“The Lord of Grace”                                          2 Timothy 4:19-22

Monday>Read all of II Timothy 4 paying special attention to verses 19-22.

Questions: Who has God brought into your life as a co-laborer in ministry for Christ? In high school? In college? After college? Currently? Why not take a few moments to give thanks to God for past or current co-laborers He has provided for His glory and your good?

Tuesday>Read II Timothy 4:19-22 and the passages referenced in today’s portion of the sermon notes.

I.      We should remember the grace of Godly Friendship (4:19).

A.    Prisca and Aquila at Corinth: (ca. AD 50)  Prisca and Aquila had come to Corinth from Rome after Claudius had expelled all the Jews.

1.      Acts 18:1-5 1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. 3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

2.      During this stay at Corinth, Paul wrote the 2 letters to the Thessalonians.

B.     Prisca and Aquila at Ephesus:  after a year and a half in Corinth with Paul and seeing many conversions, Prisca and Aquila make the trip to Ephesus with Paul (Acts 18:18ff).  Paul has such confidence in them that he leaves them there to help in the work.

1.      The most significant part of their ministry at Ephesus was the discipleship of Apollos.

2.      Acts 18:24-28 records that Apollos was “eloquent and competent in the Scriptures” except for a lack of understanding concerning baptism.

3.      18:26 records that upon hearing Apollos “they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately.”

4.      1 Cor 16:19 records that P & A had opened their home to the church.  The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

5.      It is also believed that Paul made his home with these two while he lived and ministered in Ephesus.

Questions: How are you opening your home or using your God-given resources to further God’s ministry through someone else? Has God brought someone into your sphere of contact with greater talent than you possess? More Scripture knowledge? Are you afraid to disciple your child or a friend because you feel inadequate? According to II Cor. 3:5-6, where is our confidence and adequacy for ministry for God?

Wednesday> Read II Timothy 4:19-22 and the passages referenced in today’s portion of the sermon notes.

C.    Prisca and Aquila at Rome:

1.      It appears that these two made their way back to Rome at some point.  For when Paul writes the letter to the Roman church he includes another greeting (16:3-5) 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house.

2.      Note that they have once again opened their home to the church.

3.      Notice too that they have risked their very lives for Paul.

4.      While we do not know the details of this risk, we understand why Paul felt such deep affection and indebtedness to them.

D.    Prisca and Aquila at Ephesus:

1.      So at the time Paul writes the second letter to Timothy from Rome Prisca and Aquila have apparently returned to Ephesus.

2.      What a joy for Timothy, and what a comfort to Paul to know that the Ephesian Church was loved and supported by a couple who for approximately 15 years had demonstrated great faithfulness to the cause of Christ.

3.      Marks of ministry:

a.       Labored diligently: they employed the gifts and skills that were theirs.

b.      Discipled skillfully:  they were students of the Gospel and Bible doctrine.  They were not only able to discern deficient doctrine, but they were able to instruct a man called to ministry.

c.       Sacrificed generously:  At Ephesus and Rome opened their homes to the church

4.      Application:

a.       Are you laboring diligently?

b.      Are you growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ so that you too may be able to instruct others who are coming along?

c.       Are you sacrificing your resources for the good of the Church?

Questions: For today, review the questions in the application section above. If you answer “no” to one of the questions, how will you make changes for the glory of God? Do you understand not doing good is sin?

Thursday>Consider that the grace of godly friendship is not enough to sustain us in the difficulties of life. Read verse 22 and Matthew 28:18-20.

II.      We should remember the Lord of Grace (4:22).

A.    The Lord be with your spirit.

1.      the Lord:  (a title for God and for Christ) one who exercises supernatural authority over mankind—‘Lord, Ruler, One who commands’[1]

2.      your spirit:  πνεύματος -- the non-material, inner being;

a.       the representative part of the inner life of man

b.      it can mean simply a person’s very self or ego: τὸ πνεῦμα συμμαρτυρεῖ τῷ πνεύματι ἡμῶν the Spirit (of God) bears witness to our very self Ro 8:16[2]

c.       Note:  the pronoun is singular

3.      Why this expression?

a.       Is Paul using this as carelessly as we do sometimes in our prayers?

1)      “We pray that You would be with us.”

2)      Isn’t God already with us?

3)      Isn’t that what the name “Emmanuel” means?

4)      That’s as generic and vanilla as “We thank you for this day.”

b.      Why “The One who exercises supernatural authority over mankind be with your inner being”?

c.       Because in Rome the physical bodies of Christians are being torn apart, burned, and mutilated daily.

d.      Because in Ephesus the cost of discipleship is painfully real and even the heart of a faithful young pastor named Timothy is susceptible to denial.

e.       Because not even the encouragement of saints like Prisca and Aquila is enough to sustain Timothy’s spirit.

f.       That kind of danger and stress wears upon the non-material, inner being of a man or woman.

4.      Application:

a.       Even in our day the stress of making a living, of caring for family, of ministering within the body of Christ, of being His disciple wears down our spirits.

b.      Not an increase in salary, not a resolution to the issues of family, not a day where all personal ministry is complete, not the presence of saints like Prisca and Aquila is the means of preserving our spirits.

c.       Only the Lord Himself!

2 Cor 4 16 . . . but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

d.      Like Timothy our spirits need the presence of the Lord.

5.      Point:  And so the Apostle who has known the sustaining, strengthening presence of the Lord when all others deserted him prays as his last wish and benediction for Timothy, “The Lord—not Prisca and Aquila, not Onesiphorus, not Linus or Claudius—the One who exercises supernatural authority over mankind be with your spirit.”

6.      This is the kind of blessing that we must seek in the midst of spirit-stressing days.

7.      This is the kind of praying and blessing that we must call down upon one another.

8.      Point:  We sometimes wonder what to pray for people who are in dire straights.  Here is the answer.

Questions: Whom can you pray for the Lord to be with today? Are you relying more on people the Good Shepherd has provided than on the Lord Himself for encouragement, comfort, strength, etc.?

Friday>Read verse 22 and the references listed in today’s portion of the sermon notes.

B.     Grace be with you.

1.      A common ending

a.       Rom 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

b.      2 Cor 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

c.       Gal 6:18; Eph 6:24; Phil 4:23; Col 4:18

d.      1 Thess 5:28; 2 Thess 3:18; 1 Tim 6:21; Titus 3:15; Phil 25

2.      Grace:

a.       Not merely the Divine presence that Paul invokes, but Divine help.

b.      What is grace?

c.       2 Cor 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

d.      It is not a monetary wealth that God is here concerned with, but a spiritual richness.

e.       This grace “is God’s favor in Christ toward the undeserving, transforming their hearts and lives and leading them to glory.”[3]

1)      “I don’t deserve this!”  That’s what makes it grace.

2)      If you and I could have earned salvation, Jesus Christ would not have needed to become poor for our sakes.

f.       It’s more than favor.  Grace is that real and present help from God for today.

1)      2 Cor 12:9-10 (NKJV) 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2)      1 Cor 15:10 (NKJV) But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

3)      2 Tim 2:1 (NKJV) You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

4)      Bridges:  “What is your greatest need just now?  Is it contentment in a very difficult situation?  Paul would say to you, ‘Be content in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.’  Is it patience or forbearance in very trying circumstances?  Then be patient in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  Is it moral purity in a romantic relationship?  Then be pure in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”[4]

5)      The grace Paul invokes is the grace every person needs.

3.      Who receives grace?  Just Timothy?

a.       you: This pronoun is plural.

b.      Paul is speaking to the entire Church.

c.       Application:

1)      Threats to the early Christian church were real.  Many gave their lives for the testimony of Christ.

2)      The stress and burden of life has not gotten easier through the years.

3)      We remain people who need God’s favor in Christ.  We remain people who need to be transformed in our hearts and lives.

4)      We remain people who need to be lead to glory.

5)      But we also remain a blessed people in that we serve the God of all grace.

d.      This is not only the benediction of Paul . . .

4.      This is the word of God to you!

a.       2 Tim 3:16-17

b.      Do you hear the voice of your God speaking over your life today?

1)      The Lord be with your spirit.

2)      Grace be with you all.

Questions: Are you living in the reality of God being with you? Are you rejoicing it is His grace enabling you to live godly in Christ Jesus? Isn’t it great that we do not have to try and live the Christian life just in our own effort?

Saturday>As you review II Timothy 4:19-22, are you praying for your family, friends, and others in church to experience the presence and grace of Christ in their lives today? Should you email, write a note or make a phone call to someone God has used to be a wonderful co-laborer in ministry for the glory of God?

Sunday>Rejoice in what God has in store for us as we enjoy His presence and grace forever. See and consider the Revelation 22:1-5.

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[1]Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament : Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (Vol. 1, Page 138). New York: United Bible societies.

[2]Arndt, W., Gingrich, F. W., Danker, F. W., & Bauer, W. (1996, c1979). A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature : (Page 675). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

[3]Hendriksen, William, New Testament Commentary, 1 Timothy, Baker, 213.

[4]Bridges, Jerry, Transforming Grace, Nav Press, 151.