Guarding the Truth: Building Fences

2 Tim 1:13-14

13    Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

14   That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

I am often challenged and convicted in several areas of my ministry. The weight of the ministry in which God has called me to is beyond my strength and abilities. However, he always provides that which is needed. And for that I am truly grateful. This blog is a pulling together of old notes comprised from a conference i attended years ago. Old notes, but Great refreshment!

However, they are being expressed from my heart today as God spoke to me.

Times are very difficult, that is these are very crucial times in the life of the church. We are living in a postmodern culture. That is postmodernism at heart denies absolute truth.They deny the absolute so everything is relative. This is ultimately a denial of God. If truth is relative, you have your truth and I have mine, and the one you see in the mirror is your God.

Those who deny absolute truth, I always ask are they ABSOLUTELY SURE? LOL

People make claims to God that have no frame of reference. Declaration with no frame of reference is USELESS! These statements come from a god of their imagination.

Paul prophetically warned us about these times in

2 Tim 3:1-14

1     This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2     For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3     Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4     Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5     Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6     For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7     Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8     Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

9     But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

10    But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

11    Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

12    Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

13    But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

14    But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

(KJV)

So Paul writes to Timothy and to us saying regardless of what other do, we must GUARD the TRUTH. This can only be done by our faithful obedience to God and His word. We can do this by Building Fences.

There will always be those who desire to disrupt the plans and purposes of God.

Illustration: I read about a family who  Brenda  purchased a home it was for the joy the pleasures and comforts of their  family. Now this also included the land that came with it. However after a while they started to have problems with dogs coming into our yard leaving their waste and threatening the planned pleasures of their lives. They had a playground built for their children but they were afraid for them to go out because of the dogs.

So they decided to build a fence around their property to protect their children’s livelihood and planned pleasure. Now they were very carefully in selected someone to build the fence. We wanted someone who knew what they were doing and were faithful to the responsibility.

Paul is warning the church there are dogs coming on our property leaving their mess and threatening the livelihood of our people. We must build fences to keep them out. There were codes and building restrictions that had to be followed.

The story caused me to think and meditate about the Subject of Guarding Truth by Building Fences.

What should we look for in the Fence Builders for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ? Paul tells us in God’s Word

 

1. They Must Have A Heart For Ministry

2 Tim 1:6

6     Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

(KJV)

 

2. They Must Have A Unashamed Fidelity

2 Tim 1:8

8     Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

(KJV)

 

3. They Must Have A Life Of Sanctity

2 Tim 1:9

9     Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

(KJV)

 

4. They Must Have A Deep Love For The Doctrine

2 Tim 1:13-14

13    Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

14    That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

(KJV)

 

What is the Function of the Fences we build?

1. To Mark Our Territory
2. To keep Intruders out
3. To keep the Family in and Safe
4. To Secure the well being of the Family
5. To Ensure the Love Joy and Peace of the Family

What are the Dangers of Building Fences?

1. Positioning Them To Narrow and giving up Property that is Rightfully Yours
2. Positioning Them To Broad taking and making Use of Property that is not Yours
3. Confusing Fence Building with Highly Cultivating Garden (SELAH)

 

Brothers God has entrusted us with His precious truth we are to guard it with our lives.

Doctrine is important. The word doctrine simply means teaching.

A man’s doctrine will determined his practice.

In Paul’s writing notice how he presents the Doctrine first then he calls for Duty. the Indicative then the Imperative.

Examples: Ephesians, Galatians, Romans

A man will never know what he is against until he knows what he is for. We must protect the truth at all cost SOULSare at stake.

More than that, the Glory of God.

Now remember, God will be glorified! He gets just as much glory in the punishment of the wicked as he does in the salvation of the elect.

1 Tim 4:16

16    Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine;continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

(KJV)

Remember  we must give an account. So in these perilous times we must Guard the Truth. If we would think even further people are saved by coming into the knowledge of the TRUTH. 

Jesus makes that bold declaration of Absolute Truth, “I am the WAY the TRUTH and the Life”.

So let’s be faithful to our calling Paul says to Timothy and us

2 Tim 2:15-18

15    Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

16    But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

17    And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

18    Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

(KJV)

Here we see clearly there were men were off in their Doctrine which effected their Duty.

So Paul commands  us,  “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.”

 

AS WE GUARD THE TRUTH BY BUILDING FENCES TO THE GLORY OF GOD!