I Might Not Like It, But I Need It

Text

2 Timothy 4:1–5 NASB95

1 I solemnly 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; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

[Story of when I was young having to take chandilier bush to get rid of a cold. It was bitter and tasted horrible, I did not like, but I needed it.]

Same goes for our spiritual life and the work of the word of God, sometimes the word higlights some areas of my life that not so pleasant

Sometime the word calls me to do some things that I am not predisposed to do

The word of God is Essential, and must be Central in my life

“I Might Not Like It, But I Need”

#1 - The WITNESSES of the Charge

2 Timothy 4:1 “1 I solemnly 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:”

The WITNESSES higlights the seriousness

Paul could stopped at, “I solemnly charge you”

But he proceded to bolster this already grave charge with acknowledgement that there are some witnesses present

The witnesses add a measure of authenticity, verification

This is not just a job, it’s a call. It’s a task laid upon Timothy with these transcendent realities to form a basis for it

God the Father - the ruler, sustainer of all that is, the Ancient of Days, Eternal Father, The one who said “let ther be” and it was

Jesus the Judge - the one who everyone will have to stand before and give an account

His appearing - this charge is to executed with the reality that one day Jesus is coming back [He promised and came the first time, He promised to come a second time and He’s coming back]

His kingdom - the now, but not yet kingdom: we are in it but we do not yet enjoy its fullness [we’re waiting for Adam, Abel, Jacob, Abraham, Sarah]

These witnesses show us how serious this charge is

Not only should the preacher see its seriousness,

But so must the church, the people of God

If this is how seriously God sees this ministry, what do you think is the disposition of God to the preachers and the people that mistreat this ministry?

#2 - The WORK of this charge

2 Timothy 4:2 “2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.”

The WORK highlights the SUBSTANCE of this charge

There are five (5) Greek imperatives in this one verse. This tells me that preaching is not about holding a position, IT’S WORK!

THE WORK IS TO PREACH, TO PREACH IS THE WORK!

Nothing is wrong with painting, cutting, mopping

To preach is to act like a “Herald” - He carries the message of the King

His message is urgent

His message is relevant

What do I preach?

Preaching is not about comedy, therpay sessions, motivational speeches, nice talks, personal agendas

Preaching is not about noteriety or being liked

Preaching is declaring what the Lord says

I might not like that, but becasue GOD said it, I need it

When do I preach?

In season (at the convenient time)

Out of season (at an inconvenient time)

Ezekiel 2:7 “7 “But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.”

Preach! You might not get a: response, fruit, bigger paychecks, not for bigger building, not material increase.

How do I preach?

Reprove - expose, inform the intelllect of wrong

Rebuke - bring back a straying conscience, heart, or mind

Exhort - encourage the faint to have hope (Point them to the Cross)

With longsuffering - Because I don’t make the changes, God does. I don’t give the increase God does. “Fill the pulpit, I’ll fill the pews John Stott”

With doctrine - With the Bible. Even in a time when the sufficency of the bible is being challenge you must have your “finger on the verse” - Context and authorial intent (Mt 5:36). A text without context is a pretext for you to say whatever you want. - Everybody says “the bible says”

That’s why Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:15 “15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”

Don’t pull a text for it to be where you want it to be, or say what you want it to say

Let the text talk and pull you where you need to be

This is a call to diligently handle correctly the word of God - A word to preachers - You need to study

Also, consider what’s happening if you love to preach, but you don’t love to worship.

Sometimes I don’t like what the text has to say

Sometimes it exposes my flaws, failings and faults

Sometimes it shows me my sin

Sometimes it shows me what I don’t want to see and I don’t always like it but I need it!

What does show me is how much I need Jesus!

#3 - The WHY/WARNING in this charge

2 Timothy 4:3–4 “3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.”

The WHY/WARNING highlights that this charge is sobering

We know the state of the world today:

The bible is being challenged and defied

Sin is being softened and celebrated

Self is being exalted and esteemed

Church is being ridiculed and avoided

Preaching is being shamed and sidlenined

They do not want hear the word “God” or hear the word of God

But Paul, does not speak of the world, he speaks of the church -

Jeremiah 5:30–31 “30 “An appalling and horrible thing Has happened in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule on their own authority; And My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?”

Jeremiah 6:17 “17 “And I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’”

“they will not endure it”

Sometimes becasue of the nature of the teaching, I need to ENDURE

The word sometimes:

Calls me to do something I don’t want to do

To be something I don’t want to be

To go somewhere I don’t want to go

To Love someone I don’t think is worth my love

To Forgive someone that I don’t think is worth forgiveness

To work with someone that I don’t want to work with

I might not like it, But…I need it

“they will heap to themselves teachers having itching ears” - itching propmts you to determine your own course and not trust that God knows best

Something is wrong when you are constantly making the decision about what’s best for you

The world says:

You need to do you

You need to do what’s best for you

Follow your heart

Protect your peace

Be the best you

You don’t anything from anyone

Don’t listen to the world, LISTEN TO THE WORD

Don’t do you, Do Jesus - Imitate me as I imitate Christ

Do what’s best for you - And we know that God works all things together for good

Follow your heart - The heart is deceitful above all else, and desperately wicked who can know it

Be the best you - Have this mind in you which is also in Christ Jesus

You don’t need anyone - Bear ye one anothers burdens

Stop satisfying ungodly itches

Curious about dogma but not concerned character

Deep truths but not development

Feel good but I don’t feel challenged

Enterntained but I don’t want to be edified

Comforted but not called to sacrifice

Say what you want to hear but not what you need to hear