In the summer of 1915, Haig’s brief childhood came to an end. Haig’s father was drafted into the Turkish Army - His grandfather Hagop was poisoned on a business trip into the village. His remaining family was deported - the caravan consisted of Haig’s grandmother, uncle, aunt, and mother - who was carrying her newly born baby boy in her arms - three sisters, and Haig.

Their deportation - their suffering - was like too many others. What was done to our families is beyond description. One scene - from Haig’s life - exemplifies many others.

In Haig’s words, “My mother, a frail woman exhausted by all the tragedies, bereft of milk in her breasts and no way to care for the baby made a decision. Passing a Turkish village, she and my oldest sister placed little Souren under a tree hoping that a Turk or Kurd would find him and take him in.”

I cannot even begin to imagine - nor do I want to experience - the circumstances and the pain associated with leaving my son under a tree - in God’s hands - and walking on.

In his autobiography, “Barefoot Boy From Anatolia” - Haig Baronian describes another event which happened shortly after baby Souren was left behind. A Turk on horseback galloped up towards Haig’s family and spoke with Haig’s mother. He told how, after the caravans left Baibourt all the Armenian men in prisons were taken out with their hands tied - shot - and dumped into trenches.

He urged Haig’s mother to renounce Christianity, accept Islam, and return to her home and save the children. His mother’s answer was, “Never!”

At the next village - a Turk pulled Haig away from His mother - she and the caravan were marched into the Syrian deserts. Haig never saw his mother again.

This morning we are considering the question, “What does it mean to confess Christ?” - to testify of Jesus, our Savior and Lord. The Armenian Genocide should be a reminder to us - that every day we are called upon to confess Christ.

I invite you to turn with me to 1 Timothy 6:11,12 and we are going to look at what the Apostle Paul - in His first letter to Timothy - reminds Timothy - and us - of what it means to confess Christ. How to be ready - to live lives of confession - before our nation - our community - our church - and our family.

Paul writes and says, “But as for you, man of God, shun all this; aim at righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

Paul says:

1. Those Who Confess Christ Have God’s Character

If you want to learn what a person is really like - his or her inner character - ask three questions: 1) What makes him laugh? 2) What makes him angry? 3)What makes him weep?

Those who confess Christ do so with Godly character which comes from within them. The source of our confession is our relationship with God. His character must be integral to who we are - the basis of our nature and lives.

In 6:11 Paul says, “But, flee from these things, you man of God:....” - What things?

Paul is referring to what he has just written about in the previous paragraph - verses 4 - 9 - three things deadly to Godly character.

First - verse 4 - CONCEIT: Trusting our own knowledge rather than seeking God’s.

Second - verses 4 and 5 - COMBATIVENESS: Trusting in our own ability to sway the opinions of others - using our verbal skills to control others - or at the least - to create enough controversy, criticism, and dissension - so that we look respectable - more Christian.

Third - verses 9,10 - GREED: Trusting in riches rather than God’s provision - an appetite for power, money, and possessions.

Paul says to flee these - they kill our inner Godly Character because the focus is on us - self-trust / self-centeredness - rather than on a deepening trust and surrender to God.

In contrast - in verse 11 - Paul gives us a list of six character qualities we are to pursue. FLEE THESE - PURSUE THESE. This is like a check list - a daily exam - to test ourselves by. As Christians, every day, we should have a quick mental check-up. “Is this happening in my life?” “How am I testifying.”

The first three concern our our relationship with God - what deepens inner Godly character.

First - RIGHTEOUSNESS: Living consistent with God’s character. We must know Jesus as our Savior - trust Him with our lives - and then seek to live in obedience and surrender to Him.

Second - GODLINESS: A life of respect and reverence for God.

Third - FAITH: Trust in God - loyalty to God. Dogged - steadfast - commitment of our lives to God whatever the circumstances.

The next three concern our relationship with others. How what is within us - our Godly character - is lived out before others - as our confession.

A few years back - Lois Wyse - in Good Housekeeping Magazine suggested six ways to learn everything you ever need to know about a man before you decide to marry him:

1) Watch him drive in heavy traffic

2) Play tennis with him

3) Listen to him talk to his mother when he doesn't know you're listening

4) See how he treats those who serve him (waiters, maids)

5) Notice what he's willing to spend his money to buy

6) Look at his friends

Verse 11 - Three actions that outwardly confess inner Godly character:

First - LOVE: How many times in scripture are we reminded that the true mark of a Christian is that he is a loving person. Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35) - The result of God’s love in our life should be self-sacrificial love for others.

Second - STEADFASTNESS: Endurance - hanging-in-there - refusing to give up. When things get rough somebody says, “I’ve had it. I’m not going to try anymore. It’s not worth it.” In today’s society it has almost become fashionable to give up. Marriage, work, relationships, even in the church - if it’s too hard - quit. And yet, we need people who will hang-in-there with us.

Because we know that God endures with us - we can endure with others. - regardless of the circumstances. Unwillingness to quit is the mark of a Christian man or woman of God in the midst of a world focused on self-gratification.

And, steadfastness is contagious. If just one person will say, “Sure it’s tough, but let’s keep going. God is with us. If we hang in there we’re promised victory.” Someone else will pick up that truth - and it will spread to others. Soon the whole church - relationships - attitudes at work will change.

Third - GENTLENESS: Meekness - a spirit controlled by God - that can hate sin and yet love the sinner. That reaches out to others will a goal of sharing the reality of Christ’s Gospel - salvation and life transformation.

The Godly character within us comes out as we live through the circumstances of life. It is unseen, like the soup carried in a tureen high over a waiter's head. No one knows what's inside - unless the waiter is bumped and he trips!

Good or bad, we are always confessing Christ. In every situation - every circumstance - with every thought and word - planned or unplanned - we are confessing Christ. Washing dishes at the sink - working in the office - talking on the phone - driving - dealing with our children - shopping at the market. How we live in the circumstances of our lives is the confession of who Jesus Christ is in our lives.

In this - our actions speak very loudly to quality of our inner life with God. Those who confess Christ have God’s character within them.

Secondly, Paul says,

2. Those Who Confess Christ Do So Whatever The Consequences

Most of you know that I am 7/8ths Armenian - or as the Greek side of my family would say - 1/8th Greek. Most Armenians when they meet me usually ask the same questions - “Oh, you’re Armenian? You don’t look Armenian. What’s you’re last name?” For the record I have Greek blood in me and I am proud of my Greek family.

My great-grandfather - Stavros Petrides - lived in the village of Alacham. Most people have even never heard of Alacham - Alacham is a town in Turkey on the southern shore of the Black Sea - west of Samsun - it was 50% inhabited by Greeks - 50% by Turks - and very few Armenians.

My great grandfather Stavros received Jesus as his Savior through the teaching of the evangelical pastor in Alacham. When Stavros confessed Christ it was more that just the speaking of words and the assent to a new religious philosophy. Stavros - by the way - means “cross” in Greek. Symbolic of the cross and sacrifice of Christ.

When he converted to Evangelical Protestantism, his Greek Orthodox father disowned him. He no longer could live with his family. When his wife Heripsima died - by the way she was Armenian - when she died at Christmas leaving him with 8 children - his faith was unshaken - Stavros was quoted as saying, “At Christmas the Lord took my wife from me and in return gave the world Jesus.”

Stavros was one of five men who were the central force of the Evangelical Church of Alacham - until its disintegration in 1923 due to deportations. Stavros died in prison. As a Christian - he hid Armenians in his home during the massacres - and was imprisoned by the Turkish government.

By his actions, my great-grandfather is a tremendous example to me. No words of confession could convey the same powerful testimony as the way he lived his life.

Paul says to Timothy - verse 12: “Fight the good fight of the faith - claim the eternal life which God gave you - when you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

Stand firm - Paul says - confess Christ - regardless of the circumstances. In verses 14-16 he tells us why.

Because Jesus is our returning Savior and Lord. We confess Jesus - the blessed and only Sovereign - the King of kings and Lord of lords - He alone has immortality - He alone has conquered death - He dwells in unimaginable light - brilliant beyond any comparison - He is holiness and righteousness - no mortal man has or ever can see. Paul concludes with these words of worship: “To Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen!” (v.16)

America today is a very different country than it was - we are a post-Christian nation - and there is a growing intolerance for those who believe in salvation only through the blood of Jesus Christ. Today, in small ways we are persecuted. If the trend continues it is possible that even more severe persecution may be ahead of us.

Today - today even as we are freely gathered here - Christians around the world are being persecuted for their faith.

Are we ready to Confess Christ? To follow the example of our forefathers. To live out God’s character before our families - in our community - in a nation which desperately needs to see the confession of Christ.