Real Talk

II Timothy 4:1-3

Have you ever thought about what your last words would be? What if God revealed to you that you were going to die in two days? What would you say to the people you love? Would you encourage them? Would you challenge them? Would you try to comfort them? Could you even reassure them that you were going to be in Heaven? [If your answer to that question is "no" then DM me because we need to talk.] Here is another question, who would you talk to? This is a heavy topic! It is better if we live our life so that the way we live says what we want others to know, just in case we don't get the chance to actually tell them!

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"I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."

II Timothy 4:1-5

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You may be wondering what final words have to do with a command to "preach the word". That is where a little history is needed. II Timothy is Paul's final letter. He chose to make his final words (that we know of) to a young preacher that he had mentored. It would not be long and he would be executed by Emperor Nero. So, everything we have been studying in this book has been Paul's last words he wanted to tell this young man, and in the final chapter of his last letter, these are his final thoughts that we have recorded.

Paul says "I charge you, therefore, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom". Don't let this pass by as though it were nothing more than filler to take up space on a page. This adds strength to what Paul is about to say. While Paul is giving the charge, he identifies the Judge of Timothy's faithfulness as being no other than Jesus Christ Himself. Paul is telling Timothy this because he wants him to understand how serious this matter is. This isn't a job at a fast food restaurant that you can quit and move on to something else. No, preaching the Word is a lifetime calling with eternal consequences for the preacher and the hearers.

Preaching the Word is to be done when you are prepared and when you are not prepared. By not prepared, I mean it is not a planned service or lesson. A preacher should "always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear" (I Peter 3:15). You preach the Word so that it can convince, rebuke, and exhort, with all longsuffering (patience) and teaching. In other words, we need to be intentional in what we proclaim. When we share the Gospel, it is because we want to see people saved. When we preach on holiness, it is because we want to see lives changed. When we teach doctrine, it is because we want people to know God better. We are intentional, but we trust the Holy Spirit to do the work.

Paul also warns Timothy that people are going to lose interest in the truth of God's Word. He warns him that people will cling to teacher and preachers who tell them what they want to hear. We see this today in the so-called prosperity gospel. People want to hear that "God wants you to be healthy and wealthy. If you just have enough faith to name it and claim it, you can have whatever your heart desires". I challenge ANYONE to show me a scripture where someone commanded God in the Bible. Jesus didn't even command His Father, and He said "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30). However, people follow these preachers because it is what they want to hear. Paul tells Timothy, regardless, you keep your eyes open, endure the persecution that will come, keep doing the work of an evangelist, that is, preaching the Gospel, and complete your task (ministry).

Father, pastors know that this is our command today as well. I pray that not only pastors would realize this, but churches would realize that they have the same command. The Great Commission was given to ALL of us, and we need to preach the Word. Help us to complete our task!