May 5th

II Timothy 4

The last words of a person become very important to those who are left behind.  Words are the window that helps us to look into his heart, or a measure that helps us evaluate his life.  In chapter four, we have Paul’s last words to Timothy and to the church. 

Paul does not express regrets as he came to the end of his life.  He forgave those who had made his journey difficult (v. 16).  In this chapter, he refers to 17 people.  Paul was a friend-maker as well as a soul winner.  Even as he faced the end, he was thinking of others.

Paul gave three final admonitions to Timothy, and he backed each of them up with a reason.

1.     V. 1-4 PREACH THE WORD

He wants Timothy to be aware that death is near and that one day both of them would be judged when Jesus Christ appears.  We would be wise to reflect on the fact that one day we will face God and our works will be judged.  This realization would encourage us to keep going even when we face difficulties.  We are serving Him, not ourselves. 

HERALD … (as a ruler’s herald) announce in a loud, clear voice so everyone could hear.  He was a messenger with a proclamation to be heard and heeded.   Timothy was to herald God’s Word with the authority of heaven behind him.  No church should attempt to replace the Word…nothing can take Its place. 

It is easy to make excuses when we ought to be making opportunities. 

Preaching must be marked by three elements:  conviction, warning, and appeal.  To quote an old rule of preachers, “He should afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted.”  If there is conviction without remedy, we add to people’s burdens.  And if we encourage those who ought to be rebuked, we are assisting them to sin.  Biblical preaching must be balanced.

God’s speaker must be patient as he preaches the Word.  He will not always see immediate results.  He must be patient with those who oppose his preaching.  HE MUST PREACH DOCTRINE! NOT just tell Bible stories, relate interesting illustration, or read a verse and then forget it.  TRUE PREACHING IS THE EXPLANATION AND APPLICATION OF BIBLE DOCTRINE.  ANYTHING ELSE IS JUST RELIGIOUS SPEECHMAKING.  The reason:  there will be a time when most people would not want the “healthy doctrine” of the Word.  *carnal desires for religious novelties.  *itching ears that would cause them to accumulate teachers who would satisfy their cravings for things that disagree with Truth.  The fact that a preacher has a large congregation is not always a sign that he is preaching the Truth.  In fact, it may be evidence that he is tickling itching ears and giving them what they want to hear instead of what they NEED to hear. 

Most cultists were once comfortable, professing Christians, listening to a comfortable religious talk that contains no Bible doctrine. 

 

2.   Fulfill Your Ministry v. 5-8  means “fulfill whatever God wants you to do.”  No God directed ministry is too small or unimportant.  ‘do the work of an evangelist’ = all ministry must have soul winning at its heart.  Every sermon must not necessarily be hell fire and damnation types because Christians need feeding.  But it does mean that a preacher, no matter what he is preaching, should keep the lost souls in mind.  This burden for the lost should characterize a pastor’s private ministry as well (Acts 20:17-21)

 

God has given special men to the church as evangelists, but this does not absolve a pastor from his soul winning responsibility.  Not every preacher has the same gifts, but every preacher can share the same burden and proclaim the same saving message. 

 

One man after hearing a preacher preach said, “There was not enough Gospel in it to save a flea!” 

 

Paul gave the reason behind the responsibility …he was about to move off the scene and Timothy would have to take his place.  Paul looks in three different directions:

(1)Around us v.6  Paul knew his time was short.  On trial in Rome and had been through the 1^st hearing 4.17.  But he knew that the end was near.  Paul had faith and confidence.  In effect he was saying “Caesar is not going to kill me.  I am going to give my life as a sacrifice to Jesus Christ.  I have been a living sacrifice, serving Him since the day I was saved.  Now, I will complete that sacrifice by laying down my life for Him.”  The word departure “to hoist the anchor and set sail.” …Paul looked on death as a release from the world…an opportunity to set sail for eternity.  “to take down the tent.”  “loosing of the prisoner…facing release, not execution.  “the unyoking of the ox” – service for many years, hard service.  Now the Lord would unyoke him and promote him to higher service.

(2)Paul looked back v. 7 Paul looked back and had no regrets: a good athlete, a runner a steward who faithfully guarded his boss’ deposit…He had kept the rules and deserved a prize.  Not popular, not comfortable, but he remained faithful. 

 

(3)Paul looked ahead v. 8 The Roman athlete when he was a winner was rewarded with a crown.  Rather than a crown of fading leaves, Paul was to be given a crown of righteousness that would never fade.

The crown of righteousness is God’s reward for a faithful and righteous life; and our incentive for faithfulness and holiness is the promise of the Lord’s appearing. 

We cannot be apostles but we can win the same crown that Paul won.  If we love Christ’s appearing, live in obedience to His will, and do the work He has called us to do, we will be crowned.

3.   Be Diligent and Faith 4: 9 – 22“Hurry and get here!”  Tychicus would take Timothy’s place in Epheses – Timothy would stop in Troas and get the cloak, books, and parchment to take to Paul.  Paul wanted Timothy near him and he needed his “stuff”…cloak for warmth and parchment to read and study.  Some in Paul’s circle had not been faithful and he could not depend on them.  “Demas hath forsaken me.”  He loved his present world.  Paul’s next hearing was coming up and only Luke was with him.  Paul knew that Timothy would not fail him.  Paul’s focus was not for his safety or comfort.  It was the preaching of the Word so that Gentiles might be saved.  What a man!  … his friends forsake him and he prays that God will forgive them.  His enemies try him and he looks for opportunities to tell them how to be saved.  The lion is a symbol of Satan I Peter 5:8  … Paul is probably saying “to be delivered from great danger.”  4:a8 there are things even more dangerous than suffering and death.  Sin!  Paul’s greatest fear was not of death; it was that he might deny his Lord or do something else that would disgrace God’s name.  Knowing that this was his permanent departure, he wanted to end his life-race well and be free from any disobedience.  Paul has named many on his journey of life…he could not do the job by himself.  He enlisted others to help get the job done and let’s them share in the greatness of the work. 

 

“Grace be with you” v. 22 was Paul’s personal farewell, used at the end of his letters as a trademark that the letter was not a forgery.

The Bible does not record the final days of Paul.  Tradition tells us that he was found guilty and sentenced to die.  He was probably taken outside the city and beheaded. 

But Timothy and the other devoted believers carried on the work!  As John Wesley used to say, “God buries His workmen, but His work goes on.  You and I must be faithful so that (if the Lord does not return soon) future generations may hear the Gospel and have the opportunity to be saved.