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THE EASY THING ISN’T ALWAYS THE RIGHT THING 2 Tim. 4:1-10 Introduction: Here an older preacher told a younger preacher to PREACH THE WORD. He said, "Timothy, you preach the word in season and out of season, because there is going to be a time when people won't endure sound doctrine. But you just keep on preaching anyway!"
Paul mentioned that Demas had forsaken him, having loved this present world. Demas had done the easy thing, Paul had done the hard thing, and Paul wanted Timothy to do the RIGHT thing, even if it was hard.
I'm preaching about SERVICE today, not SALVATION. Salvation is not hard for a person to do. It is not even EASY for a person to do. A person doesn't DO something to be saved; he BELIEVES something to be saved.
I. IT IS EASIER TO STOP SERVING GOD THAN TO KEEP ON GOING FOR THE LORD--2 Timothy 4:7-10 Paul finished his course; Demas quit. Paul did the hard thing, but Demas did the easy thing. It's easier to quit, than it is to keep going: A. When You Are Tired Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. B. When You Are Troubled * 1. By Financial Problems * 2. By Family Problems *3. By Problems within the Fellowship C. When You Are Triumphant * 1. Some people get distracted after they succeed at doing something for the Lord and they quit.
II. IT IS EASIER TO SMASH SOMETHING THAN IT IS TO BUILD SOMETHING--Galatians 1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. Paul was a church BUSTER before he got saved, and then he became a church BUILDER. A-It is easier to destroy your HOME than to build it Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. B. It is easier to destroy your HOLINESS than to build it Don't be in the Demolition Crew; Be in the CONSTRUCTION Crew!
III. IT IS EASIER TO SEEK THINGS FOR YOURSELF THAN TO SEEK THINGS FOR OTHERS---Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. A. It Takes More Labor * 1. It's work to budget your income and control your spending so that you are able to tithe, give offerings, pay your bills, and help other people. * 2. It takes time. * 3. It takes restraint in spending. B. It Takes More Listening * 1. If we listen, we can find out the needs of people. C. It Takes More Looking * 1. What need can I meet in someone's life today? D. It Takes More Love * 1. "Lord, give me a bigger heart." It's HARDER, but it's more blessed! Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. IV. IT IS EASIER TO SPEAK THAN IT IS TO LISTEN--James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: We need to LISTEN MORE: A. To our Lord I have three things to say about this: * 1. READ YOUR BIBLE! * 2. READ YOUR BIBLE! * 3. READ YOUR BIBLE! B. To The Lost/Lord’s People * 1. Not Their Counsel * 2. Not Their Criticisms Of God, The Man Of God, Or \ The Things Of God * 3. But To Their Cry For Help V. IT IS EASIER TO SIT DOWN THAN IT IS TO STAND UP Peter sat down when he should have stood up: Luke 22:55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. Ephesians 6:11-14…STAND UP….. A. And Be Identified * 1. Peter sat down to keep from being identified as one of the Lord's disciples. B. And Be Involved * 1. In The Work - who will volunteer? * 2. In The War - David stood up to fight Goliath. Everyone else LET him. Don't do the easy thing; do the RIGHT thing -- even if it is hard to do! Phill. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. |