Legacy

 

This week Michael writes: the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 “For you see your calling, brethren, that 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, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.”

Paul was personally ordained of God with the ministry of an Apostle. As he approached the end of his life, Paul said to his “son in the faith” Timothy, “be strong in the Lord and the power of his might. For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

When we are distracted to divert our eyes from following Jesus Christ, we will be caught up in the affairs of this pagan world. Paul continued in 2 Timothy 1:8-9 “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. Then in 2 Timothy 1:13-14 “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.”

Paul knew that he was approaching the end of his earthly life and ministry. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul passed the torch of “the light of truth” to his protege and son in the faith. As Timothy’s mentor and coach, Paul trained him up in God’s truth to grow up into the man of God for the purpose God intended. Holding fast to the sound word that we have heard and witnessed in others, is secured in believing faith, and activated by the love of Christ in us.

Paul continued his letter in 2 Timothy chapter 2 with four illustrations. A Man of God is a teacher of truth, a soldier in the spiritual battle, an athlete in a spiritual completion, and a farmer in the fields of life; one who sows the seed of the word, waters and tends the crop and, reaps good fruit at harvest time. 2 Timothy 2:2 says, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

How do you teach others? How do you commit that which you’ve learned to the next generations? The church, body of Christ, grows exponentially, raised to power of four Generations to come (o yourself, your children, and your children’s children, and to your great-grandchildren children). Jesus rarely spoke to the multitudes. He had twelve disciples and an inner circle of three men. The question is, who are your twelve and who are your three? The. Core four, discipling each other in the love of God and the power of God raised to the exponential power of 4. How do you teach those with whom you associate? You teach by your actions. As the old poem says, “I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day. I’d rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.” The Apostle James said, you say you have faith? Your faith is demonstrated by your actions.

Paul continued his letter to 2 Timothy 2:3-4 “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” Then in 2 Timothy 2:5, Paul likens the calling of a child of God to training for an athletic competition,: “And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.”  An athlete must compete according to the rules of the game or he will be disqualified. As spiritual athletes, we must compete, striving according to the righteous standard of God’s Spirit ... the Spirit of truth. If we fail to keep the rules and stumble and fall, then we fall into the net of God’s grace. “For if we sin, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9

In 2 Timothy 2:6-7, Paul compares the child of God to a farmer: “The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.” Paul had said before, I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. When the seed of the Word of God you sow falls on the good ground of a receptive heart, it will bear much fruit. There is no glory in the one who sows, plants and waters…. the glory is in God who gives the increase.

 

2 Timothy 2:8 “Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel.” If life on earth is a race, the winning is not in finishing first place, but in finishing well. Paul’s legacy was that whatever he did, he did all for the advancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul’s benediction is in 2 Timothy 4:6-8 states: “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. May this also be our own benediction and legacy, that we may live not for our own glory, but to the praise of the glory of His grace!

Your brother in Christ, Michael