August28_2023_2timothy2

The transcription is a morning prayer and reflection on the idea of God's governing and ruling over our lives. It emphasizes the need to trust in God's judgment and righteousness and to rely on Him for help and guidance. The speaker also discusses the importance of staying committed to the relationship with God and not being entangled in worldly pursuits. The passage from 2 Timothy is mentioned, highlighting the need to endure hardships and suffering as a soldier of Christ and to follow God's rules and instructions. The speaker encourages the listener to stay focused on the Kingdom of God and to labor in it, so that they may experience fruitfulness and receive the crown of life. The importance of understanding and applying these teachings is emphasized, with the assurance that God will provide insight and understanding in everything. August 28th, 2023. Treasures in Christ. Psalm 72b. Jehovah din am tizdek. Our Lord God who governs his people in righteousness. Psalm 72.2. Let him judge and govern your people with righteousness and your poor and afflicted ones with judgment and justice. Oh, Heavenly Father, we're just so grateful this morning as we reflect on this truth of your governing our lives, Father God. You have pure judgment and pure righteousness that comes to your people, Father God. And you help those that are in need of you, Father God, and recognize their need for you. You are there to help, Father God. We're just so grateful for this truth, Father God. We're grateful that you woke us up this new day, that you decided to keep us through the night and give us one more day. Show us, Lord, in your word with the Spirit and in truth today what it means to be governed by you. I know this morning already I'm worrying, and there's a lot of new things today, and I just want to come into this place of your governing, Father God, as you lead me and guide me and direct me in the way, as you bring that sovereignty over my life. So I bring my whole life and offer it to you to be transformed today, Father God. Speak to me now, in Jesus' name. Amen and amen. Well, like I said, I'm encouraged this morning. At the same time, I find myself worrying, which is sin. God asks us to not worry. And it's such a great topic of his governing, his ruling of sovereignty over our lives and over the very kingdoms of men we know God rules. And so we're just going to continue our reading from yesterday, because this is a beautiful characteristic of God. I'm excited to see what he has to say as we go deeper. So we got all the way through 2 Timothy 1, and we see the sufferings and all of these things that are going to be afflictions that are going to be a part of our walk in the kingdom. As God is governing us, these are the things we can expect. So he goes on in chapter 2, and now we have that encouragement. So we had review, correction, and now we have encouragement. So you, my son, be strong, strengthened inwardly in the grace, spiritual blessing that is to be found only in Christ Jesus. See, that is the source of grace. The very gift of salvation is grace. It's given us something we don't deserve. And he's talking about the joy of the Lord is my strength. So he says, be strong. So what is, you know, he's encouraging him to stay bunkered down, to stay bunkered down and not be wishy-washy, you know, to be committed to the relationship. And he's speaking to him now. So you, my son, I just love the way he uses the word son. Another thing that's reflected when you think of a son, you know, or a daughter, of course, a child, is that there's that love that comes from the parent. There's that leading that comes from the parent. You know, there's a degree of responsibility. And this is, we see Paul taking this responsibility. But it's not about Paul, and that's why he goes on to say, be strong, strengthened inwardly in the grace, the spiritual blessing that is to be found in Christ Jesus only. This is where our strength is from, and this is the source of our strength. Not Paul, Paul's not the strength. This is verse two, and the instructions which you have heard from me, along with many witnesses, transmit and entrust as a deposit to reliable and faithful men who will be competent and qualified to teach others also. This is why, you know, when living water pours forth from us, it goes forth and instructs and teaches. These are the truths of God. And the instructions, and let's see what he has to say in the instructions which you have heard from me, along with many witnesses. You see, so there's a visual in the instruction. You know, there's a discipling that's taking place. There's a lifestyle that's being taught. Take with me your share of the hardships and suffering which you are called to endure as a good first-class soldier of Christ Jesus. And this is interesting, because if, you know, we all get on, I'm a soldier in the army of the Lord, you know, and it gets us this battle cry, like, this scripture is not talking about the offensive attack of a soldier. It's talking about the hardships and suffering of a soldier. A soldier's out in the field, you know, he doesn't have the conveniences of home. He's got to get less sleep than normal. He's got to stay on high alert, and there's a high degree of seriousness to what he's doing. And this is what he's talking about. Take with me your share of the hardships and suffering. If anybody thinks that there's a Pollyanna doctrine somewhere in the scriptures, they've missed it. Verse 4, no, soldier when in service gets entangled in the enterprises of civilian life. Remember that focus we were just talking about. This is why there's hardships and suffering when we stay bunkered down in the secret place. When we're under the governing power of God, when we're under his sovereign hand, there is hardship and suffering. And he's warning us here not to be entangled in the enterprises of civilian life. We don't want to be, you know, conformed and transformed by the customs and traditions of the world. We don't want to be, we don't want to do it. It's not just about hanging out and have a good time. It's about loving others so that they could see the light of Christ shine through us. And this is why, this is why we don't go around just being people pleasers. Because our aim, he says, is to satisfy and please the one who enlisted him. See, if we take our heart away from God and put it into anything else, just people pleasing or whatever it might be, getting just, I'm just going to do, well, what's it, what will it really hurt at the end of the day, if I do birthday parties like the rest of the world, if I go do holidays like the rest of the world, if I do go out to the bar and have drinks after work like the rest of the company? But then when we're doing that, we're satisfying the flesh and we can't be under the operation and the governing power of God. This is very critical. Not, he's not calling us to be jerks, but he's calling us to be wholly, separate, set apart. Verse 5, and if anyone enters competitive games, he is not crowned unless he completes lawfully, fairly, according to the rules laid down. And this is the governing of God. This is the place where we have to be when we're in the kingdom of God, operated in kingdom. We can't be wishy-washy and compromised in our heart. We have to be all in for Jesus. This is, there is nothing here reflected about perfection. We're not going, we are going to make mistakes. If we've sold ourselves a bill of goods, then we're never going to make a mistake. We've sold ourselves a bill of goods. But he's trying to help us with this heart's direction. It can't be compromised. If we're going to come under the powerful hand of God, under his governing powerful hand, we have to stay under that. We can't do that two, three days a week, and then a couple days a week, we're over here doing our own thing. That's not going to work. See, it says here, he is not crowned unless he competes lawfully, fairly, according to the rules laid down. Unless we operate in the kingdom the way God has instructed us to operate, that crown of life, we're not qualified to get it. It's great symbolism, because he uses the word crown, you know, if we stay the course, and don't apostate, and don't become heretical and leave God's way to go our own, then we have this crown of life that awaits us. But he just doesn't give it out, because we raised our hand one day. See, he's trying to show this here. He's trying to show that the war, the soldier, he's trying to show that the athlete, the competitive athlete, this is not a decision. Oh, yeah, you made a decision to join the army. But it's not until you're out actually fighting the war that you're actually a part of the army, right? And same thing with a competitor, an athletic competitor, he can raise his hand and say, Yeah, I want to run track. But until he gets out and actually runs track, he has not become that competitive athlete. And it's the same thing in the body of Christ, we can raise our hand one day and say, Yeah, I want to be in the in relationship with God, and then never pursue the relationship and be compromised in that relationship. And we won't receive the crown. He's given us the rules, he's laying it down. It says verse six, it is the hardworking farmer who labors to produce who must be the first partaker of the fruits. You see, the farmer just doesn't raise his hand that year and say, Hey, I want to be a farmer. He's got to go out and labor to get the fruitfulness. We have to labor in the kingdom of God, as the Holy Spirit is transforming us. These are the afflictions and the hardships. These are what we're talking about, in order for us to receive the crown in order for fruitfulness to come forth. And fruitfulness is an outward expression of the Holy Spirit inside of us because the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, mercy, and self control of which there is no law against. And I like that he said first partaker of the fruit. So when we labor in the kingdom of God under his governing power, the fruitfulness is the blessing to us first and then goes forth from us. So God blesses me with love because he holds me and forgives me during my time of mistake and error and shows me grace and mercy. That love gift, okay, first came from God. And then it pours forth out of and I get to experience that love of God. And then I get to pour that forth into those in the body of Christ and those around me. Think over these things, he says in verse seven, think over these things, I am saying, understand them and grasp their application. For the Lord will grant you full insight and understanding in everything. See, that's where we get our understanding. This is why it's not how good I can have a devotion. It's not how good I can expound on scriptures. It's how good you listen to the scriptures and take the scripture in with the spirit of translation. Because the Lord grants us the full insight and understanding in everything. Nothing's excluded. And he can't mean Jesus is sitting there giving us the full insight, just sitting next to us, talking to us, because he's at the right hand of the Father. So he's talking about the Holy Spirit of power right here, operating in our lives, lording over us, giving us the insight and understanding we need. And it says, verse eight, constantly keep in mind Jesus Christ, the Messiah, has risen from the dead, as the prophesied King descended from David, according to the good news, the gospel that I preach. See, and this is, he just, I got ahead of the scripture. This is what he's talking about. Jesus has risen from the dead and sits at the right hand of the Father. But Jesus Christ, we can see human, we can see flesh, because he walked in the flesh. Holy Spirit's hard to see, but we can see flesh, because he walked in the flesh. Holy Spirit's hard to see, but we can see human, we can see flesh, because he walked in the flesh. Holy Spirit's hard to see, but we can see human, we can see flesh, because he walked in the flesh. Holy Spirit's hard to see, but we can see human, we can see flesh, because he walked in the flesh. Holy Spirit's hard to see, but we can see human, we can see flesh, because he walked in the flesh. Holy Spirit's hard to see, but we can see human, we can see flesh, because he walked in the flesh. Now, here he's just going, we've got to look at spirit and in truth here. If we think that he means just because, if what we think he's saying here is that because he is chained and imprisoned, and he has a copy of the Bible, then it can go forward. No, Paul didn't have any scriptures, he didn't have any physical Bible. The Word of God goes beyond written history, it goes beyond bounds. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God, and the Word was with God, and everything that was created was created by him. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among men. See, and it's that transition from the Word of God into the Spirit. You see, there's that combination, which is why we see the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus like a dove, to give us symbolism. It's that heavenly connection to the earthly realm. This is why the Word of God, in other words, the governing authority of God, the sovereignty, the edicts of God, the judgments of God, all of these things, the promises of God, they pour forth, and they don't have to be in written form. We get so excited when we see the Word of God, and we grab our Bible, and we're like, yeah! Paul didn't have a Bible. In fact, they only had the Old Testament at the time, and it was in the temple, and no one else had a copy of it. But Word transcends paper and pencil. Word transcends our ability to even read. The Word of God transcends everything that we know and don't know. So therefore, it has no limitations. He's encouraging us. This is an encouragement, because we're talking about suffering affliction, and wearing chains like a criminal. Oppression, you know, we think about all the things that are tied in with these symbolisms he's using. But it's for the sake of the gospel that he endures this suffering, because then the light of God can shine through him, the fruitfulness can pour forth, and he'll get that crown of righteousness, right? Because the righteousness of Christ will cover him. He's not talking about any perfection here. Just keep it right. Just keep everything right. No perfection. Verse 10. Therefore, I am ready to persevere and stand my ground with patience and endure everything for the sake of the elect, God's chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with the reward of eternal glory. See, there's an obtaining here. There's an obtaining here. There's something that has to be obtained. It's not something that's just a decision. And so he's standing, he's persevering and standing the ground with patience, the fruit of God, of course, and enduring everything for the sake of the body of Christ, so that they'll be encouraged and discipled in how to do the very same thing. He's given us the brass tacks to how to operate under the governing power and the sovereign hand of God. This is how we do it. And there's, we've been down, we've been through the suffering journey several times, and I'm sure we'll go down it many, many more times before God takes us from the planet of God willing and gives us more days. But there's a lot of degrees. When it comes to suffering, there's a lot of things. There's a lot of angles and degrees. There's a lot of things that cause it. It's not just the fact that he, well, in this case, he was imprisoned because he spoke freely and operated freely in the kingdom of God under the powerful hand of God. And this was just something that the leadership just was threatened by. And so they thought, lock him up and chain him up. But, as he's already told us, the word of God is not restrained by chains because it operates in and through his children. And so to have the body of Christ see, as he's telling us here, what he's doing is that he's persevering under whatever comes his way, whether it's grief from his own sin or it's affliction, oppression coming in from those outside who are sent by the evil one to try to pull us out of the secret place. But he's going to stay bunkered down under the governing hand of God. He's going to be patient and endure everything. And it's for the sake of the body of Christ. Because when we stay committed and uncompromised in our faith to God during all trials and tribulations and afflictions, whether it's our discipline, whether it's just an attack coming, whatever it is, we're going to stay bunkered in that governing, powerful hand of God. And this is how we obtain that salvation. This is the process of staying in that relationship that gives us the crown of life. And it's an eternal glory. It's not a decision kind of a relationship. It's not just a one-time decision relationship. It's a lifestyle, which doesn't involve a lot of perfection, but it does involve our heart's direction. Jesus can simply ask us, did I know you? Verse 11, he says, the same is sure and worthy of confidence. If we have died with him, we shall also live with him. See, and this is why we just have to be committed to believe and have faith and hope in what we cannot see. The eternal life that is promised to us as we walk in relationship to him, regardless of the outcome here, we know eternally speaking, we're with him. We get the new life. And he says, verse 12, if we endure, we shall also reign with him. So endure, we're going to have to be enduring something, and then we'll reign with him. If we deny and disown and reject him, he will also deny and disown and reject us. See, that was what I was just talking about. I got ahead of the scripture. It's a relationship. It's not a decision. And if we deny him in the process, he will deny us. That's what he just says, and reject us. And I like the way the illustration says, he'll line us all up and he'll separate the sheep from the goat. The sheep are the ones that are in his fold, that follow the lead of his voice, that are moving in that direction. Not that are perfect, but just are in relationship. And then the goats that are just wanting to do their own way and do their own thing. And this is the most beautiful thing about God. This is going to show us here, verse 13 is going to show us that we're in this place where God is governing over us. It's in his perfection that he governs. But we are not perfect. We are not. It's not about perfection. It's about our heart's direction and our relationship. Verse 13 says, if we are faithless, because without faith, it's impossible to please God, right? So if we're in that place where we can't please God because we're being faithless, do not believe in our own. It says, if we are faithless, do not believe in our untrue to him. He remains true, faithful to his word and his righteous character, for he cannot deny himself. Remind the people of these facts and solemnly charge them in the presence of the Lord to avoid petty controversy over words, which does no good but upsets and undermines the faith of the ears. See, this is an important thing to being under the governing hand of God. He's given us the pro tips. He's given us the brass tacks. There's going to be times when we lose faith, or not lose faith, but we don't operate in it. We choose to go our own way, and this is going to happen. It's not required, because it says, if. It doesn't say when. So it's not required for us to operate in a place of faithlessness. But even if we do, God remains faithful, and he remains true. He remains true to his promises, and he remains faithful to that, for he cannot deny himself. He is unchanging. And so when we are interacting, this is where he goes into verse 14, so when we are interacting, remind the people of these facts and solemnly charge them in the presence of the Lord. That is the leader, right? That is the one who's governing us in action. And so we are going to bring this, when we're in unity in the body of Christ, that we have to avoid petty controversies. The flesh wants to get its own agenda, but we have to resist and avoid the petty controversies over words, which does no good but upsets and undermines the faith of the hearers. We just can't be petty in the body of Christ, because he is the one who's governing us. It's not us, it's him. And the outcome of it is that it undermines and upsets the faith of the hearers, which is, without it, it's impossible to please God. So this is very important. So this is what he's given us, the standard operating procedures, that when we're under the governing hand of God, we are not some kind of mini-dictator, where we're going to go and just push our own way, because then it undermines. Now, you might convince somebody with such convincing words that all of a sudden you've been elevated in their mind higher than where we should be, which is under the powerful hand of God. We should be submitted under the powerful hand of God. God is the governing authority. God is the Lord. God is the leader. But if we come in there with this fancy controversy and pretension that we could just speak so intelligently, people may start to elevate us. I know I've done it to others, so I know that it can happen. So we have to be careful. So that can go two ways. Number one, it can upset them, and number two, it can upset and undermine their faith. So, which, if they're putting their faith in me, then they're removing their faith from God, right? And if it's just abrasive to them, and it just upsets them, then they're like, why do I want to be in this body of Christ? Why do I want to be here if I'm getting this abrasion, you see? So this is why we have to be cautious. Verse 15, study and be eager to do your utmost to present yourself to God approved, tested by trial. This is the study he's talking about. See, when we go back up and we look at it in context, we read it in the passage that it's in. He's talking about operating in the kingdom, going after the crown, staying, enduring trials and hardships and afflictions. You know, he's talking about not being abrasive, keeping the governing hand of God as the one that leads and directs all of these things. This is the study that he's talking about. He's not talking about go get book knowledge and be eager to do your utmost to present your intelligence to God approved. No, we're studying and we're being eager to do the utmost to present ourselves to God approved, which means tested by trial. See, it's a life that we're testing here. It's not an intelligence we're testing or people who have less degree of intelligence would not qualify. And that just doesn't seem like a fair, just God to do such a thing. A workman who has no cause to be ashamed. And again, see, now we're talking about rubber meeting the road. We're talking about lifestyle here. We're not talking about intelligence. A workman who has no cause to be ashamed because we're just operating under the leading hand of God and we're going correctly analyzing and accurately dividing and analyzing as in how it applies to my life, not as in how much I can understand it and have intelligence in it, but how much it applies to my life. See, when we correctly analyze and accurately divide, rightly handling and skillfully teaching the word of God and we teach, how do we teach? By our discipling, by our actions. This is a lifestyle. So he's telling us here that the study part of this part of our role in the kingdom of God is to use the word of truth and we know because you're not talking about a Bible here. We're talking about the truth of God and the spirit of God operating, given us the, we had to correctly analyze and accurately divide, handling the truth of God via the spirit of God as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling. It is not how smart we are. That doctrines got to go because that is not correct. There's no way this could be about how smart we are. Oh, we got to study, study, study the scriptures. The word of truth, they didn't even have the scriptures here. So how could he have been talking about just grabbing a book and getting smart with it? But we see it when we look at it in context. It's not that at all. It is a lifestyle he's talking about, a workman, presenting ourselves to God, tested by trial, a workman. So do not be ashamed. Correctly analyzing what the word of God through the power of the spirit is telling us and accurately, rightly handling it. And in doing so, we'll disciple and we'll be skillfully teaching the word of the truth, the word of truth, because it'll be operating in our life and we teach by doing and teach by talking. What if he didn't have any vocal cords? He would be exempt from this part of the body of Christ. I can't believe that would be true. Verse 16, but avoid all empty, vain, useless, idle talk, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness. And this goes back to that. We'll go back up to number 14, that those, those controversies, petty controversies, you know, where it's just, we're just talking because we can talk good, right? You know, whatever, because we want to talk, you know, and it just becomes vain, useless, and idle, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness. But avoid all empty talk, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness. See, it's just going on and on because I've I've intelligently memorized something. I remember somebody came in one time and they they had memorized so many books in the Bible. I mean, the whole book, you know, just could regurgitate it. And even though it was the word of God, and this is where it could be very distracting. It was the word of God. But yet the truth, the spirit and truth were not operating because all he was doing was regurgitating the words, right? So without the spirit, then it's not the word of truth. See, the word of truth, well, how do we get truth? Through the Holy Spirit, that is the truth. Through Jesus Christ, of course, obviously, he is the way, the truth, and the life. He's at the right hand of the Father. So the truth comes through the Holy Spirit. I will give you the Holy Spirit and he will tell you all things pertaining to the truth. Okay, so this is, we just got to know the spirit and in truth, we have to know the word of God and spirit and in truth to see the truth. Or else we're just doing idle talking, empty idle talk. If there isn't any testing by trial, if there isn't any working, any of these searching out testing and analyzing and accurately dividing the word of truth in our lives, so we can live the life and disciple others, then it's just void, empty. And it will lead people into more and more ungodliness. See, because it'll take them away from the spirit and the truth and into how good I can talk to them. And their teaching will devour. It will eat its way like cancer or spread like gangrene. And this is an interesting point because we look at cancer and gangrene both, that they are a slow developing, potentially deadly in many fashions to body parts or to the full body. But it is a slow, subtle beginning. Gangrene just doesn't pop out. It takes a long time to develop. Cancer takes a long time to develop and it's very subtle and sly. So what he's saying is this, when we operate and it's so deceiving because we could be using the Bible and yet not operate in spirit and in truth, rightly dividing the word of God with the power of the Holy Spirit, of course. And so it becomes idle talk, which is amazing to think that the word of God could become idle talk, but it can be if we don't operate in spirit and in truth. We see that throughout. Nowhere in the scripture does it say all you have to do is operate with the knowledge of the written scriptures and then you're done. No, it's a spirit and a truth. Those who worship God must worship him in spirit and in truth. He says in their teaching, so this is what they're discipling. When we hear teaching, we know it's discipling. It's how they live their life and how that trains others, right? That teaches others. They see it and then it goes into their mind and then they get the voila moment, aha moment, you know, when the light bulb goes off. And that's when teaching happens. But it goes in, they're teaching the wrong way because it's ungodliness because God is not being involved. They're not using spirit and in truth, or what he's saying, the word of truth. Because truth is given to us by the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life. It says in their teaching, will devour it, will eat its way like cancer or spread like gangrene. So it is with Hymenaeus and Philetus who have missed the mark and swerved from the truth by arguing that the resurrection has already taken place. They are undermining the faith of some. And here, this is what happens. Either, you know, they only have one half of the puzzle, whether it's spirit or truth, and they only have one or the other. And so they just think, in this case, he gives a great example, the resurrection had already taken place. Well, we know that the resurrection hasn't taken place because then the dead in Christ would rise first and were left on the earth and be caught up in the air to be caught up with him. We know what's going to happen. And so if that hasn't happened, they begin to go off on their own course because they're just using the truth, but they're not allowing the spirit to guide them, and they're not studying to show themselves a proof, rather dividing that spiritual truth because they're not using the thing that can divide it, the spirit. And they've gone off course, and they're undermining the faith of some. And see, this is a great example, bold example, of how this can happen. We just go down a tangent and say that, I confess I had bad habits of this, bad habits of this. I would get my own agenda, and then I would go right on down, right on down to where I was not anywhere near the scriptures with it. I'm sure it did exactly what it said. Undermining the faith of some, who have missed the mark and swerved from the truth by heart. And this is why we missed the mark, because we're not using the Holy Spirit to give us the aim that we need, right? So we have the word, but we need the spirit in truth. And this is why we can swerve from the truth. And then we start to argue our point, and I got really bad with it several times in my life. But it's an easy trap to fall into, especially if you have intelligence in the scripture, or knowledge of the scriptures as far as knowing them. This is where it becomes problematic. And it undermines the faith of some, because now our faith is not in God, it's in how smart we are. Or how smart we think we are. And here they were even off, of course, completely. But the firm foundation of lay by God stands sure and unshaken. Bearing this seal inscription, the Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who names himself by the name of the Lord give up all iniquity and stand aloof from it. That's a call to arms. God is calling the body of Christ to come out of and be transformed in all of these ways. This is where we bring the Holy Spirit into play, because he puts to death the deeds of the flesh. This is the process of being in the kingdom. And I'm going to read this again, it's beautiful. So instead of being sidetracked with how smart we can be about scriptures and then end up going the wrong way, which happens when we operate outside of spirit and in truth, he reminds us here, he says, so that's the rebuke. But the firm foundation of lay by God stands sure and unshaken. Bearing this seal inscription, the Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who names himself by the name of the Lord give up all iniquity and stand aloof from it. It's the sanctifying process he's talking about right here. And the Lord knows who are his. Why? Because it's a relationship. And a firm foundation that no one else can lay, that is laid in Christ Jesus, our Lord, is unmovable, unshakable, is sure, is unchanging. And we are bare the seal of inscription. And what seals us until the day of redemption? That's going to be the Holy Spirit. And we see the Holy Spirit all throughout this passage here. Because we can't be operating outside of the Holy Spirit. Because when it says the Lord, the Lord's at the right, Jesus Christ is at the right hand of the Father. And this is why it just says the Lord, because this is what actually leads us. And he knows who are his. And it says, let everyone who names himself by the name of the Lord give up all iniquity. So if we're going to call on the name of the Lord, if we're going to say we're a child of God, then we need to be allowing the Holy Spirit to put to death those deeds in our flesh by walking in a way that pleases him. And he goes on to say, but in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also utensils of wood and earthenware, and some for honorable and noble use, and some for menial and noble use. So whoever cleanses it, so there's all different parts in the body of Christ. So whoever cleanses himself from what is innoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminated and corrupting influences. And this is the key. And this is where I think there's been a lot of compromise, at least in my own life. You know, just as long as we put Jesus juice on it, then we can have this, this, this, and this. Although even if the scriptures clearly say, and the Spirit has told us the truth otherwise, and this is what's going on. So whoever cleanses himself from what is innoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminated and corrupting influences, will then himself be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work. This is the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Shun youthful lust and flee from them. He's helping, giving us pro-tips and helping us, because our flesh is going to want what it wants. So we have to shun youthful lust and flee from them, and aim at and pursue righteousness, all that is virtuous and good, right living, conformity to the will of God, in thought, word, and being. We are to conform to the will of God. This is the governing power over the kingdom. This is the will of God. And if our goal is to come after God, you know, the smoking and drinking and food and issues I've had, you know, I just want God to take it. My heart is going after Him. Now, there's failures and shortfalls and mishaps in the process, but He covers those, which is His righteousness. But if I'm just out willy-nilly doing what I want, feeding my flesh, then I'm outside of this thing, and I can't, and I'm not pursuing anymore the righteousness of Christ. Now, I don't give a rip, and I'm going to do what I want. And I'm not conforming to the will of God, which is to be transformed right by Him. And aim at and pursue faith, love, and peace. See, you've got to start with that faith. You know, we've got to be operating in faith, and then comes right behind that with love and peace, harmony and concord with others, and fellowship with all Christians who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart. So this is our calling in the body of Christ. This is our governing, the governing hand of power. The will of God has just told us faith in Him, love for others, and peace and harmony in the fellowship. And at the end of the day, who call on the Lord out of a pure heart, it's just not something we're doing. It's a relationship we have. But refuse and shut your mind against, have nothing to do with trifling, which is ill-informed, unedifying, stupid controversies over ignorant questionings, for you know that they foster strife and breed in quarrels. And I confess, I've struggled in this area. I've been trifling. And the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome. I've been quarrelsome, I confess, fighting and contending. Instead, he must be kindly to everyone and mild-tempered, preserving the bond of peace. He must be skilled and suitable teacher, patient and forbearing and willing to suffer wrong. That's that discipleship again. This is what he means by study to show ourselves approved. It's a lifestyle that we have to do to live. Tested by trial, willing to suffer wrong. He must correct his opponents with courtesy and gentleness in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to know the truth. That they will perceive and recognize and become accurately acquainted with and acknowledge it. See, and this is the deal here. This is where the rubber meets the road. When God wants us to be at peace with everyone's soul, those can come into relationship, into repentance. And this is what he just said here. But if we come in abrasive and combative, then there's going to be that hindrance to faith. And why do we correct our opponents with courtesy and gentleness? Because it's in hope that God will grant that they will repent and come to know the truth and have a relationship with God. And that they may come to their senses and escape out of the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him. See, this is the devil's purpose, and it's to keep us captive, captivated by the flesh and keep us out of, well, it says captive to him, henceforth to do his, held captive by him, to do his will. And that they may come to their senses and escape out of the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him, henceforth to do God's will. So that's the purpose of it all, is that they'll come into repentance, come into the kingdom, where they operate under the will of God, which is the governing power of God in the kingdom. And that's a beautiful little illustration of what the devil was created to do, and that's his job. See, if the devil wasn't created to do this job, God would just utterly destroy him, because God has all authority and power. We have to know this. I mean, if we think the devil has power over God, then we're missing the mark, and well, who wants to be a part of that, right? Wow, what an amazing passage. Good standing operating procedures for the body of Christ. And it's a reminder that Psalm 72 truly is a treasure in Christ, and that God is Jehovah Din Amtizik, our Lord God who governs his people in righteousness. Heavenly Father, we're just so grateful today for this truth. We're grateful that you've given us the standing operating procedures, Father God, that we have to operate in spirit and in truth in a relationship with you, Father God, so that the righteousness of Christ can govern our lives, that it can cover us for those mistakes that we make, that we have a heart that's coming after you and a heart that wants to be transformed by you. And we're so grateful, Father God, for who you are. I pray for the body of Christ in this very fashion today, that they'll come into your powerful hand and be transformed by you in this very way, that they'll operate uncompromised, that we'll come in full, all in with our heart, knowing that you meet us there, and you transform us, and you help us as we go along in the way. So I thank you for this truth, Father God. I pray it over the body of Christ. I know it'll be transformative in nature as it goes forth, and I pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen and amen.