2 Timothy 3:10-17

2 Timothy 3:10-17 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings — what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Timothy is Paul's son in the Spirit. Timothy learned Christ through Paul's teaching and by viewing Paul's life. He tasted the Holy Spirit's attributes in Paul's spirit, and he heard from Paul's lips that God is faithful to anyone that follows Jesus closely, wholeheartedly. In other words, Timothy has been prepared to be a leader in the church by the faithful apostle Paul. Not many of us have such a person in our lives, and when we do, we look at that person as a foundational person. We can look to him or her when our faith is weak, when we are struggling with this world, and when we don't know how to finish the race well. But foundational people may not always be in your life; there are times when God alone is your support.

Paul tells Timothy that following the Lord is not easy. He declares to Timothy that persecution and hardships will come to all those who follow the Lord, and sometimes those who are evil, those who exploit others, will have an easier life, more earthly rewards. However, Paul asks Timothy to remember the living epistles in his life, those who have led him to the Lord, who have instructed him in the ways of the Lord. He wants Timothy to recall their lives when he is struggling, to remember their lifestyle when he faces persecution, to remember the Lord's faithfulness to them. I wonder what Timothy must have thought when he heard Paul had been killed in Rome. I wonder how much he would have had to pray the night he heard of the dastardly act of the Romans. I wonder. . .

Who are we following? Are we following Christ who has the power to save to the uttermost or are we placing our faith in others? We can remember their acts of faithfulness to God and follow their examples, but in the final analysis we must fight the good fight alone by learning of Christ, placing our faith in him, LISTENING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, knowing the Word. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Unless the Lord returns, your Christian elders that you depend upon will die off or they will not be available in a time of need. Your Christian parents will pass away. Then, what will happen to your faith? How much zeal and dedication will you display then?

Every Christian must accept the responsibility of taking the gospel of Christ to the world. Every believer must be a foundational person. A Christian life must be able to withstand the careful scrutiny of the world. Every Christian must learn of Christ without undue dependence upon others. Every Christian must eventually be able to stand firm, to resist the devil, to take up the cross and follow Christ. Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29) Christ has promised you that He would be with you through your life, and He sent the Holy Spirit to give us strength and power, wisdom and revelation. Consequently, every morning when your feet hit the ground, you must say in your heart, "Lord, what do you want for me today? I need to know you. Lord, let me hear your voice today." No other life will overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil successfully. Any other life will eventually falter or sink into unbelief or despair. Christians must be sustained in the Spirit, by their intimate walk with Christ, not merely by the inspiration and the words of others and their walk of faith.

Timothy's Christian mother died, Paul was killed, and other significant people in Timothy's life passed on, perhaps before their time, but I am confident that Timothy carried his vibrant Christian testimony to the end, through the gauntlet of life. I am also confident that all of you who are reading this breakfast will carry on to the end and be foundational Christians to all those who need you, depend upon you. For sure, you would not be reading this breakfast if that were not true. Praise God! He will perfect the good work that He has begun in you.