2 Timothy 2:8-9 1

 “8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:  9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.” 2 “…the word of God is not bound”

 1. How the apostle suffered (v. 9): Wherein I suffer as an evil-doer; and let not Timothy the son expect any better treatment than Paul…Paul was a man who did good, and yet suffered as an evil-doer: we must not think it strange if those who do well fare ill in this world, and if the best of men meet with the worst of treatment; but this was his comfort that the word of God was not bound. Persecuting powers may silence ministers and restrain them, but they cannot hinder the operation of the word of God upon men's hearts and consciences; that cannot be bound by any human force…The apostle suffered trouble unto bonds, and afterwards he resisted unto blood, striving against sin, (Heb. 12:4). Though the preachers of the word are often bound, yet the word is never bound. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” 3 “…the word of God is not bound”

 For ages, skeptics have attempted to destroy or restrict God’s word.  Atiochus Epiphanes, ruler in Syria in 175B.C. ◦ Destroyed the temple ◦ Sold the people of Israel into slavery ◦ Attempted to destroy the sacred writings of the Jews 4 “…the word of God is not bound”

 Roman Emperor Diocletian ◦ Decreed death to anyone who owned a copy of the Bible ◦ Boasted he completely “exterminated the Christian writings from the face the earth.”  When Constantine was on the throne, he desired copies of the Bible be brought to him.  50 copies brought within 25 hours  Voltaire ◦ Famous French infidel, boasted that in a 100 years the Bible would not exist ◦ The press he used to print infidel literature was later used to print Bibles ◦ The house he lived in was later used to store Bibles for distribution by the Geneva Bible Society 5 “…the word of God is not bound”

 Robert Ingersoll ◦ Famous American atheist of the 1800’s ◦ While holding up a Bible he boasted, “In fifteen years I will have this book in a morgue.” ◦ Within 15 years, Ingersoll was in a morgue  Atheist today ◦ Predict that the Bible will be eradicated from the world  But……… 6 “…the word of God is not bound”

 “22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:  23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away  25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you” - 1 Peter 1: “…the word of God is not bound”

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 God will’s is that it abides forever! ◦ 1 Peter 1:22-25  Paul declared the POWER of the gospel ◦ Rom. 1:16-17  Parable of the Sower ◦ Matthew 13:1-9; Luke 8:4-8 ◦ “...the seed is the word of God” - Luke 8:11 ◦ Seeds may not be planted for decades, but when planted they produce fruit  “some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred”  Mark 4:20 ◦ This is the power! 9 “…the word of God is not bound”

 First Century Church ◦ Acts 8:1-4  Preaching can take place any where & any time - Mk. 16:20; 2 Tim. 4:3 ◦ In a chariot - Acts 8:26-40 ◦ In the synagogues of Galilee - Lk. 4:44 ◦ In villages - Acts 8:25 ◦ In a ship - Lk. 5:3 ◦ In a prison - Acts 16:25-34 ◦ By the sea side - Mk. 2:13 ◦ An upper chamber - Acts 20: “…the word of God is not bound” “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” - Mk. 16:15

 “8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.  9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.  10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:  11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” - Isa. 55: “…the word of God is not bound”

12 “…the word of God is not bound”

 It Cannot Be Robbed of its Power!  Preaching Cannot Be Restricted!  It Will Not Return Void! 13 “…the word of God is not bound”

 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” - John 5:24  “…If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” - Jn. 8:32,33 14 “…the word of God is not bound”

 “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” - John 12:48  “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name” - Rev. 3:8 15 “…the word of God is not bound”

 “6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you,  7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,  8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” - NKJV ◦ Thess. 1:6-9 “…the word of God is not bound” 16