Persecution Will Come

Introduction

(Read 3:10–4:5) You know that I enjoy baseball, and I love the Chicago Cubs. Go Cubs go! But being a fan can be frustrating. One day your team scores 10 runs, and they can’t do anything wrong. The next day they get shut out and look miserable. One day you love your team and love the game; the next day you hate everything.
And fans want the team to ride that roller coaster with them. Get angry. Panic! Do something drastic. But the best managers and players know that will ruin them, not help them. 
For example, sometimes you have a great at bat and hit a screaming line drive—right at an outfielder. The process was good, but the result is an out. Or a pitcher throws a beautiful curveball and fools the batter. But he hits a dribbler to the perfect hole and scores the winning run. Again, the process was great, but the result is a loss.  
The best teams don’t panic. They focus on good processes, and they believe that over the course of an entire season, a good process will yield good results.  
The American church should learn from them because we think way too much about results and not nearly enough about process. Results matter! We want people to get saved, and we want to radically change our town for Jesus Christ! But what do when someone blasts our convictions on a public forum and we lose respect? Do we stick to our guns or worry about short term results? What if a visitor is offended by the sermon or is bothered by a core conviction?
Or on a personal level, maybe a coworker or a classmate gossip about your narrow-minded, judgmental convictions and turns people against you. Maybe your child isn’t getting saved or makes some bad choices. They claim that your biblical beliefs and convictions are holding them up? Will you panic and grasp for results, or will be believe a good process will eventually yield good results? 
That’s the question Paul asks Timothy as he awaits execution and as Timothy toils against false teaching. The pragmatist would say Paul and Timothy were failing and something has gotta change! But Paul says, “Continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of.” Don’t budge no matter the cost. Stick to your convictions and stick to the process. So, my challenge to you is, stand resolutely on the Word of God no matter what it costs. Paul gets us there by first leaning on his own example.

i.  Paul’s Example (vv. 10–11)

Remember that Paul spent vv. 1–9 detailing the false teachers’ corruption. He ended by comparing them to Jannes and Jambres, the demonically empowered Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses. Paul was blunt. The false teachers were depraved heretics. 
Now he begins v. 10 with, “But you know” that Paul’s character and ministry were different. In other words…
Paul lived his faith. Timothy knew Paul very well. Paul probably led Timothy to Christ on his 1st journey. When Paul returned to Derbe, Timothy joined Paul and he went everywhere with Paul. He had heard all of Paul’s sermons, and he could anticipate what he would do in this situation and that. He had also been with Paul in his most private moments—in times of great joy and of great disappointment and suffering. 
Paul mentions 9 observations Timothy had made. The 1st 7 focus on his character and ministry. First, Timothy observed Paul’s “teaching.” The Ephesian heresy was deceptive fluff, but Paul’s doctrine and ethic were biblical, righteous, deep, and consistent. Don’t get enamored with all that is new and edgy. The truth and real grace are in the Bible. 
And Paul matched his teaching with godly “conduct.” The false teachers were hypocritical charlatans, but Paul was a man of conviction. His methods and message were consistent whether it was popular or not, whether people padded him on the back or hit him between the eyes. Don’t change with the tides. Stand on biblical conviction and believe in God’s process.
3rd, Timothy observed Paul’s “purpose.” The false teachers were on a mission for notoriety and profit. Paul’s only mission was to please the Savior by completing his mission. Paul’s purpose had been tested by persecution, harsh opposition, and deep poverty. But Paul remained resolutely committed to Jesus’ will. Don’t let sinners define your purpose. Stay razor-focused on doing Jesus’ will.
Then Paul transitions to his personal character. Timothy observed Paul’s deep “faith” in the Lord. Paul wasn’t just skilled and fruitful. He was godly. He enjoyed a rich walk with God and strong confidence in his power. 
I hope that’s what you want. You don’t just want to make a great public impression or even be visibly fruitful. You want to be godly, and you want the people who know you best to know you as a man or woman of faith.
5th, Timothy observed Paul’s “patience.” He didn’t panic over results; he waited on God. And he was patient with people when they let him down or struggled to change. Paul walked with a grace that only comes from grace. The fact that you are a great guy when all is well, means nothing. Your true character shows when the pressure is on. Are you patient under pressure?
Underneath that patience was genuine “love.” Paul didn’t use and abuse people for his selfish agenda. He loved them like Jesus. That is a sure sign of grace. Love like Jesus, and cling to people who love.
Finally, he saw Paul’s “perseverance/endurance.” Timothy watched Paul get thrashed in one city after the next. But each time, he went to the next and kept preaching. People betrayed and slandered Paul, but it didn’t stop him from pouring his heart into the next man. 
Endurance is another sure sign of grace. Selfish people quit when it gets tough, but people of love and biblical conviction endure. Stick with it!
So, Timothy watched Paul exemplify these qualities. He knew Paul was the real deal. What about the people who know you best? Would your family say that behind closed doors you are a hypocrite, a pragmatist, or a narcissist? Or would they say you love the Lord, and you are committed to his will? Could you say to a disciple who knows you, “Follow me as I follow Christ”? 
Paul lived his faith. By the grace of God do the same. It may not always yield quick results, but character always matters in the long run. Then v. 11 adds two very different observations…
Paul suffered for his faith (v. 11a). Paul visited Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra on his 1st missionary journey just before visiting Timothy’s hometown of Derbe. God saved many people in Antioch, buts Acts 13:50 says, “The Jews incited the devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.”
Then God saved more people at Iconium, but Paul had to flee when he learned about a plot to stone him. And the people of Lystra initially worshipped Paul and Barnabas as gods, but Acts 14:19 says, “Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.”
I can’t imagine being stoned to death. When Paul reached Derbe, he was probably still bruised and battered. You can imagine how the sight may have impacted the young Timothy. And later Timothy began traveling with Paul. He experienced the mob at Thessalonica. He saw the stripes on Paul’s back at Philippi. Timothy knew Paul had suffered. He knew Paul really believed what he preached. He knew Paul was in it for Christ and for people, not for any personal gain. 
Your voice for Christ is not loudest when people are praising you and life is easy. Your character shines the brightest when people betray you, your health fails, and ungodly men turn hostile. Don’t fold in those moments. Rise up and shine with the grace of God. But Paul didn’t take the credit. 
The Lord rescued Paul (v. 11b). God rarely rescued Paul from physical pain. Paul suffered almost everywhere he went. But the Lord always rescued Paul from the temptation to fold under that pressure. Notice how Paul uses the same verb, rescue in 4:16–18. Paul did not expect to be rescued from Nero’s sword, but he knew God would give persevering grace. 
Some of you are enduring great trials and temptations. You can hear the irrational fans, so to speak, urging you to do something drastic. “Quit on God’s process. Lash out. Bend your convictions. Blow up. Give in to bitterness, envy, and jealousy. You can’t do it. You can’t trust God. Take matters into your own hands.”
Listen to Paul. The Lord rescued him from many awful hardships and every accompanying temptation, and he will do the same for you. “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it” (1 Cor 10:13). Don’t panic. Don’t compromise. Stick to the process. Stand resolutely on the Word of God. God will be faithful, and he will see you through. 
Praise the Lord for Paul’s example. I’m sure it strengthened Timothy’s resolve. When you are afraid, look to those who have gone before you. Someone in this room has probably been where you are. Find them and listen to what grace accomplished. Lean on their example. You’re going to need it because troubles aren’t going away. Verses 12–13 follow with…

ii.  Paul’s Warning (vv. 12–13)

That’s not what you want to hear. There’s a reason why false theologies like the prosperity gospel or post-millennialism keep popping up despite being unbiblical and overwhelming evidence to the contrary. This fall, political candidates will promise the moon, and people will believe them. They’d rather live in a dream world than face reality. 
But the Lord loves us enough to be honest. Listen so you can prepare accordingly. First…
Godly men will suffer. Verse 12 is well known. Pretty much everyone focuses on the last three words, “will be persecuted.” But notice how deliberately Paul describes person who will be persecuted. He says, “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus.” The world isn’t coming after every so-called Christian. Only those who are genuinely godly because they abide in Christ Jesus.
That’s because many so-called Christians and churches don’t threaten Satan enough to garner persecution. Last fall we toured Manhattan, a city that is actively hostile to our faith. We walked past some towering, beautiful church buildings. But no one was outside protesting them because long ago, those churches flushed away any convictions that would garner the world’s wrath. They are no threat at all to a worldly agenda.
What about you? When was the last time you made a sinner uncomfortable by the holiness of your character? When was the last time you spoke God’s truth so plainly and strongly that a sinner got mad and walked away? 
We don’t like that. We want to believe that if we are nice enough, we can skip the world’s hatred. But no one was kinder, gentler, or more generous than the Savior. But the world despised the light of his holiness, the truth he spoke, and the boldness of his conviction. They put Jesus to death. 
You can’t “nice your way” out of the world’s anger while being like Jesus. He warned, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you” (John 15:18–19). If you are truly godly, it’s going to make people feel uncomfortable. If you are holy like Jesus, sinners won’t like how it shines a light on their sin. 
Of course, your goal is never to be offensive. If you view offending people as feathers in your cap, that’s a problem. We want people to get saved, not drive them away. Make sure the gospel offends, not you.
But don’t aspire to blend in so perfectly that no one ever is offended. And don’t think that if you hide the offense of the gospel and win them to you first, you can slip the gospel in later. Jesus saves, not you. So, shine brightly with the gospel and the holiness of Jesus. Stand out with the glory and the grace of Jesus.
But understand that it will cause persecution. Thankfully, we won’t all have to endure what Jesus and Paul endured, and we shouldn’t want it either. 1 Timothy 2:2 says we should pray for freedom to live a “tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
But our text warns that some level of persecution is inevitable. The gospel will offend. Rebels won’t like biblical morality, and they will do whatever they can to squash it. The sooner we accept that, the better off we will be. 
Standing for Jesus at school is going to be hard. People will mock you, they will gossip about you, and you will get left out. The same will happen in your workplace and with unsaved family. If you boldly share the gospel, hopefully some get saved, but some will surely slam the door in your face or maybe worse. It’s not what you want to hear, but it’s the truth. On top of that v. 13 adds…
Evil men will spiral (v. 13). To be clear, Paul is not teaching that all cultures everywhere will uniformly decay from his day until Jesus returns. God has sent many revivals. He does things to upset the darkness and break through with light. Don’t use this verse to claim to throw yourself a pity party because no one has ever had it as bad as we do. 
But while we should long for revival, God is honest about the fact that it may not come, at least not soon. God won’t redeem every false teacher. The fact that he talks about “imposters” and deception indicates that heretics are primarily in view. 
They won’t all get saved. Some will spiral from bad to worse. Satan has blinded them. They are deceived. And you know what? They are going to win some battles. They will deceive others and lead them away from the truth. 
We need to hear this because we want to believe we can do everything right, and it will all be okay. Then Christians panic when Joshua Harris or Jenn Hatmaker renounce the faith. It’s even worse when it’s someone we know or love. “What did we do wrong? How do we stop this from happening again?” Even worse, “Maybe they are right, and the gospel isn’t true.” 
So, understand that everything is not going to be okay until the New Heavens and the New Earth. Sinners will even apostatize during the Kingdom of Christ! Jesus told you it will be a fight until death is destroyed. And the next time tragedy unfolds, we will grieve, deeply. And we better learn whatever lessons God desires, but don’t let it rattle your faith. God said this would happen. We are in a war! So, hear God’s warning. I know it’s not what you want to hear, but it’s what you need to hear. Finally, how do we respond? I want to close with…

iii.  Paul’s Admonition (v. 14a)

When a sports team is doing bad, irrational fans go crazy. “Fire everyone, even the hall of famers.” “Change the offense.” “Blitz everyone.” “Stay back in coverage.” I’m sure Timothy wasn’t that way, but when your mentor is about to die and church life is chaotic, we can understand if his confidence was rattled. “Maybe I should add a little Greek philosophy to my sermons and not preach so much Scripture. The heretics are lying about me, so maybe I should tell a few lies about them.” Stuff like that happens in churches all the time. People definitely ask these kinds of questions. But God says, “Continue…”
Return to your roots. Paul calls Timothy back to his roots. Remember the gospel that you first learned and that you firmly believed. Paul shared the gospel and the Holy Spirit convinced Timothy of its truth. God saved him!
When life is a mess and you are shaken, return to your roots. Go back to what you know for certain. Remember the basic truths of the gospel and the certainty of God’s Word. It’s true and powerful. Next week we get to study a wonderful testimony to the truth of Scripture. You can stand on the Bible. So, don’t panic! Return to your roots. Then…
Stay rooted. God gives a continuous command. The verb is the same one Jesus used in John 15 when he said “Abide in me.” Don’t budge from your convictions. Continue to believe and stand on the gospel and the Word of God. 
Continue to study the Bible and feed your soul on its truth because it is “profitable…” You don’t need some other philosophy or expert. All that you need for life and godliness is right here. 
And continue to minister God’s way with the Bible as the tip of the spear. Paul will say in chapter 4 that people will get bored with the Bible and want something else. Don’t listen. Preach the Word and continue to follow the model of v. 10. God will work through his Word. He will save people, and he will build his church.

Conclusion

At the same time, persecution will come. Some will fall away. False teachers will win some battles. We don’t know what the future holds. We don’t know how God may call us to suffer, but we know that we will. When that day comes, don’t panic and don’t move. Stand resolutely on the Word of God no matter the cost.