Flee & Pursue

1. SABBATICAL
1. (Renovation Church slide)
2. Good morning again.
3. Well, if you haven’t heard yet, I will be beginning my 5-week sabbatical starting tomorrow.
1. According to our employee handbook, every 7 years our pastors are supposed to take a sabbatical.
1. I was actually due to take mine 3 years ago already, but I just felt like I couldn’t leave.
1. In May of 2023, we were really outgrowing Phase 1 of this building, and we’re just about to start a massive construction project to expand.
1. And then we went outside…for FOUR months, which wasn’t easy.
2. And when we moved back in, that was the fastest we’ve maybe ever grown.
1. And we exploded.
1. And then we had to figure out, “What in the world would God have us do if we ran out of room here in Phase 2”
1. Where is God leading us?
3. And when we realized it was to start more locations with live teaching, there was an insane amount of infrastructure to build, and so much to vision cast.
1. And then we had to get our Shoreview location off the ground.
1. And now we’re trying to get our 3rd location started…
2. And one morning, I just woke up, and thought, “This is never going to stop, is it?”
1. And I need to take this. And rest. And mentally and spiritually catch up from what has been an insane amount of work.
1. It’s fun, it’s incredible, amazing.
1. But that doesn’t mean I’m not tired.
2. And so I’m finally going to take this…and rest…and seek the Lord even more deeply.
1. And then I’ll be back in mid-June, and we will start our summer series then in the Old Testament (like we usually do)
1. I’ll actually be teaching the “Life of Jacob” from the book of Genesis this year.
4. And since I’m going to be gone for a few weeks, let me say one more thing to you before we jump into our passage for today
1. (3 Services Slide)
1. As you’ve probably heard we’re going to 3 services for the summer starting in 2 weeks.
1. I’ll be honest with you, even with the summer and more people being gone on vacation etc., we’re right on the line of being at 3 or 4 services.
1. So it’s going to be busy some Sundays.
1. If you can come to 11:30 some this summer…it will help…open up seats…especially for the many people who come every week and meet Jesus for the first time.
1. Thank you so much.
1. Seriously.
2. FLEE GENERAL
1. All right, go ahead and grab a Bible
1. 2 Timothy 2:20-26
2. Page 814
2. We are currently going through the letter of 2 Timothy as a church.
3. 2 Timothy was written by one of the early leaders of the Christian church, the Apostle Paul.
1. And he wrote it from a dungeon (where he was imprisoned for his faith), and he wrote it to a pastor he was mentoring named Timothy.
4. We’re going to read our entire passage, but then keep it open as we’ll start talking through it
5. (2 Timothy 2:20-26) – NIV
6. 20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
   22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
1. (Flee & Pursue)
2. Okay, I want us to laser in on verse 22 because I think it’s the central point of this particular passage.
1. Paul says FLEE the evil desires of youth (and then to also) PURSUE righteousness, faith, love and peace, etc.
7. So what does Paul mean when he says FLEE THE EVIL DESIRES OF YOUTH
1. Well, what are the sinful desires that are more challenging for the young brain?
1. The teenager? The young adult?
1. I mean, we could certainly list the infamous sins of the flesh: Like lust, pornography, sex outside of marriage
1. And that may be what Paul is telling Pastor Timothy to flee.
2. But I think, given the context (and the fact that chapter 2 has been mostly about dealing with false teachers), it’s probably even more likely that Paul is also warning Timothy about the evil desires of unholy anger (while he responds to these false teachers)
1. Young people, and I remember this well in myself, can be especially quick to anger when someone wrongs them
1. They typically can go from 0 to 60 on the anger scale quicker than someone who’s older
1. In part because you don’t know yourself and your weaknesses as well…
1. …because you haven’t experienced yourself failing in them over and over and over yet
2. I struggled with this in my 20’s as a pastor a lot more than I do now.
1. Ministry is hard. It’s not for the faint of heart.
1. You have to deal with a lot of conflict amongst people…sometimes they’re mad at each other, and sometimes they’re mad at you.
2. And I used to always react (with some sort of great takedown/clapback argument) way more so than I do now in my 40’s.
1. Now, I can listen without reacting.
8. But I think the gist of what Paul is saying is this: Those youthful sins (and truthfully they’re different for each of us)…
1. …those sins of the flesh that tend to just rise up in you quickly (anger, lust, jealousy, lying)…
1. We should FLEE from them.
1. Don’t entertain them. Don’t invite them in for a friendly discussion first.
1. FLEE from them.
2. For example, if someone is struggling with alcoholism, and they feel a temptation to go grab a drink, they’re told in 12 step meetings to just run from temptation…literally if they have to.
1. They’re not supposed to stop and make a pros & cons list about whether they should have a drink, they’re told to just flee.
1. And that’s pretty good advice for the rest of us regarding whatever your sins may be
1. If you’re struggling with pornography, or maybe its gambling your money away on the NBA playoffs…
1. FLEE.
1. Delete the app. Get help. FLEE
2. So I want every person in this room to ask themselves this morning, where is it that I need to just FLEE from sin and stop debating and playing around with it?
9. PURSUE GENERAL
1. But notice that Paul says in 22 that we don’t just flee, we also PURSUE
1. We run FROM some things, but also need to run TO some other things.
1. Like what? What does it say:
2. Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
1. Followers of Christ should also be the type of people that are pursuing righteousness
1. So we’re not just subtracting wrong living, we’re adding right living.
2. And we’re pursuing a deepening faith with Jesus.
3. And more love, and peace…
1. And we do that, not from our own strength, but out of a heart that’s changed by the LORD…as we’re pursuing Him
4. And notice Paul says that you do this ALONG with those who call on the Lord.
1. Christianity is not a solo sport that you can just livestream from your couch.
1. That’s why House Church (or Youth Group is so important
2. For those of you who have just recently come to faith, it’s why meeting with your discipler 1-on-1 is so important
2. And again I would ask all of you, what do you need to ADD to your Christian life?
1. Where do you need to begin PURSUING God again?
2. Because this is the Christian life.
1. We flee sin…
2. And we pursue God and his ways.
1. BOTH are really important.
1. But unfortunately, lots of times people get stuck in prioritizing one over the other, and let me show you what happens when we do that.
10. LOW FLEE, LOW PURSUE
1. In fact, I want to show you a chart we made to help you better understand this passage and Paul’s thinking around flee & pursue
1. (BLANK QUADRANT)
2. I encourage you to draw this chart in your notes, as it will help you remember the point of this part of 2 Timothy better
1. So let’s actually start with the lower-left-hand quadrant
3. So, just to get your bearings on this chart, the person in the lower left is a person who is low on fleeing sin.
1. They’re not even trying to run away from their sin.
4. AND, neither are they pursuing a relationship with God or His ways.
1. So, in all likelihood this person is a non-believer.
1. (LOWER LEFT QUADRANT)
11. HIGH FLEE, LOW PURSUE.
1. So, let’s go next the upper-left-hand quadrant.
1. This is a person that is quite serious about fleeing their sin, they’re high on that.
1. But they are low on pursuing their faith, righteousness, love, peace, you name it.
2. This has been a quadrant that a lot of people claiming the name of Christ have been in over the centuries…and even still today.
1. In the early 1900’s, in the heyday of fundamentalism…
1. This was the person that never drank, never went to the theater, never played cards, and never smoked.
1. But, those in this quadrant may have been a jerk to their spouse, a terrible boss at work, and an awful neighbor.
1. They avoided all the classic vices of the day, but they were never actually pursuing God and love and peace and so on.
2. And there are still Christians like this today.
1. They shun pornography and sex outside of marriage.
2. They speak up on all of the hot-button social issues like abortion and gender, you name it
1. And yet their friends and coworkers don’t see any changes in them, nor the peace of God.
3. They tend to come off as:
1. (UPPER LEFT QUADRANT)
2. Legalistic, Quarrelsome, & Judgmental
1. And you can see this in the passage:
2. Verse 24: . 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful …
3. But unfortunately, nowadays, I see many quarrelsome Christians like this online
1. Do you ever notice how almost every Christian video on YouTube or Instagram is something like:
1. “Christian DESTORYS atheist and her argument”
2. “Smart Christian HUMILIATES Muslim”
1. That is how people in the upper left quadrant talk when they’re only fleeing sin and checking boxes but not actually pursuing Christ & His heart.
1. And I can prove that to you in verse 25
1. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed in the hope that God will grant them repentance
4. The Biblical Way: Opponents must be gently instructed in the hope that God will grant them repentance
5. The Cultural Way: Opponents must be fiercely debated in the hope that we can be proved right and superior
1. That’s not the heart of God.
1. A Christian with God’s heart, yearns not to be proven right, but they yearn for their opponent’s repentance.
1. They year that their opponent might know God and be saved.
2. But if you’re only fleeing sin and not pursuing God and his life, you won’t know God’s heart…and it will show.
12. LOW FLEE, HIGH PURSUIT
1. Okay, let’s talk about the lower-right-quadrant now.
1. This is a person that is not very serious about fleeing their sin, they’re low on that.
1. But they are high on pursuing their faith, righteousness, love, peace, you name it.
1. So the opposite of what we just talked about
2. I don’t want to stereotype entire centuries of Christians (But I’m going to)…
1. I think the 20th century church struggled more with the upper left, and the 21st century church has struggled more with the lower right
1. Young people, Gen Z and Millennials (and Gen Alpha)…they typically love to come and worship and pursue God emotionally…
1. And many young people are very concerned about the things Paul writes about in the PURSUIT section: Like, love and peace…justice.
1. They want to go out and do good in the world. Make a difference!
3. But many of those same Christians are less concerned, than their grandparents were, about personal sin and holiness and “fleeing the evil desires of youth” as Paul writes
1. Whereas your great-grandparents might have had more of a Joseph-mindset…where Joseph in Genesis was tempted by Potiphar’s wife, but he just fled and ran!
1. Today, Christians tend to overemphasize grace.
1. We think, “Yeah, well, we probably shouldn’t do this, but God is love, and He forgives”
1. Many Christians today tend to be quite LOW when it comes to actually fleeing sin.
4. But what’s the challenge with that?
1. Go back to verse 20 now.
2. 20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.
1. Paul is saying, even in a mansion, people have items that are just for common purposes.
1. They might have had a clay pot that served as a garbage bin.
2. But they also had gold plates and silver goblets for special purposes and dinners.
3. BUT look at what Paul says next.
1. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter (from SIN!) will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
1. So Paul is saying, if you are FLEEING sin, you become like one of those gold plates, which makes you (he says) useful to the master, in His special purposes.
4. Imagine it this way.
1. Pretend you go over to a friend’s house, and they ask you if you can go in their kitchen and grab a cup, put water in it, and give it to a new guest that’s just arrived on a hot day.
1. And so you walk into their kitchen, and it’s quite dirty.
1. And every cup seems to be dirty as well.
1. Some have lipstick on them, or milk stains.
2. Others seem to be moldy, or worse.
2. But then, out of the corner of your eye, you see a sparkling clean glass cup.
1. Which one are you going to use?
2. That’s the illustration here.
1. God wants to use us, as a drink to serve others.
1. And if you want to be “USEFUL IN THE HAND OF THE MASTER” the Bible says, you must cleanse yourself of sin.
1. You’ve got to flee sin.
5. Yes, even in your sin, God loves you.
1. I think most Christians in America know that.
2. But we also need to know from the Bible is that if you continue to willingly engage in sin, you will be less useful to the Master
6. ((LOWER RIGHT QUADRANT)
1. And that’s the result of being in this quadrant.
1. God will end up using someone else who will better represent His Son and His ways.
1. God isn’t looking just for the person who’s out there and trying to make a difference in spreading love and peace.
2. He’s looking for the person who’s FLEEING SIN, the person who has put Him on the throne.
1. The person who will take even their smallest sins and surrenders the to Him.
3. He’s looking for the person who will come to Him, every day, and say, “Forgive me father, wash this sin out of my life.
1. “Make me clean and useful for you.
13. HIGH FLEE, HIGH PURSUIT
1. And so the ideal is to be in the upper right quadrant
1. (Upper Right Quadrant)
1. This is the Biblical Christian.
1. The Christian that flees sin & pursues God and His ways at the same time.
2. And in some ways, now you can see that the upper left & lower right are actually misunderstandings of the Gospel…the Good news on how to be saved and made right w/ God.
1. In the upper left, people treat God like they can earn their way to him with just a checkbox of avoiding life’s biggest mistakes.
1. (and everybody has a different list of what’s a major sin nowadays)…
1. And so I don’t know what’s in your mind, but some of you say, “I’ll go to heaven as long as I don’t murder anyone, or get divorced, or commit adultery
2. And others of you say, “I’ll be right with God as long as I don’t destroy the environment or mistreat the poor or marginalized…”
2. But what’s missing in this quadrant, according to the Bible, is a relationship with God.
1. Jesus came to die on the cross for your sins, so you could know Him…not just so you would avoid bad things.
1. And without knowing God and his grace…
1. (this is part of why we have so much depression & hopelessness in this country)
2. Without knowing God and His grace, you’re going to eventually feel overwhelmed by your inability to live a good life.
1. Because what if you do fail?
1. Or worse yet, you do commit one of those major sins in your mind?
1. Then what?
2. This is where you have to know God’s forgiveness!
2. And just as the upper left is lacking a RELATIONSHIP with God, the bottom right is lacking what the Bible calls REPENTANCE
1. Because this person is out trying to make a difference in the world, but they’ve never actually repented (turned) from their own sin.
1. They’ve never said, “God I’m sorry for sinning against you. You are on the throne. I will obey your commands and flee my sin”
3. But the FULL GOSPEL is that we’ve sinned mightily against a Holy God, our Creator.
1. And we cannot earn our way to heaven, no matter what we do.
1. We have sinned. Someone needs to pay for it.
1. But we need not despair or lose hope.
2. Jesus came to pay for your sin.
1. And the way to really know Him is to believe He died for your sins.
1. But then, invite Him into your life…
1. To LEAD your life.
1. To trust that He is SO good, that He’s worth you FLEEING sin!
1. Because His way is better
14. And if you’re ready to truly come to truly accept and know Jesus as your Savior, I want to give you that opportunity today.
15. Let’s just have everyone, just for a minute, close your eyes and bow your head.
16. If you need to make this decision for the first time today…to tell Jesus that you need His forgiveness for your sins…to make Him the Leader of your life…to accept His gift of Eternal life…
1. In just a minute, I’m going to ask you to raise your hand.
1. No one’s going to be looking at you at all, that’s why we had everyone close their eyes.
2. But sometimes in life, we just need that moment…that moment where you say, “God I want a relationship with you and I want to repent of my sins”
17. If you need to tell God for the first time today that you do believe, and you want to follow Him and be forgiven.
1. I invite you to raise your hand where you are right now

Amen

1. All right, For the ___ of you that raised your hands, as we end our service here, I want you to come meet me right up here for some really important resources and next steps…and I’m going to say a special prayer with you to receive Christ in as your Savior.
1. For everyone else, I want to encourage you to sign up for a Bible class before you leave!
1. Thanks everyone!