2 Tim 2:23a
Flee Also Youthful Lusts
The
Apostle Paul had a pastorly concern for the church in Ephesus and a fatherly
love for his spiritual son, Timothy. The two of those combine to make powerful
statements in this book we call Second Timothy.
One
set of those statements tell us about the faith and character of Timothy
himself. In 1:5 we read about the genuine faith of Timothy two times. Paul had
a high opinion of the work of God in his son in the faith. Paul knew that the
Holy Spirit dwelt in Timothy. This is something quite important as an assurance
of the work of God in someone else. To see this evidence in others is a
wonderful thing. Paul was convinced of a genuine conversion that went beyond
the surface as so many are content with in our day.
Paul
tells Timothy to be strong in Grace. Considering Paul is the Apostle that
teaches us so much about this grace, it is a valuable statement about Timothy.
Timothy is to be strong in the grace that he already has and evidences the
fruit thereof. We find that in 2:1. In 2:19 the admonition for those who love
the Lord will depart from iniquity is the general command that drives the
particular principle for oberience in our passage for today. One was a believer
will depart from iniquity is to flee from youthful lusts--though in our passage
it is a command spoken with force to Timothy as an individual, but as we will
see, it is a class of iniquity that all true believers are to flee from. I
would even say to continue habitually to live a lustful life is to live in a
way that is inconsistent with a Christian profession. And, I hope to prove that
to you this morning.
To
depart from all sorts of iniquity entails the taking off what is sinful and the
putting on of what is righteous. Starting in 3:10, where we have not yet been,
we read Paul reminding Timothy that he has carefully followed in the footsteps
of the Apostle Paul in a number of ways: Paul's doctrine, his manner of life,
purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, and
afflictions. TO follow means a mixture of experiencing them as Paul experienced
them or knowing about them after they happened, to pray for Paul or to go help
or to send others if needed.
In
3:14 when we read, "Be diligent" the sense of the present tense is
"continue to be diligent." And all of this is possible, in part,
because Timothy has known, meaning, has an intimate understanding of, the Holy
Scriptures from his childhood. All of this and more give us a spiritual
portrait of a man of God who is eminently qualified to lead God's people. From
another perspective, when we examine other places that also tell us about
Timothy's godly character like First Timothy, he fits all of the qualifications
needed to lead Christ's churches. This is why Paul can place him anywhere with
confidence. Yet, knowing his humanity, Paul reminds Timothy of important
matters that may be a stumbling block like they have to other godly men
throughout the churches since the times of the Apostles. Because of his youth
Paul reminds Timothy not to allow others to despise him and in Chapter Two
verse 22, Paul reminds Timothy to flee also youthful lusts.
The
language entails that there are other things to flee from. Paul has just been
writing about some of them. They are the people who are not gold and silver,
but wood and dirt. For the good of his own growth in holiness and for the good
of other true believers, those sorts of people, people of dishonor who do not
flee from inquity, they are to be shunned. Or, in the words of vs 2:21 Timothy
is to cleanse himself from the influences of dishonorable people. The metaphor
connects the dirt from which clay was made and the cleansing for honor, growth
in grace in order to be prepared for every good work. Another way in which
Timothy is to prepare himself for these aspects of the Christian life and
ministry is to Flee from youthful lusts.
The
language shows us that Paul is commanding him with the Apostolic authority that
is his to use. But, Paul does so out of love, not just some sort of naked
authority. Sometimes, people need to be told what they need to do in strong
language that includes the command in Christ's name by officers who have His
power and authority, but not always.
There
was something important enough about this area of the Christian life that compelled
Paul to use strong language both in the metaphor and in the means of speech.
Paul
commands Timothy to flee from youthful lusts. He doesn't make it optional. He
does not appeal to his sense of morality by saying, "Wouldn't be better
for you if you were to consider doing this?" Paul tells Timothy bluntly,
"To flee." Now what is important for us to consider is that Paul does
not say that he knows Timothy has a problem in this area. The language can be
understood more broadly. Even when Timothy might find himself being tempted by
the sin of lust, he is to act in such a way that he flees from youthful lusts.
Did
you notice the word lusts is plural? There are more kinds of lust than the
sexual lusts that often are the first to come to mind. And, it is the sexual
forms of lusts that can be so devastatingly addictive. And, these lusts are
among those from which believers ought to flee. But, there are other forms of
lusts. Many lusts overlap with the sin of coveteousness. They are both about
improper desires. One commentator distinguished coveteousness as being sins of
the mind wherein people have an inordinate desire for things; and lust is an
inordinate desire driven by passions. The overlap seems to be greater. They are
nearly synonymous. I make that statement because of the tenth commandment which
is against coveting. That tenth command includes "your neighbor's
wife" or anything that is your neighbors. Both coveting and lusting
include improper desires for things. We should be uncomfortable with the use of
either word. They are both negative actions.
Sometimes
people will ask for prayer using what seems to be biblical language by saying,
I covet your prayers for …. I understand what people mean, but God's language
is "You shall not covet." That is universal language.
Observation:
God knows all that we do, think and say. We live as if we forget that
fundamental reality. Ligonier Ministries uses a Latin Phrase, Coram Deo, that
means basically, God knows and sees all things. He even knows what we are thinking
as we sit here attempting to worship Him. He knows if we are like Timothy only
in need of a reminder because we have fled from temptations like youthful
lusts. Or, he knows if we have given in. Remember, even Timothy needed to be
reminded of this important reality. We are all tempted with various youthful
lusts from time to time. We are told they are strongest in our youth, 20s and
30s. They only change as we get older. Some lusts driven by a lack of
self-control touching our passions are gone only to be replaced by other forms
of lusts as we age.
Consider
the words of the Apostle John who gives us a multiplicity of lusts that we are
not to love, that we should not seek after in order to develop relationships or
give ourselves in a self-sacrificing was with them: 1 Jn 2:15-16 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If
anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For
all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.
Lust of the flesh is
the passions we feel through our sense of touch. It may be both forms of
touching and being touched. Improper feelings while touching another even with
something like a hug that has been too close, misplaced or too strong can fit
into this category. Humans are susceptible to this sort of lust all the time.
It often goes unmentioned.
When I was in high
school and college, many of our youth leaders where on the watch for
IDAs--improper Displays of Affection. The justification for this activity was
twofold. Either it was justified as "loving one another" or the
passages that talk about greeting one another with a holy kiss. If there is any
feeling or desire in the flesh, or from the heart, run away from what your
flesh is tempting you to do. Don't act so strong that you can do anything
without being tempted or giving into a little bit of carnal pleasure. And,
after 25 year of counseling people, including a lot of married couples, this is
an area where jealousy can creep in. And, it is the men who usually are more
carnal than the women. But, some women enjoy the warm touch of someone beside
their husband who seems to care. Proper love for our brothers and sisters may
mean a handshake may need to suffice instead of a hug. There have been three
times when women thought I had feelings for them because I gave them a hug to
encourage them. Others have not. But, in our day of sensuality and sensualness
all around, we need to be careful. I have heard of many men who have fallen
from the ministry and men and women in the pews that have pursued illegitimate
relationships based on very small beginnings. What follows is a dance to gauge
interest. Women can be more subtle and careful, but not men. They are more
bold. We need to watch out for any contact that might turn into lust and run
from it. The language is 1 John is somewhat paradoxical. In our day, love has
been redefined as something very close to lust. That diminishes God's
definition from what is beautiful and a legitimate part of Christian expression
among believers into something very ugly and dangerous.
But, John names
another form of lust. It is the lust of the eyes. We see something and we are
enticed. I have been told that men are more visual where women are more
sensual. I don't believe it. If it is true it is not a difference of any real
degree. We are tempted by what we see, even to the point of wanting a great
deal more than what we need legitimately. We want more and more. We see what
others have and we want the same or more as we covet and lust for what we don't
have. Or, we want what is going to give us more prestigue in the eyes of
others, or in our own eyes--that is the pride of life.
We must flee from all
of these categories. Such is the set of commands found in other places. But,
how do we apply this special category of youthful lusts? It may be the desires
we had when we were younger. I have noticed that many Christians who have
professed Christ, have never dealt with sins that defined them in their
youth--I include myself in this category.
They deal with some
sins, but not with others. Their vocabulary might get better as they drop
juvenile insults and curses; only to become more sophisticated in their
language. Juveniles often like to be the center of attention--even in quiet
ways. Some like to remain the center of attention or the center of authority to
whom people look for advice (even when good advice is not always given). The
young men who were often the center of attention remain the alpha males of
whatever pack they are in. This is a sin that carries over into the workplace
and even into the church. Some people, usually men, have to be at the center of
everything or they attack those who are in very immature ways. It is the lust
of position, prestigue and power that these sorts pursue under the real
headings of the pride of life. We are surrounded by misdefined lusts. Whenever,
and wherever, these lusts rear their ugly heads, we are to flee from them.
Especially, those that come to us as youthful ones. All believers should be
living unto God's glory as they mature in the faith. And, discernment about
these very things show whether one is becoming discerning.
Lusts, in the plural,
lusts of any kind are sin, and ought to be fled or if they are already a part
of you, be put to death.
When Paul warned and
commanded Timothy is was God's grace to keep a godly man from sin and iniquity.
So, too, take this as intended grace so you will run from lusts, from all
lusts, not just the youthful sort. May God give you grace to become aware of
the sinful tendencies of your heart and to either flee from them or if they are
already a part of you put them to death.
This is why they are
so Dangerous--LISTEN:
28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for
her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that
you should obey it in its lusts.
13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and
drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But
put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill
its lusts.
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the
kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor
adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
Chrstianity puts up with so many in these
categories so that it is a greater sin to judge someone perceived to be in sin
than it is to do a real evil. Don't be deceived! Intolerance is not the
greatest sin.
18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside
the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill
the lust of the flesh.
3 among whom also we all once conducted
ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of
the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
Coveting was Paul's greatest sin. He wouldn't
have known unless the Law revealed it to him.
22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old
man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
Put on righteousness!
22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue
righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a
pure heart.
It is not something we do by ourselves. We do
it with others God has joined us to in churches. That is who so many of these
commands are given. This was given to Timothy in the context of being given to
the Ephesian Church in order to set them in order.
For the good of our own souls and the good of
others, let us flee from lusts in order to pursue what we ought to chase after,
together.
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