Temple Baptist Church - 10-20-2024
2 Timothy 4:6-10
Introduction:
A. Last week, we took a short look at the Apostle Paul’s testimony. What a great example of conversion, surrender, obedience, and reward.
B. As we look at three other men in this passage, we find the examples of a carnal man—Demas, a spiritual man—Luke, and a weary man—John Mark who returned to service.
C. Demas hath forsaken ME! Not just God along with others who labored with him, but Paul.
D. I am sure that Demas’ leaving distressed the man of God because, as a pastor, I am touched with the feeling of Paul’s infirmity. God’s men love all of God’s people: not only the faithful and the ones restored, but also those who get out of the will of the Lord. It distressed God’s man because:
1. Because Demas was Paul’s friend. Colossians 4:14 says, “Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.” Demas was called a fellowlabourer in another place. He worked and traveled with the great Apostle to the Gentiles.
2. Because the time was critical. In Paul’s Epistle to Timothy, young Timothy was exhorted to “preach the word” because of the worldliness of the church people who “heaped to themselves teachers having itching ears.”
3. Because of the need for laborers. As in Paul’s day, we are losing faithful people quicker than we are seeing them added. As one man said, “We are losing them out the back door as fast as we can bring them in the front door.”
E. The only commentary given concerning Demas’ reason for leaving was that he “loved this present world.” We looked at 1 John 2:15 the other night in our study through that epistle. The love of the world has captured the imagination of many.
1 John 2:15 says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
F. There is no record of either what happened to Demas nor of his return to the Lord. I think that I would be scripturally safe to say that he left never to return. There is nothing said after his leaving, but I will say that it was a great loss to Paul, a great loss to the church, a great loss to the lost, and it had a large “price tag” for Demas.
1. Demas may have loved life rather than death or persecution.
2. Demas may have loved pleasure and ease rather than hardship.
3. Demas may have loved the sinful life rather than the holy life.
4. Demas may have loved his freedom rather than “self-imprisonment.”
5. Demas may have loved wealth rather than suffering necessities.
G. I want to look for a few minutes at some things that Demas forsook.
1. Demas forsook his fellowship with the Lord. The peace and joy that comes only through walking with the Lord was forsaken. Backsliders are the unhappiest people in the world. If you can be backslidden and happy, you may need to “slide up” first.
1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
2. Demas forsook his family at church. Oh what joy; oh what delight, to be assembled with these special people. As old Brother Jim would have said, “I love you better than Butter Pecan Ice Cream!!
1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
3. Demas forsook his friendship with the man of God. If you have a real pastor, you have a friend that will stick closer than a brother but, in order to have a friend, you must be a friend.
3 John 3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
4. Demas forsook the fruitfulness of his labor. The world will never know the love of Christ that we know unless we tell them. Demas would be without reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Romans 10:14-15 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? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
5. Demas forsook the freshness of a holy life. A clear conscience still makes for a soft pillow! Walking at a guilty distance from the Lord causes sadness and unhappiness.
1 John 3:20-21 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
6. Demas forsook the fortification of an almighty God. Safety is still of the Lord and the safest place in the world is found in the will of God for your life. I do not want Satan turned loose on me! 1 Corinthians 5:5 says, “To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
Psalms 62:7-8 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
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