Great Things, Know His Love, Man of Sorrows, Solid Ground, Here’s My Life

What generation do you belong to? Share a popular song or movie “during your time” (childhood, young adulthood). What does popular culture in your day tell you about the values of your generation?

Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² 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. ³ Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Our world today celebrates the young, and it tends to neglect the older generations. However, in God’s design, people of all ages are valuable and has purpose in this world. Cultural trends influence every generation—from Baby Boomers to Gen Alpha. But God’s truth ought to prevail in our lives no matter what season of life we are in (John 17:14-17, 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The apostle Paul had a young disciple named Timothy (1 Timothy 1:1-4). Paul instructed Timothy to be an example to others, as a young pastor in Ephesus (1 Timothy 4:12). No matter what age group you belong to, all who belong to Christ ought to live the Truth, pass the Truth. How do we do that?

1) LIVE IT

To live out the Truth, we need to apply God’s truth over worldly trends in our SPEECH. What we say and how we say it matters. The trend today is to say whatever we feel, unfiltered. When we speak and talk to people (in social media and interactions), we have the opportunity to build others up (Ephesians 4:29). James tells us

that our words have the power of life and death! Speak life into other people—use your life to build them up.

We live out God’s truth in our CONDUCT. Today’s trend is to live your “truth” by doing what makes you happy regardless of what God thinks or how it affects others. But for Christians, God’s will is that we conduct ourselves in a way that is worthy of the gospel (Philippians 1:27).  God wants us to live out our personality in a way that brings glory to Him. Another trend today is that love is

about self-fulfillment; leave when it no longer serves you. But the Bible tells us that LOVE is patient, kind, is not jealous, does not brag, not arrogant (1 Corinthians 13:4). Jesus tells us that there is no greater love than to lay down your life for a friend. Paul tells Timothy that in the last days (which began when Jesus ascended into heaven), people will be lovers of self, lovers of money…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, etc. (2 Timothy 3:1-5). God is love (1 John 4:8); love is a wonderful thing, but if love for self or other things becomes greater than your love for God, it’s a misdirected love. To live out the truth in what we love, we must love God above all!

We live out the Truth in our FAITH. The trend nowadays is to believe in yourself above all else—you are your own source of strength and success. However, the Bible tells us to trust in the Lord, not to depend on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). We apply this when we pray for others instead of trying to control what we cannot control. Prayer reflects our faith in Jesus, not in ourselves. Another trend today says that anything goes if it feels good; everyone’s doing it and moral boundaries are old-fashioned. God’s truth, however, teaches us about PURITY, that we flee from sexual immorality…your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you (1 Corinthians 6:18-19).  God created sex a beautiful thing inside marriage. Outside marriage, we should flee from it. Sex is not the ultimate thing; don’t believe the lie that if you don’t have sex, you’re lacking or cannot have pleasure (outside marriage). Follow His design for marriage and gender (between male and female) and family. Why should we be pure? So that we will be useful to our Master, prepared for every good work (2 Timothy 2:20-21). He gives us the power to do it, but we must decide to sanctify ourselves, stay pure. At every season of our life, God wants to use us. When it comes to sexual sin, we fight it by “fleeing” from it and pursuing righteousness. Don’t focus on the sin, focus on Jesus. We need people in our lives to help us. We are not self-sufficient! We need others to encourage us.

Choose your battles; let’s not be quarrelsome people! Be kind, be patient when you’re wronged because with gentleness, God can soften our opponent’s heart leading them to know the truth (2 Timothy 2:23-26).

2) PASS IT

We not only live the Truth, but also pass it on to others. We get discouraged because we rely on our own strength. Paul tells Timothy to be strong in the Lord, and to pass on the truth he received to others also. Paul entrusted the truth to Timothy, who would pass it on to faithful men who would teach it to others. Four generations of disciples!

Who first entrusted the truth to Timothy? It was his mother Lois and grandmother Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5). Perhaps Timothy’s dad was not a believer, as he was not mentioned. For single parents today, you can take heart that even without a spouse, you can pass on the faith to your children.

Christians have been enlisted to serve Christ like soldiers who aim to please their commanding officer (2 Timothy 2:3-4). We will experience suffering as we serve God. As we pass the truth on, there are things that can disqualify us. Like athletes, we need to play by the rules. Like a farmer, be hard-working as you pass it on. The Lord will give you understanding as you meditate on God’s truth (2 Timothy 2:5-7). When you’re discouraged and tired, remember Jesus. It was for the Lord that Paul endured all things (sufferings) (2 Timothy 2:8-10).

Young people can be used by God today as they live out the Truth and pass it. Older adults, don’t take for granted the life and time God has given you with your loved ones—pass it on, live it out. May we be like the apostle Paul, who fought the good fight and finished well (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Live out God’s Truth and pass it to the next generation!

What will you adjust in your life so you can live the Truth?

How will you pass the Truth to others?

Who are the people you will entrust the Truth to?

Pray for young people you know who are influenced by cultural trends that go against God’s truth.

Set an example for living out the Truth through your speech and conduct, love, faith, and purity as you interact with people of all ages.

Pass on the truth of the gospel of Christ to the next generation.

• Worship God for who He is, what He has done, and what He will do in our lives.

• Upright and moral governance of public servants; repentance and salvation for government leaders and citizens for a Christ-centered Philippines.

• God’s help and comfort for the Sudanese people caught in violence and conflict.

• War in Ukraine to end, loss of lives prevented; tension in East Asian and Middle East countries to stop.

• Continue to pray for the rest of Israeli hostages to be restored back to their families safely. Pray for Israel and the war with terrorists to end according to God’s purpose and for His glory.

• For the recent political and social upheaval in the US to result in spiritual awakening in the church and a great spiritual harvest.

• That CCF Members would honor and love God and make disciples.

• Elders, pastors, dleaders, and families (holy, humble, harmonious, happy, heart-working).

• Ministries and churches expansion worldwide.

• Worship and Training Center

• Prayer Mountain

• Deeper intimate relationship with God.

• Righteous living.

• Salvation of family and friends.

Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.