The Handoff

Notes: The Handoff

2 Timothy 3

SPEAKER:

Paul Eaton

WORSHIP TEAM:

Harvest Worship Band

Sunday, September 4, 2016 — 10:00 a.m.

This year with all of the outreaches of Harvest over 42,000 people have made a profession of faith! Amazing!!!

A believer's marching orders...

Matthew 28:19 NLT

[19] Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

We are to keep the faith moving forward.

Pastor Eaton is telling us about the women's relay at the Olympics relay and how the baton was dropped, and the story behind it.

His message is about how not just running the race is important, but how we do the handoff to the future runners of the faith.

2 Timothy 4:6-7 NLT

[6] As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. [7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.

Paul is speaking to Timothy as his mentor.

Mentor- an experienced trusted advisor.

Disciple Maker - teaches the disciple to be a learner.

The disciple of our world appears to be the opposite of what Paul describes.

2 Timothy 3:10-17 NLT

[10] But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance. [11] You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra-but the Lord rescued me from all of it. [12] Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. [13] But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. [14] But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. [15] You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. [17] God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Past, present and future.

Past: verses 10-11

Future: 12-13

Present: 14- 17

Pauls priorities:

-teaching

-conduct

-aim in life

Paul was not just a teacher, he was a great teacher.

Acts 20:20-21 NLT

[20] I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. [21] I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike-the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 9:16 NLT

[16] Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn't preach the Good News!

Timothy followed Pauls teaching and conduct.

Paul taught, "do what I do", his teaching and conduct were in agreement.Find this in someone and be this for someone.

Have an example and be an example.

Who's your example? Who are you an example to?

Pauls Virtues:

-faith: trust in God

-patience: with God

-love: for God

-steadfastness: holding on to God

1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT

[13] Three things will last forever-faith, hope, and love-and the greatest of these is love.

Focus on God.

Paul's endurance. Faith that cannot be tested is faith that cannot be trusted.

Timothy is from Lystra, he possibly saw what happened to Paul in Acts 14.

Acts 14:8-20 NLT

[8] While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. He was sitting [9] and listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed. [10] So Paul called to him in a loud voice, "Stand up!" And the man jumped to his feet and started walking. [11] When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, "These men are gods in human form!" [12] They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he was the chief speaker. [13] Now the temple of Zeus was located just outside the town. So the priest of the temple and the crowd brought bulls and wreaths of flowers to the town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to the apostles. [14] But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting, [15] "Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings-just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. [16] In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, [17] but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts." [18] But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them. [19] Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. [20] But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

Paul had been through much...but the Lord had rescued him.

2 Timothy 4:18 ESV

[18] The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Our Christian beliefs are no longer main stream. The world looks at our beliefs as wrong...but my beliefs are from God's word.

Know that the Lord is still in charge and you can trust in Him.

You must continue everyday; continue, continue, continue the race.  

2 Timothy 3:14 ESV

[14] But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it

Learning + Believing = Wise for salvation through Jesus Christ

Knowing God and making Him known through worship, learning and loving.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV

[16] All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Scripture changes us and profits us.

The scripture is profitable:

Teaching: what is right

Reproof: what is not right

Training: how to get right

Correction: how to stay right

New believers are looking at you as an example.

We like our comfort zone, God wants to call us out of it.

Get involved!

Romans 10:9 ESV

[9] because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.