FIGHT A GOOD FIGHT
2 Tim 4:1-8
CHAPTER 4
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
(KJV)
This Epistle is probably one of the last written by Paul. This Second Epistle, written to Timothy is known as a Pastoral Epistle and less formal from most of his other writings. Here Paul speaks of his soon departure. Paul wasn’t only in prison, but speaks of having losing his friends (1:15; 4:16) and having a feeling of loneliness. I can only imagine what it would feel like to be locked up in a prison cell with no friends. Through all this Paul continued to keep the faith, and is telling Timothy to do the same by Holding to The Truth. Our study today begins in chapter four verse one where Paul says to Timothy “I charge thee.” Lets take these eight verses one at a time and learn from these words what the Lord would have us to know concerning today’s world.
1 I charge (adjure or command) thee therefore before God (the supreme divinity), and (especially) the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge (avenge, condemn, punish) the quick (the living) and the dead at his appearing (advent, brightness) and his kingdom (reign, rule).
2 Preach (herald as a town crier) the word; be instant (be present to stand upon) in season (opportunity or), out of season (in-opportunity) ; reprove (showing disapproval of false teaching), rebuke (admonishing), exhort (desiring) with all longsuffering (patient endurance) and doctrine (instruction of the Gospel).
3 For the time will come when they (professing Christians) will not endure sound doctrine (instructions of the Gospel) ; but after their own lusts (desires) shall they heap to themselves (accumulate or seek additional)teachers (instructors, false teachers), having itching ears (being taught that which they want to hear);
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (false teachings).
5 But watch (keep sober) thou in all things, endure afflictions (undergoing hardships) , do the work of an evangelist (preacher of the Gospel), make full proof of (carrying out fully) thy ministry (Christian service).
6 For I am now ready to be offered (to end my life), and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight (literal struggle with an adversary), I have finished (concluded) my course (career), I have kept (held fast) the faith (moral conviction):
8 Henceforth there is laid up (reserved) for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (can’t wait for the advent of Christ). (KJV)
Even though this is a letter to Timothy with words of instruction and comfort, I believe that these words are true today as we look around us. Think about all the false churches today. Sure, we have the Jehovah Witnesses and the New Age Church, but many of these members wouldn’t be members if we were doing our job. Somebody has to knock on those doors out there. If we don’t take the opportunity, then Satan will.
Verse two tell us to preach the word and stand upon it. Preach it in both opportune and in-opportune times, which also means; day as well as night, in church and out of church, at home or away, everywhere and on all occasions, wherever the Lord’s work requires it.
Listen to this true story about God’s love: I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.
Her last project of the term was called "Smile." The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say, hello anyway, so, I thought, this would be a piece of cake, literally.
Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonalds, on a crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special play time with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did. I did not move an inch...an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved. As I turned around, I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and standing there behind me were two, poor homeless men.
As I looked down at the shortest gentleman, close to me, he was smiling. His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God’s Light as he searched for acceptance. He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching.
The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally deficient, and the blue eyed gentleman was his salvation. I held my tears as I stood there with them.
The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, "Coffee is all, Miss." That was all they could afford to be able to sit in the restaurant and warm up; they had to buy something...they just wanted to be warm. Then I really felt it, a compulsion so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my reaction. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue eyed gentleman’s cold hand. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you."
I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said," I did not do this for you...God is here working through me to give you hope."
I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, honey, to give me hope."
In January of 1997 my wife and I felt a strong leading to evangelize. On the first of February 1997 we left Grayling, Michigan on what we referred to as “our missionary quest.” In just two years we ministered in three states and lived in four different homes. We managed to hold full time work, write four books, held bible studies and in each location saw lost soul’s approach the throne of the Lord. While in Berrien Springs we ministered to divorced couples, couples thinking about divorce and families with wayward children. As we began to build the work, Satan did his best to discourage us. After six months, we move to another city. But after just three months I became a budget cut, and lost my full time job. Satan tried to discourage us at our lowest of times. The Lord continued to bless. After each occasion, the Lord revealed to me just what our mission was, and moved us to our next one. It wasn’t easy along the way especially for our children. But the Lord made all the necessary provisions.
Our next challenge had me ministering to the Chicago hood. I had seen things that I hope to never see again. I had experienced things that would repulse and make most people sick. Satan had these people in his hand and didn’t want to let go. I once came close to losing my life by the hand of Satan, but through all this, the Lord had kept me safe.
We wondered where the Lord would take us next, and thanked God when we found that it was back home to Michigan. Even though, we at times, had it rough, and missed our friends and our home, we thanked God for the learning experiences. The Lord lifted us spiritually and strengthened our faith. We quit our jobs and sold our home, but were confident that the Lord would continue to supply our needs. Our travels kept us wondering for ten years to the day. Even though tempted by the devil, we continued to keep the faith. We did learn that there is a mission right here in our own back yard. You don’t have to go far to find the lost. Often times while away from our safe surroundings we felt troubled, but then we would read 2 Cor 4:8-10:
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
(KJV)
Can you say like Paul; I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith? My prayer this day is that you can and will.
God may not be calling all of you to a full time ministry, but there is a ministry right here in our back yards for all of us. Listen for the voice of the Lord calling. He did call everyone to be fishers of men. May God bless you on this Sabbath day.
