"THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"
Useful For The Master (2:20-26)
INTRODUCTION
1. To motivate Timothy toward faithful service, Paul used an
illustration involving 'vessels'...
a. Of varying qualities and value - 2Ti 2:20
b. How one could be a vessel for honor, prepared for every good work
- 2Ti 2:21
-- Thus becoming "Useful For The Master"
2. By considering the context (2Ti 2:20-26), we too can learn how to
be...
a. Vessels of gold or silver, not wood or clay
b. Vessels for honor, not dishonor
-- And thereby also becoming "Useful For The Master"
[It involves effort, but such is necessary if we are going to be
prepared for every good work. First of all, to be useful for the
Master...]
I. WE MUST WORK ON OUR PERSONAL CONDUCT
A. THINGS TO AVOID...
1. Must cleanse oneself from "the latter" - 2Ti 2:21
a. I.e., vessels of dishonor - 2Ti 2:20
b. E.g., teachers of false doctrine like Hymenaeus and
Philetus- cf. 2Ti 2:16-18
2. Must flee youthful lusts - 2Ti 2:22
a. The lust of the flesh, such as fornication - 1Co 6:18
b. The lust of the eyes, such as materialism - cf. 1Ti 6:9-11
-- We must avoid both wicked associations and wicked conduct
B. THINGS TO DO...
1. Must pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace - 2Ti 2:22
a. Qualities without which no one will see the Lord - He 12:14
b. Qualities well suited for the "man of God" - cf. 1Ti 6:11
2. With those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart - 2Ti 2:22
a. Together with those who sincerely love God
b. I.e., not alone, nor in the company of those 'vessels of
dishonor'
-- We must seek both holy conduct and holy associations
[Avoiding wicked associations does not mean we do not reach out to those
in error. For the Lord desires all to be saved (cf. 1Ti 2:4; 2 Pe
3:9). To be "Useful For The Master" in teaching them...]
II. WE MUST WORK ON INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS
A. THINGS TO AVOID...
1. Must avoid foolish and ignorant disputes - 2Ti 2:23
a. That generate strife - 2Ti 2:23; cf. 1Ti 1:4; 6:4
b. That bring ruin to the hearers - 2Ti 2:14; cf. Tit 3:9
c. That increase to more ungodliness - 2Ti 2:16
2. Must not quarrel - 2Ti 2:24
a. That is, strive or fight over words - cf. 2Ti 2:23
b. "engage in a war of words, to quarrel, wrangle, dispute"
- Thayer
-- We must avoid discussions that are little more than 'word
battles'
B. THINGS TO DO...
1. Must be gentle to all - 2Ti 2:24
a. "affable, that is, mild or kind" - Strong
b. "not only to troubled minds, and wounded consciences, by
supplying them with the precious promises and truths of the
Gospel; and to backsliders, by restoring them in a spirit of
meekness; but even to those who contradict the truth, and
themselves, by mild and kind instructions." - Gill
2. Must be able to teach - 2Ti 2:24
a. "apt and skillful in teaching" - Thayer
b. Thus able to both exhort and convict those who contradict
- cf. Tit 1:9
3. Must be patient - 2Ti 2:24
a. "patient of ills and wrongs, forbearing" - Thayer
b. "The Greek word here used does not elsewhere occur in the
New Testament. It means, patient under evils and injuries"
- Barnes
c. A Christ-like quality much needed in 'word battles' - cf. Co
3:13
4. Must correct in humility - 2Ti 2:25
a. That is, with "gentleness, mildness, meekness" - Thayer
b. Even against those who:
1) Who oppose the truth
2) Who are ensnared by the devil
c. For such qualities are weapons "mighty in God" - cf. 2 Co
10:1-5
1) Not carnal, such as wrath, anger, and strife
2) But mighty for casting down arguments, bringing thoughts
into captivity to Christ
-- We must develop and demonstrate a Christ-like character toward
the opposition
CONCLUSION
1. A servant of the Lord must therefore give careful attention...
a. To his personal conduct and associations
b. To his interpersonal relations with those in error
2. A servant of the Lord who does so can then be...
a. A vessel of honor
b. Sanctified (set apart for a godly purpose)
c. Useful to the Master!
What kind of 'vessels' are we becoming for the Lord...?
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Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2009
