What Is Your Reflection? By Brother Duke Hansen

         This morning we are going to be reading from the book of 2 Timothy. Our scripture is going to be in chapter 3, but we will back up to chapter 2 for a few minutes in adding context to what is being preached this morning. The letters written to Timothy were written differently than the letters Paul had written to the early churches. The letters to Timothy detail more Paul's personal relationship with God. Paul's experiences in the faith was being shared to Timothy.

        We are going to chapter 2 first and begin to read with verse 9.

        9 Wherein I suffer double, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

       10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

        At the time this letter was written, Paul was still in prison. Yet the message of the gospel was spreading through all nations. Paul was suffering physically and endured for the elect God had chosen.

        11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:

        12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

        There are those today who are blind to their denial of Jesus. The denial isn't professing with your words but also the life you live. Being present at a service, a member of a church doesn't mean anything to man when your life lived is counter to what Jesus calls us to do daily.

        13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

        Now there is a scripture that says out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45) There are many kinds of people in the world, and for this message's purpose we are going to talk about 3. The first type of person is oblivious to their surroundings. The second type of person are fearful of everything and everyone. The third type of person are who manipulate and take charge of any situation. If you think about the spirit world, would these flesh attributes still be usable if you received the Holy Spirit? No. The spirit wouldn't stay for long in an unclean vessel. You are to put these fleshly traits under in sacrifice.

        14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but the the subverting of the hearers.

        15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

        The phrase rightly dividing is proving the word to yourself personally. God will charge the people on the day of judgement. Study to show thyself approved is reading the Bible daily. Study it.

        16 But shun profane and vain babbling; for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

        You get yourself into a conversation or situation that's gross or dumb? You can just walk away from those conversations. It isn't that hard.

        17 And their word will eat as doth a canker; of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

        18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

        Canker in the Bible was to corrupt. An erosive or reading sore. There are two names mentioned in verses 17 and 18 that were proclaiming in err that the resurrection had already happened. 

        19 Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

        No matter the circumstance or situation you find yourself in, God still stands sure.

        20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor and some to dishonor.

        21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

        The term sanctified means that you are provable not only to God but to yourself.

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

        23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

        24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

        25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.

        Let's look at that phrase in verse 25. Those that oppose themselves are who are the greatest challenge is. Repentance, true repentance is where you truly recognize the fruit of the spirit.

        26 And that they recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

        We read those verses to get to chapter 3 of 2 Timothy. Let's start reading with verse 1.

        This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

        We are the saddest creatures of hope because we are only happy until we need more happy. Perilous times were still present almost 2,000 years ago. Rather than look at everyone you know and seeing iniquity as well as sin, examine yourself with the following verses.

        2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

        3 Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good.

        The phrase without natural affection goes beyond what you immediately think. There are homes with mothers who don't love their children for example. That are not nurturers. I want to give you the definition of incontinent before we continue reading. The word incontinent means lacking self restraint or uncontrolled. How many of us are like that over something we love or something we don't like?

        4 Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

        5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away.

        Focus on verse 5. You can't have a form of godliness without the Holy Spirit. These are people who are universalists in theology. They believe all people are going to heaven, and that man's flesh is inherently good. A good example of having a form of godliness is Jannes and Jambres. 

        Who are those two names? I never heard of them before. Well, in Exodus 7, they were the chief magicians who withstood Moses and Aaron where their staffs had turned into snakes. These two also duplicated the changing of water into blood and the production of frogs. They would later leave with the Israelites after the first passover and would later be instrumental in the worship of the golden calf Aaron made while Moses was upon Mount Sinai receiving the 10 commandments. 

        6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts.

        7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

        We can look at Jannes and Jambres from our vantage as evil because we have the Bible and they were Egyptian magicians. Pretty clear good and evil split here. The danger in applying that thinking is that there aren't that many degrees of separations in viewing other christian denominations, be they Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist, as evil and wrong themselves when you are high minded as in verse 4.

        The first generation of believer has to fight and to stand on the word. You have to be rooted in truth, sacrificing your flesh. When you pray for yourself, your family, your church, pray to God for your and their deliverance.

        9 But they shall proceed no further; for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

       10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience,

       11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconicum, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured; but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

        Going through it is the purpose of persecutions you have endured. It molds and builds your spiritual character. You can't expect deliverance without persecution. Faith always will override your fleshly fears.

        12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,

        13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

        In the scheme of things it is my wish there's more men and women rooted in scripture and faith rather than the world. These verses were are reading are still relevant for our times.

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

        Lessons learned from trials, failures, those who have afflicted or wronged you, you don't do more believe what you did in the past. Some people have fought many internal battles to get where you are this morning. If you let go of the pain and forgive, that's God's power unlocked. Give God praise in all you do, no matter the times or circumstance. Don't let your love of earthly things be greater than your love of God. Don't chase the riches of the world but rather chase after God's wisdom.