Priorities For Ministry

Transcript

GRM 1050
1/9/2011
Priorities for Ministry
II Timothy (Overview)
Gil Rugh


I have a copy here of a research group. Over the last year this research group did a survey of Christian churches and came to some conclusions in certain areas about patterns that were evident as a result of their findings in surveying these Christians and churches over the past year. I just want to share some of their findings with you.

The first one was the Christian church is becoming less theologically literate. What used to be basic, universally known truths about Christianity are now unknown mysteries to a large and growing share of Americans, especially young adults. The theological free-for-all that is encroaching in Protestant churches nationwide suggests that the coming decade will be a time of unparalleled theological diversity and inconsistency. And we can expect that will be true. The church is becoming more theologically illiterate, doesn't really know and understand what the Bible says, they become more open to things that are contrary to what the Bible says and it creates a diversity and an inconsistency that further weakens the church.

A second theme they have. Christians are becoming more ingrown and less outreach oriented. And as an example they said, remember they did this survey over the past year, less than one-third of born again Christians plan to invite anyone to join them at a church event during the Easter season. That is significant, usually at Easter and Christmas times when they provide special opportunities for us as believers to invite unsaved family and friends to come and hear the message of Jesus Christ, and yet less than one-third of those who claim to be born again Christians even plan to invite anyone to come. An indication that we're becoming less sensitive to the unbeliever and less focused on reaching out to them with the gospel.

A third theme, growing numbers of people are less interested in spiritual principles and more desirous of learning pragmatic solutions for life. We're all aware of this as a condition that has overtaken even the evangelical church. We don't want to just study doctrine, we don't want to just study the Bible. We want to learn how to deal with life. Give me the necessary lessons for raising teenagers, for having a happy marriage, for being successful at my job. Along this line, when asked what matters most, teenagers prioritize education, career development, friendships and travel. Faith is significant to them but it takes a backseat. We ought to be concerned, we're raising our teenagers to think that the most important thing is their education, their career development and their friends, and then of course travel. Are we as adults modeling for them and impressing upon our teenagers that the most important thing is that you have a true relationship with Jesus Christ, that you live in obedience to Him, that you honor Him. Whether you are rich or poor, educated or uneducated, number 1 in your life must be a commitment to Jesus Christ and serving Him.

I'm interested, sometimes I meet individuals, either I've known them through the church here and they are now in other places, but people I've known, believers. I ask them how the family is doing. And I just am amazed at how often their first response is, they mention the names of their different kids, doing well. They graduated from such-and-such and they got this degree and they got honors and now they have this good job with this company and they are doing so well. And these things go on, but we need to think what is most important, what really matters. We need to stop and think, yes, I'm so thankful to the Lord they know the Lord, they are walking with the Lord, they are serving the Lord.

In this same area of people being more desirous of learning pragmatic solutions for life, among adults the areas of growing importance are lifestyle comfort, success and personal achievements. That ought to be a concern to us. We gave become pragmatic, we become like the world. The most important thing is lifestyle comfort. Not against being comfortable, not against being successful, not against achieving things, but really what are the areas of importance in our lives? Being faithful to the Lord and serving Him. Practical to a fault, Americans consider survival in the present to be much more significant than eternal security and spiritual possibilities.

A fourth theme they have picked up among Christians. Among Christians interested in participating in community action is escalating. Largely driven by the passion and energy of young adults, Christians are more open to and more involved in community service activities than has been true in the recent past. And this particular polling organization thinks that's a good thing. I think it's a reflection of the church becoming more theologically illiterate, less interested in spiritual truth. And so what do we fill the void with? With what the world says is important, with what the world thinks churches should do. Not proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, not tell the reality of sin and salvation, but get involved and do good things. I'm not against helping other people, but what is the ministry of the church? As we become more biblically illiterate, less interested in spiritual things, it follows we become more interested in community action, social programs.

The last one we'll look at is the post-modern insistence on tolerance is winning over the Christian church. Our biblical illiteracy and lack of spiritual confidence has caused Americans to avoid making discerning choices for fear of being labeled judgmental. The result is a church that has become tolerant of a vast array of morally and spiritually dubious behaviors and philosophies. This increased leniency is made possible by the very limited accountability that occurs within the body of Christ. And I think that is obvious. Somehow the world impresses that the worst thing is to be judgmental, the worst thing is to be intolerant. But everybody exercises judgment and is intolerant of certain things. Our judgments and our intolerance is determined and conditioned by the word of God. But since the world doesn't like that and criticizes us for it, we back off from that. And thus the church basically becomes less biblical.

I want to direct your attention to II Timothy. We studied this letter of Paul in some detail a little while back. I want to do something that we don't do very often. I was drawn to this letter over the last few weeks as we came to the end of the year and I contemplated the New Year. I was drawn to sections of II Timothy and then to the overall emphasis of the letter. I thought it good for me and I thought it would be good for us as a church to draw our perspective to where God would have it be, our focus individually in our lives, and our focus as a church because our church is a collection of individuals that God has brought together into a family through common faith in His Son, Jesus Christ and that work of the Spirit that places us into the body of Christ when we place our faith in Him. This is a letter written by Paul at the end of his life, as most of you are familiar. The last letter of the Apostle Paul. It is written, if you will, in the shadow of his impending execution.

Turn over to II Timothy 4:6. Paul says, I am already being poured out as a drink offering and the time of my departure has come. Paul is confident that the events that he is now part of, part of which is being a prisoner in Rome, are going to culminate in his execution. That's different. In a prior imprisonment he wrote some letters like the the letter to the Philippians, and in that letter he indicated he was rather confident that the Lord was going to have him set free on that occasion, although he was prepared for the alternative. But on this occasion Paul is settled and confident that there will be no deliverance, that he is on the verge of his departure from this life. He says, I am already being poured out as a drink offering, indicating that that sacrificial process characteristic of the Old Testament where the drink offering prepared the way for the final sacrifice. So Paul has begun the trial process.

Down in verse 16 he said, at my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me. First defense in the Roman trial was that time when the person on trial basically gave his summary defense. And on that occasion he had opportunity to call witnesses for himself so the court could decide where they would proceed from there, and if they would proceed. So Paul has already had that first stage of his trial. He sees it as a unit that will culminate in his execution. And he is correct. At that time no one was willing to step forward. Out of those believers and professing believers who knew him, who were associated, who were there and could have come to be part of his defense, no one was willing. We understand that to step up and be identified with Paul at this point was a very dangerous thing.

I've been reading a portion of church history, particularly of the Puritans and was reminded reading through there how many people suffered terribly and how many people were executed because they identified themselves with a believer who had been charged with a certain crime. We can appreciate the danger that threatened these people. But Paul is standing firm and true.

Back up to II Timothy 1. What I want to do with this letter is something we don't usually do, I want to read large portions of the letter and I'll just make some comments about the letter that I think are pertinent to us. I want the letter itself to make its point. It is a letter that has tremendous urgency, there is no panic in the letter but Paul is intense and urgent. By my count there are about thirty-four commands given in this letter. Paul speaks to Timothy in the form of a command, he says it in the urgency that has to be done because Paul knows the end is here for my ministry. Paul and others will have to carry on and he is greatly concerned that Timothy understands the seriousness of the situation and carries the responsibility properly. And the Spirit's intention is that we take this to heart and as we contemplate the days before us that we would have a proper biblical attitude.

Paul began the letter very simple in verse 1 of chapter 1. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus. This is foundational to everything. God's work in his life and the sovereignty of God and what God has done on his behalf. He's writing to Timothy my beloved son, he's a spiritual son. Timothy came to faith ultimately through Paul's ministry, having been prepared by the ministry of his grandmother and his mother. Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Then he gives thanks. I thank God whom I serve with a clear conscience, the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers. And this is going to come through the letter. Paul is going to use himself as an example and then carry that through. But this has to be true of you, too, Timothy; you, too, must maintain a godly faithful life.

Paul longs to see Timothy in verse 4, he remembers his tears, probably tears associated with their separations. Remember Timothy has served faithfully with Paul over many years. He has traveled with Paul, he has been sent by Paul to certain places as Paul's apostolic representative. He is at Ephesus representing Paul. Paul wrote the earlier letter, I Timothy, to him at Ephesus, instructing him on responsibilities concerning the church.

Paul says concerning Timothy in verse 5, for I am mindful of the sincere faith within you. Paul is convinced that Timothy has an unhypocritical, genuine faith, the sincere faith within you. That's the same faith that dwelt in your grandmother, the same faith that was in your mother. I'm sure it is in you as well. For this reason, because of your faith in Jesus Christ, the work of salvation obviously that He has accomplished in you, I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. And in a way this is the them of the letter, at least in the background. He'll be dealing strongly with apostasy and the importance of the ministry of the word, but in that context permeating this is the importance of Timothy maintaining a strong, burning, passionate use of the gift that God has given him in his service for Jesus Christ.

So I remind you to kindle afresh. He is not saying Timothy hasn't done this but Paul was at the end of a long ministry. He knows what the pressures of the ministry are, he is going to talk about those. He knows that even those who have been faithful and well used in the ministry can get weary and tired, can become somewhat reluctant to charge into another battle, to another conflict. So he is telling Timothy, keep the fire burning hot, the analogy we're familiar with. If you have a woodburning fireplace, you start the fire and it burns bright but over time it starts to die down. And so you get in and you stir up the fire. People say sometimes, maybe you need to stir the fire. That's what he is talking about here. Kindle afresh the gift of God. God has gifted you, Timothy, you need to keep it stoked, burning bright, burning strong. Paul's concern is that Timothy not wind down, not phase out, but continue burning strongly in his service for the Lord.

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, cowardice, backing off, easing off. There are going to be a lot or pressures in the ministry, Timothy knows that, he has been with Paul. He has experienced some of the opposition and persecution, he has goneout to represent Paul, he experienced the trials and trouble. Now he sees where Paul is. It doesn't end, Paul is not going to get to that comfortable retirement, that peaceful time at the end of life to enjoy all his labors. The thought that maybe we'll pull back. I'm not going to quit, I'm not going to deny the faith, but maybe I'm just not going to keep going with the same intensity.

God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love and discipline. And these themes will come up—the power, the love, the discipline. You have that spirit of cowardice and timidity and want to pull back, that doesn't come from the Lord. That's my own human flesh. What God gives is a spirit of power, love and discipline.

Then he picks up and now we begin the commands that will permeate the letter. There will be a number of them as I mentioned. The first one, do not be ashamed. Therefore do not be ashamed. Since God does not give us a spirit of timidity but of power, love and discipline, therefore don't be ashamed because that doesn't come from the Lord. No matter what is going on, no matter who is opposing you, no matter what the obstacles and trials are, there is no reason for you to be ashamed, embarrassed or afraid. Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me his prisoner. You'll note they go together. Why is Paul a prisoner? Because he is preaching the gospel, he is being faithful to the Lord. So Timothy don't you be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me as one who is serving the Lord. I mean, Paul is in a situation where humanly speaking you don't want to be identified with him. It's just not a good idea right now. Do you want to go down with Paul? I mean, he's going to have his head cut off. That pretty well puts an end to your ministry. Maybe the better part of valor is to pull back and wait to fight another day, become timid, cowardly. But we come up with good excuses, good reasons why this is not the most appropriate time, this is not the most effective thing. Paul says, don't you be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord and let me tell you, you can't not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord if you are ashamed of me.

Join with me in suffering for the gospel. There is the second command. Join with me in suffering for the gospel. One thing about this letter that impresses me is that here at the end of his life Paul is intensely realistic. He doesn't say, I blazed the trail and it was probably harder for me, Timothy, than it is going to be for you. I'm sure better days are ahead, I'm sure you won't have to face the intense persecution I have had. There is no even hint of that. You step up and join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, the power that God gives us, according to verse 7. God has not given us a spirit of timidity but of power. Join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God. You don't do that in your own strength, doesn't come naturally. Timidity does, when it comes to spiritual things. But God gives the power.

He's the One who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing our Savior, Christ Jesus, who abolished death, brought life and immortality to light through the gospel; for which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle and a teacher. We must never lost sight of the foundation and reason we are serving the Lord. Not everyone is going to have the same realms of service as Paul did, Timothy won't be an apostle, Paul was. But Timothy's service is like Paul's in that it is founded on the saving work of Christ and comes out of the fact that he belongs to Christ and is a servant of Christ's and must be carrying out His will, the One who has called him.

For this reason, verse 12, I suffer these things. Why? Because of what Christ has done, what He has done for me and to me. Now He has placed me into His service. There is no one that He calls to His salvation that He does not place into His service, a gift to serve Him in one way or another. For this reason I suffer these things. That's why he said to him in verse 8, join with me in suffering. And then a reminder of what Christ has done. Don't forget that, keep that as the focus and the foundation.

For this reason I suffer these things, but I am not ashamed. Am I embarrassed that I'm here, a prisoner in Rome? That I've been deserted by all friends? That no one was willing to be identified with me? Maybe it's my personality, maybe I've been too hard, maybe I've been too direct, maybe I've offended too many people. No, the problem is with them, not me, because I've been proclaiming the gospel. That's what Paul says. I'm not ashamed, I know whom I have believed. I'm convinced He is able to guard what I have trusted to Him to that day. My deposit, I have placed my life, my soul in His hands, He'll guard me, He'll take care of me.

Retain, there's another command, the standard of sound words which you have heard from me in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Hold onto that standard of sound words, healthy teaching, which you have heard from me. Timothy is not coming up with anything new, he is to hold onto the truth, the truth that we now have as our completed scripture, the healthy words that he received from Paul that we are reading in II Timothy right now. Hold onto that. What happens? The church becomes ashamed, embarrassed that we are though intolerant so we want to let go of our hold on the healthy teachings of the word of God. You hold the standard, retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me.

Guard through the Holy Spirit, another command, who dwells in us. We don't do this in our own power, we do it through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, who gives us power, the discipline, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. What has been entrusted to us? The treasure of the gospel. Paul wrote to the Corinthians in II Corinthians 4 and said, we have this treasure in earthen vessels, these physical bodies. The vessel is frail but the treasure is valuable. It's the gospel which is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. You guard that treasure which has been entrusted to you. What kind of games do believers play, does the church play, when it is constantly playing fast and loose with the truths of the word of God? We look and adjust according to well, we live in a different day. Timothy is going to live in a different day than Paul and down through church history, but nothing changes. You guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in you the treasure which has been entrusted to you.

You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me. That's startling. Paul spent years of his life in ministry in Asia where churches like Ephesus, Colosse were located. We have the seven churches of Asia in Revelation 2-3. But you know what? Any of those from Asia that could have stood with Paul in this time in Rome at the first portion of his trial chose not to. And that even included, verse 15, Phygelus and Hermogenes. These evidently were prominent enough that it's not enough to say, in Asia, but even Phygelus and Hermogenes. Two men of all others you would have thought would have stepped forward to be counted with Paul, been willing to testify as witnesses on his behalf because they were faithful to Jesus Christ. But no, even Phygelus and Hermogenes turned away from him.

You see Paul doesn't paint a rosy picture here. That's not all there is to be said because there is a faithful man, and his family. The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus. He often refreshed me, he was not ashamed of my chains. You see this theme in verse 8 of chapter 1, do not be ashamed; verse 12 Paul says, I am not ashamed. In effect those from Asia were ashamed, including Phygelus and Hermogenes, but Onesiphorus was not ashamed. You see it comes down to the practical issues of taking a stand at crucial times. What an opportunity lost. I don't know anything else about Phygelus and Hermogenes that amounts to anything, but I know they've left a terrible record, recorded in the eternal word of God as those who turned away from the Lord at a crucial time. We don't know an awful lot about Onesiphorus and his household, but what a testimony to have in the presence of God and immortalized in the word of God, they were faithful, not ashamed.

The point in time that 2000 years later people are going to be talking about our testimony here. You know we get in these situations and we say, it's not that big a difference and I think for what it would cost me it would be better to pull back, it would be better to be quiet, better to bite my tongue and be a little bit cowardly. We don't know the impact of our testimony, we don't know how God uses those little, seemingly insignificant moments. Soon Paul will be dead and gone and we can go on and we'll be faithful. But the Spirit of God directs it as recorded here. How sad, they missed a chance, missed a unique opportunity and here it is recorded in the word of God. They were ashamed.

But Onesiphorus was not, his household was not. What do they do? They often refreshed me. He was not ashamed of my chains. When he was in Rome he eagerly searched for me and found me out. And the Lord will grant him mercy in that day. This won't go unnoticed, that faithfulness. You know somehow as we get older ........... I remember talking to a man years ago when I was on the west coast doing some studies. And a professor there, an older man, says, you know, Gil, I'm just not a fighter anymore. I don't want to fight. What a sad end to a life. It had no impact. Someone who knew him said, you know, there was a time when he had a great ministry, a time when he seemed mightily used of the Lord. What happened? He lost his way. I'm thankful for people like Onesiphorus, his house, step up at key times.

So Timothy here it is, you don't be ashamed, I'm not ashamed. Those in Asia were ashamed. Onesiphorus was not ashamed. Now the instruction to you. You, therefore, my son, be strong, there is another command, in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. You can't do it in yourself, but remember we are those in the grace of Christ Jesus. Verse 9, He called us with a holy calling, according to His own purpose and grace which was granted to us in Christ Jesus. And that saving grace is a grace in which we now live. So my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these, deposit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Remember verse 14 of chapter 1? Guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us the treasure which has been entrusted to you, deposited to you. Now you entrust it, deposit it to others who will deposit it with others. And 2000 years later here we are. How thankful we are for faithful men who passed it on. You know, Timothy doesn't have to come up with new—Timothy, you'll have to come up with new things to reach a new generation, you'll have to be creative, you'll have to be sensitive to the changes that go on. No, Timothy, you take the truth that I give to you and you hold it fast, you guard it and protect it from any alterations, additions, subtractions. And then you pass it on to someone else. And they'll pass it on.

Praise God, for all the defections, all the departures, there has been a line of faithful servants of God and we are the blessed recipients of that to this day. We can't name them all, but God knows them all. We are assured of that, verse 18 of chapter 1, when we're told that the Lord will grant Onesiphorus to find mercy from the Lord on that day. That day, when he stands before the Lord.

Where do we go from here? Chapter 2 verse 3, he's going to give a series of pictures here. Suffer hardship with me, there's another command. You can't get away from the hardship, the suffering. There is no other kind of faithful service but hard service. Uses the analogy, no soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life so he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. That's what life is, it's all about pleasing the Lord. He makes the decisions, I've been enlisted by Him. I can't become entangled in everyday life, I can't quit. Why? Because my life is not my own. I can't become entangled in a way that would distract me from what He has enlisted me to do.

Also, if anyone competes as an athlete he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to received his share of the crops. You see these analogies, no inclination that it will be too hard for you, Timothy. Don't be discouraged by thinking that your life will be as difficult as mine. We're back to suffer hardships with me, join with me in suffering. This is a life of soldiering, this is a life like an athlete, this is a life like a hardworking farmer.

Now verse 7, another command, consider what I say. You think upon this, you take it to heart. The Lord will give you understanding in everything. You know we just come into the service of the Lord and sometimes after we've been there a while we get the idea that is somewhat of a game, somewhat of a choice. And I don't mind serving the Lord but I don't want it to be too hard and I don't want it to be too draining. And we look for an easy way. It's a demanding life. That's why when Jesus called people during His earthly ministry what did He say? You count the cost first, your life won't be your own anymore. It will cost you everything, it will cost you everyone. And if you're not willing to take up your cross and follow Me, you can't be My disciple. All Paul is doing is laying out for Timothy a reminder, you better keep the fire burning hot in your service for the Lord, Timothy. It's not an option, it's a necessity.

Verse 8, remember Jesus Christ. What a thing to tell Timothy. Would Timothy every forget Jesus Christ? I mean, he has already said you have your faith in Him. Nobody has been a better partner and servant to Paul in ministry than Timothy. But he says, remember Jesus Christ. He says, you know what happens? We lose our focus and our mind gets cluttered with other things and distracted. We just need to back up and remember Jesus Christ risen from the dead, descendant of David according to my gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal. But the word of God is not imprisoned. This is all about Jesus Christ, this is all about proclaiming Him, it's all about my service to Him. This is why I suffer hardship, even to the point of being imprisoned, even to the point of being on the brink of execution. I am imprisoned, but you don't forget the word of God is not imprisoned. What a statement. The word of God is not imprisoned. Paul was imprisoned, Paul was executed. What do we have today? The word of God. What had gone around the world? The word of God. The Roman Empire has come and gone in most ways; heaven and earth will pass away, my word will not pass away. You know we are part of something of eternal significance and importance, every single one of us as believers in Jesus Christ. We are entrusted with the word of God, we are commissioned to serve the living God. It's not acceptable that that is done as long as it doesn't interfere with other things in my life, as long as it doesn't take away from things I've been trying to accomplish for myself. And we try to fit it in. That's why Jesus Christ said, take up your cross and follow Me. This is not a sidelight, it's not something you add to your life. This becomes your life and everything else is arranged accordingly. The church has become more shallow because the focus on Jesus Christ and the truth has become less focal, less of the center.

For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen that they may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. I never want to lost sight of the fact, all of this is so by God's grace others can hear the word of God, those that God has chosen so that when they hear the word by His grace, they will believe it and are saved. Paul's ministry could look like a failure, you know that. I mean, he spent his life since his conversion traipsing around the world to be rejected by his own people, the Jews, to be driven out of Gentile city after Gentile city, being persecuted, and persecuted and persecuted. Read II Corinthians 11, his own testimony. Now end up in prison in Rome on your way to have your head cut off. What do you have? A few struggling churches around like Corinth and so on that are having troubles. You think, what have I accomplished? Nothing. But in reality what has been accomplished? The eternal God has worked His purposes and people have been saved. Not the majority, not great number, but people have been saved and then they obtain eternal glory.

It is a trustworthy statement, if we died with Him, we live with Him; if we endure, we reign with Him; if we deny Him, He'll deny us; if we're faithless, He remains faithful. He cannot deny Himself. Remind them, there is another command. Remind them of these things and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. Timothy, you consider these things, verse 8, think upon them, take them to heart. You remember Jesus Christ and you remind the people of these great truths. Be diligent to present yourself to God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. We're not going to wrangle about words, verse 14; we're not going to get drawn into worthless, useless debates and arguments. But we are going to apply all our energies to be approved by God, to find His acceptance as His workmen, that He be pleased with us. That's going to require we cut the word straight, we handle it accurately. We replace it as though we are in charge. Well, we're not going to be worried about whether we dot our “i's” and cross our “t's” exactly so and we'll select the four, five or six doctrines out of the word of God that are important. And everything else can be thrown to the wind and believe what you will. And here we're told that to be approved by God you must handle the word of God correctly. Paul doesn't say, I'll tell you what portion to handle correctly, you handle it all correctly.

Avoid, there's another command, the worldly and empty chatter. You know part of the difficulty in ministry is false teaching spreads like weeds, or the analogy here, gangrene. You know when gangrene gets in your body, it just spreads. I'm not a medical person but I had a grandfather who lost limbs because of gangrene, just got in his body and just spread. Well the false teaching spreads like gangrene. That includes Hymenaeus and Philetus, two more. They abandoned proper teaching on the resurrection and they have upset the faith of others. Nevertheless the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal. The Lord knows those who are His and everyone who names the name of the Lord, there is another command, is to abstain, must abstain from wickedness. The Lord knows who the true believers are or not.

Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but vessels of wood and earthenware, some to honor and some to dishonor. If anyone cleanses himself from these things he'll be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful to the master, prepared for every good work. He's talking about the church, the household of God as he called it in I Timothy 3:15. In that church there are professing and there are unprofessing. The Lord knows the ones who are His. But you know there must be divisions made. Paul told the Corinthians there must be divisions among you so that those who are approved may become evident. It's disheartening to have battles and conflicts among ourselves as professing believers, but the truth overrides friendships, it overrides our physical family connections. There are people we must disassociate ourselves from like Hymenaeus and Philetus. Why? Because their doctrine was in error. Others, their life is corrupted by their practices.

Verse 22, flee, another command, youthful lusts. Pursue, another command, righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Those who call on the Lord from a pure heart are believers. So you flee from youthful lusts and you pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. So you see ____________________________, they are part of those that we don't have anything to do with. So wrong doctrine and corrupt practice, it's not tolerable in the church. They may be professing believers, the Lord knows those who are His. I can't see the heart. Are they a believer that is off track? Or are they an unbeliever who _____________________________? The Lord will have to deal with that, I know what He said to me, have nothing to do with these people and flee from these kinds of people. That's what I'm to do.

Refuse foolish and ignorant speculation, that's another command. We're not to be quarrelsome, we're not looking for a fight. We are with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition. Our desire is that they change. If perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth. I'm not going to be involved with them, I'm going to disassociate myself, but I want to continue to exhort them, I want to plead with them, I desire that they would come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

Chapter 3, more problems. You'd think at the end of your life you want to write a different kind of letter. Realize this, another command, you must realize this that in the last days difficult times will come. It's not going to get better. We adopt the world's thinking that the end of our life is going to be pleasant and easy, we're trying to have a life like the world that is not a life of service to Jesus Christ. I'm not against taking a break, having a vacation. But basically, understand I am going to serve the Lord until my last breath. You understand in the last days difficult times will come. Men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. I mean, have you watched the news lately? People say, what has happened? Exactly what God says happens with sinful people. I mean, they are without self control, they are brutal, they are haters of good, they are treacherous, they are reckless, they are conceited, they are lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. They hold to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power.

Avoid such men as this, another command. You don't have anything to do with these kinds of people, do not be involved with them. Even those who have a form of godliness, who profess to be believers, but they have a godless lifestyle. No. False doctrine and godless living are not acceptable. Avoid such men as this. They are always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, verse 7.

He gives an example from the Old Testament. Verse 10, now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecution, sufferings such as happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, much persecutions I endured. Out of them all the Lord rescued me. This has been Paul's life pattern. Why did he have such a successful life of service for Jesus Christ? Because he was faithful with what he taught and he endured the suffering that went with it. He lived godliness.

The Lord delivered him. That means at the last minute here He is going to rescue me? No. That's what He did up to this point. ______________________________ all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. There is no other way to live godly. We are getting by without persecution to a large extent. You know how we do it, we compromise godliness, we don't talk much about Jesus Christ, we don't want to create waves. All who live godly in Christ Jesus, that word live there means it encompasses our doctrine and teaching, it encompasses what we do. Will be persecuted.

Evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. The world is not going to get better. It amazes me there is a revival of postmillenialism among believers today—things are going to get better. I think not. Evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse.

This is discouraging. Do you want to join? Do you want to be part of this army? What does he say to Timothy? You, however, continue, another command, in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you learned them. From childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Stay the course, stay with the word of God, the sacred writings, the scriptures. That gives you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ. And all scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness
so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. This is everything we need, this is what we are faithful to. How did the church lost its way? You know, every few years we have a new idea, now it's the missional church and the books out are on the missional church. And that's how the church needs to change—to be missional. And that replaces the seeker, and that replaced ..............., and that replaced .............. What about just the biblical church that is the pillar and support of the truth, as Paul wrote in the first letter to Timothy? This is God's plan, to bring salvation. He provides everything necessary for godliness.

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is judge of the living and the dead, by His appearing in His kingdom. I tell you, there is no more serious charge than this given to Timothy, but I take it through the direction of the Spirit of God and placing it in the word of God, to us. You understand we have heard this word, the presence of Jesus Christ, God and Jesus Christ. And you are going to stand before Him to be judged.

Here is what you are to do, preach the word. Five commands in verse 2 of chapter 4. Proclaim the word. Be ready, second command, in season and out of season. ______ _______________ waiting for it to be in season. We need to do it in season and out of season. Reprove, rebuke. We don't like that, it even sends ripples through our own church, doesn't it, when we have to reprove and rebuke. I don't know if I'm comfortable with that. Well who said your comfort is what's in view here? I'm not always comfortable with it either, but then I'm just a slave of Jesus Christ as you are. And it's not the position of the slave to do what makes him comfortable, but to be obedient.

Reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience in instruction, for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine. You'll note he's talking about the church here because the unbelieving never has been interested in sound doctrine. But the time will come when people in the church will not endure sound doctrine, healthy teaching. But wanting to have their ears tickled they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accord with their own desires, will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. It's not surprising to see the church constantly undergoing these changes and drifts and overt moves away from biblical truth. What happens? We fail to maintain that burning passion and our commitment to service to Jesus Christ.

Keep stirred, hot the fire, the gifts that God has given us, the commitment to be faithful to Him no matter what the cost. The song says, though no one follow, still I will follow; and though no one goes with me, that's okay. But we don't sing it much anymore and we don't practice it as much because my family is really important to me, and my friends, and then these people. And all of a sudden Jesus Christ the Lord, why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do the things which I tell you? He gets pushed back. Well you understand, Lord, I love you, but ..................

Be sober, another command, in all things. You maintain clarity of thought and judgment in these matters. In other words even though they are going to depart, even though they don't want to hear it, you keep your head on straight, you continue to think clearly.

Endure hardship, another command. It doesn't get any easier. Paul will ________ _______________________ this letter. Do the work of an evangelist, another command. Give out the gospel, be a gospelizer, tell people the wonder of the Savior who saved you. Fulfill you ministry, bring it to completion, don't quit early. Fulfill it right to the end like Paul is. He'll be going to the chopping block, I'm sure the executioner was hearing about Jesus Christ. I'm thinking about how I can quit and what I'll do when I quit. We don't quit, we're never done, we take our last breath our life is about Jesus Christ, if not here someplace else. That doesn't mean always do the same thing. There may come a day when I can't stand here and preach but I can't quit serving Jesus Christ with every ounce of my strength, the strength I have. And as I get older I have less strength. How much more important is it that that pitiful little strength be used in its entirety. I don't even have the strength and energy I had when I was young. How can I withhold some of the remaining strength from Him? Fulfill your ministry.

I am already being poured out as a drink offering, the time of my departure is come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. In the future there is laid up for me the the crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge will award to me on that day. Not only to me but also to all those who have loved His appearing. If you love His appearing, you live in light of His appearing. That's a promise to me. Not just Paul is going to get this. I wish I could be like Paul, wish I could look forward to what he was looking forward to. I can and I do. And so do you.

Make every effort to come to me. Before I'm done I can't leave out Demas. Demas having loved this present world has deserted me. Demas, he's mentioned in other letters as a faithful worker with Paul. What happened? Stir up the gift. What a legacy to leave. Mentioned as a faithful worker with Paul in other letters but here in the last letter, got to be too much. Demas gave up before he got to the end of the road, he deserted Paul. The real issue is he loved this present world. There is an easier road. I can to go Thessalonica, and there is a good church at Thessalonica, Paul established it. What he's really doing is running. We're not told anything else, but he loved this present world. What a legacy to leave. We don't want to leave that as a testimony, don't want to leave that beside your name. They loved this present world. Not the legacy I want to leave for my kids and grandkids, not the testimony I want to have before the host of heaven.

Luke is with him, warns him to be on guard, verse 15, and he is fully confident. Everyone deserted him, verse 16, when he had his first trial, but the Lord stood with me and strengthened me. That has to be enough. If family deserts me, the Lord will stand with me; friends desert me, the Lord stands with me. The Lord stood with me and strengthened me. And the Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom.

That's the way we want to live our life. We're into a new year, I don't know whether you've been a believer for a year or fifty years, but you know what? We want to stoke the fire, keep it burning hot.

Let's pray together. Thank you, Lord, for your word. Thank you for this last letter that you directed the Apostle Paul in its writing. Thank you, Lord, for its impact on our lives. May we be burning strongly in our service for you. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.