Intended on beginning. The book
of Hebrews. Tonight, but I just couldn't
get away from this passage of scripture. It kept rolling over
in my mind and I thought I should preach from this passage of scripture.
I've entitled this message instructions. For the man of God. Beginning in verse 11. The first
Timothy chapter six, but thou. O man of God, flee these things and follow or pursue after righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life where
unto thou art also called and has professed a good profession
before many witnesses. Paul is writing to Timothy and
he says thou old man of God. Now who is a man of God? Is it just Timothy? Is it just
preachers or people who hold special positions and we call
them men of God? No, this is every believer. Every believer. Man and woman
is a man or woman of God. I just read that passage of Scripture
from 1 John chapter 4 where he said ye are of God. little children. Every believer
is of God. Now to be of God speaks of origin,
it speaks of possession, and it speaks of relationship. Every
believer is of God. I come from God. That's where
I'm from. Where you from? I come from Him. He is my origin, the origin of
my salvation. I trace totally to Him. It's not anything that I've done. It's His work in me. That's the
origin of my salvation. Don't you find that to be true?
Every man and woman of God finds this to be true. The origin of
their salvation is the Lord God Himself. Salvation is of the
Lord. That's so beautiful, and it's
so simple, and it's so true. My origin is of the Lord. I love that passage of scripture
where the Lord said, he that's of God, heareth God's words. You therefore hear them not because
you're not of God. You see, not everybody's of God,
but every believer is of God. It speaks of origin. It speaks
of possession. I'm his. I'm his, I belong to
him. I am my beloved's and he's mine
too. But it speaks of possession and
it speaks of relationship. He's my father. I'm his son. And that's most
real. He truly is my heavenly father. Isn't it a blessing a high and
heavenly calling to be men and women of God as opposed to men
and women of this world. I'm so thankful. I know the Lord's
made the difference there. The reason I'm a man of God,
the reason you're a man or a woman of God is because God has done
something for you. You know that, don't you? Turn
with me to Psalm 17 for just a moment. David says. In verse 13, arise,
O Lord, Psalm 17, verse 13. Arise, O Lord. Disappointing. Cast him down. Deliver my soul
from the wicked, which is thy sword, from men which are thy
hand, O Lord, for men of the world. Which have their portion. In this life. And whose belly
thou fillest with thy head treasures. They're full of children. They
leave the rest of their substance to their babes. They have a maid.
They're prosperous in this world. But as for me, I will behold
thy face in righteousness. I'll be satisfied when I awake
in thy likeness. Now the men of the world have
their portion in this life. Go for the gusto if that's all
you got. Because that's all you got. Oh, to be delivered from
being a man of this world and to be a man or woman of God. Now in this passage of scripture,
the man of God is given some very specific instructions. He
is told to flee from some things. Now you flee from that, which
you're afraid of. You retreat. You run scared. You feel like you can't win in
a hand-to-hand battle, so you flee, you run away. If you believe
you could defeat it in a fight, you would stay in your ground,
but you fear you would lose the battle, so you flee. That's what
you do when you flee, when you think you can't win. You know
you'll get beat. And we're told to follow some
things in this passage of scripture. Not only to flee from some things,
but to follow some things. The word is pursue. It's what
we press for. It's what we make our aim and
our ambition. We press. Paul said, I press. That's the way the word is used.
I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of
God in Christ Jesus. And then we're called upon to
fight. He said, fight the good fight of faith, not be passive,
but not to just stay back, but to fight. There's a conflict
we're called upon to fight, and we're called upon to fight this
battle. Flee, follow, and fight. But thou, O man of God, flee
these things. Run from them, because if you
engage in a hand-to-hand battle with them, you'll lose. So the
only thing to do is run scared. Flee these things. Now there's
a number of things we're called upon to flee in the Holy Scripture. Run from it. 1 Corinthians 1,
or 1 Corinthians 6, 18 says flee fornication. Flee from it. Sexual sin. And he's talking about, well,
spiritual fornication. Well, yeah, but the main reference
is physical. He's saying run from that. Run
from it. Because if you try to do battle
with it, you'll lose. Run from fornication. Run from
sexual sin. And then we read in 1 Corinthians
10, verse 14, to flee from idolatry. These are things that we can't
do battle with them. If you allow idolatry, it'll
beat you. It will. You can't coexist with
idolatry. The only thing to do is flee
from it, run from it, all false ideas of God. Now, in the context,
he's speaking of evil doctrine and covetousness. He says flee
from it. You know, this thing of fleeing,
it's a good thing to do. You know, the Lord teaches us
to pray. When we pray, Lord, lead us not into temptation. You see, we realize that if we're
even faced with the temptation, we'll lose. Have you ever licked
temptation? Come on, have you ever, I'm gonna
stand before that temptation, I'm gonna stand strong. You ever
done it? No, I don't believe it. I don't believe it. The only
thing to do is run from it. Don't stand up and try to battle
it, run from it, flee. And in the context, he's talking
about covetousness and evil doctrine. Look in 1 Timothy chapter six. Beginning in verse three, if
any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words, even
the words of our Lord Jesus Christ into the doctrine, which is according
to godliness. He's proud knowing nothing. but doting about questions and
strifes of words, where have cometh envy, strife, railings,
evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute
of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness. Now from such
withdraw thyself." Stay away from them. Stay away from them.
Any kind of false doctrine, stay away from it. It'll hurt you.
It'll hurt you. It's poison. Stay away from it. He says in verse six, but godliness
with contentment, is great gain. For we brought nothing into this
world, and it's certain we can carry nothing out. And having
food and raiment, let us be there with content." You know, isn't
it wonderful to be thankful that you've got clothes, you've got
something to eat, and you're just satisfied? Isn't that a
wonderful place to be? Having food and raiment. Now, I think the first application
of that, Christ took my food. Christ is my raiment. And you
know, I'm plumb satisfied with that. I don't need anything else. And I'm grateful for the clothes
of God. I'm grateful for all the blessings
of God. I love what that one woman said
to John Bunyan. She sat down to eat with him.
And she said they had bread and water. That's all they had to
eat. Bread and water. And she said, Christ and all
this too. Isn't that wonderful? having food and raiment, be satisfied. But they that will be rich, that's
their desire. I want more of this world. It's not just talking about rich
and money. It's desiring this world. They that will be rich. That's their goal. That's their
objective. They fall into temptation and
a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown
men in destruction and perdition for the love of money is the
root of all evil. Write her down. That's what the
Word of God says. Which while some coveted after,
They have erred from the faith and they've pierced themselves
through with many sorrows, but thou old man of God, flee these
things, flee these things of covetousness. Now what's the
cure for covetousness? Being content with Christ. It
really is that simple. You know, when I'm just satisfied
to simply be found in Christ, I don't, I don't desire a thing.
I'm just plumb happy to be found in Him. And when I really believe
that, anything you throw out for me, it's vanity, it's nothing.
You don't covet something if you've already got everything.
Now in Christ, I have all things. Christ is all. Does the scripture
say that? Christ is all. I have all God requires. I have
all that God is. I have all that I need. I have
all things. There's nothing to covet. You
know, the Lord said, beware and take heed of covetousness. For
a man's life doesn't consist in the abundance of things he
possesses. That stuff doesn't even count. Isn't it wonderful
to simply be satisfied with the Lord Jesus Christ? Godliness
with contentment is great gain. It is, isn't it? It's great gain. Now thou, O man of God, flee
these things, these things of covetousness, these things of
false doctrine. And what does he say next in
our text? 1 Timothy chapter 6. But thou,
O man of God, flee these things and follow. Now, if all our life
consisted in fleeing, if all we were doing was running from
stuff, it'd be kind of miserable life, wouldn't it? I mean, always
on the run, trying to avoid this and trying to avoid that. I don't
want a life where all I'm doing is fleeing things. He says, thou,
O man of God, flee these things. Yes, but he says, follow. Follow. Make this your pursuit. Make
this your passion. follow these things. Now, there are some things that
we're called upon to pursue that would flee away from us if we
don't pursue them. We're to make this our aim, our
purpose, our ambition, and you know, anything you want, you
pursue, don't you? Anything you really want, anything
you really desire, you pursue it. And this is even true in
worldly things. You know, if anybody wants to
be a great musician, they practice, practice, practice. And if they're
unwilling to practice, it's not really that much of a desire,
is it? If someone wants to be a great athlete, oh, we love
sports, but if you want to be a great athlete, you're going
to give yourself to practice, practice, practice. It'll become
a passion with you. It'll become an obsession with
you. That's what happens when you pursue something. It becomes
an obsession. Now he's saying pursue. Pursue, follow, that's what the
word means. Follow, pursue after these things. Now there's several
things in the scripture we're told to pursue. Paul said, I
press, I pursue toward the mark of the prize of the high calling
of God in Christ Jesus. Listen to this one. Romans chapter
12 verse 13 says, be given or pursue hospitality. Pursue hospitality. Romans chapter 14 verse 19 says,
follow after the things which make for peace, pursue that which
makes for peace, not fighting and conflict, but peace. First
Corinthians 14 one says, follow after charity, pursue love, pursue
love to God. We're going to talk about that
more in a moment. First Thessalonians 5 15 says, ever follow or pursue
that which is good. Hebrews 12, 14 says, follow peace
with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Pursue, make this your pursuit. Now look at the things that he
actually mentions in our text. He mentioned six things that
the man of God is to pursue. Now he says in verse 11, thou,
O man of God, flee these things and follow or pursue after righteousness. Pursue. righteousness. Now what's this all about? How
do you go about pursuing righteousness? I know the answer to that question.
There's only one righteousness. Do you believe that? The righteousness
of the Lord Jesus Christ. And our Lord said, seek ye first
the kingdom of God and what? His righteousness. Now, here's
my pursuit. I want to be found in the Lord
Jesus Christ. I want to have only His righteousness. I don't want to dare stand before
God on my own in any way. This is my pursuit. This is my
passion. I want to be found in Christ.
I don't want to be found any other way. Paul said, oh, that
I may win Christ and be found in Him. Not having my own righteousness,
which is of the law, but that which is through the faithfulness
of Christ. the righteousness which is of God by faith now
I want yeah I love that hymn we sing on Christ the solid rock
I stand and I love this verse when he shall come with trumpet
sound Oh, may I then in him be found dressed in his righteousness
alone, faultless to stand before God's throne, pursue after righteousness. I don't, I, do you want to be
found in your works in any way? You know, the scripture says
in Hebrews chapter four, labor to enter into his rest. Labor
to rest. That almost doesn't make sense,
does it? But it's so. Labor to rest. Rest in the Lord Jesus
Christ. Pursue after righteousness. And
oh, I hope I don't have to convince anybody here. There's only one
righteousness. You don't have any righteousness
of your own. You know why there's no point in you pursuing personal
righteousness? Because there's no such thing.
There is no such thing. It's a non-entity. Pursue to
be found in him. He says, follow, pursue after
righteousness. Next he says, pursue after godliness. Godliness, pursue after godliness. Now this word godliness is literally
well devout. It's made of two words that means
well devout. Devout. It's devotion to God. It's devotion to Christ. Devotion. Devotion. Pursue after
godliness. Pursue after devotion. Now what
is devotion? What is meant by devout or devotion? Well, let's
say you have a sick child and that child is very sick and there
are two women looking over that child and doing whatever they
can to help that child and they're going back and forth doing everything
they can to serve that child. At five o'clock, one of the women
leaves. Why? Her time is up. She's put in her time. She's
put in her eight hours, it's time to go home. But there's
another woman who stays right by that child's side. And this
woman would die in that child's place if she could. This woman
loves that child. This woman is totally devoted
to that child. Who is it? It's her mom. Devotion. I've said this many times before,
but it bears saying again. The gospel of Christ, if true, it's all important. If false,
it's of no importance. The one thing it cannot be is
moderately important. Pursue devotion. Don't you want to be somebody
who's devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ? Absolutely devoted. Pursue godliness. And then he says thirdly, pursue
faith. Pursue faith. I think that's
kind of an interesting concept. Pursue faith. Well, how do you
go about pursuing faith? Well, by believing. by believing. Well, what is faith? I love this
definition of faith that the Bible gives. Obviously, it's
the best definition because it's the definition the Bible gives.
Faith, Hebrews 11.1, faith is the substance of things hoped
for. Now, I'm hoping for something. I'm hoping that when I stand
before God, I'm going to be accepted. I'm hoping that God loves me
right now. I'm hoping that I'm complete in the Lord Jesus Christ.
I'm hoping that when I stand before God on Judgment Day, everything's
going to be fine with me. I'm hoping that and I'm hoping
that everything between now and then is going to work together
for my good and His glory. What's the substance of all that?
Well, Christ Jesus. That's what faith believes. It's
the evidence of things not seen. Now, you can't see by looking
at me that I'm perfect in Christ Jesus. I can't see by looking
within my heart that I'm perfect in Christ Jesus. What's the evidence
that you are then? Faith. I believe God. I believe is gospel. And you
know what I want to do? I want to be somebody, and this
is something I pray about every day. Lord, give me the grace
to walk by faith and not by sight. Now it scares me when I pray
that prayer because I think, well, what's he going to knock
out from under me? But whatever needs to be knocked out, and I'm scared
when I say this, but I want whatever needs to be knocked out, I want
the Lord to knock it out. And I don't want to get knocked
down, but I want to trust Christ only. Whatever that means, I
want to walk by faith and not by sight. I want to live off
the faith of the Son of God. I want to walk through this world
by faith. Pursue faith. Don't you want
to be men and women of faith? I want to be somebody who believes
God. believes God. Let me ask you this. Isn't the
Lord Jesus Christ worthy of your complete trust? Why is it we
worry? Why is it we become stressed?
It's because at that time we're not really believing Him. Pursue
faith. Faith in the Son of God. Let's
go on reading. He says in verse 11, Let thou,
O man of God, flee these things, and pursue after righteousness,
godliness, faith." Love! Love. Pursue. Pursue love. I like what Paul said in 1 Corinthians
14. Make love your aim. Now, you
want to have something to be ambitious about? Be ambitious
about love. Love to God. Love to His people. Being a servant to them. Love
to your wife. Love to your husband. Love to
your children. Love to people that are hard
to love. Love. Make that your aim. Make that
your goal. You know, by this our Lord said, shall all men
know you're my disciples, if you have love one to another. Make love your aim. And then he says, fifthly, in
this verse of scripture, follow after patience. Pursue patience. Surely we all need more of this.
What is patience? What's the fruit of faith? When you're patient, that means
you're not worried. You're not stressed. I was so
stressed this afternoon. I was stressing about something
and I. got to read my notes, and I thought,
how are you going to preach on patience when you don't know
much about it? Well, I don't know, but I know
this. When the Lord gives me grace
to see, here's when you're patient. You're patient when you realize
you have absolutely no control. And you really believe that He
has all control. That when you have no control,
and he has all control, and you already know what the outcome
is. Kind of like watching a tape ball game where you've already
know the outcome. I don't really get anything out of watching
them like that, but I tell you what, I'm patient. If I know UK's gonna
win, I'm watching the tape, I'm watching the replay, well, I
already know the outcome. I'm not gonna get stressed about
it. You're patient when you know you have no control, he has all
control, and the outcome is already determined. in all things, my
salvation and everything that's going to happen, it's going to
happen. Is that fatalism? No. No. You know, here's fatalism. Well, nothing I can do about
it. If it's going to happen, there's
nothing I can do about it. I just got to bear it and get
through it. That's fatalism. Faith is believing
that whatever he does is best, is right. It's glorious, whatever
he does, even if it's painful. Give thanks in all things for
this. Even this thing you're having a hard time giving thanks
for. It's the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
And when you really believe that everything that happens to you
is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you, it's kind
of easy to be patient, isn't it? May God give us grace to
do that. Patience, it's the fruit of faith. And you think of these scriptures.
Our Lord said, in your patience, possess ye your souls. He said
in Hebrews 12 too, let us run with patience the race that is
set before us looking unto Jesus the author and the finisher of
our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the
cross despising the shame and is set down at the right hand
of God so pursue patience old man of God and then he says pursue
meekness That's an attitude toward God.
Meekness. And it accepts his providence
as best. Whatever he does with me is best. And it's because he does it.
Everything that comes my way, it's good. It's good because
it came from him. Even if it's painful, I trust
him. He's too wise to err. He's too
kind to be cruel and whatever He sends my way is best and by
His grace I bow. That's what meekness is. It's
accompanied with humility. What is humility? It's a just
estimate of yourself. It's a just estimate of yourself. I'm nothing and I don't want
to say I want to say this really believing it. I'm nothing but
a sinner saved by grace. That's it. That's my highest
calling. A sinner saved by grace. And
I'm not saying that proudly as far as the sinner part, but I
sure am thankful for the grace part. I'm a sinner saved by grace. And you know, when you realize
that that's what you are, it takes all the pressure off. I
mean, if you're already down in the bottom, you're not going
to fall. But you're up on the top believing that too. Isn't
that amazing? You're both down on the bottom
and you're up on the top believing that. That's meekness. You know,
the Lord said, blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the
earth. This is a characteristic of all
God's children. They're meek. Pursue after. Now,
the reason we pursue after it, is because we see such pride
in our own wretched hearts and we see such self-exalting in
our own wretched hearts and we want to get rid of it and we
want to pursue after meekness. Now these are wonderful things
to pursue, aren't they? Pursue, follow after, righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Now look what he says
in verse 12. He says, fight the good fight of faith. Now here's the one good fight,
faith. Any other kind of fight is not
a good fight. I mean, you've had fights with your family members
and what good does it do? It just makes you miserable.
It makes them miserable. Fights in the home, men and women
fighting, kids fighting. Getting in altercations with
people in the workplace, on the job where there's just conflict
and fights, it makes you miserable. It makes your stomach hurt to
have to deal with conflict and fights. Even when nothing is
worse than when believers get in arguments or fights with one
another. I mean, it's so wretched. It's so contrary to the grace
of God. Fights. I mean, is there a good
fight? There's one good fight. He said,
fight the good fight of faith. You know, Paul said over in 2
Timothy chapter 4, he said, I fought a good fight. Well, how'd you
do that, Paul? He says, I finished my course.
I've kept the faith. Now, here's a good fight. Now,
when you fight, there's somebody you're battling or there's something
you're battling. He says, fight the good fight of faith. What
are we battling in fighting this good fight of faith? Because
this is a good fight. It's a healthy fight. Well, first of all, I'm battling myself. I'm battling my flesh. Paul said
in Galatians chapter 5 verse 17, for the flesh lusts against
the spirit and the spirit lusts against the flesh. And these
two are contrary one to the other so that you can't do the things
you would. And don't you find you can't do what you want to
do. I would never sin again. And the Lord knows whether I'm
being sincere when I say that. I'm being as sincere as I would
never sin again. Now, how do I do in that battle? You know, I got a letter from
somebody just last night, and it was where they'd heard a message
where I said a believer is somebody that cannot not sin. They cannot not sin. And they
wrote, said, what do you mean by that? I thought, well, I don't
know how to explain that one. I mean, it's just me. I mean, Paul said, I find that
when I would do good, evil is present with me. He said, I delight
in the law of God after the inward man, but I see another law warring
in my members, bringing me into captivity to the law of sin,
which is in my members, that the will's present with me. But
how to perform it? Sometimes I mess up. No, that's
not what he said, is it? He said, how to perform that which is
good, I find not. The flesh. And do I just give? No, I don't give into the flesh.
I'm called upon every day to crucify and mortify and put to
death the flesh. That's a battle. That's a battle.
And it's not a battle that you feel like you win because you
stick it one day and it wakes up stronger the next. And it's
something every believer is called upon to fight. The flesh. The
world. This world that hates our God.
That doesn't mean I'm an enemy of people. I want them to be
saved and come to a knowledge of Christ. But this world would
drag me down with them, wouldn't it? This world. Being around. I'm so thankful. Now here's one
thing I'm mighty thankful for. I'm thankful I'm a pastor. That
I don't have to be around worldly people the way you all do. I
mean, I've got it made in that sense. I'm thankful I don't have
to be exposed to it because when I'm around people like that,
I get so depressed. I get so distraught. But, well,
I'm bringing you down. Be a good example to them. But I understand it's just this
world, the devil. who walks about as a roaring
lion, seeking whom he may devour." Now, we've got an enemy, don't
we? We've got ourselves, we've got
the world, we've got the devil. What an enemy that is that we're
called upon to fight. Fight the good fight of faith. Well, what is a good fight? Well,
turn over to 2 Timothy 2, and let me show you what a good fight
is. He says in verse 3, thou therefore
endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. And no man that
warth entangles himself with the affairs of this life that
he may please him who hath chosen to be a soldier. And if a man
also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned except he strive
lawfully. Now this fight is to be battled
according to the Word of God. That's what he means. This fight
that we're called on to fight, this battle, it's to be according
to the Word of God, following the rules of the Word of God.
And the right weapons are to be used in this fight. Let's
look at a couple of scriptures on this. Turn to 2 Corinthians
chapter 10. Verse 3, for though we walk in the flesh,
2 Corinthians 10, verse 3, for though we walk in the flesh,
we don't war after the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare
are not carnal, they're not fleshly, but they're mighty through God
to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations, and
every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge
of God and brings into captivity every thought to the obedience
of Christ. Now before I go on talking about
this fight, Remember this, any thought you have that is somehow
contrary to the obedience of Jesus Christ being your righteousness
before God, get rid of it. We're to bring every thought
into captivity to the obedience of Christ. And you know, that
takes all the pressure off right there. You see, this battle's
already won because Christ, His obedience is by righteousness
before God. And any thought that is contrary
to that is a wrong thought. Stab it. Beat it down. It's wrong. Turn to Ephesians 6. You're familiar with this passage
of Scripture where Paul says in verse 10, finally, my brethren,
be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God
that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore, take
unto you the whole armor of God. that you may be able to withstand
in the evil day, and having done all to stand, stand therefore,
having your loins gird about with truth." Now here is the
first piece of armor. The truth. The truth. The truth of the gospel. The
truth of God. The truth of His word. This is
what my underwear is. This is what holds me together.
The truth And what do you say next? And having on the breastplate
of righteousness. Now this is a, this is not human
righteousness. This is Christ's righteousness.
And what a breastplate that is. And have your feet shod with
the preparation or the foundation of the gospel of peace. We walk
in the gospel. My walk in this world is looking
to the Lord Jesus Christ. As you've received Christ Jesus,
the Lord, so walk in him. Had to receive him. as an empty-handed
sinner. Walk in Him just like that. Your
feet shod in the preparation of the foundation of the gospel
of peace. You know, that's what gives me
peace. Christ. He is my peace before God. Above
all, he says in verse 16, taking the shield of faith, wherewith
ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked,
looking to Christ. It's not quenching them, but
looking to Christ. That's what quenching is. Looking
to Christ. and take the helmet of salvation
and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching there
into with all perseverance and supplication for all saints and
pray for me that utterance may be given unto me that I may open
my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel for
which I'm an ambassador in bonds that there in I may speak boldly
as I ought to speak. Oh, the weapons that the Lord
has given us put on. May God give us grace to do that.
Put on the whole armor of God. Now. The good fight is seen mainly
in this turn back to our text in first Timothy chapter six. He says, fight the good fight
of faith. And what's he say next? Lay hold. Grab on to, lay hold. Hold tightly, embrace eternal
life. Now what's eternal life? Jesus Christ the Lord is eternal
life. He's my life before God. And
I'm going to hold on to His feet. And I'm not going to let go.
By the grace of God, I'm not going to let go. Lay hold. upon eternal life. And look at
this encouragement he gives us. And he's telling us about all
these things we need to do. We need to flee. We need to follow. We need to fight. Laying hold
on eternal life. And look what he says next. He
says, fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life,
whereunto thou art also called. You know what that means? God called you to do this, and
He's going to give you the grace to do whatever He's called you
to do. You don't really need to worry.
He's going to give you the grace to do everything He's called
you to do. You say, I'm weak. I know you
are, but He's strong. I can't do it, but He can. He
can. And He'll give you the grace
to do everything He requires of you. Do you believe that?
He surely will. He surely will. He says, Lay
hold upon eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast
professed a good profession before many witnesses. Now, He says
to Timothy, you've professed a good profession. Now, that
word professed is confessed. You've confessed a good confession
before many witnesses. Well, what is a confession? Well,
when I confess something, I plead guilty. I'm guilty. I'm guilty of believing it. I'm
guilty of believing the gospel. I plead guilty. No matter what
it costs, I plead guilty. When you confess, you speak freely. This is the gospel I believe.
This is the Christ I believe. And he says, you've confessed
a good confession before many witnesses. Now, how does somebody
go about confessing Christ? Well, the first way you confess
Christ is by believer's baptism. You know that. That's my public
confession of Christ. I confess before the world that
my salvation is found in his life, death, burial, and resurrection. I confess him by identification
with his people. Birds of a feather flock together,
don't they? I want to throw my lot in with the people of God.
I want to be identified with Him. I want my lot to be cast
with Him. I want to be with Him. Good times,
bad times, I want to be identified with Him. I confess Christ by my life. You can tell whether Christ is
all of me by the way I live. You know who knows whether I
really love the Lord Jesus Christ? The people that live with me.
They're the ones who know. I can put on a front for anybody,
but the people who see me daily, they're the ones who know. And
I confess Christ by my mouth. Let the redeemed of the Lord
say so. That's a good confession. Flee these things. Pursue these
things. and fight the good fight of faith. Let's pray together.