A CHANGE IS GOING TO COME
2 Timothy 4:1-8
THE TEXT
4:1 I charge (thee) in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
2 preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts;
4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables.
5 But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry.
6 For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith:
8 henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.
ASV
CHARGED TO PREACH THE GOSPEL
Matthew 28:19 is the original charge by the resurrected Jesus to preach
The Gospel. Go he said make disciples then baptize in the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit.
This is the mission of every believer in Jesus Christ. It not the just the pastor's job but our job. Every believer's position may differ, but ever believers job is the same.
IN SIGHT OF GOD AND CHRIST. This says that God pays attention to our obedience. The moment we open our mouth to speak about Jesus, He is there with us guiding the conversation. I do not think it is a coincident that
Someone stands in line next to you in the store, shopping center or wherever you find yourself. It is my belief that God sets up meetings for us to proclaim the Gospel. If that is so, how often do we fail the commission?
What can we do to step up to the the charge? How can we get into the GO mode? Let me give suggestions (for me first)
1. Morning Prayer ask God to give you the opportunity to share the word
2. Prepare your mind for the opportunity
3. For example In the checkout line, look back and greet the person
Behind you. How are doing today? I pray God Bless your day
You never know who is listening or how you will be perceived, yet the
Word has been planted. The person may respond back
4. Do the same for the cashier.
5. The point is to try to relate to the person God placed next to you. You
May not have but a moment, but that may be the moment God uses.
HE SHALL JUDGE THE QUICK AND THE DEAD AT HIS APPEARING AND KINGDOM
The Lord keeps a record of our good works and sins. Nothing we do escapes God’s attention. He is coming to back to judge us all. As a believer, We know Jesus is coming back but do we really believe it is
Today or tomorrow. Or do we believe we have a lot more time. If we believe in the second coming of the Lord, what are we doing to show our readiness. Are we like the man who forecasts rain, but never brings a raincoat or an umbrella?
2 Peter 3:10
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
A thief don’t give you a schedule when he will rob you, he shows up
Unannoused, uninvited when you least expect it. You may be sleep,
Having a cup of coffee or working in the yard when Jesus shows up.
Know this He is scheduled to show up for you. At his second coming there
Will be two passenger lists. The first list will be the all believers who will be
Taken to be with him in heaven. There is a place call hell for the second list.
Will you focus be on Him when He comes? Could be today or some
Distance time. But know this, He is coming.
PREACH THE WORD IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON
In season is the good times, the convenient times, the easy times. The times when we are around like mined people are in season.
Out of season is the times when it is not popular to preach the Word. We
Know that there are places, times and people where the Word will not be appreciated. The lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and pride of life often keeps us silent in the Word. But these are times when it is urgent to proclaim the Word to keep us from falling short.
We must resist the desire to fit into the crowd. That's the time we need to remind ourselves that we are not of this world but in this world to proclaim
the Word.
John 17:15-17
I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil (one). 16 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth.
God did not put us here to avoid evil people, but present the Gospel to them as He gives us opportunity,
REPROVE. REBUKE, EXHORT WITH PATIENCE AND TEACHING
REPROVE Be prepared up to present the Gospel as best you know
Not everyone will be convinced , but Word planted many take
Root
REBUKE Don’t sugar coat evil. Call sin what is an offense to God
EXHORT Present the warnings and the promises of God to excite others
To the duties of the Gospel
PATIENCE We must be aware that everyone understands the Word at
Different rates. Everyone put the Word in practice at different
Times in their lives. We must be patient and persistent in
Teaching Word.
As a farmer plants a seed and wait for it to take root and grow,
So must we plant Word and wait on the Lord make it grow.
THE TIME HAS COME WHEN THE WORLD WANT HEAR SOUND DOCTRINE
2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts;
We are now in a time in America when the truth has been laid aside
In favor of opinions and new ideas not based on facts. We now get
Our news from FaceBook, Instagram, X and other media platforms
That are full of daily information, chats, videos and personal post that promote someone's opinions not backup by any credible data or research.
Posts are rated at how many subscribers one has.
We can find information on any subject imagable. Every post invites you to check the like box which makes it credible and worth viewing again. The
Likes become the norms and the norms become the new truth. More and
More A I is shaping our thoughts;
AI Overview
Social media shapes our beliefs by creating echo chambers and filter bubbles through algorithms that prioritize engagement, reinforcing existing views and limiting exposure to diverse perspectives. This environment leads to increased polarization and a distorted perception of reality, where extreme opinions are amplified while moderate or factual information is suppressed. Furthermore, users often place trust in information shared by friends and family within their "digital tribes," regardless of the information's accuracy, which can spread misinformation.
The only real truth that has never changed has been protected from change Is the Word of God printed in the 66 books of the Bible,
It’s writing are thousands of years old dating back to Moses.
BE SOBER IN ALL THINGS
2 Tim 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables.
5 But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry.
Mal 3:6 For I, Jehovah, change not; therefore ye, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
Heb 13:7-7 Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ (is) the same yesterday and today, (yea) and for ever.
The real truth is not popular, Its A I, social media, power and politics that
Drive our desires. The information we get today are full of lies and misrepresentation.
The Bible has not changed. The proof is found in the Dead Sea Scrolls
Found in the Qumran caves12 miles from Jerusalem discovered between 1947 to 1956. They are over 2000 years old and have fragments of every book of the Old Testament except Esther. They proved that the Old Testament in print today is 95 percent word for word accurate. The New Testament has been proved to be 99 percent accurate of the original text.
When we hear statements about God or the Word of God. we need to stop
Take a breath and go to the unchanging Word for clarification. The internet
Has made us lazy in doing research. You can type in a subject and in an instant the information is there. When you search for scriptures you will get interpretations and opposing interpretations. Which is right. You don’t get to view opposing messages in the Bible. You get the truth and nothing but the truth.
DO THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST
Paul commands us to do the work of an evangelist. How can you do the work if you don't know what the work is? The Word of God is not always pleasing to hear, but it is what we need. No one wants to be rebuked or reproved. The closer we get to God, the more we will know that rebuke, reprove and discipline are God's way of saying I love you.
Prov 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah; Neither be weary of his reproof: 12 For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth; Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
The work of the Lord starts with us. We must renew ourselves in a right
Spirit.
DON’T BE AFRAID OF SUFFERING FOR THE LORD
No one wants to suffer. We run from it. If we suffer, suffer a little and not for long. How can you have it your way, if suffering is on the plate. Imagine getting a hamburger and side of suffering. What about suffering with a side
Of God’s love.
1 Peter 3:14 But even if ye should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed (are ye:) and fear not their fear, neither be troubled;
Suffering bring blessings which includes develop our character,
Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
There are some assignments you take for Christ that will be scary and people will criticize you for. We can face all this with confidence knowing
That Christ is with us. Courage is doing scary with confidence.
Matthew Henry says take all opportunities to make known the pure Gospel.
Doing the scary is an opportunity provided by God.
FULFILL THE MINISTRY
Paul preached the Gospel in good times and bad times, in season and out of season. He preached in the Synagogues and was pushed out. He preached in cities and was beaten and imprisoned. He was guided by the
Spirit back to Jerusalem where he was tried and sent to Rome to be tried again. He wrote four or five of the books of the New Testament
From prison; Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon and maybe 2 Timothy.
If we fully take up the torch for Jesus, it will lead us to dark places. Jesus said I did not come for the righteous, but for the lost. The lost live in darkness where they are comfortable. Invading their space with the light
Will not at first be welcomed. It is our job to endure negative comments and hostile rejections to present the Gospel.
The time has come, the change has come where people have many ways and opportunities to pursue darkness. There an increasing number of advertisements on TV for adults to play video games on their phones. They
Hire successful actors and actress, sport stars to play the games to make them More attractive. Instead of family time, studying the word, play games on your cell phones.
How does the Word of God compete with multimillion dollar advertisements? The truth is games fill the time for a moment then fade away. The Word of God fills the heart and soul for a lifetime. Games
Provide momentary happiness. The word of God provide a life time of joy.
BE DEDICATED TO THE GOSPEL OF JESUS
2 Tim 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith:
The Apostle Paul’s life is an example to follow. His testimony shows his devotion to the Gospel
2 Cor 11:24-26 Of the Jews five times received I forty (stripes) save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep; 26 (in) journeyings often, (in) perils of rivers, (in) perils of robbers, (in) perils from (my) countrymen, (in) perils from the Gentiles, (in) perils in the city, (in) perils in the wilderness, (in) perils in the sea, (in) perils among false brethren;
I was reminded by a lady of wisdom in one of my classes: Do all the good you can, while you can, to everyone you can, because you never know if you will get back this way again
The course for each of us is laid out by the Father with help of Jesus and the Holy Spirit we can finish it
THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
2 Tim 4:8 henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.
This is not my home, I am just traveling through on the way to heaven,
The road will be rough, times will be frustrating, there will be pain, hardships and disappointments
With the Lord I can walk with joy, peace and hope
If i stay faithful the crown is waiting
SUMMARY
2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables.
This prophecy is being fulfilled today before us. It is proof of the accuracy of the Bible
If you speak a lie long enough people will believe it
Untruths are being magnified from nation leaders around the world including the US
Many Government leaders, don’t want peace, they want authority and power
Manufacturers of guns, ammunitions and weapons of war are getting wealthy in the name of peace
Multimedia with all it’s misinformation is now considered the truth
The real unchanging truth is the Bible. The one who is in Charge is our lord and Savior
We are all here today by our Lord and Savior serving and waiting for His return
PREACH THE WORD IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON, THE WORLD NEEDS THE TRUTH
WE HAVE A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WAITING ON US
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