Suffering Connected With the Deposit — Stephen Kaung

The Charge to Be Strong in Christ

Will you please turn to 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 1. 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 1. Thou therefore my child be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus and the things thou has heard of me in the presence of many witnesses.

Be and trust to faithful men such as shall be competent to instruct others also. Take thy share in suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one going as a soldier entangles himself with the affairs of life that he may please him who has enlisted him as a soldier and if also anyone contained in the game he is not crowned unless he contains lawfully.

The husband must labor before partaking of the fruit. Think of what I say for the Lord will give you understanding in all things. Remember Jesus Christ raised from among the dead of the seed of David according to my glad tiding in which I suffer even unto bond as an evil doer but the Word of God is not bound.

For this cause I endure all things for the sake of the elect that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The Word is faithful for if we have died together with him we shall also live together.

If we endure we shall also reign together. If we deny he also will deny us. If we are unfaithful he remains faithful for he cannot deny himself. Chapter 4 verse 1. I testify before God and Christ Jesus who is about to judge living and dead and by his appearing and his kingdom proclaim the word be urgent in season and out of season convict rebuke and courage with all long suffering and doctrine for the time shall be when they will not bear sound teaching but according to their own lusts will keep up to themselves teachers having an itching ear and they will turn away their from the truth and will have turned aside to fables but thou be sober in all things their evils do this work of an evangelist feel of the full measure of thy ministry for I am already being poured out and the time of my release is come I have combated the good combat I have finished the race I have kept the faith henceforth the crown of righteousness is laid up for me which the Lord the righteous judge will render to me in that day but not only to me but also to all who love.

Paul's Final Letter in a Time of Decline

Last night we began to fellowship on this second letter to Timothy. Of course we all know that this is the last of all the letters written by Paul as we find in the scripture. Most likely he wrote this letter shortly before his martyrdom.

Of course we do not know the exact of how he died but being a Roman citizen he was not to be tortured to death. You know if he wasn't a Roman citizen probably he will be crucified or he will be subject to all kinds of torture but being a Roman citizen he was not to be tortured to death.

So the common tradition of the death of Paul was he was beheaded. That was the common tradition and most likely he was correct. He wrote this letter just shortly before he was beheaded and he wrote this letter to his son Timothy.

We mentioned last night that it was not just a letter expressing that human affection between Paul and Timothy. Paul had great love for Timothy and this was of course repaid by Timothy to Paul and as his last wish on earth before he died he would like to see Timothy once again.

But we believe that in this letter it was more than just an expression of human affection of the highest purest kind but we believe that this letter is preserved as the scripture for us today. In a sense when Paul wrote this letter the situation at that time had greatly changed.

The Roman Empire began to exert all its forces to wipe out the Christians. To be a Christian is considered to be a crime to the nation and because of this Paul was taken into prison waiting to be tried finally and sentenced and many many Christians have fallen away.

There was corruption within and there was pressure without and even Paul in the work of God, demons, he loved the world and let him at that time. So you can see the whole situation of the church. Whether the testimony of Jesus was able to withstand the pressure of the hour and to continue on or whether it were just was something in the valley.

The old warrior was passing away and the torch of the testimony of Jesus had to be handed to younger ones and Timothy of course will be the one among the many others who will carry on the torch of the testimony of Jesus.

And for this reason Paul wrote this letter to Timothy to encourage him to go on. Now dear brothers and sisters in a sense we are living at the end of the last days. Our situation today is not in any sense better than what Paul encountered in his last days.

We see corruption within Christianity. We see falling away on all sides. Many who were faithful to the Lord seem to have fallen away. We are living in an abnormal time and I think we need to know whether the Lord has some word for us for this abnormal days.

You know when Paul wrote 1st Timothy, even though the situation of the church at that time was already going down, Ephesus was not as it was before. And yet it was still the house of God. The church of the living God.

The pillar and the base of the truth. But within a few years the situation was completely changed. And you find Paul no longer mentioned the church as the church of the living God. Instead in 2nd Timothy he called it a great house.

Now we will get into that probably tonight. But anyway you'll find that there was such a change. And when everything was changing, what should we do? As to be considered faithful unto the Lord. And I believe 2nd Timothy was written with that in mind.

And how I do thank the Lord for that short letter. Now last night we fellowshiped on just one point. As to how to meet the abnormal situation of our days. The first thing was we need to see a deposit.

The Deposit Entrusted to Christ

Paul said I know whom I have believed. And I'm fully persuaded that he is able to keep the deposit. That I am trusting him for that day. In other words, when everything is changing and falling away, the one thing that will really sustain us is to know that we know whom we believe.

And we have already committed ourselves as a deposit in Christ. And because we have deposited ourselves in Christ, he is able to keep us safe and sound until that day. That is the day of his death. And this is where our security is.

But at the same time we mention that this deposit is of two sides. On the one side, we have deposited ourselves in Christ for him to keep. But on the other hand, he has deposited himself in us for us to keep through the days of trial.

We need to remember that our Lord Jesus has deposited himself in the church. The gospel. The faith. That which we have heard. That which we have seen. That which we have experienced. That which we have received of Christ.

That constitutes a kind of divine deposit. And this is deposited in us for us to keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells. So we have a tremendous responsibility. On the one hand, we have such a great privilege that we can deposit ourselves in Christ and be found safe and sound.

But on the other hand, we have a great responsibility, especially when everything is being challenged. Everything seems to be shaken. And this is the time that our responsibility becomes the greatest.

Knowing that Christ has been deposited in us. And how we need to be faithful to that deposit. It is not the time for us to neglect our responsibility. It is not the time for us to flee from our responsibility.

It is not the time for us to compromise. It is the time that we need to be faithful to that which we have seen and heard of Christ. But of course, we mentioned last night, where is the power? The power is not in us.

It is in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells in us. And by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can keep that deposit until that day. And this is what you'll find happens to the Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul was able to keep that deposit to the very end.

Not because of the trying times. Not because of the difficulties. He tried to compromise. But he was faithful to the very end. So he encouraged Timothy. Now this morning we would like to go on to some other points.

Suffering as the Cost of Keeping the Deposit

The next point we would like to consider together is this matter of suffering. The deposit is always connected. God has deposited Christ in us. And this very deposit carries with it, so here you'll find in 2 Timothy, the whole atmosphere of that letter gives us a sense.

Now of course with Paul, it was very evident. Why? Because of that deposit. Because of the testimony of the Lord. Because of the gospel. Paul was put into that. And he suffered as an evildoer. He was considered by the Roman Empire as a criminal.

As a wicked person. He was looked down upon by the people at that time as an evil one. He suffered for the gospel. But he said he was not a sinner. He was not a sinner. Now dear brothers and sisters, this is what Paul needs in Philippians.

To know him, that is to know Christ. And to know the power of his resurrection. Now this is beautiful. I think we would like to know Christ. We certainly would like to know the power of his resurrection.

And often times we think that if we only know him and the power of his resurrection, then everything will be good. We can live by the power of his resurrection. That will make us really spiritual. That will really put us somewhere.

That will be good. But Paul says, to know him and to know the power of his resurrection and the fellowship, being conformed to his death, that I may arise at the out resurrection from among the dead. So here you find to know Christ and the power of his resurrection is always connected with the fellowship of his salvation, conforming to his death.

That is the other point. Often times we think more of to know him and the power of his resurrection. Often times we feel well if only he would deposit himself in us richly. And how good that will be. We want to know him.

We want to have more of him. We want him to deposit himself in us abundantly. That is our spiritual pursuit. But do we know that? The more you have of him, the more abundant is that deposit. The more suffering you are called into fellowship.

There is no escape from the fellowship of his salvation. Now of course the sufferings of Christ are many. There is one kind of suffering which we have absolutely no share. When Christ died on the cross as the atoning sacrifice, he is alone.

We can have no fellowship with him. The sinless become sin. And in that suffering, intense suffering, we cannot have any fellowship with him. Why? Because he alone bore in his body all the sins. He alone was the substitute and he alone was crushed even by God.

So when he cried out, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? He was all alone. In that sense, there was no fellowship. He was alone. We reap the benefits of that suffering. And because of that suffering, our sins are atoned.

But there are many other aspects of his suffering that we are called into fellowship with. When he was on earth, he suffered much for righteousness, for the sake of being right, for the sake of the will of the Father.

Oh how he must. He suffered at the hands of man because he will not go along with the will, with the traditions of the Father. Because he had to obey the Father. He had to do the things that were righteous in the sight of God.

He suffered for that. He suffered because of his intense sympathy and compassion and love for the world. He could live his own life in a careless way, in a free and easy way, but because of his intense compassion upon the world, how he must suffer.

He must suffer for us, for his church. For his love for the church, he suffered in order to give birth. So you find that in his suffering, there are many aspects in which we are called into fellowship.

And as those who have the deposit, we have to suffer for that deposit. We have to suffer for the gospel. We have to suffer for righteousness sake. We have to suffer because we are one with him in his, and we have to suffer to fill in that which is behind of the affliction of Christ for his body's sake, that is, for the sake of the church.

So in these respects, you find that we are called into suffering. And brothers and sisters, especially as we are living in such an abnormal time, do not think that anyone who wants to live piously can escape.

Paul said, I am not ashamed of my suffering. You know, naturally speaking, we don't like to suffer. So far as our flesh is concerned, so far as the natural is concerned, we don't like to suffer. We like to live easily, happily, comfortably.

We shrink from any kind of suffering. That is our natural reaction. There is nothing unnatural in it. I mean, that's natural. That's just natural. Who wants to suffer? Who wants to go into pain? Nobody wants it.

That is our natural thing. And in a sense, we feel that to suffer is a shameful thing. And that is natural too. When we see someone who lives smoothly and easily and prosperously, to us, it almost looks like a glorious life.

But if we should see someone who is in suffering, in pain, in sorrow and all kinds of things, it does appear to us as something shameful. That is natural. But here you find Paul said, I am not ashamed of my bondage.

I am not ashamed of my suffering. Why? Because he knows what he suffers for. So I think it makes a great difference if we know what we suffer for. Not all sufferings are shameful. Some sufferings are shameful.

But there are sufferings that are glorious if we know what they are. You know, not only Paul realizes that, but if you read 1 Peter, you will find he says the same thing. In 1 Peter 4, verse 14, If you are reproached in the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God rest upon you.

On their part he is blessed, but on your part he is glorified. Let none of you suffer indeed as murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or an overseer of other people's matters. But if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but glorify God in his name.

Here you find Peter said, if you are reproached in the name of Christ. It is just because of the name of Christ. Nothing else. Because you name the name of Christ. Because you belong to Christ. And for that reason you are reproached.

He said, blessed are you, happy are you. Why? Because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God rest upon you. Isn't that strange? When a person is being reproached, we will say the spirit of shame is upon him.

He feels shameful if he is reproached. But here you will find the reaction of a Christian is different. When a Christian is being reproached for the name of Christ, he is happy for it. Why? Because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God rest upon him.

And you will find this happens in the book of Acts. You remember when the apostles were being taken into prison, and the angel opened the doors of the prison gate, of the prison, and let them out. And they went to the temple and proclaimed the name of Christ.

And so the council took them again, and asked them that they had forbidden them to speak the name of Christ, and why should they do it? And Peter said, to obey God or to obey men. We have to obey God.

And they didn't know what to do with them, so they just threatened them and let them go. And when they went to their own, they glorified the Lord, that they were considered as worthy to be reproached for that name.

So here you will find, if you are reproached for the name of Christ, not for any other reason, the glory, the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God will rest upon you. On their part he is blessed. They blessed him, the Lord.

But on your part he is glorified. The Lord is glorified. Let none of you suffer indeed as murderer or thief or evildoer, or an overseer of other people's matters. In other words, if we suffer because we have done something evil, there is no glory there.

It is sinful. It is sinful. But if we suffer because we are Christians, as a Christian, let him not be a sinner, but glorify God in this way. So here you will find there is a difference. There is a difference.

If we suffer because of our sin, of our wickedness, of our evil, of our fault, there is a sin there. But if we suffer for the gospel's sake, if we suffer for Christ's sake, if we suffer because we are Christians, we need to know what we suffer for.

And if we know what we suffer for, then we will not be a sinner. We will not be a sinner. Now, of course, we shouldn't develop a kind of persecution complex, you know. It's very easy for us to develop a negative, passive persecution complex as if, well, we are being persecuted, you know.

That is very negative, unhealthy, unhealthy. And yet we need to have a mind. We may not be called into physical suffering, like many today are already called into that kind of suffering. We do not know.

But whether there will be physically, there will be persecution, there will be suffering for the sake of being Christians or not, we do not know. But one thing is important, and that is we must have the mind.

And here you'll find in 1 Peter, he mentions again this matter of the mind to suffer. 1 Peter 4, verse 1. Christ then having suffered for us in the flesh, do ye also arm yourselves with the same mind, for he that has suffered in the flesh has done with sin.

As Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same mind. In other words, we need to have the mind. You know, if you do not have the will to suffer, if you do not have the mind to suffer, when suffering comes, it becomes very difficult.

Because you don't expect. You think it is strange. You think that you shouldn't suffer. But if you have the mind to suffer, then when suffering shall come, it is expected. It is nothing strange. And it makes suffering much easier.

So brothers and sisters, as we are living in such abnormal times, I think we need to develop a certain mind. It is the mind of Christ. What is the mind of Christ? In Philippians, the mind of Christ is humility.

You remember Paul said, let this mind be in you which is in Christ Jesus. And what is this mind? This mind is humility. That is to say, Christ who is equal with God, he emptied himself, he became a man, and he humbled himself, and he was obedient to the Father even unto death, and that is the death of the cross.

That is humility. We need to have the mind of Christ, which is humility, in us. But in 1 Peter chapter 4, the mind of Christ is... We need not only to have humility in us, but we need to have the will to suffer.

The mind to suffer. We are ready. We are prepared to suffer. For Christ's sake, for being Christians, we are all ready for that. And this is our arm, our weapon. How can we fight the good fight of faith?

We need that mind. It will make our suffering much easier. Much easier. It will make our suffering bearable. Otherwise you will find suffering becomes less. Why must we suffer? Because we have this deposit.

We suffer not for our faith. We suffer for Christ. For the sake of the elect, Paul says. In other words, for the sake that the others may be completed in Christ. To feel of that which is behind of the affliction, and how important.

Of course, when you read the book of Martyrs, Hawke's book of Martyrs, you will find there is one instance of Polycath. Polycath was at that time the bishop, the overseer in the church in Smyrna. And being a very old man, he was well known, not only among the Christians, but by the world.

A respectful, honored old man. But when the persecution broke out, they fought for him. And the Christians persuaded him to flee for his life. Because he was so important to them. They wanted him to live for their sake.

And being persuaded, he left the city and hid himself in a hut, in a cottage, somewhere in the village. But unfortunately, someone betrayed him. And the soldiers came to see him. He got the news beforehand.

He could escape. He still could escape. But he didn't feel he could do that. So he waited there for the soldiers to arrive. When the soldiers arrived, he welcomed them. He told them that he was ready to go with them.

But will they give him one hour that he might give himself to prayer. And these soldiers are called. They saw this old man. They said they were sorry. They had to do it. So he asked the people to treat these soldiers with food.

And at the same time, he gave himself to prayer. Oh, he just poured out his heart to the Lord, praying for his church, praying for the testimony of God. And after he finished praying, he said, now I'm ready to go with them.

So they took him. They took him to the... And the council pitied him because he was such an old man. So they were... The council said, you don't need really to deny Christ. The council tried to make it easier for him.

You know? You don't need to deny Christ. Just say something. Make it easy, a way out for you. You don't need to deny Christ. You just say, well, sacrifice something to Caesar. Because Caesar, they worship Caesar.

Why do you risk your life, your soul? I have served the Lord 86 years. He has never... How can I love my life and deny him? So finally he was burned. And it was told that when they build a fire and burn it, the fire was just surrounding him.

He was not burned. So finally a soldier thrust a spear at him and blood came forth and almost quenched the fire. And that's how he died. So brothers and sisters, you find in the history of the church many, many were willing to die.

They had a mind for the sake of. Maybe I can also mention our brother Washman. You know, nobody knew how he died. Even today we didn't know how exactly he died. I had a letter written by his sister-in-law four days after he died.

And of course this sister-in-law was the one who went to gather his ashes. And he wrote on June 6th, 1972. She wrote in that letter. Well, that was how we knew Brother Mee died. And she just mentioned this.

She said he passed away and he was faithful. And then she put at the end of the letter a P .S. Brother Mee was faithful for the sake of the brothers and sisters. And we didn't know what it meant at that time.

But later on news came out that after he was in prison for 20 years he was supposed to be released. But before they were releasing they still wanted him to write a confession and he refused. He refused for the sake of the brothers and sisters.

He wanted to strengthen their faith. And because of that he was sent to a labor camp and there he died. And most probably that was the second death. So brothers and sisters, here you find one thing. We are living in this abnormal unless we have the mind to suffer.

When suffering shall come upon us we will be undone. It is not just a matter of suffering. It is a matter of the mind. If we had the mind to suffer then when suffering comes it wouldn't be that undone.

You will find that. We are not ashamed. It is so to speak. I can mention another instance that came to my notice recently. A friend of mine went back to China to visit his family. His family were all supposed to be Christians.

They were all Christians. Their son was a medical doctor. So when this elderly couple went back they wanted to see how their family stood for Christ. That was their concern. They went back. Outwardly there was nothing.

But they were assured by their family. They were assured by their family saying we have not denied the Lord. We are still Christians. Even though we don't talk about it. We are not able to talk about it.

But we are still Christians. We haven't denied the Lord. And as a proof they showed their parents their identification card. On the identification card they were still labeled. This is the security. The perseverance of the faith.

Perseverance Without Self-Confidence

Brothers and sisters oftentimes we wonder whether we can persevere. And I think it is good for us to consider that. I think it is dangerous if we are self-confident. You know some people think that they so love the Lord that if they should die for the Lord certainly they will die with Him.

Look at people. Oh if everybody will fall away. Not me. Not me. I'm willing to die with you. I'm going to die with you. But what happens? Brothers and sisters as we see the cloud is gathering as we see the storm is coming as we see the whole thing is approaching as we see the path of the road to be a Christian is considered a crime do you think we can escape that?

Suppose it should come to us today are we able to say are you confident? Oh if you are confident you will fall. If anyone thinks that he can stand be careful. Let him fall. But thank God even though there is no confidence in ourselves and yet we do have a place that is secure.

We have a bank. The robber cannot get into it. Nobody can get into it. Our whole relationship with God do you think we can keep it? We are free if we keep it. But if we deposit it in Christ He is able to keep that which we have deposited in Him until that day that we may stand before Him without shame.

It is our keeping. This is our persecution. But dear brothers and sisters the bank cannot keep any deposit if you haven't deposited it. If you put your money in your home and it's stolen you cannot go to the bank and ask.

And if you are labeled as Christian you have lots of inconvenience and that is happening in China now. So dear brothers and sisters I do feel the time is coming and it has come. Just be a Christian. Probably one day will be a crime and certainly when Antichrist shall appear to be a Christian is a crime.

Is a crime. But thank God if we know beforehand that the suffering is connected with the deposit. We have such a marvelous deposit. We have such a precious deposit. And if we suffer for that it is worthwhile.

It is not something to be ashamed of. But when Paul suffered lots of believers were ashamed. All Asia deserved it. They wanted to have nothing to do with him because Paul was considered as a criminal.

And who wanted to befriend a criminal? And to befriend a criminal will be suspected as of the same kind. So therefore you'll find in 2 Timothy Paul mentioned all Asia deserved it. No one will stand with him.

They were ashamed of his suffering. Only Anicetus when he came to Rome he found Paul. He was not afraid. So dear brothers and sisters the time will come when many Christians will be ashamed. They might not deny Christ but they were ashamed.

They will be thinking of but this is the time that we should remember if we have the mind to suffer that will. But again suffering is not the end. God does not want us to suffer. You know? Suffering is a process.

The end is glory. Never make suffering an end. You know? You can develop a suffering complex. You know? And make suffering as the end. Now that is just too bad. Because suffering is just a process. We have to suffer.

Why? Because after we have suffered then we shall enter into glory. You remember after the resurrection of our Lord on the day of his resurrection two disciples they were on the way to Email and the Lord came and talked with them.

They just couldn't understand why Jesus must die. They said all our hope was on him. Now he died. Now that was the end. And the Lord said you are dull. You are foolish. And the Lord began to explain the scripture to them and tell them that the Lord how Christ must suffer and then to enter.

So you find suffering is always connected with glory. If suffering ends in nothing then you suffer in vain. If we sin and we suffer it ends up being nothing. That's in vain. We suffer in vain. But if we suffer for the cause of Christ if we suffer because of the deposit then you'll find there is glory.

Suffering, Glory, and the Coming Kingdom

So Paul mentioned that in 2 Timothy. In 2 Timothy he says faithful is the word. For if we have died together with him we shall also live together. If we endure we shall also reign together. There is the glory in you.

If we suffer with him today we shall reign with him at his appearance. And you'll find this is something connected with suffering. And that is his appearance and his kingdom. You know in the early history of the church when the Christians were persecuted at that time oh they were hunted persecuted during that period we were told when they see each other how did they greet each other?

Now today we greet each other with good morning. Or somebody will greet you to praise the Lord. But in the early days during the time of persecution when the Christians met each other they greeted each other with the Lord is God, the Lord is God.

See that is their strength. When they suffered they thought of the imminent return of the Lord. And the imminent return of the Lord gave them strength and hope. And that's the reason why they could endure all these persecutions.

Because they knew the Lord was God. And here you'll find Paul he has a saying in chapter 4 he said For I am already being poured out and the time of my release is come. I have combated the good combat I have finished the race I have kept the faith henceforth the crown of righteousness is laid up for me which the Lord, the righteous judge will render to me in that day but not only to me but also to all who love him.

Paul said I am already being poured out. You know this is not the first time he mentioned that. Do you remember there is another place where he mentioned being poured out? Philippines. In Philippines chapter 2 verse 17 But if also I am poured out as a libation on the sacrifice and ministration of your faith I rejoice and rejoice in common with you all.

A libation a drink offering you know in the Old Testament when you offer a sacrifice say a sheep or a goat or a bullock or a ram when you offer a sacrifice on the altar with the sacrifice you also offer oblation that is flower and also drink offering you pour wine upon the sacrifice that is the libation the drink offering so Paul said I am poured out as a libation upon the sacrifice and administration of your faith.

In other words here is the church in Philippines and they have faith in the Lord and how they offer themselves to God as a sacrifice and Paul said I am poured out on your sacrifice as a drink offering.

In other words I am helping you to make your sacrifice more acceptable to God because drink offering always speaks of joy of pleasure of rejoicing. In other words I will help you to make your offering your sacrifice a willing sacrifice a sacrifice full of rejoicing and at the same time God loves a cheerful giver so God will receive your sacrifice with joy.

Paul was willing to pour out just to help the church to be more acceptable to God and this is the same thing as to feel in that which is behind of the affliction of Christ for the body of Christ. And now Paul said I am already being poured out.

I pour and pour and pour now I am at the end of the pouring. I pour out myself completely that is the life of Paul. Paul's whole life is a pouring forth. He does not consider himself as so important. He considers himself as just helping out.

You are the sacrifice. All the churches that he labors with they are the sacrifice and he is but the drink offering. He is just helping to make it more acceptable. His whole life is a pouring out life just like our Lord Jesus.

He has not withheld anything. He poured out himself until he was at the end. So when he rose second Timothy said I am already being poured out. Everything is poured. There is nothing left. And the time of my release is coming.

I have finished my calling. Dear brothers and sisters we do thank the Lord that there is a revival of interest in the second coming of Christ among Christians. Everywhere you go you find Christians are interested in second coming.

Lots of new books are being written on second coming and people are all interested. Just yesterday no day before yesterday a young man came to my home and he asked me the question he said is it true that the Jews are rebuilding the temple.

Because it is now reported that the Jews are rebuilding the temple but not in the old temple site. And there are different opinions saying that the old temple site was not the real site. They have now found the real site and they were going to build the temple and so on and so forth.