During Refuge this week we reached a section of 2 Timothy that included our theme verse for this semester.
“But the word of God is not bound!” – 2 Timothy 2:9
Paul was writing to Timothy from a Roman jail. He was imprisoned under the Roman Emperor Nero who was heavily persecuting Christians. He was placed in chains for his teaching of and support of the truth that is found in God’s word.
In what would seem like a hopeless situation, Paul has a surprising response: “You can chain me, you can beat me, you can leave me for dead…but that won’t stop the gospel message! The word of God is not bound!”
The Promise and Application for Today
- God’s word will accomplish its intended purpose
- Isaiah 55:11 – “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
- Through God’s word we see that He desires to change lives. God is offering salvation from sin and the promise of a new life. God will see that this is accomplished!
- God’s word can overcome any perceived obstacles
- We like to list reasons why we things will be hard:
- Our culture doesn’t like any claim that there is absolute truth.
- We feel like we aren’t knowledgeable enough to talk and share about God’s word
- It takes time and energy to devote to God that I just don’t have
- People ridicule me when they hear that I’m a Christian
- We may feel all of these things, just like Paul should have felt that his situation was hopeless while in Prison. Yet, God’s word overcomes all things.
- We like to list reasons why we things will be hard:
- Therefore, endure in everything for the sake of others
- 2 Timothy 2:10 says, because the word of God is not bound then endure all things in order to have God’s word impact others.
- In the section of scripture just before this Paul encouraged Timothy to work hard in passing on the gospel.
- The reason Paul can tell Timothy to pass on to others what he has learned from God’s word (2 Timothy 2:2) is because the word of God is not bound!
Recap
What is God’s desire?
- To see His word be unbound on this campus,
- to see it set free to change lives
- to see it heal brokenness
- and to see it restore hope
How will this gospel expansion be accomplished?
- Through individuals who are faithful to endure in all things
- taking what they have learned about God and His purposes from His word
- applying them first to their own lives
- and then through sharing these truths with others
So what do you think? Do you believe that God’s word is unbound?