WHAT WE NEED TODAY
II TIMOTHY 4:1-8
Introduction:
What is it that we need to do God’s will? Is it gimmicks? Do we need to do God’s work in the energy of the flesh? Here are some things that I have been thinking about and what I have seen over the years. Let us consider what we need to do.
I. TO DO AWAY WITH UNSCRIPTURAL METHODS THAT…
A. Cheapen the name of God – Romans 2:24-25, “For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. 25-For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.”
1. Obeying the Law of God shows that a Christian is faithful.
2. Breaking the Law make him look like an unbeliever.
B. Cheapen the Word of God – Jesus gives the example of the Pharisees, Matthew 15:4-6, “For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5-But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6-And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.”
C. Cheapen the power of God – 1 Corinthians 2:5, “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”
II. WE NEED TO RETURN TO GOD’S PLAN
A. The flesh must be crucified – Romans 8:13, “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Colossians 3:5, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:”
B. God must be recognized as holy – 1 Peter 1:15-16, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16-Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
C. He must be given His rightful place.
1. The Lord has make room for us – Genesis 26:22, “And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”
2. We must give Him His rightful place in our lives.
III. THE WORD OF GOD MUST BE…
A. Read and Studied – 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
B. Preached – 2 Timothy 4:2, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
C. Practiced – 2 Timothy 2:20-21, “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
1. Vessels of dishonor – unclean.
2. Vessels of honour – purged.
D. Promoted – by witnessing; and visitation must become an every day practice.
A. Not as a formality as one would repeat a ritual – Mark 12:38-40, “And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, 39And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: 40Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.”
B. It must become a part of our life as common as talking with our earthly father – 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.”
A. So that we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh – Galatians 5:16, ” This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
B. In order to get along with one another – Galatians 5:25-26, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”
C. In order to glorify our Lord – Romans 15:6, “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”