Church of the Living God - Traverse City, MI

<p class="">Probably between&nbsp;ad&nbsp;85 and 95, John [1]&nbsp;wrote to the believers near Ephesus, in present-day Turkey.[2]&nbsp;The persecution under Nero had come and gone, killing even Paul and Peter. John was the last&nbsp;&nbsp;apostle, looking back at what had been happening in the early church.<em>&nbsp;</em></p><blockquote><p class=""><em>1 John 1:1-7</em></p><p class=""><em>We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—&nbsp;this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us—&nbsp;we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship (koinonia) with us; and truly our fellowship (koinonia) is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.&nbsp;We are writing these things so that our</em><strong><em>[3]</em></strong><em>&nbsp;joy may be complete.&nbsp;</em></p><p class=""><em>This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.</em><strong><em>&nbsp;</em></strong><em>If we say that we have fellowship (koinonia) with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true;&nbsp;but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship (koinonia) with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.</em></p></blockquote>

<p class="">Come to me, Timothy, as soon as you can. You see, Demas having loved this present age, has abandoned me, and headed off to Thessalonica. Crescens took off for Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke is the only one left. Bring Mark with you because he is useful in this work and will help look after me. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. On your way here, pick up the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, and bring the scrolls—especially the parchments.</p><p class="">Keep your eye out for Alexander the coppersmith! He came against me with all sorts of evil—the Lord will render to him according to his works — so watch your back because he has gone overboard to oppose our message.</p><p class="">When it was time for my first defense, no one showed up to support me. Everyone abandoned me (may it not be held against them) except the Lord. He stood by me, strengthened me, and backed the truth I proclaimed with power so it may be heard by all the non-Jews. He rescued me, pried open the lion’s jaw , and snatched me from its teeth. And I know the Lord will continue to rescue me from every trip, trap, snare, and pitfall of evil and carry me safely to His heavenly kingdom. May He be glorified throughout eternity. Amen.</p>

<p class="">Today’s sermon is about cooperating with the Lord’s rebuilding. I’m going to use a ship analogy because why not?</p>

<p class=""><strong><em>5&nbsp;</em></strong><em>But you&nbsp;must stay focused, self-controlled and&nbsp;be alert at all times. Tolerate suffering</em><strong><em>[1]</em></strong><em>. Accomplish the&nbsp;good&nbsp;work of an evangelist, and complete the ministry to which you have been called.</em><strong><em>6&nbsp;</em></strong><em>For I am already being poured out,&nbsp;and the last drops&nbsp;of this drink offering&nbsp;are all that remain; it’s almost time for me to leave</em><strong><em>[2]</em></strong><em>.&nbsp;</em></p><p class=""><em>&nbsp;</em><strong><em>7&nbsp;</em></strong><em>I have fought the good</em><strong><em>[3]</em></strong><em>&nbsp;fight, I have&nbsp;stayed on course and&nbsp;finished the race, and&nbsp;through it all,&nbsp;I have kept the faith.</em><strong><em>[4]</em></strong><em>&nbsp;</em><strong><em>8&nbsp;</em></strong><em>I look forward to what’s in store for me: a crown of righteousness that the Lord—the always right&nbsp;and just&nbsp;judge—will give me that day (but it is not only for me, but for all those who have loved/have longed for&nbsp;His appearing). (2 Timothy 4:5-8)</em></p><p class="">&nbsp;Paul must have had a sense this day was coming. He had written years earlier:</p><blockquote><p class=""><em>“But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering&nbsp;on the sacrifice&nbsp;and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.” (Philippians 2:17)</em></p></blockquote><p class="">“Even if” has become “am already.” Paul sees<strong><em>&nbsp;</em></strong>his blood as the libation which had already started being poured on the sacrificial offering.[5]&nbsp;Libations were one of the final acts of a sacrifice, with the worshiper pouring (usually) wine on the altar after the burnt offering was mostly consumed. Paul was under a death sentence; it appears the cruelty had already begin. Paul’s blood is about to finish off his life of sacrifice, a spiritual commitment that had now become a physical reality.&nbsp; And then here comes his classic ‘legacy’ statement:</p><blockquote><p class="">“<em>I have fought the good fight, I have&nbsp;stayed on course and&nbsp;finished the race, and&nbsp;through it all,&nbsp;I have kept the faith.”</em></p></blockquote>

<p class=""><strong>WHAT DO PEOPLE WITH&nbsp;<em>ITCHING EARS</em>&nbsp;WANT TO HEAR?&nbsp;</strong></p><p class="">They want to hear what they&nbsp;<em>want&nbsp;</em>hear. They want messages from God that will affirm their own desires and approve their choice of lifestyles, not challenge what they love and how they live. Those with itching ears prefer lies that make them feel good to truths that make them uncomfortable. God, then, becomes a God that exists to further our self-interests, not His Kingdom.</p><p class="">I’m going to use a story from the Old Testament to illustrate how this works. It’s likely a story that Timothy would have known (remember Karl’s sermon last week about the Old Testament?), and would have connected to this idea of ‘itching ears.’&nbsp;</p>