Summary: A challenge to take a look a know whom it is that you have believed.

I KNOW

II Timothy 1:6-14

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

II Timothy 4

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

II Timothy 4:11a

“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:”

Romans 1:16

“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

Acts 28:16

“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

Acts 28:23a

“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,”

Job 19

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.