Preach the Word! We finish off 2Timothy today. Paul tells his young reader Timothy to tell others about God’s word and the consequences of what happens when people fail to follow it.
2 Timothy 3: Godlessness in the Last Days
1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,
4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,
7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.
9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God
10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,
11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra---which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work
2 Timothy 4: Preach the Word
1 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, fulfil your ministry.
6 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.
Personal Instructions
9 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.
13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.
14 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.
16 At my first defence 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.
Final Greetings
19 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.
Things to think about…
1. When I read 2Tim 3:1-7 I think of the society will live right now. Things have changed even over the last 30 years. Kids are overtly disobedient to parents, people are without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless - you only have to look at the amount of road rage, domestic violence and abuse that goes on in our day, even in the ‘Christian West’. “Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”, how true is that! Sadly many of these traits enter the church and the spirit of the world kills off the desire for the Spirit of the gospel.
2. Do you know that Jannes and Jambres mentioned in vs 8 are not mentioned in Exodus in the incident Paul is talking about regarding Moses. At some point there was information about who these guys that has since been lost. Some say they were the Egyptian magicians that came against Moses. When I was in Israel in 2017 I had heard of a version of Jewish writings that actually has a commentary on these 2 men. Who knows whether their account is true. But we cannot add to the scriptures which says nothing more of them. Their example spoken of here by Paul is enough to say these were men who sought after their own desires rather than obeying God’s voice through Moses.
3. Paul reminds Timothy of his upbringing. He asks him to remember the scriptures, they saved him and how they can save others, 2Tim 3:16,17. Looking at these verses, how have the scriptures saved you? Are they still doing so in your life? Note that the scriptures should have influence over every aspect of the believer’s life to be “equipped for every good work”.
4. 2Tim 4:1-8 is the primary calling for anyone who is in a preaching/teaching ministry. Look at this list. Is your pastor preaching like this or not? Pray for him and encourage him to open his heart as he opens God’s word to speak it out with love, grace and truth. Pray for our church and pastors in general that we all get this nailed into our ministries. The ‘itching ears’ syndrome is a killer and a very powerful spirit in our age.
5. Paul is really feeling the cost of a faithful ministry. Have a look at 2Tim 4:9-18. He has been forsaken by everyone except Luke, the dear old doctor. But praise God Paul had been reconciled with Mark, clearly Mark held no grudge towards Paul and like has cousin Barnabas, Mark was a great encouragement to the Apostle. Look at what Paul wants aside from a warm coat, 2Tim 4:13 – he wants to study the scriptures. This man would likely have known much of the OT by heart. A rebuke for me that’s for sure. If you are in a prison – whatever it may look like, it is an ideal time to be alone with God and His word.
6. Paul had the gift of healing. Why did he leave poor Trophimus ill at Miletus, 2Tim 4:20? God’s will is not ours at every point. Even though Paul had the gift of healing, as was evident with Eutychus Acts 20:7-12, he was unable to heal Trophimus whom he no doubt prayed for. There is a purpose in suffering. But even through trial, Christ is still our Healer – Hallelujah!.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
The reading this week was from Lamentations 4
Jeremiah is sitting looking at the destroyed city of Jerusalem. He had prophesied for 40 years for the people of Jerusalem and Judah to repent of their idolatry and the rejection of what God had shown in his word. They paid the price and the Babylonians knocked down the city wall and destroyed and burned the temple. They killed many of the leaders in 586BC. They then took everyone else captive to Babylon. They stayed in Babylon for 70 years as the Lord had said.
1. Discuss your immediate thoughts when you read/hear this passage – Lam 4.
2. Jay shared what it was like to lose earthly possession in the flood of 2011 and then having to rebuild their home. Have you been through a traumatic experience where you have lost something of value. Eg Property, health, a relationship. Discuss how that affected you.
3. Trial comes to all of us. Some do it without Christ. Sometimes there are seasons in Babylon. It is not home, but it is still a place of rest and blessing. Jay and his family spent 3 months rent free in North Ipswich while he was rebuilding their home. There was an opportunity to give encouragement and cheques to other flood victims. The time in Babylon for the Jews was a time to “build and to plant”, just as Jeremiah was told in Jer 1:10. What building and blessing has happened in the wilderness periods of your life?
4. Pray for the prayer points and as a cell group.
Prayer Points
1. John (Angelo’s son) who faithfully serves in the café every Sunday has had a bad accident at school. Both his arms are broken and he suffered head injuries. He is out of hospital but it will take many weeks before he is 100%. Please pray for healing and peace. Pray for dear Angelo and John’s mother who have had to deal with the stress of it all.
2. Pray for the turmoil presently going on in South Africa. Pray for peace, calm and order to be restored. On top of this Covid is at 40, 000 cases per day. Pray for healing and wisdom w.r.t this disease.
3. Pray the information given in the Covid talk by Jay on Sunday would dispel misinformation and be a source of blessing for the church.
4. Pray for testimonies that people will be doing every second week. Please consider when you would like to do yours when the pastor asks you to share yours 😉
5. Pray for ministries as they start up this week – especially Sunday School, PlayPatch and Recharge. Pray for Maddison and Melinda as they lead these ministries.
6. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof and solar.
7. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
8. Church finances to meet our new staff and to put a roof over our café.
Praise Points.
1. New cell groups.
2. Praise and worship – thanks Rod, Molley, Riley, Rin and Dan.
3. The freedom to gather, albeit with masks on Sunday. This Sunday no masks.
Announcements
1. Masks will be needed this Sunday. Covid restrictions will remain for another week.
2. PlayPatch starting up 23rd July for toddlers at church. Please get the word out. See Maddison for details.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
