Stay Focused!

Stay Focused!  2021 02 07

2 Timothy 2:14 – 19

 

The focus of a lot of people around the world right now is the COVID-19 pandemic, brought to you on every station, every day, multiple times a day, as the rising cases of infection and death are reported in somber tones.  The news keeps getting worse.  The disease is mutating rapidly, more infectious, and more deadly, they say, than the day before.

Many worry.  Many say it’s all nonsense.  Many says it’s a plot by nefarious governments to bring all the unaware under their control.  Arguments inevitably arise.

Not everyone knows what they are talking about!   But everyone has things they need to do, and unless they stay focused on the main thing, they will be distracted by all the things going on around them and fail to accomplish what they set out to do.  This applies greatly in the life of the believer.  2 Timothy 2:4 tells us, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” 

Today we have instructions on how to keep yourself from being all tangled up in the affairs of this life and staying focused.  The message today is titled, “Stay Focused!”  These are God’s instructions to you on how to keep from getting all tangled up in this world’s troubles, keep your eyes on the goal, and stay focused.

 

2 Timothy 2:14 – 19

 

The devil has many tricks to keep you from putting God first in your life and keeping your focus on Jesus Christ.

There are a number of very important points from this passage that tell you how to stay focused:

 

  1. Don’t Argue.
  2. Study God’s Word
  3. Avoid Foolish Conversation
  4. Know Where You Stand
  5. Avoid Sin

 

I  Don’t Argue v 14

  1. Remind one another not to argue. 1Timothy 6:4 says of the one who likes to prove how much he knows: “He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings”
    1. The language used here is very strong: “…charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit…” There are times when it might seem that you need to take a strong stand on the meaning of a particular passage of scripture in marked disagreement with someone else.  But here we are told NOT to get into an argument over these things and in fact, that such arguing is to NO profit, and worse.
    2. Such arguing does the opposite of edifying the hearers – instead it subverts or pulls down the hearers!
    3. There is a right way to handle disagreements over scripture or anything else. Arguing is NOT the right way.  It is harmful to everyone.

                  

II  Study God’s Word  v 15

  1. Prayerfully read your Bible, every day
    1. Don’t simply read a portion of scripture to get your daily reading over and done with. James compared a person who reads their Bible like this to a someone who looks in a mirror then immediately forgets what he looks like! James 1:25 tells us, “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”  
    2. Study God’s word to serve him and set your standard to God’s approval, not human approval.
    3. Study God’s word so that you serve him the way he wants you to serve him, knowing what he wants you to do, and doing it properly – “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.”
    4. Study so that you do what God wants you to do and do it correctly and well.
    5. Study God’s word so that you know God’s word well enough to properly explain any part of the word of God and answer any questions that apply to the word of God.
      1. This should cause every Christian to be prayerfully in the Word every day!

 

III  Avoid Foolish Conversation  vv16 – 18

  1. The word, “shun,” does not merely mean to avoid, but to take great pains to avoid.
    1. Stay away from, avoid, run from profane and vain babblings.
      1. Profane babblings are conversations or talk that debase the word of God, bringing contempt on His word. They do not build anyone up, but instead subvert or tear down believers and harm the church.
      2. Vain babblings are conversations or talk that is empty, of no value, that promote fighting and arguing, but do not edify or build up the church.
    2. Avoid foolish conversation because you cannot win once you get into it, and it just gets worse. (I have seen the results.) “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.”  Proverbs 26:4. Mark Twain rephrased this verse in his typical “tongue-in-cheek” style: “Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.”
      1. Those who get into such useless and erroneous talk are in error, and if allowed to continue, will gradually eat away at the church until they cause very great harm.
    3. If you find yourself in a situation where someone is trying to convince you of something that you do not think is so, do not argue, but study your Bible and ask your pastor. Arguments among people in the church can do much harm.

 

IV Know Where You Stand v 19 – part 1

  1. Sometimes you run into a situation where everyone around you seems to be on the wrong path. Rather than being torn and tangled up with doubt, know where you stand!
    1. God’s foundation is a sure foundation. His foundation is Jesus Christ, the Rock on whom you are built.   “To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.”  1 Peter 2:4 – 6
    2. God knows who are His and has sealed all who have put their faith in Jesus Christ. Those who belong to God are sealed. Ephesians 1:13, speaking of Jesus Christ and His relationship to you says, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”
    3. Trust the sure foundation that you stand on, and when in doubt about anything, look to God for the answer. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”  Proverbs 3:5& 6

 

V  Avoid Sin  v 19 – part 2

  1. Let everyone that claims Jesus Christ as Saviour avoid sin. Move away from it.  The Greek word means to “stand aloof.”  That is, to stand apart from, to keep from being interested.
    1. Do not remain under the influence and company of sinful people, including and especially those who claim to be Christians, but who teach a different Gospel.
    2. Do not be a partaker in sin, yourself, but remove yourself from it. Bring your thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ and avoid sin.

 

Conclusion

Do not become entangled again with the battles and ways of the world but stay focused.  Don’t get into arguments, especially over the word of God.  Instead, prayerfully study God’s word and let it teach you and build you up into someone approved by God’s standards, not the standards of men.  Avoid foolish conversation and errors of doctrine and know where you stand, firmly planted in the Rock that is Jesus Christ, knowing that you are sealed for redemption by God, Himself.  Avoid sin; depart from it!  Keep your eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the author and the finisher of our faith.  Stay focused and keep looking up.  Jesus IS coming again, soon!