Through the Bible - 2 Timothy

Father, it's here in this passage that we're going to look at tonight where we're told to study to show ourselves approved as workmen and workwomen who are not ashamed, rightly dividing Your word of truth. Lord, I pray that as we take this time, the remainder of our time tonight, to do just that, You would sanctify us wholly, completely. Make us new creatures in Christ. We know we already are because of the work that You have done, but You are continuing to sanctify and cleanse us daily by the washing of the water of Your word. I pray, Father, that You would give us insight into this passage that maybe we hadn't seen before and that You would continue to equip us for the work that You've called us to. For we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

Well, this letter before us, these four chapters in 2 Timothy, are the last chapters, the last letter that Paul the Apostle wrote before his death. It was written somewhere around 67 or 68 A.D. Paul was once again in a prison in Rome. You may remember a couple of weeks ago, we were in 1 Timothy. In 1 Timothy, Paul was writing from a prison, but after that point, he was released for a period of time. Actually, in 1 Timothy, he wasn't even in prison; he was writing during that time of his release. His first imprisonment in Rome was in the early 60s A.D., and now we come to the late 60s A.D. Just like the 60s that you think of, it was an interesting time in the church. There was persecution beginning to arise in various areas of the church.

Just as if we were to be faced with persecution in our day, there would be in our flesh a tinge of fear. We might be a little bit timid or afraid. Paul was writing to a young man who was very much timid and afraid. He exhorts him to stand strong in this passage as he writes to Timothy, his dear son in the faith. Paul knew that his death was very close. He had already gone before Caesar Nero twice.

He had come before him twice to declare his case. Remember, while Paul was in Caesarea by the sea, in the country of Israel, he said, "I appeal to Caesar," which was his right as a Roman citizen. They were trying him for crimes, but really, they weren't crimes at all. It was just that the Jews were out to kill the Apostle Paul. At the end of the book of Acts, he declares, "I appeal to Caesar," and they brought him to Rome.

It was a long trip to go to Rome, and he was first imprisoned, really under house arrest. He prayed for and sought a release because he desired to be unchained so that he could take the gospel into the uttermost parts of the earth. He still wanted to travel to Spain and preach Christ wherever he could go. He told the church at Philippi to pray for him that the Lord would make the way open for his release. He was released for a time, but now he was back in captivity.

Now he was back in chains, and he was no longer under house arrest. He was in a cell, in a dungeon in Rome. He knew that at any time he could be taken from that dungeon, from that cell, outside the city of Rome, and ultimately be killed, beheaded for his faith. That was what Paul was facing.

On the other hand, Timothy was free. It is very likely that Timothy was in the city of Ephesus when Paul wrote this letter to him, very far away, beyond the Adriatic Sea, beyond the Aegean Sea. He was there in Ephesus, waiting for word from Paul. Paul wrote him this letter, which is a great exhortation, not just to Timothy, but to us as well. He was writing to a young man, telling him to stand strong in the midst of a collapsing civilization.

I don't know if you noticed, but we are living in a very similar situation. As we look around, not just at our nation, but at our world, we are living in very interesting times. Paul writes a little about this in his letter to Timothy, addressing the times we are living in. He starts his letter, as he did his last letter to Timothy, by saying, "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ."

I find it interesting that Paul writes to Timothy, who knew him very well, and he identifies himself as an apostle. In many of Paul's letters, especially those where he brings strong exhortation, reproof, or rebuke, he signs it as "Paul, an apostle," establishing his authority to speak these things. One of the reasons I believe Paul writes in this way in such a personal letter is to emphasize his role and the seriousness of his message.

To Timothy, establishing his authority, which Timothy knew well, was important. One of the reasons I believe Paul establishes his authority in this letter is that by this time, Paul recognized that his letters were being widely read among the churches. He knew that although this was addressed to Timothy, many within the church would read it. He writes, "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God." Paul recognized that he was not a self-promoted individual; he did not put himself in the position of an apostle. In one of his very first letters, the letter to the church at Galatia, which is likely his first letter, he states that he was an apostle, not by the will of man, but by the will of God. Once again, here he emphasizes that it is God who has called him to that position, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus.

Would you underline that in your Bibles? The promise of life that is in Christ Jesus. Do you realize that you and I have received from Christ a promise of life? Life here on earth, which is more abundant, because Jesus said in John chapter 10, verse 10, that the thief has come to steal, to kill, and to destroy, but He has come that we might have life, and that more abundantly, or to its fullest. Jesus has come to give us an abundant life here on earth, but more than that, He came to give everlasting life. So here Paul states that we have the promise of life in Christ Jesus.

He continues, "To Timothy, my dearly beloved son, grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord." Most of Paul's letters begin with grace and peace, but his pastoral epistles—1 and 2 Timothy and Titus—also add mercy. "Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord."

I thank God whom I serve from my forefathers with a pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of you in my prayers night and day. This was something that Paul often stood upon: he had a clear conscience in his proclamation of the truth. This was a man with a background and a resume that was quite challenging. Prior to becoming a believer and an apostle of Christ, he was a persecutor of the church. Yet God, in His grace and mercy, called the apostle Paul. From that point on, he stated that he served God with a clear conscience.

When he mentioned this during one of his trials while still in the land of Israel, you may remember that one of the chief priests struck him on the face for what he was saying. But it was still the case that he maintained his commitment to serve God with integrity.

It was still the truth that even at the end of his life, he said, "I have served the Lord with a clear and strong conscience, with a pure conscience, that without ceasing, I have remembrance of you in my prayers night and day." He was a man of prayer; Paul was. Even though he was a strong witness for Christ and an apostle, I think he was, first and foremost, a man of prayer.

You'll remember back in Damascus when Paul first saw that bright light on the road to Damascus and was blinded. He was brought in and guided into the city of Damascus. What did he do for those next three days? What was it that God told Ananias when He said, "I want you to go pray for this man Saul"? Ananias responded, "Hey, Lord, this guy persecutes the church. I don't know that I should go to him." And God said to him, "No, he is fasting and praying." From the very beginning of his ministry until the end, Paul was steadfast in prayer. He often encouraged and exhorted the church to be steadfast in prayer as well.

To the church at Thessalonica, he twice tells them to pray without ceasing. Paul was an example of this, as was our Lord Jesus. He said, "I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy." When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and thy mother Eunice, I am persuaded that it is in thee also.

He knew that Timothy had a strong and enduring faith in God and that Timothy was raised with a knowledge of God and a faith in the one true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You'll remember that his mother and grandmother were Jewish, and his father was a Gentile. From a Jewish perspective, he would be looked at as something of a half-breed, but he was a completed Jew for the fact that he knew who Christ Jesus was. He had an unfeigned faith, as Paul says.

"Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that you stir up the gift of God, which is in thee, by the putting on of my hands." He said, "I know your faith is strong and enduring and it's undefiled. However, I want to put you in remembrance that you stir up the gift that God has given to you, a gift that was given to you by prophecy and the laying on of hands."

The word "stir up" here is very similar to what you might do if you had a fire that had almost gone out and there were hot coals there. If you wanted to rekindle it, you would go and get a stick, stir it up, and breathe upon it. And so Paul tells Timothy...

You need to stir up that gift that is within you, the gift that you received by prophecy and the laying on of hands. Why? Because God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.

In the early verses of this letter, Paul charges Timothy to stir up the gift that God has given to him. There are a number of charges in this book; it really is a letter of charges. This is what you are to do, Timothy: stir up that gift that God gave to you. It seems that this young man, Timothy, who is now in his thirties, is ministering in the city of Ephesus. He is appointing elders, raising up the church, and contending for the faith. Yet, there is something of timidity in him, something of fear. Paul says, "Listen, stir up that gift that God gave to you because God has not given you a spirit of fear."

If you are fearful tonight, it is not from God. He is not the one who imparts fear. The enemy often comes in like a flood, bringing fear with him. I find that anytime I am afraid, I need to call out to God because He is not the one who has given me that spirit of fear. The same was true for Timothy in the day in which he lived, and we need to stand upon this truth: God is not the one who has put us in a place of fear and anxiety.

If you are living in anxiety tonight, it might be an indication that you have not drawn near to the Lord. You need to draw near to Him in prayer and in His Word. As we draw near to Him and seek Him in prayer and in His Word, we are told to be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.

Here, Paul tells Timothy, who was subject to the same fears that you and I are, "Listen, God has not given that to you." Instead, God has given you power. The word "power" is the same word used in Acts 1:8 when Jesus said, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you." God has given us power—this dynamic dunamis power, which speaks of the ability to do that which God has called us to do, the commandments He has given to us.

Not only has God given us power, but His Holy Spirit, as Paul told the church at Rome in Romans 5, has shed abroad in our hearts God's love—this agape love. The Holy Spirit pours out into us God's love and also a sound mind.

A sober mind allows us to think clearly, creatively, and with integrity and honesty. God has given us these great gifts. As a result, Paul says, "Be thou therefore not ashamed of the testimony of the Lord nor of me, His prisoner, but be thou a partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God." Do not be ashamed, Paul urges, of the gospel that God has given to you.

When Paul wrote to the church in Rome in Romans chapter 1, he expressed his longing to see them. He had never visited Rome when he wrote the book of Romans. He said, "I long to see you, and I want to come and preach the gospel among you because I’m not ashamed of the gospel of God, for it is the power of God unto salvation." The same word, "dunamis," refers to the power of God unto salvation.

Paul advises this young man, Timothy, not to be ashamed of the message, the testimony of our Lord, or of Paul, His prisoner. There might be some opportunity for shame when one identifies as a disciple of the apostle Paul. Certain individuals entered the church in Ephesus and Philippi, attempting to defame Paul's name. They would question, "If Paul is so great, then why is he in prison? Why are the Jews trying to kill him?" They sought to dissuade people from following the message that Paul preached and even the messenger he raised up, Timothy.

Paul encourages Timothy not to be ashamed of the message of our Lord or of him, His prisoner. Instead, he should be a partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God. Anyone who desires to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution, as this letter tells us. We see this truth reflected in the very letter itself. Paul reassures Timothy not to be ashamed of him, the messenger, nor of the Lord who has given forth this message. Even if he faces afflictions or difficulties, he should not be ashamed.

I believe there may come a day in our nation when we, as believers, experience shame and persecution because of the message we bring. We are already witnessing minor instances of this beginning to unfold. Recently, I read numerous articles, especially with the advent of a new president, as many people look to him for the change they hope to see in our nation. One particularly interesting article came from a man at Newsweek this past week, and in it...

He was basically praising and being so thankful that we no longer have an unintellectual president. Now, we have a president who has brains, which is exactly what he said in this article. He also mentioned that this president keeps religion in the pews where it belongs.

As I was reading through this article, I thought to myself that what he is essentially saying is that you and I, who believe in God and believe in creation, are considered stupid, imbecilic, unintellectual, and brainless. This kind of sentiment is now permeating our culture through the media. As this idea continues to invade our culture, I guarantee there will be more people who look down upon you and me for the message we bring. They will think we are foolish for believing in creation. How dare we hold such beliefs? They claim we have proven those ideas wrong long ago with evolution and Darwinian theories.

This thought is going to invade our culture more and more. As it does, there will be a temptation for you and me to remain silent when we are among family members or friends who may not agree with us. They may think we are somewhat foolish because of our views, and we might hesitate to speak up because they will point at us. For some reason, we are often fearful of what others think. Yet, here, Paul says not to be fearful. God has not given us a spirit of fear. The enemy wants us to be afraid so that we keep our mouths shut. But far be it from us to remain silent.

In verse 9, Paul states that God has saved us and called us with a holy calling. Do you realize that God has saved you tonight? He has saved you from death and hell. Not only has He saved us, but He has called us with a holy calling—not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace. God called us by His grace for a purpose. He has a purpose for you and for me.

I was reading a book this past week by K. Smith, which Dr. TV had recommended. It is called "Pleasing God." K. Smith begins, and Chuck starts in the foreword to this book, with Revelation 4:11. It says, "Do you realize that you have been saved and called by God's grace for a purpose?" That purpose is to be pleasing to God in everything you do or say. God desires that I would be pleasing to Him.

Changes our lives and our view of things. If everything we do is with the mindset of asking God, "Lord, I want to be pleasing to You. Help me in what I'm about to say or what I'm about to do to be pleasing to You," then let me tell you, if that's your heart and desire, you're not going to care what other people think. You're not going to be worried about what your co-workers think or your family members who don't know God if your ambition is to fulfill the purpose that God has given to us.

In the book of Philippians, we read that Paul says, "I lay everything else aside that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me." Paul understood that God saved him for a purpose. God laid hold of his life for a reason, and Paul expresses his desire to fulfill that purpose and to be pleasing to the Lord in everything he does. According to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began, we have a calling that is profound.

Now, there's something to ponder. We don't have a lot of time to go into it tonight, but the calling of God before the world began and the predestination of God because of His foreknowledge is significant. It is now made manifest, as I love to say, in verse 10. It is made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

When Jesus came, He exposed and shone a light upon the mystery that was not revealed in the Old Testament. It was a mystery that the prophets looked forward to and that the patriarchs hoped for. But in the New Testament and in Christ, He unwraps the gift, so to speak, and shines a light upon it. What is it that He has shone a light upon? He has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light.

Paul said, "Whereunto I am appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles." Because of this, God has appointed him to preach it, to teach it, and to go throughout all the world with this message. The same is true for you and me. God has called us and appointed us to preach, teach, and go—perhaps not in that order, but we are to do these things.

For this cause, Paul also suffers these things. Nevertheless, he is not ashamed. Paul was in prison, facing martyrdom and death. He states that he is facing death not because he has murdered someone or stolen anything, but because he has preached faithfully the gospel of Christ. Now, he is suffering these things.

But I'm not ashamed because I know in whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day. He said, "I am not ashamed, but persuaded of the promises of God." Are you tonight? Are you persuaded of the promises of God that He has given to us in Christ Jesus?

Paul told the church at Corinth that all the promises of God are in Him, yes, and in Him, amen, to the glory of God. Every single promise that God has spoken to us from Genesis to Revelation will come to pass to bring Him glory ultimately. So Paul said, "I'm persuaded of the promises of God."

Now he gives another charge to this young man in verse 13: "Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Spirit which dwells in us." This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia have turned away from me, of whom are Phrygelus and Hermogenes. The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus, for he oft refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain. When he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently and found me. The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day, and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus thou knowest very well.

Paul gives a contrast between these two men, Phrygelus and Hermogenes, who departed and turned away from him, and this Onesiphorus, who ministered to Paul and was not ashamed of him. Some turn away and say, "No, I don't want to be involved with that," but others say, "No, I'm going to stand strong." Paul is encouraging this young man Timothy to be one who would stand strong, and he gives him these two contrasts.

In chapter 2, he says, "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." Now he gives him a third charge. Back in verse 13, he said to hold fast to the sound doctrine. Prior to that, he told him to be not ashamed of the gospel of the testimony. Now here he says to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

The things that you have heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit unto faithful men who shall be able to teach others also. He gives him this exhortation, a charge to be strong in the grace of God, and now an exhortation to disciple others, to raise up others who would be able to stand.

We see the characteristics of a faithful minister. A number of things that Paul speaks of here. The first one is that a faithful minister is to be a teacher who is discipling others and raising up others. In verses 1 and 2, he was to be strong in grace, but he was also to impart that to faithful men who would be able to teach others.

That is our desire here at Calvary Chapel as well: that we would be able to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. As the Lord raises up faithful men, we want to see them serving faithfully. Maybe it's just cleaning windows or handing out bulletins; whatever it may be, as we see them being faithful, we bring them before the Lord and pray that He would anoint them with the gift of teaching, just as Paul did with Timothy. We commit to them the Word of God, and they will teach others.

One of the things I wanted to do tonight is to recognize one of the guys who has been faithful on Saturday nights since we started again. He has been a great help to me, and now the Lord has given him a desire to teach within our school of discipleship. We want to pray for him and lay hands on him tonight, asking the Lord to give him the gift of teaching, as I know he is concerned about that.

We have a number of elders here tonight, and Pastor Josh is here as well. I want to ask Mark Cato, one of our elders, to come up. We are going to do just as we see here in this passage; we are going to pray for him. On Monday night, he is going to start teaching courses one and two. Todd and Mark, would you like to come up so we can pray for Brother Mark Cato? Mark, you can sit on the stool here.

I remember a stool from when I was in a Baptist church. You sit on the stool while the pastor stands behind you, and you're in a tank of water. Well, we don't have that, but we do have oil. All right, I'm going to get washed anyway. We are going to anoint you with oil. Amen.

Let's pray for Brother Mark. Father, we just want to lift up Mark to You, Lord. I thank You for this brother and the miraculous work that You have done in his life, which he attests to very openly. We thank You for that grace and the mercy that You have poured out upon him.

We lift him up together tonight and ask that by Your Spirit, You would enable him and empower him with the ability to teach. As he steps out in simple obedience to do what You have asked him to do, just lift him up, Lord. I ask that You would...

The Lord exhorts us to open wide our mouths so that He may fill them. We lift up Mark to You, God, and pour out upon him. Lord, I ask that You give him boldness by Your Holy Spirit, along with love, power, and a sound mind. Grant him understanding in the things he will be teaching. You have told us to pray for the best gifts, so we ask that You pour out upon him everything he needs to minister as You have called him.

We pray not only for those gifts but also for a heart for the people he has been teaching and serving. As he continues to grow in his service to the church, give him the ability to follow after You. We pray for him and ask that You continually fill him with the Holy Spirit and lead him in his heart. I pray that You would give Mark wisdom, Lord, and spiritual understanding. Guide him into Your truth. If he opens his mouth to speak, may You fill him and speak through him, God, by Your Spirit and not by his own strength.

Make him a teacher, Lord. Use him, I pray, and may You glorify Your great name through him. Father, we pray that You would pour out upon Mark fresh and anew Your Holy Spirit. We have anointed him with oil here tonight, and we pray that You would anoint him once again with Your Spirit. Just as You promised that the Spirit would guide us in all truth and teach us all things, bringing to remembrance whatsoever You have said, we ask that as Mark opens his mouth to speak, You would give him the gift of teaching.

As he stands before Your people and declares Your word, I pray that You would continue to guide and direct his heart and mind. Lord, we ask tonight, as the body gathers to hear, that You would pour out upon him and use him for Your glory to strengthen the body of Christ and equip the saints for the work of the ministry. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Thank You. He didn't know I was going to do that. I sent him an email yesterday and asked if he was going to be here tonight. When he arrived, he asked me if I needed something or if there was a reason for my email. He lied to me and said no. So, be praying.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge Mark, as he will be teaching courses one and two in our School of Discipleship this week. I am looking forward to the Lord continuing to raise up others within our fellowship to go forth and teach the Word of God. It's a neat thing because I remember back in June of 1998, we had a beach camp here at the church. One night, a group of elders from the church, including Pastor Tony, pulled me aside and sat me down in a chair. They said they were going to pray for me, and they prayed just like we did tonight. Tom Bruce was there, along with Tony and a number of other guys.

At that point, every time I got up to teach the Word, I had about ten pages of notes, and it lasted only five minutes. I would get through ten pages in five minutes. Now, I can hardly get through four sentences in forty-five minutes! So, Mark, the Lord will do the same thing for you. But God is good, amen?

In chapter 2 of 2 Timothy, we see the characteristics of a faithful minister. One of these characteristics is that he is a discipling teacher, as noted in verses 1 and 2. In verses 3 through 5, we read about the single-minded soldier. It says, "Thou therefore endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who has chosen him to be a soldier."

If a man also strives for masteries, yet he is not crowned except he strives lawfully. Another characteristic of a good, faithful minister is that he is a single-minded soldier. He recognizes that God has called him and that God has given him the armor of God, as we read in Ephesians chapter 6: the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, shodding our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, taking up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and the shield of faith, with which we will be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one.

The faithful minister is one who recognizes that God has called him, that God is his King, his Master, his Captain, and his Commander. He is the one who dispatches us to go wherever He wants us to go and do whatever He calls us to do. A man who wars does not entangle himself with the affairs of this life; he is not caught up with everything about this life. Instead, he recognizes that he is otherworldly minded and that he is from another place.

Not only is he a single-minded soldier, but in verses 6 through 13, we also see the enduring farmer. It says, "The husbandman..."

The farmer that labors must first be partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say, and the Lord give you understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel. In this gospel, I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even unto bonds, but the word of God is not bound. Therefore, I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

It is a faithful saying: if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will also deny us. If we believe not, yet He abides faithful and cannot deny Himself. There are some powerful words here. As Paul says, we have died with Christ, just as he told the church at Rome in Romans chapter 6. If we have been crucified with Christ, if we have died with Christ, we no longer live, but Christ lives in us and through us.

Now, that's a heavy passage. If we deny Him, we are told that He will also deny us. Even if we don't believe that, we are told in verse 13 that He abides faithful and cannot deny Himself. So, even if we don't think that God would do such a thing, He says, "Listen, God's word is true, and He will be faithful to that."

We read of the discipling teacher, the single-minded soldier, and the enduring farmer. But now, we come to the diligent workman. In verse 14, Paul says, "Of these things put them in remembrance." Just as we prayed for Mark tonight, this is one of the things that we would put Mark in remembrance of, or that we would put any teacher in remembrance of. We are to charge them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

A teacher, one who is going to teach the word of God, should not get bogged down in all these weird sayings and ideas, or off-the-wall unnecessary doctrines. It's so easy to be bogged down with all kinds of different ideas about passages that really mean nothing. It's unnecessary to get caught up in it, and sometimes we've even seen church splits over such things. Paul says it's not necessary; it's not something that needs to happen. Instead, he instructs the person to focus on what truly matters.

Study to show yourself approved unto God. I don't study the Word of God so that I'm approved unto you. I don't study and teach the Word of God so that all of you come and say, "Oh, we love you so much! You're so wonderful!" That's not what it's about. I preach and teach the Word of God because that's what God has called me to do, and I want to be approved unto Him.

Study to show thyself approved unto God, as a workman that needs not to be ashamed. There are a lot of people today who are crafting messages—biblical messages, or so they're supposed to be biblical messages. They're crafting messages and preaching sermons in churches, but not unto God's glory. They're doing it for their own glory, so that people can come and give them pats on the back. They merely study and teach the Word of God for themselves, and they have their reward.

Instead, he says, "You study to show yourself approved unto God." Though nobody else likes your message, if God likes your message, praise God! That's good enough. Pastor Mark tells the story about the first message he gave as the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Guam. After he was done, a guy walked up to him and said, "Your sermon could have made me puke." You know what Mark always says? It probably wasn't that good. Maybe it could have made him puke, but I guarantee God was well pleased. Why can I say that? Because I know Mark, and I know Mark's heart. Mark's heart is to serve as unto the Lord.

Though every single other person may say, "I don't like your message," listen: nobody liked the message of Isaiah, and nobody liked the message of Jeremiah, but God did, and that's all that mattered. So he says, "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." If you are faithfully and rightly dividing the Word of truth, it is so much better than the wisdom of man.

There are a lot of people preaching and teaching in churches today, and they're just giving forth the wisdom of man. It will fail; God's Word will not. I've told people before—I've had different teachers within our church come and ask me. In fact, I've talked with Donovan about this before, struggling with teaching the Word of God and feeling like they have to manufacture something. I've told people before, if you merely read the passage, and just read it, then close it and say, "Let's pray," you will have done better than if you stand there for 45 minutes trying to say something that you don't have a clue about. God's Word is strong enough; it's living, it's powerful, and it's sharper than any two-edged sword. Charles Spurgeon once said that the Word of God...

It is like a lion; you don't need to defend a lion. You just open the cage and let it out. The same is true with God's Word. We need to be those who study to show ourselves approved unto God. Though nobody else likes what you have to say, I guarantee I have been feeling this a lot lately. The messages that the Lord has been giving me, especially for Wednesday nights, are not politically correct, but I don't care because I know what the Lord has spoken to me.

We study to show ourselves approved unto God, not ashamed before Him, rightly dividing the Word of truth. In verse 16, He gives this charge: shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase unto more ungodliness. He says to depart from these vain babblings because they lead to ungodliness. As I look at many churches, it pains me to say this, but the messages they give lead people away from godliness. They do not lead to godliness, and there are many who have bought into those messages, walking in ungodliness while thinking that everything is just fine.

It is so fearful to me that there are people who will stand before God someday and say, "Lord, Lord, we prophesied in Your name, we cast out demons in Your name, and did mighty works in Your name." He will say, "Depart from Me, I never knew you, because you practice lawlessness." They lived in ungodliness but thought that they were okay.

He says to shun profane babblings, for they increase unto more ungodliness, and their word will eat as does the canker or the worm. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus. He names some people who were of this way, and I know I have gotten into trouble before for naming certain individuals. I've had different people within the church come up and say, "Oh, you shouldn't say that." Listen, Paul the Apostle did. He singled out false teachers and heretical doctrines, saying to stay away from this stuff.

I don't think it's even going out on a limb to call certain people out and say that their message is not truth. This health, wealth, and prosperity stuff that Joel Osteen and a number of other guys are teaching is not the Word of God. It leads to ungodliness, greed, gluttony, and all manner of different sins, yet they cover it over with some sort of spiritual terms, making people think, "Oh, I'm okay," but they are not. They have a form.

Of godliness, as we'll see, they deny the power thereof. He says of whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is already passed. They overthrow the faith of some. Underline that in your Bible; their leaders cause them to err. That's what God spoke through the prophet Isaiah a number of times in the book of Isaiah: the leaders of the nation of Israel cause the people to err.

Even within the church today, as it was 1,900 years ago when Paul was preaching, there were false teachers who ruined the faith of some. They came in, and one of the teachings they were promoting was that the resurrection was already passed. Did you know that there's a large group in the church today that says there is no resurrection? Among the emergent church, they don't believe in the resurrection. There is a large group of people within the church today who say that there is no second coming. They are called preterists; they believe that all that stuff already happened. Listen, they shipwreck the faith of some.

Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal: the Lord knows those that are His. Let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. The foundation of God is strong. The word of God is still a sure foundation, and if you'll stand upon it, you will not be destroyed when the storm comes. The wise man builds his house upon the rock. The rains come, and the storm beats upon the house, but it will not fall. It will stand because the foundation of God is strong, steadfast, and sure. God knows who His servants are.

One of the characteristics of a servant, a faithful minister, is that everyone who names the name of Christ should depart from iniquity. He preaches a kind of message that says, "Here, come follow me; imitate me as I imitate Christ." He doesn't just gloss over it and say, "You know what? God is a forgiving God," and He is. He doesn't just say, "Because God is forgiving, it doesn't matter; you can continue to live in that lifestyle, and God will forgive you." While it's true that God loves the sinner and hates the sin, He does not allow anyone to continue in such life-dominating sin.

So we read of the discipling teacher, the single-minded soldier, the enduring farmer, the diligent workman, and now we read of the sanctified vessel. Remember in verse 20, in verse 19...

He said that everyone who names the name of Christ should depart from iniquity. In verse 20, we read, "But in a great house, there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor and some to dishonor." If a man, therefore, purges himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor.

Purge yourself from the dishonorable and depart from those who are dishonorable within the body of Christ, who do not know how to possess their vessel in glory and in honor. He says that if a man purges himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master's use, and prepared for every good work. How many of you want to be sanctified and useful to the Lord, so that He can say, "That's the one I want to use"?

He instructs us to depart from those who are dishonorable. The Scriptures are true: bad company corrupts good morals, and there is bad company within the church. Why is that? Just as Jesus said in His parables, there are tares among the wheat, and they will not be identified until the end. Therefore, we need to be those who study to show ourselves approved, who know the Word of God, who check ourselves to see that we are in the faith, and who are drawing near to the Lord.

He says that the person is to be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master's use, prepared unto every good work. In verse 22, he says, "Flee youthful lusts and follow righteousness, faith, charity, and peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." He gives us an exhortation to flee those things that are evil passions or youthful lusts, but to follow these other things.

You see often in the Scriptures, particularly in Paul's letters, he gives us the put-offs and the put-ons: put off the old man and put on the new man. He says if anyone lies, stop lying and speak the truth. If anyone steals, stop stealing, get a job, and give, as mentioned in Ephesians chapter 4. There are always the put-offs and the put-ons.

Here we have the instruction to flee youthful lusts but to follow righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart. He also advises us to avoid foolish and unlearned questions, knowing that they generate strife. In verse 23, he gives another exhortation: avoid those.

Who follow after foolish and unlearned questions. Then, in verse 24 through the end of chapter 2, we read about the gentle servant. It says that the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men, able to teach, and patient.

Anybody who teaches the Word of God needs to be patient and long-suffering at times because people don't always get it immediately. Paul the Apostle saw this many times as he taught the Word of God; people didn't completely grasp it or hang on to it. In fact, to the church at Philippi, in Philippians chapter 3, he says that even if you don't believe this, God will reveal even this to you. He was a patient teacher. He was one who said, "I am going to continue to teach the Word of God so that you'll understand."

If you are in children's ministry teaching the kids, you need to be patient. More than being apt to teach, you need to be patient and long-suffering. He said that the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle, able to teach, and patient in meekness, instructing those that oppose themselves. If God perhaps will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.

There are those who are steadfast in their determination to stand against the Word of God, but Paul says to continue to give the Word of God to them. Give it to them because perhaps they'll repent. Don't just cut them off and say, "Oh, that guy's never going to listen." There are people in each of our lives that we think will never be saved, and then five or ten years down the road, you find they're teaching children's ministry because God is able.

We need to be patient and long-suffering so that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. In chapter two, the characteristics of a faithful minister include the discipling teacher, the single-minded soldier, the enduring farmer, the diligent workman, the sanctified vessel, and the gentle servant. All these things are characteristics of a faithful minister, and these qualities are so necessary and needed.

Why? Chapter three, verse one states, "This know, that in the last days perilous times shall come." Are we living in the last days? I believe we are. I believe that you can make a very biblical case that the last days started when Jesus ascended into heaven, and we have been living in the last days ever since. During this time, from the moment He ascended into heaven to the time that He returns in like manner, we will see perilous times. Not every time has the church been going through perilous times, but we read of perilous times.

During this period of time called the last days, we can identify the perilous times. Notice that he gives us a list of various things that happen in these perilous times: men shall be lovers of themselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof. Then he gives another exhortation: from such, turn away.

I do believe we are living in the last days, but I also believe we are living in perilous times in the last days. Why? Because if you look around our nation and the world, all of these things are taking place. This is the way it will be when Jesus returns. Throughout the last 2,000 years, since Jesus ascended into heaven, the church has seen times like this before. It has seen perilous times before, and every single time such perilous times have come, the church has said the Lord is coming. It’s true.

In the time in which we are living right now, we know that the Lord could come at any moment because we see these very similar things. People are lovers of themselves, boasters, proud, disobedient to parents, without natural affection, traitors, high-minded, and arrogant. They have a form of religion, a form of godliness, but they do not understand the power of God. Paul says to avoid such people. From such, turn away. Why? Because these are the kind of people that creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins and led away by diverse lusts, ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

He emphasizes why you should stay away from these kinds of people: because they ruin others' faith. These are the kind of people you are to avoid. As we saw back in verse 16 of chapter 2, shun profane and vain babblings, for they increase unto ungodliness. They are like Hymenaeus and Philetus; they are the ones who cause people to err. Again, here in chapter 3, he says that when you are in the midst of these perilous times, stay away from those who have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof, because they lead people astray and cause people's faith to be shipwrecked. He says in verse 8, "Now as Janus..."

Jamborius withstood Moses. These are the magicians in Pharaoh's court, remember? They were the same kind of guys who were able to turn the water into blood, turn their staff into a snake, and make frogs appear. However, they couldn't get rid of the blood, the frogs, the flies, or the lice, nor could they eliminate the boils. They could duplicate these miracles, but they couldn't remove them. They withstood the work of God in Moses' day, and so these also resist the truth—men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. They shall proceed no further; notice that they are not going to proceed any further, and their folly will be made manifest unto all. It is going to be exposed, as was theirs also.

But you, in verse 10, have fully known my doctrine, my manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, and patience. You have known my persecutions and afflictions, Paul says in verse 11, which came to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! But out of them all, the Lord delivered me. He says you have watched me; you know my manner of life. You know that I was persecuted for the message. Yet, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Jesus promised us there will be persecution, trials, tribulation, and difficulty.

Anyone who comes preaching another gospel, saying that if you're a Christian you won't experience those things, I would say to stay away from them because they are wrong. They are not preaching the truth. Evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. Those kinds of people who teach such a message, I believe, are evil and seducers.

But continue in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them. From a child, you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise. Notice that God's word will make you wise—not just wise in worldly matters, but wise unto salvation, salvation that is through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

All scripture, one of the favorites of this church, is given by inspiration of God, and it is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.

God's word is God-breathed, and it is useful to teach, to reprove, and to correct. It is useful to instruct us in righteousness and to show us the right way to live and walk. Why? That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly equipped for every good work. The word "perfect" there means mature. If you want to be mature in Christ, then you have to study the word of God and sit under good teaching.

In the next charge, in chapter 4, I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word. Be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. With all patience, take the word of God and use it. Preach it, reprove people, rebuke people, exhort people, and teach them. Why? Because the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts, they shall heap up for themselves teachers having itching ears. They shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables.

But here is another exhortation: watch in all things, endure afflictions, and do the work of an evangelist. Make full proof of your ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. I sure hope that every one of us in this room, when we come near to the day of our death, can say the very same thing that Paul says here. What great assurance this is! No other faith, no other religion gives this kind of assurance. He says, "I have fought the good fight, finished the course, kept the faith." Because of this, he says, "henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give at that day."

But not only for the Apostle Paul—maybe you think, "Of course Paul is going to get the crown of righteousness; I'm not as good as Paul." But it is not only for me, but also for all them that love His appearing. Every single person in this room, throughout the ages since Paul preached this, everyone that has loved His appearing and looked forward to the coming of Christ will also receive the crown of righteousness.

In verse 9, he finishes up his letter saying, "Do thy diligence to come unto me shortly, because Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world." See, there's one who fell by the wayside.

Committed apostasy. Demas has forsaken me, having loved the present world, and has departed unto Thessalonica. Crescens to Galatia and Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he is profitable unto me for the ministry. Antichicus I have sent to Ephesus.

In verse 13, Paul writes, "The cloak that I left in Troas with Carpus, when thou come, bring it and the books, and especially the parchments." It's really neat the things that Paul tells Timothy to bring. He says, "Come to me shortly" in verse 9. He asks Timothy to come because he is lonely, and his spirit and heart need to be refreshed by Timothy's presence.

Then he says to bring the cloak that he left at Troas because he was cold; his body also needed comfort. He also asks for the books and especially the parchments, indicating that his mind needed to be refreshed as well. Here we see spirit, body, and mind being refreshed. Paul was human, just like you and I, and these are not wicked, evil, or immoral things to ask for. Lord, I need even these things of life here and now. God promises to deal with them as well.

At the end of his life, Paul expresses that his heart and spirit need to be refreshed, so he asks for the cloak to warm his body and the parchments to quicken his mind. However, he also mentions Alexander the coppersmith, who did him much evil. Paul states, "The Lord reward him according to his works." That's pretty heavy. Can you imagine being Alexander the coppersmith and hearing that Paul has said to the Lord, "God reward him according to his works"? That's a scary thing. I pray that the Lord rewards me according to His grace and mercy, and not according to the works that I have done.

Paul continues, "Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil, of whom be thou aware also, for he has greatly withstood our words." At my first appearing, or my first trial, no man stood with me, but all men forsook me. I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Now that's pretty interesting. Nobody stood with Paul, and he says, "Lord, be gracious to them." But Alexander the coppersmith withstood Paul, and he says, "God deal with him according to his work."

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. I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. Some people believe that he was speaking about Nero at that point, that he was delivered from him. But whatever the case, we know that our adversary, the devil, is called a roaring lion. Thankfully, the Lord is the one who is able to deliver us, and the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work.

And will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Now notice, shortly after this letter, Paul would be taken from his prison cell and killed in martyr's death. God did not deliver him from that, but Paul was not anticipating that kind of deliverance. Notice what he said: "The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom." You see, his eyes were not on this earth; his eyes were on the prize in heaven. He said, "You know what? God is not going to deliver me from this, but He's going to deliver me from the evil workers, and I will be with the Lord in His kingdom."

In the last few verses, he says to salute a group of different people. He says to say hello to Priscilla and Aquila, the house of Onesiphorus, and Erastus, and so forth. But isn't it an interesting thing to consider that these were Paul's last words? Do you see fear in his voice? Do you see anxiety as he stands before the hour of his death? No, we see confidence and boldness in Christ—the ability to stand strong in the hour of trial. The ability to stand strong even at the day of your death only comes from the knowledge of the one true God.

Oh, that God would strengthen us as we live in perilous times in the last days, as I believe the Lord could come at any time. I look forward to His soon return. I hope that we are alive to see the Lord return. Now, if we don't see His coming for His entire church in our lives, we will each individually stand before the Lord and have our own personal rapture. Oh, that at the time the Lord comes for us, we could say, "I've fought the good fight; I've run the race." Can you say that today? Because He could come back at any moment. I hope that you can. It's my desire that I can, at any time, say, "I fought the good fight; I'm ready to go."

Let's stand and pray. Father, I do thank You for this passage of Scripture. I thank You for Your Word. God, I thank You for the testimony of the Apostle Paul, one who had good doctrine, a great manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, and love.

And patience, who endured persecutions and afflictions, knew that You were his deliverance in everything. God, I ask that You would cause us to hold strong and hold fast to these words, especially as we face perilous times. As we possibly move into a time where we will suffer some form of persecution and trouble in our own nation, I pray for my brothers and sisters, Lord, that we would be thoroughly equipped unto every good work.

In these last days, may we do the work of evangelists, sharing the truth, even though people may look at us and say, "That's the goofiest thing I've ever heard." I pray that we would be strong in the Gospel, for we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.