Only Luke Is With Me

Temple Baptist Church - 5-25-2014

2 Timothy 4:6-11

 

Introduction:

A. In Paul’s last epistle, he sets forth his:

1. Paul’s Life’s Work – Vs. 6-7 He faithfully finished the work that God called him to do. Paul served God in spite of fault and failure as long as he lived. Certainly his life was “Christ.”

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

2. Paul’s Earnestly Contending – Vs. 7 He fought a good fight … kept the faith. Paul remained fixed in the Old Paths of the scripture while “earnestly contending” for the faith once delivered.

Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

3. Paul’s Eternal Reward – Vs. 8 Paul rested in the faithfulness of the Lord as he set forth in his epistles to the Hebrews.

Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

4. Paul’s Companions – Vs. 10-11 Paul had several close friends and companions in labor during his ministry: Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Tychicus, Trophimus, Demas, and Luke. God always had someone there for the great apostle!

B. Now, in the end of his life, Paul mentions several men and their affect upon his life and ministry.

1. Demas who forsook him for the love of the world. I will deal with him in more detail later.

2. Crescens who departed to Galatia to continue the work that Paul was no longer able to do. Paul was faithful to continue to check on the spirituality of the works he started and now place their safe keeping into the hands of able men.

3. John Mark who was returning and would be profitable in these last perilous days of Paul’s life. He, in his youth, had forsaken Paul and Barnabas. Later in his life, Barnabas took John Mark “under his wing” and now, he returns profitable!

4. Luke, Paul’s faithful companion who remained by his side.

C. The Work of The Ministry Is Bitter Sweet!

2 Corinthians 6:1-10 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

a. It Is A Needful Work – Souls are at stake

b. It Is A Hard Work – There are many heartaches and trials

c. It Is A Worthwhile Work – “making many rich”

D. Tonight, I want to take a look at a special man, Luke!

1. Not much is said about him but he was a godly physician, faithful servant of the Lord, and a special friend to the Apostle Paul. The last verse that mention Luke was verse 10, “Only Luke is with me!” What phrase; what a wonderful testimony of the love and faithfulness of this man.

2. Luke evidently joined the Apostle Paul at Troas and was with him for the rest of his life.

a) Luke was with Paul when he went to Jerusalem.

b) Luke was with Paul when he was imprisoned for 2 years in Caesarea.

c) Luke was with Paul when he was shipwrecked.

d) Luke was with Paul when he was in prison in Rome.

e) Luke was with Paul when he was martyred.

3. Luke was later honored to write two great books of the New Testament: the Book of Luke and the Book of Acts.

4. What a comfort and an encouragement Luke must have been to Paul! You love and be there for God’s man and your reward will be great, I promise you. I learned long ago to love what God loves!

1. Luke Was A Friend When Paul Needed One! Sometimes people do not want to be around the man of God because of the reproach of Christ.

a. Standing On The Scripture Brings Reproach.

b. Standing For Separation Brings reproach.

c. Standing Against Sin Brings Reproach.

2. Luke Was A Help When Paul Needed Help. Too often and in too many churches, God’s man makes a mistake and he is done.

a. God’s Men Make Mistakes.

b. God’s Men Are Human.

3. Luke Was An Arm To Lean On When Paul Was In Trouble. Paul spent most of his saved life in trouble. When God’s men stand right, their popularity wanes quickly. The bible says to beware when all men speak well of you because you have probably compromised in some areas.

a. A Friend Loveth At All Time.

b. A Friend Sticketh Closer Than A Brother.

4. Luke Was A Comfort When Paul Sorrowed. The life of God’s man is one that is acquainted with grief. That was the one of the descriptions given to our Lord in Isaiah 53. As the “under shepherd,” God’s man follows in the path of the Great Shepherd.

Acts 20:19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

2 Corinthians 1:8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

2 Corinthians 2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

5. Luke Was Faithful To Paul When All Else Forsake Him. Luke Was There When The End Was Near - 2 Timothy 4:11. What a great testimony to the faithfulness of a godly servant of the Lord! I look forward to meeting such a man one day.