The Scripture for the New Year - 2 Timothy 2:19
ZADOK PUBLICATIONS - Dr. C. R. OLIVER
January 1, 2016
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January 1, 2016 The Scripture for the New Year - 2 Timothy 2:19 Introduction: The focal scripture is indeed, "THE word for 2016." Positioned in the flow of Paul's writing to Timothy, it stands like a ROCK in a raging sea of unbelief, deceit and sin. Timothy's days were like our own, with trouble in the church and trouble in the world at large. Paul understood the overwhelming duties facing Pastor Timothy, and right in the midst of the epistle, Paul places this verse. It was like he was saying, "Timothy, lash yourself to this truth, for it will brace you against the storms you face." This verse is an island of reprieve, away from the pressure of the pastorate. It is a truth so profound that regardless of what has been said before it or will be said after it-it will stand above it all and serve as a platform on which to stake one's life. This verse is a covering for the entire epistle. It hovers over I and II Timothy, and one can hear in the background behind every verse, "Nevertheless." It is an irrefutable truth enveloped in three pinions; therefore, it is easy to remember and becomes a place to hurry to in time of need. It goes beyond a "medicine" for spiritual sickness; this verse will do to repeat every morning when arising and before closing one's eyes for sleep at night. It bears repeating through the day, as one encounters unexpected moments or when one reflects upon events surrounding life. Its stalwart truth rises like some gigantic presence with arms outstretched in comfort, just when such is needed. The "nevertheless" supersedes whatever dilemma that can be placed before it. Oh! It has power to overcome anything that 2016 can drag before it. It has the calmness of "Peace Be Still" written into its plan. It is the soft and tender inner reminder that our God has an eternal course that never changes with the tides of time nor is eroded by an enemy's armies.Let someone say, "You see Lord, I have this huge problem and it is eating at me with such ferociousness that it occupies my total horizon. I need Your help, where shall I go?" Those who read this newsletter are able to rehearse the dilemmas facing this country and the world. With mass media and instant access to news -there is no lack of understanding about the forces lined against truth and righteousness. Name what you will: political intrigue, Islamic terrorism, moral decline, spiritual malaise or whatever. In answer to this long list of national grievances, there will resound from the halls of heaven this invective: "NEVERTHELESS!" Example: An army of angels responded to Elisha's affront (2Kings 6:1). Had he been like his servant boy, he would have cowered from what he saw in the flesh (like the political and religious press of today). Yet, the truth of 2 Timothy 2:19 manifested itself a thousand years before it was written down by Paul, for Elisha asked for his lad's eyes to be opened and they were-they were opened from then forward. The imprint of what he saw never departed him. No matter what he would face in life, he would remember "nevertheless, God." This life has its trials and moments of great consternation. Paul discussed many of those issues in I Timothy, issues that would rise against the young pastor-issues he would have to face and overcome. So many circumstances were enumerated that Paul recognized the overwhelming nature of his treatise, so before he finished (for there were many issues brought up after this passage), he stopped and gave the answer to all issues facing the Christian-it was 2 Timothy 2:19! Review it, handle it, memorize it, keep it close to your heart-for 2016 will present issues that only a "nevertheless" will suffice. What does this verse say? Well, it breaks into three distinct parts even though they are indelibly linked. First, look at "the solid foundation of God stands." If nothing more followed the "nevertheless," this would have been enough. Circumstances can't change it. Nothing can attack or weaken this foundation-it is sure. It caused Paul to pen this passage in Ephesians. Stand on God's foundation and you are assured stability. Linger there and restore your senses, your sanity and your confidence. Standing on His promises causes one to rise up to His throne and gives one a celestial view of earth's problems. Soon, our voice is heard above the chaos, "Nevertheless God." Note, it is a solid foundation. When the waves of turbulence roar around it---everything else may move, but it does not! Note, it is "sure." One can count on its presence for their personal use and comfort. We chant, "If God said it that settles it." (Sometimes I wonder if to some the chant is all there is.) Note, it is a singular "foundation." Jesus said a wise man builds his house on the rock and the winds and waves don't move it.Eph 2:19-22 Only on this foundation must the church abide. Theology is great, as is doctrine, but neither fare well in the face of adversity. Deep in the soil of the prophets and apostles, God has laid a sure foundation. Jesus IS the chief Cornerstone. Now was the time for Timothy to know where his groundings were and who he was in the wall structure of the holy temple (We all need to know this for perilous times require it). Next, look at the guarantee, the SEAL. "The great seal of the sure foundation" is the omnipotence of God-He knows those that are His. No false prophet need apply. No hypocrite need show his credentials. No religious rhetoric will suffice. The welcome mat for this foundation is based on the book of life, written before the foundation of the world. No "other- way" philosophy here. The all seeing, all knowing, everywhere present God determines who stands on His sure foundation. First directed to young Timothy, this became a universal rule. Because it is, there is now no need for judgment calls. Pastors facing all kinds of locals can thank God for sorting them out. HE KNOWS THOSE THAT ARE HIS. Great is the comfort in knowing this. Third in this focal verse is "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." There is really nothing difficult to understand about this portion. Simply stated, it means "straighten up your life and quit sinning." This is a "no-foolishness" passage. The force of this third part is squarely on the believer's shoulder. In the Old Testament, the people were urged to abandon Ashtoreth and their darling sins. We are told to depart iniquity. During Old Testament times, a whole generation might repent and things get back to some communal morality, but inevitably the populous backslid into idolatry and unimaginable practices. There is no room for such parlance in the New Testament. What Paul was saying is clear cut. A paraphrase might read, "For God to claim you, you must claim God." That means stop doing what you are doing because there is no slack in this order. Tolerance has left the building. This is not the case for churches and religious organizations today. This is not the case in society at large. This is not the case anywhere on earth today. So, this is not talking about an end time revival and a wholesale spiritual return to God, this is an individual undertaking. Oh' we can try to find hiding places, but in the stark reality of this Passage, there is no covering for ANY sin. When the darkness starts to cover the horizon and you and I need a sure foundation and want to hear the assurance of God's acknowledgment, it will belong to those who have departed from iniquity. Listen, there are many who are "naming the Name of Jesus" but have not departed from iniquity. That means more than personal sins; it means associational intercourse as well. If one names the Name, let him depart from anything bearing the name of "Iniquity." This means some cannot be employed by some businesses. That definition is inclusive of family members, social associations, friends, relatives, churches, government agencies. It even includes media and print.Iniquity You see, this passage is floating in the middle of one of the greatest treatises Paul ever wrote concerning the condition of the church. He cautioned Timothy about unscrupulous members in the body, who masquerade as saints and are not. For seven chapters of this "uncovering" of what is acceptable to God and what is not, he follows this with: "Nevertheless." Paul lays down the principle governing aspect for calling oneself a "Christian." Somehow, we have lost sight of what is real and what is not. Through some mystic fog, we vaguely see what really counts. This Epistle is a concise statement relating to every aspect of the Christian walk. Paul realized that once the reader captured these truths, then all other matters would fall into place. Paul does not end his testimony to Timothy with 2 Timothy 2:19. He continued on for several chapters while treating other issues. However, this focal passage stands over the whole book and says in essence, "Know me and you know the answer to all these other issues." Paul's treatise starts seven chapters before this verse. What he said in those chapters can be reviewed as flanking chapter two, verse nineteen. The focal verse stands like a giant center pole and all that drapes from it is dependent on it. So important is this epistle that Paul wanted Timothy to train others to heed this message. For purposes of this study I must divide I and II Timothy along three lines:2 Tim 2:1-2 1. Paul's teaching about what constitutes iniquity. 2. Paul's thoughts regarding himself and his ministry. 3. Paul's commands to the young pastor, Timothy. I. Paul's Teachings on what is iniquity. First, let it be said that this is not a teaching on the "mystery of iniquity," it encompasses a look into the expressions of it. Paul is aware of iniquity in the early church and it must be dealt with. (Consider the erosion that has taken place over the centuries. The church has undergone several purges, and most of them have come to the forefront when God's people read the teachings of Paul.) One might expect these traits coming from dens of iniquity, pointing fingers at houses of prostitution, gaming arenas and gathering places for thugs and undesirables might be one thing, but to point to the church and address its iniquity is another. Example: It was one thing for Billy Sunday to rail with a 40 page treatise on "Battling with booze," and quite another for the evangelist to point out heresy in the ranks of the cathedral. He could say "every damnable thing that has crawled out of the pit of hell comes from the grog shop." (He preached so vehemently that Prohibition became the law of the land, but the lawless could not stand the heat. It was soon repealed.) Today, no one rails about anything, and the lawless have found their way into the channels of religion and produce "mild mannered men speak mild mannered things to mild mannered people." Just how different is this from I Tim. 1:6-7? Outside the church, we know the spirit of iniquity prevails. Restraints of the Law (the Commandments) are necessary for them, but the church is supposed to be redeemed from the curse of the Law. Dare we ask who among the flock resemble the world?1 Tim 1:9-10 There are some who fall just short of being "the shipwrecked." They are addressed as the younger widows in Timothy (could we include "single mothers" today?). What of those who are Shipwrecked in their faith, who are visible in myriads of congregations?1 Tim 5:12-15 Who are these shipwrecked people? I Timothy 4 tells us they are among those of the latter days…woe to us!1 Tim 1:19-20 I know pastors, elders and deacons who are shipwrecked according to this definition! I know worship leaders who are shipwrecked according to these criteria. It's time for churches to find the safe harbor of 2Timothy 2:19!1 Tim 4:1-3 The operative words in these scriptures are "withdraw" and "shun." How complicated is that?1 Tim 6:3-5 Enter another verse: To whom should we address? Look out over the congregation and see the homosexuals, the live- in lovers, the affair driven consorts, ranging from Presidents to the next door neighbor. All of them are in good standing.2 Tim 3:1-7 "Depart from iniquity" is a mega church nightmare, where the pastors shudder at the loss of every giver! So what if the crowd Thins and the Holy Ghost Grins, that would be a reasonable trade-off. Many of those who would departed should no longer be your associates, or be welcome at your family reunions, until they repent. The altars would be full if the call was poignantly specific from these verses for conviction would strike the audience---the healing line would be shorter, but the gospel train fuller---O God, help us see preachers preach something greater than hyper grace. Help them stand on the immovable foundation and declare like Wesley on his father's grave: Repent Now! Change Now! (Pardon me while I break for a Holy Ghost fit and speak in tongues.) II. Paul's thoughts regarding himself and his ministry. Having laid out his credentials for all who might read his circulated epistles, Paul turns directly to the task…teaching conduct for the house of God.1 Tim 1:1 Timothy might encounter resistance to the instructions he is given, but he is to remember who it was that instructed them and rest in that knowledge.1 Tim 3:15-16 Look at the cost for standing for truth! Being poured out as a drink offering means hitting the soil it cannot be retrieved). When is the last time you remember preaching coming forth from a man of God in great stress for those who hear him? I remember C.B. Jackson. No, I do not remember one of his texts, but what I do remember is the endless compassion with which he spoke. It moved me then; it moves me to remember. Who can remember such anointing?2 Tim 1:8-12 Example: They once spoke of the preacher in Glasgow, Robert Murray McCheyne, that he prepared his messages in a tower room unknown to most. There, with a Bible, a chair, a table with a window overlooking the downtown district, he began the task of preparation for services. It was in this sparse room he labored for his sermons. Some researchers said, years after his death, they knew the secret of his success in winning multitudes to Christ. He would read John 3:16 and meditate as he looked out the window at the people below. He would return to his chair and read it again. Then to the window he strode to meditate it again, until he was overcome with emotion and buried his face in his hands until tears would roll through his fingers and stain the pages of the book. No wonder thousands lined the streets early on Sunday morning to have a seat in the congregation. O God, where are the McCheyne's? Of all those who owed him their very life in Christ, "no one stood with me." No one came from the campaigns in Asia, "no one stood with me." The years stay in various far flung cities that encountered many and added believers to the Body produced not a one, "no one stood with me." Do you really understand what was being said at this point? Beaten multiple times, imprisoned and in chains many places, shipwrecked and bitten, disparaged by the Jews of his own tribe and now, "no one stood with me!"2 Tim 4:16-18 "BUT, the Lord stood with me and strengthened me." Get ready church; get ready for the biggest sellouts in history, and it will be from the "brethren." Get ready, pastors, those of your own flock will stare into space and walk away when the "get down" time arrives. Get ready to stand alone with the Lord strengthening you. No wonder two diadems joined hands in this epistle, "Diadems of praise" to the Lord who stood with Him. He, who penned "neither height nor depth" can separate you from the love of God, knew what he was saying. He also wrote, "I will never leave you or forsake you" about the One who stood beside him. When Paul thought about Him, his grateful heart wrote: (Tears are welling up in my eyes, so I am barely able to continue writing. So profound is this praise that it puts to shame the rock and roll of an atomized stage in the modern church.)1 Tim 1:17 III. Paul's commands to the young pastor, Timothy. Yearly, hundreds of conferences and training sessions go forward worldwide. Many foreign pastors can barely keep up attendance as the American, Australians and British churches sponsor leadership meetings to educate and indoctrinate pastors. Some are specialized, going only to those countries of the 10-40 window or just to a specific country. What is important to note is this: how many focus on what Paul said to Timothy as being "important?" It is interesting to assess what a "soon dying Paul" felt was important enough to transmit as a "command" to this young pastor. It just might do to "take stock" of the average seminar and repent in the wake of what you will see in the next few pages. The charge of Paul to Timothy is not given to idle words. These are what every preacher of the gospel must know and abide by. He says in essence, "look at my example" and "follow me." These are not recommendations and suggestions to be reviewed and, if it seems logical or the right time, to implement. These are the words of a man destined to a death sentence telling his successor what to do both now and when he is gone. Oh, church! What kind of "prophecy" are you listening to? Is it the rhyming platitudes of "thus saith the Lord, your life is about to change?" Listen up church, the standard of prophecy is measured by the kind Paul is inferring. "According to the prophecies previously made-- that by them you may wage war" is different from modern prophecies!1 Tim 1:18-19 The church has rarely encountered these kinds of prophetic words in recent times. Words which are spoken by men and women of God who hear from heaven and who are slow to speak and quick to listen are rare. Seminars of value need to start with this verse! Many of the engagements of pastors are not "the Lord's battles." How reliable is the prophetic input in your life? I know from experience that reliance on a true word increases my faith and can be counted on to come to pass regardless of the time line.1 Tim 1:18-19 "Fight well," "Cling tightly" are action words that require resolve and perpetuity. Clinging tightly to faith in Christ, while keeping your inner man clear and doing what is right, is rarely seminar material. Review now the balance of Paul's concerns for Timothy. If you are going to be a pastor, this is important.1 Tim 2:1-3 How is that for a good seminar (Just those verses that lead to "what's important" to God). Don't argue that pastors already know this and these verses are too "nebulous." Try this as curriculum and see how the Holy Ghost will bless it.1 Tim 3:1 Advice to Pastor Timothy Verse 16 stands high in these passages. It is followed by a statement of deep responsibility.1 Tim 4:11-12 Paul turns to some practical pastoral advice:"Doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you." Wow! Let that verse hang like a Damocles sword over next week's sermon and see if there is need for a change. Hermeneutics fall like Dagon before this word! Church counselors are you listening?1 Tim 5:1-2 Addressing what separates the "man of God" from religious clergy came next on Paul's agenda. Continuing with the "man of God" theme:1 Tim 6:11-16 I should think that any pastoral seminar for emerging countries would start with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. How can 2Timothy1:14 be taught without such background? How can one KEEP by an element he does not possess?21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. 22 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's sins; keep yourself pure. (Hanging over this entire treatise is the massive covering of "Nevertheless, the foundations of the Lord are sure.") Even these verses bow before 2 Tim. 2:19. The "therefore" in this verse is of the same nature as the "nevertheless" of 2:19. It is summative.2 Tim 2:1-3 Finally, Paul's vision purveyed the life situations found in the "last days." Of course, this subject began in Timothy's time, but is highly pertinent for us who live in the last of the last days.2 Tim 2:9 Yep, that gang will strut their stuff as the parade of history comes to an end. Look at what Paul says the leadership of the church must do: from such people turn away.2 Tim 3:1-2 Undoubtedly, Paul was convinced he had covered all the areas that were important in these chapters. He delivered his message and gave his best, and it became a block buster epistle. "Truth and demand" ooze from its pages, and the very heart of the great missionary is unveiled for view. If what he preached in the early days of the church was needed then-how much more is it needed now?2 Tim 3:10-11 It is a sin to quote from Timothy and exclude the preaching of its entirety. It is a mockery not to deliver this message to a church who is currently grieving the Holy Spirit. Why attend a fellowship that is not approved by His presence? Better there be empty seats than empty hearts. Better there be a "blessed few" than a lost multitude. Better there be empty offering plates than stuffed prelates pretending to teach righteousness and true holiness. Let there be a "cleansing in the clergy" and out of their tears of repentance, let holiness be birthed. showing a genuine love for the people. O Lord, let Sunday gatherings be filled with testimonies of what is actively occurring when the Holy Spirit guides his people through the week. Let us hear testimonies from saints in right standing. Let us hear messages flowing through an anointed pulpiteer with a holy following, capable of drinking from the water of life instead of the Kool-aid. Pastor, let them say of you, "He preaches like one of the old time gospel preachers," instead of listening to the bump and grind of an entertainer. Charisma is a great benefit to an actor or public speaker, but the robes of a priest before an altar of flame yield a different result than what modern churchmen see. (Pardon me while I break into tears and can write no more.) Until Next month, Dr. Cosby R. Oliver, PhD. |
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