Description

Knowing and seeing the truth!
II Timothy 4:1-8
Do you see the truth clearly?
 Vision changes & decreases with age – 20/20…20/30…
 Spiritual vision can also change
 Truth that was clear now hazy
 Life experiences impact
 Sin & consequences affect spiritual vision
 Neglect a major impact
2 Peter 1:5-9 NKJV

Do you see the truth clearly?
Spiritual blindness – unwillingness or inability to see spiritual truth
 Spiritual acuity – those who have had their eyes opened by Jesus Christ
 Our culture in crisis – a truth crisis
 Pontius Pilate – “what is truth?” (John 18:18)
 Many think it’s impossible to know the truth
 Inaccurate “expertise”, opinions vs. facts
 “A lie can travel halfway around the world while truth is still lacing up
her boots” —Mark Twain
 Satan – father of lies (John 8:44)
Three Steps to see truth clearly:
1. Be Concerned about Knowing the Truth (vv. 1-2)
2. Be Cautious about Neglecting the Truth (vv. 3-4)
3. Be Careful about Nurturing the Truth (vv. 5-8)
Be Concerned about Knowing the Truth
Sound doctrine (vs. 3) the truth (vs. 4)
 2 Tim 3:14-15 But you must continue in the things which you have learned
and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, (15) and
that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to
make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
 Jesus Christ is the truth - John 14:6 Jesus said …"I am the way, the truth, and
the life. No one comes to the father except through Me.
 Prophet Daniel – Bible is “Scripture of Truth” (Daniel 10:21)
 Truth - tied to doctrine (didaskalia - did-as-kal-ee'-ah) – teaching/instruction
 Not popular, but essential
 Owner’s manual (illustration)
 Feelings vs. truth

Be Concerned about Knowing the Truth
Scripture emphasizes importance of sound doctrine
 Hosea 4:6 NKJV My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…
 Acts 2:42 NKJV And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine
and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
 1Timothy 4:13 NKJV Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation,
to doctrine.
 Titus 2:1 NKJV But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound
doctrine:
“We do not have a strong church today, nor do we have many strong
Christians. We can trace the cause to an acute lack of sound, spiritual
knowledge. Ask an average Christian to talk about God. After getting past the
expected answers, you will find that his God is a little God of vacillating
sentiments” —James Montgomery Boice
Be cautious about neglecting the Truth
Our culture has largely rejected the truth
 Sensationism – gone mainstream
 Politicized and editorialized
 “Narrative” not truth – “truth” subjective or situational
 “no such thing as absolute truth” –
 “My truth, your truth”
 Stats indicate many churches & Christians confused in what they believe
 “Progressive” Christianity – growing – tactic – move you from the truth
 Paul in Athens (Aerophagus) – Acts 17:21 – For all the Athenians and the
foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to
tell or to hear some new thing.
 Itching ears – no stomach for solid teaching fill up on spiritual junk food
(MSG)

Be careful about nurturing the Truth
 Paul’s charge to Timothy
 Vs. 5 – “but you” – feed on truth for himself
 Be watchful in all things
 Endure afflictions
 Do work of an evangelist
 Fulfill your ministry
 Paul’s example –
 Fulfilled his ministry
 Fought the fight
 Finished the race
 Kept the faith
 “Finish Strong”
Be careful about nurturing the Truth
 Paul’s charge to Timothy
 Vs. 2 – Preach the word!
 Preach Christ:
 1Cor 1:23
 2Cor 4:5
 Publicly proclaim - kay-roos'-so
 Know the truth –
 Sound doctrine – hygiene, health
 Identify lies by exposing them to the truth
 DL Moody
Be careful about nurturing the Truth
John 8:31-32 NKJV
John 14:6 NKJV