1. DIY
Do It Yourself
(But Not Alone)

2. Do It Yourself (But Not Alone)
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15)
But not alone (Acts 17:27; Heb. 13:17a)
I. 2 Tim. 2:15 present yourself approved to God
A. Be diligent
1. spoudazo- 4: 9 (diligent), 21 (utmost) = do your best
2. What should you diligently do to have God’s approval?
a. be a Christian (2 Cor. 10:18; Acts 2:38)—not everyone who says they have God’s approval does.
b. then what? consider, assemble with, exhort each other; read and pray every day; etc.? Paul says---
B. A worker who does not need to be ashamed
1. Jesus taught that God approves of diligent workers (Matt)
a. fishermen (4:19), builder (7:24-27), laborer in harvest (9:37), financial stewards (25:14ff)
b. What shows your diligent work to your master, lord, boss—God?
i. He looks at your thoughts and deeds, hoping to find diligence.
ii. Tuesday, Brett challenged us to “stand in our place,” each do our work.
2. shame or confidence? 1 Jn. 3:20-21
a. v20 when we know we seek our parents’, spouse’s, coach’s, boss’, or own approval, God knows.
b. v21 when we are aware of no guilt, we do not have to be ashamed but are confident God is pleased.
C. rightly dividing the word of truth
1. rightly divide lit means “to make a straight cut”; contrast with “twist the Scriptures” (2 Pet. 3:16)
2. someone who is thoughtful and careful with the word of truth
a. like you would be with the instruction manual for your child’s bicycle
b. like you hope your pharmacist is when reading and preparing your prescription
c. as you hope your surgeon was when studying anatomy and surgery
3. Our diligence to know His words = our diligence to know Him.
a. What does your interest in Bible study say about your interest in God?
D. No one can do it for you, but God (Acts 17:27) and His church (Heb. 13:17a) are working toward the goal of helping you have God’s approval.

3. Do It Yourself (But Not Alone)
. . . (Jude 20-21)
building yourselves up (v20; 1 Pet. 2:2)
praying in the Spirit (v20; 1 Thess. 5:17)
II. Jude 21 keep yourselves in the love of God
A. In verse 19, Jude warns that some will cause sinful division
1. They cause separation where there ought to be unity
2. They may separate themselves from brethren and sometimes cause others to do the same.
B. But you beloved… building yourselves up (v20)
1. You have to build yourself up! Dad, mom, evangelist, friend, class teacher, etc cannot make you grow just like they cannot make you become a Christian.
2. 1 Pet. 2:2
a. desire the word- long to see you (Ro.1:11), earnestly desiring (2 Cor. 5:2), how greatly I long (Phil. 1:8)
b. as a newborn baby- have it regularly, notice when you don’t have it, and enjoy it when you do
c. This only happens when I deeply want to be built up, keeping myself in…
C. But you beloved… praying in the Spirit
1. prayer is ongoing (1 Thess. 5:17)
2. in the Spirit is similar to other NT sayings which emphasize God as the source of what we do—
a. Spirit: walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:25), baptized in the name of the Spirit (Mt. 28:19)
b. Son: obey in the Lord (Eph. 6:1), bapt in name of the Son (Mt. 28:19)
c. Father: rejoice in God (Rom. 5:11); baptized in the name of the Father (Mt. 28:19)
3. No one else can plan time for prayer in your day, gather your family for daily prayers, make you pray when you get good or bad news—you have to keep yourself in…
D. No one can do it for you, but God (1 Pet. 1:5) and His church (Eph. 4:3) will help keep you in...

4. “in the Spirit” Spirit: walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:25)
baptized in the name of the Spirit (Mt. 28:19)
Son:
obey in the Lord (Eph. 6:1)
baptized in name of the Son (Mt. 28:19)
Father:
rejoice in God (Rom. 5:11)
baptized in the name of the Father (Mt. 28:19)

5. Do It Yourself (But Not Alone)
. . . (Jude 20-21)
building yourselves up (v20; 1 Pet. 2:2)
praying in the Spirit (v20; 1 Thess. 5:17)
keep yourselves in the love of God, (Jude 1:21)
But not alone (1 Pet. 1:5; Eph. 4:3)
II. Jude 21 keep yourselves in the love of God
A. In verse 19, Jude warns that some will cause sinful division
1. They cause separation where there ought to be unity
2. They may separate themselves from brethren and sometimes cause others to do the same.
B. But you beloved… building yourselves up (v20)
1. You have to build yourself up! Dad, mom, evangelist, friend, class teacher, etc cannot make you grow just like they cannot make you become a Christian.
2. 1 Pet. 2:2
a. desire the word- long to see you (Ro.1:11), earnestly desiring (2 Cor. 5:2), how greatly I long (Phil. 1:8)
b. as a newborn baby- have it regularly, notice when you don’t have it, and enjoy it when you do
c. This only happens when I deeply want to be built up, keeping myself in…
C. But you beloved… praying in the Spirit
1. prayer is ongoing (1 Thess. 5:17)
2. in the Spirit is similar to other NT sayings which emphasize God as the source of what we do—
a. Spirit: walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:25), baptized in the name of the Spirit (Mt. 28:19)
b. Son: obey in the Lord (Eph. 6:1), bapt in name of the Son (Mt. 28:19)
c. Father: rejoice in God (Rom. 5:11); baptized in the name of the Father (Mt. 28:19)
3. No one else can plan time for prayer in your day, gather your family for daily prayers, make you pray when you get good or bad news—you have to keep yourself in…
D. No one can do it for you, but God (1 Pet. 1:5) and His church (Eph. 4:3) will help keep you in...

6. Do It Yourself (But Not Alone)
Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you (1 Tim. 4:16)
Yourself
Doctrine 1 Tim. 1:3, 10-11; 4:1, 6, 13, 16; :17; 6:3
IV. 1 Tim. 4:16 save yourself
A. Continue taking heed to yourself
1. Js. 1:23-26
a. v23-24, 26
i. This person continues to “take heed” to the word but not to himself
ii. Satan is keen at getting us to take heed to: others’ sin not mine, other ideas especially if they let me do what I want, the present not the future, what is less important while neglecting what is more important.
b. v25 this person regularly looks at the mirror to examine himself
2. Continue
a. You “took heed to yourself” when you became a Christian (aka “soul searching”).
b. Do you continue to search yourself like you once did, when your conscience challenges you?
B. Continue taking heed to doctrine
1. The importance of doctrine: 1:3, 10-11; 4:1, 6, 13, 16; 5:17; 6:3
a. Is doctrine important?
b. men have redefined “doctrine” and created their own list of topics which they call doctrine.
- example of Deb calling a congr and being told about the service that avoided doctrine
c. 1:10-11 sound doctrine is according to the glorious gospel
2. Keep learning
a. teachings you did not know before (Acts 19:5)
b. comparing what you believe with what you read—you might be wrong (Acts 18:26)
c. teachings that have new application as life changes
i. Ti. 2:1-8 taking heed to this at age 15, 45, 75 applies in very different ways
ii. family changes, brethren grow stronger or weaker, I prosper or suffer, all require me to keep learning.
d. examples (1 Tim): one true doctrine (1:5-6), purpose of law (1:8-11), need for prayer (2:1-8), need for women to dress in and profess godliness (2:9-15), qualified bishops and deacons (3:1-13), danger of false doctrines (4:1-5), evangelist’s work (4:6-16), family and church duty to widows (5:1-16), contentment (6), etc.
C. No one can do it for you, but God (Rom. 1:16) and His church (Jude 22; Js. 5:19-20) have an ongoing interest in you being saved at the end. Does your interest match theirs?

7. Doctrine (1 Timothy) one true doctrine (1:5-6) purpose of law (1:8-11)
need for prayer (2:1-8)
women showing, professing godliness (2:9-15)
qualified bishops and deacons (3:1-13)
danger of false doctrines (4:1-5)
evangelist’s work (4:6-16)
family and church duty to widows (5:1-16)
contentment (6)

8. Do It Yourself (But Not Alone)
Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you (1 Tim. 4:16)
But not alone (Rom. 1:16; Eph. 4:4)
IV. 1 Tim. 4:16 save yourself
A. Continue taking heed to yourself
1. Js. 1:23-26
a. v23-24, 26
i. This person continues to “take heed” to the word but not to himself
ii. Satan is keen at getting us to take heed to: others’ sin not mine, other ideas especially if they let me do what I want, the present not the future, what is less important while neglecting what is more important.
b. v25 this person regularly looks at the mirror to examine himself
2. Continue
a. You “took heed to yourself” when you became a Christian (aka “soul searching”).
b. Do you continue to search yourself like you once did, when your conscience challenges you?
B. Continue taking heed to doctrine
1. The importance of doctrine: 1:3, 10-11; 4:1, 6, 13, 16; 5:17; 6:3
a. Is doctrine important?
b. men have redefined “doctrine” and created their own list of topics which they call doctrine.
- example of Deb calling a congr and being told about the service that avoided doctrine
c. 1:10-11 sound doctrine is according to the glorious gospel
2. Keep learning
a. teachings you did not know before (Acts 19:5)
b. comparing what you believe with what you read—you might be wrong (Acts 18:26)
c. teachings that have new application as life changes
i. Ti. 2:1-8 taking heed to this at age 15, 45, 75 applies in very different ways
ii. family changes, brethren grow stronger or weaker, I prosper or suffer, all require me to keep learning.
d. examples (1 Tim): one true doctrine (1:5-6), purpose of law (1:8-11), need for prayer (2:1-8), need for women to dress in and profess godliness (2:9-15), qualified bishops and deacons (3:1-13), danger of false doctrines (4:1-5), evangelist’s work (4:6-16), family and church duty to widows (5:1-16), contentment (6), etc.
C. No one can do it for you, but God (Rom. 1:16) and His church (Jude 22; Js. 5:19-20) have an ongoing interest in you being saved at the end. Does your interest match theirs?

9. Do It Yourself (But Not Alone)
What is God doing for you?
What is your response to God?