Satan can cloud a person’s mind. It is GOD WHO will bring understanding and clear a mind to comprehend the truth and repent. Never forfeit the battle for a person’s eternal salvation based upon our human ability. GOD is sovereign and HIS hand reaches far enough to save the vilest sinners.

Our desire is to be useful to our LORD. However, let HIM lead us to the tasks HE chooses for us and let HIM be our guide though un-chartered territory. HE will give us the balance in our lives to manage the tasks. When HE leads us, HE leads us toward Godliness and a deeper relationship with HIM.