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The final words of Paul… (3 points)
- 1st – Come to Rome… vs. 9-13
- 1st – Be DILIGENT to come quickly… vs. 9
- DILIGENT (imperative) – spoudazō – to exert effort / to act quickly / to work hard…
- As believers God calls us to be DILIGENT / work hard in a number of areas…
- Galatians 2:10 – we are to be DILIGENT to take care of the POOR…
- Ephesians 4:3 – we are to be DILIGENT about keeping unity and PEACE in the church…
- II Timothy 2:15 – we are to be DILIGENT to STUDY the Word of God!
- But Paul wanted Timothy to be DILIGENT / work hard in his effort to come to Rome!
- We do not know for sure if Timothy ever did get to visit Paul before his death…
- Although it is suggested in Hebrews 13:23 – Timothy did visit Paul in prison!
- DILIGENT (imperative) – spoudazō – to exert effort / to act quickly / to work hard…
- 2nd – Instructions regarding people… vs. 10-12
- Paul is going to give Timothy two reasons why it is important for him to come to Rome …
- First to receive instructions about SIX people…
- Paul wanted to pass on both warnings and instructions regarding others in the ministry!
- 1 – Demas – had worked with Paul in ministry – Philemon 1:24 / Colossians 4:14
- But something went wrong – he ended up FORSAKING Paul / and the ministry!
- FORSAKEN – to totally abandon – to completely walk away from…
- What caused Demas to FORAKE Paul and Ministry – the LOVE of this present age…
- LOVE – agape – he was far more concerned about this life – than eternal life!
- The assumption is – he did like the persecution that came from living for Jesus…
- Paul had been thrown in prison – and perhaps Demas thought he was next…
- The result was he departed (passive) and went to Thessalonica (perhaps fleeing persecution)
- The Gospel is NOT a message about an easy life – it is about finding eternal life…
- If we chose to follow Jesus because we thought it would make life EASIER…
- We will be quite disillusioned – because Jesus promises us TRIBULATIONS – John 16:33
- Following Jesus is about losing our life – so that we can find REAL life in Him!
- Matthew 16:25 – “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
- 2 – Crescens – who Paul sent to the region of Galatia (1st missionary journey) … vs. 10
- Only mentioned here in the NT – although there is a church tradition concerning him…
- He was supposedly one of the 70 disciples sent out by Jesus in – Luke 10
- 3 – Titus – who Paul sent to Dalmatia… vs. 10
- Titus is mentioned 13 times in the NT (9 times in the book of II Corinthians) …
- He was not a Jew – he was a Gentile – most likely from the city of Antioch in Syria…
- We do not know where or when he met Paul – or how he got saved…
- But he traveled with Paul on his missionary journeys – II Corinthians 7:6
- Paul sent him to Dalmatia – in modern day Croatia on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea…
- We are not sure why Paul sent Titus there – it is only mentioned here…
- Titus was certainly one of the most trusted co-workers of the Apostle!
- 4 – Tychicus – was sent to Ephesus… vs. 12
- Tychicus was of the province of Asia – where Ephesus was the capital – Acts 20:4
- He carried the letter to the Colossians – Colossians 4:7
- It would seem he was to deliver this second epistle to Timothy – II Timothy 4:12
- Paul was in prison – no doubt soon to be executed for his faith in Jesus…
- Yet Paul was sending theses Godly men – Crescens / Titus / Tychicus – to encourage others!
- Not that Paul was NOT lonely – he felt the sting of the departure of Demas…
- And no doubt – missed the encouragement of his brothers in the faith!
- But Paul was not focused on himself – his priority was the Gospel!
- We tend to think that life revolved around us – we only think about our needs…
- When we are self-focused it is misery – only seeing our problems / troubles…
- And when we focus on our problems – it is VERY EASY to get overwhelmed…
- But when we minister to others our perspective changes – we see things in a new light!
- We might think times are hard because we got sick – and cannot work…
- Until we see our neighbor who lost of loved one – whom they will never see again!
- 5 – Luke – was the only person who stayed behind with Paul in Rome… vs. 11
- Luke who was a physician – Colossians 4:14
- Luke who is the only non-Jewish author in the NT – wrote Luke / Acts
- Luke who was a traveling companion of Paul on his 2nd and 3rd missionary journeys…
- Only Luke stayed by Paul right to the VERY end!
- I have seen believers put too much faith in a pastor / or mentor…
- And when the person they are looking to makes a mistake – they are stumbled…
- Because when we put our trust in a person – we are setting ourselves up for a fall!
- We have a tendency to learn to depend on others rather than on God…
- Therefore the Lord SHIFTS the people we have in our lives…
- Because the one constant in our life – should only be Jesus Christ!
- That being said – sometimes they Lord gives us a LUKE…
- A true friend who sticks by our side through the good and the bad – to the VERY end!
- 6 – Mark – Paul wanted Timothy to bring (imperative) him to Rome… vs. 11
- This is the same Mark who deserted Paul on the FIRST missionary Journey…
- We are not told why Mark left – perhaps he got sick…
- Or he may have gotten homesick – he was likely a young man at that point!
- Whatever the reason – he abandoned the work – and quit the ministry!
- Just because we fail does not mean that we are disqualified for ministry
- Though we fail – we only need to get back up and step out to serve again!
- Proverbs 24:16 – “For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again.”
- Mark leaving eventually dove Paul and Barnabus apart…
- Acts 15:36-38 – Paul and Barnabus wanted to go on the SECOND missionary trip…
- Barnabus wanted to take his cousin Mark – but Paul refused to take him…
- Because Mark had proven himself unfaithful / undependable…
- So Barnabus took Mark / and Paul took Silas and they went separate ways!
- Yet now Paul has a change of heart – he realized Mark was USEFUL for the ministry…
- Mark grew up and matured – and Paul saw the need to give a SECOND chance…
- This is the same Mark who wrote the Gospel according to Mark!
- We all mess up – make mistakes – fortunately God does not give up on us!
- It is through those mistakes we learn and grow in our faith…
- And God gives us – like Mark – SECOND chances to be used by the Lord!
- This is the same Mark who deserted Paul on the FIRST missionary Journey…
- Paul is going to give Timothy two reasons why it is important for him to come to Rome …
- 3rd – Things Paul wanted Timothy to bring… vs. 13
- The second reason why Paul wanted Timothy to diligently come to Rome…
- Paul wanted Timothy to bring (imperative) the coat he left in Troas…
- Paul was in a damp / cold / dungeon – and winter was coming – II Timothy 4:21
- So very practically Paul wanted Timothy to bring a coat to keep him warm!
- Paul also wanted Timothy to bring his books and parchments…
- The books likely refer to the letters that Paul had written to the churches!
- The parchments likely refer to copies of the Bible Paul used to study!
- If we were locked up in prison – on death row – what would we ask for…
- Whatever you requested – it would be the most important thing to you!
- For Paul the most important thing in this world – was the Word of God!
- The second reason why Paul wanted Timothy to diligently come to Rome…
- 1st – Be DILIGENT to come quickly… vs. 9
- 2nd – Be careful… vs. 14-18
- 1st – Alexander the coppersmith – who did a lot of harm to Paul… vs. 14-15
- This may be the same Alexander the Jew – who stood up in the riot – Acts 19:33-34
- He was a coppersmith who likely worked with the idol makers of Ephesus…
- Paul hoped (optative) the Lord would repay him according to his works!
- Anyone who made idols of the goddess Dianna in Ephesus – was VERY wealthy…
- The Temple of Artimus was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world…
- HUGE crowds would come there every year to see the Temple – worship Dianna…
- And everyone wanted a souvenir – pasalubong – so they sold LOTS of little idols!
- Timothy needed to BEWARE (imperative) of him…
- Because Alexander GREALTLY resisted (perfect) the word of the Lord!
- As the new pastor of Ephesus Timothy would do doubt run into Alexander!
- And the message of the Gospel was especially offensive to idol makers like him!
- Acts 19:26-27 – “Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands… this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute.”
- In 401 AD the Temple of Dianna was torn down by St John Chrysostom…
- The only thing that still exists today is one solitary column – broken at the top!
- Paul and Timothy did not have to do anything to the cult and temple of Dianna…
- The Gospel was more than enough to destroy the false worship temple there!
- Jeremiah 17:1 – “[Some] people act as though their evil ways are laws to be obeyed, inscribed with a diamond point on their stony hearts…”
- We might tend to think nothing we do will ever break the superstitions around us…
- But the Gospel has the power to break up even the hardest ground…
- And when the Word meets rock – it becomes a sledgehammer to shatter hardened sin!
- Jeremiah 23:29 – “My word… like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces…”
- This may be the same Alexander the Jew – who stood up in the riot – Acts 19:33-34
- 2nd – At the first defence (apologia) of Paul – no one stood by him… vs. 16
- Perhaps in the fear of sharing the fate of Paul – they all FORSOOK him…
- But Paul did not hold it against them – instead he asked God not to charge them!
- This is an interesting statement – because it was NOT about what people DID to Paul…
- It was about what they did NOT do for Paul – they did NOT support him in his hour of need!
- We need to be careful of our EXPECTATIONS…
- On the one hand we often EXPECT something from someone – but NEVER tell them…
- It is not fair to ASSUME that someone knows what we are thinking…
- If we have not shared EXPECTATIONS – do not be surprised if someone does not meet them!
- But even if we have shared our EXPECTATIONS…
- That is what we WANT someone else to do – that does not mean they HAVE to…
- Our ideas are NOT the commands of God – they are not Biblical mandates…
- We are not called to tell others what to do – we point them to Jesus who will LEAD them!
- If we are hurt by what someone did NOT do…
- When we are hurt – and do NOT forgive – it plants a seed in our heart…
- It can quickly grow into bitterness – we become consumed with what they did to us!
- Its roots can grow down deep – poisoning and hardening – separating us from God…
- It makes us sour and bitter – and eventually brings spiritual death…
- With un-forgiveness in our hearts – God does not hear our prayers – Mark 11:25
- Perhaps in the fear of sharing the fate of Paul – they all FORSOOK him…
- 3rd – The Lord stood with and strengthened… vs. 17-18
- STRENGTHENED – from the root word dynamis – to receive POWER…
- Even though people will fail us – people will abandon us – God NEVER will!
- God NEVER left Paul – so the Gospel could be preached by Paul for all Gentiles to hear!
- Colossians 1:24 – “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His… church.”
- Not that there was anything lacking in the sacrifice of Jesus – the cross…
- When the work was done Jesus said – It is finished – nothing needed to be added!
- But we were not there to see the cross – we did not see Jesus die…
- Paul was allowed to suffer so others could see Jesus in him!
- It is easy to worship Jesus when everything is going well – no one notices…
- But when we get sick / bad things happen – just like they do to everyone else…
- And rather than complaining about life – we are strong by the POWER of God …
- Then people stand up and take notice – through our suffering they see Jesus in us!
- Paul was even delivered out of the mouth of the lion…
- Some believe Paul is talking about a real lion – perhaps in the Coliseum in Rome…
- But more likely Paul is talking about being delivered from THE lion – satan…
- Which is why Paul goes on to say – God will deliver me from EVERY evil work…
- And will preserve (save) me for His Heavenly Kingdom – to Him be Glory forever!
- We need to know – when we stand up for Jesus – we are a target!
- Luke 22:31 – “Simon, Satan has asked to have all of you, to sift you like wheat.”
- Make no mistake – if we stand up for Jesus – satan knows who we are…
- And he will come test us – try us – to see what we are made of…
- He wants to try and discourage – get us to walk away from serving Jesus!
- We need to be careful – satan is like a lion…
- I Peter 5:8 – “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.”
- Satan can make noise – but he is like a lion without teeth – bark worse than bite!
- Yet Satan is smart – he knows he cannot directly come against us…
- Instead he tries to get us to compromise our walk with the Lord…
- If satan can trip us with sin – can get us to walk away from the protection of God!
- Some believe Paul is talking about a real lion – perhaps in the Coliseum in Rome…
- STRENGTHENED – from the root word dynamis – to receive POWER…
- 1st – Alexander the coppersmith – who did a lot of harm to Paul… vs. 14-15
Because the Grace of God is the key to living our lives for God!
3rd – Greet the saints… vs. 19-22
1st – Prisca (Priscilla) and Aquila… vs. 19
Prisca and Aquila were the couple Paul met on his SECOND missions trip…
They ministered alongside Paul in the city of Corinth and Ephesus…
Romans 16:3-4 – “Priscilla and Aquila… risked their lives for me.”
2nd – The household of Onesiphorus… vs. 19
Onesiphorus was also from Ephesus – II Timothy 1:16
He had ministered to Paul MANY times while he was in Ephesus…
But when Paul was arrested the second time…
He left Ephesus and traveled 1000km – likely taking him months to get to Rome…
And when he arrived – he searched zealously till he found Paul…
In other words it was no accident – he WANTED to encourage Paul!
3rd – Erastus stayed in Corinth… vs. 20
Erastus was powerful politician – treasurer of the city of Corinth – Roman 16:23
He had also traveled with Paul on his missionary journeys – Acts 19:22
4th – Trophimus who Paul left sick in Miletus…
One of the 7 men who helped bring the gift from the Gentile church to Jerusalem – Acts 20:4
MILETUS was an Island in the 80km south of Ephesus (now part of mainland Turkey) …
Paul – who healed on many occasions / brought back the dead – did not heal Trophimus!
No one person has the gift of healing anytime they desire…
If they did there would be no reason for hospitals – the HEALER could do it all!
The GIFT of healing is not about the person who is praying – it is the person receiving…
If someone is sick – and God heals them – he gave the sick person the GIFT of healing!
So how do you know if someone has been given the GIFT – step out to find out…
Pray for someone – God might give them the GIFT of healing – and touch them!
5th – Eubulus / Pudens / Linus / and Claudia (woman) … vs. 21
Be DILLIGENT (imperative) to come before winter…
All three of these men and one woman are only mentioned here in the Bible…
Linus is known though church history as the first bishop of Rome after the Apostles…
We know next to nothing about the three people that close up this final letter.
Except to say – their names made in into the Word of God!
Because of their faith – their love for Jesus – their names were recorded in the Bible!
Many people try to leave their MARK – their name on memorials to be remembered
But memorials crumble – names fade away – things are forgotten…
Those Paul greeted here had their names written here for us to read 2000 years later!
The things we do for ourselves – the glory of men – are all forgotten…
It is the things we do for the Lord that last forever – Matthew 6:20
6th – Paul closes up – with grace… vs. 22
The final words of the Apostle Paul – in his final letter in the Bible…
The Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirit – Grace by with you – Amen!
Because only when the Grace of God gets a hold of our life – will we have a changed heart!
Because being good does not make us right – being right with God makes us good!
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