Past, Present and Future

Its a little too early to be getting into Christmas, but I was looking at my calendar and we are getting close to Christmas

We are only 87 days away from Christmas

So with that I has everyone in this room seen the Christmas Carol?

Whether it was the original, the mickey mouse version, the animated, the newly animated one or whatever one you saw I think every person here has seen it, right?

But if you haven’t basically this movie reflects on the life of a old greedy and grouchy man (named Ebenizer scrooge) who lives really a miserable life

And three ghost come to him the ghost of Christmas past, present and future.

and really the entire movie is him reflecting on his life

Because he was able to recognize this is how I have acted?! I am a jerk

Because he was able to look at his life and realize

And he learns a few things about his life because of him reflecting on it.

He was looking at the present and he goes this is how I am living? that might need to change

and Finally he realizes this is whats in store for my future? I need to change my life. And he learns a few things about his life because of him reflecting on it.

and because of it at the end of the movie this old grouchy, greedy man, ends up completely changing how he lives and his outlook on life changes.

But you know in our life when we reflect on our past, our present, and out future it should effect how we live.

He was looking at the present and he goes this is how I am living? that might need to change

And if you have been with us the past few weeks we have been in a sermon series called “Final Words”

and Finally he realizes this is whats in store for my future? I need to change my life.

and in this series a guy named Paul has been writing to another man he has mentored name Timothy and he is telling him his final words before he is but to death.

and all

and really it has been full of instruction and encouragement

But something else that you will notice is that throughout the letter Paul is reflecting on his life.

He’s reflecting on his past, his present, and his future.

and it impacts how he is living today.

and really today my goal is for us to look at our past, our present situation, and our future.

Because it really should impact how we life today.

So turn with me to

and we are going to be looking into this passage today, because really in this passage specifically Paul touches on his past, his present situation, and his future.

Unfortunately he dosent do it in a nice order like that, so we will be jumping around a little.

But I want us to see what this passage has to say to us in where we are at in our life today.

So once again it is and it says:

2 Timothy 4 NIV

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: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 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. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 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. Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters. The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.

2 Timothy 4 NIV

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: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 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. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 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. Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters. The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.

2 Timothy 4:1–8 NIV

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: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 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. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 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.

So like I said Paul is reflecting on all three areas (Past, present and future) I know I mentioned this but he doesn't do it in a great order, but he starts with his the future.

and he starts really saying look timothy serve God because of the future we have.

And if you read verse one he says there will be a day where the living and the dead will be judged.

and often times we read that and it sounds like a very unfriendly Bible verse

I mean we hear it and we go that sounds like a bad thing. I don’t want to face judgement.

But

And theres a couple reasons: Partly think about when you are driving on the highway and you see a police officer.

What happens?

You slam on the breaks right?

Why? Because you don’t want to be judged for what you did.

and judgement is scary in that sense. Because we know there is a price we have to pay when we we do something wrong and are being judged.

No one gets excited for court!

No one even gets excited for jury duty

But what I find reassuring in this passage is that God’s judgement is different then our judgement.

Because our judgement doesn’t have a ton of grace

But with God’s judgement he sent his son to die for us and really take our penalty so whoever accepts Him in their life can have eternal life but also when they face judgment they are covered in the blood of Christ.

and this changes judgement from something that we dread too something that should bring a little bit of excitement.

Because you know what judgement brings?

Justice!

and with that God’s kingdom comes. A place where everything is made right.

No more suffering, no more wrongs or sins no more pain, no more death. It really is a beautiful picture that I probably don’t talk about enough.

But it is through placing our trust in Christ that its obtained.

And this is so needed today, and really in Pauls day as well and this goes to my next point in verse 3 and 4 it talks about the society that Paul and Timothy lived in and really its a reality for us too.

Because it basically says people have turned away from the true gospel message that is recieved in Christ or they are distorting the gospel message to saying the kingdom of God has already fully arrived.

and this is an issue

And this is an issue because we are still have suffering and pain

and people are placing their trust in things other then Christ.

Paul says how people only hear what they want to hear.

and in this Paul is recognizing the worlds current situation.

And Paul does this every week but

We live in a fallen world.

But if you were here last week you know in the middle of living in a world where sin seems to have the final say we are called to live a little differently.

And in this passage Paul realizes that we live in a sinful world and he says “But for you live this way”

Basically in the middle of a world where you stick out I want you live differently! I want you to live a life for Christ.

And he shows what we should do and in this passage he gives us four things we need to do.

First he says keep your head in all situations

Meaning staying focused on where God has called you.

This means not being a squirrel. Because squirrels get distracted easily.

Their mind gets set on somthing but then they hear a noise and they are on a complete different track

And Paul is saying don’t be a squirrel but be focused on where God is calling you.

Where even when distractions come up in life you look at them and say no this is my focus and I am going to stick to it.

Next going along with that it says to endure hardships. As a person there will be hardships. (you didn’t need to come church to know that)

You didn’t need

but when you accept Christ into your life you can endure the hardships that come your way.

It doesn’t make things easy but Jesus literly walks through life with us.

Then he says evangelize.

and really this is something that we need a better understanding on because to often we think thats the pastor or the churches job, but if you are a Christian its your job.

Its like saying a fish swims.

its just what they do. God created them to swim! its who they are

and when you are in a relationship with Christ, you evangalize! its who you are.

Because you have seen what Christ has done in your life and you are going I want that done in others.

There is a Penn Jillette who is a famous magician who is also an atheist

To often we have this idea of I need invite my freind to church to get saved (which is great) but we really need to be thinking what if I led them to Christ and brought them to church.

And he was talking to a Christian once and he said so do you really believe in heaven and hell.

and the christian said yes

And penn said and you beleive that you need Jesus to go to heaven?

and the Christian said yes.

And Pen said well you Christians really have to hate people not to tell them about Jesus

And thats why this passage tells us to evangelize.

and to often we have this idea of I need invite my friend to church to get saved (which is great) but we really need to be thinking what if I led them to Christ and brought them to church like that

It would be great if there not a christian, but what if I led them to Christ and allowed God to use me in that way.

Because I can tell you there is no better feeling.

But God is calling us to evangelize.

Then finally it says discharge all the duties of your ministry

another way to say it would be finish what God has called you to do.

because Paul is ending this verse or section by saying seriously stay focused on where I am calling you.

Don’t give up but finish the task you have been given.

Because to often we get tied up in

So look at verse 6 because Paul begins to reflect on the past and like I said Paul knows he is at the end of his life and he is saying this is how I would sum up my life

and he says I have poured myself out as a drink offering.

and what Paul is saying is like this:

this water bottle is my life and literally I have given every single part of me to the lord. (dump water into bucket)

Where there is nothing else I can give.

Paul was a religious teacher which was a great job (I gave my career to the lord)

Paul had more friends before this and he gave them to the lord. (I gave my friends to the lord)

Paul had a comfortable life (he gave it to the lord)

and now Paul was literally giving his life to God.

and really what we need to ask ourselves is have I given myself as a offering to God.

If I was this cup of water and I ready to pour it out and give every piece of me to God.

and look at the result and I want us to read this out loud in verse 7.

Because it says:

“7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

When you reach the end of your life isn’t that what you want to say?

Do

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race and have kept the faith.

Because we can say that but we need to pour our life out as an offering for God.

and if you look at the last verse because it finishes how it started saying when the rightus judge comes what a day it will be, not just for me but for every person who have poured out their life for God.

Will you pray with me?