Charge

1. True Story

Picabo Street, the well-known Olympic gold medalist in the Super G, is much more than a famous skier. In fact, between training on the slopes and traveling around the world to compete, she managed to get an education and earn a degree in nursing. Early in her nursing career, she was assigned briefly to work ad an ICU nurse in a large metropolitan hospital. She did outstanding work, but there was one problem. The head of the nursing staff had to tell her to discontinue answering the phone in the ICU because of the confusion it created when callers were connected to to ICU and would hear Picabo answer in her most professional voice, “Picabo, ICU” - True story, of course not, just a myth, but one many would like to believe.

2. Truth can be humorous or serious but it is always needed; we can treat fables as truth (FB)

3. 2 Timothy 4:1-5

I. The Charge – A Testimony, Not a Command

A. Personal Experience/Observation

B. Eyewitness Account in a Courtroom – Acts 22

II. The Context – Before/In the Presence

A. Of God – Author of the Gospel – Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

B. Christ Jesus (Messiah Yeshua) – Subject of the Gospel – Romans 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you

C. God, the Father, and Messiah Jesus are Aware and Paying Close Attention

1. To what is being preached

2. To the circumstances of preaching – They know if we are serious or not

III. The Culmination – Jesus’ Appearance

A. The Comings of Jesus

1. The First Time to Save – John 3:16-17

2. The Next Time to Judge – Revelation 19:11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.

B. The Return May Seem Distant but IS Guaranteed

2 Peter 3:1-4 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

2 Peter 3:8-10 8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,[ not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies[ will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

IV. The Communication – Preach the Word

In a monologue on January 7, 2000, Jay Leno took his own network to task. He poked fun at the advertising for the new David Cassidy made-for-TV movie. (Cassidy played Keith Partridge on the 70’s sitcom The Partridge Family). NBC made the claim that this movie was “true to life”; that only the facts would be given and nothing would be added.

Leno said, “Good for NBC. They can change the Bible; they can rewrite [the story of ] Noah’s life but they will tell the truth about David Cassidy.

A. Heralding – With Authority on Behalf of a King – Angels; John B.; Apostles; US

B. Urgency – “When the like it and when they don’t.”

1. In Season – Appropriate Opportunity – people seeking; easy to preach

2. Out of Season—the inopportune time; harder times [An OK time to hunt ‘out of season’

a. The critical spirit

b. The attraction to the false or the irrelevant – find a teacher who will say what I want to hear

c. People today don’t seem to be interested in truth of God’s word, only in agreement with “ME.”

d. Winston Churchill: “Men occasionally stumble over the truth but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened.”

V. The Confirmation – Fulfill (Fill Full) Ministry – 2 Timothy 4:5 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.