It’s Time To Grow Up Part 5
If Justice Had Prevailed
Scriptures: 2 Timothy 2:11-2, 8, 11-14
Introduction
Happy Easter!!! This morning is part five of my series, “It’s Time to Grow Up.” This morning, the subtitle of this message is “If Justice Had Prevailed.” We are slowly working our way to Second Timothy 2:15. This morning we will begin with Second Timothy 2:1.
Last week I shared with you that baby Christians tends to be constipated spiritually because they receive the Word of God and just keep it within themselves. They do not share their faith with anyone so the Word within them just keep backing up. Remember what was recorded in Hebrews 4:12? It says, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” If the Word of God is living and active within us (feeding and sustaining us spiritually) why would we want to keep it to ourselves? If we know someone who is dying spiritually why would we not want to feed them from our source? I mean it’s not like we will ever run out as long as we are in God’s Word. We all have family members and friends who are dying spiritually and we may not be talking to them, so there is a high likelihood that talking to the strangers may be even more remote. As you listen to the message this morning, listen for the words that will enable you to craft your message, your testimony. Take those words and chew on them until you are ready to swallow. When you have digested the words and have sown them in your hearts, release them to others. You will be a part of God changing someone’s life.
This morning I want to ask you two questions. Question one, as your pastor, can I trust you? I am not asking if you trust me, but if you can be trusted. Only you and God know if you can truly be trusted. If I can trust you, raise your hand. The way I posed that question to you makes it difficult for you not to raise your hand publicly because no one is willing to admit publicly that they cannot be trusted by their pastor. Now, based on the answer to the first question, here’s my second question. Oh, if the answer was “no” to the first question you do not need to answer this second question because you can’t affirm the second question without affirmation of the first one. The second question is this, are you faithful? As you consider your answer, turn with me to Second Timothy 2:1.
When Paul wrote to Timothy, he was writing to encourage Him. In the second chapter of Second Timothy, Paul writes, “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (Vss. 1-2) In these two verses Paul told Timothy to be strong and to take the Word that had been taught to him and entrust it (to give somebody responsibility for something) to faithful men who would do what – teach others! These faithful men would take the Word given to them by Timothy and go out and teach others? This is how the Word of God spreads. The Word of God is not spread through the bookstores or through online purchases. It is spread through our mouths!!! While the bookstores and online stores offers a place for people to find resources to help them understand what has happened in their hearts, the true witness comes through our testimonies – one heart reaching another. The Word of God is alive – it’s not dead even though many just store it on their book shelves with their other books. God’s Word is so alive and growing within us that we literally have to force ourselves not to speak up and share it. We have to make a conscious decision not to talk about our faith because His Word is within us seeking to get out. Now I do not want gross anyone out, but I need you to see this. When someone is sick to their stomach and are about to throw up its content, what do they do? They put their hands to their mouth to try and hold it in while they rush to the restroom to release it. Many Christians are walking around with their spiritual hands on their mouths trying their best to keep the Word of God within them. I want you to know that it’s okay to throw it up! Remove your hands and let it go! Stop worrying about offending someone as you may actually save their life! So when the Word, through the Spirit of God, rises up within you, let it go!!! Do not hold it back! Jump down to verse eight.
“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel.” (2 Timothy 2:8) People wonder about their testimony, this is the first point. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead!!! Why is this remembrance so important, because this should always be in the forefront of our minds, of our hearts! This, my friends, is the beginning of our testimony. Paul tells Timothy in the following verses that this is why he was willing to suffer for Christ – it was for the sake of those who needed Christ. It was for you and for me! When you are down and it seems like the world is against you, remember Jesus Christ and the fact that He lived and died so that we could live! In verses 11-13, Paul reminds Timothy of a song that was sung in the New Testament Church. He only shared a few verses with Timothy, but they were powerful. The words said, “It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. (2 Timothy 2:11-13) This is the message and the key word in each stanza is “IF.” If we died with Him, we will live with Him! If we endure, we will also reign with him! If we deny Him, He will also deny us! If we are faithless, He remains faithful! Why? Because He cannot deny Himself! This is our message this morning.
I told you earlier that this message had the subtitle, “If Justice Had Prevailed.” I want you to listen closely to what I am about to tell you for this is truly your testimony, what you should be able to tell others! Justice is defined as the “reward or penalty as deserved.” In our case it’s the penalty that I want you to see. If justice had prevailed I would not be here today. If justice had prevailed I would be out in the world waiting to die and go to hell. If Justice had prevailed, all of my sins and wrong doings would have remained on my shoulders. If justice had prevailed, on the Day of Judgment I would stand before God and hear Him utter the words, “Rodney, you are guilty as charged, depart from Me you who lived a life of sin!” I thank God that justice did not prevail for if justice had prevailed I would be on my way to hell and so would you! Justice did not prevail because Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, departed from heaven and came to the earth to save all mankind from eternal punishment. He walked this earth and faced every temptation that we face and yet He did not sin – not once! He walked this earth for some 33 years sowing into the lives of others – telling them about the love that God has for them. When men grew tired of His message, they sought to kill Him and yet He kept right on preaching! When they finally took my Savior and yours they made accusations against Him. They beat Him until His skin was torn from Him body exposing bone. They beat Him because of you and because of me – because of our sins. When they finished, they took a crown that they had fashioned out of thorns. You see, Jesus was accused of being the King of the Jews so they made Him a crown fit for such a false King. But our Jesus is much more than a King – He is the Savior! He is the Son of God!!! They took this crown of thorns and they forced it down upon His head puncturing His head. Having abused His body, they took Him to the streets and placed the cross that they would eventually nail Him to on His shoulders. They paraded Him through the streets to the place of His death while some of the crowds cheers. He was so weakened by the blood loss and the beatings that He could not carry the cross up the hill. They enlisted Simon to carry His cross the rest of the way. Can you see Him? Can you see Simon picking up the cross and carrying it the rest of the way. Can you see our Lord and Savior slowly walking behind Simon as many in the crowd continued to cheer, laughed and made fun of Him? Can you see it the procession. When they got Him to Calvary’s hill, they took long metal nails and hammered them in His wrists and through His feet. Then they stood the cross up and dropped it in a hole with a loud thud and then stood around and gambled to see who would get His clothes! They stood there watching, waiting for Him to die. But let me show you the love of our Savior. Even in His dying moment, Jesus was focused on reaching the lost. There was a sinner on a cross beside Him. This sinner asked Jesus to remember Him. I am so glad that justice did not prevail. This sinner, who had done nothing with his life asked Jesus to remember Him. Had justice prevailed that man would have ended up in hell! Because justice did not prevail, Jesus told that man that that very day he would be with Him in paradise! Praise God that justice did not prevail! When Jesus took His last breath, the Bible tells us that the veil in the temple which separated the holy place from the most holy place was torn in two from top to bottom. There was no more need for the separation, but it did not stop there. When Jesus took His last breath the skies turned dark and graves were opened and dead saints came out of their graves and appeared to many in the cities when He was resurrected! They took Jesus from the cross, and placed Him in a tomb with everyone thinking this was the end. Guards were placed around the tomb to make sure no one came and stole the body. The guards were worried about who would try to get into the tomb, not Who would be coming out of it! On that Sunday morning, the earth shook, the stone was rolled away and our Savior, Jesus Christ walked out of that tomb alive!!! He had paid the price for our sin and through His blood sacrifice He had washed us clean!!! You all should be shouting now! This is the story that Paul wanted Timothy to remember and entrust in others. I am entrusting this with you now!
In verse fourteen Paul told Timothy, “Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers.” Paul told Timothy to remind them of the word and not to indulge in word battles that was not good for anyone, especially the hearers. He wanted Timothy to be able to speak the Word and let that Word stand for itself. To do that and to have that confidence he told Timothy to study.
This morning I want you to know our story. When someone asks you why you go to Church on Sundays, tell them, because justice did not prevail! When they want to know why you sing in the choir, tell them, because justice did not prevail! When they want to know why you give your money to the Church, tell them, because justice did not prevail! When they wonder why you won’t go partying with them to the places you “used” to go to, tell them, because justice did not prevail! When your friends and family talk about you and wonder about this Jesus you serve, tell them, because justice did not prevailed! When they ask you what do you mean when you say that “justice had not prevailed”, tell them: The woman at the well was glad justice had not prevailed! Lazarus was glad that justice had not prevailed! The paralyzed man whom Jesus healed was glad justice had not prevailed! The woman caught in adultery was glad justice had not prevailed! The thief on the cross was glad justice had not prevailed!
Yes, I am so very glad that justice has not prevailed! Because had justice prevailed I would not be here and neither would you! Had justice prevailed I would be receiving exactly what I deserve. Had justice prevailed I would not have a right to expect something different in my life. Had justice prevailed I would not live in hope, hope for another day. Hope for a brighter day! Hope that I will see my family and friends who are in the presence of God right now. Hope that I will see each of you there too. Had justice prevailed I would be lost. You see, I was a sinner destined to hell. It was Jesus Christ who delivered me from that life and placed me on another road. Jesus paid for my sins to keep me out of hell and that is why I love Him so. He did not have to do it but He did!!! I thank God that justice did not prevail and God allowed His only Son to take my place. My Savior took my rightful place and paid the debt that I owed. He died for me. My sins He took so that I can stand before the Father on that day blameless. This is my story and it can be yours too!
If you are a maturing Christian, you have a story. This is your story. A baby Christian has not fully understood that had justice prevailed they would still be on a road to hell. They have not fully grasped the price that Jesus paid for them. They know the story but since it happened so long ago it is a distance memory. People do not like being reminded of someone doing something for them and I get that, but friends, we need to be reminded of this. So if you are a child of God, open your mouths. Let the Words that have been sown into you be sown into others. Remind them that Jesus died for you and for them. Show that you are glad that justice did not prevail. Don’t let another year go by without you telling someone your story. This is why we celebrate Easter, to remember! May God bless and keep you.
Until next time, “The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
