We saw in the last message the first half of chapter 2 and 2 Timothy.

He gave us three imageries that help us in our faithfulness in passing on the truth to the next generation.

Those were the imageries of the soldier who is soldiering and not getting entangled with their civilian affairs

for the gospel and for the biblical truth.

Secondly, it was the image of an athlete that we are athletes who are running according to the rules.

And thirdly, we saw the third imagery, and that is of the farmer,

whose patiently plowing and planting and harvesting. And here in the second half of chapter two,

he gives us three more imageries, as if to build up those six imageries together can help us

truly be faithful in our service of the Lord.

These three imageries for faithful service are a good worker, a worker who's not ashamed of what

is doing, working hard. Secondly, a clean vessel, a vessel that is always ready to be used for honorable things.

And then the third image is a servant who is loyal and obedient to his master.

Let's look at this very quickly. A worker who's not ashamed.

The very reason for serving diligently, the very reason for working faithfully,

serving the Lord is not to please others and make others feel good about themselves,

good as that may be. It is not even to please oneself. The very reason for

faithfulness, the main reason, and the ultimate reason for faithfulness is to please the Lord.

Now, the definition of shame, I saw a new one this week, it says, a painful emotion caused by

consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety. Why are the false preachers should be ashamed?

Because when their work is only for the show, it's only to

impress people, it's only for the praise of people, they ought to be ashamed of themselves.

When it is not to please the Lord first and foremost, they ought to be ashamed of themselves. And yet, those

...