Contending For The- Purity Of The Word

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Telephone numbers 0703 03636 59 0703 76811 98 Email address lsmediaatlivingseed.org or visit our website at www.livingseed.org Let us sit back and listen as the servant of God brings forth the Word of Life. Contending for the purity of our faith, preaching and teaching the Word. 2 Timothy 4 1-8 Colossians 1 28-29 2 Timothy 4 1-8 I want to read from English Standard Version.

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom, preach the Word. Be ready in season and out of season. Reprove, rebuke and exalt with complete patience and teaching.

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded. Endure suffering.

Do the work of an evangelist. Fulfill your ministry. For I am ready.

I am already being poured out as a drink offering. And the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight.

I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day.

And not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing. In Colossians 1, 28-29, Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

The assigned topic is possibly what you have in your hand, you know the outline. Contending for the purity of the faith, teaching and preaching the word. And again, since Monday night, we have been sharing from this pulpit the challenge of raising preachers and teachers of the undiluted word of God.

To build the church in readiness for the end time. And that is the burden of this message. And I know there are so many issues already raised.

First as a nation and in relationship to the church, and particularly as it affects these leaders of the church in Nigeria. Now I know we won't be the first to grapple with the challenging situations as we have it today. In the Old Testament, several others experienced the same.

And the prophets of old shared their mind or the mind of God in relationship to such situations. Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah and others. They were able to paint the pictures of their times.

And I think it would be good to just look at few of the passages. Isaiah chapter 30 verses 9 to 11. That this is a rebellious people, lying children.

Children that will not hear the law of the Lord. Which say to their seers, see not. And to the prophets, prophesy not unto us right things.

Speak unto us smooth things. Prophesy deceits. Get ye out of the way.

Turn aside out of the path. Cause the only one of Israel to cease from before us. That's just Isaiah.

And Jeremiah chapter 6, 11 to 15. Micah chapter 2 verse 11. And then Micah 3 verse 5. They raised serious issues in regard to the attitude of God's people living in their own times.

Now Paul decided to share his mind with Timothy. To whom he was going to pass on the baton of the ministry. So he realized he was going to die at the time.

He wrote to Timothy. And he needed to encourage, to challenge and motivate Timothy to take seriously. The task of carrying on the ministry.

And particularly that of contending for the purity of the faith. So the passage we have just read was the last charge to his protégé. And that was Timothy.

A word that has now become ours today. Now why would Paul be so urgent in this last message? We've started to hear and to pay attention to the messages already shared. In relationship to this question.

Possibly he must have observed a kind of timidity. Sluggishness on the part of Timothy. Possibly he observed him the way he handled some assignments given to him.

And he wasn't sure that after he translated from the earth. Whether this individual would be able to handle the task as seriously as he would want it to be. Also, the desertion.

At least two individuals were mentioned that deserted Paul at the critical need. At the critical period of his life. Vigilance and homogeneity.

And very likely some others. And this must have been so heavy on Paul. And of course very demoralizing.

If you look at 2 Timothy chapter 1 and verse 15. There you will find the agonizing moment. With which Paul had to talk about these individuals.

Who decided to desert him. And to abandon the ministry entirely. Now, here was someone coming to his death.

And so he decided that it would be better for him to now share his mind. The challenge, the charge to this Timothy. Now, I have been able to raise six main issues.

Which serves as an outline. From 2 Timothy chapter 4 and verses 1 to 8. In the course of the message we will refer to Colossians passage. Colossians chapter 1 verses 28 and 29.

Now, the first thing that I see in the passage. The first issue raised there is that. The preaching and the teaching of the word.

Calls for the awareness of divine motivation. Divine incentives. I don't even, I have been looking for a better word.

Because there are a few things that. While he was writing the letter. I'm not sure whether Paul was not literally sweating.

And almost like he must have been in a trance. Literally just like Isaiah. Saw God in his temple.

In his awesome majestic throne. He must have been translated into the heavenly. Maybe the third heaven.

To use Paul's own language. While he was writing. And so he now said to charge Timothy.

I charge you. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus. Who is to judge the living and the dead.

In the light of his coming and in his kingdom. Literally that while he was writing the charge. Possibly he could envision the Lord God Almighty on the throne.

So Timothy. While I'm extending this charge to you. God was literally present with me.

In other words he is a witness. That you need to realize that there are some reasons. Why you need to pay attention to this serious charge.

First the abiding presence of God. It's like the concealed divine presence. God Almighty both father and son.

And of course the Holy Spirit upon Paul as he was writing. Literally watching the preacher. While the Holy Spirit inspires him.

In the course of preaching in the course of teaching the word. Especially regard to contending for the purity of faith. Now the point of the judge of the living and the dead has serious implications.

For all of us as preachers. In other words while I'm alive. And I don't know whether some of us will be alive when the Lord will come.

In other words while even we are alive. We need to make sure that we are fully prepared. And whether we are already dead.

We need to know that we will stand before this righteous judge. Particularly in relationship to preaching the word of God. And then he also mentioned the inevitable coming judgment by the righteous Lord Jesus.

Because he's coming to judge me. Because he's going to judge me that will give account of my stewardship. I must make sure that I do what it takes to preach the word.

To handle the word that will literally contend for the faith. Of course the second coming is also mentioned there. That those who may be doubting the second coming of our Lord.

Timothy must bear this in mind. That he will not pay attention to any of the false teachers. That may be teaching otherwise.

Make sure that because he's coming back. You need to preach the word in relationship to preparing men and women. To be able to meet him.

To be able to stand before him. Because he's coming back. And of course the surety of the consummation.

The grand finale of the kingdom of Christ. Because when he comes back that's when he will establish the kingdom of God almighty. So this is the scenario that Paul painted for us.

Especially in regards to Timothy. Now for me and for those of you who are my colleagues here. The bottom line is how are we handling the preaching of the word of God.

Do you realize, are you always aware that your God is actually watching. Critically looking at what you are doing and how you are handling the word. In other words I must never be flippant.

Because he's watching. The concealed presence of the Lord God almighty. As he places his divine canopy over the entire congregation.

And particularly upon this individual as he preaches. How are you handling the word? Anytime, wherever. Sometimes it's not only right on the pulpit.

But when you are presiding over meetings. When you are responding to issues. I think we need to be self conscious.

There should be this awareness. That my God, your God, our heavenly father. Is actually casting his eyes upon us.

But you also need to know. When we talk about cloud of witnesses. There are those cloud of witnesses who are actually paying attention to us.

And even wherever I'm preaching and my wife is there. That may be the primary witness. That may be when we get back home or when we begin to review.

How we performed. So it is important. That in preaching and teaching the word of God.

There should be this awareness. Of divine presence. The concealed presence of the Lord God almighty.

And this is the motivation. Because Christ is coming back. Because he's going to judge you.

He's going to judge me. And because of the fact that. The kingdom of God.

That you are representing. When it's consummated. Definitely you want to be part of it.

So that is the first thing. The first issue. That we see in this passage.

Secondly, preaching and teaching the word calls for commitment. To the word of God. Now, Paul says.

I give you this charge. I encourage you to make sure that you will preach the word. That you will make sure that you handle the proclamation.

The explanation. The explanation. Of the word of God in a manner that people.

Of God will understand it. Now what is the nature. Of God's word.

It is the same. Exalted. Sacred word.

That is as exalted as the name of God almighty. In other words, that word. That we preach.

Is the embodiment. Of the personality of God. In written form.

In other words. The personality of God almighty. Is behind the word you preach.

The very nature of God. If you look at Psalm 138. There you will find how the word of God.

And the name of the Lord. Were both exalted. In the same manner.

And the word of God we are talking about. As Hebrews chapter 4. Asserts. Is that the word of God.

Is that living and active. Very sharp. Very accurate.

And it is also life imparting. The word of God. It is life.

Developing. So in other words. Looking at Hebrews chapter 4. At least that explains or.

Provides us with the nature. Of the word that we are to preach. I suppose Paul.

Wanted Timothy to realize that. In charging him to preach. The word.

It must be God's word. Nothing more. Nothing less.

In other words. He must never. With that word.

It is not his word. It is not someone else's word. Just like Rabbis.

And any other. Will be referring to Rabbi so and so. Said such and such on and on like that.

It is the authoritative word of God. And I suppose. That is what all of us here.

Are charged. To make sure that we preach. Not your word.

Not philosophy. Not any other thing that we have heard. In this morning.

But rather. The pure word of God. We know that the word of God is designed.

For regeneration. It is only the word of God. That can renew.

Someone like me. It is the word of God that can straighten the crookedness. Of my life.

Or any other person. So it is essential that. We will pay attention.

To the word of God. So preaching. Is not designed for believer sanctification.

The setting apart of converted soul. For God's use. So.

It is important that all of us. In relation to contending. For the purity of faith.

That we will preach. The word that is designed. For regeneration.

Renewal. For. Revitalization.

The Lord prayed. That it is through the word of God that. Believers will be sanctified.

John 1717. If that is the case. Should I. Go to the pulpit.

And begin to propound. Any other theory. Or philosophy.

It is important that. I stay within. The word of God.

And preach it. We know the preaching of God's word is the means by which faith is awakened. In the heart of the hearer.

Faith comes by hearing. And hearing the word of God. According to Romans chapter 10.

Verse 17. So if that is the case. I think it is important that you will continue to be faithful.

In declaring. The mind of God. The word of God.

Now. Will it. Fair.

Will God be then happy. That on Sunday. Or whenever I have opportunity to preach.

I will be preaching something else. Other than the word. Of God.

We know. Preaching God's word. Is.

The only way to edify believers. To actually strengthen them. To encourage them.

We are told. In the book of 2 Timothy chapter 3. 15 to 17. That every scripture is God breathed.

Given by his inspiration. And profitable for instruction. For reproof.

For conviction of sin. For correction of error. And discipline in obedience.

And for training in righteousness. In holy living. In conformity to God's will.

In thought, purpose, and action. As. Amplified.

And renders it. So that the man of God may be. Complete.

And proficient. Well fitted. And thoroughly equipped.

For every good work. So the preaching of God's word. Indeed.

Enhances the lives. Of God's people. And those who open themselves to the proclaimed.

Word of God. We also know that the preaching of God's word. Empowers believers.

To do the work of ministry. Of the church. In an atmosphere of love.

Affirmation. Of each other. According to Ephesians chapter four verse two.

So. If his intention is to perfect. The saints.

Full equipping. Of believers. Then it is quite essential.

And mandatory for me. And for all of us. To make sure that.

The word. That. We will pay attention to.

And preach it. The way God will be happy. Now.

Again the amplified version. Of that passage in Ephesians. That in verse thirteen.

That it might develop. Until we all attain. Oneness in the faith.

And in the comprehension of the full. And accurate knowledge. Of the son of God.

So. The essence of this powerful word. This word of God.

That we are charged to preach. And teach it. In order to correct errors.

Out there. Is to enable believers. In the church to assume.

Full responsibility. Of members of the body of Christ. And thus relieve the pastors.

Of the mundane things. That will distract their attention. From.

What they need. To do. Now.

I want to. Make sure that. We.

Probably get to the third. Issue. That is in the outline.

But let me say. Why is it mandatory. To preach the word.

Now the bottom line. Is in second Timothy. Timothy.

Chapter three. And verse sixteen. You must never fear.

To whom. You will deliver the message. As one Yoruba adage.

Puts it. They say. The one who sent you.

Is the one you fear. Not the individual. To whom you will deliver the message.

So. And how must the word of God be preached. Or proclaimed.

Definitely. As you heard in the morning. Being well prepared.

Studious. And with diligence. I want to challenge you.

That you will do your utmost best. To make sure that when you preach. The word of God.

Wherever. You make sure that. You preach it.

In a manner. That people will know that. Indeed you are well prepared.

Now. I know we can talk about. How do we prepare well.

Definitely. If I have to preach. On this passage.

For me I tell. Preparing pastors. Preachers.

Whenever I have opportunity. Before you can ever. Begin to even check.

Whether a conversation. Commentary or what have you. You must have read that passage.

Close to 50 times. I'm not sure whether you heard me. Read that passage.

50 times. And here I stand before you. Second Timothy chapter 4. 1 to 8. I read it and kept.

I mean kept on reading and reading. In my own mother tongue. Several times.

And of course. Several other versions. And the reason is simple.

It is only by doing that. That. I will have the sense.

That indeed. I appreciate. The mind of God.

One reason is this. The Bible the word of God. Is different from any other book.

Is apart. Is unique. And it is the word.

Of the Lord God Almighty. Who is the word himself. So if he says something.

Write something. Put something down for me. For the sake of.

Transmitting the same. To God's people. I better play.

I mean. Pay close attention. And get.

The. All the details. By reading it.

Severally. You are behaving like. God's minor.

Someone who will go and dig. Deep. Deep and deep.

In order to find the treasure. You can read. Just anyhow.

One time or two times. And think you have all it takes. And then you rush to.

Some kind of. Commentaries. That may not necessarily.

Fit. And even. Very applicable.

To your people. So that is part of. Being diligent.

To be well prepared. Being studious. To make sure that.

God himself will even honor you. As you stand. Before God's people.

Secondly. At every opportunity. In season.

And out of season. In other words. Keeping a sense of urgency.

In all circumstances. I was asked to. Preach.

At. Way keeping. Someone else was to preach.

And the pastor or the preacher. Didn't come. And.

So the pastor. Now said. Sir.

You will have to preach. And I said why? The preacher is not here. And I said.

Where is he? And he's just on his way. And we are not sure whether he can make it. Now.

It was. The death of a. Saintly old. Pastor.

An old man that I knew. As a teenager. So I see.

Said that I started wondering. Lord what will I preach? What will I preach? And I started praying. And then my mind went to.

Second Timothy chapter four. Six to eight. The life.

Of a man that finished. Well that finished strong. That was the title I just thought.

I will give. That sermon. In all circumstances.

Even when you were not. Prepared for it. At every opportunity.

In season and out of season. That is why each of us. Wherever you are going.

You need to. Possibly carry your Bible. Where you already have.

Maybe several. Outline of messages. Because you can tell.

They can call on you. Anytime. Any moment.

Of course even without. Your Bible with you. Or your a marked Bible with you.

You may still be able to preach. As you pray as you seek. The face of the Lord.

Now for corrective measures. He says with careful. Instruction.

Carefully instruction. Taking your time to make sure that. What you are stressing.

That people get the point. This individual gets the message. And he also says to rebuke.

In other words. To be sharp in warning people. Of impending dangers.

They may post to themselves. Or to other people. So you can consider.

A tactful manner. If you want to rebuke. An older person for instance.

How will you handle. Rebuking an older person. That is misbehaving.

That is not doing what is right. Paul. At least rebuked Peter.

And Barnabas. Galatians chapter three. But if you start.

By sharing with them. You. These seniors.

Of mine. I suppose you know. That when you do such and such.

That will be hypocritical. He even said. His mentor.

Maybe his disciple. Barnabas was carried away. And he was able to rebuke them.

So you can rebuke elders. Tactfully. As Paul and Peter advised.

Emerging leaders. Especially Peter. First Peter.

Chapter five. And of course if you look at. Titus chapter two.

Verses one to ten. The word of God is also. For encouragement.

To be seized. To beg. To literally comfort.

Caring for the timid. Or the fearful. Preaching the word.

And now he says. With great patience. In other words.

I think I need. To know. And you all need to know.

There is no room. For. Emergency seats.

You cannot use only one sermon. To give birth to saints. Overnight.

So that's the reason why he says. Do this. With great patience.

So it is important that. You will do that. Constantly.

I will finish. With the third issue. Preaching and teaching the word.

Demands. Competency. In proclamation.

How you proclaim the word. Is another issue. Preach the word.

Keep your sense of urgency. Stand by. Be at hand.

And ready. Whether the opportunity seems. To be favorable or unfavorable.

Whether it is convenient. Or inconvenient. Whether it is welcome.

Or unwelcome. You as preacher of the word. Are to show people.

In what way. Their lives. Are wanting.

And convince them. Rebuking and correcting some. Warning and urging.

And encouraging them. Being on flagging. And inexhaustible.

Impatience. And teaching. Now the third thing here.

Is preaching and teaching the word. That demands competency. In the way we proclaim it.

Now look at. Second Timothy chapter 2. And verse 15. We have.

Heard about that. In the morning. Study and be eager.

And do your utmost. To present yourself to God. Approved.

And assert. By trial. A workman who has no cause to be ashamed.

Correctly. Analyzing. And accurately dividing.

Rightly handling. And skillfully teaching. The word of truth.

That is amplified version. Now. The imagery.

Here is that of an engineer. Constructing a road. That is well laid.

Straight. Clearly marked. So road users.

Will travel safe. On such a road. And of course.

Even a farmer. Preparing or plowing. Crooked rows or few rows for planting.

That will not be good. So when you are. Cutting the word.

When you are dissecting the word. Splitting the word of God. For people.

In order to. Enflesh the skeleton. The seed.

You need to do it. Well. I suppose competency.

And diligence and proclamation. To present everyone. Mature in Christ.

Is the issue here. We have already referred to. Ephesians chapter four.

Twelve to sixteen. To present. Every person mature.

Now this is where. Colossians chapter one. Verses twenty eight.

And twenty nine comes in. How do you make sure that. This.

Congregation. Or these. Several congregation.

Several other pastors. Under us. Are.

Empowering the believers. To the extent that. They will become mature.

They will be. Be able to join the end time. Army of the Lord.

So that. We these individuals. Will be able to stand.

And even join you. In contending. For the faith.

Now. Consequently. Indolence.

Laziness. Like a day sickle. Handling of God's word.

Has no place. In the life of biblical preachers. We have been saying this.

Possibly year in year out. That there is no way you can. Prepare a message for 30 minutes.

And expect that. You can prepare it. Maybe in an hour.

It may take you a whole week. Or even much more. This is the reason why.

You cannot be lazy. You cannot be indolent. And competency in proclamation.

Flows from the inner working. Of the spirit. And it is essential that.

I will open myself to him. You will open yourself to him. Now.

Also competency and diligence. Flow from the habit of. Solitude.

Where you spend. Quality time. To keep searching.

And digging. Into the mind of God's word. Now if you.

Consider. The life of. Stephen.

Who was able to. Recall the history. Of Israel.

Possibly. In less than an hour. Or possibly.

In about 15 or so minutes. And he was able to. Lay it down.

So logically. That none of his. Detractors.

Could fault him. It really means. This individual.

Kept on searching and searching. And searching. As.

A brother mentioned. About the life of Jude. In the morning.

And competency and diligence. That follows the steps. Of effective preachers.

With good testimony. As Paul charged Timothy to do. In other words.

Please. If you want to be competent. Diligent effective.

Preachers of God's word. Pay attention to those. Who do it well.

Listen to them. If you can go and. Listen to them live.

Please do so. There are some preachers. Among our pastors.

Junior ones. Students of mine. Who are now.

Some of our key leaders. I pay attention to them. Whenever they preach.

And there are some. I would just be praying Lord. Keep his mouth shut.

Especially when they are not. Preaching the word. But some.

I will go take notes. Take notes. Take notes.

Under my own students. Because they are good. Competent.

And there are some who are not. Baptists. They are sleeping to their.

Congregation or worship service. And they are unannounced. And I may sleep out.

Because I respect the way. They handle the word of God. So there are so many.

Who are good role models. Of good preaching. Please go.

Listen to them. This is where I will stop tonight. And we will continue.

From there. But it is essential that. I remind you again.

That in preaching. The word of God. It demands competency.

In the way you proclaim it. Also. The word of God.

Must be preached. In a manner. That indeed.

People will know that you are very. Committed to the word. And.

The first thing we mention is that. You will realize yourself. As if.

While preaching. Or even preparing. Your God is watching.

Paying attention. To the way you are paying attention. To him.

Himself. To his word. I pray that as we continue.

To reflect. Upon what. The Lord has sent to us.

Since last night. We. We will return home.

As powerful. Preachers of the word. That will go out there.

And content. For the purity of our faith. Let us pray.

Holy Spirit divine. We do pray that. You will.

You will continue to help us. In regards to handling. The proclamation of your word.

That on daily basis. You will continue to teach us. Encourage us.

And renew us. Renew our passion. For the word.

And keep magnifying yourself. In our lives. In Jesus Christ name.

Amen.