The Final instructions… (4 points)

• 1^st – PREACH the Word – 5 reasons… vs. 1 / 3-4
  • 1^st – PREACH the Word – because it is the Word of God… vs. 1
    • I CHARGE you – diamartyromai – means to SHOW through EXAMPLE…
    • THEREFORE – therefore points back to the end of chapter 3…
    • Paul had shown how he told others about the Bible because it is INSPIRED – God breathed!
    • If the Bible were just an ordinary book – there would be no reason to share it…
    • The last thing people need in their lives is another opinion…
    • But the Bible is not the opinions of men – it is the wisdom of God – so share it!
  • 2^nd – PREACH the Word – because Jesus is watching us… vs. 1
    • I charge you BEFORE (in the presence of) God – and Jesus Christ…
    • When Jesus gave the Great Commission in – Matthew 28:19-20
    • He concluded it with – I am WITH YOU always – even to the end of the age!
    • What a blessing to know that Jesus never sends us out to preach alone…
    • Everywhere we go – Jesus is always right there with us!
  • 3^rd – PREACH the Word – because Jesus will JUDGE the living and the dead… vs. 1
    • The LIVING – speaking of those who have FAITH / the DEAD – those who do NOT have FAITH!
      • The LIVING will stand before Christ to receive a reward – II Corinthians 5:10
      • Those who have FAITH in Christ will stand before the JUDGEMENT SEAT…
      • The JUDGEMENT SEAT – Bema seat – does not speak of the judgment of sin…
      • It is the REWARDING seat – where awards were given to athletes at the Olympics!
      • The Olympic games began in Greece – it was well known event in the days of Paul…
      • Those who competed had to train hard in order to win a laurel (leaf) crown!
      • In the same way we as believers need to train – work hard to please the Lord…
      • Living for Jesus is a daily choice – it takes work and commitment on our part…
      • We choose to take the time to get into the Word – set-aside time to pray…
      • We make the time to attend Bible studies – grow in our faith…
      • Not so we can earn a laurel crown – but a crown that is ETERNAL (more on this at the end)
    • The DEAD will stand before Christ in judgment…
      • Those who reject the message of the Gospel will stand before the GREAT White Throne…
      • All will stand before the throne of God to be JUDGED for the works of their lives…
      • There will be two sets of books opened – the Books / and the Book of Life!
      • Revelation 20:11-12 – “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it…  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God…”
      • If the name of someone is not found written in the Book of Life – the Books are opened…
      • They are then judged according to their works – that are written in the Books…
      • Everything they did – every word they said – every thought in their head…
      • Not to see if they will go to heaven or hell – but to show them why they will go to hell!
    • Since we know that ALL men will have to stand before Jesus…
      • And knowing they all – no exceptions – will either stand to be rewarded / or judged…
      • We constantly PREACH the message of the Gospel – so they might be saved!
      • II Corinthians 5:11 – “Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…”
      • We do not share Jesus out of some sense of obligation – or for some reward…
      • We share cause of the real danger of Hell – the destination for any who reject Jesus…
      • Hell is not temporary – hell is the second death – eternal separation from God!
  • 4^th – PREACH the Word – because Jesus is coming… vs. 1
    • Jesus Christ will APPEAR– and set up His Kingdom…
      • APPEAR – epiphaneia – 6x in NT (5x in Pastoral Epistles) – from root meaning brightness!
      • Speaking of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ – II Thessalonians 2:8
    • No one knows when Jesus will return / set up His Kingdom – Mark 13:32
      • But until that time – we need to be PREACHING the Word!
      • Romans 11:25– “This will last only until the complete number of Gentiles comes to Christ.”
      • The idea is there are a SET NUMBER of people who will receive Jesus as their savior…
      • No one but God knows the number – or who will be the LAST gentile to be saved…
      • But when the LAST Gentile to believe – receives Jesus – the RAPTURE of the church!
      • You never know who might be holding the rapture up – the last one to receive Jesus…
      • All the more reason to tell anyone – everyone about Jesus!
  • 5^th – PREACH the Word – because the WORLD does NOT want to hear the truth… vs. 3-4
    • For the time will come – when men will NOT endure SOUND doctrine…
      • SOUND – form the root word hygies – where we get the word HYGENE – HEALTHY…
      • Men will not HOLD to HEALTHY doctrine – they do NOT want it!
    • Instead – according to their LUSTS – they will HEAP up for themselves teachers…
      • HEAP – stack them up in HUGE piles – meaning there will be a LOT of these teachers…
      • BECAUSE they have ITCHING EARS – only here NT – desire to hear something pleasant!
      • Men do not want truth – they look for people to tell them what they WANT to hear…
      • They look for PASTORS / churches who tell them their lifestyle is acceptable to God…
      • They REJECT the truth – and instead follow their own SINFUL ideas!
      • Many churches today have fallen into this trap…
• Too many pastors today spend too little time expounding / teaching the Word…
• Instead they tell funny stories to entertain – sprinkled with the occasional Bible verse…
• Because they do not want to offend people – and the Bible is offensive!
• Matthew 10:34 – “I did not come to bring peace but a sword.”
  • These teachers are more interested in entertaining the people – than saving them…
• I knew a church where the pastor was teaching a series on – growing in Jesus…
• The first Sunday he came to church in a diaper – talking about being a babe in Christ…
• The second Sunday he came riding in on a motorcycle – talking about the power of Christ…
• The third Sunday he repelled in from the ceiling – I am not even sure what his point was…
• All of which was VERY entertaining – but you remembered the stunts – not the Word!
  • Pastors today resort to gimmicks to try and get the attention of people…
  • The church is not a theatre or a show / or a place to tell funny jokes…
  • TV shows do not change the lives of sinners / jokes cannot take away sin…
  • The power of salvation is in the Word of God – we need to speak the truth!
  • As a result – men will TURN their ears away from the TRUTH – and will be TURNED to fables…
    • TURNED – (future / passive) – to be twisted – like a dislocated limb!
    • Because men TURN AWAY from the TRUTH – they become twisted!
    • They fall victim (passive) to the lies of the world – because they do NOT want Jesus!
• It is NOT about what men WANT to hear – it is about what they NEED to hear!
• Men NEED to know about the dangers of hell – and the reward of heaven…
• About the coming judgment of God – and the amazing hope of Jesus!
• But they do NOT know these things – because they do NOT know the Word!
• And the ones who SHOULD be teaching them – the pastors – do NOT…
• The biggest problem in the church today – there is a FAMINE in the Land!
• Amos 8:11 – “Not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the LORD.”

• 2^nd – How to preach the Word – 6 ways… vs. 2
  • 1^st – PREACH the Word – kēryssō – (imperative) to proclaim / announce the Gospel
    • Acts 8:35 – “Then Philip opened his mouth…”
    • So often we are nervous about sharing our faith with others…
    • We think we need to have all the answers to all the questions…
    • It is God who speaks through us the words that are needed – Matthew 10:19
    • All we need to do is be willing to open our mouths – share Jesus!
    • Romans 10:17 – “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God…”
  • 2^nd – Be READY in season and out…
    • Be READY (imperative) – in SEASON and OUT – meaning to ALWAYS be READY to PREACH!
    • Because we never know when we might have an opportunity to share the Gospel…
    • If we are unsure of ourselves about the Word of God – the hope of Jesus…
    • We are not going to be very effective – we are going to be embarrassed when asked…
    • So we get to know our Bible – know how to find important verses – be prepared!
    • I Peter 3:15 – “Always be ready to give a defense… for the hope that is in you.”
  • 3^rd – REPROVE – convicting people of their need for Jesus…
    • REPROVE (imperative) – meaning to bring to light or expose…
    • Most people today do not realize they are facing hell as a consequence for their sin…
    • They have no idea they are blindly moving down a path towards destruction!
    • We need to get their attention – help them to see – they NEED Jesus…
    • We do so by sharing the Word of God with them – giving them the Law of God…
    • So they can see they are sinners – then give them the Gospel – so they can be saved!
  • 4^th – REBUKE – caring enough to confront sin…
    • REBUKE (imperative) – from the root word timē – to show value or honor…
    • We need to confront people on the importance of living their life in a way to HONOR God…
    • But it is dangerous to confront people about their sin – they get upset!
    • At the very least they will try to avoid us – because we are reminding them of their sin…
    • They might get VERY upset yell at us – because they want to silence us…
    • Yet we are called to confront others in SPITE of how they react to us…
    • We want to see them clean / forgiven – spoken in LOVE – Ephesians 4:15
    • Not that we can make people turn back to Jesus – but we can warn them!
    • Because the truth is leaving someone in their sin – is condemning them to hell!
      
  • 5^th – EXHORT – coming along side others…
    • EXHORT – (imperative) – parakaleō – to come alongside / to support and comfort…
    • One of the names for the Holy Spirit is the HELPER – paraklētos (same root word) …
    • John 15:26 – “When the Helper comes… He will testify of Me [Jesus] …”
    • Not everyone needs to be REPROVED / REBUKED – when it comes to the Gospel…
    • Some people are already broken – ready to listen to the hope from the Word…
    • If that is the case – then we are called to come along side – and encourage them!
  • 6^th – Teaching with LONGSUFFERING…
    • LONGSUFFERING – to endure the wrath of someone for a LONG time…
      • Just because someone does not listen to the Gospel the first time we share…
      • Does not mean we give up on them – just like God did NOT give up on us!
      • Romans 2:4 – “Do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering [same word], not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”
    • Telling some people about Jesus can seem at times like talking to a rock…
      • They just do not want to listen – but that does not mean we stop talking…
      • Drop a sledgehammer enough times on a rock – and it will eventually crack!
      • Jeremiah 23:29 – “My word… like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces…”

• 3^rd – Fulfill your ministry… vs. 5
  • 1^st – Be WATCHFUL in ALL things…
    • WATCHFUL (imperative) nepho – 6x in NT – to be calm and aware / observant!
    • We can fulfill our ministry – when we are clear minded / alert…
    • Why – because we have an ENEMY who would love for us to be caught off guard!
    • I Peter 5:8 – “Be sober, be vigilant [same words]; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
    • If we are not serving the Lord – if we are just trying to blend into the crowd…
    • We are not a threat to satan – he is not going to waste his time on us!
    • But if we stand up and start to serve the Lord – we are going to get his attention…
    • We can expect the attacks to start coming – because we are fulfilling our ministry!
    • Satan would love to keep us distracted – therefore we need to be WATCHFUL in ALL things…
    • If he can get us CAUGHT up in this life – he might be able to get us taken out of the ministry!
    • II Corinthians 2:11 – “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
  • 2^nd – ENDURE afflictions…
    • ENDURE (imperative) – kakopatheō – to go through evil or difficult times…
    • We often assume bad things only happen to bad people – you get what you deserve…
    • But the truth is God lets bad things happen to those whom He LOVES – Hebrews 12:5-6
    • Because it is in the hard times of life we cry out to and draw close to God!
    • We want God to use us – we want to draw closer to the Lord…
    • But often we will find that before God a work through us – He first does one in us!
    • Do not be surprised if we ask God to use us – only to find we are in a TRIAL…
    • God uses that to prepare us – mold us – shape us – into Godly men and women!
  • 3^rd – DO (imperative) the work of an EVANGELIST …
    • EVANGELIST – 3x in NT – Acts 21:8 / Ephesians 4:11 – one who proclaims the Gospel…
      • Timothy was called to be an EVANGELIST – called to tell unbelievers about Jesus!
      • This is the THIRD time Paul encourages Timothy to use his GIFT…
      • He was commanded not to NEGELCT the GIFT – I Timothy 4:14
      • He was then told to STIR UP the GIFT – II Timothy 1:6
      • Now he is told to DO the work of his GIFT – be an EVANGELIST!
    • It was not enough to HAVE the GIFT – Timothy had to do the WORK of his GIFT!
      • If we see a GIFT in someone – and they are NEGLECTING it – we should encourage them…
      • If it is obvious someone is called – but they are shy – we should STIR UP their gift…
      • Because if we are NOT using our GIFT – doing the WORK – something is lacking in church!
  • 4^th – FULFILL (imperative) your MINISTRY…
    • All of us have a MINSITRY from God – but the question is what it is! 

• MINSITRY – diakonia – 34x in NT the office of a SERVANT…
• SERVANT – diakonos – one who executes the commands of his master!

• If we think God has given us a particular MINISTRY – we should STEP OUT and try…
• If God has given us a desire to worship – then ask to be a part of the worship team…
• If God has given us a desire to teach – then start a Bible study!
• I Peter 4:10 – “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
• FULFILL – to accomplish – carry through to the end – complete…
  • We will FULFILL our MINSITRY when we – are WATCHFUL in all things…
  • Because we have not allowed satan to distract us and remove us from MINISTRY…
  • When we ENDURE afflictions for the sake of Jesus Christ…
  • Because we have not become discouraged and drop out of MINISTRY…
  • Allowing us to DO the work of the MINSITRY that God has called us to!
  • Just as Paul FULFILLED his MINISTRY – to the very END!

• 4^th – The example of Paul… vs. 6-8
  • 1^st – I am already being POURED OUT as an offering… vs. 6
    • POURED OUT – 2x in NT – a reference to the DRINK OFFERING – Genesis 35:14
      • Fulfilled in the death of Jesus – when he POURED OUT his blood for our sins…
      • Luke 22:20 – “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
      • Paul was likewise about to have his life POURED OUT for the sake of the Gospel!
    • The time of my DEPARTURE is at hand…
      • Paul was sitting on death row – he knew his time was coming soon…
      • He was not upset / he was not complaining / he just wanted to serve the Lord…
      • And Paul was more than willing to lay down his life for Jesus!
      • Time is the MOST precious and limited resource we are given in this life…
      • We do not know how much time God has given us here on this earth…
      • The question is what we are going to do with the time God has given us!
      • Ephesians 5:16 – “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
  • 2^nd – Paul was READY to see Jesus… vs. 7
• FOUGHT (perfect) – agōnizomai – to agonize – struggle…
  • Good (kalos) FIGHT – the good FIGHT – is to live a life of FAITH – on the narrow path!
  • Luke 13:24 – “Strive [FIGHT] to enter through the narrow gate…”
  • Living by FAITH on the narrow path – means daily going to WAR…
  • As a believer in Jesus – we are forgiven – but that does not mean we cannot still sin…
  • Our spirit has been reborn – but we are still dwell in our fallen sinful bodies!
  • We still face temptations – struggle with our desires – we can still choose to sin…
  • If we give into sin – we harden towards God – we stumble in our walk…
  • There is a very real danger of us giving up – dropping out of the fight…
  • We need to FIGHT – STRUGGLE to live a life of FAITH – dedicated to Jesus!
  • Hebrews 12:1 – “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us…”
    

Well done good and faithful servant – enter into the Joy of your Lord – Matthew 25:21

I have FINISHED (perfect) the RACE…

We began a race / fight the day we believed in Jesus – it ends the day we die…

Often as believers we start off well – but we do not finish well…

We get tired because we start to have confidence in something other than Jesus…

We begin to depend on ourselves / other people / or some program…

But they did not save us – and they cannot finish what they did not start…

Our job is to keep our eyes on Jesus – believing He will finish what He started!

Hebrews 12:2 – “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”

I have KEPT (perfect) the FAITH…

There is no doubt HOW we are saved – by GRACE through FAITH – Ephesians 2:8-9

But there is some debate in the church about WHEN we are SAVED…

Are we SAVED the DAY we believe in Jesus – or the DAY we go home to be with Jesus…

Not that we can LOSE our salvation – but it appears we can REJECT our salvation…

There is a DANGER to living a lifestyle of sin – it can harden our hearts…

And if we are NOT careful – we might not KEEP the FAITH until the end!

Hebrews 3:12-13 – “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

3^rd – The CROWN of RIGHTEOUSNESS … vs. 8

Finally – there is LAID UP (reserved) for me a CROWN of RIGHTEOUSNESS…

Which the Lord the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE – will give to me on THAT DAY (his death)!

The reward of a CROWN is only mentioned 5 times in the Bible…

I Corinthians 9:25 / II Timothy 4:8 / James 1:12 / I Peter 5:4 / Revelation 2:10

The CROWN is always singular – not CROWNS – meaning there is only one…

The CROWN is always followed a description…

Eternal CROWN / CROWN of Righteousness / CROWN of Life / and CROWN of Glory…

The CROWN that Paul was excited to receive – was heaven!

Not just PAUL – the CROWN is for ALL who LOVE the appearing of the Lord…

The point is simple and powerful – there is ONE WAY to get to heaven – John 14:6

Which is why we PREACH the Word – WARNING every man – Colossians 1:28

FULFILLING our MINISTRY – so that we may FINISH the race…

To one day stand before the father in heaven – receive our CROWN – and hear the words…