Now not to make light of this fact, but we live in a confused world! (Can I get an amen) I mean, you know its confused when people are wondering whether or not they exist! But I am so glad that I have something to rest on, and I am even more glad that God knew ahead of time that the world would get twisted and left us some instructions. Don’t believe me? Read on.

Recently I was doing some study in 2 Timothy for a sermon for youth group, and God just smacked me over the head with this, like literally! (ok, maybe not so literally, but close.) It was perfect… and practical, and I had to share it so that even the parents could get in on this.

You see, we all listen very closely to the last words of a dying loved one because we know that they only have a few moments to communicate their last, profound thoughts to us. They are inherently meaningful because of the length of time preceding and the limited time to follow. The same is true with 2 Timothy. Paul takes his years of faithful service, and, motivated by the limited time he had left, takes up the pen to write his last letter to his young protege.

As I read through this letter, it almost seems like Paul was looking down through the corridors of time to 2016, and, after seeing all that we as christians would be going through, he knew that we would need this final challenge. These last final instructions to the young pastor Timothy, may just prove to be the blueprint for all believers on how to thrive in a twisted world.

The first tip he gave was this:

1. Endure.

2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ

This is a topic most want to avoid. Even me sometimes! I don’t want to have to think that what God asks of me might just be offensive to some.

The world wasn’t much better in Timothy’s day, in fact, Paul, in chapter 1 verse 15, tells Timothy that everyone in Asia had forsaken him!

Timothy was in a rough place!

We must remember though, that when we got saved, we weren’t signing up for a pleasure cruise, we signed up for a war.

No matter how unpopular this may be, when people hate God and Christians it is because they hate authority, and people hate authority because they hate accountability to something outside of and higher than themselves. Therefore, if we stand firm with love and holiness, the world is going to hate us because we show them that there is someone that everybody is accountable to.

Jesus said to his brothers in John 7:7, “The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.” The world hated Jesus because he brought an authoritative standard that all of us must measure up to.

It is for this reason we must make up our minds to endure hardness. The world will not take the teaching of Christ easily, (even when done as it should be done, in love), nor will they like those who stand where He stood. Paul knew that when we take a stand we will also need to endure hardness. So I encourage you, make up your mind to stand in the strength of God.

Here is an interesting observation for leaders. Paul didn’t just tell Timothy to endure, Paul told and demonstrated how he, Paul, also endured hardness (chapter 2:9-10). We as leaders must not ask those who follow us to do something we don’t also do.

2. Study.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

It’s election year and that means that every few minutes we are hit with another cheesy campaign commercial on why some candidate is “the bees knees” and the other a bumbling fool. And, when they are finally done showing touching footage of them feeding the poor, talking to widows and picking up trash in “the hood,” we hear the overused phrase, “This is so-and-so, and I approve this message!”

Essentially the candidate is saying that “even though I didn’t produce this commercial, it is true to what I myself would say, therefore I put my stamp of approval on it.”

Although these commercials can get a tad annoying, they shed so much light on 2 Timothy 2:15. Think about it, when we interpret the Bible, does God look down and say “I approve this message?”

That is what Paul is saying, he is saying to Timothy, “hey, it doesn’t matter what you think the bible says, what matters is the truth. When you speak of the Bible, is it exactly what God would say and how God would say it? If not, STUDY until it is.”

Teens and parents, in this shifting time, where no one knows what is true and what is false, STUDY! God’s word will never let you down. It is constant and sure. It has endured thousands of years and no one has found it lacking. You can rest when you stand on God’s word!!

The more you study God’s word, the stronger you will be able to stand against Satan and his wiles. The more you study God’s word, the easier it will be to endure the hardness, why? Because you will be established upon a rock, you will be fully persuaded, you will have put it to the test in your own life and found out, it works!

3.   Flee youthful lusts

2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts:but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Recently I talked with my teens and told them that they have to be aware of the sins that they are prone to at their specific age. Timothy was a young man, and Paul was telling Timothy, “know the weaknesses that come with your age and flee them!”

Timothy wasn’t offended that Paul called him young… And can I tell you a secret, we will always be young to those who are older than us 🙂 and it’s ok! Be aware of the sins you are prone to in your teen years, and parents, be aware of the sins you are prone to. Now this doesn’t mean that as a teen, you can’t be as mature as a 20 year old, it means that no matter your maturity, you will still have to battle the lusts of your age.

Timothy was no doubt more mature that all of us, but he still had to flee youthful lusts.

I encourage you to flee youthful lusts, run away from situations and even people who tempt you to do that which is not right!

But don’t just run away from… RUN TOWARDS SOMETHING. Paul tells Timothy, “yes, flee youthful lusts, but follow… but seek after… but run towards, RIGHTEOUSNESS, FAITH, CHARITY, PEACE, AND DO IT WITH THOSE WHO ARE DOING THE SAME THING OUT OF A PURE HEART!

Follow God! Please Follow God, I wish I had the words to show you how much better it is, I wish I had the vocabulary to paint a picture of its vast benefits, but I don’t. So I need you to trust me, and when you are old you will know that I did not steer you wrong… Flee youthful lusts, AND follow God.

4. Continue

2 Timothy 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

Paul then tells Timothy, just as a pilot might warn passengers of upcoming turbulence, that “perilous times” are ahead.

He no doubt tells him this so that Timothy could keep his poise when it came, but also so that Timothy could warn others of it.

Paul describes the times in 2 Tim 3:1-5:

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

And this led Paul to his next tip…. CONTINUE.

“I know it is going to get crazy,” Paul must have said, “I know that mankind is going to lose their minds and character will be a thing of the past, but Timothy, continue!”

It amazes me how this point circles back to the 2nd point! He tells Timothy that the source of his ability to continue would be faith in the written word of God.

Teenager, parent, if you, like Timothy, have been living for God, make a point to continue!

Remember that you are leaning on the very Word of God and that that foundation is sure!

Psalm 119:105: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path

Psalm 119:9: Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word

Psalm 119:11: Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee

John 17:17: Sanctify them through thy truth:thy word is truth

Isaiah 40:8: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever

Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart

1 Thessalonians 2:13: For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

You can rest upon the scriptures knowing and being assured that they are in fact the very words of God, and know that no knowledge of man can do anything against them. You can have confidence to continue, but that is only found in the word of God.

Young people… Continue!

5. Preach and endure sound preaching

2 Timothy 4:2-3 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears

God has called and is calling some of you into full time ministry. Preach! Yes, there will be those who will not endure sound doctrine but that doesn’t mean that we compromise! Preach God’s word in love, be faithful when it’s popular and even when it’s not. Preach God’s word!

And for those of you who are not called of God to full time ministry, preach! (not behind a pulpit, but in everyday life) You have been commissioned by the Holy God of all eternity to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every living creature!

When was the last time you shared the gospel with someone? This is convicting! If we have to think too hard about this, we have not been obeying God’s command. We are here to give the world the good news that Jesus died, was buried, and 3 days later rose from the grave to forgive their sins and make them free!

But not only preach… Endure sound preaching.

Listening to reproof and rebuke is never easy, (even if done in love!) but it is oft times necessary. Remember, God has called your pastor and commanded him to do the uncomfortable so that we might become more and more like Christ. Please, don’t be those who will only come to church when the pastor is funny, or when he fits your liking, be a people who can endure the sound doctrine in rebuke, reproof and exhortation.

If you keep these five tips in mind and review them often, you will be well on your way to succeeding in this life. By that I mean, when God welcomes you into heaven, it will be with a resounding “well done my good and faithful servant!”

That is what I long to hear! How about you?

The five tips from 2 Timothy:

1. Endure
2. Study
3. Flee youthful lusts
4. Continue
5. Preach and endure sound Preaching