Today I'm Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. I have a confession to make. One of the greatest challenges in my life is I get distracted. I get distracted from the Lord, what's most important, and it so frustrates me. Today, we'll learn from the Apostle Paul how to really stay focused.
You don't want to miss it. How do you stay focused when the world keeps pulling you in a thousand directions? It's a pressing question for the times we live in. And today on Living on the Edge, Chip Ingram explores 2 Timothy chapter 2 to unpack Paul's practical action plan for staying strong and focused in difficult times. I'm Dave Druy, and we're in a series called You Can Make Disciples: Personal Coaching from the Apostle Paul.
If you have your Bible, open it now to 2 Timothy 2. Here's Chip with today's lesson titled, Be Strong, Don't Be Distracted. And so I uh I sort of outline this with Paul's action plan for Timothy and for us to be strong in difficult times. Number one. Make abiding in Christ your number one priority every day.
Second, is make personally investing in fat people. Your Number two priority. And that was not, you know, about size or weight F was for faithful, A was for available, and T was for teachable. Notice then he he goes on. He says, develop a never-give up attitude by actively meditating on three specific metaphors, and we read them.
The first one I believe is the singular focus of a soldier. Why would he use that term? First of all, the focus of a soldier, it's a battleground. Guarding what goes into your mind. Not getting distracted.
Not getting distracted by secondary things. Important, but they're secondary. Second, the continual discipline of a victorious athlete. He uses the word for a crown. There's a couple words in the New Testament for a crown.
One is for like for a king, and the other was a wreath if you were a victorious athlete. Then I love the last metaphor, simile. is the patient perspective of the farmer to combat discouragement. What a farmer knows is you never reap in the same season that you sow, right? And then he shifts, and it's almost like a battle cry.
It's remember, remember, remember who Jesus really is and what he's really done. What's it say? Remember Christ. risen from the dead. Divinity.
Son of David Humanity. According to my gospel. This isn't like all the Jesus that used to live, and I know he's done these things and these doctrines and these truths. Remember, he's alive. And I read it, and remember, he was human, he was tempted in all ways like you, he understands.
And he's forgiven us and he loves us. and were apprentices. That's what a follower is. We follow an apprenticeship to Jesus. And every apprentice, when you're learning something, what?
You stumble. I love Psalm 37. It says If the Lord delights in a man, the Lord delights in a woman. when he stumbles. Or when she stumbles, you will not fall.
For the Lord will hold you by his hand. And to remember it. You're not performing for a God whose arms are crossed, whose toes tapping, and saying, Why don't you get with the program? It's a risen Savior. Who says, I've given you all that you need.
My arms around you. Hey. Together. Let's walk together. Let me show you what I've created you to do.
Don't compare yourself with anyone else. I've gifted you. I put you in this family, in this season of life, in this season of human history. And I'm going to use, open this book. I just use ordinary people.
There are no superstars. But what I want you to do is I want you to remember. That I'm alive. and that I love you and that I'm for you. Remember the person of Jesus, verse 8.
Remember the power of God's word. Verse 9, for which I suffer Hardship and imprisonment as a criminal. He's picturing being chained, but the word of God is not imprisoned. The power is not in the messengers. The power is in the message.
When the weakest person takes the message, there's power. For the gospel is the power of God into salvation.
So you remember that, you remember the eternal implications. of those who taught you. He says, For this reason, I endure things for the sake of those who are chosen.
so that they may obtain salvation. In other words, there's significance on the line. I don't understand how it all works. I know that we need to believe and trust God, and I know God chooses, and I know He's sovereign, I know we're responsible. And how those things fit together.
This was written long before Calvin wrote his Institutes or Jacob Arminius tried to say, hey, I think you got a little off. Only Paul and Jesus knew what he knew, is God's chosen people. And the means by which he chooses them is they hear the gospel and they put their faith in the gospel. And he's prepared people and he loves people. And whosoever believes can have eternal life if we don't suffer, if we don't endure, if we don't go into battle and do what God's called us to do.
And there's a big problem out there.
So he says there's a lot on the line.
So remember, remember what's at stake. And then I like this. I just put verses 11 through 13. Remember to keep preaching the gospel. to yourself.
It says, For this is a trustworthy statement. If we died with him, we'll also live with him. If we endure, we'll also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us. If we are faithless, he remains faithful.
for he cannot deny himself. And most think this to be a a hymn of doctrine that's been developed over time. In the Christian church. The first line is literally Paul's Romans chapter 6. Right.
We've died with him in baptism. When we believed, we entered into his death. And if you've entered into his death and you've trusted Christ, you're going to live with him. It's in the present tense. That's not the future.
Right now. You live with him in his power. If we endure, we'll also reign with him. You think of all those passages in Revelation about perseverance and endurance. He's talking about the rewards that believers have for doing what they're called to do, giving an account for their life.
Again, another whole area I certainly don't understand, but it's very clear in Scripture that heaven isn't some place where you just float around, drink iced tea. and go to l an eternal worship service. There's a new heaven and there's a new earth that's as concrete as this one, except it's perfect. And there's nations and there's songs and there's poems and their work and there's responsibilities and some big part of the reward. Is what we do now in our faithfulness to Christ has a direct proportion about part of our eternal existence and the rewards that God wants to give us.
And as we know, if you've ever been to a birthday party and you don't have a gift to give, it's a really lousy feeling. And there'll come a day when, remember that old song, Casting Our Crowns? Before the throne. There'll come a day where the greatest moment I think we'll ever have is whatever rewards by the grace of God we receive by being faithful and enduring and doing what He called us to do, we will have an opportunity to put those at Jesus' feet and recognize, like never before, it was of His grace, and it's our gift back to Him. Follow Jesus.
Be willing to suffer. Live out your faith. Be a soldier. Be focused, be an athlete, be disciplined, be a farmer, keep sowing. even when you don't see the results for a while.
and remember the risen Lord. And then you have this interesting, he says, if we deny him, he will deny us. And if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself. And you know, if you want to read a lot of controversy, go to that next verse and the whole issue of apostasy. My my best sense is that Peter denied him, didn't he?
And I think when we deny him as believers, genuine believers. He denies us the peace, the fruit, the direction. I don't know about you, but I've lived as a believer not willfully not walking in God's will. And I did not experience the fruit of the Spirit. Right.
And now, are there some people who drift away who probably demonstrate that they never were believers, but they? They disown God. Peter actually said, I don't know him. And when we do that by our behavior or by our words, I think we forfeit the blessings of God. But I think Paul's trying to encourage Timothy and encourage these people to persevere.
He says: if we're faithless, when we really blow it, he's faithful. He can't deny himself. And so there's a real warning for people that are, I think, playing around with the Christian life. And I think there's a real comfort for those of us that are believers. to realize that If in our behavior or a lifestyle will deny him, then we're going to reap the consequences of behaviors that God never wants for us.
But I think it's also a word of great encouragement. I don't know anyone that isn't faithless at times. I don't know anyone that doesn't blow it. I don't know anyone that doesn't feel like, I just don't know if God could really help me now in light of, and you fill it in, right? I think he's saying God will always be true to His Word.
the millisecond that we repent, the moment we turn from whatever it is, And say, God, I'm... I am broken over this. He's faithful. This entire section is written to a young pastor. Don't give up.
Don't give in. Don't be ashamed of the gospel. Don't shrink back. And then he he shifts gears. And he says, now, Timothy, let me tell you about...
What's happening in the church, and what you need to teach. He says, Remind them of these things and solemnly exhort them in the presence of God not to dispute about words which is useless and leads to the ruin of his listeners. And then by contrast, be diligent. To present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of God. But avoid worldly and empty chatter.
for it leads to further ungodliness. And their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenius and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth, claiming, these are false teachers, that the resurrection has already taken place and they're jeopardizing the faith of some. We'll be right back with more from Chip Ingram here on Living on the Edge. If you want to see Chip teach, not just hear him, the Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram YouTube channel has the full video experience, complete series, on-screen message notes, and content you won't get to see anywhere else.
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Now back to the message. And so in this section, What he's doing, he's saying, look. Be diligent and study. Accurately communicate God's word as your number three priority. Abide in Christ, make disciples, and then make sure, Timothy, you accurately communicate God's word in a world.
where there's such false teaching and such chatter.
So many secondary things, so many arguments. In verses 15, 18, and 24, I get the idea: dig deep. And to God's word, humbly teach the truth boldly. Verse 15, 18, and 24, he used this of the doctrine, the truth. Second, refuse to get sucked into pointless debates.
Picking it up at verse 14. He says notice Solemnly exhort them not to dispute about words. 16. Avoid worldly and empty chatter. 19.
Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands having this seal. The Lord knows those who are His, and everyone who names the name of the Lord. will turn away from wickedness. He's really telling him Make sure you stay focused on the things that are important. on God's word and God's truth.
And by way of application, I just think the secondary things that we're facing I think you should do your research and have convictions, and then you should wisely vote and participate and be a Christian citizen. But I don't think any of that can become above our first priority of being followers of Jesus and disciples of Jesus and recognizing the people that disagree with us about any of those areas inside or outside the church. are somehow the enemy. We've taken secondary causes And I think the enemy is laughing as we actually attack one another. Jesus prayed for our unity, but Paul says: once you're in the body of Christ, can I tell you that someone who is on the opposite side of whether you're politically, if they're a believer, you're one with them.
If they're a follower of Jesus, Ephesians 4: We are one body. The command isn't to create unity, it's to maintain the unity.
So it's we can agree to disagree, but how would you ever talk to or treat a brother or sister in Christ? with dignity with respect with gentleness with a first listening to understand. The challenge in our world over and over, the truth, the truth, the truth, the truth. This would be, if Paul was alive today, I think, the empty chatter. The posting.
the arguments about these secondary things. Instead of I did my own research. These are my convictions. And I can understand that other people could have different convictions. My command is how I treat them is to love them, honor them, respect them, and tastefully and kindly disagree in conversation.
not in condemnation. We got to get back through there. And here's the thing, isn't it interesting? I guess there's nothing new. They had the same problems there.
Now he that there's this interesting line. At least it was new for me. In the midst of all of this, who's right, who's wrong, there's all this chaos. He says now. The firm foundation of God stands having this seal.
When they would build a building in the ancient world, they would put an inscription. And often it was, you know, here's this big building and Claudius Augustus, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, right? You know, it's like, oh, he did it during this time. And he's using this metaphor. And he says, there's two inscriptions.
He says, one inscription, the Lord knows whose are his. And the second, everyone who names the name of the Lord is to keep away from wickedness. And so Then he he moves to his next sort of picture. And what he wants to now talk about to Timothy is Timothy In the church, there's always going to be chaos. There's always going to be false teachers.
There's always going to be people that drift. There's always going to be people that are faithful. And so now he's going to take this picture and he's going to say, you know, in a normal home, you have certain vessels, you know, you have gold or silver or a chalice, and then there's things that are made out of wood or this or that. And basically he's going to say, you know, there's certain things that are honorable and certain things that are, you know, disposable, if you will. And then he, right in the middle of his metaphor, he shifts.
And basically says Here's the deal, Timothy. What you need to do is, in the midst of all the chatter and all the chaos, and all the confusion, and all the pressure, and all the persecution. What you want to be is a vessel of honor for God. And to be a vessel of honor, what you need to do is walk purely before him. And you want to be the kind of person that God can use.
That the Master could really use for his eternal purposes. And then he's going to go on and talk about. the impact of that not only for you, but for your hearers.
So we pick it up, notice there's another therefore. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be an implement for honor. sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. And then I love this. I memorized this in the living Bible as a young man when I so struggled with lust and just didn't feel like I could ever overcome it.
Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace. with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart. And he's just saying to him, you know what, there's internal temptations. but refuse foolish and ignorant speculation, knowing that they produce quarrels. And then notice this admonition.
The Lord's bondservant must not be quarrelsome. But be kind to people that agree with you. Oh oh uh so so Oh. I I'm not sure. I think I might have misread that one.
Skillful in teaching. Skillful. Skillful teachers don't beat people over the head. Skillful people don't shove stuff in front of their adult children that say they don't really walk with God anymore. You ought, you should, you ought, you should, why don't you?
This is going to happen to you. They don't argue with him over politics at Thanksgiving. Doesn't mean they agree with him. Doesn't mean they condone their behavior. Notice skillful in teaching, patient when wronged.
The it's an interesting word study on that word. It kind of has the idea of something that has a long fuse.
Something that takes a long time to get to the point where. You blow up or you react. Anybody here been wronged? By someone you that you really love. By the way, no one can hurt you like your kids.
They're your source of greatest joy. and greatest heartache. Because they got your heart. Patient when wronged. The Lord's bondservant must not be quarrelsome, but kind.
I mean not neutral, kind. to everyone. Chip, you mean I'm supposed to be kind too, and you you fill in the political figure or the person who represents what makes you most angry. I'm supposed to be kind to him. Yeah, that's how the world got turned upside down.
You mean I'm supposed to love my enemies? I'm supposed to pray for those who persecute me. Those people that are trying to ruin our country. Take away what I hold near and dear. See, one of the things Christians in America have to ask is: Do you care more about America or the kingdom of God?
Christians have become a voting block instead of a transformational people taking the gospel and living out the kingdom of God to transform a nation from the inside out. Half of the population completely disagrees with your values. Is the agenda to win a political war or to win their souls. And is the agenda to act in such a way that they would scratch their head and say, I totally disagree with you. But your kindness and your love and the impact in the community and what you're doing for the poor and how you're helping other people and the difference that you're making.
Well guess what? They ask about the hope within us. They're not the enemy. They're blinded by the enemy. God loves them.
Our credibility wasn't because we preached the gospel, we're right, and you're wrong. It was it. We begin to do the things that Jesus did without compromising the truth. To which they would say, So this is Christianity? Guess what?
There are no them. There's just people. You sit down and talk to someone, tell me. What was your family like? But what tell tell me a little bit about some of the struggles you've gone through?
Have you had that conversation? These are people. Hurting people. Doesn't Jesus love Liars and adulterers and stealers and fornicators and alcoholics and drug addicts and Well, I was trying to describe this room. And I think that's what he's saying to Timothy, and what he's saying to us.
And he says you have to have a A minister's servant's heart. You're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram and a message titled Be Strong, Don't Be Distracted. One of the final lessons from Chip's series called You Can Make Disciples: Personal Coaching from the Apostle Paul. There's more from Chip coming up in just a moment. Every message in this series is waiting for you any time on the Living on the Edge podcast.
Subscribe so you never miss one. And for the full uncut version of what Chip teaches, search for the Chip Ingram Sermon Podcast. You know, it's not always the loud temptations that derail us.
Sometimes it's just the accumulated weight of secondary things: the noise, the arguments, the endless pull on our attention. Paul's prescription for Timothy wasn't try harder, it was remember. Remember who Jesus is and what he's actually done. If that's the kind of reset you need, Chip's book, Yes, You Really Can Change, is the practical companion for anyone who wants to stop running in place and actually move forward. We encourage you to get a copy.
And because this series is about discipleship, right now we're including an extra copy with every purchase. Share it with a friend, a family member, or someone who's ready to grow but isn't sure how to take that next step. Look for the book Yes, You Really Can Change at livingonthege.org slash offers. Living on the Edge is listener-supported, and your gift makes a real difference. If this ministry has been part of your walk with God, we invite you to give back.
Donate today online at livingonthege.org or by calling 888-333-6003. Or send a check by mail to LivingOnthege, P.O. Box 3007, Atlanta, Georgia, 30024.
Now let's go to Chip Ingram for a final word. Thanks, Dave. As we close today's program, I would like you to do something. It'll take you about 60 to 90 seconds. But it'll be very important.
I want you to remember I want you to remember when you first received Christ. I want you to remember. The most specific answer to prayer you ever had I want you to remember. what it felt like to be forgiven. I want you to remember the power of God that you've seen in the circumstance in your life.
You see, the way to not be distracted is to remember who Jesus is. What really matters in life. Can I get you, I mean right now, to find 60 to 90, maybe even two minutes and sit quietly. and just say to the Holy Spirit, help me remember. the biggest moments I've ever had with you.
and the sun. and the father. and then focus on what really matters most. I'm Dave Druy. In our next lesson, Ship Ingram explains what the Bible really means when it says that we're living in the last days.
That's next time on Living on the Edge. Yeah. Today's program is produced and sponsored by Living on the Edge. Uh
