2 Timothy  Lesson #19

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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
2TIMOTHY 4:1-22
LESSON #19
PROPER PERSPECTIVES ON LIFE AND MINISTRY

MEMORY VERSE: 2TIMOTHY 4:2

• READ 2TIM 4:1-5 PAUL’S INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE LAST DAYS
• IN THE LAST CHAPTER, WE TALKED ABOUT THE LAST DAYS.
• THEY INVOLVE THE FOLLOWING PATTERN OF EVENTS:
• THE APOSTASY OF THE END OF THE CHURCH AGE (3:1)
• THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH
• THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST FOR ALL BELIEVERS.
• THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB FOR BELIEVERS.
• THE TRIBULATION PERIOD OF 7 YEARS.
• THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST.
• THE PHYSICAL DEATH OF ALL NON-BELIEVERS.
• THE DEATH OF THE ANTI-CHRIST AND THE FALSE PROPHET.
• THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST FOR ALL THE TRIBULATION BELIEVERS.
• THE EARTHLY MILLENNIAL KINGDOM OF CHRIST ON EARTH FOR 1,000 YEARS.
• WITH THE APOSTASY OF THE LAST DAYS ALREADY UPON US, AND WITH THE COMING JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST IN MIND, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT IDEA IN THESE 5 VERSES?
• PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD SO THAT MORE PEOPLE MIGHT COME TO SALVATION BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. (2)
• “PREACH THE WORD!” THE IDEA HERE IS THAT THIS PHRASE IS A RALLYING CRY. THE CRY FOR THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR WAS, “REMEMBER THE MAINE!” THE CRY FOR WORLD WAR II WAS, “REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR!” “PREACH THE WORD!” IS THE RALLYING CRY FOR CHRISTIANS IN THE LAST DAYS.
• “BE INSTANT IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON” (2)
• THE WORD “INSTANT” CARRIES WITH THE IDEA OF DILIGENCE OR URGENCY.
• “REPROVE, REBUKE, AND EXHORT WITH ALL LONGSUFFERING” (2)
• REPROVE = PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD SHOULD BE DONE WITH TRUE CONVICTION. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT BEHIND IT SO THAT PEOPLE WILL GET SAVED.
• REBUKE = THIS WORD HAS THE UNDERLYING IDEA OF A THREAT. THE NON-BELIEVER HEARING THE WORD OF GOD IN THE LAST DAYS NEEDS TO KNOW THAT TIME IS SHORT. IF HE DOESN’T WANT TO GO TO HELL, HE NEEDS TO GET SAVED NOW.
• EXHORT = TO ENCOURAGE. THE TRUE BELIEVERS WILL NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED IN THE LAST DAYS AS PERSECUTION BECOMES MORE AND MORE WIDE-SPREAD AND MORE AND MORE FREQUENT.
• “WITH LONGSUFFERING” = PATIENCE AND FORBEARANCE ARE NECESSARY INGREDIENTS TO PREACHING THE GOSPEL.
• WHY IS URGENCY SO IMPORTANT?
• “FOR THE TIME WILL COME WHEN THEY WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE.” (3)
• THE CHURCH IS FAST APPROACHING THIS TIME. MORE AND MORE CHURCHES ARE FAILING TO PREACH SALVATION. THEY NO LONGER TALK ABOUT THE SAVING POWER OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, OR THE FACT THAT MAN IS LOST IN SIN. YOU CAN DISCERN THE CONDITION OF CHRISTIANITY BY PAYING ATTENTION TO MODERN CHRISTIAN MUSIC. MANY MODERN CHRISTIAN SONGS DO NOT CONTAIN THE WORDS SIN, BLOOD, REDEMPTION, SALVATION, CRUCIFIXION, ETC.
• THESE TERMS HAVE BECOME OFFENSIVE TO MANY PEOPLE. THEREFORE, MORE AND MORE CHURCHES ARE PREACHING A WATERED-DOWN DOCTRINE THAT DELIGHTS THE (ITCHING) EARS AND JUSTIFIES SINFUL BEHAVIOR. SOME CHURCHES HAVE BECOME CENTERS OF ENTERTAINMENT RATHER THAN CENTERS FOR CHANGED LIVES.
• 2TIMOTHY 4:4 IS BEING FULFILLED AS WE SPEAK.
• “DO THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST” (5)
• WHAT IS AN EVANGELIST?
• IN THE DAYS OF THE EARLY CHURCH, AN EVANGELIST WAS A TRAVELING PREACHER. HE WOULD PREACH THE GOSPEL EVERYWHERE HE TRAVELED. THEN AS PEOPLE GOT SAVED, CHURCHES WERE ESTABLISHED.
• TIMOTHY WAS AN EVANGELIST AS WELL AS A PASTOR. HE TRAVELED WITH PAUL PREACHING SALVATION. THEN HE BECAME THE PASTOR IN THE EPHESIAN CHURCH.
• PAUL IS TELLING TIMOTHY NOT TO GET SO COMFORTABLE AS A PASTOR IN EPHESUS THAT HE FORGETS HIS CALLING AS AN EVANGELIST.
• READ 2TIM 4:6-22 PAUL’S LAST WORDS BEFORE HIS DEATH
• IN VERSES 6-8 WE FIND PAUL’S EVALUATION OF HIS OWN LIFE AND MINISTRY.
• PAUL LOOKS AROUND:
• HE KNOWS HE WILL DIE SOON.
• PAUL LOOKS BACK AT HIS LIFE:
• “FOR I AM NOW READY TO BE OFFERED…” (6)
• PAUL CONSIDERED HIS DEATH AS A SACRIFICE FOR CHRIST TO BRING THE GOSPEL TO MANY PEOPLE. THIS WAS A SACRIFICE THAT HE WAS WILLING TO PAY.
• READ PHIL 2:17
• PAUL SAW HIS DEATH AS A DRINK OFFERING.
• WHAT WAS A DRINK OFFERING?
• IN THE BOOKS OF EXODUS AND LEVITICUS A DRINK OFFERING WAS THE ACT OF POURING WINE OVER AN ANIMAL SACRIFICE WHILE IT WAS ON THE BRAZEN ALTAR. WHEN A PERSON DID THAT, THE WINE WOULD SUDDENLY DISAPPEAR IN STEAM AS THE ALCOHOL HIT THE BURNING ANIMAL.
• THROUGH THIS ILLUSTRATION, WE SEE PAUL’S ATTITUDE TOWARD HIS LIFE. HE WAS NOT CONCERNED WITH HIS LEGACY, NOR WITH HOW PEOPLE WOULD REMEMBER HIM. HIS LIFE WOULD DISAPPEAR AND ONLY CHRIST WOULD REMAIN.
• “…THE TIME OF MY DEPARTURE IS AT HAND” (6)
• THE WORD “DEPARTURE” MEANS = TO UNTIE OR LOOSE.
• THE IDEA IS THAT THIS LIFE IS LIKE A BOAT TIED UP IN THE DOCK. NOW THAT PAUL WILL DIE. HE WILL BE LOOSED FROM THE DOCK AND SET FREE.
• “…FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT…” (7)
• HE HAS BEEN A GOOD SOLDIER FOR CHRIST.
• “… FINISHED MY COURSE…” (7)
• HE HAS BEEN A GOOD ATHLETE FOR CHRIST AND FINISHED THE RACE.
• “…KEPT THE FAITH” (7)
• HE HAS BEEN A GOOD STEWARD OF WHAT GOD GAVE HIM AND USED HIS TALENTS WISELY FOR CHRIST.
• PAUL LOOKS FORWARD TO HIS FUTURE: (8)
• A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IN HEAVEN
• THIS IS THE REWARD FOR A RIGHTEOUS LIFE GIVEN AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST.
• THE BIBLE ALSO MENTIONS OTHER CROWNS GIVEN AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST. THEY ARE:
• THE INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN.
• THIS IS THE VICTOR’S CROWN FOR HAVING COMPLETE THE RACE AND WON. (1COR 9:25)
• THE CROWN OF REJOICING.
• THIS IS THE CROWN FOR THOSE WHO HAVE WON PEOPLE TO CHRIST. (1TH 2:19-20)
• THE CROWN OF GLORY.
• THIS IS THE CROWN FOR SERVICE TO THE LORD. (1PE 5:2-4)
• THE CROWN OF LIFE.
• THIS IS THE MARTYR’S CROWN FOR A PERSON WHO DIED BECAUSE OF HIS FAITH IN CHRIST. (REV 2:10)
• WITHOUT A DOUBT PAUL WILL RECEIVE ALL THESE CROWNS.
• IN VERSES 9-22 PAUL TELLS US SOME OF THE REALITIES OF HIS MINISTRY.
• PAUL IS ALONE (EXCEPT FOR LUKE):
• SOME OF PAUL’S WORKERS IN THE MINISTRY ARE TRAVELING ELSEWHERE.
• BUT PAUL MENTIONS ONE MAN, DEMAS, WHO HAS FORSAKEN PAUL.

• PRINCIPLE #47

DON’T BE DISCOURAGED WHEN SOME PEOPLEFORSAKE YOU AS A LEADER

• OTHER THAN JESUS, PAUL WAS THE GREATEST CHRISTIAN LEADER EVER. IF SOME PEOPLE FELL AWAY FROM PAUL AND HIS MINISTRY, AND SOME DISCIPLES FELL AWAY FROM JESUS (JOH 6:66), SURELY THERE WILL BE SOME WHO WILL FALL AWAY FROM US.
• “TAKE MARK AND BRING HIM WITH THEE…HE IS PROFITABLE TO ME FOR THE MINISTRY.(11)
• EARLIER IN PAUL’S MINISTRY HE HAD TAKEN MARK WITH HIM ON A TRIP AND MARK QUIT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRIP. PAUL WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED IN MARK. HE REFUSED TO TAKE MARK ON A MISSIONARY JOURNEY AFTER THAT. HOWEVER, BARNABAS TOOK MARK AND EVENTUALLY MARK BECAME A PROFITABLE DISCIPLE. PAUL WAS WRONG ABOUT MARK AND ADMITTED HIS FAILURE TO SEE MARK’S ULTIMATE POTENTIAL.(ACT 15:37-39)

• PRINCIPLE #48

AS A LEADER, DO NOT BE TOO HASTY TO JUDGE A PERSON’S ULTIMATE POTENTIAL

• “ALEXANDER THE COPPERSMITH DID ME MUCH EVIL…” (14-15)
• THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE WHO DID ALL THEY COULD TO STOP PAUL’S MINISTRY. THIS MAN WAS ONE. IT IS POSSIBLE HE TESTIFIED AGAINST PAUL DURING HIS ROMAN TRIAL THAT RESULTS IN PAUL’S DEATH.

• PRINCIPLE #49

YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE SOME PEOPLE WHO WILL TRY TO STOP YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR MINISTRY

• WHAT IS PAUL’S ATTITUDE IN THESE LAST DAYS OF HIS LIFE?
• HE HAS SATISFACTION FOR HAVING DONE HIS BEST FOR CHRIST.
• HE HAS ANTICIPATION OF BEING IN THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST.
• HE HAS FORGIVENESS TO THOSE WHO OPPOSED HIM. (16)
• HE HAS GRATITUDE TO GOD. (17-18)

THIS ENDS THE STUDY OF 2 TIMOTHY.

THE SERIES ON RUNNING THE CHURCH BY THE WORD OF GOD CONTINUES

WITH A STUDY OF TITUS.

HOMEWORK

TITUS 1:1-5

THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF 2TIM 4
• EXAMINE YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD YOUR PHYSICAL LIFE. HOW DO YOUR PRIORITIES IN LIFE CONFORM TO THOSE OF PAUL?
• WHAT CHANGES ARE YOU WILLING TO MAKE REGARDING YOUR PRIORITIES TO MAKE THEM WHAT GOD WANTS FOR YOUR LIFE?
• WHICH PRIORITIES DO YOU KNOW NEED CHANGING BUT FIND IT TOO DIFFICULT TO ACCOMPLISH? (THIS AREA OF YOUR LIFE NEEDS THE MOST PRAYER.)
• PREPARATION FOR TITUS 1:1-5
• READ TITUS 1:1-5
• PAUL SAYS, “SET IN ORDER THE THINGS THAT ARE WANTING…” (5)
• MAKE A PLAN FOR YOUR AREA OF MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH BY FILLING IN THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS.
• WHAT MAKES YOUR CHURCH UNIQUELY DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER CHURCH IN YOUR CITY?
• WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR YOUR AREA OF MINISTRY?
• WHAT IS THE PURPOSE FOR YOUR MINISTRY?
• WHAT PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES DOES YOUR MINISTRY INCLUDE?
• WHAT ARE THE SHORT TERM GOALS FOR YOUR AREA OF MINISTRY? (6 MONTHS TO 1 YEAR)
• WHAT ARE THE LONG TERM GOALS FOR YOUR AREA OF MINISTRY? (OVER 1 YEAR)
• MEMORY VERSE: 1CORINTHIANS 14:40