December 28, 2014
Morning Service

II Tim. 4

 

            We have gone from the beginning of the Lord’s church, through the Acts of the Apostles.  Seeing the Apostle Paul converted to Christianity, from Judaism.  We saw how God entrusted two thirds of our New Testament to the writing of Paul.  We saw Paul’s missionary journeys, his establishing the churches where ever he went. 

            After the churches were established, and growing, they needed some instructions, and guidelines.  This is why we went from the Book of Acts to the letters of Paul to Timothy.  One of the main scriptures that leaps out at us is;  1Ti 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.  Paul has written in these two letters the instructions that God wants us to have.  This morning we will finish Paul’s writings to Timothy, and next week, the Lord willing, we will begin with the letter to Titus.

 

Paul begins this final chapter with a charge to Timothy, and all who would minister the Word of God.

 

2Ti 4:1-22  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;  (2)  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 

·         Jesus will judge the alive, and the dead at His coming, and His kingdom.

·         Preach the Word:  According to Peter God has given us all things that pertain to life, and Godliness, and we accept it as our Bible.

·         Paul also in IITim 3:16 says that all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instructions in righteousness, that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

·         Be instant in season and out of season;  As Peter said, “and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”   Always be ready to proclaim the gospel good news.

·         REPROVE;  REPROVED, pp. Blamed; reprehended; convinced of a fault.

·         REBUKE:  To chasten; to punish; to afflict for correction.

·         EXHORT:  To deliver exhortation; to use words or arguments to incite to good deeds.

·         WITH ALL LONGSUFFERING: to be patient; not easily provoked.

·         DOCTRINE:  The truths of the gospel in general.      And we will get a another look at sound doctrine when we get into Titus.

So now we can see that the Bible is what is to be learned, taught, and shared.

 

NOW PAUL TELLS THE REASON FOR THE CHARGE:

 

(3)  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  (4)  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 

·         It means that if you let the congregation choose the Pastor some congregations will choose a Pastor that will tell them what they want to hear, rather than teach them the Word of God.

·         FABLE, v.t. To feign; to invent; to devise and speak of, as true or real.

(5)  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 

·         Be alert, know what’s going on around you.  Keep going through afflictions.  Be a traveling preacher.  Fulfil your calling to be a minister of the Word.

PAUL NOW SPEAKS OF HIS DEATH:

 

(6)  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  (7)  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  (8)  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 

·         Paul says, by my giving up all, and being faithful to my calling, the Lord will reward me accordingly, when He comes back for His church.  This is way we all should feel.

(9)  Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:  (10)  For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica;

·         Demas, who at one time was a faithful follower of Christ, and companion of Paul, has chosen the world over Christ.

Crescens to Galatia,

·         This is the only place that this man is mentioned.

Titus unto Dalmatia. 

·         One who Paul writes another Pastorial Epistle too.

(11)  Only Luke is with me.

·         This is Paul’s last imprisonment, and faithful Luke stays by his side.

Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. 

·         This same Mark that Paul refused to take him on his second, and third trips with him.

(12)  And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. 

·         Eph 6:21  But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:

(13)  The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.  (14)  Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:  (15)  Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.  (16)  At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.  (17)  Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.  (18)  And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

·         A mighty man of God, whom one day we will meet.

(19)  Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.  (20)  Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.  (21)  Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.  (22)  The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. The second epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.

 

Almighty God, let all of us be able to say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”  amen.