Good morning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to ask you a little question.
How many of you have transferred files from your computer, onto another removable hard drive or storage unit? How many of you have transferred files from a USB stick onto your computer? If you have ever done this, you were simply making an exact copy, and duplicating the file somewhere else. Have any of you ever worked at a printing plant? When a page of a book is ready to be printed, the pressman will begin to duplicate that page. After the machine is up and running the operator will check occasionally to make sure that each of the pages are exactly the same.
This reminds me of the Christian life.
The transfer of information was exactly what the disciples and Apostles of the Lord were doing. Although they didn’t have computer’s back then, they were taking the things that God had given unto them, and transferring their knowledge into the minds of others. Instead of using a USB cord, they used the power of speech. The preaching of the gospel doesn’t require a fancy microphone with a spit guard. It doesn’t require an expensive studio and a producer. It doesn’t even require money, if you are willing to give up your time, to God. When you transfer something digitally to a computer, it is an exact copy of the original. Everything that the Apostle Paul knew and understood about the Christian faith, was instilled into the hearts of Timothy and the other disciples that Paul had reared up. Like a copy machine, the Apostle Paul was duplicating his faith in the lives and the minds of others. To meet Timothy was to meet the Apostle Paul, because everything that Timothy believed, was an exact replication of Paul’s faith. They were truly of one mind and one Spirit.
Philippians 2:19-22 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
Up here in the woods, there are many loggers who haul wood for pulp, lumber, and firewood. Many of these families are multi-generational. Their businesses were started by their great granddad, who handed down everything that he knew to his sons. Over the years that followed, his sons then handed everything they knew about the business to their sons, and so on and so forth. All the knowledge and information that was accrued about their business, was poured into the minds of their children. This is the same way that our faith is handed down to others.
Day by day, for 23 years, whether in the truck or at home, whether on a trip or out fishing, I have poured everything that I have learned from Scripture into Andrew. We certainly look different on the exterior, but we are the same inside of our hearts Spiritually. This is because we both believe God’s truth. We are in complete agreement with everything that we have learned together from scripture. Whatever I have gone through, whatever persecutions I have had to endure, Andrew has always been right there, and has seen it all. Whether it was going door to door, or handing out Bibles on the street, whether it was preaching on a payphone, or in a shopping mall, or at a flea market, whether it was on a Navajo reservation or even at the library, Andrew has always been there. As a wise master builder, I have given him the most important treasure that I could ever give him, the knowledge of Jesus, and His Holy Word.
2 Timothy 3:10-15 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Throughout the centuries, God has provided us with men, whose purpose was to guide us into the truth of God’s Word. Men of God, such as Elijah, Moses, Noah, and the apostles of Christ, whose faith we are to follow.
Hebrews 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
These men are set forth as examples to all of us, to preach God’s Word, and to help others prepare themselves for God’s Coming Kingdom.
Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
1 Peter 5:2-4 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
From John the Baptist to the blessed Apostle Paul, each of us are called to mimic and copy the faith of these men, because they are gifts that are sent from God, to help the church grow in knowledge and wisdom. This is so that we can be perfected into what God wants us to be, eventually becoming joined together in perfect unity in the brotherhood of faith, through faith and the teachings of scripture.
Ephesians 4:8-15 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
The laborers are few, and there is a great need for men to rise up to the calling of God in these latter days. Like soldiers who stand on a wall to defend the country from an enemy, men need to preach God’s Word and defend the true faith. The time to enlist is right now. What are you instilling into the hearts and minds of other people? Are you feeding the flock of God with biblical truth? Is it in agreement with the teachings of the Apostles and disciples found in scripture? As Paul poured his faith into the heart of young Timothy, will you do the same? Will you become a part of……
…….The Upload
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching tlkjbc, or by going to hipcast, buzzsprout or amazon, or by getting our entire podcast feeds directly at tlkjbc.com, or I suppose, you can find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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