Timothy had become tired and timid. Paul seeks to encourage his boy just before death.
1 & 2 Timothy deal with creed and conduct or doctrine and discipline of the church.
2 Tim. 4:1-5 I solemnly 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, exhort, with great patience and instruction. [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; [4] and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths. [5] But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Charge = diamarturomai - to attest or protest earnestly ; to charge, testify (unto), witness.
{1} Have Preparation - v. 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season...
Joe Paterno - The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is essential.
Preach - kerusso, kay-roos'-so - to herald (as a public cry), especially divine truth (the gospel) to proclaim, publish.
Reprove - elegcho, el-eng'-kho - to confute, admonish :-convict, convince, tell a fault, rebuke,
Rebuke - epitimao, - to tax upon, to censure by implication forbid to straitly) charge, rebuke.
Exhort - parakaleo, par-ak-al-eh'-o, to call near, to invite, invoke (by imploration, or consolation) to beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort (-ation), entreat, pray.
* A thread of patience and instruction should flow in your teaching / preaching.
a. know who you are
1 Tim. 1:18-19 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience...
2 Tim. 1:6 I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
b. stay focused on the true fight at hand 1 Cor. 9:24
{If life is a rat race then those who win the race have only defeated rats...what an accomplishment! }
2 Tim. 2:5 if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.
1 Tim. 1:18c,19a fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience...
c. stay faithful to the Father
2 Tim. 2:14-26 ... solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless, and leads to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth. Avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness ... "Let everyone who
names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness."... flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart ... refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. * * * stay faithful !!!
{2} Have Perspective - v. 5 be sober in all things.
* Preparation allows you to get your head. Perspective allows you to keep your head.
nepho - to abstain from wine (keep sober), to be discreet ; soberness; prudence ; wisdom;
to watch; to observe; to stay balanced ; to be mentally composed; discerning ; discriminating.
a. be spiritually fit - not just physically fit.
1 Tim. 4:7-8 discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness ... bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
b. do not allow age to be an intimidating factor.
1 Tim. 4:12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.
{ age reflects how long you have been in the road, not how far you have traveled. }
{ age is not an accurate spiritual barometer.}
c. reflection can provide protection.
2 Tim. 2:7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
d. proclaim commitment - not compromise 2 Tim. 3,4
ears tickled; refusing sound doctrine turning to myths. . . - Heavens Gate ? ? ?
{3} Have Perseverance - v. 5 endure hardship... KJV - 28; NIV - 38; NASB - 44
endure hardship = kakopatheo, kak-op-ath-eh'-o - to undergo hardship :-be afflicted, endure afflictions (hardness), to suffer trouble.
hupomeno, hoop-om-en'-o, to stay under (behind), to remain; to undergo, to bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere :-abide, endure, (take) patient (-ly), suffer, tarry behind.
Fulfill = plerophoreo, - to carry out fully (in evidence), i.e. completely assure (or convince),
entirely accomplish :-most surely believe, fully know (persuade), make full proof of.
1 Tim. 4:14-16 Do not neglect your gftt, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
a. exercise your abilities and strengths. 1 Tim. 4:14
b. take self inventory constantly. 1 Tim. 4:15,16
c. doctrine is essential to direction. 1 Tim. 4:16
d. endurance is a process - not an overnight deal. 2 Tim. 2:3
ex. Arizona winning the 1997 NCAA basketball championship . . . endurance - defeated three # 1 seeds.
Preparation leads to perspective which leads to perseverance.
Preparation - who & what
Perspective - when, where & how
Perseverance - why
