How to be a Loyal Proclaimer: Rid of Shame, Confident of beging Guarded & Gaurding
Notes
Transcript
Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
If I or some of other gopsel minister of yours from the past, found themselves in Syria or Iran, or North Korea- and you saw their mugshot on the evening news. They painted us like religious fantatics who deserved the imprisonment, and let say even torture that awaited them. If they said like we’ve seen in India, with their blasphemy laws, that I was going to trial, and you recevied an email or text or phone call from my sister or a close mutual freind, saying they need you as a chracter witness. Now let’s say, you had done fairly well in business in the last two decades, a person of means. Lot’s of other charitiable work could give your attention and money too. Let’s say, you had a calling in this church, and let’s also say like Timothy - tired of fightin gin the church with the false teachers and let’s say, Christainity in the culture become quite unpopular like after Nero’s fire. Let’s say like ITmothy - not only feel weak phyically for the task, but tempted to a spirit of fear? Let me ask you what could possibly motivate you to come, and make a kingdom investment - in standting with your pastor, in not only associating with the pirsoner of Christ, but the gopssel cause to the world?
Well, last week I think we can say Paul quite adequately gave Timothy a shot in the arm encouragement for doing his gospel work in his current setting. O ITmtohy you are part of this bridge generation - God’s SPirit dwells in you- not so your life iss dominated by fear, but power and guide by the rudder of Christ’s love, and resulting in discipoined self-contreol. You bring joy and encouragmeent to Christ’s gospel work when you partner with God’s people, keep going , like Brent Redman -
But now Paul moves on to the great charge - what is it at thus desperate time of the church’s history that Paul so urgently calls TIothy to do? What is it he calls all of us to partner in utnil that Great Day that Christ will bring about at his return? In a word it is: Proclaim! The word for preacher, kerux, Very ihntersting word. Not use dof Jesus and the OT didn’t use except in describing the king’s heralds - who delivered official messages through out the land. Kind of like Town Criers but with more authority like foreign ambassadors. THough not used in the gospel’s buecause as Jesus announces the kingdom of God, he is the is the king the Son of God. But now he’s appointed - twon criers, all his followers, and more particularly as we join together - proclam apostolic message to the world, need to join with teachers God’s appoitned and Timothy is to be one of those. And Paul’s appeal is:
Key Truth: Don’t be an ashamed proclaimer, but a loyal proclaimer who is a keepers of God’s sacred fire of the gospel!
Do you know what I mean. Great legend of ol’ that the god’s give a sacred, fire to keep in burning pass it ohn. Or one of my favourite fantaty novels, someone discovers the world’s first well - a pspirng of water - like wat ero fyout - big leather bag, of it - so critical. Well Paul says, you have been entrtusted with the sacred fire, the water of life, the gospel of Jesus Christ,God has depostied this testiony of the Living Jesus , with you and me. Like a person putting money in the bank, he says this treasur ha s to be in the world, I’m going to depoisit, entrust it to this community the church. These people powerfully indwelt by my Spirit - so they can gaurd but also loyally procoaoim it. And to this task of Proclaiming, Paul reminds TImothy of what He must proclaim giving us a motivation, he gives us a method, and two examples
I’d lke to begin with the example and counter-example because they are of two people who unlike Paul and TIomthy are more like you, as far as we know they weren’t office beaeres in the churhc, yet Paul hodls them up as examples of what TImothy must do in fulfiling this calling to be a lyal proclaimer.
A) Refresh those in your life who share the gospel, don’t desert them.
After the fire at Rome and the subsequent persecution of Christain, many Roman Christain have left the city for obvious reasons. But Paul was counting on character witnesses to stand up for him to take the stand from the province of Asia and Ephesus the captial city in particular. But listen to what Pauls says: 2 Timothy 1:15
You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.
These would be two of the wealthier members of the congregations, able to leave home. Kind of like Philemon. They would be able to find Paul and stand with him. But now that Roman power and culture turned against Christains and their most public leader, to assoicate with Paul the Roman prisoner would meann they too could be arrested or at the very least would be subject to social and economic ridicule. They may have fallen away from the faith completely, though that its not said, but Paul said they won’t stand with the proclamation of the gopsel.
This standing with those chained on account of the gospel is the commitment Paul is looking for: 2 Tim 4:9-11.
Do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.
Do you see that the Demas in the church, their hearts are captured more by the riches of this world, than the riches of the kigndom of God - don’t stand besaide and support the proclamation of the gospel! And Paul isn’t looking for their moeny, he is looking for someone who will encourage and supoort him in the task.
Look at the poistive example that he asks TImothy to do the same thing at the end of the letter. It is from a man named Onesiphorus =literally profit-bringer. Look waht he does: 2 Timothy 1:16-17
May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me—
That would be a bout a two month trip and getting their he’d have a hard time finding that prison, and being let in to see him But he keeps coming. Kind of like a visit from someon in time of self-isolation - wow REFRESH - knd of like Mark Twain, I can live for a whole month on one guenuine complement. But this griggers the earlier memeories of how in Ephessu that 3 years of ministry - consistently inservice to God’s people, supporting procvlamintion. Possible that Paul mentions God having mercy on his household because for association was arrested or killed, but certainly household and cnurch deprived for a time from his help and presence. By way of application, there are peopel who in their home, in commuity, in mission field, in this church , in their family, neigbourhood - sharing the good news of Jesus , not popuar , parents reaching out to kids, discouraged. Down. You are called to support the work by being an encourageer - Who are you refreshing in this work!?
But that brings us to the part that Paul spends most time on. In fact this is the theolgoical staetmen tof the whole letter, but its so immensely practical. What is it that we proclaim?
B. Loyal Proclaimers have a testimony of the grace & gospel of Christ Jesus
Now practically after the necessary small talk with a enigbour or friend about church, and churching what do our neighbour s see in us and hear from us about Jesus himself?
Movies like Avatar or songs like Geoerge Michaels - sound cool and spirituality is in - oh sign BELIVE< have faith. But Paul is saying what we share and bear witness to in word and deed, especially in our suffering has got to be the Lord’s testimony. Andf we’ve been given the opowe fo God to do just that (V.8). And in v9-11 he unapck s what it is we proclaim about Jesus Christ. You could picture his statments here like overlapping layers of shingles, nailed one down after the other.
First this is good news that people must here with an eternal persepctive! 2 Timothy 1:9
who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,
This is csomething every Chrstian should be sure about. Salvation is described in two great blessing experienced. He saved us, past tense, compoleteed action, once and for all. But that is not all he called us , also past tense, but to ongoing action of this holy calling. And he is hammering on the good news, that this is all about God’s purpose - caling us to be a secpical pepole in this universe - religion is not about our pruposes and how we can wrestle blessing from God for our private little kingdoms and plans, but about fittinginto hIS GREAT KINGDOM AND PLANS. You can see God’s design for physical life all over the place. But this word - prothesis. Like you student write an essay - a thesis statement - God says salvation in Jesus brings youto the point of life - friendship, love , justice, . You receive this calling, this neww statement of your new life in Christ! - and it not by works, sas if religion is earning - its about receiv in ghtis gew ew relationship with God, whether by uppoled into His plan, enabgled by His spirit to - start doing the actions which bring your life and family, nebhbours, work, and this world to plan of God from befgore all ages. Cosmic gospel!
We proclaim that about Jesus and what he is doing, how he saved and how he sanctifies and builds the kingdom of God. But though people need to know how Jesus did that in the past and be confonted with historic Jesus and his actions. You and I also need to know how now in the present Jesus is made known in our lives:
2 TIm 1:10
and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
But the good news our lives and wrods procalim about Jesus isn’t just grace, frogvienss, atonement in the past, its not just calling to holiness. Look at the now Of the next shingle he hammers down overlapping. The word manifest and appearing - most often -an ephinay, the appearing, coming refer to Crhist’s second coming , but here - Paul is saying, now in the present Jesus is being manfiest to the wordl through the gospel. His first coming is pictured in one fell swoop - God appearing in human flesh the incanration, Giod diying and rising, God in Christ - apearing in heavenly places as exalted King of heaven and earth - now this Christ by the gospel appears in our life doing what?
i abolsihing death. Its not true that death is gone. It remains the last enemy to be destoryed. But listen, it’s destoryed in its power to keep us under curse. Christs death alone can turn your death not into suffering and eternal punishment, but into gain! THink of it Christ, rather than having been overwhelmed by it, he returned from death, not spreading darkness and death, but rather bringing to the light life and immortality. Do people sense this about how you deal with death? Death has not yet been literally abolished. The state of having to be enslaved to sin has been abolished (Rom 6:6; 7:6). Death separating us from God’s love has been abolished (Rom 8:38–39). But, death, the last enemy, will be completely made inoperative at the very end of time (1 Cor 15:24–26; Rev 20:14).BUt positively,
ii. now with Christ’ appearance in your life - life and immortality are brought to light. Look at this prophesy of what the Messiah would be like when he dawn on you in the present: Malachi 4:2
But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.
We live in a world that only has life from below, and it is corruptible. But in Christ when he appears to you - have life from above, and theat life is not just endless duration, it is life raised to a further development - even more when we see Him on the last day. We experience it now and it chagnes us and heals us withitn, but its also this inheritance stored up for us and secure. forever!
Now Paul says, this message this good news of Jesus Christ, its worth suffering for, we don’t need to be ashamed of it. Even in if made Romane’s prinsoner, not really Rome’s prinsoner but Christ’s who will keep you and gaurd you and you embody the gospel message! So Paul says, this witness bearing to the world, means associating with humble situation that God has placed the gospel in. Pirsoners like Paul, not the storng and mighty in their plans and quests in the world, but usually the borken and lowly. Witness will lead to humble situations, but don’t be ashamed, world thinks a gospel - not of slef-help and strongerst survive, weak, those in need of help - they think sucha gospel is shaemeful but you can’t be ahsamed of where and to whom the gospel is being manfiest!
And that leads Paul to the strongest comfort to share with Timothy - if you will stand up and stand with those proclaiming this gospel: Look at this security entitled to you: 2 Timothy 1:12
which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.
The moment you step up tot he plate to be a proclaimer and to support others doing the same around you, you can have this same confidence that Paul did. God Himself will guard the deposit. Not just your salvation, your soul, that’s true. But Paul is’t so concerned about whterh he or TImothy are going to be portected through sufferin gthat’s involved in gospel proclaiming. He’s concerned that the gospel itself enttursted to us, this task of proclaiming the gopsel that GOd will ensure that the gospel the proclaming doesn’t become corrupt or get lost- for the whorld that needs it so badly!
And that brings us to the method. I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t live day to day wihtout the gospel - lost in despair, crushed by guilt, no real hope purpose deirecitno, no power to live - and you know what I don’t doubt this church can go own as s ome sort of bclub or organization. I don’t doubt my kids, and friends, could press on on the their own steam with life below in this world. But I know this church can’t press on in the kigndom of God , nor my kids, fmaily, friends without the gospel of Christ Jesus. So what is our part in ensuring that gospel goes on?
How is Timothy, how are you and I and the churches to do the work of proclaimers? Listen to the dying words of a master artist in proclaimer, to a an apprentice who is seemingly in danger of keeping up the art and trade of gospel proclamation. Listen O church of Jesus Christ to what we must do to ensure that sacred fire does not go out here, nor the well of eternal life run dry among us!
C. Methods for Loyal Proclaimers: Keeping Orthodoxy, Guarding the Gospel
First Paul says: 2 Timothy 1:13
Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
This is really important for us to understand. It is not enough just to have the Bible as a sacred library of books. There is a sketch, an outline, a pattern of sound teaching - the form of this consists of the very oracles of God, men spoke by the HOly Spirit, each word carried and superinteneded to commuicate exactly what God needs us to know. But that form - the Words of God, all leading to the message of who Christ is and what He does - that’s the corner stone of the Church; and that grace expanded and further explained in the epistles - that is the apostolkic teaching - forms the foundation of teh church. We have that inscripturated, commited to letters and paper. But though infalliable and without error, mere orthodoxy not good enough. The apostolic kerygma, teaching, was need to be proclaimed and applied in each new circumstance, each area of our lives. Kind of like how the Greeks would ell the story of the Illiad, Odyssey - not read word for word, though there was an authorized and accdepted - no if a abard departed form the telling of thestory. So too, the teaching and preaching living Word - takes God’s sacred wrod, an din the teaching, applying fills in the skecth in our our lives. And Paul says, the manner in which you and I do that with Scripture is just about as inportant as the Scriputres themselves being kept pure!
The pattern needs to be kept in faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. How different the history of the church would be if the church not only held to these words - but held them this orthodoxy with tthe attitude and action of faith and love in Christ Jesus. DO you remember a theme through all of these epsitles that I’ve been trying to drive into my life and yours. Truth is unto ___________. The saving wrods of Scirpture have to be explained, model,d applied, warned, encouraged how - with a deep and warm love to God and to other poeole here WQith a costly faithfullness an dcommitment. It is easy to have a correct pinon about stuff in the church or theolgoy, it i scostly to apply that in love, and faihtfully get inovled in the messiness of sin and dbout, dischopeshop in each otherssl ives. It is easy to judge one another with a standoffish what are you doing , in our homes and church family, and even in our denomination, it is different to role up our sleeves and say - let me understand why you do what you, do , let me roll of my sleeves and dare to wrestle with Scripture with you. Faith in Christ, faith in His Word, working through love!
I would love to have a dog, I’d love fo our kids to enjoy the play andsecurity of a dog. But you know what my wife is a little more realitistic having lived in th country and owned a nubmer of Blackies the wonder dog. ANd she knows theat you don’t just have a dog. YOu keep one. Costly care, day in day out,. Tend and know how to cause to flourish. And in s a similar way, we don’t just have sound teaching, orthodoxy , if the gospel is to be proclaimed by us, we must keep God’s word in faith and love in Christ Jesus! That is how he abides and lives among us by His Spirit. John 15:7 how we abide in Christ, and in His word and bear much fruit! Very practically, how ofetn do you say to those you live with, cchurch with , work with - God’s Word says I wonder how …
But the second method Paul lays out for TItohy in 2 Timothy 1:14
By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
Being a lyal proclaimer is gaurding the deposit of God’s gospel in us, by the power of the Holy Spirit. God has put the gospe in us His church, as a deposit. Supposed to be kept well, but guarded from fading into irrelvence, gaurded from being corrupted by merely human fads, gaurded from being pushed into a the closet o the church, how? By the power of the Holy Spirit. I have repeated it many times: J. I Packer’s The word without the Spirit we will dry up. The Spirit without the Word we will blow up. But the Spirit with the Word we will grow up! Oh, I don’t discount the Spirit’s work in assuring me, speaking peace into my troubled soul convicting me of sin, prompting me to service. Leading me in prayer. But listen what is the primary role of the Holy Spirit in you rlife and mine? He is called the hidden person of the Tirnity, because he doesn’t draw attention todirectly to Hismelf to his gifts, He takes what the Father has given to Christ, and the Spirits role is to make that yours and ine, And Christ says, the primary way he does that is through the Scripture. The Word and SApirit always work together. And the Almighty living Spirit in your life - is how you are God-taguht, it is how in the covenant, the law, not just the moral comands of God but the whole instruction of God, is written on your heart!
What are you looking to the SPirit who dwells in us for? Just emotional strength or supernatural gifts? He is called the Spirit of holiness - because as you are schooled by HIm with the Word - he will gaurd this gosepl treaure What Paul began by saying it is the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus (1:1) He takes the gospel and activeates it in our lives and in our times! God will ensure that his dposti will be kept on earth until the day of Christ’s appearing, but he’s chosen to do that as you and I, not by our smarts, or adding new stuff to the gospel or taking away form, it, but as the Spirit leads us into the form of teaching here -
I have no doubt that Timothy received this letter - and returned to the basics of being a proclaimer with trust in the the Spirit to use his humble words - t bring salvation to lost, to heal brokeneess of a faultering church, and assoicate with the most uncommon cirmanl Rome had ever nknown, and so to associate with the gopsel for the world. Qe don’t have to travel to Rome to associate with that gospel fo power - we have to step into the next room at home, step into relationsihps here - extend the word of proimse of life, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
No where does Paul proise that this will mean being protected from the suffering that is in this world or that comes with people being spiritually against you because of the gospel. But as Timothy shifts from being controled by spirit of fear and giving up, to the Spirit of power and love, and self-ctonrol, look what prophesy comes true in this life: Isaiah 28:16
Because of this, this is what the Lord God says: “Look, I am casting into the foundations of Zion a precious choice stone, a valuable cornerstone into its foundations, and the one who trusts will certainly not be disgraced.