WEBVTT 00:00:04.840 --> 00:00:09.540 2nd Timothy 1 is where we are going to be today. 00:00:09.980 --> 00:00:12.550 We're starting a new series together called Outlasters. 00:00:14.440 --> 00:00:21.730 The theme and central thought of "outlasters" gives this implication for us as people: there is something to outlast. 00:00:23.320 --> 00:00:30.200 And sometimes when you look at adversity I think as people we began that journey by asking ourselves, "Do we have what it takes? 00:00:30.220 --> 00:00:31.020 Can I do this? 00:00:31.140 --> 00:00:38.280 How does I can even outlast?" And when we talk about outlasting as a body of believers, knowing that God has called 00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:45.380 us to be outlasters, what we look to outlast is the influence of this world on our lives and 00:00:45.380 --> 00:00:46.120 standing. 00:00:46.420 --> 00:00:47.940 What we want to do is stand for Christ. 00:00:50.100 --> 00:00:57.300 When we as believers are called to take a stand for Jesus, the truth is, it's not always 00:00:57.300 --> 00:00:57.620 perfect. 00:00:59.300 --> 00:01:05.000 In fact many a times it's messy, if not all the time. 00:01:07.060 --> 00:01:14.100 And Jesus even said to us as believers, he said he comes to put father against son, daughter against mother. 00:01:14.120 --> 00:01:20.460 There's going to be tension by your stand for Christ, but God has called us to be outlasters. 00:01:22.860 --> 00:01:28.520 When I consider this thought of outlasting my heart immediately goes to the book of Second Timothy. 00:01:30.060 --> 00:01:35.820 2nd Timothy is written as a portion of Biblical Scripture that referred to as the past world Epistles. 00:01:35.880 --> 00:01:39.360 First and Second Timothy, the book of Titus and sometimes Philemon is thrown in there. 00:01:40.900 --> 00:01:43.800 All four of these letters were written by the apostle Paul. 00:01:45.820 --> 00:01:51.060 The apostle Paul especially writes Second Timothy as a significant point in the ministry which he conducts in this world. 00:01:52.700 --> 00:01:58.490 If you read Acts 27, Acts 28 you'll see at the conclusion of Paul's missionary journey. 00:01:58.740 --> 00:02:05.920 He is taken into jail, he's on a boat on his way to Rome, he goes through a the shipwreck on the island of Malta, eventually he reaches 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:11.540 Rome and in the book of Acts it leaves at that conclusion with Paul in prison in jail. 00:02:13.740 --> 00:02:21.220 What the Bible doesn't record for us in the book of Acts as it abruptly ends there is that Paul eventually is released from jail, he goes on further missionary journeys. 00:02:21.320 --> 00:02:24.060 The fourth missionary journey, which we don't have recorded in the book of Acts. 00:02:25.400 --> 00:02:32.620 Eventually Paul is arrested again under the leadership of Nero and this arrest, he's thrown into the Roman prisons once again into 00:02:32.620 --> 00:02:33.360 a dungeon. 00:02:34.340 --> 00:02:37.340 This arrest will ultimately lead to the end of his life. 00:02:39.700 --> 00:02:48.080 And it's from this dungeon Paul writes the book of Second Timothy and 00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:56.940 he ends this letter with this thought, "For I already being poured out like a drink offering, the time of my departure is near." Paul 00:02:56.940 --> 00:03:03.220 knew under the persecution of Nero that he was about to lose his life. 00:03:04.700 --> 00:03:08.300 Not only did the apostle Paul lose his life during this time so did Peter. 00:03:09.480 --> 00:03:16.520 Within months of one another Paul has decapitation because of his faith in Christ, but before that takes place 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:23.880 he writes the book of Second Timothy to specifically encouraged Timothy and what God has called him to in this world, knowing as 00:03:23.880 --> 00:03:29.420 believers we may face hardship that God has called us to live victoriously, to be outlasters. 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:38.780 Knowing that this world will fight to make its mark on you that you as a following Jesus can stand victoriously making your 00:03:38.780 --> 00:03:39.840 mark on this world. 00:03:42.140 --> 00:03:49.150 Paul's letter to Timothy is all about making your mark. 00:03:50.280 --> 00:03:53.550 Being an outlaster as God has called us. 00:03:54.060 --> 00:04:01.580 In looking at the apostle Paul we see that he fought adversity, then in the adversely he fought he then encourages through Timothy encourages 00:04:01.580 --> 00:04:05.700 us that we too can fight adversity in standing for Christ. 00:04:05.720 --> 00:04:12.370 And the question I want to start with this morning as we engage this book is, how did Paul have such an effect on this world? 00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:17.320 How did he live as an outlaster? 00:04:19.779 --> 00:04:26.960 Maybe we could even summarize the life of the apostle Paul and say there is no one who has done more in shaping 00:04:26.960 --> 00:04:30.800 biblical Christianity and pronouncing what Christ has done the world then the apostle Paul. 00:04:32.980 --> 00:04:40.060 How did the apostle Paul have such an effect in the world and how might that as people encourage us in the effect that God has called us to 00:04:40.060 --> 00:04:42.880 have in this world by being outlasters for Him. 00:04:45.160 --> 00:04:48.100 So Paul starts his book, or his letter. 00:04:49.780 --> 00:04:57.100 In II Timothy 1:20 he says this, "Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus 00:04:57.100 --> 00:05:04.940 to Timothy my beloved son grace mercy and peace from God the father in Christ Jesus our Lord." Paul 00:05:04.940 --> 00:05:12.000 begins the idea with a thought, this word isn't expressed but the theme of this thought begins and ends throughout this book and that is one 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:12.890 of faithfulness. 00:05:14.420 --> 00:05:19.520 The reason that Paul was an outlaster in this world is that Paul was faithful. 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:28.140 When we talk about the word faithfulness sometimes we look at faithfulness and we see that God can use us to make an impact at one 00:05:28.140 --> 00:05:33.820 specific moment in time, but in addition to that through the life of the apostle Paul being poured out at the end. 00:05:34.500 --> 00:05:38.740 It encourages us this way, that we can also be faithful over a duration. 00:05:40.840 --> 00:05:45.020 God also uses us over time make an impact for Him. 00:05:46.500 --> 00:05:52.780 The apostle Paul is faithful throughout the pastoral book, first and second Timothy, Titus, Philemon. 00:05:52.780 --> 00:05:58.140 This word of faithfulness is used some 17 times within these books. 00:05:59.840 --> 00:06:00.720 Paul was faithful. 00:06:01.940 --> 00:06:03.080 What was he faithful to? 00:06:03.080 --> 00:06:10.500 Well he tells us in this first verses, he is faithful to the giftedness and calling that God has given him, and he's faithful to the gospel to which God 00:06:10.500 --> 00:06:11.740 has called him. 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:14.300 Paul was faithful. 00:06:16.380 --> 00:06:26.180 2 Timothy 1:1 it says, "Paul, an apostle of Christ by the will of God, he was faithful and according to the promise of the life in Christ Jesus." Just 00:06:26.180 --> 00:06:33.600 by way of introduction for us as people in looking at the giftedness that Paul was given, the office that Paul was given in service to 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:34.420 the Lord. 00:06:34.420 --> 00:06:41.740 Maybe you've even asked the question and noticed within biblical Christianity, us the church, we don't use this word Apostle 00:06:41.740 --> 00:06:41.840 today. 00:06:42.540 --> 00:06:43.720 Why is that? 00:06:43.720 --> 00:06:45.080 What does this office mean? 00:06:45.440 --> 00:06:49.490 As Paul fulfilled that duty, I just want to we give us a backdrop for a biblical understanding. 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:56.490 You can go back and look at these verses and study it on your own, but what does it mean that Paul is an Apostle in this calling? 00:06:57.280 --> 00:07:01.580 I'll just share with you this morning if you're interested in knowing more, we put a blog post on the church website. 00:07:01.980 --> 00:07:08.060 Go there, look at our latest blog post and it gives an explanation of this, it's on our Facebook page as well. 00:07:08.620 --> 00:07:10.230 And so there is further explanation there. 00:07:10.740 --> 00:07:13.820 When it comes the idea of Apostle, last week I explained this to us. 00:07:13.820 --> 00:07:20.860 In John 15, Jesus said, "As the father sent me, so I am sending you." The word that Jesus uses there is "apostolos." The Greek 00:07:20.860 --> 00:07:24.080 word "apostolo", which literally means apostle. 00:07:25.620 --> 00:07:32.800 What Jesus is saying he is called all of us, the word apostle literally means, "sent forth," he has called all of us into this world to proclaim his good news. 00:07:32.920 --> 00:07:38.380 We are all in that way apostles, sometimes we support missionaries today, going forth and representing Jesus. 00:07:38.500 --> 00:07:42.500 But when it comes the office of apostles there's something a little more unique about it. 00:07:42.620 --> 00:07:45.800 They also were sent forth, but there's an authority given to them. 00:07:45.820 --> 00:07:53.060 In Ephesians 4:11, when Paul writes about the giftedness within the church he says this, "He gave some as apostles," 00:07:53.280 --> 00:08:00.920 talking about the Lord, "and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints." But 00:08:00.920 --> 00:08:07.960 Ephesians 2 when Paul refers to the giftedness again of certain individuals he doesn't list all 00:08:07.960 --> 00:08:08.760 of the gifts. 00:08:08.760 --> 00:08:10.440 Look what he says in Ephesians 2. 00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:18.000 "It's built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets which Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone." 00:08:19.620 --> 00:08:25.460 Why is it that Paul lists the gifts in Ephesians 4, but when it comes to Ephesians 2:20, he eliminates some of those. 00:08:25.520 --> 00:08:27.420 Let me give you a little bit of a backdrop explanation. 00:08:28.960 --> 00:08:32.730 When you go to build a building, how may times do you lay a foundation? 00:08:34.740 --> 00:08:35.380 Hopefully once. 00:08:35.400 --> 00:08:36.500 If not, your house is messed up. 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:38.919 Just one time is what you want to do. 00:08:41.059 --> 00:08:48.320 When it comes to Ephesians 4, Paul is listing out the gifts, because those gifts are being exercised at the time, but when it comes Ephesians 2, he explains 00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:54.290 some of those offices or gifts that are given and he says that their intentions are to lay the foundation. 00:08:55.360 --> 00:09:02.440 In Jude 3, it says 00:09:02.440 --> 00:09:05.380 that the truth of God's been delivered once and for all time. 00:09:05.460 --> 00:09:10.820 Meaning, the emphasis here is that foundation for us as believers has been laid. 00:09:11.880 --> 00:09:18.980 For further clarifications, if you looked at 1 Corinthians 15:7-9, it says this, Paul's writings, he says, "Then he appeared 00:09:18.980 --> 00:09:26.240 to James," talking about Jesus, "and then to all the apostles and last of all to one untimely born, he appeared to me also, 00:09:26.540 --> 00:09:34.080 from the lease of the apostles." In this passage Paul refers himself not only as the least Apostle but the last Apostle. 00:09:35.040 --> 00:09:42.140 When Paul is referring to himself as a last Apostle, it's important to recognize when Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 15, he's writing this some 20 years past the time of 00:09:42.140 --> 00:09:42.560 Jesus. 00:09:42.840 --> 00:09:47.560 And in that 20 years Paul is still referring to himself as the last Apostle. 00:09:48.660 --> 00:09:55.680 In fact when you read early church history you see that after the Apostles are gone they never called anyone else into the office of 00:09:55.680 --> 00:10:00.820 Apostle, because they understood as Ephesians 2:20 says, it's a foundational office. 00:10:00.900 --> 00:10:07.900 In fact the Apostle Paul, when he traveled around on these four missionary journeys, when he establishes churches, you never see the Apostle Paul going into a 00:10:07.900 --> 00:10:11.770 church saying this church needs certain authority figures to operate from, let's appoint Apostles. 00:10:13.720 --> 00:10:21.820 In fact what the Apostle Paul says to the early church, when he writes the book of 1 Timothy and Titus, he says, "Appoint elders." The 00:10:21.820 --> 00:10:26.040 elders were intended to be the one helps guide the church. 00:10:26.040 --> 00:10:28.460 We used that word interchangeably today. 00:10:28.740 --> 00:10:30.700 We sometimes refer to that as Pastor. 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:36.520 In 1 Peter 5:1-2 you'll see the word shepherding used for elder, which is the word for Pastor. 00:10:37.760 --> 00:10:45.380 In Titus 1, this is what they say, "For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders, 00:10:45.940 --> 00:10:47.220 not apostle, but elders. 00:10:47.220 --> 00:10:49.960 In Acts 14 you see it again and on and on though Scripture. 00:10:50.100 --> 00:10:57.520 I could give references to this, but they appointed elders to lead, never officially putting 00:10:57.520 --> 00:11:01.000 someone into the office of apostle and here's the reason why. 00:11:01.020 --> 00:11:04.180 The qualifications of Apostle are listed within Scripture. 00:11:05.080 --> 00:11:12.380 In Acts 1, when Judas took his life, the Gospels record at the very beginning, in Acts 1, when 00:11:12.380 --> 00:11:17.530 the church is establishing itself, that they appoint one other person to take his position for the 12 Apostles. 00:11:17.980 --> 00:11:22.360 During this time it's a fulfillment of prophecy that one would have to replace Judas. 00:11:22.460 --> 00:11:28.480 There is no prophetic statement that it needed to go beyond that, but they laid out the qualifications for what it required to be an apostle. 00:11:28.780 --> 00:11:35.880 This is what they said, "Therefore, it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among 00:11:35.880 --> 00:11:39.620 us, beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. 00:11:39.700 --> 00:11:46.840 For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection." So there is a "must" for the apostles to have seen the resurrection of 00:11:46.840 --> 00:11:47.180 Christ. 00:11:48.380 --> 00:11:55.680 In fact, Paul in his ministry, repetitiously had to defend his position of being an Apostle, because he said as we just read an 1 Corinthians 00:11:55.680 --> 00:11:59.560 15:8, "And last of all appeared to me is one born untimely. 00:12:00.560 --> 00:12:07.820 So Paul saying he's recognizing he wasn't called during that typical period when the apostles were called, but that he's still 00:12:07.820 --> 00:12:08.450 an apostle. 00:12:08.640 --> 00:12:13.270 In says in 1 Corinthians 9, Paul even says, "It's because I've seen the resurrected Christ. 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:16.200 He is defending his position as an Apostle. 00:12:17.020 --> 00:12:24.060 In 1 Corinthians 15:8-9 it says this, "He appeared to me also." Paul again 00:12:24.060 --> 00:12:27.440 defending the position of being an Apostle by seeing the resurrected Christ. 00:12:27.560 --> 00:12:32.320 The qualifications, one of which included seeing the resurrected Jesus. 00:12:32.700 --> 00:12:38.720 When you watched the life of the Apostles, the ones in this office, this is what typically happens in their lives. 00:12:38.740 --> 00:12:46.280 It says in 1 Corinthians 12:12, Paul said, "I persevered and demonstrating among you, the marks of a true apostle including signs, 00:12:46.280 --> 00:12:47.040 wonders and miracles. 00:12:48.180 --> 00:12:55.400 In Matthew 10, when Jesus first chose the 12 Apostles, it says this, "Now the names of the 12 Apostles are these, and as you go," 00:12:55.440 --> 00:13:02.720 he goes on further, he names the 12, in verse 7, he goes on further, "and as you go, preach, saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand, healed the sick, 00:13:02.840 --> 00:13:10.280 raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons." Jesus is giving the authority to these apostles to have specific powers 00:13:10.280 --> 00:13:11.280 and unique signs. 00:13:12.260 --> 00:13:16.480 In fact, when the apostles continue on Acts it tells us that even Peter shadow is healing people. 00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:23.960 Outside of the temple when Peter goes, Peter and John, they tell a man, "Silver and gold, have I none, but stand up and walk." During the time that these apostles 00:13:23.960 --> 00:13:26.100 are living there was no such thing as hospitals. 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:33.830 In fact, it was believed during the time of the Apostles that if someone had some sort of sickness that required a hospital visit, as we would say today, 00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:37.820 during their time they would say that person has been cursed from God. 00:13:38.780 --> 00:13:45.960 So they would push them aside, not care for their needs, sometimes even cast them out into the street, because the people believe, "If I cared for them, whatever God 00:13:45.960 --> 00:13:53.120 is doing to them, they are also going to do to me." So people were treated poorly that had any sort of condition or health problem 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:53.940 that they faced. 00:13:54.440 --> 00:14:01.850 It wasn't until the Christian church saw the value in any human being, regardless, that Christian churches started hospitals. 00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:09.410 So when you wanted to see an apostle healing someone or some of that taking place, what you'll find in scripture is that it often took place close to the Temple. 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:14.800 Because the people and their understanding of God and believing that God would do this to you. 00:14:15.760 --> 00:14:17.690 They would then go to the Temple to pay penance. 00:14:18.660 --> 00:14:26.160 The apostles, a lot of times, when you would see them healing would be on the way to the Temple, or 00:14:26.180 --> 00:14:26.460 at the Temple. 00:14:26.460 --> 00:14:33.740 But I would say for us today, if we're to compare it in context, if an office like this existed than what we should see is this individual going to the hospitals and taking care 00:14:33.740 --> 00:14:34.980 of the physical needs of people. 00:14:36.660 --> 00:14:43.200 I make all of these comments and just want to conclude with this thought, 1 Corinthians 4, what the life the apostle was. 00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:45.720 Remember, the definition of Apostles is, "one sent forth". 00:14:47.180 --> 00:14:52.840 And even though there's the office of Apostle, the Apostles in office were still the ones sent forth. 00:14:54.220 --> 00:15:01.580 Meaning, when you see the life of an Apostle, it should be one going out into the parts of the world where they don't know Jesus, proclaiming Jesus so people can come to know Jesus. 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:08.240 When Paul is writing 1 Corinthians 4, he's recognizing that there are people who are calling themselves Apostles that aren't. 00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:16.400 I don't know why in the world you would want to do that, because this is what the life of an apostle looks like in 1 Corinthians 4, "I think God has exhibited 00:15:16.400 --> 00:15:19.620 us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death. 00:15:19.660 --> 00:15:27.100 We are fools for Christ sake, we are weak but you are strong, you are distinguished but we are without honor, we are both hungry and thirsty and are poorly clothed 00:15:27.100 --> 00:15:28.580 in roughly treated and are homeless. 00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:30.820 And we toil working with our own hands. 00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:38.860 When we are reviled, we bless, we are persecuted, we endure, we are slandered we try to conciliate, we have all become as 00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:42.440 the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now. 00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:46.960 This is a calling that few individuals had. 00:15:48.040 --> 00:15:51.600 When you study church history you'll see it cost their lives. 00:15:53.380 --> 00:16:00.380 All except the apostle John, who died at an old age, but the Apostle John was thrown into a boiling vat to 00:16:00.420 --> 00:16:06.060 try kill him at one time and exiled to the island of Patmos at another time, because faith in Christ. 00:16:07.630 --> 00:16:08.660 Now, why do I make all these comments? 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:14.500 One, just so you can have a biblical understanding of what Scripture shares with Apostolic authority. 00:16:14.520 --> 00:16:17.660 If you want to know more, you can get on our church website and read about that. 00:16:19.800 --> 00:16:26.960 But two, is to say this: As people, sometimes I 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:34.140 feel like we give ourselves certain positions in order to make my standing 00:16:34.140 --> 00:16:38.260 look like a mediation between you and your relationship with God. 00:16:38.640 --> 00:16:44.950 And what I want encourage you with this morning, is 1 Peter 2:9, that we've looked at together. 00:16:46.440 --> 00:16:48.360 It says that we are all royal priests. 00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:52.060 Meaning you belong to the king and you have access to Him. 00:16:53.780 --> 00:17:00.920 God's word has been given to you and you don't need mediation over you trying to dictate what you 00:17:00.920 --> 00:17:04.359 need to do and not do according to what we we've shared in Scripture. 00:17:06.540 --> 00:17:08.540 But your relationship with Jesus is special. 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:12.099 Because Jesus gave his life for that. 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:14.599 Jesus wants you to know Him. 00:17:16.819 --> 00:17:20.790 It's good as a body of believers to gather around with one another and encourage each other. 00:17:22.040 --> 00:17:25.119 To examine truth together, to search the Scriptures together. 00:17:26.800 --> 00:17:29.060 Jesus wants you to make your walk with Him personal. 00:17:31.020 --> 00:17:31.960 He went you to make it intimate. 00:17:33.560 --> 00:17:39.200 He wants you to realize that He paid it all for you, that you might come to Him to know Him and to enjoy Him forever. 00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:49.300 Paul in 1 Timothy 1, that's what he's saying. 00:17:51.600 --> 00:17:57.310 Yes, he had the office of the Apostle, but really what he is saying is he was faithful to what God gifted him in. 00:17:58.580 --> 00:18:01.300 He was just faithful of live his life according to the way that God had blessed. 00:18:04.080 --> 00:18:09.860 God has made all of you unique and special, and gifted you in ways that he hasn't gifted me. 00:18:10.860 --> 00:18:15.720 Because God has called you to represent Him in this world and to use the gifts that he has giving you to do that. 00:18:17.280 --> 00:18:19.100 Matter of fact, that's why we call it a gift. 00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:20.160 It's intended to be given away. 00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:29.700 In 1 Peter 4:10 it says this, "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others." What 00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:36.820 God is doing in your life is special, it's important, it's a time for you to get with God to learn 00:18:36.820 --> 00:18:40.660 more about Him, let grow you through His word is as you walk with Him. 00:18:41.820 --> 00:18:48.820 Then he says to us this, that is according the will of God that he lives out calling that God give him, or the giftedness that God has given him, "According to the promise of life in 00:18:48.820 --> 00:18:55.980 Christ Jesus, to Timothy my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God." Pulsating 00:18:55.980 --> 00:18:57.480 the gospel is his hope. 00:18:57.520 --> 00:19:00.260 The reason at the end he's outlasted is because he has hope. 00:19:01.540 --> 00:19:05.590 This world is temporary and he's put his hope into what is eternal. 00:19:06.060 --> 00:19:13.440 He knows that this life isn't worth grabbing ahold of, but the life that is to come in Christ, that is worth living 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:18.900 your life for, because what you do for Christ matters for all of eternity. 00:19:22.300 --> 00:19:27.840 Maybe even say to us as people, don't make church about irrelevant garbage. 00:19:30.660 --> 00:19:37.040 Just come here and want to draw near Jesus, Get with other believers and encourage them to Jesus. 00:19:39.020 --> 00:19:44.840 Sometimes I've joked in the past, that the minute we start arguing about the carpet, thank God we don't have it, or maybe we do need it. 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:48.590 If that becomes an issue for us, we're just going to paint pink. 00:19:50.540 --> 00:19:52.140 It makes no difference. 00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:54.360 Because it's about Jesus. 00:19:56.740 --> 00:20:03.940 Paul saying the reason he outlasts is because he understands God gave me this giftedness and he just wants to share 00:20:03.940 --> 00:20:06.350 that, and God has given me this hope. 00:20:06.860 --> 00:20:11.440 He marks this hope by grace, mercy, and peace, which is a mark of God's kingdom. 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:18.760 We'll talk about mercy more in a minute, but Jesus is called the Prince of Peace, and Jesus came for more than just my salvation and your salvation. 00:20:18.760 --> 00:20:22.280 He came for the redemption of the whole world in Him as king. 00:20:23.600 --> 00:20:25.280 When the king rules, there is peace. 00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:31.380 And the reason we can go into that kingdom is because of His grace, showed to us in Christ, as He's given His life for us. 00:20:31.580 --> 00:20:37.900 Paul is saying that resurrection, that is my hope, this is my joy, this is my Lord, I'm making life about that. 00:20:39.580 --> 00:20:42.080 Outlasters are faithful. 00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:51.460 What make Paul so effective is that the Paul understood outlasters, outlive. 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:54.530 You can't be an outlaster without outliving. 00:20:55.920 --> 00:21:01.210 Not physically, as he is about to lose his life, but what Paul stood for outlasted Paul himself. 00:21:01.660 --> 00:21:09.100 What I mean by that passage is what Paul says in the very second verse, he says, "To Timothy, my beloved son." Timothy is 00:21:09.100 --> 00:21:12.500 not Paul's physical son, but he is his spiritual son. 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:21.440 Paul's investing in the life of Timothy, in fact, Paul even says at the end of the book, "Make every effort to come see 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:28.580 me soon." Listen Timothy, my life is coming to an end and I still have something to pour into you, to share with you, to see 00:21:28.580 --> 00:21:32.160 you grow in God, to invest in you, to use my gift's as God's has call me. 00:21:33.580 --> 00:21:35.020 Paul wanted to be around Timothy. 00:21:37.040 --> 00:21:39.200 Paul live a life he wanted Timothy to display. 00:21:40.940 --> 00:21:47.960 In fact, Paul made a point to do this with believers that he interact with, and when Paul traveled on his missionary journey, he always did so with companions, 00:21:48.040 --> 00:21:50.960 that he could encourage them with his gifts as they encourage him. 00:21:51.320 --> 00:21:58.380 When God talks to us as a body of believers at the end of Matthew 28, Jesus gives his last proclamation before He ascends into heaven, 00:21:58.680 --> 00:22:05.540 and he says, "Go into the world and make disciples." Replicate followers of Jesus. 00:22:06.750 --> 00:22:08.160 I think that's why church exist. 00:22:08.390 --> 00:22:11.430 The church exists to make disciples – followers of Jesus. 00:22:12.390 --> 00:22:15.810 In my life I've wrestled with, how do we do that effectively? 00:22:16.210 --> 00:22:20.250 What does that look like in the day-to-day of life? 00:22:20.430 --> 00:22:27.650 I don't want to undermine this thought, but i just want to say this for us as believers, is that sometimes within our American Christianity, I think we do that academically, 00:22:30.210 --> 00:22:32.290 but not always connecting to the heart and the life. 00:22:34.210 --> 00:22:41.330 Meaning, we were really good at creating lots and lots of Bible studies, but sometimes it's just important to 00:22:41.330 --> 00:22:43.200 just get with other believers and encourage them. 00:22:44.750 --> 00:22:45.490 To use your gifts. 00:22:45.830 --> 00:22:48.460 I don't want undermine the study of God's word, I think it's important. 00:22:50.210 --> 00:22:52.660 But not allow just be some intellectual exercise. 00:22:54.690 --> 00:22:57.390 Allow it to be experienced in your heart and lived in your live. 00:22:59.070 --> 00:23:06.090 Paul says in Philippians 4:9, "The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with 00:23:06.090 --> 00:23:08.970 you." Paul's living a lifestyle that you can emulate. 00:23:09.030 --> 00:23:16.530 In 2 Timothy 2, he says this to Timothy, "The things which you have heard for me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful man." "Timothy, 00:23:16.810 --> 00:23:23.990 exercised what I've been giving you." Truth is, as Paul's pouring into Timothy, Timothy struggled. 00:23:26.050 --> 00:23:32.070 Walking as an outlaster and looking at the apostle Paul and emulating a life in Jesus isn't always easy. 00:23:32.070 --> 00:23:39.130 Timothy struggled, in fact, when Paul wrote 1 Timothy 1 after he begins his introduction, "Hi Timothy, Grace, mercy, and peace," 00:23:39.330 --> 00:23:46.410 let me just share this, in verse three, he says, "Stay on at Ephesus." Timothy was 00:23:46.410 --> 00:23:49.410 the pastor, one of the elders in the church of Ephesus. 00:23:51.430 --> 00:23:53.870 Ephesus was a difficult place to do ministry. 00:23:55.310 --> 00:24:02.450 In fact, if it wasn't, Paul wouldn't have to say, "Timothy, stay on at Ephesus!" When you study the 00:24:02.450 --> 00:24:08.930 history of the city of Ephesus, by the first century the city of Ephesus is the second largest city in the Roman Empire. 00:24:10.490 --> 00:24:15.470 The goddess that the city of Ephesus worships is the goddess of Diana, who is the goddess of sexuality. 00:24:16.090 --> 00:24:21.670 When you walked through the streets there are billboards all over the ground marking the locations you need to go to find prostitutes. 00:24:24.210 --> 00:24:31.210 No only that, but when you read about the life of Timothy you see throughout Paul's letters to Timothy, that Timothy is constantly encouraged to stand against the false 00:24:31.390 --> 00:24:32.950 doctrine that's taught within the church. 00:24:35.130 --> 00:24:42.270 People are coming in from the outside teaching truth contrary, and not only does Paul tell Timothy to stay in Ephesus, at the end 00:24:42.270 --> 00:24:45.110 of Timothy he tells Timothy to drink a little wine for his stomach. 00:24:46.430 --> 00:24:53.690 Now, I don't know what's going on in the life – whether he's a little backed up, or he's got some sort of ulcer going on, but whatever it is, he'e 00:24:53.690 --> 00:24:57.410 stressed out or somethings happening that Paul is just encouraging in his life. 00:24:59.550 --> 00:25:06.620 In 1 Timothy 4:12 it says, "Don't let people despise 00:25:06.620 --> 00:25:13.660 your youth, Timothy." And to top it all off, the church is now going to 00:25:13.660 --> 00:25:14.820 the persecution of Nero. 00:25:16.560 --> 00:25:19.840 People that Timothy loved are losing their lives. 00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:26.580 People that he fought in battle with, spiritually speaking. 00:25:26.580 --> 00:25:27.060 People he loves. 00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:37.480 Paul says to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4, "You keep your head in all situations, 00:25:39.380 --> 00:25:48.160 endure hardships, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry." Paul's 00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:51.800 affirming to Timothy and encouraging Timothy at the same time. 00:25:53.060 --> 00:25:55.040 I think that's what makes the community of Christ so important. 00:25:56.640 --> 00:26:00.610 When things are hard, we can acknowledge things are hard. 00:26:01.540 --> 00:26:08.820 Paul could have said to Timothy, "Listen, in these hardships." He said, "Yeah, Timothy listen, Nero is about to kill me, and yes, people 00:26:08.820 --> 00:26:15.900 are mad at you for loving Jesus, and yes, you are stressed out and maybe you even feel like quitting, but don't worry God has 00:26:15.900 --> 00:26:16.380 this. 00:26:16.380 --> 00:26:18.480 You are fighting these battles with Jesus! 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:19.980 Keep your eyes on Jesus. 00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:21.560 He has already won the war. 00:26:24.780 --> 00:26:27.780 The body of Christ does this well for one another. 00:26:27.820 --> 00:26:32.680 One of the reasons I think that we're so gifted at it, or that we are gifted to do it, I should say. 00:26:33.100 --> 00:26:33.920 Maybe not always perfectly. 00:26:36.020 --> 00:26:37.480 It's because we get the same struggles. 00:26:39.520 --> 00:26:46.540 In fact, the Apostle Paul, I think, one of the reasons that he could relate in encouraging Timothy so well, is that the Apostle Paul endured 00:26:46.540 --> 00:26:48.420 hardships and struggles himself. 00:26:48.420 --> 00:26:55.640 In Romans 7:24, he says this, "Oh wretched man that I am." Even he had 00:26:55.640 --> 00:26:56.260 weaknesses. 00:26:57.260 --> 00:27:04.280 In 2 Timothy 1:2, he says, "Grace, mercy, and peace." This thought of mercy, I think, is an explanation for Paul 00:27:04.280 --> 00:27:07.100 of what he needs from the Lord as he serves in his position. 00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:11.960 You think about the Apostle Paul's life before knowing Jesus. 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:14.260 He was one who persecuted and killed the church. 00:27:15.840 --> 00:27:17.540 He took the lives of people. 00:27:19.560 --> 00:27:24.300 Not only did he need God's grace, but he needed God's mercy. 00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:27.000 He needed God's peace. 00:27:29.620 --> 00:27:37.040 Paul could relate to Timothy in his weakness, because Paul himself had 00:27:37.040 --> 00:27:37.960 weakness. 00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:46.460 When God calls you in this world be a light for him, it's not always going to be perfect. 00:27:49.180 --> 00:27:52.880 To be honest, God uses your imperfections. 00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:55.860 God uses your weaknesses. 00:27:58.240 --> 00:28:05.300 When God put you in a situation to stand for him, the encouragement through Timothy to you this morning would be this: don't think there's someone 00:28:05.300 --> 00:28:05.800 better. 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:09.010 Let God use you. 00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:14.240 In fact, Paul encouraged this throughout Scripture. 00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:21.760 He says, "Look at your weakness as a place for God to shine through with his strength." In 00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:29.140 1 Corinthians 1:27, Paul said this, "Instead, God chose things that the world considered foolish in order to shame 00:28:29.140 --> 00:28:31.260 those things that we think are wise. 00:28:31.280 --> 00:28:38.380 And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful." 1 Corinthians 12:9, "Most gladly therefore, I will 00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:46.660 rather boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." God 00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:47.080 uses it. 00:28:49.300 --> 00:28:54.420 You can look at your weaknesses as a place for God to grow you in your position with Him. 00:28:55.500 --> 00:29:02.540 In Romans 5, it says this, "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that our sufferings produces endurance, endurance produces 00:29:02.540 --> 00:29:09.700 character, character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame because God's love has been poured into our hearts through 00:29:09.700 --> 00:29:11.680 the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. 00:29:14.160 --> 00:29:20.060 In Philippians 4, Paul says, "I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound in any and every circumstance. 00:29:20.220 --> 00:29:29.340 I have learned the secret of facing plenty, of hunger, abundance and need, I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Guy 00:29:29.340 --> 00:29:32.480 is not using his strength, he's using his weakness for His glory. 00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:41.680 Paul's connecting with Timothy not because he thinks he's this giant, but because he understands what Timothy's gone through, because Paul 00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:43.700 himself has gone through it. 00:29:46.180 --> 00:29:46.840 God can use it. 00:29:49.040 --> 00:29:50.520 God can use all of us. 00:29:52.120 --> 00:29:57.420 Because He's created us uniquely special in Him. 00:30:01.280 --> 00:30:09.180 Paul writes Romans 8, and I believe this verse encourages us because weakness causes us to look 00:30:09.180 --> 00:30:10.010 for a greater hope. 00:30:11.540 --> 00:30:18.760 We get our eyes off the temporary and Paul says in Romans 8:18, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy comparing with the glory 00:30:18.760 --> 00:30:25.000 that is to be revealed." Paul relates to Timothy because of his weakness. 00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:32.200 But you know, the Bible records a similar like-minded verse in relationship to us and Jesus. 00:30:34.380 --> 00:30:41.460 It says in Hebrews 4:15, what makes Jesus just so ready to receive us in our relationship with Him, and us being able to connect with 00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:48.600 him, it says, "We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one was tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 00:30:49.580 --> 00:30:56.070 Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in the time of need. 00:30:58.540 --> 00:30:58.940 Jesus cares. 00:31:02.940 --> 00:31:06.760 Especially in your weakness to use you for his glory. 00:31:07.940 --> 00:31:09.220 That you may connect with Him. 00:31:11.520 --> 00:31:15.000 Outlasters outlive because they invest in others. 00:31:17.540 --> 00:31:24.240 Sometimes within our biblical Christianity, in American culture, we like to think that faith is a personal thing and that's just not biblical. 00:31:25.620 --> 00:31:31.340 Because if you are created in Christ, and you are created for His purpose, then whatever purpose He created you for is to be lived out through Him. 00:31:31.340 --> 00:31:33.880 It's all because of Him that you live life. 00:31:33.900 --> 00:31:37.800 And understanding Him gives you the opportunity to live the way He has called you to live in this world. 00:31:38.660 --> 00:31:41.010 The way that he has gifted you to live in this world. 00:31:42.280 --> 00:31:47.860 So faith, no matter how much we want to try and convince ourselves it's personal, you live for something that is in authority over you. 00:31:48.520 --> 00:31:52.800 And whatever that authority you are allowing over you, that something you're expressing your faith in. 00:31:54.240 --> 00:32:00.680 God has called us as people to express that faith in Him, to live it out in our lives, in community. 00:32:00.680 --> 00:32:02.340 Got has called us for community. 00:32:02.360 --> 00:32:09.380 When He says, "Love God and love others upon your heart, soul, mind and strength." God created you for community and a faith 00:32:09.380 --> 00:32:11.300 that is to be lived up and invested in others. 00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:17.680 Outlasters outlive because they invest in lives of others. 00:32:22.280 --> 00:32:25.340 Outlasters outlive because they use their time effectively. 00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:36.760 Paul says in Ephesians 15, "Therefore, be careful how you walk, not was unwise but as wise, making 00:32:36.760 --> 00:32:39.760 the most of your time because the days are evil. 00:32:41.320 --> 00:32:47.760 Now I want to tell you, I dubbed this verse in Scripture the "Kramer versus", and this is why: because when I first read it as a believer it used to stress me out. 00:32:49.040 --> 00:32:56.040 That was because when I read this verse I assumed what it meant was: you have to make a really charted out to do list of everything you need to do and figure out how to make 00:32:56.380 --> 00:33:01.990 Jesus involved in everything that you do, which you do want to do all things to the glory of God, 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us that. 00:33:02.140 --> 00:33:09.200 But there are two words–this is what helped me out and not going Kramer on people.I call it the Kramer verse because if you ever watched Seinfeld, you 00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:10.980 know how Kramer always comes into Jerry's house. 00:33:11.460 --> 00:33:13.220 His hair is all popped up and he's shaking like crazy. 00:33:13.780 --> 00:33:15.410 Stressful, it's very stressful. 00:33:15.820 --> 00:33:22.420 What this verse is saying for us and helps us in our understanding, so you don't all go Kramer on me to this morning, is there is two words for time in the Greek text. 00:33:23.560 --> 00:33:25.990 One is the "condos", the actual time that you live by. 00:33:26.080 --> 00:33:29.140 You check your watch everyday, especially if you live under a busy time constraint. 00:33:29.260 --> 00:33:30.120 You want to know every minute of time. 00:33:30.760 --> 00:33:32.400 Then there's the duration of time. 00:33:33.720 --> 00:33:38.700 What Paul saying is, consider your life in the duration of time and the places that God has called you to influence. 00:33:40.100 --> 00:33:45.600 You think as a parent, you stress and you want to be an influence for your children. 00:33:45.660 --> 00:33:52.620 But you can't always be over your kids shoulders saying, "Jesus", every three seconds in their ear, that going to drive everybody crazy, including yourself, and probably Jesus. 00:33:53.480 --> 00:33:56.540 What God wants you to do is to think about the duration of time. 00:33:56.580 --> 00:33:59.320 What God desires to produce in you, as He uses you through that time. 00:33:59.600 --> 00:34:04.460 What He wants to produce in your children as God use you over time, where He wants to let His light shine in your work. 00:34:04.840 --> 00:34:07.980 Just over the duration of time, how God might use that and here's why that's important. 00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:10.260 It's because over seasons of time, everything changes. 00:34:11.219 --> 00:34:14.980 Your life, my life, our work, our family, your kids. 00:34:14.980 --> 00:34:15.600 They're different. 00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:18.260 One year like something, the next day like something different. 00:34:18.659 --> 00:34:22.120 They're different and you got to figure how to invest in the way that Jesus has called you. 00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:28.020 Over the duration of time–this is not dealing with quality but is dealing with quantity. 00:34:30.380 --> 00:34:37.550 Think about the position that God has put you in and the influence that you can have in their lives. 00:34:38.980 --> 00:34:42.460 As a dad this week I was reminded of that with my son. 00:34:43.920 --> 00:34:49.940 My oldest son has a very tender heart, he loves people and empathizes with people. 00:34:49.940 --> 00:34:53.409 We'll take our youngest kid to the doctor and he'll get a shot and my oldest son will be the one crying. 00:34:54.080 --> 00:34:56.120 He really cares what people go through. 00:34:57.500 --> 00:35:01.530 As a dad, I constantly wrestle with the kids and try to toughen them up. 00:35:02.100 --> 00:35:04.820 I love that he has tender heart, but as a dad I still wrestle with him. 00:35:04.920 --> 00:35:12.060 My theme verse for my kids is Micah 6:8, "He has shown thy, oh man, what is good, what the Lord requires of thee, to do justice, to love mercy, and walk humbly with God." 00:35:12.140 --> 00:35:13.460 I want my kids to do that. 00:35:13.680 --> 00:35:16.180 Be just, be merciful and walk with God. 00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:18.480 So we're work on our justice some times. 00:35:19.080 --> 00:35:20.830 Help the innocent, get rid of the bad guy. 00:35:21.950 --> 00:35:27.720 But if my oldest son didn't quite catch it as well, my youngest son caught it to well. 00:35:28.760 --> 00:35:34.000 The funny part is when he delivers this justice, it can be on anyone, so it's not really justice. 00:35:34.720 --> 00:35:36.200 And sometimes he times it. 00:35:36.280 --> 00:35:38.880 He'll say, "punch" before he punches you, so be on the look out. 00:35:39.180 --> 00:35:41.790 If my youngest boy says, "punch", he's going to punch you because he's only one. 00:35:43.960 --> 00:35:51.560 This week in the kitchen he was standing behind his older brother and he comes up and says, "punch", and 00:35:51.560 --> 00:35:53.580 then delivers the blow right into his brothers back. 00:35:54.460 --> 00:35:57.920 I wish I could say that was the only time he's ever done that, but it's not. 00:35:59.560 --> 00:36:07.180 I look at him and say, "son, do not hit your brother." He looks back at me and 00:36:07.180 --> 00:36:10.250 he takes his finger and stars back and me and he just goes... 00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:17.380 As a dad, I turn my head immediately and try not to laugh out loud. 00:36:19.740 --> 00:36:22.140 On the outside I'm really thankful too, because here's why. 00:36:23.500 --> 00:36:26.880 This is a place as a father, where I know I can redeem the time. 00:36:28.560 --> 00:36:32.650 My son doesn't understand what rebellion is and it's amazing at one year old your heart can still be rebellious. 00:36:35.000 --> 00:36:39.350 But it's an opportunity for me to speak to his heart about the love of Christ. 00:36:41.100 --> 00:36:45.820 Through that relationship that God has given me and the gifts that God has give me in him. 00:36:47.220 --> 00:36:48.280 I can share that with others. 00:36:50.400 --> 00:36:53.460 Don't underestimate where God has put you in this world. 00:36:55.420 --> 00:36:58.480 Don't underestimate what Christ has done for you, that you can be a light for Him. 00:37:00.120 --> 00:37:00.520 It's messy. 00:37:02.080 --> 00:37:06.580 In fact, if it's not messy I would warn us this way, are you really walking with Jesus? 00:37:08.040 --> 00:37:11.230 Because Jesus himself said, there's going to be war. 00:37:12.900 --> 00:37:15.820 Not physically, but spiritually, there are spiritual battles that take place. 00:37:15.860 --> 00:37:17.630 It might lead to something frustrating. 00:37:19.300 --> 00:37:22.780 But don't underestimate what God wants to do in you and through you. 00:37:24.380 --> 00:37:25.020 Let me close with this verse. 00:37:25.300 --> 00:37:29.720 In 1 Corinthians 15:58, it says this, "My dear brothers and sisters. 00:37:31.380 --> 00:37:33.820 Be strong and immovable. 00:37:35.040 --> 00:37:41.800 Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."