Introduction:
To excel at anything in life discipline is necessary. This is true for athletes, musicians, plumbers, accountants, and for being a mature spiritual person. Effective discipline should not be a grind but we can at times lose heart as we age. Our physical strength abates; our health deteriorates; our memory gets cloudy. Without proper spiritual discipline our spiritual strength abates too. We must not despair. Growing older can mean maturing, growing in grace and fruitfulness, less critical of others, less impatient by the grace of God. However to produce this…
I We Need Disciplines in our Lives (2:22).
1. In verse 22, Paul says there are things we are to flee and things we are to follow. Youthful lust is something we struggle with even when older so we must practice self-control in our lives. Lust and greed whisper in our ears that we would be happier if we had more money, more things, and more control. — I John 2:16
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
To be someone God will use, there must be a balance of fleeing and following in our lives. First, we are to flee … youthful lusts (2:22a)…. Most bad habits start in our youth. Most people who smoke or drink started as youths. Most people who curse started as youths. Most people who get involved in immoral relationships started as youths. Youthfulness can bring with it impatience, contentiousness, intolerance a lust for power, money, and sensual pleasures.
Illustration: In Des Moines, Illinois a man was a collector of rare comic books. He just had to have the scarcest and the best. One day a rare 1963 Spider-Man comic book second issue, printed in the original series went on the market for $980 at a Naperville store. The man was broke but he went out and purchased the Spider-Man comic book with a phony check so he be first to get it. He was later indicted on charges that he used a forged check.
2. We can’t just decide to flee evil habits; we must replace them with good ones. The word “flee” translates a Greek word (phuego, few-go), from which we get the English word “fugitive.” This verb indicates you will still have the desires you had as a youth, but you must be a fugitive and run from these strong lust. In the Christian life we often find ourselves in situations where we either flee or fall. As we flee our youthful lusts, we are to follow righteousness as Joseph did in Genesis 39: 10-12.
3. It is not enough to get rid of sin, we must follow righteousness the Lord warns us that our latter fate will be worse than our first. A vacuum has to be filled with something, and if not righteousness, it will be some form of sin.
The word righteousness refers to action that follows God’s directions in His Word, the Bible. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16. God will use us for more; the more righteous we are. We are to be filled with the fruits of the spirit, faith, charity, peace as reads Galatians 5:22.
Also, if we are to be used of God, we must frequent the company of them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22d). The good traits of faith, charity, and peace are best developed in the company of people with pure hearts. To be used of God, we must live cleansed lives, discipline lives, and
II We Must Live with a Humble Spirit (2:23-26).
1. Paul writes: But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive (2:23-24a). The word translated foolish (mor-os) is the word from which we get our English word “moron.” Paul is warning Timothy about entertaining foolish questions. Don’t entertain the morons. The word translated unlearned means ignorant. God frowns upon arguments because they gender strife’s. The word translated strife’s means quarreling and fighting. Keep from moronic arguments and debates that attack the Scripture.
2. Instead of quarreling, an honorable vessel must be gentle unto all men (2 Timothy 2:24b). We cannot compromise biblical truth, but we must be firm and gentle to everyone, even those who strongly disagree with us. Apt to teach (2:24c) refers to church leaders, who must be able to teach the truth of God’s Word. These truths are especially for pastors, and leader that includes fathers. Humility also requires one to be patience to be used by God.
3. This means we have patience when we are wronged or endure ill treatment. If we are to be used by God, we cannot be consumed with trying to justify or vindicate ourselves but with being a vessel God can use. Paul writes: In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves (2:25a). The word meekness implies a spirit of humility.
Illustration:
On the last day of the US Civil War, Officer Joshua Chamberlain was in command of the Union army. His soldiers lined up on both sides of the road upon which the Confederate army had to march down in surrender. Chamberlain knew that one belligerent act one prideful sneer could be turned to slaughter. In a spirit of humility Chamberlain ordered his troops to salute their foe! No mocking, no vicious words only their guns in salute and swords raised to honor.
Our goal should never be to embarrass or prove someone wrong, but to be used of God to gently bring people to repentance. This means we treat them respectfully and do not argue or talk down to them. If we are to be people God can use, we must be full of humility and gently instruct those who oppose us, hoping God … will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth (2:25b).
4. We should do this in the hope they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will (2:26). The devil is most afraid of a person God can use. He knows the power of one life that can be used by God, and fears him or her. Satan sets his snare, which can be money, sensual pleasure, the pride of feeling intellectual, or whatever. He knows our weaknesses and sets his snare accordingly. I Peter 5:8
5. Having a humble spirit means we understand we also are not above falling into sin. When someone falls into sin, we may sometimes be tempted to sin by acting holier-than-thou, or have an “I told you so” attitude. When a person is caught in sin, we are not to humiliate or punish them. Let’s look at the warning given us in Galatians 6:1-2.
Conclusion:
Dr. David Livingstone became a missionary doctor in 1841. He was posted to the edge of the Kalahari (cow-a hard- re) Desert in southern Africa. Livingstone became convinced of his mission to reach new peoples in the interior of Africa and introduce them to Christianity, as well as freeing them from slavery. He worked relentlessly until his death in 1873. In Britain he was a national hero to the Africans he was beloved. For years he carried out official explorations of eastern and central Africa for the British government as well as preaching and medically treating others. How could one man do this?
That great missionary to Africa penned these words: My Jesus, my King, my life, my all; to Thee again I dedicate myself.” He had written these words the night he died! His sons found that he died on his knees beside his bed, in the posture of prayer. “For Livingstone, every day was another day to grow in grace and to serve God. What about you?
Do you want to be a useful vessel? Pure fellowship, a clean heart, a discerning mind, a gentle manner, a humble spirit and a compassionate attitude will create a useful, noble vessel for God.