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Tuesday, March 14, 2023
WITH ONE ACCORD - MY 6TH BOOK
Friday, September 23, 2022
"MY JESUS, I LOVE THEE"
This amazingly beautiful song reminds us of Jesus' love for us. Because of Jesus' love, He became our Redeemer and Savior to save us from the slavery of sin and its consequences (1 Tim. 1:15). He redeemed us by His own blood and reconciled us back to God so that we might receive adoption as sons of God (Gal. 4:4). He is the Savior who takes away our sins (Matt. 1:21). He showed the depth of His love when He laid down His life for us (1 John 3:16). Because of such deep love for us, He purchased our pardon on Calvary's tree (Lk. 23:33, 1 Pet. 2:24). Because of His love, He wore a crown of thorns.
"And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters),[a] and they called together the whole battalion. 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him."' (Mark 15:16-20)
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Gal. 2:20)
"As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death." (Phi. 1:20)
"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." (Jn. 14:1-3)
"Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Rev. 2:10)
Friday, September 16, 2022
BE FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH
"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men." (Colossians 3:23)
"I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant. Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
"The Lord our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey!" (Joshua 24:24)
"Our God we will serve."
- Faithfulness to God demands complete obedience:
- Obey:
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
"Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him." (Hebrews 5:8-9)
- Faithfulness to God demands strong commitment and earnestness to put Him first in our hearts and lives:
- Prioritize:
"So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:33)
- Faithfulness demands an intense hunger and thirst for God’s Word:
"And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:15-17)
"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4)
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)
"Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:1-2)
- Teach:
- Faithfulness to God demands strong self-discipline:
"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified." (1 Thessalonians 4:3-6)
"But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:27)
- Separate:
- Faithfulness to God requires strong and devoted service to Him:
- Serve:
Christians must always be seeking opportunities to serve. Often these opportunities are right before our eyes. Paul declared,
"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:10)
"And the King will answer and say to them, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." (Matthew 25:40)
"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27)
- Work:
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Cor. 15:58)
- Faithfulness to God demands constant and strong spiritual growth (maturity):
- Grow:
The Lord wants us to increase and develop our knowledge, faith, and trust in Him (2 Pet. 1:5-11; 3:18). But to grow in these areas, we must first study His Word and pray daily (2 Tim. 2:15; Col. 4:2).
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18)
"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Hebrews 5:12-14)
“My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." (John 18:36)
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."
- Faithfulness to God demands Worship And Praise:
- Worship:
The Lord wants us to worship and praise Him from our hearts (John 4:24; Matt. 4:10; Heb. 13:15; Eph. 5:19), especially on the first day of each week (Acts 20:7; Heb. 10:25).
- Faithfulness to God demands Endurance:
- Endure:
The Lord wants Christians to persevere through their difficult times. Looking to Him as our example for strength (2 Tim. 2:3; Heb. 12:1-3). He wants us also to press on and finish our race well to reach our eternal goal of Heaven (Phil. 3:14).
“But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matt. 10:22; 24:13)
“By your patience possess your souls.” (Lk. 21:19)
“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (Jas. 1:12)
“But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”
- Aim:
The Lord wants us to fix our eyes on the glorious reward of Heaven (Matt. 6:20; Col. 3:1-4). As we fix our eyes on our glorious reward of Heaven, we will find joy and hope, anticipating Jesus’ return to take us His children home with Him forever (Phil. 3:20-21; Tit. 2:13).
God commands us to “be faithful,” that is, true to Him, His Word, and His church, seeking and pleasing Him above all else!
CONCLUSION:
"I was in the spirit on the Lord's Day."
We must acknowledge that though this letter was written to them, we can still apply those same principles to our lives. What will happen if we aren't faithful unto death? There will not be a crown of life for us!
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:1-4)
“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election (their eternal salvation) sure….”
“For so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet. 1:10-11)
What of John, writing about a brother in Christ committing a sin “leading to death” (1 Jn. 5:16)?
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn. 1:9)
What if a Christian, having sinned, does not confess his sins?
“For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom. 6:23).
“Because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Pet. 5:8)
But how can the devil “devour” a saved Christian if that Christian cannot be lost once he is saved?
In Hebrews 12:1, we are admonished to run our race of faith with endurance. God expects us to run this race to the end (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). Baptism is the beginning of a life lived in faithfulness or loyalty. We know and believe that God is and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). We also believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John 20:30, 31). We believe that salvation from sin is available to men by the power of the Gospel (Romans 1:16).
“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10)
Therefore, each Christian must resolve to remain faithful to God until death despite persecution and death. We must also examine our faith and evaluate everything we have been taught, every aspect of our lives to be approved by God. We must believe that God has prepared a home for the faithful and that a crown is waiting for those who finish the race well. Faithfulness to God is vital to running the race set before us to the end. God provides the strength to endure, get up and keep running. Because of God’s love and sacrifice, we can live in faithfulness to Him despite Satan’s most horrifying taunts or enticing allurements, and we must if we want to receive our crown and go to Heaven.
The crown of life makes it all worth it!
~Luci
Monday, August 15, 2022
PREACH THE WORD!
“For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord; 10 who say to the seers, ‘Do not see,’ and to the prophets, ‘Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, eave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.’ 12 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, “Because you despise this word and trust in oppression and perverseness and rely on them, 13 therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach in a high wall, bulging out and about to collapse, whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant; 14 and its breaking is like that of a potter’s vessel that is smashed so ruthlessly that among its fragments not a shard is found with which to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern.”’ (Isa. 30:9-14).
- They reject the Truth because it condemns their lifestyle.
- They are hard-hearted and want to continue living in sin and error.
- He urges Timothy to preach the Word of God in all its purity, even though it would bring hardship to his life.
- That same urgent message applies to us today.
- Paul reminded Timothy about the value and power of the Scriptures. All Scriptures are God’s breath and are profitable for reproof, correction, and training in righteousness.
- Paul charged Timothy to preach the Word because Jesus will judge the living and the dead (2 Tim. 4:1-2).
“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: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:1-5)
- Jesus Will Judge The Living And The Dead:
“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.” (2 Timothy 4:1)
- Paul’s first charge to Timothy is to do the work of a sound and faithful evangelist without fail because Christ will judge the living and the dead just as sure as when Jesus came in the flesh and established His kingdom (John 5:28-29; Acts 17:30-31).
- That judgment will take place when Christ appears again for the final time (2 Thessalonians 2:8; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 1:10; Titus 2:13).
- Paul lived in the hope of Christ’s imminent return.
- Paul knew that when Christ returned, all humanity would see the majesty and glory of Christ’s kingdom.
- Every knee shall bow to Him, and every tongue shall confess Him (Romans 14:11).
- We cannot teach or preach only when it is convenient, safe, or favorable.
- We must correct, rebuke, and encourage with longsuffering when we teach.
- We must be willing to preach or teach the Gospel even when it is difficult.
- We must not bend to our culture or government’s pressure that might prevent us from sharing the Gospel Message or the good news of Jesus.
- We must not shrink back during difficult times.
- Many souls need to hear the Gospel to be saved because God will judge them on the last day (John 12:48; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
- Preach The Word:
“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2)
- He must be ready to preach anytime and everywhere (Romans 12:12).
- He must be willing to preach when it is not convenient for him.
- Timothy must “reprove” people. To “reprove” (elegzon) is “to put to proof, to test; to convict... to detect, lay bare, expose.” “To find fault with, correct; to reprehend severely, chide, admonish, reprove; show one his fault, demand an explanation” (Thayer 203). He must reprove to make sinners feel the prick of their hearts. Timothy must convince people of the Truth of the Scriptures and let them see their need for it (John 20:30-31; 2 Timothy 3:16; Titus 2:15).
- Timothy must “rebuke” (epitimeson) - “to tax with fault, rate, chide, rebuke, reprove, censure severely” (Thayer 245). Paul charged him to reprove sharply, to reprimand with authority. He must rebuke those Christians living in sin (Matthew 8:26; 1 Timothy 5:20; Titus 1:13; Titus 2:15; Jude 1:9). Preachers and teachers must never forget they are preaching and teaching God’s Word to others. They must revere God’s Word.
- Timothy must have no fear or the favor of men to perform this charge.
- Timothy must “exhort” (parakaleson) - “a calling upon... beseech, entreat, implore... incitement, persuasion...” Paul charged Timothy to encourage those who were struggling in their Christian walk (Romans 12:8). Struggling Christians can be uplifted when they are encouraged by the Word of God (1 Timothy 4:13). Timothy must persuade people to live godly in Christ Jesus.
- Timothy must preach with “all longsuffering” (makrothumia) - “patient enduring of evil, fortitude... slowness of avenging injuries, forbearance, clemency.” He must do all things with great patience and careful instruction. Every preacher and teacher must be patient and careful when teaching if they want to change people’s behavior and beliefs, especially our opponents (Romans 2:4; Romans 9:22; 2 Corinthians 6:6; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 4:2; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 1:11; Colossians 3:12; 1 Timothy 1:16; 2 Timothy 2:25).
- Timothy must be patient and endure the evil and sufferings of the wicked. Why? Because some might come to repentance or change their sinful ways and wrong teaching.
- Timothy must be given to “teaching” (didaxe) - “instruction, the giving of instruction, teaching.” Those who teach the Gospel must instruct or teach all, confronting error.
- We must remember that the power is in God’s Word, not the preacher or the teacher (Hebrews 4:12).
- Sound Teaching Is Not What Itching Ears Want to Hear:
“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.” (2 Timothy 4:3)
- They would rather feel good about their ungodliness than feel the shame and the guilt of sin.
- They would not tolerate sound teaching.
- Instead, they would accumulate teachers who agree with them and teach what they want to hear to accomplish their desires or passions.
“Truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Don’t work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal of approval on him.” (John 6:26–27)
- They came to Him for the wrong reasons.
- They did not seek Jesus because they wanted to accept the signs they saw.
- They were seeking Jesus to feed them again!
- They Will Turn Away From The Truth:
- These brethren will turn away from God’s Word because they want to listen to preachers and teachers who say things they want to hear.
- They teach and preach only those things that suit the desires of their hearers (Isaiah 30:10; Mark 4:24; Luke 8:18; 2 Timothy 3:7-8; Hebrews 5:11).
- These brethren will turn away from the Truth and turn to myths or fables (1 Timothy 1:4-6; Titus 1:14). Why? Because they have given up the Truth to satisfy their futile minds with senseless arguments about anything that is not from God’s Word. Paul was not talking about the myths of the Greeks or anything like that, but rather about anything that is not the Truth of God’s Word. In a few words, Paul was talking about false teaching or fabrication.
- They reject the Truth and refuse to hear it because it condemns their sinful ways and actions.
- These brethren are hard-hearted, fixed, and determined to have it their way.
- Of course, their ways of error and wrongdoing: the path of unrighteousness, the broad path that leads to destruction.
- They are comfortable listening to fables, stories, tales, and the like instead of looking to the Truth of God.
- Paul associated these myths or fables earlier with endless genealogies and profane or irreverent wives’ fables that promote empty speculations rather than God’s Truth (1 Timothy 1:3-4, 4: 7).
- You see, these untruths do not condemn, cause shame or call for repentance. They comfort where God does not.
- They are not interested in hearing sound preaching and teaching.
- They only care about numbers and people coming back.
- Their preaching and teaching have no substance because they focus on making people feel good with their empty words.
- Today it is rare to hear preaching about hell, repentance, and judgment. They are just too offensive to the audience.
- They are afraid of being rejected for preaching and teaching the Truth (Mark 7:1-9).
- They sell the Truth and compromise it! Think about it!
- So what you get is just crumbs and nothing else.
- Be Sober-Minded And Endure Suffering or Hardship:
“As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:5)
- Timothy must be “sober” (nepse). It means "to be calm, and collected in spirit; to be temperate, dispassionate, and circumspect" (Thayer 425). "Circumspect" is "to be self-possessed under all circumstances” (AG 538). “Heedful of circumstances or consequences” (AHD 275). Timothy must allow people to get under his skin to the point of being discouraged or defeated. It is good and wise to be calm and collected when dealing with the erring, for it is easier to declare the Truth of the Word of God. Preachers and teachers must realize that the problem that people have is not with the messenger but with hearing and obeying the Truth. Those who hold the Truth have nothing to fear from the erring. As messengers of God, we must thicken our skin to be effective preachers and teachers!
- Timothy must “suffer hardship or suffering” (Acts 9:16; Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 1:18; 2 Timothy 2:3). Paul had warned Timothy earlier of hardship and persecutions as part of our walk of faith. Why? Because people were not going to put up with it or tolerate sound doctrine anymore. You see, sound doctrine shames them and makes them feel guilty and in need of the Truth to repent (2 Tim. 3:12). It is a fact that those who preach and teach the Truth will face plenty of opposition and hardship. Timothy, as Paul said, must suffer rather than seek a way to avoid conflict, hardship, and suffering (Gal. 6:12-13).
- Timothy must “do the work of an evangelist.” The word “evangelist” (euaggelistou) means one who announces glad tidings; an evangelist, preacher of the Gospel, teacher of the Gospel. The work of the Gospel preacher or evangelist has been Paul’s main focus to Timothy in his two letters to him.
- A good preacher and teacher studies the Word of God with diligence to present it in all its purity (1 Tim. 1:5-7; 4:13; 2 Tim. 2:15).
- He fights the good fight of faith. He fights against those who teach error and false doctrines that oppose the Truth of God (1 Tim. 1:18; 6:12).
- He warns the brethren of the dangers of false doctrines and worldliness (1Tim. 4:6).
- He is a sound teacher of the Truth, for he loves the Truth (1 Tim. 4:11).
- He is not a hypocrite, for he lives what he preaches (1 Tim. 6:13-14).
- He is ready to expose error and sin, for he rebukes, corrects, and encourages with great patience and teaching (2 Tim. 4:2).
- He promotes godliness through his teachings (2 Tim. 4:2).
- He is longsuffering, slow to anger, and always exercises self-control (2 Tim. 4:2).
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 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.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8)
- Paul is Ready For His Departure:
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.” (2 Timothy 4:6)
- Paul looked toward this moment, for he said to die is gain (Philippians 1:21-22; 2 Corinthians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:14).
- Paul was ready to be poured out like a "drink offering"(Philippians 1:23; Philippians 2:17; 2 Peter 1:14). He describes his life as being poured out as a drink offering.
- He compared himself to the wine that was poured out beside the altar in the Jewish sacrifices (Numbers 15:1-10).
- Paul Fought The Good Fight of Faith Victoriously:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
- Paul looked at his life and said with confidence and satisfaction that he had run the race well and kept the faith. Such words move me and encourage me! Paul’s charge to Timothy was to “fight the good fight of faith...” (1 Tim. 6:12; 1 Tim. 1:18).
- That fight of faith was against false teachers and evildoers and the persecution against the saints. Paul waged war against these men, and now it was time to pass the baton to faithful and fearless men who would put pressure on the ungodly (1 Cor. 15:12; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; Gal. 4:16; 1 Tim. 1:19- 20, etc.).
- Paul’s days of warfare had come to an end as his death was approaching. He would no longer suffer at the hands of wicked men (2 Cor. 11:22ff). He would no longer be looked upon as a “spectacle among men... a fool... weak... suffer hunger, thirst, nakedness, and no place to sleep... defamed and counted as the filth of the world” (1 Cor. 4:9-13).
- He had remained faithful to the Lord through all his trials.
- Through it all, Paul was never ashamed of the Gospel message (Rom. 1:16).
- A Crown of Righteousness Awaits Paul:
“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.” (2 Timothy 4:8)
- He knew he would receive a crown of righteousness. The crown was a metaphor. The literal crown in his time was a laurel wreath placed upon the head of a conquering king. This was the physical victory crown that conquering kings wore when they returned from battle.
- The spiritual victory crown was reserved for Paul (1 Corinthians 9:25; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4; Revelation 2:10).
- Paul remained faithful to the work God had entrusted him to do and to his faith.
- Thus, Paul was confident he would receive his “crown of righteousness” from Jesus Himself when Christ returns (2 Timothy 1:12).
- This is Judgment Day (2 Peter 3:13).
- The day which all Christians look forward to and hope for.
- The day they hope to be rewarded with their own “crown of righteousness” if they remain faithful as Paul did (Revelation 1:7; Revelation 22:20).
- That must be our most important goal in life!
- This glorious crown would never be taken away by evildoers (1 Pet. 5:4).
- He would now be exalted rather than debased because he had been faithful to our Lord Jesus (1 Pet. 5:6).
- This crown of righteousness, exaltation, and glory would be given not only to Paul but also to all faithful followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who have suffered because of persecution and evildoers as they presented the Truth and lived it out.
“Do your best to come to me soon. 10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.” (2 Timothy 4:9-12)
- Alone:
- Paul wants to spend his last hours with his beloved friend and traveling companion. Perhaps, Paul felt lonely and distressed because brethren were falling away from the faith to avoid persecution.
- Demas, mentioned in our text, deserted Paul when he needed him and went to Thessalonica, for he loved this world (Matthew 6:19-34; 1 Timothy 6:6-10; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; 1 John 2:15).
- Demas was once a faithful brother in Christ (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24). He was with Paul during his first Roman imprisonment (Col. 4:14; Phile. 24).
- Demas went back to the pleasures of this world because they were more dear to him than suffering for the cause of Christ.
“Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.”
- Luke was the only one that was with Paul.
- Luke was a Physician.
- He was with Paul during his first arrest in Judea and his first imprisonment when he went to Rome.
- For a considerable part of Paul’s ministry, Luke was his traveling companion (Acts 16:10; Acts 27:1).
- Luke, “the beloved physician” (Col. 4:14), continued with Paul in his times of distress.
“When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.” (2 Timothy 4:13)
- Paul had left behind his coat when he went to Troas (Acts 16:8) and was now in need of it to keep him warm in the colder months of winter ( 2 Timothy 4:21).
- Paul also asked Timothy to bring the “books” (biblia) or scrolls and the “parchments” (membranas).
- The scrolls were rolls of paper made from the papyrus plant. Perhaps Paul was referring to portions of the Old Testament Scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15) or scrolls written by himself. We are not told.
- The “parchments” that Paul needed were made of tanned animal skins. They were used to write on them. They were also called “vellum.”
- The “parchments” were different from the scrolls; perhaps they were Paul’s writings from the New Testament. Some Bible students have suggested that these “parchments” were unfinished letters or letters written from churches. Again we are not told much.
- Hurt:
“Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.” (2 Timothy 4:14-15)
- Alexander, the kindred of the High Priest (Acts 4:6).
- Alexander, the town clerk of Ephesus (Acts 19:33ff).
- Alexander, who refused to repent, and Paul delivered his soul to Satan (1 Tim. 1:20).
- Alexander of 2 Tim. 4:14, who did much evil and harm to Paul and his work (2 Tim. 4:14-15).
- Deserted But Rescued:
“At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:16-18)
- Paul’s First Defense in His Roman Trial:
“At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!” (2 Timothy 4:16)
“May it not be charged (counted) against them!”
- Although they hurt Paul and had wronged him, he did not speak ill of them and instead asked the Lord to forgive them for their wrong decisions.
- He did not hold that against them!
- It reminds me of Stephen and our Lord Jesus (Luke 23:43; Acts 7:59-60).
- Paul understood why they deserted him.
- He also acknowledged that he was not completely alone and forsaken, for the Lord stood by him, by his side (Deuteronomy 32:6; Psalm 27:10; Job 5:17-19; Isaiah 14:1-2).
“But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.“
- Paul acknowledged that the Lord stood by his side and strengthened him though all had forsaken him in his hour of intense trial.
- He knew he could do all things through Jesus’ strength (Phil. 4:13).
- It is remarkable that though Paul was on trial for his life before Nero, he had the right presence of mind to take advantage and preach the Gospel to the Gentile audience that was present.
- God’s strength helped him preach the Gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15-16; Romans 1:10; Phil. 1:12).
- Paul was well-known for taking advantage of every open door or opportunity to preach the Gospel (Acts chapters 22, 24, 26).
- He never gave up because the Lord was beside him and strengthened him.
- The Lord had not only strengthened Paul to preach the Gospel, but He also rescued him “from the lion’s mouth.” That is the verdict of death by Roman judgment from Nero.
- Paul encouraged Timothy previously to keep pressing forward without fear because the Lord would rescue him from evildoers or wicked men (2 Timothy 3:10-11).
- He also reminded Timothy and us that God knows how to protect His children and bring them home to Him even in death.
“Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. 21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers. 22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.” (2 timothy 4:19-22)
“Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus” (2 Timothy 4:19).
- They helped Paul establish a new church and were instrumental in their edification (Acts 18:2; Acts 18:18-20; Romans 16:3-5; 1 Corinthians 16:19).
- Paul greeted both Priscilla and Aquila because they dedicated themselves to the preaching of the Gospel with others (Acts 8:4).
- They also shared the same trade as tentmakers with Paul (Acts 18:2).
- Onesiphorus means “profit bringer” or “help bringer,” and that’s precisely what he was doing with Paul.
- Onesiphorus was a continual blessing to Paul and his work (Philemon 20).
- He often refreshed Paul.
- He looked after Paul’s needs as Paul continued to preach the Gospel to the lost.
- He wasn’t ashamed of Paul’s chains.
- Onesiphorus was not ashamed to have a friend and brother in Christ in prison and be associated with Paul (Acts 28:20; Philippians 1:15-18; Colossians 4:3; Colossians 4:18; Philemon 1:10; Philemon 1:13-14; Philemon 1:16).
- He searched for Paul until he found him. And though Rome was a huge city, Onesiphorus went from place to place to find Paul (Matthew 25:36).
“Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus.” (2 Timothy 4:20)
- When Paul preached in Ephesus for over two years, every Jew and Greek who lived in Asia heard the Word (Acts 19:10).
- When Paul was on his way to Jerusalem, he passed through Macedonia, where he saw an open door to preach the Gospel. He sent Erastus and Timothy to Macedonia to preach the Gospel in Macedonia (Acts 19:22). Paul mentions him here in this verse.
- It appears that Erastus had returned home sick and was there at the time of this letter.
- He is the Ephesian Gentile that was with Paul in Jerusalem.
- The Jews accused Paul of bringing him unlawfully into the temple (Acts 21:29).
- They raised a tumult that resulted in Paul’s imprisonment.
“Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers. 22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.” (2 Timothy 4:21-22)
“The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.” (2 Timothy 4:22)
- Paul, more than anyone, understood the need for the Grace of God because he had received it himself.
- Paul’s hope is that Timothy and we would always walk in Truth to receive God’s glorious and gracious promises.
- Paul had finished his race of faith and had fulfilled his ministry well.
- He was ready to die and receive his reward.
- He wanted Timothy and all of us to do the same.
- Because people will not endure sound doctrine.
- They were going to gather themselves teachers according to their own desires.
- They were going to have tickling or itching ears.
- They were going to turn their ears away from the Truth and be turned aside to fables or myths.
- Because we have many, who desire to do what feels good and right to them without regard to the Truth.
- Because they are enslaved to sin (John 8:34).
- Sadly, they will miss heaven.
- Paul fought the good fight because he did not walk out of the ring.
- He did not stop fighting Satan’s work.
- Paul finished the race well because he did not sit down during that race and give up.
- He endured and continued steadfastly in that race until he finished.
- Paul kept the faith.
- He did not let go of his faith when life became difficult because he held on to his faith and put his hope in that faith until his last breath.
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. " (1 John 2:15–17)
“But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.”