Sovereign Grace Chapel, located
at 135 Annabel Lane in Beaver, West Virginia, invites you to
listen to a gospel message concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. Welcome to this morning's broadcast.
My text is just a couple verses from Paul's second letter to
Timothy, 2 Timothy chapter one, and I'll read just two verses
as I said. 2 Timothy chapter one, verses eight and nine. Here's what Paul wrote to Timothy. Be not thou therefore ashamed
of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner. but be
thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the
power of God, who hath saved us and called us with an holy
calling, not according to our works, but according to his own
purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before
the world began. Now, Paul the Apostle, by what
I'm told, and you can read some of that in the context, Paul
the Apostle, of course he's now older, but he's in prison. And
he's in prison for preaching the Christ of God. His detractors,
his opponents, his enemies had falsely accused him, and he's
locked up for preaching the gospel. And Paul, here in this second
letter, as well as the first, but here in this second letter,
he is encouraging this young gospel preacher named Timothy.
Paul's words are an encouragement, specifically in two areas. One,
they're centered on Christ and Christ's gospel. That's what
he encouraged him. Look at it. Be not thou therefore
ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. Now this is not just what
Christ said about himself, though he certainly had that testimony
about himself. He preached the gospel. He preached
who he was, but It's centered on Christ and his gospel and
the testimony, it's this, it's the message, the gospel, the
good news, the proclamation of the personal work of Christ.
And this proclamation of the personal work of Jesus Christ
is paramount. It's at the top always. It never
finds a lesser place in all the other subject of the scripture.
Christ is always preeminent. The message of him is always
preeminent. So Paul encourages the elder, the older preacher,
encourages this younger preacher. The older preacher who was locked
up in jail for preaching Christ is encouraging this younger preacher,
be not thou for ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. You see,
the testimony of our Lord is never intended to bring easy
street to those who preach Christ. That's not what it's about. Listen
to this account, the account of Luke, what Luke wrote. and
we find it recorded by Luke in what we call Acts chapter nine.
It's in the Acts of the Apostles. In Acts chapter nine, we read
these words. We begin in verse 13. Then Ananias
answered, Lord, I have heard many things of this man, how
much evil he hath done to the saints of Jerusalem. Now, here's
Ananias that's been given a message by God, and God said, I've got
a man coming your way, and I want you to meet him. And when Ananas
was told who his name was, it was Saul, the same person later
named Paul, who was writing to Timothy and 2 Timothy in our
context. So again, then Ananias answered,
Lord, I've heard by many of this man how much evil he hath done
to thy saints at Jerusalem, and here he hath authority from the
chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name. But the Lord
said unto him, go thy way, for he is a chosen vessel unto me
to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of
Israel. Now look what it says. This is what Ananias was, Informed
by God and what Ananias was supposed to also relay to put this saw
of Tarsus it got it blinded on the road to Damascus Converted
him brought him to himself look for I will show him how great
things he must suffer For my name's sake you see that God
never intended Paul to be on easy street God never intended
for Timothy to be on Easy Street. Paul knew this and was encouraging
Timothy. Be not thou for ashamed of the
testimony of our Lord. It's never, think of it, Stephen,
that Stephen in the early days of the New Testament church and
Stephen was preaching Christ to a group of people and you
know what they did? They stoned him to death. They rocked him
till he died. They pummeled him with stones
till he died. Then you had Peter himself, who
was imprisoned. Imprisoned, and listen to what
it says about that. This is what Luke says about Peter's imprisonment
in Acts chapter 12, and listen to just a few verses there. Now,
about that time, Herod the king stretched forth his hand to that
certain other church. Now, the Old Testament scriptures
says the king's heart is in the Lord's hand. He turns it whether
so ever he will. God had a purpose for this, to
vex certain of the church. And he killed James, the brother
of John, with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased
the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. Then were
the days of unleavened bread. And when he had apprehended him,
he put him in prison and delivered him to the courtians and soldiers
to keep him, intending after Easter to bring him forth to
the people. You see, again I say, God's men of old encourages us
today, young or old alike, doesn't matter, be not thou for ashamed
of the testimony of our Lord. God never intended for those
who preach the gospel, those who stand for the gospel. You
don't have to be a preacher, as we say, a pastor like I am,
just one who holds to the truth of Christ and desires to express
the glory of who he is and what he's accomplished to others.
And you'll suffer for it at times. You'll suffer for it. Timothy,
Timothy he's saying, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our
Lord, no matter the consequences. But here's the second part of
any encouragement here. From Paul to Timothy. Paul's
words of encouragement includes words about Christ's people as
well. Be not thoufore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,
and look at it, nor, nor of me. He said, don't be ashamed of
me, nor of me. And then notice what he says,
his. He's not talking about the Roman emperor. He's not talking
about Herod or Pilate. He's talking about Christ. Nor
of me, his prisoner. Yeah. Yeah, the Jews had accused
Paul. And yeah, the Roman government
came in and arrested Paul. And he had to go to Rome. And
he was locked up. But he knew he was in charge.
He knew he was doing this. he'd already been taught that
you'll suffer for my name's sake. Don't be ashamed of the testimony
of our Lord, nor me his prisoner. You see, God's people are not
ashamed of each other. No. No matter how much we may
suffer for the cause of Christ, we're not ashamed of that. We
are not to shun God's wise purpose. See it again, our text, 2 Timothy
1 verse 8. Be not thou for ashamed of the
testimony of our Lord, nor of me as prisoner, but be thou partaker
of the afflictions of the gospel. You see that Paul's saying to
Timothy, this comes along with it, Timothy. This is just what
comes along with it. But be thou partaker of the afflictions
of the gospel, how? According to the power of God.
God ordained this for you, God'll give you strength in it. Yeah,
even more. God'll be your strength in it.
God'll be there. God'll be there. So we see that
this is a solid foundation of encouragement. It's Timothy. I know Timothy was young. We
read that he was very timid, kind of shy. Little aged Paul,
he's even sitting locked up in prison. Says, Timothy,
don't be ashamed of the Testament of our Lord. Don't you back off
on this. And don't you be ashamed of me, but you be a partaker
of the afflictions of the gospel. But I now look at this. Now,
I wanna give you four things here. I want us to look at the
solid foundation on which such confidence can rest. Do you see
it? He's given him confidence to go on, Timothy. Don't give
up. Don't be ashamed of the testimony
of the Lord. Don't be ashamed of his gospel. Don't be ashamed
of me who has preached it, who is preaching it, and I'm locked
up for it. But don't you be ashamed of either one. But here's the
solid foundation. Now let's read it one more time.
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,
nor of me as prisoner, but be thou partaker of the afflictions
of the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us
and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but
according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us
in Christ Jesus before the world began. And let's me know this. All of the sufferings of God's
people, doesn't catch God by surprise. Our God is the sovereign
determiner of all things in this earth. All men are his servants
whether they know it or not or like it or not. All men are doing
his sovereign decreative purpose. whether they know it or like
it or not. But as I said, here are four things concerning this
solid foundation on which this confidence could rest in Timothy,
that could rest in me or in you. If you're preaching God's Christ,
trying to set forth the truth of the person and work of Jesus
Christ, and you're suffering for it, I don't know, maybe family,
maybe friends, maybe at work, I don't know. Wherever it's coming
from, don't you be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord. Don't
you be ashamed of God's men who preach it and who suffer for
it. And here's four solid foundation reasons why. Look at it. Here's
number one. It is God in his power who does the saving. Isn't
that it? It's God in his power who does
the saving. Who, that's speaking of God,
see? Be thou partaker of the afflictions
of the gospel according to the power of God who has saved us. Do you see that? God did the
saving. You see, this is not something
worked up by men, worked for men. It's an act of God. Our salvation's
an act of God, and let me say, it's an ongoing act of God. You
hear me? It's an ongoing act of God. Listen
to what Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, 2 Corinthians chapter
one, and just a few verses there. 2 Corinthians chapter one, Paul
wrote these words. For we would not, brethren, have
you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were
pressed out of measure, you see it? Above strength, insomuch
that we despaired even of life. Paul said, I felt like I just
couldn't take it no more. It was just, can I use the phrase? It was too much. It was too much. Do you see the words? Pressed
out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even
of life. But, do you see that next word?
Verse nine, 2 Corinthians chapter one. But we had the sentence
of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves,
but in God, which raiseth the dead. Now here's why I said this
is an ongoing salvation. Yeah, it was given us in Christ
before the world began, but it came to us, and God worked on
us in time. But look, it's ongoing. He didn't
just start it and wind us up like a clock and then send us
out there by ourselves. who delivered us, do you see
it? That's the same word as saved,
who hath saved us. Remember what I said, it is God
and his power who does the saving, you see it? Who delivered us
from so great a death, and doth deliver, that's save, same word,
and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us. Deliver us in that glorious. Hmm. So there's a solid foundation
on which Timothy could rest And there's a solid foundation on
which you could rest If people are persecuting you or you're
afflicted because of the truth of the gospel God ordained it
God's there God will take care of you. He did deliver you he
is delivering you and he will deliver God does it. It is God and his power that
does the saving. That's a solid foundation. Who
has saved us? But here's the second thought.
It is God and his power who called us. You see it? Who called us. This is what he wrote to Timothy,
wasn't it? Don't be ashamed of the testament
of our Lord. Don't you be ashamed of me as prisoner, but you be
a partaker of the affliction of the gospel according to the
power of God who has saved us. and called us with a holy calling. You see it? He called us. It
is God and his power that called us. This is exactly what Paul
was writing to the saints at Rome when he wrote these words.
And listen to what he says. These are astounding words. In
line with what I'm talking about, with our subject or the subject
that was going on between Paul and Timothy in this letter. Romans
chapter eight, verse 28. And we know that all things work
together for good. All things? Yeah, all things.
We may not understand how it does, but we know it. God's people
know it. We know that all things work
together for good to them that love God. Now, there's the caveat.
There's the caveat. I know some of these preachers
are out here telling men and women indiscriminately and universally,
God has a wonderful plan for your life. We'll tell that to
Pharaoh. Tell that to Esau, huh? No. We know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the
called. Do you see that? God who has
saved us and called us. To them who are the called according
to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he
also did predestinate, to be conformed to the image of his
son, that he, that is the son, might be the firstborn among
many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate,
then he also, there it is again, Whom he called, he justified.
Whom he justified, he glorified. What shall we then say to these
things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Who can be
against us? He that spared not his own son,
but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who
is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea,
rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of
God, who also maketh intercession for us, even while we're being
afflicted, even while we're in prison. Who shall separate us
from the love of Christ? And Paul goes through that whole
long list. Nothing shall be able to separate God's people from
the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, their Lord. So
there's two reasons. Two solid foundations on which
Timothy, or me, or you, can find confidence to not be ashamed
of the testimony of our Lord, and not be ashamed of his people.
Why? Because it's God and his power
who does the saving. And it's God and his power who
does the calling. Here's the third one. God's calling
is what? According to this, a holy calling. Do you see that? A holy calling.
Three things here. Three things. It's a holy calling
because it's a thrice holy God who does the calling. Yeah. You remember Isaiah? It's recorded
by Isaiah in Isaiah chapter six. Isaiah said, I saw the Lord.
I saw the Lord. He's high and lifted up. And
there were angels flying about the throne of God. They had six
wings. And Isaiah said, he seen two
wings that covered their face, two that covered their flue,
and two that covered their feet. What did those angels cry, though?
Holy, holy, holy. Smoke filled that temple. The
train of God, that which followed back behind God, was all filled
with glory. Why is this calling marvelous?
Because it's a holy calling. It comes from a thrice holy God.
It's holy because God does it. You see, you're not called of
men if God calls you. You're not established by me
and if God called you, if you're established and called by me
and God didn't call you, God didn't call you. Here's the second
thought of this, under this. Remember, it's a holy calling
because the thrice holy God does the calling. But here's another
reason. Now let me turn to my passage
and then I'll read it. I'll read it to you. It's a holy calling
because the holy God does it. Here's the second thing. It's
holy because it is a distinct, distinguishing call. Let me say this before I read
the truth of it in God's word. God discriminates in this call.
He doesn't call everybody with this holy calling. Not everybody
is so called. Listen to what Paul wrote to
the church at Corinth. First Corinthians chapter one,
we read these words, verse 23. But we preach Christ crucified.
What? The testimony of our Lord. There
it is. But we preach Christ crucified under the Jews, that is religious
folk. You could say that that way today. To the Jews, a stumbling
block. Under the Greeks, the wise acres,
the really wise folk. It's foolishness. But unto them
which are called, you see it? We're still right there with
the context, with the truth that's in the context. We're looking
at that solid foundation that Paul was giving to Timothy. But
unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the
power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness
of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger
than men. For ye see your calling, now
here we are, remember what I told you? It's a holy calling because
a thrice holy God is the one doing the calling. It's a holy
calling because it is a distinct, distinct, and distinguishing
call. For you see your calling, brethren,
how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not
many noble are called. You see, not many are. God's
not calling everybody. But God hath chosen the foolish
things of the world to confound the wise. God hath chosen the
weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.
And the base things of the world and the things which are despised
hath God chosen, yea, and the things which are not to bring
to naught, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no
flesh should glory in his presence. But of him, that is, but of God,
are ye in Christ Jesus. That's a holy calling. You see
it? It's the holy God who does the calling, and it's a distinct
distinguishing calling. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus,
who of God has made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification,
and redemption, that according as it is written, he that glorieth,
you wanna boast about something? Here's where to boast. Let him
boast in the Lord. The Lord's all powerful. The
Lord's holy. So again, That's this third thing,
this third solid foundation on which such confidence as Paul
was encouraging Timothy to do, and which I'm encouraging you,
which I pray others have encouraged me to do. It's God and His power
who does the saving, who has saved us. It's God and His power
who called us. He called us, and it's a holy
calling. He called us with a holy calling.
But it's a holy calling for this reason. If you're following along,
turn to Mark chapter 10. I wanna read just a couple words
to you here. Words concerning an account,
a situation that happened with our Lord Jesus Christ. And I
say it's holy, it's a holy calling for this reason, because it gets
the job done. You hear me? I said it gets the
job done. Look at Mark chapter 10. And
verse 46, for the sake of time, let's read it there. Verse 46,
Mark 10. And they came to Jericho. This
is speaking about the Lord and his disciples. And they came
to Jericho. And as he went out of Jericho with his disciples,
and a great number of people blind Bartimaeus, the son of
Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he had heard
that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say,
and he's crying out with messianic hope. Here's how I know that,
look. He cried out and said, Jesus, thou son of David. He knew the Messiah would be
the son of David. Jesus, thou son of David, have
mercy on me. Now look, now look at this. And
many, you see it? And many charged him. They were
giving him a command. And many charged him that he
should hold his peace. Be quiet, Bartimaeus. Shh, hush up, Bartimaeus. You're causing a stir. He was
crying this out. Jesus, Jesus, thou son of David,
have mercy on me. They told him to hold his peace.
But he cried out the boy a great deal. You see it? When a person
has real need, Bartimaeus had a real need. Who made him know
that need? Where did the blindness come
from? God's in control of everything. Look at it. Jesus, thou son of
David, have mercy on me. And he just kept crying it out
and crying. They kept saying shut up, and
he just kept crying it out. Look, and Jesus stood still. He was just passing through Jericho.
He's on his way out. He's leaving. As far as everybody
else knew, he was done. But he wasn't done yet. And Jesus
stood still, and look at it, and commanded, do you see that
word? And commanded him to be called. And they called the blind man.
It's a call, it's a holy calling, because it gets the job done. But here's my fourth point. This
salvation. Remember, who has saved us and
called us with a holy calling. This salvation, this calling,
this holy calling, it relies on God alone. Look at it. Who
has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according
to our works. It ain't about us and our strengths. Remember,
Paul has pressed down a measure above strength. Why? Because it proves that God's
the one doing this saving, this calling. Not according to our
works, but according to his own purpose and grace. And this ain't
no afterthought with God, which was given us in Christ before
the world began. You see, it does not depend upon
us. It is not, according to the apostle
Paul in Romans chapter nine, verses 10 through 16, it is not
according to human works. God's mercy, God's grace, God's
compassion, God's salvation, God's calling, it all depends
upon God. It all depends upon God. It does
not depend upon us. It is not according to our works.
But here's another thought. It relies not on us, but according
to His own purpose and grace. The psalmist declared in Psalm
110 concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, the high priest after
the order of Melchizedek. Without mother, without father,
without descent, no beginning of days, no end of life. The
eternal high priest of God, he said of this, concerning Christ,
thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power. That's
why God called you. Did he call you to preach the
truth about Christ? He'll be with you, even when
you have no strength. He'll be your strength. He'll
be your strength. Again, it does not depend upon
us, it's not according to our works. It does not rely on us,
but it's according to his own purpose and grace. And here's
the third and final. God's purpose and grace had no
earthly, no worldly, no human origin, which was given us in
Christ Jesus before the world began. So again, this older preacher,
this apostle was encouraging this younger man, Timothy, Don't
you be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. And don't be ashamed
of me, our Lord's prisoner. You be a partaker of the affliction
of the gospel. God brings it on you, take it from God's hands. He'll strengthen you. He'll get
you through it. He'll get you through it. And
it's all according to what? The solid foundation. The God
who works all things after the counsel of his own will. David
was asked by the heathen in his day, David, where is your God? David said, our God's in the
heavens. He hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Yeah, yeah. You see, those whom God has called
by the gospel of his dear son, they are not ashamed of the testimony
of Jesus Christ. They are not ashamed of those
who preach it. No matter what the opposition.
This is not a matter of pride or strength in them. They know
they're nothing. They know they have no strength.
They know that all God's got to do is lift his restraint,
but a little. And the evil world will come
in to consume them, but our God's in sovereign control. Isn't it? Be not thou for ashamed of the
testimony of our Lord, nor me as prisoner, but be thou partaker
of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God,
who has saved us and called us with the holy calling, not according
to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which
was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. You know
about all I can say to that is? Amen.