You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.Thou therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
4 sermons cite this verse
And then in 2 Timothy chapter 2, You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Jesus Christ. I think Timothy was experiencing fear. I think he was beginning to be ashamed of Paul as a prisoner of Rome. Ashamed of the ministry. Hesitant. And I just think that was his natural inclination. So when he writes to the Thessalonians, he uses this kind of super endorsement. and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ to establish you, encourage you concerning your faith. Now you see those two words, your faith? This is what you do when you read the Bible. You notice repeated words or repeated phrases. He repeats that phrase five times in this very short chapter. Your faith, your faith, your faith, your faith, your faith. He mentions it in verse 2. He mentions it in verse 5. For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith. Verse 6. But now that Timothy has come to us from you and brought us good news of your faith. …
… He came full of grace and truth. Amen. Worship team. Come join me. Come on. Let's thank God. Second Timothy chapter two, verse one. You then my son be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Be strong in the grace. Grace changes the way we see God, the way we see ourselves and the way we see other people. Grace starts in our heart and flows to our mind and the result of grace is that it leads our life. grace lifts you to the standard it doesn't excuse your sin truth doesn't just point out what's broken it shows you how to heal see we think that we're afraid of truth because truth is going to say well the truth is is that you're this no truth sends you on the solution shame points out the problem jesus points you to the power and the potential truth doesn't say you're a mess it says let me show you the way out and if you just study Jesus you look at the life of Jesus this is how he operated time and time again everybody he interacts with he does the same thing grace and truth grace and truth rich young ruler the Bible says he looked at him and loved him enough to tell him the truth he says the one thing that's holding you back from following me is your money and he loved him but told him the truth. …
… It says this. You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these things to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Join with me in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor's crown except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all of this. I want to preach a message today, write down the title. It's called, The Best Ability is Availability. And Paul keeps trying to encourage Tim, stay in the story. Stay in the fight. Do everything you can to keep your life right and your heart clean so you don't get swept away, you don't get taken out, you don't get bamboozled. No, you stay in the good fight. He's trying to teach him over and over again that the best ability in this kingdom is availability. And I don't know about you, but this year I want to tell God, I am available for you to do something in me and you can do something through me. …
… is feeling insecure, getting a lot of criticism. He says, you therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Translation for ancient ornate language, accept what you're great at because God gave you that greatness and enjoy that. And don't focus or obsess over what you naturally just aren't as good at. And there is that acceptance. And it's wild. I haven't thought about that story in so long. Obviously, that verse of scripture I think about often. But connecting that to this idea of acceptance is beautiful. What would you say to people who are like, I just can't accept it? I think that's a hard place to be in. Because, I mean, I'd say probably go get counseling. Go talk to a professional. because if you are in a place where you can't accept something about yourself, that isn't up to a standard that you are the one sitting there for yourself. I think that's a place for a lot of heartbreak and a lot of lack of fulfillment and lack of happiness. And if you can't like yourself, if you can't accept yourself the way you are, how are you going to be happy? You're just going to have a life striving. And And that just doesn't sound like a fulfilling life to me. …