Urgency of the Hour: Don't Unplug (4 of 5)

2 Timothy 4:5–8 NLT

But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

Introduction:

For the last three Sundays we have been talking about the Urgency of the Hour related to End Times Prophecy. So far, we have talked about:

1. Today’s Drama (the increasingly frequent and intensifying signs leading towards the End of Days)

2. The Final Act (God’s overall timeline of the end times)

3. Being Prepared ( the Biblical call to lead Holy and Godly lives – regardless of the times)

As a reminder of our talks these past weeks let us look at 2 Timothy 3:1–5

2 Timothy 3:1–5 NLT

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

And also hear Ephesians 5:8–10

Ephesians 5:8–10 NLT

For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.

Today, we will be looking at the need Not to Unplug: While it may be tempting to unplug from our God given mission as we look towards the Coming of the End of Days, we MUST NOT become discouraged or unplug. After all we believers know that God WILL WIN in the end, this should give us hope, courage and a renewed vigor to continue the race (our calling) that after all we are running.

Believers – Paul tells essentially: DON’T UNPLUG (in today’s vernacular)

Word of Encouragement

Our passage for this morning is 2 Timothy 4:5-8.

We see that verse 5 starts with a word of encouragement.

After emphasizing the importance of preaching the word, Paul is now encouraging Timothy to remain sober minded, endure suffering, continue to work as an evangelist and to fulfill his ministry call (this is also our calling to evangelize).

The reason Paul sends encouragement is, of course, because of verse 3 & 4 where he writes

2 Timothy 4:3–4 NLT

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

But “As for you” … Always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry and Don’t Unplug.

What Paul is essentially saying is don’t let anything or anybody bother or distract you from pursuing Gods calling and purpose in your life.

As we progress in our Christian life serving God and serving people, we will come across people who will reject our teaching, follow their passions and turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. And given the prophecy regarding the Apostasy (the falling away), this will become increasingly the case.

Sometimes, they will be our closest friends, our family, the people whom we love the most, people you disciple. They might say things that will hurt our feelings, maybe some of us may even have to go through persecution and affliction. But don’t unplug from your mission (your race).

Paul’s encouragement to us is to remain sober minded (meaning we are to be sensible & composed), endure suffering (meaning we are to be not shaken or moved), continue to do the work of an evangelist (meaning we are to share the gospel faithfully), fulfill your ministry (meaning we are to follow our calling). Don’t Unplug.

The enemy uses circumstances like these to destroy Gods calling and ministry over our lives. Satan wants us to unplug. And therefore, it is important that we recognize them and take Paul’s instruction and encouragement seriously so that we don’t stumble and deviate from pursuing God.

In verse 6 Paul goes on to say,

2 Timothy 4:6 NLT

As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near.

I love Paul, because he is a fantastic role model to me.

When I read verse 6, I get this sense of Paul saying, guys, what I am asking you to do is something I have already lived and followed. I have not unplugged from God’s calling on my life.

When Paul usies the phrase ‘being poured out as a drink offering’ he is referring to the old covenant act of sacrifice called the ‘drink offering’ which was first recorded in Genesis 35:14

Genesis 35:14 NLT

Jacob set up a stone pillar to mark the place where God had spoken to him. Then he poured wine over it as an offering to God and anointed the pillar with olive oil.

‘Drink offering’ is also mentioned in other parts of the Old Testament.

The pouring out of a drink offering is a metaphor for the blood Jesus spilled on the cross. Jesus himself used that language to describe his death in Luke 22:20 when he instituted the new covenant during “The Last Supper”.

He said, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”

By that definition what Paul meant was that his life had been offered as a sacrifice in the service of God and His people. I wonder how many Christians today would be able to say that about themselves.

Isn’t he an excellent role model for us to imitate and follow?

I love King David, Abraham, Moses, Solomon, Joshua – and all the other heroes of faith from the Old Testament but if there is someone whom I’d like to look up to as a role model in the new covenant, that would be Paul.

Paul is a great example to follow …

If I want to learn what it means to love Christ

If I want to learn what it means to serve the people of God faithfully

If I want to get to live a life led by the Holy Spirit

If I want to learn how to endure suffering

If I want to find out how to raise up leaders

If I want to learn about church planting & growth

If I want to not unplug and persevere

Paul would be that guy.

Fight the Good Fight

But one of the main reasons why I’d like to follow Paul and his example is also because of his next statement in verse 7 where it says.

2 Timothy 4:7 NLT

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.

In other words, Paul did not unplug. Because that is exactly what I want to say to my children, my loved ones and our Church at the end of my life. And as you should desire as well.

“I have fought the good fight; I have finished my race and I have kept my faith.”

It is important that we all look at our aspirations for life. Would you like to live life in such a manner and leave a legacy for your children and your next generation? Or are you happy being mediocre? Live life as it comes – Don’t Unplug.

Here’s encouragement from Paul in Colossians 3:1-4

Colossians 3:1–4 NLT

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

Now that we know that Paul is a good example to follow what did Paul mean when he said: “he fought the good fight”?

Firstly, it is a deeply moving affirmation of Paul’s unwavering faith and unyielding love for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Secondly, it also reminds us that Christian life is a struggle against evil – within ourselves and in the world.

Areas of Battle:

Let me highlight the three broad areas of battle in our Christian life that needs to be won.

1. The battle to abide in the love of Christ

In John 15:9 Jesus says

John 15:9 NLT

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.

How did the Father love?

John 3:16 NLT

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Abiding also means enduring – to remain – to not unplug. The original Hebrew meaning says “to hold on.”

Jesus is saying “hold on to my love.”

Brothers & sisters, holding on to Christ’s love is a battle, and we have to hang on to it at all times

… whether in pain and suffering … joy and happiness … riches or poverty … good health or bad health … job or no job … life partner or no life partner … in guilt, in condemnation, in being insulted … Also, when we are highly exalted by men

Whatever situation you can think of – Abiding or Holding on to Christ’s love is one of the greatest challenges of living a Christian life.

The enemy will do anything to kick you out from the place of ‘abiding in the love of Christ.’ And that is why we need to daily and continuously remain plugged into God.

The second area of battle that we need to find victory is

2. The battle to walk in obedience to God’s word

The following verse in John 15:10 Jesus says,

John 15:10 NLT

When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.

Obedience to God’s word proves our love for Him, demonstrates our faithfulness to Him, glorifies Him in the world, and opens avenues of spiritual blessing for us.

When we obey God’s word, we can live a life of joy, without shame, rooted deeply in the Lord and confident in our eternal hope. Even in the most discouraging moments of life and as we approach of the End of Days.

And most importantly – When we obey God’s word, God is glorified.

The enemy would never want us to live this kind of life and therefore

… he will convince you that reading and meditating God’s word is boring … he will distract you with every possible hindrance to keep you from reading your bible … he will cloud your mind with worldly worries and won’t allow you to see the truths of life … he will fill your minds with doubts to stop you from applying and walking in God’s word … he will disengage you from making radical decisions for your life when God’s word inspires you

He will use our own people against us … our family, our friends, our near and dear ones. But, we have to fight … Paul says it’s a good fight. It builds us and makes us mature in our faith.

The third area of battle is

3. The battle to disconnect ourselves from the world

James 4:4 NLT

You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

One significant progress that needs to happen to us as we grow in our Christian life is to see the world as it is described in the God’s word.

In 1 John 2:17 John writes don’t you know that “the world and its desires are fading away, along with everything that people crave”

The world and its desires are the enemies of God; everything people crave for, everything that some of our parents told was important in life, the money, the possession, a house, accumulating wealth, accumulating treasures, accumulating shares, accumulating mutual funds ... are enemies of God.

I am so sorry to disappoint you … But this is what Gods word means when it talks about the world and the things of this world.

… the more you are in love with the world, the less you are in love with Christ. … the more you desire the things of the world, the less your desire for the things of God. … the more you hold on to the world, the lesser your grip on heavenly things. … the more you trust your job and business as your provider, the less you trust in God’s provision. … the more you find your security in your money and your job, the less you trust in God’s sovereignty and abilities. … the more you rely on your worldly wisdom, the less you make of God’s divine wisdom.

“The world is an enemy of God because it takes away His glory.”

It’s a battle, and we have to fight … It’s not going to be easy on us … People will mock us … Make fun of us … Rebuke us … Throw stones at us …

But we have to finish the race with perseverance, boldness, and with a never give-up attitude – Holding on to our faith just as we did when we first gave our lives to Christ Jesus.

And when we are on our deathbed, we will be able to look into the eyes of our loved ones and say, “I fought the good fight, I finished the race, and I kept my faith.”

The greatest reward will be to receive the crown of righteousness from our good Lord as Paul describes in verse 8.

2 Timothy 4:8 NLT

And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

As I conclude, I want to encourage you to make much of your life as a follower of Christ. Fight the good fight of abiding in Christ’s love, walking in obedience to his word and separating yourselves from the world and all its desires.

We are called to unplug from worldly things and remain plugged into God. So, DON’T UNPLUG!