Be Ready...

What would be your final words to the ones that you love the most? If you had one final word of encouragement, word of challenge, word of advice, what would it be? Paul, within our text, gives Timothy his final charge, his final word of encouragement, challenge, and advice. Words that are just as pointed and valuable as they were the day that he penned them to Timothy. May we take these words and apply them to our lives.

Focus Passage

2 Timothy 4:1–5 KJV

1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Be Ready

2 Timothy 4:1–2 KJV

Paul closing out his final letter, as he awaits his death sentence, comes with a final and earnest protest of faithfulness. Paul writes, I charge thee. He does not half-heartedly bring this charge. This final charge is of utmost importance. These will be his last words to his son in the ministry. He wanted him to know that that this charge was waited. He was giving his final words of advice to Timothy and he wanted him to understand the importance of this charge. He brings about foundational charge.

1. The foundational charge of being ready

a. Timothy was to be ready based off his spiritual heritage

Paul writes, therefore, which causes one to look at the text prior to this passage.

Paul brought about several truths within the previous portion of his letter leading up to our text. He let him know that difficult times were ahead (3:1-9). He let him know that he, Timothy, had been given a solid example of faithfulness to the Lord through Paul’s own example of ministry (3:10-13). Finally, Timothy had a spiritual heritage that revealed to him the truth of Scripture and the call of faithfulness. It was this heritage that he was following and must continue in (3:14-15).

b. Timothy was to be ready based off the coming judgment

Paul writes to Timothy, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.

Paul reminds Timothy, be ready, in light of the judgment to come. The judgment to come was not only to be the foundation for Timothy’s ministry, it was the foundation for Paul’s ministry. He writes to the Corinthian church...

2 Corinthians 5:11 KJV

11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

2. The believer is to be ready to share

a. The believer is to be ready to share the gospel

Paul writes, preach the word. The idea is that of a herald crying out a message. We are called to be herald of the gospel.

b. The believer is to be ready to share both in opportune and inopportune times

As Paul writes, in season and out of season.

c. The believer is to be ready to share with perseverance and uncorrupted truth

Paul writes to Timothy, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

Each of these charges from Paul to Timothy have different meanings and avenues of discipleship.

Reprove gives the idea of conviction and convincing

Rebuke gives the idea of strong censorship or rebuking

Exhort gives the idea of calling near/encouraging

The key to victory within all of these areas of discipleship is patience and standing on the truth. Without patience, one will lose their cool and give up. Without the truth, one’s words are no more valuable than the teachings of the false teachers.

The Time to Come

2 Timothy 4:3–4 KJV

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Paul warns Timothy of a time to come of time of difficulty for the church that will be like none other. He described this time as difficult times (3:1). He described this time as time when people would be lovers of self, money, pride, grow stronger and stronger in their wickedness (3:2-8). The shining to light this was that eventually their lies would shine through (3:9), but with that said, he continues within our text and explains how they grow more and more wicked. Paul spoke of a time to come.

1. A time to come when uncorrupted truth would no longer be tolerated

Paul writes, they will not endure sound doctrine.

2. A time to come when they would search after their own desires rather than Biblical truth

Paul writes, after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers.

3. A time to come when they would rather be tickled then convicted

Paul writes once again, having itching ears.

4. A time to come when they would shun the truth rather than embrace the truth

As Paul writes, turn away (literally turn their back on) their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (set their face upon).

The Time has Come

2 Timothy 4:5 KJV

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Paul was speaking of a time to come, but I would submit to you that time has come. We are living in those days today. Brothers and sisters it is a time of action. As that time has come, the time has come for the church to be more faithful than ever. The time has come. Paul finishes this charge with a final charge with a call for continuous action.