Job #1 Until Christ Returns: Hearld the Word with Complete Patience & Teaching
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Through out this letter we have heard Paul’s final instructions to the churches and to Timothy who was so tempted to give in and give up. The instruction comes specific to Timothy’s particular role in stopping the advance of false teaching and the resulting wicked behaviours that come with it. But now we reach Paul’s final urgent charge - and though it certainly will be in contradiction of what the false teachers and their followers want, I want you to hear this so clearly, the church until Christ returns is not to be a reactionary, negative, defensive movement; that can happen in churches that retreat from the world (Mennonites) as easily, as conservative churches that are more defined by how they are not like others than on what they stand for - namely the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so this final charge for the church in the last days, that will go through times of difficulty, is not just guard the gospel, or truly live it - truth unto godliness, all necessary but in service of this one main thing!
You remember from last week Paul says - in mentoring real copying of not only teaching, conduct, faith, hope, and love, but also 3:10 My AIM IN LIFE. What was the aim of Jesus’ life, that Paul copied and asks us to copy, to trace into our lives, so that others also will. From the beginning to the end of Jesus’ public ministry it was His aim to announce the message of the KINGDOM - the good news the gospel -both to those who were lost without God and hope in the world, and those who had faith but without the saving work of Christ where like sheep without a shepherd. Central activity was announcing the Word of God to the world, to believers and unbelievers alike. Instead of being like unreflective Snoopy, remembered as guy who just chased sticks, in life and church life, remembered with single purposeful goal and activity of bringing the WORD of GOD - proclaiming it in word and deed until Christ comes again.
KEY TRUTH: The main activity of the Church that we must be devoted to is Heralding the Word of God!
Before we take a look at what Paul commands us to in heralding the word of God, consider first the basis for this last and most important charge handed down to you and me.
I. The Basis for our Gospel Heralding
Now why is it important to know the basis of a charge, command, an instruction? Let me give you an example, right now as we discuss re-opening we are getting MUST DO CHECK LISTS - form humanitarian disaster relief, form province of Alberta, little bit from Ontario, denomination office of CRCNA, chief medical officer - not only a little overwhelming but at times contradictory.
In the areas of doing church - in this age of easy printing, blogs and email and online - no end to how to do church - information overload. Every couple months new fad, - and to use another Peanuts illustration it can eventually sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher - blah, blah, blah.
But imagine if you are starting out as a politician, and John A McDonald Canada’s first PM came back from the dead and as you starting out said: Listen you’re in a bit of hot water now, not going to be easy, but this is what you must do. That’s what Jesus did rising from the dead, appearing to his apostles - you shall be my witnesses. Imagine you are new recruit solider, and your commanding officer is about to lay down this life and just weeks, days before his sacrifice, he turns to you looks you in the eye, and says 0- Listen I know how this war is going to go. I’ve seen the ending, after 30 years of battling - I know what you need to do to get to that end. He lays his hands on your shoulders - and says now listen. That is what Paul is doing.
But even more the why of this command to preach the word is going to grounded in the most important reality in this world and the world to come. And Paul uses the most formal dramatic language to describe the basis in your life and mine.
4:1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
Paul is saying, in your world an mine, God is present not just sitting back in the bleachers watching, this church and your life and our world play out. Sure he has given us his commands and his peace and joy and the like from a far, Paul charges Timothy and indirectly us, by the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who has a special role to play in the middle of this world and battle as a player. We’ll deal with that identity and role in a moment. But notice the charge in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus is by his appearing and his kingdom.
Because of Christ’s first appearing, Paul has said we live as those who have had God’s grace manifested in our lives. And this Christ by His Spirit is manifested, appears, comes in a personal way in our lives. But the most often way that Paul uses that word appearing is with Christ’s second coming - there is one sense in which the Kingdom of God though inaugurated by Christ in new way, is still not yet… enemies of sin, Satan, advance of evil and evil doers, deception remains, But at his coming every enemy put under his feet, beginning of the consummate kingdom that is in this world already spiritually, but not fully of this world yet.
Then Christ is going to be all and in all! And when Christ appears like that - His reign will be fully realized. Christians are to live like Paul knowing how its all going to end, in his first letter about 30 years before to the Thessalonians - Paul said that day is imminent, live as children of that Day not in the dark - 30 years later, though he knows Christ hasn’t come in those 30 years, and won’t before he dies, he is still saying - got to be living knowing that Christ’s sudden and sure Return is the end of the story I direct my whole life to. Because that’s when his reign, his kingdom that I’m living for will be full.
And that brings us to the identity of God and Christ that must ground our most basic action as the church of Jesus Christ. That’s the middle part of 2 Timothy 4:1b
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
Most basic confessional teaching, eventually into the Apostles Creed, those living at Christ’s return and all who have previously died. We are all going to be raised up to stand before the Judge of the universe. Those in Christ, acquitted of every and all sin because they are in Christ, yet there works will be evaluated.
2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Read Rev 20:11-15 and you will see that this will involve the eternal destiny of unbelievers, while for believers this judgement won’t effect their salvation, but will involve recognition and reward for those work! Indeed the grace God has worked in you, every good deed he prepared in advance for you to do in this world for him, it will be crowned with more grace it will be rewarded. Our short comings covered. But those not in Christ, there sin and shortcoming will be judged and punished. And Paul says, this is the reality that grounds your action as God’s servant in this world - gracious Christ, appeared, ruling and judging Christ coming - so in light of this momentous and glorious reality of God who is present and active in your life and your world - get the message of grace out! Get the message of God’s righteousness and his kingdom out.
By way of application - your neighbours, the vast majority of people in the world - they understand their is a moral law - what led CS Lewis back to faith. It is one of the things all people know about God and this universe, their is right and wrong and we are accountable - but you have the fuller story of who that judge is. You have as our catechism puts it the knowledge that the one who judges is the one who stood in your place to take the punishment and offer you life! In presence of a God like this in your life - are you ready to hear what God wants you and I to do for the world and each other - until Christ comes again? Not defensive I am right you’re wrong, smug defensiveness - but urgent charge to you form the Saviour of the world, as our commanding officer.
II. The Essential Action of Christ’s Church: Preach the Word
The One Item Job Description and how you and I are to engage in it.
While Paul gives his last words as 5 rapid fire, commands, the first command is the basis for them all.
4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort...
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
The Word, is the sacred deposit, it is the sound health giving, salvation giving teaching. It is those words that produce godliness. It is the Word of God inspired in the OT, but preached with every word as Christ said leading to Him. It is the pattern of teaching the Holy Spirit led Paul to teach these 30 years, and not just Paul but the apostolic kerygma , the Holy writings of these epistles recognized containing the explanation of the grace of the gospels, and the authoritative God-inspired manner of living that grace out in Christian living. And Paul charges Timothy and indirectly every believer - our job is to kerux that.
Paul’s basic command is not to teach the Word, though it will involve that, just like it will have to be practiced together, and protected, but the most basic command is that we together make sure that this WORD is preached, proclaimed. It is a market place word - it means to herald.
When I was a kid our parents took us every year to the CNE and Ontario place. And in Canada's biggest exhibition, they had a building called better homes and living. And every year this is where we’d get good sturdy serviceable running shows, and also where we’d bring our hard earned paper route money - buy something we really thought was cool - model railroad, collector coins. But all those merchants selling self sharpening knives, to the latest stereophonic gizmos. Then each kid given $5 and set free to stand in the long lines of the food vendors in the food building. But both buildings something really wrong if those vendors didn’t have someone in the middle of the crowds announcing their product their deal, distributing coupons and info packages.
Well that’s the word herald God’s word. As an ambassador not of a good deal or good product, but as an ambassador of the PERSON who is Saviour and Lord - who laid down his life for all kinds of [people mulling through the building of this world. Herald to them on Christ’s behalf HIS WORD> Don't just entertain them with stories, you are not free to pedal human ideas and inspiration and stories - but the very God authorized Word’s His message.
And then come the four helping commands that tell us how to do this. i. Be ready in season and out of season. I told you a neighbour asked for the first time - how did services go - and I wan’t on the ready … such an opportunity kind of muffed it - on-going relationship - But Paul says -Whether you feel like it or not. When its convenient for you, and when it isn't convenient for you the herald - still press God’s Word His message home as you have opportunity. But notice we are to think about the convenience, the propriety of the person we are approaching with God’s word. There is a good convenient time, we are not to give undue offence at inopportune times!
But Whether they’ll listen to the real message of not - be self-controlled and ready focused. That was Paul message to the Thessalonians about he day of the LORD - be awake , be sober which is what this word mean.s Jesus too don’t worry about when this will happens, give you attention to being ready! Well, Paul says, your witness your word of God shared with neighbor, but with each other and in church - not spiritually or physically drunk - but ready with the Word.
Then he gives the other three how to’s of sharing and heralding this Word in our lives, our church our world. We are to proclaim God’s word in three different ways. God’s Word is to be pressed upon people - engaging their minds, their wills, and their hearts. And at times one of those needs will be focused on more than an other.
For whom would share God’s word with more of a reproof - that’s on the intellectual level - their are those who have questions, they deserve answers - a reasoned argument, a serious exploring and probing, a frank look at claims of truth and correction of error and lies believed.
But there are others that God’s word will come smack into their lives as a rebuke! If its just philosophy world view, apologetic, creationism, end times description you get here, we are falling short. Other times God’s Word needs to stop them in their tracks into terms of their behavior their will their conscience. You know this about yourself - times when the Holy Spirit confronts you - behaviour reveals where your heart i s at, sin under sin - rebuke isn’t mean-spirited judgmentalism - but encounter of our conscience with the Word of God.
But still other times when God’s Word must be proclaimed with all its emotional force. This isn’t sentimentality, or pressuring people for decisions, - but it is God himself speaking to people hearts, Those discouraged, those trapped in fear and anxiety, those racked with doubts, all the arguments in the world, all the behavioral strategies just float over our heads; but then God’s word with exhortation and the word is the one I always point out to to PARAKALEW - COMFORT, ENCOURAGEMENT. Don't you feel this that that there are weary people in your life and mine - and God has sent Christ, His Holy Spirit and now you and I as His church with what?
Isaiah 50:4a The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary.
The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.
Takes great skill to create a church culture where this is expected, and encouraged. But model of it all together so like Nathan with David.
I really think that people in the world in the church long for the WORD Of God, in the midst of the cacophony all the voices, sound bites, tweets - Word from the LORD, from God of Heaven and Earth - Thus sayeth the LORD - and that is the role of the church.
III. The Manner of Heralding the Gospel: ‘with complete patience and teaching’.
But it is possible to get this role, and then come with the Word like club to beat people into submission to God. But listen to the manner in which we are to herald:
4:2d preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
I’ve shared the example of gardening. Farmers can’t be digging up the seeds they planted every day. May seem like one step forward, then drought, and for many a season so no sign of roots going down, of shoot slowly growing up. The weeds grow up with the seed, and its not the job of the church to uproot at the same time. So complete gentleness and patience. you know for yourself how small our steps are to righteousness, - Jesus himself as one tested and understanding - compassionate high priest. That’s how you with spouse, with your children, with your Christian friend.
And then look at the manner - with complete teaching, Each of those aspects rebuke, reprove, exhort - all forms of teaching. Preaching is more than teaching, but it never less than. And if you ever have to teach someone a golf swing, or how to croquet, or read Greek. You know all those exercise nothing instant, steady , long haul . How we are to do the heralding of the word.
Think of the believers in your life, in one sense of the word teaching is the NT word for further ethical instruction that each one of us needs from Jesus and His church. But also think of the unbelievers in your life - Preaching, heralding God’s gospel is the word used for teaching unbelievers of the kingdom of God and the summons that God has appointed us to to indiscriminately go out and share with the world! And we are to do so with such love and such urgency as ambassadors of the one who gave His life to save this world and of the one who is coming again to judge it!
But next, Paul has the setting within which our call must be fulfilled and commands for how to deal with opposition and
IV. The Challenge to Heralding
Now if you were I Timothy, and in so many ways we are, what would you do if the false teachers and the many flocking to follow them, if they say - you know what: I am not buying what you are heralding. It’s so same old same old, so yesterday. What we want is something - so interestingly new. Something that scratches where I itch,. Something so relevant to my felt needs. I have these passions in life - and if you don’t feed those - I am not listening.
Well, Timothy could do one of two things. Well, too bad for you, I’ll be content knowing and believing the truth for myself. As they say in French - to each their own, privatize religion, relativize religion, make it an individual thing, not a group project.
Or he could say: Well let me see here, I can make the gospel relevant to your felt needs, I can make the heart of my message about how to have a nice family, or how to have the best life now, how to find earthly success and pleasure in this created world. And of course their is much in the Bible about wisdom for ordinary daily living. But listen to Paul’s instruction on how the setting of our ministry,
4:5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Do you get that regardless of results - for they are up to the LORD, stick to your calling. Your job is not to come with novelties, curiosities. We are not a caviar and hau d’everves type of church - the meat and potatoes of God’s word the staple - of God’s eternal Word - they don’t change. And My Word equips you to stick to - and there you will find power that transforms - mysteriously , growth from the LORD.
Then lastly in giving us this call, Timothy and you and I are given an example. Always helpful isn’t it - Always skeptical of someone who says do as I say, not as I Do. But as Paul gives the church and Timothy the noble solemn joyful calling of heralding the Word of God, he also gives them his humble yet faithful example!
V. The Noble Example of Heralding
- And again we can think here of Pau;l’s words. Follow me as I follow the example of Christ. Think of Christ who for the joy set before him, endured the shameful pain of the Cross. The Cross before the Crown. that’s WHAT Paul was told at the beginning of his new life when he was going through rebirth spiritually: from heaven God said to him personally: Acts 9: 15-16
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
Paul has done it. The gospel has gone to the nations, and Gentiles and kings, Caesar himself and Caesar's guard - heard the Name of the Lord, his acts and character. Its turning the world upside down. Result and suffering Paul has left up to the LORD, but he has done the task.
And what’s the example? It comes with three vivid pictures the end this charge.
We are to be like a living sacrifice, the end of which is a libation poured out before the LORD. The last part of the offering… Q. What do you pour your life out for - drugs , alcohol, hobbies sports - stretch your money - emotionally entangle you, - who are you investing in - Paul says - my life is a living offering to the LORD for his kingdom, for the sake of my people that they may know life - give my self, I’d give my salvation for them to know
But then he changes the picture to the arena, the gymnasium the Collesium of gladiators Contest - competed by the rules, take on the opponent, but more exerted and even agonized in this life to get to the last mile of the race, laid aside all the sin that encumbers me, and now my chest is on the tape.
It is not so much to win the marathon, but to finish it. There is no fight to have the most converts, but to be faithful to the people God has placed in our path - to keep the faith - loyal in this task.
And then the last part of the example is the best part. You know what happens at the end of a race, the end of a wrestling match? Do you know what will happen at the end of a Christian's life?
Not just face my Judge and Make unafraid sins acquitted, but like at a track meet, special guest of honour presenting the medals. i.e. Elissa Andre Degrasse - what a thrill -from one who was champion of champions… Jesus the LORD and Jesus the Saviour , personally - a crown of righteousness - not just awarded to the church - but to each one individually - not just to preachers like Timothy but what does Paul say:
4:8 Henceforth there is laid up 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 loved his appearing.
Henceforth there is laid up 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 loved his appearing.
Oh, If you know the treasures and necessity of the whole counsel of God - gospel and His will for life - if you know the salvation it brings and the kingdom reign it starts, if you know what the Last Day which is the first day of the new era is going to bring for the people of God, - then you will love His appearing and you will fulfill your calling,. Oh people - may it be that until returns or calls us home - we stand and call out the Word of God the message of hope -
And that brings us to the critical moment at stake with you and I and Timothy receiving this baton from the apostle, at the very moment he has finished his leg of this race. The last section is connected to the middle with these words:
4:5a-6a As for you, … For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
As for you Timothy - now you do it, and why v.6 As For me, For I am already being poured out!. Do you get that connection contained there is the importance of you and I and Timothy not failing. Like Col John Mcrae, To you from failing hands, we throw the torch, be yours to hold it high, for if ye break faith with we who die, we will not sleep … Moses had his Joshua, David, his Solomon,Elijah, his Elisha, and now Paul has his Timothy, and the Apostolic Church, the church until Christ comes again. Someone’s got to keep it ongoing, as long as there’s folks you haven’t heard. You can count on me to keep it going, there’s so many ways to spread his Word
Like the moment in the Lord of the Rings, when Frodo says: “‘I wish it need not have happened in my time,’ said Frodo. ‘So do I,’ said Gandalf, ‘and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.’”
Paul’s departure, his loosening the bonds of this earthly life in this earthly tent, has begun, The picture is of a boat untying its anchors lines, now putting out to sea - 30 years of ministry ended, and new and eternal voyage without fear, but Timothy, and each succeeding generation, - you keep the faith, fulfill the stewardship of the kingdom treasure hidden in the church in this world. Be faithful to your end. The end is not a desperate dissolution of life, but a departing from this vale of tears, to another and more perfect shore! Then no matter what the result of our efforts, though Nero would deliver the verdict guilty, an subhuman, enemy of state, Christ reverses all this world’s verdict - and magnificently proclaims you righteousness, and crowns every good work with more grace! Oh dear friends, we need not shrink form death nor from the final judgment of our works, but we are to love his appearing.
to - may we indeed be his faithful ambassadors - and may your life like Paul’s be fueled by the hope of His coming. The generation of leadership that led me to Christ, and nurtured me in the faith. My pastor is gone to glory, my Sunday School teachers, faithful elders and deacons here retire - and God raises up each succeeding generation of ambassadors - - oh may we hasten to answer the call to be gospel heralds to this world and to the next generation!
Amen!