FHBC Sermon Notes

2 Timothy 3

We often have the bad habit during times of transition to look back and say if only we could be like that back then.  Remember when so and so was preaching, or when we had this program and that? 

But… There is no going back. No only can we not go back because the world is different, we shouldn't go back, because God's promises are fulfilled in the future, not the past.

>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.

>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, [2] 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 defense 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.

>2 Timothy 4:6-18 (ESV)

Paul is writing this letter most likely out of a dungeon prison.  And what does he write? 

**1. Don't stop hoping. **

There is never a moment without hope. There are so many stories of hopelessness.  Of war, of financial loss, or loss to illness.  Do we have hope? 

Paul says that he has been poured out as a drink offering…. Yet, he sees the end and seeks to finish the raise.  He hope is still to come.

**2. Don't stop working with others. **

Paul had been abandoned.  All his friends had left him.  In the end only "Luke alone is with me." Abandoned Paul calls for a person that in the past he had had issues with: John-Mark.  He calls that he should come.  What an awesome picture of forgiveness.

Fool me once, the saying says.  Fool me twice… You know how it goes.  How unchristian is that?!

**3. Never stop growing and serving.**

v. 13.  Paul never stopped studying the Word.  These are the scrolls that he asks for, and the parchment.  These are for the letters he wrote.  Paul even on his death bed was still growing and serving.  He was studying and he was edifying and serving others through the means he had, letter writing.  Wow.  How awesome is that.

**4. Don't stop looking to the future… the future of others.**

Paul continues even in the end for himself to counsel his brother, Timothy, letting him know to watch out for Alexander the coppersmith, and all in the letter before this section counseling him on how to be a faithful pastor.  Consider that Paul is investing in the future of God's work in Timothy.  Not because Paul would be able to see the finished product, or any of the fruit of this work he is doing. 

**5. Don't stop having a forgiving spirit.**

How tempting is it at the end of life, or in the face of struggle to hold deep grievance and to lay all our inner angst on some person or persons that we still can't seem to forgive.  Here we see Paul in verse 16 acknowledging that he had been deserted by his friends.  Yet, he holds no grievance, and prays that they would not be charged for their sin. 

Sometimes our greatest friends in Christ start as enemies.  We can never write people off.  This is true if you are in leadership, or if we are holding unforgiveness towards leadership, or brothers and sisters throughout the body.

Let us all love one another as Christ loved us.  Amen.