The Weekly SERMON

Volume No. 2017 Issue No. 22 Date July 9, 2017

Publication of the BIBLE BAPTIST MINISTRY, 48 Alexie Rd, Hanover Township, PA 18706

Phone: 570.829.5216

In II Timothy 2:2, the Apostle Paul passed the baton of faith to Timothy. He writes, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” Just as parents, pastors and other men and women of God have passed on their faith to us, we have the responsibility to do the same. The essence of ministry is to pass on three things to the next generation.

First: Pass on the baton of Faith: What has been transferred is not merely a program or philosophy; it is the eternal, unchanging, life-changing truth of the Word of God. It is a baton of faith, and I challenge you to hold on to what you have heard. In I Timothy 4:13 Paul said, “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” Hold on to the doctrine of the deity of Christ. In a day in which Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world – claiming that God had no Son – we must go out into this world and proclaim that indeed God had a Son and His name is Jesus Christ. He shed His blood for the sins of the world. Christianity is but one generation away from extinction; one generation of preachers who simply preach psychology, simply have dramas, and simply find themselves involved in hobbies to the exclusion of the preaching of the Word of God. The Bible is very clear that God has chosen the foolishness of preaching to confound the wise.

Second: Pass on the baton of Faithfulness: God has but one requirement-faithfulness. First Corinthians 4:2 says, "Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful." God wants you to be faithful to His Word. He wants you to cut it straight. He wants you to tell the truth. He wants you to be faithful. There will be times when you think certain dreams should have been accomplished by now, but may I remind you that God is looking for a man that will not quit, a man who will be faithful to Him.

Third: Pass on the baton of Fervency: Martyrs have been burned at the stake for this faith. They have sacrificed the ultimate sacrifice in fervency. We do not have the faith because of lukewarm Christians who came to church when they wanted to, or who read the Bible when they wanted to. We have the faith because of the fervency of men and women of God. I challenge you to be fervent in three areas.

Number 1: Have fervency in your walk with God. Keep it real. I Timothy 4:16 says, "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." Do not be a lazy Christian. Your first responsibility is your own walk with God. Find yourself faithful to the Word of God. Satan desires to sift you like wheat. Live a life that is reflective of your passion for God and for His holiness.

Number 2: Have fervency in your passion for souls. Paul said in Romans 10:1, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved." As I come upon our city where we live and minister and I see the lights from three different directions, my prayer is “God help me to love this valley and these people the way that you do. Help me, Lord, to reach souls." There is no greater joy, after forty years in the ministry, than when I get to open the Word of God and lead a sinner to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Never lose your fervency for souls.

Number 3: Have fervency in your preaching. Paul said to Timothy in II Timothy 4:2, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” Martin Lloyd Jones once wrote, "To me the work of preaching is the highest and most glorious calling to which anyone can ever be called. The most urgent need in the Christian church today is preaching. There is nothing like it.” I leave you with this challenge to meditate upon this week, “You have the greatest task before you, but also the greatest privilege. Is the baton of faith in your hand ready to be passed on?”

May God's blessing be upon you this week as you read and meditate on “What to do when sinned against.” To easily access the Weekly SERMON message go to and click on the http:// link at the bottom of this page.

In His Amazing Grace

Pastor David Miklas