A Christian Man’s Call to Duty

2 Timothy 2:1-10

Sir Ernest Shackleton posted an ad for men to join him on an Antarctic expedition. The ad was very honest and read: “Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in event of success.” The story claims this candid approach attracted 5,000 applications, which Shackleton sifted into piles labelled “mad”, “hopeless” and “possible” before selecting his 27-strong crew. If you’ve surrendered to Jesus Christ, you’ve surrendered to the ultimate call to duty! 2 Timothy 2:1-10 tells us about the call to duty for every Christian. Today we celebrate the Father, so this is the call for every Christian man!

A Command to be Desperate for Christ (2 Timothy 2:1) The phrase “be strengthened” is something Paul tells Timothy 25 times. It reminds me of God’s words to Joshua, “Be Strong and courageous.” The use of strength in this context is not based on one’s physical ability, but on one’s desperate dependency for God’s strength to work. Ephesians 6:12 makes it crystal clear that our battle is not physical, but spiritual. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Have you ever been desperate? Especially desperate for Grace! We don’t deserve grace, but Christ shed his blood on the cross so that we might have strength and grace over sin through His sacrifice! At the end of ourselves is when Christ begins. I remember when we had Caleb, I was so very desperate to do well as a father. In that desperation I clang close to Christ! Cling to Christ Men for He alone is the power!

An Urgent Call for Discipleship (2 Timothy 2:2) This passage is clearly about discipleship, to develop others to make disciples of Jesus Christ! The urgency for us to disciple others is upon us! I love what Paul tells the Roman church in Romans 10:14 “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” We are at war, According to John MacArthur 25 million children live without a biological father, that is 1 out of 3. 90% of youth who run away, come from a home that is fatherless. 85% of prisoners come from fatherless homes. 85% of children with behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes. We are called to duty, with an urgent call for discipleship! Fathers, the most important, urgent, and immediate need for discipleship is your children. Make time for family worship. Get them in front of the gospel often and always. Make church a priority. If church is occasional for you, it will be nonexistent to your child. Fathers are called to be the spiritual leader, so making growth in Christ is your duty! Well pastor, “we’re ok without the church!” Tell Jesus that, this is His Bride, His instrument for our growth and accountability! He will bless you as you bless the church! If you want the world to teach your children, it certainly will. The sewage of this world will never satisfy like the Savior can!

A Deeper Commitment to Devotion (2 Timothy 2: 3-6) I love what Paul does in verses 3 through 6. He list three people that represent deep commitment. You have to be really committed to your country to be a soldier, a defender of the nation! I have served in the military for 23 years! It has been a complete joy! Other than basic training and officer training. Why? Because I get to share Christ with my heroes! I see the military as being the nation’s sheep dog! We watch and protect! The athlete competes, puts hours of practice in, is committed to being the best! The farmer has probably one of the hardest jobs listed in this line-up. The farmer must be committed 24/7 to what they are growing or raising! No one will suffer or sacrifice unless they believe in it and stand for it! That’s why Christians in the Sedan are willing to die for Christ as I speak! Christ has called us to a deeper commitment to Him. The service of our country is great, but the service to Christ is even greater!

A Determination to Endure a Costly Deployment (2 Timothy 2: 7-10) Why do we find our costly duty to Christ such a delight? Listen to verse 10, “This is why I endure all things for the elect: so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” We endure the great cost of suffering, possible death, because Christ is worth it! The Green Beret is one of the toughest military groups to be a part of. They have elite training, with elite people, smart, physically fit, very impressive disciplined soldiers! Their motto is: “To Liberate the Oppressed.” Listen to Isaiah prophecy about Jesus in Isaiah 42:6-7 “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.” Why does Paul say the cost is worth it? Because Jesus Christ is worth it! We are determined to endure so they also may obtain salvation! That is why we delight in the duty of serving Christ!

The passage in John 15:13 is about the sacrifice that Jesus has made for those who will come to him, but it’s a great parallel for those who have signed a blank check, willing to die for their friends. “Greater love has no one that this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” The call to duty today is one to follow Jesus Christ, being desperate for Him, growing through discipleship in Him and having a deeper commitment to Him. This is shown through a willingness to deploy for Him!

I call it the 3D relationship- Devoted to Christ, Developing for Christ, and Deploying for Christ! You’ve been called to duty for Christ!