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TIMOTHY - A DEPENDABLE PARTNER

April 16, 2000 PM

Sermon Outline

Phil 2:19-24

INTRO: Certain names in Biblical history just seem to go together. When you think of one, you tend to think, too, of the other. Adam and Eve ... Cain and Abel ... Jacob and Esau ... David and Jonathan ... James and John ... Paul and Timothy. The latter pair represents a somewhat unusual relationship in that the two were not related nor were they near the same age. It is really more of a father-son relationship than anything. In fact, Paul refers to this special relationship in just that way. Of Pauls many companions Timothy seemed constantly involved. He was truly A Dependable Partner.

I. THE FIRST MENTIONS OF TIMOTHY?

A. We meet him in Acts 16:1-3

1. he is of mixed blood Jew and Greek

2 he had apparently not been reared as a Jew had not been circumcised

3. probably a teenager - 16 years or so

B. Timothy had a blessing in his mother and grandmother

1. 2 Tim 1:5 hands that had rocked the cradle

2. so effective had their training been that Timothy was well reported of by the brethren in that area of his youth

3. thus, Paul saw the value in this young mean ... wants him to be a companion in service ... incidently ... almost immediately to Philippi!

C. Timothy had a blessing in his special friendship

1. Paul - Timothy ... a bond developed which was to see them through many years and experiences - 1 Tim 1:2 my own son

2. together in work, in prison, in devotion to Christ

3. 2 Tim 4:9,21 with 1:4 the one person he most longed to see as the curtain was about to fall on his life

II. WHAT QUALITIES DO WE SEE IN TIMOTHY?

A. He had a servants mind Phil 2:20,21

1. naturally cared for other people

2. was not so hung up on his rights, his interests that he could not willingly take practical interest in others

3. for all seek their own ... is this not the real reason that more is not accomplished for our Lord?

B. He had a servants training - Phil 2:22

1. father and son ... a special relationship in that world

2. the son would so often be involved closely in the fathers craft or trade as a learner ... finally to take over

3. I can only imagine the long hours of conversation and teaching which must have filled long days of travel, of imprisonment (2 Tim 3:10-11)

C. He had a servants humility Phil 2:19

1. Timothy was the sent one (1 Cor 4:17; 1 Thes 3:1-3)

2. he did not mind being second ... serving in the shadow of another ... his joy was in others

3. this servants mind and humility is the difference between true service and questionable motives, manipulating, patronizing

D. He had a servants dependability Phil 2:23

1. whatever message, encouragement, task ... dependable!

2. 1 Tim 1:3,4 an important charge in important city

3. in any cause that cause can only be as effective as the dependability of the servants in that cause

E. He had a servants joy

1. joy of serving others ... of seeing them blessed by whatever service he rendered (Acts 20:35)

2. joy of serving with a giant named Paul He hath served with me in the gospel

3. no doubt, the joy of anticipation instilled within him by such sentiments as 2 Tim 4:5-8

CLOSE: Paul considered Timothy one of a kind. He was truly his right hand. Timothy: trusted friend, and dependable partner. We could learn from him.

Cecil A. Hutson

16 April 2000

God's Plan of Salvation

You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

You must believe and have faith in God because "without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)

You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called "Sinner's Prayer" that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the "Sinner's Prayer" to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:8)

You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus "Lord of your life." Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just "accept Jesus as your personal savior." We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)

Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God's grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God's grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)