2 Timothy 4:1-5 Rooted against the Wind Use the Word of God

We all have goals that we want to achieve in our lives. It can be easy to assume that the gap between where you are now and where you want to be in the future is caused by a lack of knowledge. We assume that if we knew more we would get better results.

However, is more information alone enough? In fact, learning something new can actually be a waste of time if your goal is to make progress and not simply gain additional knowledge.

Let’s say your goal is to become a great cook. You can accumulate every cookbook you encounter. You can talk to great cooks about their secrets. You can go to classes that teach culinary information and the science that surrounds cooking. You can befriend great cooks. But at the end of the day you will never be a great cook unless you being to cook. Let’s say your goal is to be a great fisherman. You can learn about the best way to fish - watch videos – research lures/baits – ask people about the best places to fish and go with guides to find ‘their secret’ places. but at the end of the day you will never be a great fisherman unless you spend time fishing.

Learning information is critical. But learning information is merely wasted unless one puts it to practice.

We often hide behind learning as an excuse to delay the more difficult and more important choice of actually doing something. Perhaps it is time we focused on actually doing something with what we have learned.

So Paul gets to this point in his letter to Timothy. Timothy, you have learned the Word of God continuously in your life. I am writing the Word of God to you. Now do something with it. Use the Word of God.

In a world that is adrift and falling away, they need the Word of God. Let’s learn it. And then let’s use it.

I. Use the Word of God: In every situation

A. Proclaimthe Word 2 Tim 4:1-2a

(ESV) 2 Timothy 4 1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; …

1. Not an option or a suggestion ---- a command – translated in other places for ‘warn’

2. Witness this charge before God / before Christ --- the judge and the one who will return

3. Proclaim the Word

B. When it is easy to use the Word 2 Tim 4:2b

(ESV) 2 Timothy 4 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

1. Be ready – prepare – expect opportunities

2. ---- be persistent

3. Implies boldness / urgent / aggressive

4. When it is easy and productive

5. Christian setting – people looking for truth

6. Seeker setting – people wanting to know God’s truth

EX: Spike – easy to tell him the truth. Even easier to help him to grow in the truth.

Be diligent not taking it for granted. Prepare beforehand / no room for lazy preparation even when it is a positive audience or you could easily skate by

C. When it is hard to use the Word 2 Tim 4:2c

(ESV) 2 Timothy 4 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

1. Be ready – prepare – expect time when it is hard to speak

2. ---- be persistent

3. Implies boldness / urgent / aggressive

4. When it is hard / difficult / nonresponsive

5. Opposition – people don’t want to hear

6. NonChristian setting

7. Possible persecution / rejection / a price to pay to speak up

EX: A guy in Tennessee I came across. Saw him previously kick his wife with all his might out in the garden. Came to his house where he was sitting on the porch. An evil looking man. The whole time I talked with him, his massive German Shepherd was barking/and growling, throwing itself against a chain as it tried to come at me, maybe 20 feet away. The 20 minutes I talked with him, he glared with evil looking eyes, as if he was demon possessed. But by God’s grace I went through the gospel with him. He didn’t get saved, but he didn’t kill me or let his dog loose on me either.

Pray for boldness. Fill mind beforehand so that you have something to say – Gospel / Answers to arguments

D. Impact lives through the Word 2 Tim 4:2d

(ESV) 2 Timothy 4 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

1. Especially in light of the false that exists everywhere

2. Use it as the means to change lives

3. Know it / use it --- not just human self help

4. Reprove – Examine carefully – bring to light the truth

5. Rebuke – Warn strongly – confront

6. Exhort – paraclete – encourage to respond

7. Attitude – not like them

a. Great patience

b. Instructing

c. Confident / concerned

II. Use the Word of God: Though some will look elsewhere

A. Some won’t endure the Word’s teaching 2 Tim 4:3a

(ESV) 2 Timothy 4 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, …

1. Interferes with their life style / resist it

2. Don’t like what the Word says / sin / self indulgence / don’t want to be corrected ----

3. Push back on the truth when it begins to interfere with their life / priorities

B. Some will seek out teaching to allow their desires 2 Tim 4:3b

(ESV) 2 Timothy 4 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,

1. Inner passions in conflict with teaching

2. Look for someone who will tell them what they want to hear rather than what God has already said

3. Twist / use part of the truth to avoid other parts of the truth

4. EX: Love over judgment

5. EX: Freedom over responsible behavior

6. EX: Enjoying life over structuring my life according to His Word

7. EX: Only Jesus/gospel message matters – the rest only divides

C. Some will totally abandon the Word 2 Tim 4:4

(ESV) 2 Timothy 4 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, … 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

1. Move totally away –

2. can’t continue to be exposed to the Word without conviction so they wander further and further from it

III. Use the Word of God: And be faithful to its teachings

Stay faithful / don’t wander / don’t lose the priority of the Word regardless of what goes on around you

A. Mindunder control 2 Tim 4:5a

(ESV) 2 Timothy 4 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

1. – keep your head – focus

2. Not distracted by the static and human disputes -

B. Endure difficulties 2 Tim 4:3b

(ESV) 2 Timothy 4 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

1. – hard toil – ministry is hard – keep at it anyway

C. Evangelize 2 Tim 4:3c

(ESV) 2 Timothy 4 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

1. – Do it regardless of your gifting or calling – reach people for Christ

2. Focus on the mission

D. Live out your ministry 2 Tim 4:3d

(ESV) 2 Timothy 4 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

1. accomplish what God has called you to – engage the ministry God has equipped and given you –

2. Complete it / accomplish what God has called

3. Finish the race