What is probably Paul’s last letter as he anticipates martyrdom, cold and deserted (except for faithful few) he is still victorious. He passes the torch on to faithful leaders.
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Key Verse
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness
Fearless Faithfulness - Snapshot
- Introduction
- Changing of the guard
- Continue your calling
- Chasing a mirage
- Discussion
Introduction
- Few years after fire set by Nero (AD 64),
- Paul’s last letter, anticipating martyrdom.
- Cold, deserted (except for faithful few) and in chains, yet victorious.
“No advocate ventured to plead his cause, no patron appeared for him, such as under ordinary circumstances might have aided him; (2 Timothy 4:16,17)” [1]
Changing of the Guard
Paul, hands over charge to Timothy among other leaders.
He claims to have lived:
- with a “pure conscience”
- “Fought the good fight”
the key exhortations from his first letter to Timothy
Changing of the Guard
- 2 Timothy 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience,”
- 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
Changing of the Guard
- 2 Timothy1:6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
Changing of the Guard
Who is the real guard?
2 Timothy 1:12 for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.
Changing of the Guard
Who in turn has entrusted His treasure with others
- 2 Timothy 1:14 Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.
- 2 Timothy 2:2 entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also
Continue your Calling
- 2 Timothy 1:9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.
Continue your Calling
2 Timothy 3:14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned. Serve, as a:
- Committed soldier
- Competent athlete
- Hardworking farmer
- Approved workman
- Useful vessel
- Patient bondservant
Committed Soldier
2 Timothy 2:3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.
Competent Athlete
2 Timothy 2:5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.
Hardworking Farmer
2 Timothy 2:6 The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.
Approved Workman
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
Useful Vessel
2 Timothy 2:20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
Patient Bondservant
2 Timothy 2:24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth
2 Timothy 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
Those who are not prepared to continue their calling will spend their lives chasing mirages.
..but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. 2 Timothy 4:3 (Message)
Chase the Mirage (6 D’s of Downfall)
- Desertion
- Discouragement
- Degradation
- Desires
- Deception
- Domination
Desertion
2 Timothy 4:
- 10 For Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me.
- 16 At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me;
- 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished
Discouragement
2 Timothy 1:15 You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.
Degradation
2 Timothy 3;2,3 For 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.
2 Timothy 3:4,5 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power;
Desires
2 Timothy 4
- 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires
- 10 for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me
Deception
2 Timothy 3:8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.
Domination
2 Timothy 2:23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. 24The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome
Fearless Faithfulness - Recap
Guard the Treasure, entrust to others – 2:2
|
Continue your calling |
Chase the mirage |
|
|
1 |
Committed Soldier |
Desertion |
|
2 |
Competent athlete |
Desires |
|
3 |
Hardworking farmer |
Discouragement |
|
4 |
Approved workman |
Deception |
|
5 |
Useful vessel |
Degradation/dishonour |
|
6 |
Gentle bondservant |
Domination |
Discussion
- What are some occasions you are fearful? What can fears cause? How can you overcome those fears?
- What mirages do we chase? Why do they seem so real?
- How do we protect ourselves/ our loved ones from the deceptions of the world?
- What encouragement do we gain from this book to remain faithful?
The Lord knows who are His.
2 Tim 2:19
References
1.biblestudytools.com