How to Leave a Legacy

Jeremy Franklin

Legacies- a study in 2nd Timothy • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

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Disciples TRUSTS God with the Results.

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Hello, and good evening. My name is Jeremy Franklin. I am one of the pastors at Farley Street Baptist Church in Waxahachie, TX. If you are new to our church, we’d love to get to know you better. At the end of the message, please head on over to farleystreet.com/nextsteps. If the Lord is leading you to share your information, make a decision, or leave a prayer request, just fill out the form to let us know.

If you are new to our church, we’d love to get to know you better. At the end of the message, please head on over to farleystreet.com/nextsteps. If the Lord is leading you to share your information, make a decision, or leave a prayer request, please let us know.

As you are probably aware, we are following the health recommendations of national and local authorities. Our church will not be meeting for in person services or activities until it’s deemed safe to do so. In the meantime, we are trying to minister to you online in as many ways as possible.

Last Wednesday was our first time going live with a lesson.

Tuesday Truths is a noonday video devotional with our Senior Pastor, Richard Smith

Wednesday nights are Family Nights, and we have something for everyone:

for Adults, this Live Lesson; I’m finishing a series from 2nd Timothy tonight, 4:9-22

Students, Pastor Jimmy hosts Youth Night Live from Zoom (jimmy@farleystreet.com)

Kids, Pastor Aaron shares a video devotional on Facebook to do with your family

Thursdays we share our Weekend Update announcements

Sundays, Life Groups online at 9 am (Zoom); Worship service is 10:30.

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, and it begins a special week of activities we call Passion Week, as we celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ leading up to Easter Sunday morning. This Sunday night is our NIGHT OF WORSHIP, LIVE at 6 pm.

You can view our worship service and any of our video content at our website, farleystreet.com, our YouTube channel, FaceBook page, on your SmartTV or streaming devices using the BoxCast App. Just search our church name- Farley Street.

If you are part of our church family, or been blessed by our ministry, please go to farleystreet.com/give and show your support. Throughout this pandemic, we are maintaining our ministry of the Word and to people as best we can. We also support several missionaries and local causes. When you give it supports the spread of the Gospel throughout the world and helps people in benevolent ways.

We are also trying to organize a new ministry effort to supply medical personnel with PPEs, Personal Protection Equipment. If you have items to donate, or have the ability to sew PPEs, please contact us at jimmy@farleystreet.com.

Now, last Wednesday was our first time going LIVE. I hope this week will be a little better. If you’ve got your Bibles, we’re going to be studying as we finish out our Legacies series.

INTRODUCTION: When we started this series, I shared this box of stuff that I received from my parents at Christmas: My dad gave me my papaw’s old pocket watch. Though it doesn’t tell time, it tells me the story of years gone by. He also gave me a box of stuff, not worth anything to anyone else but it holds sentimental value for me. It’s all part of my family’s legacy- of times gone by, of trips, trinkets, and toys. You may have a similar box, full of stuff that memories are made of, the legacies of others

the most meaningful thing I got wasn’t new, or even nice. My dad gave me my pawpaw’s old worn out pocket watch. Though it doesn’t tell time, it tells me the story of years gone by. He also gave me a box of old junk, not worth anything, but the stuff holds sentimental value. It’s all part of my family’s legacy- of time, and of times gone by, of trips, trinkets, and toys. You probably have similar…

Do me a favor. If you are participating at home, take a look around. Maybe your children are present, or you can see pictures of them or your grandchildren. Know that you are leaving them a legacy.

Our pastor is known for saying that God has put us in two families, our biological family, and our church family, and we are to leave a legacy to both.

The reality is, all of us are leaving a legacy of some kind to our families and friends, our church family and our church friends. Our pastor is known for saying that God has put us in two families, our biological family, and our church family, and we are to leave a legacy to both.

The Gospel, keep it alive by giving it away.

Grace, keep it alive by being gracious towards others.

Your godly life, keep it alive by sharing it with someone else.

Godliness, keep it alive by showing it to someone else.

God’s Word, keep it alive by sharing it with others.

You see, all of these legacies are dependent upon one thing- that we do not hoard the benefit of these things for ourselves but actively share them with others!

Slogans: I’m lovin’ it (McDonalds); Think Different (Apple); Because You’re Worth It (L’oreal); It’s finger lickin’ good (KFC)

Several years ago, a famous shoe company came out with a logo and slogan that I bet all of you know and it persists even to this day. I looked at their website and it’s right in the title.

What is this logo? Nike Swoosh What is the slogan? Just Do It

Throughout this series we’ve been talking about the legacies we leave. Now we’re at the end of the book, the end of Paul’s letter to Timothy. See, this is not just any letter, but the last letter, these are the last words of a dying man. These are Paul’s final instructions to Timothy about his legacy.

Read , Be diligent to come to me quickly; 10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. 12 And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.

9 Be diligent to come to me quickly; 10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. 12 And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.

13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.

14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.

16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick. 21 Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren. 22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.

21 Do your utmost to come before winter.

Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.

Farewell

22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

place where Paul is essentially telling Timothy- Just Do It! This is the climax of the letter and of Paul’s life. This is the payoff he’s been waiting for, not just for Timothy to fulfill the ministry for which he’s been gifted and called, but for Paul to receive the reward of his ministry.

The reality is, we’re all leaving a legacy of some kind to our families and friends, our church family and our church friends. Our pastor is known for saying that God has put us in two families, our biological family, and our church family, and we are to leave a legacy to both.

So what kind of legacy are you leaving? In 2nd Timothy, we’ve talked about four kinds of legacies- of the Gospel, and of Grace, of Godliness, and of God’s Word. One truth we’ve been trying to drive home is that leaving a legacy means that you can’t keep it for yourself. If we want to give our family an inheritance, we must leave it with them. If we want to leave a legacy, we must give it away.

i.e., the only way to keep the faith is to give it away.

In tonight’s study we want to discuss three ways we can leave a legacy. To leave a legacy:

The Gospel, keep it alive by giving it away.

Grace, keep it alive by being gracious towards others.

Godliness, keep it alive by showing it to someone else.

God’s Word, keep it alive by sharing it with others.

In tonight’s study we want to discuss three ways we can leave a legacy. To leave a legacy:

1. Invest in RELATIONSHIPS. vss. 9-15

We’re in a season in which a lot of people are losing investments- the stock market is down, 401ks are being wiped out, people are not getting the return on their financial investments. But there is an investment you can make that will pay dividends both now & in eternity- relationships.

Let’s just walk through these verses and count the names: 9- Timothy (1), 10- Demas, Crescens, & Titus (4), 11- Luke & Mark (6), 12- Tychicus (7), Alexander (8); but I won’t count him. This Alexander could have been a member of Ephesus that Paul expelled from the church (), or the Alexander of , they could be the same person, or a different Alexander altogether. Either way, I’m not counting him because he seems like an enemy rather than a friend.

I’m also not dealing with the 10 people from vss. 19-22, but we will come to them later.

So, just looking at these 7, you have 1st- Timothy

2nd- Demas (left Paul because he loved the world)

3rd- Crescens (prob sent by Paul to Galatia)

4th- Titus (prob sent by Paul to Dalmatia, book of Titus)

5th- Luke (Physician, missionary partner in Acts)

6th- Mark (told Timothy to bring him with him)

7th- Tychicus (sent to Ephesus, presumably to take Timothy’s place)

Five universal Tips for Investing in Relationships (Mental Health Foundation)

Put Time into it: no one drifts into connection, you have to be intentional about it; ILL: Conversation Starters with my family; a Dating Book for my way; a D-Group with some men

The Man of God and the Word of God

10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.

Be present in the moment: hard for us now with phones, Facebook, working from home but we have to switch out of those things and tune in to the ones we’re investing in.

Give time; Put more time aside to connect with friends and family.Be present; It can be tempting to check your phone, Facebook messages or even work emails when with family and friends. Try to be present in the moment and be there for your loved ones, and switch out of work mode wherever possible.Listen; Actively listen to what others are saying in a non-judgemental way and concentrate on their needs in that momentBe listened to; Share how you are feeling, honestly, and allow yourself to be listened and supported.Recognise unhealthy relationships; Being around positive people can make us happier. Our wellbeing can be negatively affected by harmful relationships, however, leaving us unhappy. Recognising this can help us move forward and find solutions to issues.

Listen Actively: there’s a reason we have 2 ears and only 1 mouth, , be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; We have to actively listen to what others are saying and concentrate on their needs in that moment.

Qualities Needed in Trials

(e.g. of Paul messing up a potentially beneficial relationship with Barnabas over his nephew John Mark, . Here we see that Barnabas counted Mark worthy of investment and it paid off later in Paul’s Ministry, vs. 6)

19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; ctively listen to what others are saying in a non-judgmental way and concentrate on their needs in that moment (e.g. of Paul messing up

Share: share your life, your love, your beliefs, your highs and lows, how you are feeling, etc.. if you want to get that back from others. , But you have carefully followed (fully known) my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.

The Man of God and the Word of God

Recognize unhealthy relationships: Demas, Alexander, etc… positive people can make us happier, negative relationships can harm us.

Some people will let us down, no matter how much time, effort, action, or affection we put into that relationship, certain people will let us down, which makes the next all the more important.

If we’re going to leave a legacy, we must invest in relationships, & RELY on the Lord.

2. RELY on the LORD. vss. 16-18

Have you ever been lonely, I mean really lonely? Have you ever had the experience where you needed somebody, but no one was there to help? I sure have. Paul did too.

Background: Paul was on house arrest for preaching the Gospel. It wasn’t the first time, but it would be the last. Not long after this he would give his life for the cause of Christ, & for sharing the Gospel.

The first time he was on trial no one was there but the Lord. None of the people we’ve mentioned either 1) came forward, 2) were available, or 3) offered moral support. But Jesus was with Him.

The LORD stood with Paul and strengthened him, so that by standing before the court and giving his defense, he was enabled to preach the Gospel. At that time, he was delivered from being martyred (out of the mouth of the lion, vs. 17). But not this time.

who stood with him, and strengthened him, so that by standing before the Tribunal he was enabled to preach the Gospel.

At that time, he was delivered from being martyred (out of the mouth of the lion). But not this time.

In this 2nd instance, the same Christ who stood with Paul in his first defense and enabled him to preach the Gospel, is the same Christ who now will deliver him “from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! (18)” The only difference is that this time, he wouldn’t be rescued but he would be rewarded with eternal life!

So yes, in this letter, Paul is reaching out to his disciple Timothy but he is relying on the LORD. He wants to see Timothy again because soon his faith would be sight. Paul knows Mark is profitable for the ministry and Paul’s ministry is coming to an end. He wants to impart his legacy to Timothy because he has invested in him, but make no mistake, Paul is relying on the LORD.

Relying on him for Strength

Relying on him for Success

Relying on him for Salvation

Paul wasn’t relying on anyone but Jesus, not even himself. In the flesh, Paul had a lot going for him, a lot to be confident about in his own works- circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews… a Pharisee; zealous for God, persecuting the church; and blameless in keeping the law. Yet all those things meant nothing for salvation.

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

ouching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

7 what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.... and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith (Phil 3:7-9)

(KJV 1900)

3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

This is probably a good place to ask, who are you relying on? If this was your last stand, would you be counting on other people or on Jesus? If these were your last words, would they be about your goodness or the goodness of God in Christ Jesus our Lord?

People will let you down. Our good works will let us down. When we get to the end, it really won’t matter who is with us if Jesus is not; or what we have, if we don’t have Jesus.

When we get to the end, it really won’t matter who is with us if Jesus is not.

Tim Keller- You don’t realize Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.

You see, when we get to the end, it really won’t matter who is with us if Jesus is not.

So if we are going to leave a legacy, let it be about Jesus - relying on Him for salvation, for strength in adversity, and success in the Gospel. Let our legacy be about the relationships that we have through Him with our family, our church friends, the people that we win for Christ and disciple to be like Him.

And finally, in all things- especially our relationships & reliance on Jesus, we must leave the results up to God.

the relationship that we have with our families and friends, the relationships that we have in Christ Jesus, the people that we win for Him and disciple to be like Him; and let it be about the relations

if these were your last words, if y

Finally, in all things- our relationships and our reliance on Jesus, we must leave the results up to God.

3. Leave the RESULTS up to God. vss. 19-22

ILL: Can you imagine yourself in Paul’s shoes? You’ve been faithful to God. You’ve preached the Gospel abroad. You’ve made disciples and started churches? Now you are at the end of your life.

What’s the last thing you would say to your son or daughter, wife or mother, your father or grandfather? What’s the last thing you’d say to your faith family?

put yourself in that place? Can you imagine the last thing you would say to your son or daughter, wife or mother, your father or grandfather, or the disciples that you have trained in the Lord?

What’s t

ILL: Can you put yourself in that place? Can you imagine the last thing you would say to your son or daughter, wife or mother, your father or grandfather, or the disciples that you have trained in the Lord?

Besides telling Timothy to greet the ones in Ephesus (19), where Erastus was, & what happened to Trophimus (20), Paul tells him to get there before winter so he can see him, maybe before it’s too late (21). Also, Paul shares that the believers with him send their greetings to Timothy (21).

But it’s this last verse, vs. 22, that we want to highlight- The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. Paul finishes this great letter with a prayer for Timothy.

This wasn’t new for Paul, he often concluded his letters like that-

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. ()

The New King James Version Chapter 16

23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

The New King James Version Chapter 16

23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. ()

Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen ( )

The New King James Version Chapter 6

Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen

The New King James Version Chapter 6

Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen

The New King James Version Chapter 6

Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Similarly to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, & to Titus.

What point are we making? When it all comes down to it, the investment you’ve made in others, the reliance you’ve put on Jesus, at the end of the day, you have to leave the results up to God.

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

When Paul began working with Demas, did he know that Demas would desert him? no

When he took the stand in his 1st defense, did he know Jesus would rescue him? No

When he took the stand in his defense, did he know Jesus would rescue him? No

Now that he is calling upon Timothy & leaving the Gospel trust with him- a legacy of Grace, Godliness, & God’s Word- can he know for sure that Timothy is going to follow through? NO!

So what does Paul do? What can he do?! PRAY (he prays for Jesus to be with him)

We need no more to make us happy than to have the Lord Jesus Christ with our spirits; for in him all spiritual blessings are summed up. And it is the best prayer we can put up for our friends, that the Lord Jesus Christ may be with their spirits, to sanctify and save them, and at last to receive them to himself— Matthew Henry

That’s really all we can do- invest in people, rely on Jesus, and leave the results up to God. That’s how you leave a legacy.

Did he know that no one would stand by him?

Hiw

_____

At the end of your life, what kind of legacy will you leave behind? Let me first ask, what is the state of your relationship with Christ? Are you fully relying upon Him and His finished work upon the cross, and His resurrection from the dead, for your salvation. If not, that’s step one- surrender your life to Him.

Next, what kind of investments are you making, especially in people? Do you make more deposits than withdrawals? Is your investment in people the kind of investment that lasts? The eternal investment of the Gospel, Grace, Godliness, and God’s Word.

Finally, are you giving these things to God? Are you hanging on tightly to the outcomes you want to see, or are you holding them up to God with open hands? Do you trust Him with the results?

If you’ve made any sort of decision tonight and you want to communicate that to us, please go to farleystreet.com/nextsteps and share that information with us. We’d love to help you take your next step in your relationship with Jesus.

as Stephen the proto-martyr prayed, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, . “Lord Jesus, receive that spirit which thou hast been with while it was united to the body; do not now leave it in its separate state.” Grace be with you. Amen. This was our apostle’s token in every epistle; so he wrote. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen, , . And if grace be with us here to convert and change us, to make us holy, to keep us humble, and to enable us to persevere to the end, glory will crown us hereafter: for the Lord is a sun, and a shield; the Lord will give grace and glory, and no good thing will he withhold from those that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee, , . Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God our Saviour, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 2366). Peabody: Hendrickson.

that we need to leave behind: 1) a Gospel Legacy, 2) a Legacy of Grace, 3) a Legacy of Godliness (godly living), and 4) a Legacy of God’s Word. Now, in every one of those cases it’s true to say that we cannot leave a legacy by storing these things up. See, if God entrusts us with the Gospel, but we keep it to ourselves, we don’t actually keep the Gospel we lose it. We only keep it by giving it away.

The Gospel, keep it alive by giving it away.

Grace, keep it alive by being gracious towards others.

Godliness, keep it alive by showing it to someone else.

God’s Word, keep it alive by sharing it with others.

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