SERMON: HOLD ON
How do you hold on to a legacy?
1. Hold on to the One you know
a. Your Family (Broaddus, Broadus, Dagg)
b. Your Spirit (Power and Self-Control)
2. Hold on to what you already know
a. Your Suffering
b. Your Testimony
c. Your Bible
3. Hold on by the power of the one who knows you
Title: Hold On
Text: 2 Tim 1:5-14
MP: You have something worth holding on to because you are held by the One who gave you everything you really needed.
FCF:
Outline:
Intro – Barron Hilton
1. Hold on to who you have
a. Family
b. A Spirit of Power and Self-Control
2. Hold on to what you know
a. Suffering
b. Testimony
c. Scripture
3. Hold on to the One who gave you these things in the first place.
Poor Paris Hilton. This week the big news concerned her fortune and the fact that she probably won’t see much of it. You see, her legacy – the $2.3 billion Hilton Hotel fortune she was expecting from her grandfather Barron Hilton isn’t going to her – it’s going to going to charity. What she thought she could hold on to won’t be hers. At most she might only see a pitiful $5 million.
But you know, this could be a blessing in disguise. The Chinese have a saying: foo loong sang gai - “Wealth never makes it to the third generation.” It’s a common story – when choosing between a fortune and a legacy, it’s easy to choose the fortune at the cost of a legacy, and in the end have neither.
It’s ironic, really, because Barron Hilton was once expecting his father’s vast estate too. Conrad Hilton had made a fortune establishing the Hotel Chain, but shortly before his death, Conrad decided to donate all his money to charity. It was only a well-timed lawsuit in which Barron proved that he had been an instrumental part in gathering that fortune that enabled him to invalidate much of the gift. By being forced to acquire the fire to make money – the fire being the real legacy – Barron Hilton made sure he would have both.
Yes, Barron Hilton has followed in a long line of fathers, from Andrew Carnegie to Bill Gates, who understood that a legacy was in fact a fortune far greater than wealth. To encourage your children to hold on just to money is to sentence them to a life where they will not make it. Better instead to hold on to a cherished history, a name that will not crumble. Who knows, maybe even Paris could yet succeed.
In our text this morning, Paul is making out his last will and testament too. I think it’s safe to say that Paul didn’t have the vast sums of money that the Hiltons have – but that didn’t mean he didn’t have a powerful legacy that he hoped to pass on. Paul was sitting in a jail in Rome, knowing that at just about any moment, Nero was going to take his head.
This is Paul’s last letter, and it wastes no time in encouraging Timothy to hold on to what is most important. But the question – the same question I have for you as we enter this our last look at this powerful legacy together – is how do we do that?
I want to suggest that holding onto a powerful legacy is the greatest fortune you’ll ever have. But in order to do that, we need to keep in mind three things:
4. Hold on to who you have (1. Family / 2. A Spirit)
5. Hold on to what you know (1. Suffering / 2. Testimony / 3. Scripture)
6. Hold on to the One who gave you these things in the first place.
-Hold on to who you have-
Let’s start by looking at verses 5 – 7, where we see Paul bringing to mind the legacy that his young protégé Timothy had – the real fortune Timothy may not have even realized – and that was the fortunate circumstance of growing up in a family of faith. His grandmother Lois, his mother Eunice – they understood the gifts of God. They were a touchstone that Timothy would always return to.
Here at Long Branch, you too have a history. We’ve talked about William Broaddus on many occasions – a young pastor who came to a dying church – but he reminded that church what their Christ had given them. The Spirit of Sunday School and Missions that other churches were rejecting was precisely the reason for this church getting kicked out of a dying Baptist Association. You don’t hear much about Ketotcin anymore, because they ceased to exist more than 150 years ago. But in getting kicked out, Broaddus started an association that is today North Star. Broaddus himself went on to found Southern Seminary – a very important school. His nephew John Broadus is still today considered the father of homiletics.
J.L. Dagg used to come here too. He used to teach at Susan Schulz’s house – and went on to become third president of Columbia University, and another important Baptist theologian.
And, history hasn’t even begun to list the testimony of this generation. The patient suffering of Marvin Creel, the caring of Marian Triplett, the leadership of Nannie Griffith. The legacy of the Glascocks and the Crosses and the Puryears and the Lees and the Schulzes and every other family that makes up this church! This church has a legacy of great men who understood the power of God. We are that history.
When we reach out to Brandi, when we help out at Seven Loaves, when we just sit with others in the hospital – we’re just continuing not in the fortunes of this church, but it’s legacy. We are, as the cover of our bulletin states, faithful to our forefathers *by* being committed to our contemporaries. Our legacy – our power – is rooted in our past but made sure in the present. Lois and Eunice may have been dead, they may have been alive – but regardless the history was made alive in Timothy’s spirit. The same spirit that lived in this church’s past is alive only insofar that it is alive in us!
That history is one in which see the Spirit – the mind that Christ has put in us. As Paul says in verse 7 that mind – that spirit isn’t one of fear and defeat. No! It’s a spirit of power and self-control. As 2 Peter 1:3 says, God has already given us everything we need for life and godliness. Our job isn’t to scratch and fight for some leg up on God – It’s simply to realize and learn to exercise the spirit he’s already given us!
-Hold on to what you know-
And that means you don’t need any new Gospel. The Gospel according to Mama is sufficient insofar as it conforms to the Gospel according to Christ!
This book has a lot to say about suffering. It says that you will suffer. That’s part of the legacy, that’s part of the deal! But we also know that this book says that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. When we are strong, we are strong in ourselves. But when we are weak, we are strong in Him! Knowing that the God of Power and Might is living in me gives me all sorts of power to hold on. It’s easy to hold on when you truly know who is holding you.
Indeed, suffering is a chance to grow. James tells us that suffering produces exactly the kind of character that God has for us – a character that understands reliance on Him and not ourselves is the real legacy we need.
Our job isn’t to live in luxury or even to live “the Simple Life” of a Paris or Nicky Hilton. Our job is to testify to the Lord and Savior who is God of all. We need to understand that testifying to the Glory of our God is what we are all about.
We are all heralds and apostles of that Gospel. My resume will only ever say October 2004 through January 2008 as pastor of Long Branch Church – but the Book of Life needs to record that Michael Hollinger was a herald, pastor, and apostle for the rest of his life.
Now as any good Press Secretary will tell you, you don’t make up the script as you’re speaking. I hope that in our time together, I’ve pointed you back to the script that we all follow. This book is the pattern that I received. This book is the pattern I tried to give to you.
There isn’t anything new here – even though it will make you new. There isn’t anything new here because a real legacy doesn’t change. If we are faithful to follow this, we are on the surest foundation we can be. This book is nothing but a reminder of the gifts that God has already given you. This gift – the grace of knowing that you have been redeemed and given eternal life through Jesus Christ by faith and not through any work of your own – this is your real legacy. Study it; stand on it. This is the answer key at the back of the book of life. In the end, it’s being like this that will have us hold on.
-Hold on through the One who holds you-
But in the end, not only has He given you the answers, he’s given you the power to succeed as well. Notice in verse 14 how it loops back to 12? In verse 12, Paul tells Timothy that he can hold on because of God. I am persuaded, he says, that God is able to keep that which I’ve committed to him until the end! So you, Timothy, hold on to what you know – the stuff in this book. Guard the good deposit that I’ve given you. But how do you do that? With the help of the Holy Spirit. Back to verse 12. The same spirit who is able to keep everything he’s been given until that day!
In the end, when we abide in him, we abide in the one who gives us the power to live. He has given you more life than you can handle! He gives it abundantly.
You may find yourself in the hospital. He is the author of life. Testify in your suffering.
I understand if you’re in a broken relationship. He is the one who loved you first, the one who keep on loving you no matter how many others fall away from you. Testify in your weakness.
I don’t care if you think you don’t have what it takes. The truth is you are an heir of God whose fortune can never be willed away to another. Only refused. Testify by your manner of life.
Testify not to your glory but to that of your Father! Testify by the manner of life you live. Testify that the one who lives in you is your spirit of power.
In doing so, you will have a legacy of which I will forever be proud to have taken part. May God richly bless you, my truly beloved. Let’s pray!
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Louis XIV had everything – power, money, prestige – he had built the famous Palace of Versailles, the very epitome of luxury – but he had done it in order to control the nobles of France. His son, Louis XV only understood the luxury, and so squandered the legacy of his father that within his son’s lifetime the Bourbon king would be executed.
By contrast, Alexander the Great’s father Phillip of Macedon left Alexander an empire that contained the whole of Greece and innumerable wealth. But Alexander understood his real legacy was the power to conquer other empires. He essentially forsook the fortune in order to secure the legacy. By ignoring Greece, he conquered the rest of the world.
Long Branch Baptist Church
Halfway, Virginia; est. 1786
Sunday, January 6th, 2008
Enter to Worship
Prelude David Witt
Meditation Psalm 121
Invocation Michael Hollinger
*Opening Hymn #562
“Be Thou My Vision”
Welcome & Announcements
Morning Prayer [See Insert]
*Hymn #408
“How Firm a Foundation”
*Responsive Lesson [See Right]
*Hymn #17
“Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners”
Offertory Mr. Witt
*Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow / Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host / Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Scripture 2 Timothy 1:5 – 14
Sermon
“Hold on”
Invitation Hymn #642
“Abide With Me”
*Benediction
*Congregational Response
May the grace of Christ our Savior / And the Father’s boundless love
With the Holy Spirit’s favor / Rest upon us from above. Amen.
* Congregation, please stand.
Depart To Serve
RESPONSIVE LESSON
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
His divine power has already granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. This is through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises.
Through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
Jesus said: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
Abide in me, and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches.
Whoever abides in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder. I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.
John 14:11-13; 2 Peter 1:3-4; John 15:1-11; 2 Peter 1:10-15
2 TIMOTHY 1:5 – 14
5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please join us at 12:30 for a farewell luncheon.
PRAYER LIST
Martha Puryear, Susan Schulz, Warren Lee, Brandi Rector & daughter, Irene Griffith, Cory Keely, Larry Morrison, Debbie Morris, the Garretts,
John Warren, Jeff Coleman, Long Branch, Michael Hollinger
