Committed to the Ministry of Truth

Transcript

GRM 958
4/23/2006
Committed to the Ministry of Truth
Selected Verses
Gil Rugh


We were talking about this morning on the focal point of the Word of God for the people of God. That is foundational to everything, because when the people of God lose their focus on the Word of God, they cease to function as the people of God. And they cease to honor Him as their God. Some of you asked about the book that I was reading from today, and it is a good book for you to become familiar with these issues. It’s called Truth and the New Kind of Christian by Scott Smith, if you’re interested in the emerging effects of postmodernism in the church. Doesn’t that make you want to run out and get it? It will help acquaint you with this whole issue of what is called the emerging church, the effects of what is known as postmodernism, and acquaint you with the meaning of that term, and so on. So that’s available at Sound Words.

Another book that I’ve been reading in lately, A Time of Departing by Ray Yungen. How ancient mystical practices are uniting Christians with the world’s religions. This is not primarily focused on the emerging church, but it is showing how really Eastern mysticism is being absorbed into evangelicalism. And even with some well-known men who have been noted as Bible teachers, they’ve now become promoters. Let me read you what he says. Ancient mystical practices are being introduced into countless churches under the umbrella of the spiritual formation movement, also known as contemplative spirituality. This belief system has roots in mysticism and the occult, and this book exposes the truth about the new spirituality that is entering the Christian church. Disturbing. We need to be aware of some of these matters, so you may be interested in pursuing that.

Let me read you some comments from another work on the emerging church, pick out some things that won’t mire us down. At the heart of the movement, or as some of its leaders prefer to call it, the conversation, lies the conviction that changes in the culture signal that a new church is emerging. Now you’ll note, we’re here to find out about the new church from what is happening in the culture, changes in the culture signal that a new church is emerging. Christian leaders must, therefore, adapt to this emerging church. Those who fail to do so are blind to the cultural ?????? that hide the gospel behind forms of thought and modes of expression that no longer communicate with the new generation, the emerging generation. In other words, the manner of communication we’re using in presenting the gospel and the truth of the Word of God no longer are effective in communicating to people today. They don’t think that way, they don’t respond to that kind of communication. And this is true, he goes on to give examples from Britain as well as the United States. You know at the heart of this movement, as I shared with you, is telling the story and your own story which as you can tell is moving the focus from the authority of scripture to the authority of experience, your experience. In fact these writers are clear to say that scripture is just one source of authority for us—we have culture and we have tradition, and basically we have our experience. But you know what happens as we try to make both the scripture and your experience authoritative—experience becomes the authority over scripture. The Roman Catholic church tries to make scripture and the church authoritative. But what is the absolute authority for the Roman Catholic church? It is the church. And so you tell your story because our experience is authoritative, and that’s what people come to believe in as they see us live, as they hear us tell our story.

In fact one of the books that one of these writers has written is called Stories of Emergence. The author of this tells his story of how he became frustrated with basic evangelical churches. Now he had some problems. He was kicked out of two Bible colleges and so on, but you know just the frustration. So he ended up leaving the regular church and becoming identified with a movement that he became convinced was more aware the church needed to get to. And one thing about this group that he now identified with, they didn’t talk much about sin anymore, perhaps twice in 12 years, he writes. Not because they did not believe in sin, but because they already knew all about sin. What they now needed was grace. Here’s a quote from him, “we don’t have to talk about sin, it’s a given. What we’re all longing for is good news.” No longer did they talk in propositions, they told stories, not least, stories that admitted their own failures, stories that disclosed their interaction with God. Ultimately these stories are not about what happened, they are about what’s going on inside us, they’re about the deep hiding places in us that show up and reveal not only us, but God’s fingerprints in our lives. And that’s a quote from this man. And stories, after all, are easy to remember, more importantly, they are the most effective way to combine complicated, difficult-to-explain truth into simple understandable bytes of reality we can grasp. Quite simply they came to believe that the church is the place where we share our stories.

Now you see what’s happening here. Now I want to share with you what God is doing in my life. This is different than I want to give you a testimony of how God has worked in my life. I want to share with you what is going on inside me. How do I know what’s going on inside me? Some of you may have seen the program this week interviewing, among others, Benny Hinn, who builds his whole ministry on his experience, beginning with when he was a young boy he saw Jesus. And then how God speaks to him inside. And how do I know that’s a real experience or not a real experience. There are people there that tried to get their children healed in his meetings, the one dear family, their son died a few months after he was supposedly healed. But they still have complete trust in Benny Hinn and have committed to give him money they can’t afford to give, because they believe in him and they believe in his story, that his experiences are true. You see we transfer our trust from the Word of God to people’s experiences—my own experience, then I begin to trust in your experience. Scripture is not just one of several authorities for us as God’s people, it is the sole authority for us, and the only way I understand my own experiences as I see them in light of the Word of God. Very crucial that we make the distinction. So even if you don’t choose to get into the details of this, you need to be aware of it so that we are not led astray.

I won’t read you that article, I’ve read it before on Spurgeon, Feeding the Sheep or Amusing the Goats. Little different in its focus, but the same problem. As you read the experiences of these people who believe the church ought to change and its source of authority ought to be adjusted, really what it comes down to is we don’t believe the church is working. It’s not attractive, it’s not appealing to unregenerate people. The same thing Spurgeon wrote about over 100 years ago. We must make a change in the message, we must adjustments, we must attract the people. And it all moves us away.

We looked at the Old Testament and the emphasis that God says is to characterize His people on His Word in its absolute sufficiency. And they are to be taken up with His Word, His words and what He has revealed is to become built into their hearts and minds. And they are to submit to it and obey it, and they are to teach it to their children and their grandchildren. All of their life is to be controlled by what God has said. And we understand as God’s people as we give forth God’s Word we are not surprised if it offends people, if it runs contrary to culture. It always has. The whole world lies in the evil world. Can we expect the world that lies in the evil one to love the truth of God? Not going to happen, and the only reason that people are saved is the sovereign power of God in His grace, that brings His truth to the human heart. That’s why Paul said I endure all things for the sake of the elect that they might come to the knowledge of Christ. And I have no desire to attract the world. All I can do is preach the Word, all you can do is share the gospel, give forth the Word, and God will use it as He sovereignly pleases.

Go to the book of Amos. Now that may not be the best way to start, but if you can…….. We were in Ezekiel—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel—those large prophetic books after the book of Psalms in your Bibles. Then you come to the book of Daniel, then Hosea, Joel, Amos. So we get through Ezekiel, hit Daniel, hit Hosea, Joel, and then we’ll be in Amos. One of the books we call the minor prophets, not because they are not of importance, but because they are small in size. Amos 8:11, behold days are coming declares the Lord God when I will send a famine on the land, and not a famine for bread or thirst for water, but rather for hearing the words of the Lord. What a tragedy. They have rejected Him, they have rejected His word, and now where will they go to hear His word. Sad. This is given to the people of God. Some of you have experienced that. You go to places, and you go to what is supposed to be a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching church and you sit down and it’s like there’s a famine. I’m here to hear the Word of God and it’s filled with other things.

We come to the New Testament, and we’ve spent more of our time in the New Testament and you’re familiar with many of these passages, but we will go to them anyway. I Timothy 3:15. And you read the epistles of Paul and we study them, we’re studying I Corinthians in our time together on Sunday morning, and you understand how he gave his truth. I mean I Timothy is an example. We studied that together. What does he say in I Timothy 3:15? I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. And by common confession, great is the mystery of godliness. And here are these basic statements of truth. He who was revealed in the flesh was vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. What is the truth that the church stands for, supports and proclaims? The truth that has been revealed, the clear statements of the Word of God.

The church is the pillar and support of the truth. What will be the pillar and support of the truth in the world if the church does not fulfill its mission? We end up with nothing. Is it any wonder the devil has an unrelenting attack on the church, doesn’t mind if the church exists as a religious institution? The devil loves religion. You understand that he’s a religious being. In the temptation of Christ in Matthew 4, what does the devil try to get Christ to do? I will give you all the kingdoms of the world if what? You bow down and worship me.

We move along a little further in our study of I Corinthians, we’re going to get into the whole issue of false worship, which is the worship of demons as Paul defines it. Serious matter. We abandon the truth of God, we abandon the genuine worship of God because we must worship God in spirit and in truth, Jesus said in John 4. If we abandon the truth as the truth, then we cease to function as the church of Jesus Christ. And this happened, as you are aware, over history again and again and again.

Paul is writing to Timothy and Timothy is in Ephesus. Back up to Ephesians 4:11, as a result of the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Christ to glory. Remember in John’s gospel, that last night with His disciples, it is important that I go to the Father so that I can send the Holy Spirit to you. When the Holy Spirit comes what does He do? He gifts the members of the church as it will be established in Acts 2. So verse 7, to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Verse 11, after the facts of Christ’s coming from heaven and then His death and burial and thus His ascension to heaven, verse 11, He gave some apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers. Those who were involved in the communication of God’s Word, they have the speaking gifts in contrast to the serving gifts as Peter divided them in his letter. This is for the equipping of the saints for the work of serving to the building up of the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith. Now you don’t have to be a rocket scientist or have a doctor of theology degree to understand that if you are going to try to corrupt the work of God in the church today, you undermine the truth that is to be proclaimed by those who are gifted in verse 11—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Then the saints won’t be equipped for the work of serving, and thus the body of Christ won’t mature. And thus we won’t have unity in the faith. Not surprising that the devil concentrates so much of his energy at the very heart of what the church is to be, at its very foundations.

Verse 14, as a result we are no longer to be children tossed here and there by waves, carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness and deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head. That’s the pattern God has established. We ought to be tremendously concerned that the evangelical church is willing to forego the careful, clear teaching of God’s Word and the clearly defined statements of the Word of God that must be believed. And have the scripture as one of our authorities, even as our most important authorities, but you understand there are other things that are authoritative for us. There is nothing else authoritative for us. And that is clearly under attack by these and it is gradually being welcomed into the church. In fact, the leading proponent of church growth today, the man who weekly has 150,000 pastors on his e-mail to receive his material, has written a foreword for one of the main books on the emerging church. Where do we go with this? Men subjected to this kind of teaching.

We’re in I Timothy, come back to I Corinthians 1. I just remind you of the basics here because we did this not too long ago. I Corinthians 1:17, Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, not in wisdom of words, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void. You see the terrible destructive result of trying to take the wisdom of men and joining it with the message of the cross. You cancel out any effect of the message of the cross. We talked about you give the antidote to the cross, so you mix it with the wisdom of men and it’s no longer powerful for the salvation of souls. Remember what Paul said to the Galatians? When you mix the cross of Christ with a message of works, you’re not preaching the gospel anymore. Understand the seriousness here—the church is abandoning the gospel. Oh no, we don’t deny the gospel, we are just saying there is more, there is something else, there’s a better way. That’s abandoning the gospel. The Judaizers were enemies of the gospel, even though they would assent to it according to Acts 15, but they weren’t satisfied with it. Paul says here to the Corinthians, I wouldn’t preach the gospel in the wisdom of speech, in the wisdom of words.

Now he understands the problem with this. Verse 18, the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. And this that we have, I read to you this morning from a man who said, you know I realized in my ministry to high school young people, college young people, the seekers were driven away by my just simply preaching the Word of God and the statements of the Word of God. Well is it any wonder? They think it’s moronic, stupidity, foolishness. Remember when Paul preached it to Festus—you’re out of your mind. To us who are being saved, we understand it’s the power of God. So the ministry we have as God’s people, we look at Israel in the Old Testament and say, how could they be so unfaithful to the God who loved them, the God who gave them His Word. Now think of what we have, we not only have all that they had in the Old Testament, we have all that God has given in what we call our New Testament. And we are privileged beyond what they ever were. Most of you have your own copy, you don’t have to just come and hear me read it to you. You can go home and open it up and read it and underline it and mark it, reread it. What excuse do we have for departing from it? If they had no excuse, like the book of Hebrews says. If the word given through angels was the required total obedience, what about the message concerning Christ. I mean, we have far more, and a completed revelation.

Romans 1:16, I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation. Why does Paul even have to say I am not ashamed of the gospel? Because people are ashamed of the gospel, it’s foolishness to the world. People think you are out of your mind, you’re crazy, you’re just plain stupid. Don’t you understand, that’s not effective today. In our culture we are offended by your declaring, and this is what these writers say of the emerging church, preaching propositional. This is a statement that must be believed is viewed as narrow, hard-hearted, bigoted. We say I don’t want to be viewed as narrow minded, I don’t want to be viewed as hard-hearted, I don’t want to be viewed as bigoted or arrogant, or as though I am saying that my way is the only way. I’m not saying my way is the only way, I’m saying God’s way is the only way. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me. That’s narrow. He also said that the way to life is narrow. That gate that you pass through is narrow, it’s only found be a few. The gate to destruction is broad, the way is broad. I mean, but now they’re not embarrassed to say, we have to be so concerned. Anybody who thinks they can hold to absolute truth today is a bigoted person, doesn’t understand language, doesn’t understand the culture in which we live, doesn’t understand the nature of truth, that it’s changing, not fixed. I say they are the ones who don’t understand truth.

Go to Hebrews 4:12. Trying to sort out some of these verses for time. He starts the chapter, we’re not going to get into all the context here, just look at verse 2. For indeed we have had good news preached to us just as they also, those from the Old Testament in Israel. But the word they heard did not profit them because it was not united by faith in those who heard. The problem with Israel, they had the Word of God preached to them, they heard it, but they didn’t believe it. The solution therefore was what? To change the word that is preached? No, the problem wasn’t with the word that was preached. The problem was with the people who wouldn’t believe. The parable of the sower that Jesus told, some of the seed, the Word of God, fell on hard ground, hardened hearts. Didn’t penetrate, didn’t accomplish anything. So we better get different kind of seed. No, that’s not the problem. The problem is the condition of the heart. The trouble with the church today is they think if they change the message and the method they will be effective. Well, they will be effective by worldly standards, but they won’t be effective by God’s measure.

Come down to verse 11, therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, the salvation that God has promised, so that no one will fall through following the same example of disobedience. For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow and is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. That’s the Word of God, living and active. It pierces to the heart, it reveals us as we are. Is it any wonder it drives those who won’t believe away? Is it any wonder Jesus asked the people, which of the prophets did they not persecute. Because people who won’t believe the Word are offended by the Word, people who refuse to believe the Word don’t want to have to hear the Word. Where do we get in our thinking that the unbeliever just wants to come into the presence of a holy God and be laid naked and bare in his wretched sinfulness, exposed. It’s not there. We are preaching a Word that is penetrating and people who don’t want to believe it don’t want to hear it. That should not amaze us.

Look in II Timothy 2. I just quoted you earlier verse 10, for this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, the elect, that they may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, and with it eternal glory. It is a trustworthy statement, if we died with Him we will live with Him, we endure, we’ll reign with Him. But if we deny Him He will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful. He cannot deny Himself. Remind them of these things, solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. But be diligent to present yourselves approved to God as a workman that does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of truth. But avoid worldly, empty chatter. It leads to further ungodliness and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth, saying the resurrection has already taken place. They upset the faith of some. Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal. Isn’t it made clear? How can I have the approval of God? I have to handle accurately the Word of God, the word of truth. His truth. Anybody denies there is objective truth, that this Bible is objective truth, that the statements of this Book are objective truth is denying what God has said.

Go to James, after Hebrews. I could have put these in better order, but back and forth is good for us, isn’t it? James 1:18, in the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the telling of your story………by the word of truth. How does the new birth occur? By the word of truth. Verse 21, therefore, putting aside all filthiness, all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the Word implanted which is able to save your soul. Prove yourselves doers of the Word, not merely hearers who delude themselves. What we read in Hebrews, the word that they heard didn’t profit them because they didn’t believe it. But don’t delude yourself into thinking hearing the Word is enough, you must believe it. But you cannot make a person believe it. All you can do is present the Word.

Now you’re in James, turn over to I Peter, just after James. I Peter 1:22, since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart. For you have been born again, not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable through the living and enduring Word of God. For all flesh is like grass, all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, the flower falls off, but the Word of the Lord endures forever, and this is the Word which was preached to you. This is God’s plan of salvation. We think God’s plan is to get as many people together as we can. No, God’s plan is to entrust His Word to His people so that they tell others what God has said, so that God in His sovereign plan might use His Word in the hearts and lives of people. I have not been called to help God out. God is not up there wringing His hands, thinking oh if only more people would come, if we could only get a bigger crowd. Oh, Gil’s got a great idea, he’s realized that just preaching my Word is offensive to people. He’s got to realize that a lot more people come to hear him tell his story. Oh, I’m so fortunate to have Gil, he’s got such good insights. What kind of God is that? Sounds like blasphemy, doesn’t it?

How have you been born again? Not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable. All flesh is like grass, all its glory like the flower of grass. Why should the church be trying to adjust its ministry to the transitory, passing thinking of man? True, our culture is different than Paul’s culture in many ways. Paul’s culture was different than Moses’ culture in many ways. What’s that got to do with anything? The Word of God is transcultural, it endures forever. People come and go, their ideas and their thinking, that comes and goes. But the Word of God endures forever.

Chapter 2, therefore, putting aside all malice, all deceit, all hypocrisy, envy, slander, like newborn babies long for the pure, unadulterated milk of the Word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. So it’s the Word of God that results in salvation, it’s the Word of God that produces growth in those who are saved. So the Word of God accomplishes everything God wants to accomplish, and His Spirit takes the Word and makes it effective. What are we to do? Give forth God’s Word. It’s God’s work, not ours. Now our part in God’s work is to be faithful in giving forth the Word. It’s God’s ministry to use the Word.

We have to go to the end of the Bible, Revelation 22. We could have done this at the end. Keep in mind, my concern is for the evangelical church, that’s who we are. I use the word evangelical because it is………you have to use something. By that I mean the church that claims to believe the Bible is the Word of God, that salvation is by grace through faith, that it is the gospel of Jesus Christ that must be heard and believed. Revelation 22:16, as Jesus speaks, I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you of these things for the churches. I am the root and descendent of David, the bright and morning star. These are just clear statements of the Word of God. The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. Let the one who hears say, Come. So this is the message of Christ, this is the message of the church, Come. Those who hear and respond to the message now join in the invitation to others, Come. Let the one who is thirsty, come. Let the one who wishes, take the water of life without cost. I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book. If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life, the holy city which are written. You see God’s attitude toward His Word. His words obviously refer to this book, the book of Revelation. But we won’t take time to go back to the Old Testament, God’s attitude toward His Word is the same, whatever portion of His Word you’re talking about. Not one jot, not one tittle will pass away, and we read in our study earlier today that you have to be careful not to add to this Word, not to take away from this Word. It’s God’s Word, we give it forth as it is.

Back up just before Revelation to III John 3, I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, how you are walking in truth. I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. We support those who minister the truth, verse 8, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth. It’s all about God’s truth—the hearing of God’s truth, the believing of God’s truth, the living of God’s truth. It’s all about truth.

In II John 1, the elder to the chosen lady and her children whom I love in truth. Not only I, but also all who know the truth, for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever. End of verse 3, it’s in truth and love. Verse 4, I hear of your children walking in truth. Verse 6, this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that just as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it, for many deceivers have gone out in the world. Verse 8, watch yourselves that you do not lose what we have accomplished and receive a full reward. Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. And a warning about not participating in the evil deeds. And this has to do with some were denying that Christ had come in the literal flesh. These are doctrinal truths, the factual statements of scripture. You deny them, you’re manifesting your unbelief. There’s just no way around the clarity of the Word of God on these matters.

Go to Acts 13, we begin the missionary journeys of Paul and we’re in the first missionary journey. We’re just going to jump into this. Acts 13:44, the next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the Word of the Lord. What is Paul going to do? He’s going to proclaim the Word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds they are filled with jealousy, began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, were blaspheming. Here is the truth. Paul proclaimed it, the factual truth, the propositional truth, the statements that God has revealed. They are contradicting the things spoken by Paul. Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said it was necessary that the Word of God be spoken to you first. Since you repudiate it, you Jews, judge yourselves by repudiating as unworthy of eternal life. We’re going to the Gentiles.

Verse 48, when the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the Word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. And the Word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region. It is a relentless emphasis, it is the Word of the Lord. And how do you get people to respond to the Word of the Lord? You don’t, God does. Now that doesn’t mean that I don’t present it as clearly as I can, doesn’t mean I don’t beg people, beg you in Christ’s stead, be reconciled to God. But ultimately I can’t change a heart, I can’t change the heart of my own family members, my own children, my parents, my closest friends. All I can do is share with them God’s truth and encourage them to believe, and to beg them to believe it. But I can’t change their heart, and only the sovereign God can turn a sinful heart to Himself when they hear the Word. And it’s the Word of the Lord that was being spread through the whole region. We’re all about the Word, and that’s what God has passed on through these faithful ministries to us.

Three more passages. II Corinthians 3. There are a number of places we could jump into this. In chapter 3 basically Paul is saying he has been made a minister of the New Covenant which he has been called to proclaim, the death, burial and resurrection and faith in Christ as God’s plan of salvation. And when you come down to verse 18, but we all with unveiled face, and the veil has been lifted in Christ, we see that in the context here, he’s already talked about it, we’re not going back earlier in chapter 3. Beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. And this ties with what Peter said in I Peter 2, as newborn babes we long for the pure, unadulterated milk of the Word, that we might grow with respect to salvation. Now here as we are beholding the glory of the Lord as it’s revealed in the Word of God, the Spirit of God is transforming us to bring us into conformity with His image. That’s the process. Now if we’re not proclaiming the truth of God we don’t have a mirror. The work of transformation is stifled.
Down in chapter 4 verse 2, we have renounced the hidden things because of shame, not walking in craftiness. It’s not our cleverness, or adulterating the Word of God, mixing it. In chapter 2 verse 17 he said we are not like the many, the hoi paloi, already in Paul’s day the many who profess to be teachers were acting as peddlers of the Word of God, hucksters, those who have adulterated the Word of God, mixed it with other things to make it more saleable. The word peddling was used of hucksters that would adulterate their product so that people would buy it. So here, those who are peddling the Word of God. But as from sincerity, as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God. Chapter 4 verse 2, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. You know, Paul says, what commends us to you. We preach the truth. As people who believe the truth, they recognize the truth. Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God. We do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord and ourselves as bond servants for your sake.

Verse 7, we have this treasure in earthen vessels so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves. We cannot make any adjustments. I cannot do anything to make it more appealing, all I can do is tell you. What could be more appealing than the love of God, in providing His Son to pay the penalty for your sin, to offer you His salvation as a free gift, free to you because the price was paid by His Son on the cross. The evidence is His resurrection from the dead. I have nothing more compelling, I have no stories to tell you more gripping than those revealed in the basic facts of the Word of God.

Go back to Jeremiah, one verse from the Old Testament, then one from the New. Jeremiah 5, we read some verses from Jeremiah but we didn’t read these verses. Jeremiah, tucked between Isaiah and Ezekiel. Jeremiah 5:22, do you not fear me, declares the Lord. Do you not tremble in my presence? Then come down to verse 30, an appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land. The prophets prophesy falsely, the priests rule on their own authority and my people love it so. What a tragedy in Israel. No longer did the prophets give out the word of God, no longer did the priests teach the word of God, and the people loved it like that. What will you do with the end of it?

Come to the New Testament, back to II Timothy 4. We think how could that happen in Israel, how could this happen in the church. II Timothy 3 ended with verse 16, all scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is the judge of the living and the dead, any by His appearing in His kingdom, preach the Word. That’s a solemn charge. All scripture is God-breathed. Timothy, I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus before whom you will give an account, tell your story. No, preach the Word. He doesn’t say your story is inspired by God, he says all scripture is inspired by God, God-breathed. You better preach the scripture. Now you preach anything else, remember I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who will judge the living and the dead. Preach the Word. Be ready in season, out of season. When people want to hear it, when they don’t want to hear it. Remember Ezekiel 2 and 3? You go tell them, they won’t listen to you, but you go tell them. That’s out of season.

Reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience and instruction. Now note this, for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, healthy teaching. The word doctrine is just the Greek word teaching. Sometimes we translate it doctrine. Sometimes we translate it teaching. They won’t put up with sound, healthy teaching. But wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires. They’ll turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. Doesn’t that sound like Jeremiah’s day? The prophets prophesy falsely, the priests rule on their own authority. My people love to have it so. But you be sober in all things. Endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. My ministry is over, my time for departure has arrived. Verse 7, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. In the future there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge will award to me on that day. Not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. Remember that charge to Timothy, the presence of Christ Jesus who will judge the living and dead. Paul says I can look forward to that day because I have been faithful. That’s not a boast, that’s not pride, it’s a declaration that I have devoted my life to the truth.

Timothy, your ministry is going to be hard. The time will be coming when they won’t endure sound teaching. We’re talking about the church here. I mean, let’s face it. The pagans, the idol worshippers never did endure the truth. There are going to come times in the church’s life when the people of God, the people of the church won’t want to hear the healthy teaching. Not going to give up church because they are going to accumulate for themselves, and that word accumulate means to heap up in piles, teachers in accordance to their own desire. They’ll turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. There isn’t any other way to describe what is being promoted these days but myths, the thinking of men that oppose the clear truth of God. We as God’s people need to be careful. We shake our heads at Israel, but there is far less excuse for us who have a completed revelation and have had this truth entrusted to us now. We must be faithful to it. If God chooses to bless His Word with great response, we thank Him. If He chooses to use His Word to drive people away, we than Him, because our greatest honor has been to what? Proclaim Jesus Christ. We give off the savor, which is the knowledge of Jesus Christ in every place. It is that savor which is pleasing to God, whether it is among those who are perishing, or among those who are being saved, at the end of II Corinthians 2. That’s the ministry of the church, that’s the ministry we have as God’s people, that’s the ministry of our lives individually as those who have believed the truth and committed ourselves to a ministry of truth.

Let’s pray together. Thank you, Lord, for your truth. How honored we are to know you. It’s only because of your grace and your sovereign intervention in our lives personally and individually that any of us have come to know you, that any of us have come to believe the truth concerning your Son. We thank you for your love in providing your Son, and your mercy and grace in calling us to yourself. Lord, you have established us as your people, as your church, your church in this place, your church in other places across the city, across this nation and around the world to be the pillar and support of your truth. Lord, we would hold this truth as precious, not only in our doctrinal statements but in our own personal conviction as your people. And Lord we would evidence that conviction by living in obedience to your truth. May our church be faithful, may your church across this nation and around the world be faithful. Not to turn aside from healthy teaching to myths, but to preach the Word in light of having to give an account before the One who is the judge of the living and the dead. We pray in His name, amen.