"5 Practical Ways to Be a Good Disciple of Jesus in Today's World"

When we invest in the lives of other people, we transmit not only what we know but, more importantly   what we are . Each of us becomes like the people who we associate.

As we recall the books that bear his name 1&2 Timothy, We see Paul teaching Timothy his son in the faith how to be a disciple. Paul is "passing the baton" over to Timothy, teaching him all he needs to know about being a good disciple of Jesus. Paul invested his time in Timothy in raising up faithful men.

Paul says to Timothy "Now you followed my teaching, conduct, patience, faith, and persecution.

Timothy, had the same goals in life that God wrote to us in the scriputres

Timothy was willing to pay the price to do God's work

Timothy had a great love for the word of God

Timothy had a servents heart

Timothy learned to be disiplined

We to are to be

constant

consistant

continual

rebuke

encourage

We preach the word of God with our lives. How we live , how people see us, how we treat strangers.

Those who have the mind of Christ, are Jesus and Heaven centered. They talk about Heaven , thier focus is on things that are completely oppsed to earth dwellers.

Paul's purpose was he wanted all believers to be full of love, This means having a pure heart-devoted to God.

A clear conscience, -free from pride. Above all he wanted people to have genunine faith for God.

Look at Paul's life for a brief moment. He was a scoffer, he also persecuted God's people . God forgave him and used Paul for His Kingdom. We often can get caught up in our past and not think we would not be forgiven by God. No matter how shameful your past is God can forgive you and use you to accomplish His will.

This should encourge us today.

God's mercy and grace are enough.

Being a desciple of Jesus in today's world is hard. It's not popular. It will look different from the worlds perspective.

*We have to ...

*Flee from distration

*Flee from dangers

*Flee from people who teach wrong doctrine

ITS A FIGHT AND FLEE SITUATION

We must also flee from the things that serve to ,debilitate, our work for the King !

Timothy was to guard the doctrine of Christ . It's the guarding of Christian faith-in it's entirety and purity.

We have to prepare ourselves for battle . IT'S A WAR -ARE YOU READY FOR BATTLE ?

Discipleship means

Guard and keep the deposit entrusted

Turn away for the irreverent bable and godless chatter

We are to fan the flames the spiritual gift God gave (1:6)

Never be ashamed to tell others about God (1:8)

Endure suffering as a good soldier of Jesus. (2:3)

Avoid worthless, foolish talk that leards to more godless behavior (2:16)

Presue righteous living( 2:22)

Don't be afarid of suffering for the Lord. (4:5)

Ohh to be a modern day Paul . Can you picture yourself in a cold, dark, prison writing to Timothy and saying these words "But the lord rescued me form it all ! WOW . CAN WE BEGIN TO SAY THIS IN OUR STRUGGLES TODAY ?

I AM SICK TODAY -BUT THE LORD RESCUED ME FROM IT ALL

I AM SITTING IN PRISION BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN PERSECUTED FOR JESUS -BUT THE LORD RESCUED ME FROM IT ALL

I AM SUFFERING -BUT THE LORD RESCUED ME FROM IT ALL

No matter how difficult the fight seems -Keep fighting !

lets pray:

Father , you Father are the alpha and omega, The great I am. I pray that we are true disciple of yours. I pray that we can fight this sin filled world with the words and ways you have taught us. May we take the lessons from Paul who once was a scoffer and a persecuter of your word and become good disciples. May we never forget the great price you paid for us . The sin filled people we are and give you the glory and praise for the our debt that you paid. May we carry your fragrance of you everywhere we go. I pray that we are battle ready. That we fan the flames so they never burn out but rather ignite as we grow closer to you. I pray for the words but the lord resued me from it all be inscribed in our hearts. We love you and worship in your name the one and only true God. We lift your name on high.

Amen