Gateway to Yosemite

Seat of Government

Center of Agriculture

Home of The University of California, Merced

For many reasons a great place to live

And yet...

Over 50% of adults have low-literacy skills

17% live in poverty

26% of these are children

37% may go hungry tonight

known unemployment is 19.8%

1 out of every 18 girls (ages 15-19) will become a teenage mother

over 1,000 children will be murdered this year

81% are unchurched and live without Jesus

these figures are conservative…

they represent…  broken families, wounded lives,  people who know no hope of anything different

The Essential of Hope

We’ve been looking at the essentials of the church.  What is essential to our living and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ here in Merced and beyond. 

We know this - because if we’ve got our eyes open - as we’re moving through our lives touching people around us - we know that Merced is a broken city.  Broken people.  Broken homes.  Broken families.  Broken down people - struggling - wounded - angry - bitter - hopeless - who’ve turned to a number of different ways of trying to cope with their brokenness.

We live in a community where so many people have either given up hope or they have no clue that there’s anything to hope for that could be any different.  People around us that live expecting that homes will be broken - children will be born to single moms by multiple men - that drugs and alcohol and gangs are a way of life - that what sustains them is some government agency - that education is not important.  

Jesus is the only One who can heal that brokenness.  Which is where we fit into this city.  The bottom line of why we’re here - the mission of the Church is to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ into the world - into the places were we live life.

And let’s be honest.  There are broken people right here in this sanctuary.

The cowboy lay sprawled across three entire seats in the posh Amarillo theatre.  When the usher came by and noticed this he whispered to the cowboy, “Sorry, sir, but you're only allowed one seat.”  The cowboy groaned but didn't budge.  The usher became more impatient. “Sir, if you don't get up from there, I'm going to have to call the manager.”  The cowboy just groaned.

The usher marched briskly back up the aisle.  In a moment he returned with the manager.  Together the two of them tried repeatedly to move the cowboy, but with no success.  Finally, they summoned the police.  The policeman surveyed the situation briefly then asked, “All right buddy, what's you're name?”

“Sam,” the cowboy moaned.

“Where ya from, Sam?”

With pain in his voice Sam replied.... “The balcony.”

Ever feel like that?  Like you’ve fallen and can’t get up - laid out waiting to die?  Let’s be honest there are broken down people right here in the congregation.  We need to the essential of hope for our lives.

Please join me in your Bibles - or the blue Bible under the chair in front of you - please join me at 1 Timothy 6 - starting at verse 12.  This morning we are looking at our last essential - The Essential of Hope.  Let’s say that together, “The essential of hope.”

1 Timothy 6:12:  Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

What Paul is describing here is The Battlefield that every one of us lives in every day of our lives.  We live in a battle that is waged to keep us back from Jesus and the hope that we have in Him.

Last Wednesday was what?  Saint Patrick’s Day.  The wearing of the green.  Shamrocks.  Leprechauns.  Pots of Gold.

This is actual photograph of Saint Patrick - or a least a statue of Saint Patrick.  Patrick was born in the town of Kilpatrick - just south of Scotland - in Britain - probably in the year 389 A.D.  At the age of 16 - while working on his father’s farm - he was kidnapped by a band of marauding Irishmen and hauled off to Ireland to become a slave - as a shepherd.

It was while he was a slave that Patrick came to trust Jesus as his Savior.  Patrick wrote, “The Lord opened to me the sense of my unbelief that I might remember my sins and that I might return with my whole heart to the Lord my God.”

After six years Patrick escaped slavery and returned to Scotland.  While there he saw a vision of the Irish calling him back to Ireland.  After preparing himself - studying for the ministry - being set apart by the church for ministry in Ireland - after being prepared - Patrick returned to Ireland and spent 30 years traveling all over Ireland sharing the Gospel.  Significant numbers of people came to Jesus - churches were planted - monasteries started.

As Patrick traveled around sharing the gospel - just as there were many who received him and the gospel - as he traveled he came up against fierce opposition.  Heated - hostile opposition from the local chiefs and Druids.  His life was threatened.  Difficult times.  There were times when he could have very understandably given up hope packed his bags and headed back to Scotland.  Shook the dust off his shoes and headed on home.  But he didn’t.  Despite terrible persecution he remained faithful to what God had called him to do.

Paul is writing to who?  Timothy.  Timothy who in this great city of Ephesus is given a challenge - to serve in a church - in a difficult ministry - in a city of great evil - where the pressure to compromise - to give in - to give up hope - where that kind of struggle is very real.  If you’ve ever felt alone - with the weight of great responsibility on your shoulders - with the burden of issues deep within - with no one to turn to - you can understand how Timothy felt.

Here in Merced.  Here in California, USA - we live in a wonderful politically correct society.  Where its popular to speak of faith traditions and belief in God but not the absolute truth of Scripture that points to the necessity of a personal saving relationship found only in the living and returning Savior Jesus Christ.    Where 81% of our city has very little if anything to do with Jesus and His Church.

Every day we have to make choices - even here.  Our life may not be on the line - not just yet.  But, increasingly - in this increasingly anti-God society - to live for Jesus Christ takes a commitment that is not easy.  The pressure to compromise - to bend - to remain silent - to cave in - to give up - to live in fear - that pressure is very real and growing.

The Apostle Peter writes, Your adversary - Satan - prowls around like a roaring lion, - scheming - plotting - deceiving - seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)  Paul writes in Ephesians 6, our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)   

Behind the scenes of life is Satan - a malicious enemy who’s always looking for people he can get to.  Satan and his demonic army arrayed against us are powerful.  He has authority.  He’s wicked.  He’s cunning.  He looks for any opportunity to distort truth and lead us into darkness - to demoralize us - to ruin us - to destroy us - to destroy our relationships - husband and wives - families - to destroy our effectiveness in ministry - to turn us away from God.  To lead us into despair and not hope.

The Christian life is a battlefield.  Life is a battlefield.  It would be nice if our troubles just sort of disappeared.  God may give us times of peace and joy that we can thank Him for.  But, we’re always going to be in the fight of our lives.

Here in verse 12 - the word “fight” in Greek is “agonizomai” - related to the word “agnoia” which is where our English word?  “agony.”  The Greeks spoke of a wrestler who would “agonize” - struggle - against his adversary - pursuing victory.

Paul encourages Timothy, “Agonize the good agony of faith.”   Its agony - but keep going - persevere - take hold of the eternal life to which you were called - that’s the victory - its worth it - take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

“Timothy - you chose to follow Jesus.  Before witnesses you confessed faith in Jesus Christ - in His victory over all this on the cross.  Keep it up.  God has called you to this.”

How do we do that?  How do we fight on - with everything that our Adversary throws at us - how do we live with the essential of hope - sharing that hope with those around us?

There are a tremendous number of truths and promises in Scripture that God gives us that - in spending time thinking about these truths and promises - God gives us great hope. 

Here in verse 13 to 21 Paul is going to touch on five of those truths.  We’re going to call these Five “C’s” of Hope.   The point of describing these with “C” words is - not to be cute - but to help us remember what Paul writes here. 

Look with me at verse 13 - five “C’s” - truths - that encourage us to fight on with hope.  While we’re fighting on keep focused on these.

First - The Confession of Jesus.  Let’s say that together, “The confession of Jesus.”  Verse 13:   I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate 

Do you remember this scene?  Jesus before Pilate?  Jesus taking the witness stand.  “Do you swear to tell the truth…?”  The only reason Jesus was there was because the Chief Priests hated Him.  Jesus claiming to be God incarnate - the promised Messiah - the Savior - was competing with their authority - their carefully constructed self focused ordered world.

After all his questions Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Jesus.  He knew that Jesus was innocent.  He was looking for a reason to let Jesus go - to wash his hands of the whole thing. 

Then, there was the question, “Are You the King of the Jews?”   “Are you really Who you claim to be?  Jesus.  Confess.  Is it true?”

If Jesus says “No” - denying that He’s the Messiah - He might have lived.  If Jesus answers “Yes” - His fate is sealed - death awaits.  Jesus answers, “It is as you say.”  The clearest response possible.  “Its exactly what you said.”  (Matthew 27:11)

Jesus makes the good confession.  On the stand - as a witness - Jesus gives testimony to the truth.  Jesus testifies - gives witness - to the truth that He is the God - that He is the Savior - that He is the Christ - He is the one and only hope of mankind.  Choosing to say “yes” costs Jesus His life.  Which ironically - or purposely - proves His point.  Jesus’ death and resurrection are the greatest of witness to Who He is.

This word “witness” comes from the Greek word “martur” which is where we get our English word?  Martyr.

Jesus - with His disciples after His resurrection - just before He ascends into heaven - Jesus tells His disciples, “You shall be my witnesses.”  (Acts 1:8)  Literally, “You shall be my martyrs - testifying of me with your lives.” - same word.  When Paul is writing to Timothy about agonizing in the battlefield of life - Paul writes, “Timothy you committed yourself to following Jesus - to this battle - you made that commitment in the presence of many witnesses” - literally - many martyrs - others who - in the midst of the same battlefield - others who are also giving their lives as followers of Jesus.

There are times when we’re faced with the decision to say “no” when everyone around us is saying “yes.”  Or there will be times when we need to say “yes” -  times when it will be hard or embarrassing to admit we’re Christians.  That “no” or “yes” may cost us greatly.  But, we need to remember the confession of Jesus - to remember that there is more at stake  here than just a “yes” or “no.”

When we feel beaten down - dejected - holding up more than we can possibly uphold and hanging on to more than we can possibly hang on to.  When we’ve reached the end of our rope - tied a knot - and we’re hanging there - just barely.  When to live for Jesus only brings more of the same -  if not worse.  We need to remember Jesus before Pilate.

Confession isn’t just make a statement about what we believe.  It goes deeper.  It went deeper for Jesus.  It means being a witness to what we’re confessing to.  That isn’t an option for a follower of Jesus.  On the battlefield of life we follow Jesus by testifying with our lives the same truth that Jesus confessed.

But grab this:  Our martyrdom - our living life for Jesus - is not an empty - pointless - giving up of our lives.  When we struggle through life we struggle through knowing the confession of Jesus.  Our confession is of Him.  We are witnesses to the truth that He is the Savior.

We confess that God, “who gives life to all things” - is the resurrected Jesus.  That even while we were dead in our sin - Jesus made the good confession going to the cross for us.  We confess that God in Jesus gives life to us.  We confess the realization of our salvation and the presence of the living God in our lives today.  That confession is full of hope.

First we need to keep before us the confession of Jesus.  Then - second “C” - Paul writes of The Coming of Jesus.  Let’s say that together, “The coming of Jesus.”

Verse 14:  keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time.  

Notice two things here.  First, we’re encouraged to “keep the commandment” - to keep living in obedience to God until Jesus does come back.

The Bible says that all of us have sinned and fallen short of the righteousness and holiness of God.  We don’t measure up.  We don’t deserve to enter into eternity with God.  Ultimately, when Jesus returns, we’ll have to give an account for ourselves before God.  We’ll be judged for our sins. (Romans 3:23)

Many people today dismiss the idea of sin and judgment as outdated - as too narrow minded - not worthy of a God of love.  They want to pursue other politically correct ideas and their own brand of religion.  We have that ability.  We can pursue any philosophy - any goals - any belief we want.  But God is honest with us.  He tells us that we’re sinners.  Tells us that what’s coming is eternal separation from God.

Paul writes in Romans 6, “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)  God loves us - God desires to give us “Life” - life now and through eternity.  That’s hope.

Then notice also that Paul writes that Jesus will appear “at the proper time.” 

Looking at what’s happening around us - comparing all that to Scripture - so many Christians are asking, “Are we in the last days?  Is Jesus coming back now?  Is this it?”  We’re constantly speculating about what comes next.  Because we don’t know.  When and how do we enter into eternity?

When will Jesus come back?  When God is good and ready for Him to come back - in His proper time.  The whole of history is moving according to the plan and program of God.  It will happen and nothing can stop it.

Jesus - who speaks with the authority of the only one who has triumphed over death and Himself ascended into heaven - Jesus says this, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.  If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1,3).

That’s the hope that we share as Christians.  Jesus is coming back and we will spend eternity with Him.  We need to be obedient in living and sharing that message of hope with others.

The Confession of Jesus, The Coming of Jesus, then in verse 15 Paul goes on to The Crown of Jesus.  Let’s say that together, “The crown of Jesus.”

Verse 15:  He - Jesus - who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see.  To Him be honor and eternal dominion!  Amen. 

Look with me at how Paul describes Jesus - verse 16 - Jesus alone “possesses immortality”  That means that only Jesus is able to conquer death.  Immortality is His possession and what He gives to all those who will come to Him as their Savior.

Jesus “dwells in unapproachable light” - holy - not darkened by sin as we are.  We can’t even begin to imagine that kind of purity.

Then, Jesus is God “whom no man has seen or can see.”  But we do see Jesus - born in a stable in Bethlehem - the invisible God made visible.  God reaching to our level - the unknowable - unapproachable - making Himself knowable.

Finally, after all this maybe Paul couldn’t’ contain himself - he exclaims, “To Him - Jesus - be honor and eternal dominion.  Amen.”

We get anxious about what President Obama will do - the mess that is our government.  Our society is changing and not for the better.  What will that mean for us?  We’re anxious about terrorist attacks - wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Will Iran get the bomb?  Will Israel and Iran finally nuke each other?  We stress over the economy - what will happen tomorrow.  Will I have a job?  There’s no end to the possibilities of what we can stress out about.  True? 

But men are not in control.  God is.  The United Nations is the not ultimate authority.  God is.  The circumstances we find ourselves in are not sovereign.  God is.  Even those who would bring us to physical death do not have power over our lives.  Who’s sovereign?  God is.  God - Jesus -  is in control.  Jesus is the only Sovereign - the crowned King of kings and Lord of lords.

God hasn’t abandoned us here - left us to muddle along under our own power - to struggle along with our plans. - to do the best we can and somehow to survive it all.  God is here - behind the scenes of history - available to us - revealed and known in Jesus Christ.   In Jesus we always have hope.  We always can know God’s peace and security in whatever circumstances we may be called to testify of Him.  When our Adversary comes after you with despair and doubt hang on to the sovereignty of Jesus Christ.

The confession of Jesus, the coming of Jesus, the crown of Jesus, then the fourth “C” - Our Calling.  Let’s say that together, “Our calling.”

Verse 17 - Paul writes, Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.  Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future - meaning invest in eternity - in what counts for eternity - not the worthless temporal stuff of this life that so many people are wasting their lives pursuing - storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed - real life - life with God - lived for eternity the way God has designed life to be lived.

Stay with on this.  “Instruct” is a Greek word that’s made up of two words stuck together to make one word.  “Para” is the first word.  It means “from the side of” - right here next to someone.  The second word is one you know:  “aggello” which is related to “aggelos” which is the English word?  Angel.  “Aggello” means to announce a message.  An angel is a being that God uses to announce His message.  To let us know what God is up to.

Still with me?  “To instruct” is to come alongside someone and let them know what God is doing.

God didn’t post an update on FaceBook.  He didn’t email us.  God didn’t text or twitter us.  When we were getting hammered on the battlefield of life without hope God demonstrated His love for us by showing up in Bethlehem - by taking on our humanity - by hanging on a cross in our place - by resurrecting Himself - by doing what was necessary Himself to open up to us life with Him.

God involves us in “His Story.”  Right?  History is the story of Jesus.  Its all about what God is doing through Jesus - for Jesus - and how each of us can be a part of that story - knowing Jesus - being saved by Jesus - trusting Jesus - serving Jesus.

All that doesn’t change because of adversity.  Our role in His Story doesn’t change because our occupation or status in life may change.  We’re called to live alongside our communities - our families - people in our schools and workplaces - to come alongside them and let them know what God is doing.  That there’s so vastly more to life than the worthless stuff we waste ourselves investing in today.

What an awesome thing for us to focus our lives on.  What a tremendous purpose that perseveres through out our lives.  Each of us has a part in the story - God’s unfolding plan of the redemption of mankind.

Hang on to that when you’re getting hammered.  Your life is worth so much more than the stuff that you’re getting hammered with.  You have a calling - a purpose in life - given to you by God Himself.

Confession, Coming, Crown, Calling, and last - Caution.  Let’s say that together, “Caution.”

Verse 20:  O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge” - which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith.  Grace be with you.

Have you seen one of these signs, “Cuidado, Piso Mojado”?  How does that translate?  “Caution.  Wet Floor.”

Caution isn’t just looking at the sign - the floor - and thinking, “Oh the floor is wet.”  And then walking across the wet floor and ending up flat on our rear end.  Caution is taking steps to go around.  To avoid the danger of the wet floor.

“Guard” - here in verse 20 means to take steps to protect - to preserve.  It has the idea of depositing valuables in a safe deposit box.  Our most  valuable possession?  Our lives.  Specifically the life we have which has been given to us by God through Jesus Christ.

When we looked at chapter 1 - way back in January - in chapter 1 verse 20 - Paul writes about Hymanaeus and Alexander - two men who had gotten caught up in their own egos - who were serving themselves by trying to be known and respected as teachers of God’s law.  They’d gotten caught up in what Paul describes here in chapter 6 as worldly and empty chatter and arguments about “knowledge” - what was their own distorted misunderstanding of the gospel.  They’d walked away from the faith.

“Timothy, don’t go there.  Take steps - guard against getting caught up in all that.”  Turn to the person next to you and tell them, “Keep your guard up.”

This last statement  in verse 21 almost seems like an afterthought.  Do you see it?  “Grace be with you.”  Those words are integral to Paul’s point.  Crucial to understanding Paul’s bottom line. 

The life God gives us in Jesus Christ - His salvation - His calling - His purpose - the hope we share - all that is a gift of God - graciously - undeservedly given to us - not something we could ever earn or even guard by our own ability.  It comes from God.  It comes from His love poured out in Jesus Christ.  It comes by His working within us - giving us life in Jesus - penetrating to the core of who we are - bringing change - empowering us - God Himself living within us through the battlefield of life.

To guard what has been entrusted to us requires constant vigilance - constant attention - to our relationship with God - a continual openness to God at work within us and through us - depositing our lives into His care.  And that really does supply us with hope.  Because if it was up to us we would walk away from our faith every time.  If guarding our lives was up to us we would have no hope.  But, daily giving our lives to God means living in His hope.

Do you see what Paul’s getting at here?  The essential of hope.  Ultimately life isn’t about what comfort we have in our lives - or what we suffer - ultimately what matters is whether we lived glorifying God - lived according to the purpose for which He graciously saved us.  What matters is that God is glorified.

Our lives are not about the suffering - or the blessing.  Life is not about the people who desert us or hurt us or who hang with us.  Its not about success or failure by the world’s inconsistent standards.  Life isn’t about us.  God - has chosen each of us - before the creation of the world - to glorify Him.  That’s immense.  That’s a whole lot bigger than the day-to-day stuff we get so focused on.

We live in a constant battle to resist the pressures of our society which are designed to cool our love for God - to weaken our commitment - to distract us - to disable us for the battle

Paul writes “Fight the good fight.”  Timothy - regardless of the circumstances - cling tenaciously to God - keep going forward in what you know to be true about God - daily giving your live to Him.  Daily put your hope in Him.

Five “C’s”  Hopefully that makes it easier to stay focused on the One “C” who is Christ Jesus - the bottom line basis of all hope.

In the real time of Merced - not only do we need to keep our lives daily focused on Jesus - to keep our hope placed in Him - but the world needs to see that hope lived out in our lives.  The hopeless of this world need to know the hope that is only found in Jesus Christ.

Last question:  Where’s your hope?

_________________________

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.