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The Lord's Servant Must Not Quarrel I. Study Text: 2 Timothy 2:24-26 II. Theme: Power tempts people to be greedy as few
things can. Regardless of how much power we have, it is never enough. Power works against humility. Power
works against compassion. Power works against servitude. Two forces that
easily become enemies are power and
Christ-like attitudes. Power rarely helps the weak. Power rarely rescues the
fallen. Power hungers for control. When Christians stop depending on God,
and make themselves authorities on doctrine, ungodly things happen. In the guise of "defending the
faith," "protecting the truth," "exposing error,"
"protecting the church," and "following the ancient paths," ungodly attitudes
are justified and wicked acts are sanctified. God is the Creator. Jesus Christ is
Savior. We are servants. Even if we have power, we are servants. Jesus had
enormous power, but Jesus was a servant. Paul sent Timothy into extremely
demanding, difficult circumstances [1 Corinthians 4:17]. When Paul wrote this
letter, the situation was grave and conditions
would get worse. If ever a situation called for the use of power, this was
it. But Paul, knowing that he would die soon,
did not urge Timothy to use power. III. Questions
and Application 2 Timothy 2:24-26 1. Timothy
was to understand that he was the Lord's what (verse 24)? What is that? 2. The
Lord's bondservant is not what (verse 24)? 3. Instead,
the Lord's bondservant does three things (verse 24). What are they? a. b. c. 4. What
will the Lord's bondservant do gently (verse 25)? Who do you think those
people are? Consider the context in forming your answer. 5. What
does the Lord's bondservant want these people to do (verse 25)? a. If those in "opposition" come to repentance, how does
that change the situation? b. Do we generally want
those in "opposition" to come to repentance? Explain your answer. c. Who grants repentance? d. How will God grant them repentance? 6. When
God granted them repentance by leading them to knowledge of the truth, they
responded to God's initiative by coming to what (verse 26)? a. What does "coming to their senses" mean? b. If they come to their senses, what must they escape? c. They had been held captive by the devil for what purpose? IV. Conclusion:
Timothy's best friend and
mentor was to be executed soon (4:6). Turmoil in congregations was on the
rise. Things would get worse (3:1-7). Yet,
Timothy was not to quarrel. He was to be kind. He was to teach. He was to be
patient with those who wronged him. He was to
gently correct his opposers. He was to desire their repentance and rescue.
His desire was to be that they come to
their senses. He was to feel for them. Why? They were the captives of the
devil. Timothy must remember that these
people attacked and opposed God, not him. Paul wanted Timothy to rescue those
doing the devil's will, not to destroy them.
Paul wanted those in the church who were in the devil's snare to repent. Paul
wanted Christians who were doing the devil's
will to be freed so that they could do God's will. When we believe that we accomplish
God's will by quarreling with mean spirited hearts, we are in the devil's
snare. When we believe that we accomplish God's
will by destroying fellow believers who serve God, we are doing the devil's
will, not God's. God's servants don't quarrel. Who have you quarreled with this week, and about what? |