2Tim 2:8-13
The Faithful Minister (3)
We are reading Paul’s farewell book. Chapter 2 seems to be Paul’s
ministry chapter to Timothy. In this chapter, Paul gave Timothy
several exhortations via comparisons. It is a somewhat unique
chapter in that the comparisons remind me of Proverbs. So far:
I. \\#1\\ Be strong like a son.
II. \\#2\\ Speak like a witness.
III. \\#3\\ Be hard like a soldier.
IV. \\#4\\ Be single-minded like a warrior.
V. \\#5\\ Strive like the athlete.
VI. \\#6-7\\ Partake like a farmer.
VII. \\#8-13\\ Remember like a child of God.
A. To understand what Paul wrote, we must not forget where Paul
was (i.e. In prison, facing death).
B. What was Paul doing while there? He was remembering like a
child of God.
1. There is no question in my mind that was a far more
powerful Christian than I.
2. YET, he was still a human being facing death.
3. How did he deal with that? He focused on who he was, a
child of God.
4. He was teaching Timothy to do the same.
5. Being a child of God is…
a. your RANK. Your in God’s army and you have authority
with God, over this world, and over the demons of
this world.
b. your RESPECT - You are God’s kid and that means
something. Maybe not to this world but it should
means something to you. I know it means something to
God.
c. your REWARD - You have trusted Jesus and for doing so,
you will forever be God’s kid.
C. \\#8\\ What was Paul remembering?
1. "Jesus Christ" - That Jesus is Christ.
2. "of the seed of David" - That Jesus fulfilled the
promises. Paul probably got some of his best messages
while sitting in prison!
3. That Jesus "was raised from the dead" - That would take
some of the sting out of facing death.
4. "according to my gospel" - "I" got the truth!
D. \\#9\\ What was Paul holding to?
1. He was bound and suffering, but he knew the Word of God
could NOT be bound.
2. What did Paul mean by that?
a. Some think Paul was referring to the Bible’s
proclaiming promises.
b. I think Paul was referring to the Bible’s resting
promises.
3. Paul, going through his suffering, was clinging to the
same kinds of promises as we do when we go through ours!
Isa 43:2 When thou passest through the waters,
I will be with thee; and through the rivers,
they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest
through the fire, thou shalt not be burned;
neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Ps 91:3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the
snare of the fowler, and from the noisome
pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and
under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth
shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by
night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Ps 91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and
ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not
come nigh thee.
E. \\#11-13\\ What had Paul concluded from the promises?
1. \\#11\\ That we are going to live with Jesus.
2. \\#12\\ We are going to reign with Jesus.
3. \\#13\\ That if we stand with Jesus, Jesus cannot deny His
own!
F. \\#10\\ Why was Paul continuing this?
1. He was in prison. IF he could get it, the easiest way
would be by denying Jesus. Why go on? He had done more
and most any other.
2. That the elect might obtain salvation.
(a) First that tells me that the elect are not pre-chosen
by God for salvation.
(1) I know that is the Cavlinists would say, but
Paul was continuing on so that they MIGHT be
saved.
(2) I can’t go back into election tonight but if the
elect are pre-chosen by God, Paul and many
others wasted their lives.
(b) That Paul wanted to see more people get saved through
his life, ministry, and death.
(1) We must always remember that it is not just how
you live that counts.
(2) It is also how you die.
(3) Faithful ministers die with that in mind.
VIII. \\#14, 16-18\\ Proclaim like a Preacher
2Tim 2:14 Of these things put them in
remembrance, charging them before the Lord that
they strive not about words to no profit, but
to the subverting of the hearers.
A. This might sound like a given for a preacher but Paul actually
instructed Timothy on the correct way to preach.
1. There is a right way to preach and a wrong way. Some were
not preaching correctly.
2. Words are powerful and Paul will instruct Timothy on what
preachers are and are not to do with them.
B. \\#14\\ After both taking and giving encouragement in the
promises of the Word, Paul gave Timothy two commands.
1. Remind them,
a. Paul was speaking of the promises.
b. The only rights that a Christians has,
the only power that we weld;
the difference we can make,
is in claiming the promises God has made to us.
b. The Calvinists like to remind us that God is sovereign
and that is all right because He is.
c. What they fail to mention is that the sovereign God
endued US with His power when He made a promise to
us.
d. Paul was taking encouragement in those promises
because he knew the sovereign God had obligated
Himself to do some things with those promises.
(1) God had obligated Himself to stay with Paul—no
matter what.
(2) God had obligated Himself to reward Him.
(3) God had obligated Himself to let Paul reign with
Him—and more.
e. I remind you that every promise of God is something of
a limit on God’s sovereignty.
(1) God can do anything He wants until He makes a
promise; but once a promise is made, God will
and must keep it.
(2) That is why salvation is not sovereignly decided
by God. He made a promise:
Ro 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name
of the Lord shall be saved.
f. So Paul reminded Timothy the importance of God’s
promises.
2. Charge them.
a. Charge the body that they do not use the wrong kinds
of preaching.
(1) \\#14\\ Some are "words to no profit."
(2) \\#14\\ Some generate "strife," that is tensions,
discord, division.
(3) \\#14,16\\ Lead to subversion and "ungodliness."
(4) \\#17\\ Some "eat as …a canker."
(a) The Greek word for "canker" is the word we
get "gangrenous," tissues are dying.
(b) That is a fairly swift and deadly condition.
(5) \\#18\\ Some produce doctrinal error.
b. That is five ways a preacher can destroy a church with
nothing but his words.
c. If you add to that what he can do with his character,
lifestyle, and attitude, then it is no wonder that
so many preachers cause so many problems.
d. \\#17\\ Then Paul mentioned two more who had done just
that, Hymenaeus and Philetus. That makes four that
Paul had mentioned by name who failed in the work of
Christ (Phygellus and Hermogenes \\#2Tim 1:15\\).
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