Live God’s Glory

Live God’s Glory (Why)

Main Idea of the Message

We are called to live out our faith to the glory of God, courageously unashamed of who Jesus is and all He’s done.

2Ti 1:3-12 (ESV) I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. [4] As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. [5] I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dweltfirst in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. [6] For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, [7] for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. [8] Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, [9] who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, [10] and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, [11] for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, [12] which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.

Why is our absolute focus the glory of God?

Because it is an act of thankfulness for the gift of salvation and the grace that has enveloped our lives! It is an act of graciousness toward the glorious God who has rescued and redeemed us!

2Ti 1:3 (ESV) I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.

The way we choose to express this focus at Northeast Baptist Church is through our purpose statement. This is our vision, our purpose, our process. This is the “why” behind what we do.

Seven simple words: “Knowing God, Growing Together, Serving Our World”

1. We desire for all people, in all places, for all time, to know God.
2. We want to help every follower of Jesus grow in their relationship with Him and we believe that happens best as a family of believers, growing together.
3. Out of our growing love relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we want to use the gifts and abilities God has given us to serve our world, recognizing that the greatest way we can serve them is by pointing them to the glorious Savior that we know and love.

“Now, that’s where your boldness starts. It starts with a recognition that you’re here to do a ministry. That’s where it starts. If you’re going to be encouraged and enthusiastic and courageous and bold, it starts when you know that you’re here to name the name of Christ, to exalt Christ, to use your gift to serve His name, and so you never are ashamed of Christ. Your very reason to be is to serve Christ, whatever your gift.” –John MacArthur

“And so, basic to all effective ministry is a certain spiritual courage that says, “I will live the way God wants me to live, and I will speak the way He wants me to speak no matter what the consequences might be.”—John MacArthur

Paul is writing as one who is about to die. He’s, in a sense, writing his last will and testament. He’s calling upon Timothy to carry the mantle after him. He’s calling Timothy up to boldly and to courageously carry the gospel of Jesus Christ after him.

“To Timothy, my beloved child.” (v. 2) only time this phrase is used by Paul

• My beloved child, live out the sincerity of your faith. (v. 5)
• My beloved child, let it dwell within you. (v. 5)
• My beloved child, continue to fan into flame the gift of God within you.” (v. 6)
  • Your life only makes sense, your life and my life only has value if it is being used for its intended purpose.
• My beloved child, God hasn’t given you fear. He’s given you power, love, and self-control (the discipline to live in that power and love). (v. 7)

How do we demonstrate or express the sincerity of our faith?

How do we live God’s glory?

1. Live an Unashamed Testimony.
   1. 2Ti 1:8 (ESV) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
   2. Paul’s testimony put him in prison!
   3. Paul invites them to share in suffering for the gospel.
   4. God will equip you to testify if you will rely.
   5. “There is no evil that can bring such great retribution to the mind of man as the evil of a duty undone. There is no joy that is greater than a duty fulfilled.”—Charles Spurgeon

2. Live in Unashamed Grace.
   1. 2Ti 1:9-10 (ESV) who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, [10] and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
   2. Saved us and called us to a holy calling. “Set us free from sin and set us free to serve.”
   3. You want to live God’s glory every day? Live in unashamed grace! He’s given us his grace! God saved! Out of that gift of salvation he has called us to a holy calling of testifying to his glory and grace.
   4. Live in a daily awareness that the salvation you enjoy is not because of anything you have done, but it’s all because of what Jesus has done!
   5. Grace has appeared before our very eyes in the person of Jesus Christ!
   6. Through God’s grace death has been abolished (done away with, null and void, destroyed)! Through God’s grace life and immortality have been revealed to us (brought to light)!

3. Live in Unashamed Belief.
   1. 2Ti 1:11-12 (ESV) for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, [12] which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.
   2. Paul was appointed by the Lord to be a preacher—messenger vested with public authority, who conveyed the official messages of kings, magistrates, princes, military commanders, or who gave a public summons or demand, and performed various other duties. In the NT God’s ambassador, and the herald or proclaimer of the divine word. We have been commissioned in the authority of the Lord to proclaim the glory and the grace of Christ.
   3. Paul was appointed by the Lord to be an apostle—the term apostle simply means “sent out one.” We have been sent out by the Lord to go and proclaim his glory, to go and testify to his salvation and his grace, to go and to declare the gospel even if it leads to suffering for his name.
   4. Paul was appointed by the Lord to be a teacher—we have been appointed to go and to teach everyone everywhere about the things of God. This is the fulfillment of disciples making disciples.
   5. Why do we live this way? Because we don’t simply believe in a set of facts, but we believe in Jesus! Paul knew the facts. He wrote about half of the New Testament. But his trust was in Christ. He wasn’t ashamed to declare his faith in the risen Lord. Paul was also convinced that Jesus would keep till the end his investment in the gospel. We, too, believe in him. We have trusted our very lives to him. This beautiful relationship that we have with Christ has convinced (persuaded) us that he is able to keep and guard our investment in the gospel until the end.

Conclusion

“Think of it! Though he (Paul) is entombed below ground in a dark, dripping cell, awaiting execution, though he seems to be a forgotten cast-off to the world, and certainly to his enemies, he vows, “I am not ashamed.” R. Kent Hughes

Php 1:20 (ESV) as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

1Pe 4:16 (ESV) Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

“Take thou my soul and all my powers;
O take my memory, mind, and will,
Take all my goods, and all my hours,
Take all I know and all I feel;
Take all I think and speak, and do;
O take my heart, but make it new.”

Church—be unashamed! Live for God’s glory. Everyday. Everywhere. Among all the people. Live an unashamed testimony about his glory, goodness, and grace. Live in that grace at all times! Believe in the one who saved you and be convinced that your work in the gospel he will guard to the very end!

“I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit’s power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made; I’m a disciple of His! I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still…I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus!