Stay Ready and Finish Well

Sermon on 2 Timothy 4:1-8

Big Idea: Faithful endurance in proclaiming God's truth requires an eternal perspective that leads to an eternal reward.

2 Timothy 4:1–2 NIV

1 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.

1. The charge to take the torch. (verses 1-2)  

Paul is passing the flame of the gospel ministry to Timothy and the next generation of leaders.

It’s his final inspiration for the church. Many believe this was written within days or at the longest- week from the time of his execution.

Our call involves divine accountability. (v.1) 

In verse 1 we see that this charge is in the presence of God. Sometimes we forget that God is watching and He knows what we are doing— all the time. Now I don’t want you to be fearful of that— but just as a watchful father would keep his attention on his son as he works on whatever— God is there. Don’t forget that—

God and Christ witness our ministry, establishing a sacred responsibility that should influence how we serve. (Acts 20:28, 1 Corinthians 4:1-2) 

Faithful ministry demands constant readiness. (v.2) 

Verse two— Preach the Word. Proclaim the Logos. Speak the truth, the meaning of life. We do that in season— like when it’s appropriate and “normal” when people are receptive, but also when it’s not so obvious, and perhaps when what we say and do are contrary to the “flow” of culture, or the environment.

We must be prepared to teach, correct, and encourage with great patience, regardless of others' receptiveness. (1 Peter 3:15, Colossians 4:5-6) 

1 Peter 3:15 NIV

15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

These passages have a subtle meaning to be able to give an answer for your faith, when it’s convenient— and when it’s inconvenient. Preach the Word, be prepared in season and out of season.

But this answer will include:

Correction

Rebuke

Encouragement

Correction: Here’s an example:

Luke 9:46–48 “46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.””

Rebuke

There is a field of study called apologetics— it’s basically the intellectual approach to defending the faith. It would be valuable for all of us to read and learn some of the ways logical thinking and debate can be helpful in sharing our faith. It’s a hard stop— direct and straight to the point. This might include being stern and not soften words.

A classic story from my college days: It wasn’t me, but a very good friend of mine had a general philosophy class. In this class he was fairly confident to share that he was a Christian.

A student often was very adamantly against faith— especially a belief in Jesus.

The atheist student confronted my friend after he has shared something in the class from a faith-based perspective— and said “but what if I don’t believe in God”?

The Holy Spirit helped my friend, to give an answer: He said it just popped into his head : He answered: “ Your belief in God does not dictate his existence”

To the point enough? He was able to rebuke this person and challenge them that God is not a construct of Man— man is actually a construct of God.

Encourage:

Jesus once again is a great example:

In Mark 6:34, we read the story of the feeding of the 5000. Jesus challenges the disciples but then encourages them— he challenged them to feed the people— what do you have? Then he empowers and encourages them to distribute what they have and a miracle happens.

Correction— setting someone back on the right pathway

Rebuke— to warn, to interrupt.

and to Encourage— to build up, to place courage inside@!

Why do we need to be ready to do this?

2 Timothy 4:3 NIV

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.

2 Timothy 4:4–5 NIV

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.

2. The challenge to face the storm. (verses 3-5)  

Cultural winds will constantly blow against the truth of the gospel.

“People will not put up with sound doctrine”—

“Turn away from the truth, desiring myths”

People naturally resist the truth in favor of comfort. (v.3) 

The human tendency to seek teachings that affirm rather than challenge us to be more like Jesus—this compels us to communicate the truth with both grace and conviction.

There are so many difficult biblical standards that we can shy away from— just because it’s hard.

1 Peter 1:15–16 NIV

15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

That is a challenge. The statement implies that it’s possible for us to be holy. Set apart, different. But do we live like we believe it?

Rejecting sound doctrine leads to the acceptance of falsehood. (v.4) 

When we abandon truth of God as our foundation, we inevitably construct our lives on the shifting sands of cultural myths.

Cultural myths:

"Money makes me ultimately happy."

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." (1 Timothy 6:10)

"Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless." (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven..." (Matthew 6:19-20)

"Self-sufficiency and independence are American virtues."

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2)

"I should do whatever makes me happy first."

"Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'" (Luke 9:23)

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." (Philippians 2:3-4)

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking..." (1 Corinthians 13:4-5)

"My comfort now is the most important goal of my life."

"For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it." (Matthew 16:25)

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)

"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God... But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort." (Luke 6:20,24)

Verse 5— “but you — do these four things:

keep your head,

endure hardships,

do the work of an evangelist,

discharge all the duties of your ministry.”

Difficult times require steadfast devotion to our calling. (v.5)

Maintaining a clear-headed focus and a willingness to endure suffering enables us to fulfill the work that God has assigned. (1 Corinthians 16:13, Hebrews 12:1-3)  

Keep your head: Be sober— think ahead. When the world is losing their minds— we need to keep ours.

Endure hardships- knowing that Jesus endured even more.

Do the work to share the good news with everyone you encounter.

Now take a look at the next three verses. Listen for the emotion and earnest love...

2 Timothy 4:6–7 NIV

6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

A "drink offering" in Old Testament times was a form of sacrifice and worship to God. It was typically part of the larger sacrificial system that God instituted for the Israelites. Here's a breakdown of the basics:

What It Involved

Ingredients: The drink offering usually consisted of wine or strong drink. It could also include oil.

Presentation: The offering was poured out on the altar, either on the animal sacrifices, the grain offering, or the ground, as a sign of dedication and reverence to God

Quantities: The amount of wine used varied depending on the type of sacrifice. For example, a quarter of a hin (about a quart) of wine was used with a lamb, a third of a hin with a ram, and half a hin with a bull (Numbers 15:1-10).

Symbolic Meaning

Total Dedication: Pouring out the wine symbolized the complete surrender and offering of the person making the sacrifice to God.

Joy and Fellowship: Wine often represented joy and fellowship. Therefore, the drink offering was a symbol of a joyful relationship with God.

Future Fulfillment: The drink offering pointed to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who poured out His life for humanity.

Biblical References

Genesis 35:14: Jacob set up a pillar and poured a drink offering on it

Exodus 29:40-41: Instructions for drink offerings to be made with the daily burnt offerings.

Numbers 15:1-10: Detailed instructions for drink offerings.

2 Timothy 4:8 NIV

8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

3. The champion will wear the crown. (verses 6-8)

Paul is looking ahead to his departure from this world. It’s a healthy, yet difficult practice to contemplate your own death.

But it gives us a higher perspective- Having an eternal perspective helps us attain the eternal reward.  We want to be able to speak these words about our own life also.

A life well-lived is a sacrifice offered to Christ. (v.6) 

Like Paul, we should view our lives as drink offerings, entirely devoted to joyful service for God and others. (Philippians 2:17, Romans 12:1) 

Paul’s life, from the time he met Jesus, was never centered on himself.

The life was “fermented” and aged— then poured out as a sacrifice. That pouring started the day he met Jesus...

Faithful endurance entails completing what God has called us to accomplish. (v.7) 

The metaphors of fighting, racing, and keeping faith remind us that the Christian life requires persistent effort until the very end. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Hebrews 10:23)

Another way to translate what Paul is saying here — I have completed the “agon”. “I have fought the good fight”, I have finished the Great RUN. He is speaking in past tense, from the jailers prison awaiting his execution. And finally in verse 8— he explains that because he has had an eternal perspective on his life:

Eternal rewards await those who remain faithful to the end. (v.8) 

As we close today, I invite you to consider where you stand in this journey of faith.

Perhaps you're just beginning, taking the torch of gospel truth as it's been passed to you. You are younger, you are eager to learn, grow and discover your purpose and calling in this life. You are receiving the “charge”.

Maybe you're in the midst of facing the storm, standing firm while cultural winds howl against God's truth. You are in the productive phase of your life— taking up the challenge everyday with your family, your work, your decisions and service to God.

Or perhaps you've been running this race for decades, your eyes now fixed on the finish line ahead. You have been faithful and you are a champion of the faith. You have more of your life behind you than in front, but you want to finish well.

Stay ready— finish well.

Wherever you find yourself, Paul's words remind us that what matters most is not how we start— but how we finish. The same God who commissioned Paul, who strengthened Timothy, and who has called each of us will provide everything we need to remain faithful.

I’m going to ask Sarah to come and just begin playing some chords behind a prayer time.

This is the end of our series in I and II Timothy— I want you to see yourself in one of these three phases of faith.— The Charge, The Challenge, The Champion—

We are going to have Owen and Matt join me also, and we are going to offer a simple prayer of blessing and dedication and encouragement to each of you in these three groups.

So take up the torch with conviction, face the storms with courage, and keep your eyes fixed on the crown that awaits.

For in Christ, we don't just endure or survive to the end—we thrive and finish well.

Here is a test to see if your mission on earth is finished. If you are alive, it isn’t.

Francis Bacon (Philosopher)