***2 timothy 4:1-5

There’s a word from the lord this evening, coming from the book of 2 Timothy

A passage of scripture that is familiar to many of us for special occasions such as these

And once again we are proud of Pastor Loggins and the assignment that he has taken

2 Timothy chapter 4 verses 1-5

And you should find these words as printed

Let’s look what it says

It says here that

4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

That’s enough, I want to talk for the next fleeting moments with the help of the holy spirit and in the time that we will share together tonight

I want to talk about

“Preach the word preacher”

Introduction: the world is bombarded with message after message offering hope after hope. But above all the messages and above all the hopes that bombard the world, there is one that is more needed by man than all the others—one that is so important that it supersedes all the others combined. What is that message? It is the message of the Word of God. The Word of God offers the only lasting hope for man. For this reason the Word of God must be preached. The minister of God must commit himself to the awesome charge to preach the Word of God and to minister as never before.

As we look at this passage, we would find here where Paul gives Timothy a charge to preach the the word of God

For he says

1 (4:1) Preaching—Judgment—Jesus Christ, Return: preach the Word—for the eyes of God and of Christ watch you. The thrust of this great passage is the previous verse:

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Ti. 3:16

Look what it says

Therefore, “I charge you … preach the word” (vv. 1–2). You must preach the Word, for God and Christ are watching. Their eyes are upon you. They are watching to see if you preach the Word.

Understand that every man of God who has been called by God, is not to be preaching his own ideas nor the ideas of other men. The message of the gospel, is not the message of human philosophy, psychology, sociology, or education. It is not the message of self-image and personal development. As helpful as these subjects may be,

but they, are not the gospel; they are not the Word of God.

The Word is the very Word of God, the glorious gospel of our salvation. The Word is the Scripture which we hold in our hands and study and teach to all who give their lives to Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Word that we are to preach is

• the very revelation of God Himself, the record of what God wants us to know, the record that is recorded in the Holy Scriptures, the Holy Bible

2 Timothy 3:17 (NRSV)

17 so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

The Word that we are to preach is …

• the unbelievable love of God that tells us about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to earth to save man from the sin and suffering and death of this world

The Word that we are to preach is

• the great mercy of God that He has poured out upon us through the death of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (see note—Ep. 2:4–7

The Word that we are to preach is

• the coming resurrection and judgment of all men

This is the Word that we are to preach, and we are to proclaim it from the housetops ever so boldly and courageously.

No matter the trials or the threats of men, we are to “preach the Word”—the Word of our living God.

and here Pau; shares with Timothy why it’s important to preach the word of God

He says that

1. The Lord Jesus Christ will judge the living and the dead. If we are living when He returns, He is going to judge us. If we die before He returns, He is going to judge us.

⇒ First, He is going to judge us as to whether or not we preached. If He calls us to preach and we do not preach, we will be judged and condemned.

He is going to judge us as to whether or not we preached the Word.

If we preach the ideas of men instead of God’s Word, we will be judged and condemned.

If we preach a mixture of men’s ideas and God’s Word, we will be judged and condemned.

Some day Timothy’s work will be tested, and that test will be carried out by none other than Jesus Christ Himself. A Christian’s work must be good enough, not to satisfy men, but to satisfy Jesus. He must do every task in such a way that he can take it and offer it to Christ. He is not concerned with either the criticism or the verdict of men. The one thing he covets is the ‘Well done!’ of Jesus Christ.

If we all within the Church and within the world did our work in that spirit, the difference in life would be incalculable.

⇒ It would save us from the touchy spirit which is offended by the criticisms of men.

⇒ It would save us from the self-important spirit which is concerned with matters of personal rights and personal prestige.

⇒ It would save us from the self-centered spirit which demands thanks and praise from men for its every act.

⇒ It would even save us from being hurt by the ingratitude of men.

This is exactly what the minister must do: he must preach the Word, keeping his mind upon the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

He must be prepared for His return, and the minister of the Lord prepares by preaching the Word. The conquering Lord is returning; if we fail to preach the Word, we will stand before Him unprepared—embarrassed and ashamed. If we fail to be subjected to Him now—fail to preach His Word—we will be subjected and judged by Him.

The Lord Jesus Christ will appear

The Lord Jesus Christ will set up His kingdom forever and ever. The true minister of God will be a citizen of the Lord’s kingdom. His position and rank (the amount of responsibility) in that kingdom is based upon his faithfulness in this world.

Therefore, the minister of God must preach the Word faithfully. He must keep his eye upon the kingdom of Christ even as Christ is keeping His eye upon the minister’s faithfulness.

“So live and so work that you will rank high in the roll of citizens of the Kingdom when the Kingdom comes.”

But then, here Paul says that 2 (4:2) Preaching—Minister, Work of: preach the Word—for this is the Lord’s call to you. Preaching the Word, is to be the consuming passion of the minister’s life.

Note how forcefully this is brought out in this verse:

For he says that

⇒ “Preach the Word.”

⇒ “Be instant in season, out of season”: keep a sense of urgency; grasp the opportunities and make opportunities to preach.

⇒ “Reprove.”

⇒ “Rebuke.”

⇒ “Exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

1. First, preach the Word. The whole thrust is obsession—the minister is to be obsessed with preaching. Preaching is to burn within his soul; he is to be consumed with preaching—a burning passion to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Why?

Therefore, the charge is to preach the Word.

Note two very significant points.

a. The word preach (kerusso) is the picture of the minister standing before people in all the dignity and authority of God Himself. It is the word that was used of the ambassador who was sent forth by the king to proclaim his message in all of the authority and dignity of the king himself.

This should be the pattern for the preacher today. His preaching should be [with dignity] … that dignity which comes from … the fact that he is an official herald of the King of kings. It should be … [with] authority which will command the respect, careful attention, and proper reaction of the listeners.

b. The minister is to preach “the Word.” What is meant by “the Word”?

⇒ “All Scripture”—all Scripture that is given by the inspiration of God (2 Ti. 3:16).

The Word means the Scripture, the very Word of God itself. It is “the whole body of revealed truth.”

It is the whole counsel of God that comprises what men call The Holy Bible. The minister is to preach the Word, the Holy Scripture, the very Word of God Himself.

He is not to preach …

• his own ideas

• the ideas of other men

• philosophy

• psychology

• self-image

• self-righteousness

• sociology

• science

• educational development

• personal efforts

• ego-boosters

• man-made religion

He is to preach the word of God

The word [preach is a] command to be obeyed at once. It is a sharp command as in military language.… The preacher must present, not book reviews, not politics, not economics, not current topics of the day, not a philosophy of life denying the Bible and based upon unproven theories of science, but the Word.

The preacher as a herald cannot choose his message. He is given a message to proclaim by his Sovereign. If he will not proclaim that, let him step down from his exalted position.

Matthew Henry uses striking language:

It is not their own notions and fancies that they are to preach, but the pure plain Word of God; and they must not corrupt it.

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Ti. 4:2).

2. Second, be instant in season, out of season.

There are two things to note in this point.

a. The word instant means to “take a stand, to stand upon it or up to it, to carry on, to stick to it.”

As Robertson says, “There are all sorts of seasons … some difficult … some easy.” The task of the minister is to stand and stick to preaching no matter the circumstances, easy or difficult.

b. The preacher is to proclaim the Word when the time is auspicious, favorable, opportune, and also when the circumstances seem unfavorable. So few times are still available for preaching that the preacher must take every chance he has to preach the Word. There is no closed season for preaching.”

Matthew Henry says:

Do this work with all fervency of spirit. Call upon those under [your] charge to take heed of sin, to do their duty: call upon them to repent, and believe, and live a holy life and this both in season and out of season.…

We must do it in season, that is, let slip no opportunity; and do it out of season, that is, not shift off the duty, under pretence that it is out of season.

William Barclay says:

The Christian teacher is to be urgent. The message he brings is literally a matter of life and death. The teacher and the preacher who really get their message across to people are those who have the tone of earnestness in their voice.…

The Christian teacher is to be persistent. He is to urge the claims of Christ “in season and out of season.

Keep your sense of urgency (stand by, be at hand and ready, whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable, whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it be welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong

But then,

Third, reprove.. The word means to stir a person to prove himself; to put a person under conviction; to lead a person to see his sin and to feel guilt over it. It means to put a person under conviction of sin and to lead him to confession and repentance.

The preacher is to deal with sin, both in the lives of his unsaved hearers and in those of the saints to whom he ministers, and he is to do it in no uncertain tones. The word “sin” is not enough in the vocabulary of our preaching today. And as he deals with the sin that confronts him as he preaches, he is to expect results, the salvation of the lost and the sanctification of the saints.13

Fourth, rebuke . This is a strong word, very strong. It is a “sharp, severe rebuke with possibly a suggestion in some cases, of impending penalty. Even where the preacher has experienced failure after failure in bringing sinners or saints to forsake their sin.

A word of warning and rebuke would often save a brother from many a sin and many a shipwreck. But, as someone has said, that word must always be spoken as ‘brother setting brother right.’ It must be spoken with a consciousness of our common guilt. It is not our place to set ourselves up as the moral judge of anyone; nonetheless it is our duty to speak that warning word when it needs to be spoken.

Endeavour, by dealing plainly with them, to bring them to repentance. Rebuke them with gravity and authority, in Christ’s name, that they may take [your] displeasure against them as an indication of God’s displeasure

“Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear” (1 Ti. 5:20).

Fifth, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. The word exhort has the idea of “please, I beg of you, I urge you.” It means to beseech, encourage, comfort, and help. It is not enough to reprove and rebuke people. The minister must encourage and comfort, help and carry the person to Christ.

Note how crucial this point is.

a. The minister must exhort with all longsuffering.

The idea is that the minister patiently endures in exhorting people—no matter the circumstances. He exhorts and exhorts, encourages and encourages. He suffers a long, long time with people …

• enduring whatever weaknesses and failings they have

• enduring whatever evil and injury is done

The minister suffers a long, long time without resentment or anger, and he never gives up, for he knows the power of Christ to change lives.

b. The minister “exhorts with all doctrine.” He does not teach bits and pieces of God’s Word. He does not focus upon subjects …

• that are popular

• that are favorites

• that arouse curiosity

• that he thinks are needed

He focuses upon all the doctrines of God—the whole counsel of God. He exhorts people in all the doctrine of God.

(1 Pe. 5:2) says that

“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind” (1 Pe. 5:2).

3 (4:3–4) Preaching—Ministers: preach the Word—for the great apostasy is coming. Even as Paul was writing these words some false teaching had already seeped into the church, and the future was not too bright. This is a prediction of Scripture; Paul was prophesying that the false teaching was to spread. The day was coming when apostasy was to sweep throughout the church. The idea is that the apostasy would be great—many would follow after the false teaching and the whole church would be affected.

We know from church history that this is exactly what happened to the churches in Asia. The Asian churches were the very churches who were warned in the Book of Revelation (Re. 1:11–3:22). There were seven churches, and out of the seven only one remained faithful to the preaching of the Word—the Philadelphian church (Re. 3:7–13).

The other six became apostate; many of the people turned away from the pure preaching and teaching of God’s Word.

Why?

What caused the apostasy? What caused so many people and churches to turn away from Christ and from the pure Word of God? This present passage gives the answer, and remember: it was a prediction. The apostasy had not yet happened.

Two clear reasons are given why people turn away from Christ and why churches turn away from the preaching of the pure Word of God.

1. People will not endure sound doctrine. By doctrine, of course, is meant the doctrines, teaching, and instructions of God’s Word, the Holy Scriptures.

Note the word sound ,It means wholesome and healthy doctrine and teaching. The only doctrine and teaching that is sound is that of God’s Word.

The point is this: people turn away from sound doctrine because they do not want to hear the truth. What truth? In all honesty, the truth that none of us enjoys hearing.

⇒ If we are honest , We do not enjoy hearing that we are sinful and depraved, dirty and unclean, selfish and immoral, unjust and unworthy, ever failing and always coming up short. No person enjoys hearing this, no matter who he is.

Yet the message is true, and a person is foolish not to be honest and acknowledge it.

Why?

Because the sin and depravity of our hearts, is the very reason we live in such an evil world and die. And being honest about the fact is the only way the problem of evil and death can ever be solved. Nevertheless, despite all this it is not enjoyable to confess that we are sinners and hopelessly depraved.

⇒ We do not enjoy hearing that we can do nothing whatsoever to become acceptable to God. This idea just does not make sense to most people, for there are some good people in the world. It is just not a pleasing thought to hear that man cannot do enough good to be acceptable to God. Think about it: no matter who the person is—no matter how good and moral he is—no matter how much good he does, he is not acceptable and cannot make himself acceptable to God. As stated, this is not a pleasant thought, not to any person. Therefore, men do not want to hear such doctrine preached.

⇒ Most people do not like hearing that Jesus Christ is the only Savior, the only Mediator, the only way a person can be saved and acceptable to God. They ask about the people who never hear about Him (like the native in the jungle) and about other religions.

The teaching of Scripture could go on and on, but the point is clear. People turn away from sound doctrine for a very simple reason: they do not want to hear the truth. They either do not agree with it, or else they do not want to be reminded or to think about it.

“Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (Jn. 7:16–17).

2. People will want teachers who will allow them to live like they desire. people will be dominated “by their own lusts”

They will be living lives of lusts, cravings, and gratifications—lives that seek the gratification of the flesh through …

• sex and immorality

• recognition and honor

• power and authority

• status and position

• money and possessions

• image and approval

• discipline and control

• religion and personal righteousness

• good works and benevolence

Such lusts and cravings will so dominate people’s lives that they will seek ministers and teachers who will tickle their ears with the message of personal development and self-image.

This is the message, the glorious gospel of God’s Word: there is salvation through His love—His love that has been demonstrated in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The point is this: men do not want to be honest. They want the right to live like they want and to do their own thing. They want the right to be comfortable, at ease, recognized, honored, esteemed, and to secure position, authority, wealth, and power. They want pleasure and stimulation—the gratification of their lusts when they want them gratified. Therefore, they want teachers who will tickle their ears and assure them …

• that the building up of their discipline, image, and personal development is good and acceptable just so God is honored and acknowledged

• that immorality and carnality are forgivable

As stated, both messages are true, but they are not the whole truth. And the only way a person can be saved, truly saved, is by surrendering his life to the whole truth of God’s Word.

Note what Scripture says: false teaching is nothing more than fables. The Amplified New Testament says that people “will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.”

Thought 1. Timothy and all true ministers of the gospel must preach the Word, for a great turning away is coming. God’s ministers must preach now while there is still time—preach with all the fervency and power of God’s indwelling Spirit.

4 (4:5) Preaching—Ministers: preach the Word—for you must complete and fulfill your ministry—you must fill your ministry to the brim.

Tragically …

• not every minister completes his ministry

• not every minister fills his ministry to the brim

• not every minister does everything Christ wants Him to do

• not every minister undertakes every ministry that God desires for him

• not every minister fills every ministry he undertakes to the brim

Some do; we can look around and see some ministers who serve ever so faithfully. Some are not as gifted as others, and they serve in what men call small ministries, but they serve faithfully and well.

How can we all become faithful and fulfill our ministries? How can we fill our ministries to the brim? Paul told Timothy that he had to do four things to complete his ministry.

1. The minister must watch in all things.

The word watch means to be sober, calm, and alert; to keep a cool, calm, and collected mind; to maintain a controlled and disciplined life and spirit.

And note: the minister is to be this way in all things: in body, mind, and spirit—in thought, word and behavior. The minister is to always watch—always be alert, calm, controlled, and disciplined—no matter the activity or behavior.

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mt. 26:41).

2. The minister is to endure afflictions

The word means to suffer hardships, troubles, problems,

3. The minister is to do the work of an evangelist. This does not mean that the minister is to become a travelling or professional evangelist. It means that his work is to be evangelistic—he is to seek to win souls in all that he does. He is to share the love and judgment of God in all of his preaching and teaching and in everything else he does. The very thrust of his ministry is to be that of reconciling people to God, that of sharing the glorious news of God’s love and of coming judgment: that God saves and will judge people through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

4. The minister is to complete and fulfill his ministry, fill it to the brim. He is to carry his ministry out to the end, fully perform all the duties of it.

One of the chief temptations of the pastorate is laziness and neglect. Paul lives an intense and tremendously active life.

“Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (Jn. 4:34).

“I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (Jn. 17:4).