Hey everybody Merry Christmas Eve. Let me be the first one to say it. Let me be the first person to say Merry Christmas Eve to you guys. But, you know, that's not true so well, is there any satisfaction in this? I don't think I'm sure for somebody, I was the first person to say Merry Christmas Eve. I think so. I said it days ago, so you're kind of, didn't say Merry Christmas Eve, you said Merry Christmas. But it's all the same thing. Jumped the gun. It lost its power did not lose his power. It was just as powerful. If not more powerful. I think people were blessed by revoked. I heard people started speaking in tongues after. Okay. I took it back, especially. Especially then anyways, we hope that you guys are having a good day today and that you're planning on joining us today. No matter where you on Christmas Eve, be here. 4:00 PM. Central standard time. Is it standard time right now? I don't know. Central time, 4:00 PM. Uh, at founders classical academy for our Christmas Eve services. Um, we are going to do worship and we're going to have a message. More brief than, than typical. Cause the whole services now are allegedly, Hey, the whole service is an hour. We're going to keep it through that. Um, although we don't have two services today or this year we did last year, so I had to keep it brief this year. We don't have a set service. Hey man. There's. No stop. We're going to have midnight mass at the same time that starting at 4:00 PM. Do we need to name somebody you to kiss and just let the chips fall where they will let them die? Well, no, they're not gonna let them die. You have to bring them back to life, buddy. Okay. Well, I don't know if I can guarantee that, so maybe I just won't preach. For that long. Well, that'd be a good start. Anyways, our theme, this Christmas Eve, we're going to be focusing on finding true joy in the world that that's been kind of what we're doing with this series. Unwrapped finding hope. Peace and joy. Uh, and, and really the, the con. Common theme in all. This is is true. Joy, true hope, true peace, because the world will offer you. They're facsimiles of it. You can find it everywhere you look. And there's plenty of things that you can pursue that will give you a brief experience of joy. It will give you some temporary pleasure and temporary happiness, but true joy lasting joy only comes through a right understanding in a right relationship. With Jesus Christ. The one whose birth we celebrate. Uh, tomorrow on Christmas day, but today Christmas Eve join us for PM founders classical academy. Yeah. We would love to see you there. If you're not already coming and you're part of our church, but if you're listening and you have the wherewithal to come, we we'd like to have you. If you have a private jet and you can get here, then we want to talk to you. Yes. Yeah. That too. Yeah. We're a helicopter. Either one or Jetson's car, not picky. Yeah. Hey, uh, second Timothy let's jump in. Okay, this is a most likely Paul's last letter that he ever wrote. It is so sad, man. It is. It is in there's multiple things in the letter that allude to that, or hint to that. And. As we read through it, you pick up on it, but chapter one, he opens up, even in his he's writing to Timothy, you can tell he's preparing Timothy for life without him. He's encouraging him. Hey B, you need to be on guard. You need to guard the deposit. That's been entrusted to you. You need to fan into flame, the gift of God, which is in you through the laying out of hands. I have my hands. He says specifically in verse six. And so, in other words, he's saying, all right, Timothy it's it's you. It's a you now I'm commissioning you. You need to step up. I'm not going to be around much longer. You need to do what you need to do. Don't be ashamed of me though. In chapter one, he says, you know, Um, my end may by the world standards, be somewhat ignominious. It's shameful. As I'm in prison here. And we know through church history that Paul was going to be beheaded, um, for his testimony of, of faith in Christ. And, and so he's telling Timothy. That may seem like that's something shameful, but this is one thing I love from Paul is what he says in verse 12. He says, but I am not ashamed for, I know whom I have believed in that gets back to the foundation. The confidence that Paul had. I was about a person. It was about a relationship, much more than it was doctrine and theology. We just talked about this a couple episodes ago, but man, we want to be a church. That's about a relationship with Jesus. And that relationship with Jesus is cultivated through time in the word and through prayer. Those are the two things that are the bread and butter of our relationship with Jesus. And so your confidence in your standing with God, can't come down to your systematic theology awareness. It can come down to whether or not you have a seminary degree. It can't come down to the number of books on your shelf. Your confidence in your standing with Jesus needs to be just like Paul's confidence was it's about whom. You have faith in not what you know, or what you have faith in. And that's an important distinction to make, because one is about the intellect. One is demonic, right? Th th the demons can have faith in and shutter, even at what their faith tells them or faith, they can have knowledge and shutter about what their knowledge tells them about God. But they don't have a relationship with him. Certainly they don't have a relationship with him. So I guess the question a good one to ask is what separates your faith from the faith of demons? Do you have a genuine relationship with Christ? Is that where your confidence is? Yeah. One of the things I like about Timothy is that he seems to be the kind of guy that is timid, fearful. Uh, maybe even more tempted to be ashamed of Paul's predicament. Uh, which is why I think he spent so much ink. Paul does in chapter one to say, look, tell me they don't be afraid. Don't, don't be the kind of guy to shrink back and, and be ashamed of me as prisoner or to be ashamed of price, essentially. It says not only that, but follow the pattern, follow what I'm doing. Do w what you've heard me do and say, I mean, do those things. So I feel like this is a really great book for someone who might be more of the temperament to, to be afraid. This book is for you. Uh, Timothy was a guy like you, and yet God used him. And Paul encouraged him. Paul laid hands on him to be a pastor and to serve the church. So don't disqualify yourself just because you don't feel like you're the strongest in the bunch. I don't know that Timothy would have raised his hand and said, I'm the guy pick me. Uh, God used him despite that and be comforted. By the very fact that God can use you, despite you. Yeah. And also. Uh, along those lines, but building on that, he didn't let the gas off with Timothy. In fact, in chapter two, he's compares what Timothy's got in front of him to be in a soldier. To be in a hard worker to being a farmer and saying, look, there's, there's work to be done. And, and that's kind of where he's, he's going with him. He says, look, you you've got work to do for the gospel. Um, and, and be encouraged. Uh, you know, you don't need to worry about God abandoning you. Uh, that you're going to stand firm. He's got this statement, which was probably part of a, some people think it was part of a hammer, a baptismal formula, beginning of verse 11. Where it says, if we've died with him, we will also live with them. If we endure, we will also reign with him if we deny him. Okay. Apostasy. He will deny us, but 13, if we're faithless, he remains faithful faithless. They're not the same as denying. Why? Because if we deny him, he will deny us. But if we're faithless, he stays faithful. And so. Th they're in it's even that encouragement. When we sin, God is not done with us. He's not going to cast us aside. He remains faithful. Why for, he cannot deny himself and we have Christ within us, but he's telling Timothy, so, so too many Stan from. Be encouraged, be strong. But also get ready to do the work that you need to do. And that's what, he's where he goes in, in verse 14 and in. And verse 15, we've got the Awana verse here. Uh, do your best to present yourself approved a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. And so. Paul wants Timothy to be useful in his ministry in, in not to, to let the gas off, not to, to shy away, but Hey, you need to be ready to do the work that's in front of you. I liked the way that Paul says it in verse 15, you just quoted it. But those first three words do your best. Yeah. It doesn't want adequate. He doesn't want so lukewarm. He wants our best efforts. And then is that, is that true for you, Christians? I mean, I, I just think. Sometimes I can read that and I can just gloss over those words that can, okay. As long as I get it in. But no, he wants more than that. He wants our best efforts to be presented before God has one approved, which suggests to us that the kind of effort that God deserves from us is not just a. Uh, haphazard or a lackadaisical. Effort, but our best effort. Um, I think that means God deserves our first and our best. I would agree. Yeah. Uh, verse 24 is interesting. Can we get some more qualifications for a pastor here that are slipped in by Paul? He says the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, but kind to everyone able to teach patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance, leading to a knowledge of the truth. I mean, this is interesting because it take this and apply it to Christian Twitter these days. Right. Or, you know, whatever your, your social media. Choice is, but there's, there's not a lot of this. Uh, gentleness. There's a lot of cooling going on. There's a lot of fighting about a lot of nonsense out there, but, uh, Paul is telling Timothy. And you're you as a pastor and in others, the Lord service, they must not be given to corals there's things that we should stand up and debate. No doubt about it. There's things that we need to draw a line and say, you know, that's error. This is truth. But again, even as Paul says in Ephesians, we need to speak the truth in love here again. I think it's, it's that same mindset with gentleness, even Galatians six, when we can confront somebody that's in sin. We're to do so in gentleness there. And I, I. I think I, I. I don't see a lot of gentleness out there in the public sphere, on Twitter, in other places, when it comes to arguments and debates and things. And that's one of the reasons why I stay out of it because I don't want my, my own flesh to creep in and causing me to, to, to lack that gentle spirit of that loving attitude towards correcting somebody that may be an error. Yeah, I'd probably say that the algorithm incentivizes a, this kind of fighting mindset. Sure. That's that's, what's gonna get more clicks, more views, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. So be aware you're being shaped by the, the media outlets that you choose to utilize and spend your time on. And the question that you should ask is, is the shaping reflecting of Christ character or is it something else? If it's something else then you and I ought to have the responsibility and the wherewithal to say, I'm just going to abstain from that because it's not helpful for me. Yeah. Yeah. And I think we've talked about this and probably. Maybe it was last year when we were going through the daily Bible podcast. But. Very few people have been saved or, uh, adequately corrected on social media. I don't know though. I've ever heard of testimony. That was like, well, I was in a debate with somebody on Facebook, where I was in a debate with somebody on Twitter and then God opened my eyes and I got saved. And here I am in the baptismal tank. Maybe not that, but I do find that. I mean, yeah, it's, it's like digging, uh, you're gonna have to get through a lot of mud to get some bread. It's worth it. Having. I think I struggle with that because there are times and there's people I follow that I'm like, oh, that was helpful. I appreciate that. That take, I appreciate that insight. Oh, I appreciate that direction to that website or whatever else it might be. We just have to do so discriminately and discerningly, and it's really hard to do that is hard. Uh, second Peter chapter three, then. Uh, it gets into the state of the world. Culture basically is the word that I wrote down next to this, that this Timothy is the world in which you are going to have to do this hardworking. And it's a world that's, that's not great. It's a world in which, as you look through these descriptors, you see a lot of this today. If we open our eyes lovers of self lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive disobedient to their parents. Ungrateful on holy heartless on a peaceable slanderous without self-control brutal, not loving. Good. I mean, we can look at this and end point to our world and, and see this here. And what does that. Tell us other than when he says in the last days, remember we talked about this a few episodes ago. We're we're in the last days, Timothy was in the last days were in the last day, still. This is what the world is like, and this is the world in which we need to do the hard work and do our best. To present ourselves as a worker who has not. No need to be ashamed, but who rightly handles the word of truth and speaking of the word of truth, that's where he goes next. This is where the power is. Because that word of truth is that which is able to make one wise to salvation. He, he talks about Timothy's upbringing and the fact that you've learned the scriptures. His, uh, his grandmother and his mom were instrumental in teaching him the word of God and the word of God contained the message of hope in, in, in faith that ultimately made him ready to hear the gospel and to put his trust in Jesus. And then he goes on and he says in scripture is that, which is powerful because it's breathed out by God, which is what the doctrine of inspiration is about. Uh, the inspiration is it means that that it's it's from the mouth of God. The words that we read in scripture, all of them are from God's mouth and therefore profitable because of the source for teaching reproof, correction, training, and righteousness, that we may be competent and equipped for every good work. So chapter three, Hey, the world's bad, but you've got the. The powerful, more powerful weapon of God's word, to be able to get the work done that you need to get done. Don't overlook it too quickly here. Notice that Timothy was raised with an acquaintance to the word. And who does today? Who does Timothy have to thank for that? Grandma and mom. Yep. Lois and Eunice. So moms grand moms. Uh, please don't take your responsibility to love your kids and grandkids with the word, uh, lightly. That that is a great, that means this is a testimony to their leadership in his life. Their influence. And Timothy was a pastor that benefited greatly from their work in his life. So don't look down on your work ladies, keep it at us and do it all. The more to the Gloria got huge. Yeah, absolutely 100%. And, and that's not to the, the dis. Discouragement of, of men having that voice as well. We think that Timothy's dad probably was not a believer. Um, it's likely he was a Greek at Gentile. And, you know, Timothy came to faith. We don't know much about his dad. We know that Paul kind of stepped in and said that he became his spiritual father, which would imply that either his dad was gone or not walking in the faith and in, so his mom and grandma are commended and they did great work. And yes, I echo everything that you just said. And, and I would just say, and. Men. Uh, th don't don't export that to your wives, make sure that your kids see you reading the word and see, hear you talking about the Bible and hear you coming alongside and supporting your wives. In training them up and in pointing them to Jesus as well. This is something that God has given us, ideally. A couple husbands and wives to do this well together. Chapter four then, uh, he begins to, to sign off here and he's going to charge Timothy. Uh, this, this great statement w. In the presence of God and in Christ Jesus. So this is serious. He says, preach the word, be ready in season and out of season. Meaning at all times you need to be ready with the word of God and you need to be ready. To use it to reprove rebuke exhort with complete patience. And teaching. And then that again goes to the heart of the pastor. The pastor needs to do his work with patients, with everyone that comes into contact with. And that's hard. Sometimes it just in our flesh and yet it's, it's what our calling is. That's what we're called to do. That's what a shepherd does. A shepherd loves with patients. And so Paul is reminding Timothy of that. And then the, the poetic way that he describes his imminent departure here, starting in verse six, he says I'm already being poured out. And I just think of. Exhaustion. When I read these verses, he says, as a drink offering the time had my departure has come. I've fought the good fight I've finished the race. I've kept the faith. And now there's laid up for me, the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will award to me on that day. What an amazing idea. The crown of righteousness, which the Lord will award, which Jesus will give me on that day. And then he goes on and says something amazing that applies to us. And not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing. And so it's like, Paul's telling Timothy I'm about to go, but somebody work hard so that you can have the same hope stay. The course you'll have the same hope you'll get here someday too. And the Lord will award the crown to you as well. And then as he signs off, he, uh, gives some personal instructions there and mentioned the Demas in love with this present world has deserted me. That's a tragedy he's walked away. He's abandoned him. Uh, but then he also says, Hey, get mark and bring him with you for is useful to me again, that the reconciliation that's taken place there from the departure. And then he just encourages him to count, bring, bring the cloak. Also bring my books. And bring the scrolls. I want my books for each. And, uh, and he encourages Timothy there. And then he signs off with a few greetings personal greetings there at the end as well. One of the things I noticed about second Timothy is that Paul has just been laying out name after name. He just mentioned Demas, but he was talking about fight jealous and. I'm an AAS. Yeah. Uh, if I lead us. He's he's throwing out names and he's saying, look, these are the guys to be aware of. These are some of the people that we're talking about. So. Naming people is important. Don't always do it. We don't always try to blast somebody and destroy the reputation. We're not about cancel culture, but there is mark my words here. There is a place to say this person is a Wolf beware of this person. Today I'd probably get sent around far too much. But there is a time and place for it. Yeah, I would agree. I would agree. I would agree. Well, let's pray. And then we'll be done with this, uh, this episode. God, we thank you for a second Tivity. We thank you for Paul's example and pray that we would pattern ourselves after him. Uh, that we would set ourselves to be Workman who do not need to be ashamed, but who accurately handle the word of truth that we would use your word that is inspired. That's breathed out by you too. Uh, rebuke and correct and train in righteousness so that we might all be competent and equipped for every good work. And we look forward to that day and we long for that day, as, as Paul was anticipating it where you will. Reward or award rather than their crown of righteousness to us who have loved your appearing. So God. Hasten that day. And in the meantime, may we be found faithful. We pray in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Are y'all keep, bring your Bibles tune in again tomorrow for another edition of the daily Bible podcast. And let me be the first to say Merry Christmas. I would.