Temple Baptist Church - 10-13-2024
2 Timothy 4:6-18
Introduction:
A. Today’s message will be an introduction to several messages that I believe are needful in the day that we live in.
B. Over the last few weeks, I preached on the three states of the believer that are common today:
1. The Carnal believer who is overcome in a fault.
2. The Weary believer who, through disappointment and discouragement, is about ready to “lay it down.”
3. The Spiritual believer who, despite the circumstances—disappointments—discouragements of this present evil world in which we live, continues to stand strong in stability.
C. 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus are Pastoral Epistles, written to young pastors who continue to stand in the Old Paths, were written for their admonition. These doctrinal books lay out the guidelines for both the ministry and the operation of the local church.
D. I want to look at this important passage of Scripture that is pertinent to the days in which we live as today, we have MORE leaving, FEWER standing, and EVEN FEWER returning.
E. 2 Timothy, chapter 4, sums up the life of one, if not the, greatest Christian who ever lived, the Apostle Paul. Despite all the problems, persecutions, disappointments, discouragements, and loneliness, Paul fought a good fight, finished his course, and kept the faith.
1. You could ask no more than that. In our text, several men are named who started right but not all finished right. Through it all, Paul faced the “lion of Rome” with the confidence that, if all men forsook him, the Lord would stand with him and deliver him.
2. Verse 8 shows that you and I can stand the same as the Apostle Paul and receive the same reward. “and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
F. In verses 10-11, we find several men mentioned of which I want to look at three who were friends, fellow soldiers, and companions of Paul.
1. Demas, the Carnal Believer, started right and finished wrong.
2. Luke, the Spiritual Believer, started right and stayed right.
3. John Mark, the Weary Believer, started right—got Weary—and could have finished right or wrong but finished right.
G. 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!
H. Now, in the end of his life, Paul mentions several men and their affect upon his life and ministry.
1. One Leaving: Demas who forsook him “having loved this present world. I may deal with him in more detail later.
2. One Standing: Luke who stood by the Apostle Paul “thought thick and thin.” He continued with Paul alone.
3. One Returning: 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 but Barnabas took John Mark “under his wing” when Paul rejected him and he returns “profitable.” Be careful to give those who are young or turned back room to get it right and serve the Lord.
J. Before we look at these three men individually, I want to look at Paul. I remember the words to the song “I Have Decided To Follow Jesus.” The words “though none go with me, still I will follow.” These are words that are so easy and sweetly sung but are ones much harder to live!
K. The Work of The Ministry Is Bittersweet!
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.”
L. Much of Paul’s last days were spent in prison and in verse 16 of Second Timothy, chapter 4, we find the sad commentary that “no man stood with me … all men forsook me.” I am once again reminded of the sorrow and loneliness of the Lord’s work.
2 Timothy 4:16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
1. It is heart breaking when good people that we have prayed with, went soul winning with, worked with, and worshipped with have forsaken us. We, as God’s children, will give an account for our generation.
2. If people would put “self on the shelf” instead of God putting them on the shelf (1 Corinthians 9:27-“castaway”) we could do so much more for the Lord in both missions and in our Jerusalem. I Corinthians 13 gives the bible definition of charity or brotherly love, and it condemns the actions of most!
3. It is heart breaking when churches that once stood in the Old Paths of doctrine and separation no longer stand with us. They are the ones who have moved and now we have become the enemy of sorts.
M. The Apostle Paul made his choice earlier in life (Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.) and God honored it.
N. In verse 16, we find Paul standing alone.
2 Timothy 4:16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
O. In verses 17-18, we find Paul NOT standing alone.
2 Timothy 4:17-18 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. (18) And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1. The Lord’s Presence – “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me”
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Heard this verse before? I quote it often because it is one of the verses most easily forgotten when in trouble. Everyone left Paul except the only One that can always be counted on to be there.)
Genesis 28:15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. (Jehovah God spoke these words to Jacob when he feared.)
Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. (Moses died and Joshua stood in his place. What an awesome responsibility! The list could go on but I believe you have the message.)
2. The Lord’s Power – “and strengthened me”
Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (All things means just that! There is no problem that you cannot sustain and no command that you cannot fulfill.)
3. The Lord’s Purpose – “that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear”
Ephesians 3:6-9 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (7) Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. (8) Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; (9) And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (God’s mercy and grace allowed the great apostle to finish his course. You are not done until the Lord is done with you.)
4. The Lord’s Protection – “and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion”
Job 1:9-10 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? (10) Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. (This is one of my favorite verses. The Lord is our Hiding Place; our Covert from the storm; our Shield and Buckler. When you find that He is all that you have, it is only then that you find that He is all that you need.)
5. The Lord’s Promise – “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom”
Psalms 23:4-6 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (5) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. (6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (I promise you, He will be with us and for us until we finally arrive at Home!)
6. The Lord’s Praise – “to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Romans 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:17-21 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, (18) May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; (19) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (20) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (21) Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
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