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Spiritual Olympics - Part Three |
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Everyone needs a “Paul” and everyone needs a “Timothy”. For our church that phrase may not only seem strange, it may seem a little confusing, especially since you are listening to a “Paul” because a “Timothy” is controlling the sound system. So, here we really do need a Paul and a Timothy. But I’m not referring to those two fine looking young men today, I’m speaking of two individuals mentioned in the New Testament. Everyone needs a “Paul” and everyone needs a “Timothy”. Let me introduce each of these men to you this morning and then we’ll tie it back into our thought – you need a coach! Paul was not his originally name. His name was Saul. Saul was his Hebrew name. As Saul he was a member of the Sanhedrin, the powerful group of men who ruled over the Jewish community. If you were to think of the President and the Supreme Court rolled into one – that’s what Saul was a member of. If you follow Saul’s story you will also see that he was passionate about his work. He was trained by the best of the best (a Rabbi named Gamaliel). Saul knew his stuff and was willing to fight for it, which is what lead him toward a city called Damascus one day. He was on his way to Damascus to arrest followers of Jesus Christ who were called Christians. He was opposed to Christianity and its effects on Judaism. It was on that road that Saul met Jesus. In a blinding vision Saul came to understand who Jesus was and that his whole life had been spent fighting what Jesus was trying to do in his life (sound familiar?). Saul gave his life to Christ, spent years alone in Arabia rereading the Bible and listening as God taught Him how the Old Testament and Jesus Christ fit together. Saul learned first hand from God’s Spirit how the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Gospel, meshed with everything God had said in the Old Testament. After that time alone with God, Paul returned to Antioch and Jerusalem to meet the leaders of the church. It was then that the early church took notice of Paul’s God given abilities. Saul became the very first missionary-church planter. He traveled all over the Near-East and Europe planting churches. During his first missionary trip Saul started being called Paul. The reason was fairly simply. Saul was his Hebrew name and Paul was his “Gentile” name. In the process of those missionary trips, God used Paul to write over half of the New Testament. Everything from the Epistle of Romans all the way to the little book of Philemon was written by Paul to churches he started and Pastors he ordained. Most believe that he also wrote the Letter to the Hebrews. That’s Paul. Timothy was a young man that we first learn about in Acts chapter sixteen. The book of Acts in the New Testament is a history of the early church and how it grew to impact the entire world. Much of Acts recounts the story of Paul’s missionary journeys. It’s at the beginning of Paul’s second missionary trip that he meets Timothy. Paul never traveled alone, he always had a team with him and during this trip Paul was traveling with a man named Silas. They had traveled to Lystra in what is now Southern Turkey and there they met Timothy. Here’s what Acts records about that encounter: “[At] Lystra. There they met Timothy, a young disciple whose mother was a Jewish believer, but whose father was a Greek. Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium, so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey…Then they went from town to town…So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew daily in numbers.” (Acts 16:1-5) Paul brought Timothy along because he saw something worthwhile in Timothy. Timothy traveled with Paul, learned from Paul, worked along side Paul. Acts 19:22 tells us that Timothy became one of Paul’s assistants. “[Paul] sent his two assistants, Timothy and Erastus, on ahead to Macedonia [Greece], while he stayed awhile longer in the province of Asia.” Timothy assisted Paul, you might say he was one of the first “Apprentices”. At one point Timothy was even sent out as a representative for Paul. Twice in his letter to the Corinthians Paul tells them that he is sending Timothy to help them work out some issues that the church faced. Timothy might have been the currier that brought them Paul’s letter. Listen to these verses… “That is the very reason I am sending Timothy—to help you do this. For he is my beloved and trustworthy child in the Lord. He will remind you of what I teach about Christ Jesus in all the churches wherever I go.” 1 Corinthians 4:17(NLT) “When Timothy comes, treat him with respect. He is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am.” 1 Corinthians 16:10(NLT) Timothy even co-authored one of the books in our New Testament. If you read carefully the beginning of the Letter to the Philippians you’ll see this: “This letter is from Paul and Timothy…” Apparently Timothy played a vital role in the letter as well as Paul. Later in chapter two Paul expresses Timothy’s passion for the church at Philippi when he writes, “I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare….But you know how Timothy proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has helped me in preaching the Good News…” (Philippians 2:20,22) Paul sent Timothy to struggling churches where he himself could not go. In the Letter to the Thessalonians Paul tells them, “…and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our co-worker for God and our brother in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, and to keep you from becoming disturbed by the troubles you were going through…I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong….Now Timothy has just returned, bringing the good news that your faith and love are as strong as ever. He reports that you remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us just as much as we want to see you.” 1 Thessalonians 3:2(NLT) Paul eventually left Timothy in Ephesus (northern Greece) to guide the churches there. And Paul dedicated two complete letters to Timothy that we find in the New Testament. Each letter challenges Timothy to fulfill his God-given purpose. Each letter is filled with practical instruction on how to live for God and Pastor the churches he had been placed over. Here’s my point: Timothy became Paul’s protégé, Paul mentored, coached Timothy until the day came that Timothy was strong enough and experienced enough to do it himself. Timothy then found others that he could mentor and coach. Paul invested his life in Timothy. Timothy, in turn, invested his life in others as well. Listen to what it says in his first letter to Timothy. “This is true, and everyone should accept it. We work hard and suffer much in order that people will believe the truth, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and particularly of those who believe. Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.” 1 Timothy 4:9-13(NLT) Paul coached Timothy. Timothy coached others. Everyone needs a Paul and everyone needs a Timothy. But maybe you’re wondering, as I did, where did Paul learn how to coach others? (The Bible of course uses the word disciple or follow.) If you go back to the very start of Paul’s walk with God you will discover a powerful character named Barnabas. Barnabas coached Paul. When Paul first went to church in Antioch everyone was afraid of him. Who wouldn’t have been? Up to that point Paul had been persecuting Christians and jailing them. They all thought he was pretending to be a believer to find out who they were. But now Paul was a Believer, yet no one trusted him. It was Barnabas who had the courage to step up, welcome Paul and bring him into the church. Barnabas took time to mentor Paul and when we get to Acts chapter nine it’s Barnabas who brings Paul to the other Apostles and shares his story of faith. It was Barnabas who continued to encourage Paul in his new faith. The Apostles even had a nickname for Barnabas; they called him “Son of Encouragement”. It’s also Barnabas that the Holy Spirit chooses to be one of the first two missionary-church planters. “One day as these men were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work I have for them.’ So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.” (Acts 13:2-3) Barnabas coaches Paul and then moves out of the way and lets Paul take off. Barnabas turns around and chooses a young man named John Mark to coach. And so it goes on and on. Timothy had Paul, but Paul had Barnabas. So who did Barnabas have? I’m not sure who Barnabas’ earthly coach was, but I do know he had an “Eternal Coach” inside him. And Eternal Coach that taught Barnabas how to be the kind of encourager we all need. The kind of coach we all need. We call that “Eternal Coach” the Holy Spirit. Jesus Himself tells us about the Holy Spirit in John chapter fourteen. Jesus was about to be crucified and buried. He knew that He would rise from the dead three days after His crucifixion. He’s told His disciples all that would happen. But Jesus also knew that shortly after His resurrection He would go back to Heaven and the Disciples would need Someone to encourage them on – guide them – coach them. That’s why He shared with them in John chapter fourteen about their Eternal Coach. Here’s what He said: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you…” John 14:16-17(NLT) Let’s stop here for a minute. We’re talking about every one of us needing a coach. See that word “Counselor”? Let me give you the Greek word for counselor: parakletos. It means “to come along side” “to come to one’s aid, an intercessor, a helper, an aid”. It’s the word that we get our term lawyer from (or counselor). Jesus is telling His followers that he is giving them another helper who will never leave them. Now He explains who this Helper is: “He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” Now look down to verse twenty-six. “But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative—and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you.” John 14:26(NLT) Later Jesus explains a little more about this Helper. “But it is actually best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Counselor won’t come. If I do go away, he will come because I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convince the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.” John 16:7(NLT) Here’s something Paul, Timothy and Barnabas had inside them - The Holy Spirit as their Eternal Coach, Helper, Counselor. You’ve probably been noticing the picture on the screen as I’ve read through these verse. It’s there because it’s one of the best illustrations of a coach I have ever found. He’s running along side. The runner has her coach right there urging her on, helping her with each stride. That’s what a counselor, a coach does. As a genuine follower of Jesus Christ you have God’s Holy Spirit as your Eternal Coach living inside of you. OK, Pastor, so I have an Eternal Coach, what’s the point? What’s that really have to do with my life right now? Well, let’s think about it for a few minutes… So what does a coach do? Amazingly I found the four most powerful traits of a coach listed right here in the passages Jesus spoke on the Holy Spirit. Notice them with me. (1) Our Coach Is Consistent The very first thing Jesus told us about the Holy Spirit is, He “will never leave you…” That’s huge! That’s amazing. Who else can you think of who will always be with you no matter what? The Holy Spirit never leaves us. That’s why it says in Hebrews 13:5-6 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (2) Our Coach Is Truthful The Holy Spirit “leads into all truth”. If there is one thing you want from a coach it’s honesty. You want to know the truth. You want to know if what you are doing is right or if it’s wrong. God has given us His Spirit to lead us into all truth. We want and need to know the whole truth. So often in this world we are told half-truths that lead to lies. My favorite right now has to do with all the commercials about “quick cash”. You need cash, just write a check or refinance your house. Better yet, spend all your money on the sales – you know, spend to save. What they don’t tell us is that there is a day coming when the bills will be due and then there won’t be any more cash. They only tell us part of the story. What we get from the Holy Spirit is all the truth. Notice it also says that the Holy Spirit LEADS, He doesn’t push us to the truth; He leads us into the truth. We still have to follow His lead which brings us to the third characteristic of a coach. (3) Our Coach Is Nearby. John 14:16 tells us, “The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” After His resurrection Jesus met with the Disciples and breathed upon them the Holy Spirit. Acts chapter two records the Holy Spirit coming upon the entire church. That was pivotal, because prior to Acts chapter two the Holy Spirit did not live inside of a believer, He simply came upon select believers for a specific point in time. Now (since Acts chapter two) every believer who accepts Jesus Christ as Forgiver and Boss receives the Holy Spirit to live inside them. As we said a moment ago – He never leaves. He’s always nearby. The final characteristic is found in verse twenty-six. (4) Our Coach Guides John 14:26 says, “the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you.” Jesus further explains this in John chapter sixteen. “But it is actually best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Counselor won’t come. If I do go away, he will come because I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convince the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.” John 16:7(NLT) Do you notice the three ways the Holy Spirit guides First, He convinces us of sin. He persuades us that some of the things we are doing are wrong, sinful. And that they need to change. Second, He convinces us of God’s righteousness. He encourages us to do what is right and Godly. Third, He reminds us that we are accountable. There is a coming judgment. For the world that has ignored God, that judgment will be negative (to say the least), but for Believers, that judgment will be positive time of rewards and blessing. In either case we are accountable to God for what we do! The Holy Spirit is consistent, truthful, nearby and He guides us. I started by sharing with you this morning that everyone needs a coach. I wanted to challenge you to find a “Paul” and a “Timothy” in your life. Find someone who can coach you and someone you can coach. Find someone you can learn from, who can help and challenge you in your walk with God. But don’t stop there, find someone you can help and challenge as well. I started with that challenge, but I also want you to be aware of the fact that if you are a Believer – you already have a Coach inside of you. God’s Spirit is there to challenge, encourage and guide you throughout your life. You have an Eternal Coach inside, but you also need an external coach. That’s why we need the team. That’s why we need to be willing to carry the light. A coach is part of learning how to run the race – and win it! Final point: You can’t do it alone. You need Someone inside, someone ahead, and someone behind. The power of a coach is the powerful principle of “together”. The Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes says it best when it tells us “Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor.” Ecclesiastes 4:9(NLT) “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12(NLT) Everybody needs to be a coach and everyone needs a coach. I have a feeling I know what you are thinking right now… “Sure I need a coach, but what do I know that I can coach others?” All you have to do to lead is be one step ahead. That’s the power of together. It’s a powerful motivation in our walk with God when we know there are others there to help and to help us! Watch this video… TeamHoyt-TOGETHER A FATHER A SON Dick Hoyt Rick Hoyt Because of a TRAGEDY at birth RICK cannot WALK or TALK Because of a TRAGEDY at birth DICK can not play CATCH with his SON Because of TOGETHER They're an INSPIRATION to people around the WORLD. DICK and JUDY wanted a NORMAL LIFE for their son. TOGETHER they put RICK in PUBLIC SCHOOL RICK learned to WRITE his thoughts using a special computer When RICK was 15, he COMMUNICATED to his dad that he wanted to PARTICIPATE in a FIVE-MILE benefit RUN. DICK was NOT a RUNNER, but agreed to PUSH RICK in his wheelchair. For the FIRST TIME in his life, RICK didn't feel HANDICAPPED. So TOGETHER they RUN TOGETHER they compete in MARATHONS Together they compete in TRIATHLONS Together they TREKKED 3,770 across AMERICA RICK COULDN'T compete without his Dad DICK WOULDN'T compete without his son Dick is the BODY Rick is the HEART TOGETHER they RUN TOGETHER HAS POWER DON'T RUN ALONE (Note: this video is available through SermonSpice.com and is copyrighted. Used by permission) The most powerful line in that story was “Rick couldn’t compete without his dad. Dick wouldn’t compete without his son.” Together has power. You want power in your walk with God? Allow God’s Spirit to really coach you, guide you. Follow His lead. Remember, He will never push. He’ll wait for you to follow. Then find somebody to coach you. Find a Believer you can learn from. The Apostle Paul said it this way, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (I Corinthians 11:1 NCV).
Find a
spiritual coach – be a spiritual coach. Then follow your Eternal Coach’s
lead. |
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(c) Paul Newell 2004 FamilyFellowship Church P.O. Box 465, Beaumont, CA 92223 |
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