Sermon Central
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I Know
Contributed by Charles Gilbert on Aug 9, 2001 (message contributor)
Summary: A challenge to take a look a know whom it is that you have believed.
I KNOW
I. Paul is writing to Timothy.
A. From a Roman prison facing the death penalty
B. To encourage Timothy
C. Last recorded words of Paul
II. Paul had been abandoned.
A. By other believers
10. For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present
world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus
unto Dalmatia.
16. At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men
forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
B. No support except for Luke
“Only Luke is with me.”
C. He was alone
III. Paul stood alone yet not ashamed.
A. He said, because he was a preacher, apostle, and teacher to
the gentiles, “For the which cause I also suffer these
things:”
B. But he also said, “Nevertheless I am not ashamed:”
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the
power of God unto salvation...”
IV. Paul, at the close of this letter, is summoning Timothy.
A. Because Paul needs to encourage Timothy personally
B. Paul wants support of Timothy in his last hours
C. He requests Timothy also bring Mark
D. Paul also wants:
1. His cloak he left at Troas with Carpus
2. His books
3. The parchments
V. Paul is in a Roman prison.
A. The first time he was in the Roman prison he was under
house arrest
“And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the
prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell
by himself with a soldier that kept him.”
B. He was even allowed to preach from the house he was
imprisoned in
“And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to
him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the
kingdom of God,...”
C. This time things have changed due to events that have
tightened things against Christians
D. Paul is being imprisoned under harsher guidelines than
before
E. He is being deserted by the people who once supported him
VI. Yet Paul proclaims
A. Though friends turned against
B. Though I am in prison
C. Though I am all alone
D. Though the death penalty is upon me
E. Though there seems to be no hope
F. Paul cries out the only thing he knows for sure:
“for I know whom I have believed.”
VII. Now let us take a look at Job.
A. His wealth was lost
B. His livestock was killed
C. His servants were killed
D. His health taken from him
E. His children were killed
F. His friends turned against him
G. His wife said, “curse God and die”
VIII. Yet Job cried out.
A. Job 27
5. God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will
not remove mine integrity from me.
6. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my
heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
B. How was he able to be so confident and bold in the middle
of such great turmoil and disaster.
C. Job himself says it best
D. He proclaimed, “For I know that my redeemer liveth,”
23. Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were
printed in a book!
24. That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the
rock forever!
25. For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand
at the latter day upon the earth:
26. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in
my flesh shall I see God:
27. Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold,
and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
When things come your way and your faced with trying times do
you know whom you have believed.
