Living In God’s House! – 2 Timothy 2:20-26
Living In God’s House! – 2 Timothy 2:20-26
By Pastor Lee Hemen
September 14, 2008 AM
Let me ask you a question: “Are you a hunk of firewood or a clay flower pot, a piece of silverware or a golden broach?” Perhaps if I asked you if you were a lowly mop or a fine china teapot, what would you say? This question pertains not only to how we perceive ourselves in God’s church, but how we behave in it as well. We all know that in our homes there are items that are set out for everyone to see and use and others that we keep behind closed doors. Few would place the toilet in the living room! Yet, the lowly mop that is kept in the cleaning cupboard is far more important in keeping the house clean than say the fine teapot that sits in a place of honor behind glass doors.
A clean house reflects an attitude of the heart just as bringing out the fine china when we want to celebrate. This is exactly what Paul was writing to Timothy about. There were those who viewed their Christianity with less than noble intentions, yet they were all part of living in God’s house. Paul teaches us how Christians are to live in the house of the Lord. Let’s find out what he says…
READ: 2 Timothy 2:20-26
The china teapot is brought out for special occasions so that those you serve can see how important the event is. While the mop may sit in the closet dirty from making sure the floors shine just as fine as a china teapot. A clean house reflects an attitude of the heart just as bringing out the fine china does. Paul wrote Timothy that…
I. Living in God’s house means we will keep it clean inside and out! (vv. 20-22)
1. God’s house is His body in the world! And, there are many articles, people, not only of gold and silver, but also those more earthy of wood and clay. In fact, Paul would write “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ… . Now you [Christians] are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:12, 27) God uses some individuals for noble purposes and some for ignoble purposes, but all are used of God in His marvelous house the church. If we desire to be used for more “noble” purposes, then we have to realize whose house we belong to and live in. Few remember that the house of God is not built for them. The house of God is designed and used by and for Him alone. For His good pleasure is why Christians, His noble and ignoble, people serve. We find Paul including this interesting comment to Timothy: “Flee the evil desires of youth.” Why? I believe Timothy had some inclinations that all young people do that were not necessarily beneficial or spiritual in nature. And remember Paul wanted Timothy to be one of those vessels in God’s house that was used for noble holy purposes! He wanted Timothy to “pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” Why? Paul knew that: “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.” What is clean and set apart for special use can easily get contaminated and be rendered unusable through contact with the corrupt. Paul was concerned that Timothy, his choicest disciple, keep himself in a usable condition for the Lord. Living in God’s house means we will keep it clean inside and out!
EXAMPLE: One day, educator and comedian Sam Levinson was standing with a group of men who seemed to tower above him. Someone asked, “Sam, don't you feel strange surrounded by so many tall people?” He replied, “Yes, I do. I feel like a dime among a lot of pennies!” This reminded me that we who are Christians may not be very "tall" in the eyes of some, and in fact the world often looks down on us. But in God's sight we are of great worth! The apostle Paul wrote, "Not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise" (1 Corinthians 1:26-27). He reminded Timothy, “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. 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.” (2 Timothy 2:20-21) Are you clean inside and out?
One executive, who said his 5-year-old daughter was the most important part of his life, realized that he usually went to work before she got up in the morning and often returned home after she was in bed at night. So to spend time with her, he took her to work with him one Saturday. After looking around his office, she asked, "Daddy, is this where you live?" He may have acknowledged that his daughter was important, but his behavior revealed what he truly valued. Paul wrote Timothy that…
II. Living in God’s house means we will be faithful in our behavior! (vv. 23-26)
1. Our behavior shows the world what we truly believe! Perhaps Timothy had to have that “last” word? My brother did and it got him into more trouble with my father than I could ever recount to you. Not that I myself was negligent in expressing my own opinion. (I know you may find this difficult to believe!) I could slice and dice up fellow students with a deftness that only rivaled the parries and thrusts of a master swordsman. And this is the problem with much of Christianity: We are more interested in our being right, than allowing God to do His miraculous work in the life of an individual. Paul told Timothy, “Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments.” Why? Because he knew thay always “produce quarrels.” Remember, “the Lord knows those who are His.” In fact, He is more than capable of handling any situation if we would only allow Him to. Too many Christians think that when Paul told Timothy to “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,” that this is a free license to kill all opponents with “the sword of the Lord,” the Word of God! Arguing about stupid things never shows you as “one approved” that “correctly handles the word of truth.” Truth, God’s truth, the gospel of Jesus is founded and based on God’s love for the whole world. It expresses itself in the love of Christ who gave Himself up for our sins. This is why Paul would add that “the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful” in their conduct or arguing. In fact, “Those who oppose” us we “must gently instruct.” Why? “In the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 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!” Christians watch their conduct to win the lost! Living in God’s house means we will be faithful in our behavior!
EXAMPLE: The late Dr. M. R. DeHaan wrote, “I was cruising along on the highway at about 60 miles an hour when up ahead I saw two sparrows in a fierce battle at the side of the road. With feathers flying, they attacked each other with great fury. As my car approached, they became locked in combat. Together they rose in the air and fluttered blindly into the path of the car. With a violent thud they smashed against the windshield, leaving a smear of blood and feathers. They were so preoccupied with their battle that they were blind to more serious dangers. Their quarrel cost them their lives. How often we act like those two sparrows! We fail to realize that in a fight no one ever wins. Both are losers.” Perhaps this is why Paul bluntly tells Timothy: “Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.” Living in God’s house means we will be faithful in our behavior!
Conclusion:
I am speaking as much to myself as I am to you but we all must work at showing the love of God before we can explain the Word of God to others. How else will they understand the truth of the gospel? Today do not get caught up in stupid arguments but keep things in perspective and speak the word of truth in love. Living in God’s house means we will keep it clean and we will be faithful in our behavior!
---
NOTE: This article is copyrighted by Lee Hemen © 2008 and the property of Lee Hemen. You are welcome to copy it, email it, or use it but please if you copy it, email it, or use it you must do so in its entirety.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
September 14, 2008 AM
Let me ask you a question: “Are you a hunk of firewood or a clay flower pot, a piece of silverware or a golden broach?” Perhaps if I asked you if you were a lowly mop or a fine china teapot, what would you say? This question pertains not only to how we perceive ourselves in God’s church, but how we behave in it as well. We all know that in our homes there are items that are set out for everyone to see and use and others that we keep behind closed doors. Few would place the toilet in the living room! Yet, the lowly mop that is kept in the cleaning cupboard is far more important in keeping the house clean than say the fine teapot that sits in a place of honor behind glass doors.
A clean house reflects an attitude of the heart just as bringing out the fine china when we want to celebrate. This is exactly what Paul was writing to Timothy about. There were those who viewed their Christianity with less than noble intentions, yet they were all part of living in God’s house. Paul teaches us how Christians are to live in the house of the Lord. Let’s find out what he says…
READ: 2 Timothy 2:20-26
The china teapot is brought out for special occasions so that those you serve can see how important the event is. While the mop may sit in the closet dirty from making sure the floors shine just as fine as a china teapot. A clean house reflects an attitude of the heart just as bringing out the fine china does. Paul wrote Timothy that…
I. Living in God’s house means we will keep it clean inside and out! (vv. 20-22)
1. God’s house is His body in the world! And, there are many articles, people, not only of gold and silver, but also those more earthy of wood and clay. In fact, Paul would write “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ… . Now you [Christians] are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:12, 27) God uses some individuals for noble purposes and some for ignoble purposes, but all are used of God in His marvelous house the church. If we desire to be used for more “noble” purposes, then we have to realize whose house we belong to and live in. Few remember that the house of God is not built for them. The house of God is designed and used by and for Him alone. For His good pleasure is why Christians, His noble and ignoble, people serve. We find Paul including this interesting comment to Timothy: “Flee the evil desires of youth.” Why? I believe Timothy had some inclinations that all young people do that were not necessarily beneficial or spiritual in nature. And remember Paul wanted Timothy to be one of those vessels in God’s house that was used for noble holy purposes! He wanted Timothy to “pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” Why? Paul knew that: “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.” What is clean and set apart for special use can easily get contaminated and be rendered unusable through contact with the corrupt. Paul was concerned that Timothy, his choicest disciple, keep himself in a usable condition for the Lord. Living in God’s house means we will keep it clean inside and out!
EXAMPLE: One day, educator and comedian Sam Levinson was standing with a group of men who seemed to tower above him. Someone asked, “Sam, don't you feel strange surrounded by so many tall people?” He replied, “Yes, I do. I feel like a dime among a lot of pennies!” This reminded me that we who are Christians may not be very "tall" in the eyes of some, and in fact the world often looks down on us. But in God's sight we are of great worth! The apostle Paul wrote, "Not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise" (1 Corinthians 1:26-27). He reminded Timothy, “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. 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.” (2 Timothy 2:20-21) Are you clean inside and out?
One executive, who said his 5-year-old daughter was the most important part of his life, realized that he usually went to work before she got up in the morning and often returned home after she was in bed at night. So to spend time with her, he took her to work with him one Saturday. After looking around his office, she asked, "Daddy, is this where you live?" He may have acknowledged that his daughter was important, but his behavior revealed what he truly valued. Paul wrote Timothy that…
II. Living in God’s house means we will be faithful in our behavior! (vv. 23-26)
1. Our behavior shows the world what we truly believe! Perhaps Timothy had to have that “last” word? My brother did and it got him into more trouble with my father than I could ever recount to you. Not that I myself was negligent in expressing my own opinion. (I know you may find this difficult to believe!) I could slice and dice up fellow students with a deftness that only rivaled the parries and thrusts of a master swordsman. And this is the problem with much of Christianity: We are more interested in our being right, than allowing God to do His miraculous work in the life of an individual. Paul told Timothy, “Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments.” Why? Because he knew thay always “produce quarrels.” Remember, “the Lord knows those who are His.” In fact, He is more than capable of handling any situation if we would only allow Him to. Too many Christians think that when Paul told Timothy to “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,” that this is a free license to kill all opponents with “the sword of the Lord,” the Word of God! Arguing about stupid things never shows you as “one approved” that “correctly handles the word of truth.” Truth, God’s truth, the gospel of Jesus is founded and based on God’s love for the whole world. It expresses itself in the love of Christ who gave Himself up for our sins. This is why Paul would add that “the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful” in their conduct or arguing. In fact, “Those who oppose” us we “must gently instruct.” Why? “In the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 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!” Christians watch their conduct to win the lost! Living in God’s house means we will be faithful in our behavior!
EXAMPLE: The late Dr. M. R. DeHaan wrote, “I was cruising along on the highway at about 60 miles an hour when up ahead I saw two sparrows in a fierce battle at the side of the road. With feathers flying, they attacked each other with great fury. As my car approached, they became locked in combat. Together they rose in the air and fluttered blindly into the path of the car. With a violent thud they smashed against the windshield, leaving a smear of blood and feathers. They were so preoccupied with their battle that they were blind to more serious dangers. Their quarrel cost them their lives. How often we act like those two sparrows! We fail to realize that in a fight no one ever wins. Both are losers.” Perhaps this is why Paul bluntly tells Timothy: “Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.” Living in God’s house means we will be faithful in our behavior!
Conclusion:
I am speaking as much to myself as I am to you but we all must work at showing the love of God before we can explain the Word of God to others. How else will they understand the truth of the gospel? Today do not get caught up in stupid arguments but keep things in perspective and speak the word of truth in love. Living in God’s house means we will keep it clean and we will be faithful in our behavior!
---
NOTE: This article is copyrighted by Lee Hemen © 2008 and the property of Lee Hemen. You are welcome to copy it, email it, or use it but please if you copy it, email it, or use it you must do so in its entirety.
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