CHRIST CREATIVE BAPTIST CHURCH
A SERMON PREACHED ON SUNDAY
MARCH 22, 1998
BY
THE REV. DR. GEORGE ST. ANTHONY FERGUSON, SR.
AUTHOR: Paul
THEME: Holding On To The Truth
DATE: 67 AD
TEXT: 2 Timothy 2:2
Whether you want to believe it or not, whether you understand it or not, you need to know that we are living in the last portions of the last days. We are living in the days just before Jesus returns to rupture up his church. We are living in the days just before Jesus fights the battle of Armageddon. We are living in the days just before Jesus comes back to establish his Millennium Kingdom. How do I know that we are living in the last days? False religions are growing right before our eyes. The Mormons are respectable. The Muslims are tolerated. The Jehovah Witnesses are evangelizing. False cults are capturing those who are gullible. In fact, there is a cult leader in TX who believes that Jesus will come back on March 31, 1998 on an asteroid. We are living in the last days. Peter told us that we are living in the last days. Paul told us that we are living in the last days. The writer of Hebrews told us that we are living in the last days. But although we are living in the last days, God has given a command to follow and it is called the Great Commission. We are to baptize men and women and teach them to do everything Jesus told us to do. We are to be teaching others. So on this Lord’s Supper Day, the Lord has lead me to preach on the topic: Teaching Others To Be Like Jesus.
The Lord has brought us to the 2nd chapter of the book of 2nd Timothy. 2nd Timothy was written by Paul the Evangelist. Paul was a Jewish religious scholar. Paul was a proud man. Paul was a wealthy man. Paul was a PHD. Paul was a Jew among the Jews. Paul was a man among men. Paul persecuted the Church thinking he was doing God a favor. Paul arrested Christians. Paul jailed Christians. Paul killed Christians. But despite Paul’s social status, arrogance and hatred for Christians, Jesus saved his very soul from his sin. Paul was blinded by the light on the road to Damascus and he saw with the eyes of faith that Jesus Christ was the way, the truth, and the life. Paul became a disciple of Christ. Paul ministered among the Gentiles in the Roman world. Paul started more new churches and more Gentile churches than any other apostle. Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles. And when Paul stated these churches, he would often leave someone else in charge to pastor it on a day to day basis. One of these individuals was Timothy. Timothy was a young man and young Christian and his first pastorate was to be the first pastor of the Corinthian Church. You remember the church at Corinth. They were the carnal church. They were the flesh oriented church. They were the church that tolerated sin in the midst of it. They were the church that had people in clichés saying I am of Paul, I am of Peter, I am of Apollo, I am of Christ. But none of them were of God. And to this Church, Paul first assigned Timothy as their first pastor. And they ate Timothy alive. They chewed him up and spate him out. You could not have thin skin and pastor the Corinthian church. Timothy got so despondent with his ministry that he left. Timothy was upset. Timothy was down in the dumps. Timothy thought God had let him down. But Paul would not let Timothy linger in his misery. Paul knew that God was not through with him yet. Paul called Timothy my dearly beloved son. Paul told Timothy that without ceasing I have remembered you in my prayers night and day. Paul told Timothy I remember the tears your cried as you left the Corinthian church. Paul told Timothy to stir up the gift of God which was in him when Paul ordained him to the ministry. Paul told Timothy that God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Paul told Timothy not to be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul told Timothy that Jesus has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our abilities but according to his own purpose and grace. Paul told Timothy that he was appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles by Jesus. Paul told Timothy I have suffered many thing but nevertheless I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ because it is the power of God unto salvation. Paul told Timothy for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Paul went on in Chapter 2, V1 to say, "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." Point number one is this: You Have To Be Strong In The Grace of God To Live The Christian Life. Timothy was a Christian hurting in his heart and he needed to be healed. Timothy had lost his bearings. Timothy had lost his way. And Paul wanted to build Timothy up on his most holy faith. Paul wanted to re-establish Timothy on the firm foundation of Christ. Paul wanted to re-plant Timothy in the Word of God. Paul wanted to re-teach Timothy in the things of God. Paul wanted to disciple and mentor Timothy back into the grace of God. And as we begin Operation Multiplication, I believe we as a Church need to do the ministry of Paul to our Timothys and Timothenas. We have some brothers and sisters who are hurting and they need the grace of God ministered to them. They need a stronger brother or sister to shepherd them. They need a stronger brother or sister to bring them under their wings. They need a stronger brother or sister to come along side of them and disciple them one on one. That’s the grace of God. The song says
AMAZING GRACE HOW SWEET THE SOUND THAT SAVED A WRETH LIKE ME
I ONCE WAS LOST BUT NOW AM FOUND
WAS BLIND BUT NOW IS SEE
TIS GRACE THAT TAUGHT MY HEART TO FEAR AND GRACE MY FEARS RELIVED
HOW PRECIOUS DID THAT GRACE APPEAR THE HOUR I FIRST BELIEVED
THROUGH MANY DANGERS TOILS AND SNEARS I HAVE ALREADY COME
TIS GRACE THAT BROUGHT ME SAFE THUS FAR AND GRACE WILL LEAD ME HOME
GRACE, GRACE, GOD’S GRACE; HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR ME
You have to be strong in the grace of God to live the Christian life. Can I get a witness today? We Need To Be Teaching Others To Be Like Jesus.
Christ Creative, don’t fool yourself concerning our need for this ministry of teaching. The only thing that can build you up in your faith are teaching and doing. But first, you need to be taught. Taught in the mercy of God. Taught in the faith of God. Taught in the hope of God. Taught in the love of God. Taught in the grace of God. We have too many weak Christians in our church who are just holding on by the skin of their teeth. We have too many baby Christians in our church who are just holding on by the hair of their chinny chin chin. We have too many marginal Christians in our church who are just barely making it. We have too many mediocre Christians in our church who are just getting by. But that is not what Jesus wants for us. Enduring until the end is one way to live the Christian life but that is not the way Jesus wants us to live the Christian life. We are to live the abundant life in Christ. Jesus said I have come that you may have life and life more abundantly. The reality in the Church today is that most Christians live way below their privileges in Christ. Why? Because they try to life the Christian life in their own power. They try to live the Christian life in their own strength. They try to live the Christian life in the flesh. Having been saved by grace through faith they now try to live the Christian life by their own reason, intellect, and physical power. What you need to know is that when Jesus said they that endure unto the end shall be saved, he was talking to those who would become Christians during the Tribulation period. Those of us today need to learn how to live the abundant life and the only way to learn how to live the abundant life is for you to sit under the teaching of the Word and then put it into action in your own life. Worship service is a start but it is not enough. You need Bible Study and Sunday School, which I prefer to call Discipleship School. Then you need to take what you know and use it in your day to day life. Paul said be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. And Paul in V2 said, "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." My next point is this: We Need To Commit The Word Of God To Faithful Men And Women. Paul told Timothy the same things that you have heard about me among many other witnesses, commit these same things to faithful men and women. And what were the things Timothy heard about Paul by other people? Timothy heard about the conversion of Paul on the road to Damascus. Timothy heard about the ministry of Paul to the Gentiles. Timothy heard about the faithfulness of Paul to Jesus. Timothy heard about the love of Paul for Jesus. Timothy heard about the hardship Paul endured for Jesus. But most of all, Timothy heard how Paul taught the Word of God and lived the Word of God. Paul said be ye followers of me as I follow Christ. Paul said be ye imitators of me as I imitate Jesus. Paul said we must all be conformed to the image of Christ. Paul said we all must grow up into the full measure of Christ. Paul had no problem teaching people about the grace of God and challenging them to teach others. Paul was active for Jesus. Paul was involved for Jesus. This kind of active and involved ministry can only be committed to faithful men and women. You cannot commit this kind of ministry to men and women who are wishy washy. You cannot commit this kind of ministry to men and women who sometimes come to church and sometime do not. You have to commit the active and involved ministry to faithful men and women because this is the ministry of Jesus Christ. God wants to know that he can depend on you. God wants to know if you talk the talk. God want to know if you walk the walk. And I don’t know about you but I want to be a faithful man. I want to be a faithful person. I want to be found faithful. Paul said it is required in a steward that a man be found faithful. When I see Jesus I want him to say servant of God well done. You’ve been Faithful over a few things, now let me make you ruler over plenty. Jesus committed his ministry and movement to faithful men and women. Peter was a faithful man. James was a faithful man. John was a faithful man. Mary was a faithful woman. Martha was a faithful woman. And if Operation Multiplication is going to work in Christ Creative, we need faithful men and women. Sometimes the road is rough, the going gets touch, and the hills are hard to climb. But I’ve started out a long time ago, there is no doubt in my mind, I’ve decided to make Jesus my own. It may sometimes look like the person who you are mentoring, your Timothy, does not want to learn but keep on trying and keep on hoping. Sometimes it might look like you as a mentor , as a Paul, can’t do it but keep on believing and keep on working. Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the works of the Lord because your labor is not in vain in the Lord. And we have committed Operation Multiplication in the hands of faithful men and women.
REV. CHARLES YOU ARE A FAITHFUL MAN
DEA. CLERKLEY YOU ARE A FAITHFUL MAN
BRO. MCDANIEL YOU ARE A FAITHFUL MAN
DEAS. CHARLES YOU ARE A FAITHFUL WOMAN
TRST. CLERKLEY YOU ARE A FAITHFUL WOMAN
DEAS. FERGUSON YOU ARE A FAITHFUL WOMAN
TRST. MADDOX YOU ARE A FAITHFUL WOMAN
SIS. FUNDERBURK YOU ARE A FAITHFUL WOMAN
SIS. PATTON YOU ARE A FAITHFUL WOMAN
SIS. HYLTON YOU ARE A FAITHFUL WOMAN
Paul said, I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has enabled me and counted me faithful by putting me into the ministry. Say amen, somebody. We Got To Be Teaching Others To Be Like Jesus.
Paul said not only must you commit the ministry to faithful men and women but they must also be willing and able to teach others. My third point is this: Faithful Men and Women Will Teach Others About Jesus. Teaching is the heart and soul of a church and it is the heart and soul of Operation Multiplication. We the mentors, the disciplers of Operation Multiplication have dedicated ourselves to God to disciple one on one with each new member and each member who are just barely holding on to their faith here in Christ Creative. We have dedicated to God that we will spend one day a week for six months with each an every new Christian and borderline Christians who want to be and need to be built up in their most holy faith. Listen to me, the reason so many of our members struggle with their attendance and struggle with their Christianity is because they have little to no idea what it means to be a Christian. They have little or no idea how to be a Christian. They have little or no idea what the Bible has to say about being a Christian. So for all your good intentions and well wishing, you have no earthly idea what it takes to be a Christian; and Satan knows that. So what he does is to get you to fall back into your sin and when you get back there, you feel bad and you start playing this hide and go seek game with God. You know you’re not doing what God wants you to do but you don’t have the knowledge or the power to overcome the sin. So you just flounder, flutter and fall back into your old familiar ways. You stay away from Church and think that’s the best you can do. NO, that is not your best! And the other thing Satan does is to have you criticize everything you think is wrong with your church. The pastor preach to hard. The choir doesn’t sing well. The worship service is too long. The people talk one way but act another. You find fault and you find fault and you grow weaker and weaker. But if you were taught the Word of God and then lived what you know, you would be a stronger Christian and a growing Christian. Faithful Christians are to teach the Word of God to those who desire the sincere milk of the Word. Paul said desire the sincere milk of the Word so you may grow thereby. Paul said babies need the milk of the Word but grown men and women need the meat. Aren’t you tied of drinking the milk of the Word? Don’t you want to eat the meat of the Word? Sooner or later you have to grow up. I would hate to be in the Church for 10, 20, 40, or 80 years and still be a babe in Christ. I’m a child of God and I want to grow to the full measure of Christ. And growing begins in teaching. That is what Jesus told us to do. Matthew 28:18-20 says, "And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Teaching is the only way to get the Word of God deep down in your heart. Teaching is the only way to get the Word of God deep down in your soul. Teaching is the only way to get the Word of God deep down in your mind. And once you believe it in your heart, accept it in your soul and get it in your mind; you will do something with it. You will live it. You will put it into action. You will be a doer of the Word and not just a hearer only. You will have the mind of Christ and you will never be the same again. You will see what the overcoming lifestyle is all about. You will see what the abundant life in Christ is all about. You will see how all power works in your life. You will see what being fill with the Holy Spirit really means. Aren’t you tied of living as an average, mundane, mediocre Christian? Aren’t you ready to live the abundant life in Christ? Then, be mentored by a faithful member in Christ Creative so our church can be strong and on fire for Jesus. It is not enough for me to know Jesus for myself. If I really, sho’ ‘nuff know him, I will not be satisfied until I teach somebody else to know him too. Have you ever wonder why McDonalds is so successful. Laugh all you want to about their hamburgers but what makes McDonalds so successful is that it duplicates itself. It replicates itself. It franchises itself. Therefore the hamburgers you eat in MD is very similar to the hamburgers you eat in SC. And that’s what Jesus wants us to do in Operation Multiplication through us.
JESUS WANTS TO DUPLICATE HIMSELF THROUGH YOU
JESUS WANTS TO REPLICATE HIMSELF THROUGH YOU
JESUS WANTS TO FRANCHISE HIMSELF THROUGH YOU
JESUS WANTS TO GET SOMEBODY BORN AGAIN THROUGH YOU
JESUS WANTS TO GROW A DISCIPLE THROUGH YOU
DON’T YOU WANT TO BE USED BY JESUS
Then, stop thinking about it and let God use you. Jesus need doers of the Word not just hearers only. Am I right about it? . We Got To Be Teaching Others To Be Like Jesus.
Well as I get ready to sit down, I want you to know that you are in a warfare. Don’t think that everything is going to be all right now that you have decided to mentor a younger believer or be mentored by an older believer. Satan will be on your case like white on rice. Satan will tell you you’re tied, don’t go. Satan will tell you you’re too busy, don’t go. Satan will tell you not to witness to that person on the street or on the job, leave him or her alone. Satan will tell you it’s not working. Satan will do anything to discourage you because that is his job. But you say Satan, you’re a liar. You say Satan, we’re gonna tear your kingdom down. You say Satan, no weapon formed against me shall prosper. Jesus said Satan come but for to steal, to kill and to destroy. Satan wants to steal the joy in our church. Satan wants to kill our church. Satan wants to destroy our church. He tried it with rumors in our church. He tried it with lack of attendance in our church. He tried it with weak members in our church. Satan has strongholds in our church. But greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world. We have to stand against the wiles of the devil and having done all to stand to keep on standing. We are in a warfare. Warfare against the devil. Warfare against demons. Warfare against the minuends of hell. But Paul said to endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. I’m a soldier in the army… Paul said no man who goes to war entangles himself with the affairs of this life because you want to please Him who has chosen you to be a soldier. We want to please Jesus. Paul told us to strive for the mastery. Jesus said to watch and pray. Jesus said to pray without ceasing. Paul told us to first make sure that we are born again and that we are partakers of the first fruit from God. Remember, Jesus was raised from the dead with all power in his hands. So be not afraid because God is with us. No matter what may happen, we can take it because we have put on the whole armor of God. Paul said he suffered trouble. Paul said he was in bonds. But the Word of God is not bound. Paul said therefore I endured all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus. Paul said if we are dead with him, we shall also live with him. Paul said if we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him. Paul said if we deny him, he will also deny us. Paul said if we believe not by not witnessing, yet he abides faithful. Jesus cannot deny himself. Most of us know that the way you deny Jesus is to not accept him as your savior. But the other way you deny Jesus is to not make him your Lord. You deny Jesus by not telling somebody about him. You deny Jesus by not building a new Christian up on his or her most holy faith. You deny Jesus by not becoming a disciple Christ or not making disciples of Christ. And that’s why Paul said to study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. If you don’t study, you are not approved by God. If you don’t study, you are not a workman or workwoman who need not to be ashamed. If you don’t study, you don’t know how to rightly divide the Word of truth and apply it to your life. And let me bottom line this for you. Let me make it real for you today. You will never be fill with the Holy Spirit, you will never see God’s power in your life, and you will not be on fire for Jesus until you have the Word in your heart and soul and you are living the Word on a daily basis. I’m not talking about a bunch of do’s and don’ts. I’m not talking about a bunch of rules and regulations. I’m talking about letting Jesus lead you and guide you. The song says I want Jesus to walk with me… The song says Lead me, guide me along the way… You keep doing the same old sins because you don’t have the Word in your heart and soul. David said thy Word have I hide in my heart so I may not sin against thee. David said thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. The writer of Hebrews said, The Word is powerful and sharper than any two edged sword. John said in the beginning was the Word… Jesus Christ is the Word of God. You never know how God is going to change you or change this church until you get into the Word. And I just want to ask one question: "Are you willing to teach others to be like Jesus and are you willing to be taught so you can be like Jesus?" The doors of the church are open.
© 1998 drsax989238@msn.com
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