Pastor Daniel Ho, 11/02/2012
Pastor Tom Deuschle, from Celebration Ministries International from Zimbabwe is with us. Their theme is “Building People and Building Dreams” to build nation. He encouraged the young people not to wait too long to serve God. He told us God will use young people and there will be a revival in Asia and Africa.
We like to see good workmanship. We are happy to see good workmanship. We are also supposed to be good workmen. God wants us to be good workmen.
2Ti 2:14-26 Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. (15) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (16) Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. (17) Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, (18) who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. (19) Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” (20) In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. (21) If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. (22) Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (23) Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. (24) And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. (25) Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, (26) and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
God’s Approved Workmen:
1. Do not lead quarrelsom lives
(v 14, 16, 23, cf Prv 20:3, 17:19a, Eph 4:29)
Pro 20:3 It is to a man’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.
Pro 17:19a He who loves a quarrel loves sin
Pro 17:28 Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.
“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”
(v 20-22, cf. 1 Tim 4:7-8, Pro 22:11, 21:2)
We are designed by God to live holy lives. If we are to live holy lives to impact the society, we are to live by the book, the Word of the living God. We are to spend time with the Bible and to master the book and better yet let the book master us! This book has relevance for this life and the next.
1Ti 4:7-8 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. (8) For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
Young people today are so emphatic about looking good. Nothing wrong with that, we must all keep fit. More than physical fitness, we need to need godly lives. We need to take in the Word and live by the Word. If we are wise investors, we will invest in what is to come. DUMC has so much emphasis on the Word of God and training.
Paul was concerned with a pure heart. He urged us to flee from evil desires.
Pro 22:11 He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.
Pro 21:2 All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
God is concerned with our heart. Upon engaging a person, Pastor Daniel always prays for God to reveal the condition of the person.
A man / woman may look good but we need to know the heart. When Pastor Daniel prays for business people, he prays for them to be associated with the right people. DUMC is seeking to build a church filled with servants. When the servants of God march on, nothing can stop the Kingdom of God.
3. Must be able to rightly handle God’s Word
(v 15, 24-26)
In the original Greek, “correctly handles the Word” = cutting it right.
We must not just start right but also end right.
What is needed?
- Devotion. We need to ask God to give us a hunger for God’s Word. Whether a person will take up a leadership position depends on humility, teachability, accountability and spirituality. When God’s hand is upon us, we won’t be able to run. We need to give ourselves wholeheartedly. Consider the parable of the sowing of seeds. Seeds that fall on good soil grow well. Whether the soil of our heart is good soil depends on how we cultivate it and how hungry we are of God’s Word.
- Discipline. We must discipline ourselves by making time, getting up early, read the Bible, journal. Make time daily for God’s word.
Don’t allow the world to distract us. Distractions can come in very ordinary ways like our life, work, career, family.
Diversions may come along, e.g. the wrong kind of relationship. It may consume us and make us totally useless to God. It can also be wrong hobbies.
Money, wealth, success and power can be deceptions.
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