Keep your head
Notes
Transcript
Church of Christ Dapto
The Second Letter to Timothy
Lesson 8—Keep your head
The Passage
2 Timothy 4:1-6 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 men 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. (6) For I am already being
poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.
Before Witnesses
2 Timothy 4:1 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:
A serious commission before the ultimate Witnesses:
God Himself
Christ Jesus the Judge who is God
An urgent commission
He will appear and bring in His Kingdom
Revelation 1:7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who
pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be!
Amen.
A charge given: a commission and personal responsibility to continue and complete a task.
1 Timothy 5:21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these
instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favouritism.
Fulfil the Charge
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with
great patience and careful instruction.
The terms of the charge
You preach the Word
Do not rely on your opinions or your own wisdom. Remember Who it is that you are to proclaim and
glorify. Preach the Words given us in the Bible about Christ Jesus.
Preach the Word by your life and your words.
You be prepared at all times
Whether the time appears right or not, whether it is convenient or not, whether you feel like it or not:
You correct
A rebuke which results in the person’s confession of his guilt, or if not his confession, in his conviction
of sin. 1
1 Timothy 5:20 Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.
1- Word Studies in the Greek New Testament by Kenneth S. Wuest – Copyright © 1942-55 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed
and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
Dapto Church of Christ Sermon Series
The Second Letter to Timothy—Chapter 4:1-6
September 30, 2018
Page 2
You rebuke
A rebuke which does not bring the one rebuked to a conviction of any fault on his part. It might be
because the one rebuked is innocent of the charge, or that he is guilty but refuses to acknowledge his
guilt. This word implies 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, or where there seems little hope of so doing, yet he is to sharply rebuke
sin2
Luke 17:3 So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.
You encourage
The word has in it the ideas of “please, I beg of you, I urge you.” Thus, there is to be a mingling of
severity and gentleness in his preaching.2
It is the proclamation of Scripture that says, “This is what it says; let’s do it.”3
You do so with patience
The word … speaks of (an attitude) which does not easily (give up) under suffering, of that selfrestraint which does not hastily retaliate (when one is wronged).2
2 Timothy 2:25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them
repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,
You ensure it is careful instruction
1 Timothy 4:16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save
both yourself and your hearers.
Stand opposed
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when men 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.
Fulfil your charge because:
Men will not put up with sound doctrine but seek doctrines of which they approve.
They will seek teaching which suits their desires and does not confront their sin.
They will gather a great number of teachers because they believe that the majority is right.
These teachers will say what the audience want to hear, not what they should hear.
They soothe their itching ears by hearing what confirms their lusts.
2 Timothy 4:4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
Men make a deliberate decision to turn to the teaching of false teachers. These people want to hear, but they
only want to hear what suits them and does not condemn their sin.
They will stop listening to the Truth because they find they are offended by the Truth.
They will prefer teaching about myths because they are not challenged or criticised by such teachers.
2- Word Studies in the Greek New Testament by Kenneth S. Wuest—Copyright © 1942-55 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
3 - The IVP New Testament Commentary Series—Grant R. Osborne, Series Editor
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed
and who correctly handles the word of truth.2 Timothy 2:15
Dapto Church of Christ Sermon Series
The Second Letter to Timothy—Chapter 4:1-6
September 30, 2018
Page 3
Keep your head
2 Timothy 4:5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge
all the duties of your ministry.
Keep your head
… be in a sober mood, be calm and collected..., be temperate, dispassionate, circumspect, alert. 4
1 Thessalonians 5:6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.
In all situations
Do not be distracted by hardship.
Do not be deterred from proclaiming the Truth in Christ.
Do not be afraid of those who oppose even if they are in the majority.
Remember what you have been taught about your opponents.
Remember Whose power you have been given,
so that you can endure any hardship, and
so that you can do the work of an evangelist.
What does an evangelist do?
Discharge all the responsibilities you have been given by God.
Do not neglect any of them because that is why you were called.
1 Peter 1:15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
1 Peter 2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you
should follow in his steps.
Be a replacement
2 Timothy 4:6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.
The previous generation is not here forever.
Replacements are needed.
You are one of the replacements.
You have been given the charge
Will you comply with it?
Next Lesson: 2 Timothy 4:7-8
Finish the race
4- Word Studies in the Greek New Testament by Kenneth S. Wuest – Copyright © 1942-55 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed
and who correctly handles the word of truth.2 Timothy 2:15