2 Timothy Chapter 4 Verse 8

•Paul had written previously to Titus in Titus Chapter 2 instructing him to live soberly, righteously, godly in this present age and to look for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 24 and Mark 13 that we ought to keep watch for the His coming…and now we see that the fruit of waiting expectantly for the Lord’s appearing and watching constantly for the Lord’s return, we see here that the fruit of obedience to those two directives produces in us a deep longing, an impassioned genuine heart-filled love for His appearing….

•Is that you? Do you right now yearn for His appearing? Would it be the best thing that could happen to you right now…if the Lord appeared right now to call us to Himself? If so then this crown of Righteousness awaits you too…and the hidden secret of that crown is this…if that is you, dear believer, you already wear that crown…righteousness explains you…why you are the way that you are…well, it’s simple really, you believe, man…

2 Timothy Chapter 4 Verses 9 – 11

•I love the sweetness of this statement. Acts 15:36-40, Paul wanted nothing to do with Mark. Mark had accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey but for reasons not given in the scriptures, (seemingly not good reasons), Mark had left Paul in Pamphylia and returned home…and so Paul and Barnabas had gotten into it in Acts Chapter 15 because Barnabas wanted to take Mark again and Paul would have nothing to do with Mark…

•But notice, here Paul is, older, wiser, stronger, fighting the good fight to the end, keeping the faith like the treasure in earthen vessel that it is…and who does he ask for…? His betrayer. Why? Because forgiveness bows to love, man. If you are born of God…who Himself is love…if you are born of God then your heart’s desire, (although clouded with emotion for a time), your heart’s demand and passion will be to love.

•1 John Chapter 4 says, “Love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” But Mark never apologized…but Mark never repented…but Mark never changed…but Mark never bought me gifts and groveled at my feet…EXACTLY…which is why Paul’s heart yearns even more…why? Because love is still possible!

•If Mark had of begged forgiveness, apologized, all that…then all Paul could do at that point is forgive…but without that placation…Paul’s heart still has a shot, a shot at agapeo…and Paul’s heart just has to have it…forgiveness is a step-down sluggish anemic emotion and action compared to love…And listen, I’m not saying love everybody and have hug-parties, not at all…I’m saying draw near to the Lord and let Him heal your heart…you’ll not need to “forgive” but rather your heart will pass right by Go, collect $200 and arrive at release!

•We’re not told this but Mark may be the only piece of unfinished business Paul has left and that is why he says here, “Mark is useful to me for ministry.” Whether Mark made it there or not, doesn’t matter. Even if Paul was killed he still had this letter. Business finished…He still loved…even to today.

2 Timothy Chapter 4 Verses 12 – 15

•This is probably the same Alexander that Paul spoke of back in 1 Timothy Chapter 1 and the statement made there is that Alexander rejected having faith and good conscience and his life was marked by shipwreck…that must have been a bad scene, (whatever it is that happened), because Paul warns Timothy, “He’s hurt me badly, avoid him – steer clear of him.”

•Now we have the translation, “May the Lord repay him according to his works,” but more literally, in the Greek word for word, this simply says, “The Lord will render to him according to his works.” And that isn’t a statement of revenge but rather a statement of fearful fact…that the natural man, after rejecting faith and reconciliation with the Father through the Son, faces God on their own merits…and that account has a significant negative balance!

•But I love this, in this scene, check this out…we get no details. We get no paragraph, or even sentence concerning what happened…and here’s the thing…Timothy doesn’t need to know them. James 3:5 says, “See how great a forest a little fire kindles!” Paul could have told the whole story and that could have totally distracted Timothy…plus, as soon as Timothy knows everything, now it’s in Timothy’s hands! No. The matter was to remain in God’s hands and so Paul says, steer clear….and guess what Timothy does…simply that.

2 Timothy Chapter 4 Verse 16

•This is such a huge statement. A fruit of repentance, a sign of dependence upon the Father…an indication of maturity, strength, security…love, power and a sound mind. We should all watch for this and desire this completeness of maturation…everyone has turned their back on me…may it not be charged against them!

•Recall Stephen, Acts 7, being stoned for his faith, he looks up, sees Jesus risen from the throne to receive him into heaven and his last words before dying, Acts 7:60, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” Recall Jesus upon the cross, everyone gone except for John and Mary and as He is crucified unjustly by His enemies and those that hated Him, His words, Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

•Paul, last words, sacred ground, imprisoned for his faith, condemned for his witness…may it not be charged against them. Man mercy triumphs over judgment…mercy is more powerful…judgment cannot overcome mercy…it is so very powerful…it is the aroma of love and against mercy there is no formidable foe. It heals. It restores. It frees. It is the champion of all actions…and yet, I love this, even it bows to grace. We have both in Jesus and man when you catch that for real…you become like him…Paul, Stephen, Jesus…does your name fit?

2 Timothy Chapter 4 Verses 17 – 18

•In the face of his circumstance, Paul has unreasonable optimism, unreasonable joy, and unreasonable worship. But, I love this, in closeness with God…, “But the Lord stood with me,” optimism, joy, worship…it’s like a raging flood…can’t be stopped!

2 Timothy Chapter 4 Verses 19 – 22

•Paul’s last recorded words. According to some traditions, Paul was beheaded on the same day that Peter was crucified upside down…Paul being a Roman citizen could not legally be crucified. And yet, in the midst of all of this hardship and earthly horror, we hear the song of a simple heart having been loosed of the chains of life by receiving the grace of God…finishing his work, going home, entering into the kingdom that he had long hoped for…there is no loss here…to live for truth, to live for Jesus, to live for life Himself…there is even a sweetness in death…

•And so Paul the Apostle ends, but Paul the purpose, Paul the message, Paul the lover of God continues…through Timothy, through Timothy’s Timothy…even to today as we tonight spend time with him as he teaches us the things of eternity.

•Do you see this everlasting purpose? God’s mercy, against such there is no opponent…God’s grace, through which we become His heirs…God’s Spirit, by whom we learn even the mysteries of faith…delivers alone to mankind what each of us so very much seek…and it all began and is because of the cross. Grace be with you…amen.