You can’t stop this

2 Timothy 2:7-9 {7} Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. {8} Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, {9} for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.


Cynthia Kersey is a self help motivator, life coach, and speaker. Her organization, Unstoppable, has assisted Fortune 500 Companies, as well as individuals from all walks of life on how to create what she calls, “unstoppable success.” Her 30 day Unstoppable Challenge includes a 10 CD set with instructional and informational audio coaching sessions. You can even get a daily email from Kersey for personal encouragement and inspiration. Unstoppable sounds pretty good. An unstoppable power could change you and change the world.


There are times in our lives when we are stopped dead in our tracks
I guess if there is someone who could use a little encouragement at a time of discouragement it would be a good thing to have a friend like Cynthia. A little heartache might be overcome by the healing salve of an encourager, but sometimes real problems need more than a life coach or a Hallmark card has to offer. Paul was at such a time in his life. Abandoned by many he had preached to in the past and now imprisoned awaiting his execution, is it hard to imagine that any person in such a place could feel unstoppable. Many within the church feel that we are surely imprisoned by a future that shows little optimism and hope for the vitality of our faith. But in Paul’s writing we see that the death row resident of today has not given up hope on the future life of tomorrow. Where does such an unstoppable power come from?


Unstoppable power does not come from us because we are stoppable
{7} Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
In the preceding verses Paul gave us 3 illustrations of faithfulness and commitment, the soldier, the athlete, and the farmer. Each of these individuals are great examples of people who stick to their jobs to achieve the goals of their vocation. They are not quitters at difficult times. But among the greatest of heroe's physical ability eventually fades. Personal failures bring down even those who have reached the highest pinnacles of success. The kind of power Paul is talking about is not found in human strength and ability.


Nothing can stop Jesus – He is unstoppable
{8} Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, …
The most significant power of the universe is a power which cannot be gauged by instruments of human assessment. The equalizer for all men is death. Want to see someone stop? By every indication of measure, death stops us all. You can’t do much if you are dead. Jesus overcame death. His victory over the grave is valid proof of his unstoppable ability.


God’s … Word goes beyond us even when we are stopped
{8} … according to my gospel, {9} for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.


So how does this unstoppable power work in our lives as we guard the Gospel?


We must own the Gospel for ourselves
The amazing thing about Guarding the Gospel is that God has placed his own power within our hands for safekeeping. Paul states that the story of Jesus which he preached had become something he himself owned. He calls it, “ … my gospel.”


We must be willing to endure for the sake of the unsaved
Paul was more than willing to undergo any hardship for people to hear and respond to the Gospel. I often wonder how Paul would feel if he had an understanding of the far reaching influence of his ministry.


We must remember that we preach a message that will outlast us
Paul knew that when he died in prison, the message of the Gospel would not die with him. From both his words and his actions we see a faith in the eternal significance in the Gospel story.


PRAYER:
Lord, help me to know that my strength is limited. Help me also to know that your Word is unstoppable. Let me hide your Word in my heart and let me proclaim your unstoppable message to my friends, my family, and to the uttermost parts of the earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.