Lesson 9
The Foundation of Our Faith-The Books of I & II Timothy, Titus, and Philemon
Volunteers for God's Army
July 27, 2003

Focus Thought
Jesus Christ is looking for volunteers to serve Him to the best of their
ability.

Scripture Reference
Psalm 126:5-6
John 4:35-36
Romans 5:3-5
I Corinthians 9:24-27
James 3:17-18

Expositional Passage
II Timothy 2:3-6, 15, 19-23
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that
he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he
strive lawfully.
6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
. . . . .
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
. . . . .
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The
Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of
Christ depart from iniquity.
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver,
but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto
honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every
good work.
22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity,
peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender
strifes.

Focus Verse
II Timothy 2:4
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that
he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

LESSON OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
I. FILLING OUR PLACE
 A. Enduring Hardness
 B. Striving Lawfully
 C. Laboring Faithfully
 D. Studying Unashamedly
II. CHOSEN VESSELS
 A. Vessels of Honor
 B. Meet for the Master's Use
 C. Prepared unto Every Good Work
III. SERVANTS OF THE LORD
 A. Must Not Strive
 B. Must Have Gentle Hands
 C. Must Be Apt to Teach and Give Instruction
 D. Must Be Patient
CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION
      During World War II and the Korean and Vietnam Wars the U.S. Armed
forces assembled soldiers through conscription. Local draft boards chose
qualified young men to serve in the Army. Some were chosen to serve; some
were allowed to remain at home, following the normal course of life. At
first the selections were made at the discretion of the local draft boards,
but later there was a lottery that determined the order in which eligible
young men would be called.
      When the notice arrived in the mailbox, the young man knew that he had
been called to serve. He had no choice in the matter but soon would be a
member of the United States Army. Draft notices often created considerable
consternation and inconvenience to those selected for service.
      During the turmoil that swept the country following the Vietnam
debacle, the government eliminated the draft in favor of an all-volunteer
Army. The needs of the U.S. military now are met solely by men and women who
choose to serve their nation through military service. They may serve for
various reasons, but all have one thing in common-they chose to be there.
      The church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an all-volunteer organization.
There has never been any conscription for this movement. "Whosoever will,
let him come," is the watchword of the recruiters for this heavenly army of
saints. The U.S. military may only be looking for "a few good men," but the
gospel army is looking for men, women, teens, and children who will
volunteer to serve the Savior.
      Jesus clearly issued a call for volunteers (John 4:35-36).
      "Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already
to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto
life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice
together" (John 4:35-36).
      In II Timothy 2:2, Paul exhorted Timothy to commit that which he had
been taught to "faithful men." Paul expressly stated his intent: "that they
may be able to teach others also." Timothy was to gather a group of
volunteers who would submit themselves to proper training so that they could
spread the gospel and doctrines of Jesus Christ around the world. He was to
lead a unit of God's army in the fight to save the souls of mankind.
      In II Timothy 2, Paul elucidated several principles that Timothy was
to use in his personal life. They also applied to his effort to develop a
group of faithful men to fight the good fight of faith. In verses 3-6 and
15, Paul outlined the plan for "basic training." In verses 19-21 Paul
established concepts that would lead each soldier to excellence. Finally, he
detailed several concepts for reaching the lost.

I. FILLING OUR PLACE
      The recruit who has volunteered to serve in the military will be
tested to determine his or her aptitudes and abilities. Certain roles
require certain skills. In order to best assign each individual to an
appropriate position, the recruiters and leaders must know what each person
can do. Before a recruit is assigned to a specific task, however, there are
certain skills that are required of all recruits. Those are acquired in
basic training.
      The Christian soldier must acquire at least four basic skills in order
to succeed in any area of service.

A. Enduring Hardness
      Enduring hardness is a characteristic of a good soldier. Endurance is
necessary for a warrior. Soldiers undergo substantial training exercises to
insure that they develop sufficient physical endurance to meet the criteria
established by the organization.
      It is the same in God's army. Christians will be tempted to entertain
hatred, but they endure because of their training. (See Matthew 10:22.)
Iniquity shall abound, but the Christian soldier endures because of his
knowledge. (See Matthew 24:12-13.) Affliction and persecution arise, but the
good solider of the Cross endures because of hope. (See Mark 4:17; II
Thessalonians 1:4.) For the love of his master, a Christian endures all
things (I Corinthians 13:7), including suffering (II Corinthians 1:6).
 "He [Paul] considers a Christian minister under the notion of a soldier,
not so much for his continual conflicts with the world, the Devil, and the
flesh, for these are in a certain sense common to all Christians, but for
the hardships and difficulties to which he must be exposed who faithfully
preaches the Gospel of Christ" (Adam Clarke's Commentary).
      If any biblical author was knowledgeable of hardship, it was Paul. He
worked diligently. He was beaten until there were stripes on his back, even
to the point of death. He was imprisoned, stoned, and shipwrecked. He
endured weariness, pain, hunger, thirst, fasting, cold, and impoverishment
(II Corinthians 11:23-28). Yet, he continued to preach the gospel of Jesus
Christ to a lost world. He was not distracted from his purpose by the
problems he encountered; he endured hardness to insure the victory.
      A soldier in service of his country leaves his secular job behind for
the duration of his service. He cannot fulfill both his civilian
responsibilities and his military ones; he must become a soldier twenty-four
hours each day, seven days each week. He relinquishes his previous vocation
in order to be successful as a soldier. It may create hardship for the
soldier or for his family, but to be a good soldier he must put the needs of
his country first.
      A Christian can only endure hardness in the battle of the Cross if he
has successfully broken his connections with the affairs of the world. The
affections of the Christian must be on things above and not on things below
(Colossians 2:9). "No man can serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24). Our eyes
must be fixed firmly on our Master, who without sin endured the cross and
was greatly rewarded (Hebrew 12:2). He endured great pressure that we might
be saved. His example teaches us the way to live; we must take up our cross
and follow Jesus Christ.
      "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that
tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience,
hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in
our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Romans 5:3-5).
      Enduring hardness gives the Christian hope and establishes him under
the direction of the Holy Ghost.

B. Striving Lawfully
      Striving lawfully is a necessary attribute of every Christian
volunteer. Adam Clarke translated this phrase to say, "If a man contend in
the public games." Paul drew on his knowledge of Greek athletic contests in
which it was necessary to play the game by the rules if one desired to
receive the reward of the victor. A runner could finish first and still not
be awarded the crown if he failed to follow the rules of the game. Those who
violated the rules were at best disqualified; at worst, they might be
tortured and executed for failing to stay within the rules. It was
considered dishonorable and disgraceful to deliberately violate the accepted
standards of behavior for the contest.
      Paul also used a reference to athletics in I Corinthians 9:24-27.
      "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth
the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the
mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible
crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so
fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and
bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to
others, I myself should be a castaway" (I Corinthians 9:24-27).
      We must complete the struggle for spiritual success according to the
rules established by our Commander in chief. We must exercise self-control
in every matter because we are attempting to win eternal recognition. We
must live and die, fight and win according to the principles established by
the Word of God.

C. Laboring Faithfully
      God requires faithful labor of every Christian. "It is required in
stewards, that a man be found faithful" (I Corinthians 4:2). As a captain
must be able to trust his soldiers, knowing that they will carefully and
faithfully execute and obey his every command, so it is with God and His
people.
      Every Christian warrior must labor! In verse 6 the word "laboureth"
translates from the Greek word kopiao, which means, "to feel fatigue; by
implication, to work hard" (Strong's Concordance). In the King James Version
it is variously translated, "bestow labour," "toil," or "be wearied." There
is work to be done in order to win the battle. We must not be weary in well
doing; rather, we must work diligently and consistently, laboring faithfully
in the Master's vineyard.
      A farmer must work before he will reap a crop. He must prepare the
soil, sow the seeds, eliminate weeds, and complete the myriad of tasks
necessary for the production of a crop. Only after months of patient effort
will he receive his reward in harvested crops.
      The Christian soldier carefully invests in matters of eternal benefit,
knowing that "in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Galatians 6:9).
His possession of the sword of the Spirit brings him confidence as he faces
every enemy that comes against him. (See Jeremiah 15:16.) The Word of God
becomes a flame within him, inspiring him to fight faithfully, even when it
seems the odds are overwhelming (Jeremiah 20:9).
      Christians diligently, doggedly, determinedly deposit the seeds of the
Word of God in the hearts of those they meet, understanding that one day
they will behold the product of their toil.
      "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and
weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
bringing his sheaves with him" (Psalm 126:5-6).

D. Studying Unashamedly
      Studying unashamedly prepares a Christian to defeat every scheme of
the enemy. His sword is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). As the natural sol
dier participates in practice exercises to become familiar with his weapon,
so the soldier of the Cross must scrutinize the Word of God to become an
expert in its use. Intense perusal of the Scriptures will enlighten the mind
(Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 6:23) and empower a person to avoid sin (Psalm
119:11; Deuteronomy 30:14). Study of the Word of God both brings the
approval of the Savior and enables a Christian to effectively and
efficiently use his offensive weapon.
      According to Strong's Concordance, the phrase "not to be ashamed"
(verse 15) derives from a root word that means "disfigurement" or
 "disgrace." A blow from the enemy's weapon will not disfigure the craftsman
who seriously studies the Word of truth, for he can skillfully ward off the
attack. Nor will he accidentally wound himself with the tools of his trade.
Further, he will avoid the disgrace of defeat through the skillful
utilization of truth. Effective study habits empower a Christian to overcome
the assaults of the evil one. Our weapons are powerful, but we must exercise
ourselves to use them effectively (II Corinthians 10:3-6).
      There are four metaphors that Paul used in establishing these
principles of basic training for Christians. He encouraged Timothy to 1.
endure hardness as a good soldier; 2. strive for the mastery as a lawful
contestant; 3. labor faithfully as a successful farmer; and 4. study
unashamedly as a knowledgeable scribe.

II. CHOSEN VESSELS
      After the rigors of "boot camp," each soldier is assigned to a
particular unit for deployment into the field. Every soldier is essential;
no soldier is expendable. It is the responsibility of the command team to
inspire each individual enlistee to give his best for the sake of the unit
to which he is assigned. As the individual members of the unit practice and
train together, they become a unit of distinction. As they work together for
the good of each other, they become a decorated unit with many honors and
awards attached to their tunics and standards.
      The apostle Paul exhorted Timothy to train the men and women who
volunteered for duty in his unit to strive for excellence. He outlined three
concepts that are important to each Christian as he attempts to lift the
level of his performance. If we are to be chosen by the Master for effective
service, we must demonstrate certain skills.

A. Vessels of Honor
      Each member of God's army should strive to be a vessel of honor.
Hymenaeus and Philetus had fallen into doctrinal error, teaching that the
resurrection was already past (II Timothy:17-18). Their worldly, empty
teaching had defiled some of the members of the church, evidently leading
them first into false doctrine and then into sin. These men were
dishonorable, arguing and debating over small things but ignoring the
principles of the doctrine of Christ. Paul exhorted Timothy to "purge
himself from these" that he might be a vessel of honor.
      The word "honor" translates from the Greek word time, which means
"value (that is, money paid) or valuables. By extension, it implies esteem
or dignity of the highest degree." The root word for time is tino, which
means "to pay a price" (Strong's Concordance).
      The volunteers of the kingdom of God must realize that they owe their
lives and their freedom to the One who paid the ultimate price for their
salvation. To be a vessel of honor, a tabernacle of value, a gem of great
worth, Christians must come out from among those of the world and be
separate, refusing to touch that which is unclean (II Corinthians 6:17).
Because of our calling to be saints, we should "cleanse ourselves from all
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God"
(II Corinthians 7:1). It is honorable to be holy; it demonstrates dignity
and esteem of the highest degree when we live our lives according to His
principles.

B. Meet for the Master's Use
      Every soldier should be dedicated to his commander, ready for useful
service. To be fit for the use of the Savior, each Christian must be
sanctified, or set apart solely for the pleasure of the Master (II Timothy
2:21). As no man can serve two masters, so the Lord will not entrust
responsibility to an unstable, double-minded individual. However, He will be
a Father to those who willingly set themselves apart for Him, which is true
holiness.
      The archaic word "meet" in verse 21 somewhat obscures the intended
meaning to the casual reader. The phrase "meet for the Master's use" has at
least two implied meanings. First of all, it implies that the vessel is
easily used. It is available when needed, requires no special
considerations, and serves the purposes of the user. Second, "meet for the
Master's use" implies that it is profitable when used. (See "euchrestos" in
Strong's Dictionary.)
      Christians should be available to the Lord whenever needed, easily
drawn into service, and doing the will of God without reservation. They
serve at His pleasure, heed the call of His Spirit, and live a life that
exemplifies His will rather than their own. The centurion expressed the
attitude of the true volunteer when he stated, "For I am a man under
authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he
goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and
he doeth it" (Matthew 8:9). Christians should demonstrate this same
obedience to the direction of God and His Word.
      Soldiers of the Cross must invest their lives in that which is truly
profitable. (See II Corinthians 4:18; I John 2:17.) Our lives should produce
true riches when we commit them to the work of God's kingdom.

C. Prepared unto Every Good Work
      Every soldier needs adequate preparation. Even though the apostle Paul
was well trained in the Scriptures, he still spent a period of time at
Tarsus in study and preparation before he advanced to a prominent role in
the church at Antioch and later in the evangelization of the world.
      Although we are saved by grace, it is incumbent upon the people of God
to prepare themselves to perform good works. Our preparation provides
sufficient resources so that we can demonstrate good works (II Corinthians
9:8).
      What are the good works referred to by the apostle Paul? Of course, he
did not enumerate, but several "good works" are mentioned in the Scriptures.
Anointing the Lord with worship is a good work (Matthew 26:10; Mark 14:6).
Dorcas made coats and garments (Acts 9:36-39). The worker of good "gives to
him that needeth" (Ephesians 4:28). The good works of widows included
washing the saints' feet and relieving the afflicted (I Timothy 5:10).
Moreover, the Scriptures admonish the rich to do good works by being ready
to distribute their goods and by their willingness to give (I Timothy 6:18).
The Scriptures inspire us to do good works (II Timothy 3:16-17), which also
are a characteristic of the man of God (Titus 2:7) and godly people (Titus
2:14; 3:1).
      Jesus Christ desires for us to serve Him in good works (Ephesians
2:10). (See also Colossians 1:10.) Paul wrote to the Romans that a person
becomes a vessel of honor through good works (Romans 2:10). Moreover, even
human rulers praise those who do good works (Romans 13:3).
      "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always
having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (II
Corinthians 9:8).

III. SERVANTS OF THE LORD
      Within every military service there are special units for special
purposes. The U.S. Army has the Special Forces (formerly known as the Green
Berets); the U.S. Navy has the SEALS. These special units are trained to be
ready to deal with any situation at any time. They are the "shock troops,"
to be thrown into the battle alone, or in company with other units.
      In this passage Paul established several characteristics of Christians
who comprise God's special forces, individuals who go into spiritual battle
for the salvation of a soul.

A. Must Not Strive
      Christians must not strive with others-within or outside the body of
Christ. We do not wage the spiritual fight in the flesh. Consequently, those
involved in the struggle of rescuing the perishing will not succeed with a
quarrelsome spirit. There are some discussions that offer no profit; the
wise individual avoids such topics because he understands that they work
against His objective (I Timothy 1:4; 4:7; II Timothy 2:14; Titus 3:9).
Moreover, he should avoid foolish and ill-advised questions (II Timothy
2:23).
      The Greek word translated "strive" in II Timothy 2:24 is used in only
three other places in the New Testament (John 6:52; Acts 7:26; James 4:2). A
careful reading of these reveals the destructive nature of strife.
Christians should never contribute to disunity, but work diligently to
ensure unity throughout the body of Christ. A Christian should discard
actions, attitudes, and appearances that foster division. In I Timothy 3:3,
using a different form of the same Greek word, Paul stated that a bishop is
not to be a "brawler." Leaders are to be inclined toward peace rather than
contention and disputation. (See also Titus 3:2.)
      It is sad when people who claim to be Christians strive with their
brethren over issues to the division of the body. Tolerance, love, and
Christian compassion should be the guiding forces between Christians when
disagreements arise-not fighting, bickering, and contending for personal or
divisive views. If we cannot agree with our brother, can we not at least
respect his variant views and opinions? If we cannot, our Christian
experience is suspect.

B. Must Have Gentle Hands
      Men and women who are involved in rescuing the lost from the snare of
the devil must be gentle. In his first letter to Thessalonica, Paul noted
that he was gentle in his care for that church (I Thessalonians 2:7). Paul
cautioned the bishops not to be "strikers" (I Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7).
Christians should never become prideful or harsh, but should continually
demonstrate their care and concern for those with whom they work. They
should demonstrate kindness in action, mildness in attitude, and peace in
appearance.
      "The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality,
and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of
them that make peace" (James 3:17-18).

C. Must Be Apt to Teach and Give Instruction
      Christian soldiers should be apt to teach. Apollos came to Ephesus
eloquently espousing the message of John the Baptist. After hearing his
message and sensing his spirit, two believers took him aside and "expounded
unto him the way of God more perfectly" (Acts 18:24-28). Aquila and
Priscilla were apt to teach! Consequently, Apollos became a mighty expositor
of the truth.
      False doctrine is promulgated throughout our country and our world
daily. Television, radio, print media and word-of-mouth advertising proclaim
philosophies of man and the rudiments of this world. But believers should be
"apt to teach" and proclaim the truth of Christ's gospel. We must be ready
and willing to share truth everywhere.
      When individuals serve sin they develop improper responses to life's
problems. Time is necessary to change habits and behaviors learned during a
sin-controlled lifetime. New believers need teaching from God's Word during
this time of change. A conversion experience may bring initial
righteousness, temporary peace, and immediate joy, but continued holiness,
ongoing serenity, and lasting contentment come through obedience to the Word
of God. Consequently, the Lord's army of believers should be able to
instruct new Christians in the ways of righteousness.
      Christians should approach lost individuals with a spirit of meekness.
Antagonism and anger are counter-productive in the vital effort to save the
lost. Argumentation and debate do not provide the needed balm for the soul.
Meekness is not weakness. It is a proper understanding of one's place and a
demonstration of an individual's inner humility.
      We should live with humility of mind and meekness, or gentleness of
action. We should demonstrate longsuffering, forbearance, and love for one
another. The unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace must be more
important than personal preferences or vindication (Ephesians 4:1-3).

D. Must Be Patient
      Christians should be patient. After we have done the will of our
heavenly Commander, we will receive the blessings that He has promised
(Hebrews 10:36). It is the will of God that all people be saved, but we must
prepare the soil, sow the seed, nurture the seedlings, water the plants, and
destroy the insects before we can gather the fruit of harvest. When patience
has performed its perfect work, it will complete its intended work in us
(James 1:4).

CONCLUSION
      The final two verses of II Timothy 2 state clearly the reason for Paul
's exhortation regarding the need for faithful men who should teach others.
There is a need for teachers because men and women "oppose themselves."
Ungodly principles govern their lifestyles. By participating in sin, they
became servants of sin (John 8:34). Yet, they do not have to remain in
bondage, trapped in the snare of the devil. If we can instruct them with a
right spirit, "they may recover themselves." The worker with the right
experiences, the right attitude, and the right skills can be instrumental in
turning these lost souls to God.
      God is still looking for men and women who will voluntarily step
forward and hear the call into the harvest field. The harvest is white, but
the laborers are few. There is an urgent need for soulwinners, for personal
workers, and for men and women who will dedicate themselves to assisting
others in their quest for deliverance from sin.
      The Lord needs Christians who will faithfully fill their place,
gaining experiences that will enable them to relate to others who are lost.
We must learn to endure hardness as good soldiers, to run according to the
rules as athletes, to work faithfully as farmers, and study unashamedly like
devoted craftsmen. Each of us must complete this basic training.
      The Lord also needs Christians who will reach for excellence. We
cannot be satisfied with the status quo. We must "press toward the mark for
the prize of the high calling of God" (Philippians 3:14). We must have an
attitude of submission and preparation so that we can be fit for the Master'
s use. We must be willing and able to obey the Lord's commands. Only through
the efforts of individual soldiers will the unit be honored and recognized.
Every assembly is only as effective as the Christians who attend there.
      The Lord needs Christians who will be servants of the Lord, gently and
patiently working to recover the souls who have been stolen by the devil. On
some we are to have compassion, making a difference. For others, we are to
reach with fear, demonstrating our distaste for their sin but at the same
time showing our love for their soul (Jude 22-23).
      The Lord's army needs volunteers. It is time that every Christian take
the Master's hand and get on the battlefield for Him. Each should fill his
place, be a chosen vessel, and serve the Lord the best he can.

REFLECTIONS
. Discuss the four concepts of basic training for a soldier and how it
applies to the Christian soldier.
. Discuss the phrase "meet for the Master's use." What are two implied
meanings of this phrase? Discuss.
. Discuss at least three things that will help a person to be better
"prepared for every good work."
. How may a vessel of dishonor become a vessel of honor? Discuss.
. Discuss several good works that a believer might demonstrate in his life.


To get out of a hard situation,
try a soft answer.
Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turneth away wrath:
but grievous words stir up anger.
YBIC, Thomas And YSIC, Linda.
twilliamson2@...
pofm@...