Living in Readiness: Embracing Faith and Persecution

All the passage about the end times the purpose is the same it's always about how we're are you going to live because this is going to happen and sometimes we get caught up in the details of how this is going to happen when's it going to happen what does this represent what and that's fine to study those things but again the purpose if you read those passages they're all there to say are you ready for this are you are you ready for the end are you longing for his return and are you ready for his return [00:53:40]

Indeed all who desire to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted while evil people and Impostors Will Go On from bad to worse deceiving and being deceived so he makes it clear he goes in the end he he tells Timothy he goes look everyone who wants to live a Godly life in Christ will be persecuted remember last week we talked about that Paul and his persecutions and Paul's saying look yeah I went through all this garbage but don't think that you know that was me and I'm this unique individual and that you Timothy this young Pastor that you're not going to go through the same thing [02:03:00]

All who desire to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus will it's not might will be persecuted that means if you're serious about really wanting to live for Jesus he goes persecution isn't an option not for someone who's seriously going to follow Jesus Christ he goes I promise you you will be persecuted if that's your desire if you speak up for what you believe you will be P that mean where you live doesn't matter where you live you'll be persecuted if you're going to live the life that God wants you to live stand for the morals that God wants you to stand for live The Godly life in Christ Jesus you will be persecuted [03:41:00]

But as for you continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you've been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus he says Timothy it doesn't matter how everyone else lives even the majority the church people go to church are going to live a certain way and they're all going to be into themselves and protecting themselves and saving themselves he goes but you you know what's written here and you know the way Jesus lived and I'm asking you to live that same way [07:11:00]

I am reminded of your sincere Faith a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now I am sure dwells in you also so powerful he he goes man continue in this he goes because you know who you learn it from he goes man you know you saw the way your mom lifted out you so saw the way your mom un lived out you saw the way your Grandma Lois lived it out I love I love that they put those two women in the Bible you know that that that you know when he goes hey you you know you you know this book and you know people who are real and people who are real taught it to you [08:59:00]

You know the way your mom lived she was the real thing you know the way she lives she was a real thing she taught you the scriptures and you saw the way your grandma lived in that consistent faithfulness through those years I mean don't you want to be a person like that where you read about this and it's like okay continue what you've learned and firmly knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you've been acquainted with the sacred writings ever since childhood ever since you were a little kid you read this book you heard this book from Grandma you heard this book from Mom [10:42:00]

All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching for Repro for correction and for training in righteousness that the man of God may be competent equipped to every good work so so he see he says all scripture is breathed out by God it's this idea of it's like coming out of the mouth of God like you actually hearing the very voice of God he goes all these words that's what that's what you hold in your hand right now all the scripture is God breathed and and I think some times we put you know the wrong emphasis on the thought of maybe hearing the voice of God [27:28:00]

It's not just about knowing this book it's knowing this book so that we can go out and actually do something with our lives and this is where there are B Bible teaching churches everywhere there are a lot of those but so often you have these people who know and I don't ever want to become this a church that knows so much and we quote this verse this verse this verse great that's a wonderful thing but has it led you to action has it led you to the good works that that this is supposed to lead you to a seminaries are filled with students and professors who really know how to you know point out this and that about the book but the question is is did it change your life [32:47:00]

The Bible explains that you and I were created for a purpose that there were good works that God determined beforehand before you even born there were things for you to do on this Earth and what this book does is it equips you to go out and do those things in a way that honors God and uh I I just I don't know how to emphasize strong enough how powerful this book is that you have in your hands and how this is all you need for this whole thing you know that you can be competent and equipped for every good work [33:59:00]

The power is literally in these very words that just by reading these words that's what changes a person's life and there's a real interesting passage very very interesting passage I want you to look at it's in Luke chapter 16 Luke chapter 16 it's it's the story of uh Lazarus and the rich man okay a fascinating passage honestly for me it's one of the scariest passages in scripture um but I want I want us to look at it Luke chapter 16 because I want to point something out to you this is so so major in understanding what we have and what we hold in our hands and the power in this book [19:26:00]

If they do not hear Moses and the prophets neither will they be convinced if some someone should rise from the dead okay first of all fascinating story terrifying story you got a rich person who ate well every day he was able to eat out every meal if he wanted to you got this beggar who's at this guy's property and he's got nothing and he just wants some leftovers they both die one goes one place one goes the other and somehow this one down in Hades is can see up there he can't go there because there's a Chasm and no one can go either way once it's done it's done [21:57:00]

The Bible says that all scripture is breathed out for God by God and it's profitable for teaching and for conviction for reproof people say well I go to other churches and I I never get convicted there all right you know I mean it's this idea if you're teaching the word of God if anyone just up there reading it there'll be things that convict us why because it's it's it's it's profitable for teaching for reproof for correction cuz I naturally stray from this book I got my own desires and this idea of Correction is rectifying that changing that fixing that and getting me right on the right path [31:01:00]