Deposit These Things

Second Timothy chapter 2 and I want you to look in verses 1-5. 2 Timothy chapter 2 and beginning with verse number one. It says, "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou has heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that worth entangle himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who had chosen to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet he is not crowned except he strive lawfully.

And these are the verses that we have based this one Bible study in. And uh and as you look at these verses, the first thing that Paul says to Timothy is be strong in the grace of the Lord. To be strong in the Lord. Ephesians 6:10, the Bible says, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and the power of his might." And and that strength comes from God. But I also believe that strength comes from being together in the Lord as well. In in 2 Timothy chapter 4 and verse number five, the Bible says, "But watch thou in all things. Endure afflictions. Do the work of evangelist. Make full proof of thy ministry to endure inflictions."

We face life's challenges. And you can't face those alone. You need those that are going to stand with you and help you through those challenges. And um and the challenge of the 101 Bible study is that it tells us in Romans chapter 15, we then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak. And the idea is that we come together and share our strength with others and also accept help in our areas of weakness as well. And uh and in verse number four of 2 Timothy chapter 2, the Bible says, "No man that worth entangle himself with the affairs of his life that he may please him who chose to be a good soldier."

And uh we don't want to get entangled up in the things of this life. In Galatians 5 and verse one, it says, "Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Adam, what a great illustration that was about being in prison and and God has already unlocked the door and and and you need somebody to come along like he said that's going to help you by saying come on out open the door and and beg you and call you out of that prison. And that's part of what this 101 Bible study is all about to to be open and transparent say this is what I'm struggling with.

Everybody I've done the Bible study, we've we've uh talked about this how and and we share where we struggle and I have struggles just like they do and we talk about that openly and honestly. Uh part of the Bible studies that confidentiality and knowing that you're just going to share it with each other and pray for one another and and it's not you're going to go judging people. And that's again what Adam said is he he was so thankful that when he finally said something, nobody judged him, nobody condemned him, but everybody said, "Brother, we love you. and how can we help you? And that's what it's about is is having somebody's going to come alongside of you and help you to get out of those things that are entangling you and pull and holding you back.

And and then in verse number five, it says, "If men also strive for masteries, yet he is not crowned except he strive lawfully." I want you to turn over 1 Corinthians. Hold your place in 2 Timothy, but turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 9 and look at verses 24- 27. 1 Corinthians chapter 9 and beginning with verse number 24. Know ye not that they which run the race run all, but one receives the prize. So run that you may obtain. And every man that striveth to mastery is temper in all things. Now they do obtain a corruptal crown, but we incorruptible. I therefore so run not as uncertainly so fight I not as one that beat the air, but I keep on my body and bring in subjection, lest by any means where I have uh preached to others, I myself should be cast away.

and and we want to strive for the goal of being the person God wants us to be, for a better marriage, for a better family, to be a better person, a better Christian, and and we need to come alongside one another uh and striving for that goal. When I was in basic training in the Air Force, um we had PT. Yes, we did have PT in the Air Force and we had uh PT tests that we had to pass and and the unit that I was with, we had a a large group of folks from Puerto Rico uh that were joining the National Guard in Puerto Rico. And many of them were older. Uh I was only 17, but some of these guys were in their 20s and even 30s and and uh they were not in the best shape physically.

And um as we got started out in PT, it was very obvious some were struggling. And uh we got together as a as a squad and we said, "Listen, nobody fails. We're all going to pass this together." I remember when we go out there for the PT, I remember that we would take turns running with them and say, "You can do this." And coming alongside of them and the PT test, we would run ahead so that we could then stay behind to help them to get through that test and come alongside of them. And that's what it's about. is about coming alongside, about exhorting one another and comforting one another and being there to challenge each other to run this race.

Uh, one of the areas that Jacob's holding me accountable with besides spiritual things is my physical needs as well. And he's holding me accountable with, have you exercised this week, pastor? Have you got out and walking? And are you doing exercise? And are you eating right and getting that? He's holding me accountable with those things. He's coming alongside of me and and that's important. And and then in 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse two it says in the things that thou has heard of me among many witnesses. It's the same commit thou to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. And the word commit is an interesting idea.

It means to serve up to place on the table to deposit and and to serve up. In Mark 8 6 and 7 the Bible says he commanded the people to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves and gave thanks and break and gave to his disciples to set before them. And they did eat them before the people. And they had a few small fishes he blessed and commanded to set them also before them. You see, Jesus gave the bread and the loaves to the disciples said, "You eat." And they said, "Now take and feed the rest of them. Give it to everybody else." And and that's what God wants to do. He wants you to take what he's given you and and to share it with others to serve it up and and to place it on the table.

In Hebrews chapter 5 and verses 13 and 14, it says, "For everyone that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness, for he's obeying, but strong meat belong to them that are full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised discern both good and evil." Uh, one of the blessings of some of the Bible studies is we've been going out to eat together for breakfast. And I've enjoyed that. And that's been a blessing, and I get the food put in front of me. But the more important blessing is the spiritual food. And uh again, you heard Jacob's testimony tonight, and I I wanted you to hear that testimony.

I'm thankful for how you shared that in the video as well. But there's a lot more to his testimony. And God has really worked his life. And I've had the privilege of having that put right there on the table in front of me. I'm getting to joy hearing his testimony and the testimonies, the others that I work with and and been doing Bible study with. And it's just been a blessing to have that place before me. and then to deposit. In Philippians chapter 4 and verses 8 and n it says, "Finally, brother, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things."

That word thinks to deposit these things. It's like you go to bank and you deposit your account so you can draw upon that account when you need it. You need to deposit these things in your life. And then verse 9 says this, "Those things which you have both learned and received and heard and seen me do, and the God of peace will be with you." See, he said, "You've got somebody that you can look to as a mentor." And and as you've seen in my life, as you've heard me teach it, then I want you to do it as well. And that's what this Bible is about. Sharing the wisdom that you've learned, sharing the the experiences that you've had, sharing the things that God has taught you with each other as well.

And then going back to second Timothy chapter 2 and uh and and looking at uh verse number two. Second Timothy chapter 2. I lost my place here. And verse number two, it says, "In the things that thou has heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also." And and that's the whole purpose of it. In Matthew chap 28 19 and 20 it says go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the father and the son and the holy spirit the holy ghost teaching them observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you always even on the end of the world uh it's for us to go and to teach them the gospel and then to teach them the word of god see them baptized and continue on in the lord as well somebody once put it this way if each one one one one to Christ, how long would it take to win the world for Christ?

If each one w one o ne one one to Christ, how long would it take the world to win the world of Christ? Now folks, if a thousand people got saved every year, it would take 1 billion. It would take um one million year I'm sorry the number I didn't write that I need to get the number on my notes so it must Oh here it is I got it. It would take over eight million um 8 million years to reach all 8 million people in the world is rate at 1,000 a year. If you had a group evangelist had great revival service had a thousand people saved it would take 8 million years to reach all the people of the world. But listen to this.

If year number one, two people get together and they disciple and then those two people in year number two go out and do each do another disciple and continue that year after year. By year number one, you have two believers. By year number 10, you have 1,024 believers. By year number 20, you have 1 million believers. By year number 30, you have 1 billion believers. And by year 33, over 8 billion believers surpassed the current total population of the planet. You see, folks, it's great to have revival services and see a lot of people saved and that's really a blessing and that's really of God, but it's really reaching one person at a time.

And so if we start with two at Ohana Church, and then those two after they're done with their Bible study, start another Bible study with two more. And then they start another Bible study and those four start a Bible study with four more. It's going to continue to grow. And that's exactly what I see happen. Now, the Bible doesn't have have to h end when the seven weeks are up. Uh I have a number of people I've do Bible study with. Now that we're done, we get together maybe once a month. We still follow through with it. We don't stop there. But the idea is that when we're done, both Jacob and I will go find somebody else.

And then after that, the four of us will go find somebody else. And folks, if we could do that as a church, it would transform our church. It would transform our community. So, I want to challenge you, every one of you, to start this Bible study. We've got copies out in the welcome center. They're in the drawer there for the welcome center. You can stop by and ask them. And uh we can give you digital copies as well. And so, find somebody and say, "How would you like to do a Bible study together?" Maybe it's somebody you work nearby or maybe it's somebody that uh is just uh may this is the way, but you're going to have to you'll find time to get together.

But find somebody to do that Bible study with and and and start developing that relationship and and see how it'll transform you and how it will transform our church as well. And if you have questions about it, be glad to try to answer those questions. Uh in the Bible study, we've got some guidelines there. And one of the big things about this Bible study I really want to stress is confidentiality. That whatever is shared at the Bible study stays at the Bible study and and and that it's a non-judgmental zone. Uh we don't judge one another. We challenge and encourage one another and pray for one another and and so I think it could transform your life and transform this church as we develop that and grow that.

So I hope you will get involved. I'll be glad to do a Bible study with you. I know other staff members will as well, but I I'd like to see it going on between church members. And then after we reach and get the whole church involved, then you can start reaching out to people like somebody with Jacob and said, "Hey, let me tell you about the Lord and how he came to know the Lord through that as Wellm.