This morning as I was waking up at about 5:50 the Lord put this part of a scripture into my heart: “for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded”. This will be our key verse of the day today:
2 Timothy 1:12
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
***When we look at this passage of scripture today there are some things that we are going to want the Holy Spirit to teach us together……. But before we jump into this specific scripture I want to share with you the internal conversation that I was having with the Holy Spirit this morning:
As soon as the Lord put this scripture in my heart he as me the question, what do you know? What are you persuaded of?
I quickly recognized that in my heart there are things that I think, there are things that I believe and there are things that I know.
I would like for you to go on this journey with me for a few minutes as we stretch past our normal church, Sunday morning, Christian talk and really find out where we stand and what we believe and know.
Here is where I am in my heart, you let me know if you agree in principle:
- My definition of things that I think are true: I have reason to think these are true based on my observances or the observances of others who have conveyed this information to me. I reason and weigh the limited information I have and form a conclusion that it is more likely the truth than not the truth. If you hear yourself saying I think so about a topic or question being discussed then you are supportive of the likelihood it is true but cannot say with certainty.
- My definition of things that I believe to be true: You see in my mind to believe something means that you have already passed the minimum threshold of thinking and now adding the element of faith and conviction. To believe moves past simply reasoning and weighing of all the facts and information presented. You are now activating something inside of your heart that was put there by God when you were created in his image and in his likeness. You are able to see the future with vision and imagination. You are able to believe by faith something that you may not be able to prove to others by evidence available to you because of greater power and force than yourself.
- Finally, my definition of things that I know are true: Knowing is an amazing thing. Knowing supersedes everything that I think , and I believe. To know something I now longer need to reason, I now longer need to add faith to believe….I know.
Let’s put these three definitions to use this morning. I am going to make three statements and you tell me if you Think, You Believe, You know.
- There will be donut holes in the heart after church today.
- We will have a baptism service after church on Easter Sunday Morning.
- It will be hotter temperature outside on July 4th than it is today.
- Spencer Canada led worship this morning.
- The world is a sphere shape like a ball.
- Bigfoot exist.
- There is buried treasure on oak island.
- Jesus Christ is the only begotten son of God.
**The first point of the message today- God requires us to be believe with faith his promises until he brings us to a point of knowing.
Remember a few weeks ago when we were talking about the Jailer in the book of Acts. Paul and Silas were in the slammer and prayed, and sang praises unto God until midnight when the angel of the Lord came and freed them:
Acts 16:30-32
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
Hebrews 11:1-3
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
***While I have your fully engaged and your heart and mind are open to receive truth lets look at Romans 10 together.
Romans 10:1-17
1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
**The first point of the message today- God requires us to be believe with faith his promises until he brings us to a point of knowing.
**The 2nd point of the message today- Faith to believe cannot come with out hearing the word of the Lord.
Let’s go back to our key verse in context and lets really dive deep into what Paul is writing to Timothy in his second letter.
2 Timothy 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
***The first thing I want you to see at the start of his letter is that Paul’s identity in his calling as an apostle of Jesus Christ and it is linked to the promise of Eternal Life in Jesus.
***The 3rd point of the message today: Your self-identification will tell you a lot about what you think, believe and know.
Colossians 1:12-18
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
1 Peter 2:9-10
King James Version
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
***The 3rd point of the message today: Your self-identification will tell you a lot about what you think, believe and know.
Continuing in 2 Timothy 1
2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
***This word to stir up.
- the remains of a fire, embers;
b. that by which the fire is kindled anew or lighted up, a pair of bellows);
to kindle anew, rekindle, resuscitate,[yet on the force of ἀνα- cf. Ellicott on 2 Tim. as below]; generally tropical, to kindle up, inflame, one's mind, strength, zeal
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
**Point #4 of the message today: In the life of a believer, fear is replaced by power, love and evangelism
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
**Key verse** 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
**Point #5 of the message today: The believer sees past the current earthly challenges to the future heavenly reward.
Romans 8:18-19
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
***Back to this statement of knowing in 2 Timothy 1:12- I want you to look closely at it again. You see Paul is not speaking about a fact that he knows to be true but that he knows the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He says I know whom I have believed.
2 Timothy 1:12
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Philippians 3:10
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
John 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
***The 6th and closing point of the message today: When you know Jesus then it is easy to believe what he says.
Jeremiah 29:13
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
John 17
1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
There is a passage of scripture that I read at every funeral or celebration of life service I am asked to lead. That passage of scripture is found in the book of Job chapter 19. Job who was having some of the worst challenges than most of us will ever face in our life. Every part of this life was troubled, business, family. Then his character was assailed by his closest friends. His wife at one point says Job you are in a very bad place…. Just give up, just curse God and die..
Listen to his words closely here
Job 19:25-27
25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
**The first point of the message today- God requires us to be believe with faith his promises until he brings us to a point of knowing.
**The 2nd point of the message today- Faith to believe cannot come with out hearing the word of the Lord.
***The 3rd point of the message today: Your self-identification will tell you a lot about what you think, believe and know.
***The 3rd point of the message today: Your self-identification will tell you a lot about what you think, believe and know.
**Point #4 of the message today: In the life of a believer, fear is replaced by power, love and evangelism
**Point #5 of the message today: The believer sees past the current earthly challenges to the future heavenly reward.
***The 6th and closing point of the message today: When you know Jesus then it is easy to believe what he says.