December 1, 2019
Morning Service

We are now nearing the end of Paul’s last letter he wrote to his beloved spiritual son Timothy.  You can begin to feel the urgency in his writing as he tries to both instruct and encourage young Timothy to carry on the ministry that he has so diligently given his life to.  He warns us right up front that those who choose to live for Christ “will suffer persecution”. He prophesied that “in the last days perilous times will come.”  He was right on as he said men will become “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying its power.” We can see this coming to pass here in our society and we are told to “turn away” from such people.

 He then emphatically stressed the great importance of the Word of God in our lives.  With the aid of the Holy Spirit, the scriptures will speak to you guiding, encouraging, and even rebuking you.  Paul said it like this:

2Ti 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (17) that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

            To become the complete follower of Jesus that we desire to be, we must study and live by this inspired Word of God.  It is our road map to pleasing our Savior or we maybe should call it a treasure map to our true happiness and contentment. When he says we are fully equipped (trained) for every good work this means we have been made useful, suitable or appropriate to carry out these tasks; a tool for Him to use.  This equipping comes with an expectation that this knowledge and training will be put into action in our lives.  The Word changes us to be all that God designed us to be, if we yield our will to His.  Bible study leads to Bible living and doing.

 

2Ti 4:1-2 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: (2) Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

            First, notice how Paul backs up this charge; “before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom.”  He is taking this, one of his final points to Timothy, extremely serious.  The charge is for Timothy to “preach the word” and as the NLT states it “be persistent whether the time is favorable or not.”  To those of us who are called to preach and teach the Word of God, I picture Paul standing up red faced with his finger pointed at us demanding that we obey our calling and continue to preach the truth.  I can also see this as a calling to all of us who are following Jesus and members of His Body reminding us to fulfill the Great Commission given to us by Jesus Himself.

 

Mat 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  (19)  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

            This is our “mission statement” as a unified body of believers and dedicated followers of Jesus (the church); to make disciples, baptizing them into the church and the teaching them the manner of life we are to live to please Christ.  Equipping them to join us in our mission to be sure that those who are lost are found.  Our purpose is to “preach the word” to all the world so they may come to the saving knowledge that Jesus is the Christ the living Son of God who takes away the sins of the world including theirs if they will only believe.  This is our focus as a church and needs to be our focus as individuals as well.  Paul is strongly encouraging us to not lose that focus of making disciples with the busyness of life.  Keep Christ first in your life in everything.  By living in this manner we will always be ready and not too busy to share the good news of Christ with those around us Peter put it like this in his first letter:

 

1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

            We discussed the meaning of the word “sanctify” a few weeks ago; it means “to set apart.”  Our hearts are to be set apart for His service and being always aware and looking for opportunities to share the “reason for the hope that is in you.”  When you live out your faith in front of this world, people will notice.  What a joyful moment it is when someone comes to you and asks that question; “what makes you different?”  Preaching the word can be simply telling your story of what Christ has done for you.  Your own personal testimony is the most powerful message you can share with someone else.  This is where I was heading before meeting Jesus, and now I am in a much better place.  If He can do that for me, He can do it for you as well!  This message needs to be always ready for us to share as Paul said “in season or out of season.”  It should be something we share with confidence and gratitude in a loving, respectful, and humble spirit.  It is the purpose in which we were created.  If you don’t share this wonderful offer of sins forgiven and salvation with those around you, then who will?  Paul summed up the offer and what we are to do about it well in his Roman letter for us:

 

Romans 10:13-15 For "WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED."  (14)  How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?  (15)  And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE, WHO BRING GLAD TIDINGS OF GOOD THINGS!"

            My desire is that we all have “beautiful feet!”  Go and “preach the word” to those you who cross your path in your life’s journey by allowing God to “sanctify” your heart by obeying His Word.  How will they ever know that God loves them if we don’t tell them so?  Will they believe us if we are not modeling it in our lives?  We are to be the voice of truth in this world of chaos and confusion. This season of Christmas is an excellent time to be sharing your faith with others.  He is the Reason for the Season.  Let these verses be sanctified in your heart throughout this holiday season and be given opportunities to be shared.

 

Luke 2:10-11 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  (11)  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

 

Joh 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  (17)  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Heavenly Father grant us a thirst for Your Word, a hunger to obey it, and a desire to “preach the Word” at all times.