Fight A Good Fight

FIGHT A GOOD FIGHT

2 Tim 4:1-8

CHAPTER 4

1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

(KJV)

This Epistle is probably one of the last written by Paul. This Second Epistle, written to Timothy is known as a Pastoral Epistle and less formal from most of his other writings. Here Paul speaks of his soon departure. Paul wasn’t only in prison, but speaks of having losing his friends (1:15; 4:16) and having a feeling of loneliness. I can only imagine what it would feel like to be locked up in a prison cell with no friends. Through all this Paul continued to keep the faith, and is telling Timothy to do the same by Holding to The Truth. Our study today begins in chapter four verse one where Paul says to Timothy “I charge thee.” Lets take these eight verses one at a time and learn from these words what the Lord would have us to know concerning today’s world.

1 I charge (adjure or command) thee therefore before God (the supreme divinity), and (especially) the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge (avenge, condemn, punish) the quick (the living) and the dead at his appearing (advent, brightness) and his kingdom (reign, rule).

2 Preach (herald as a town crier) the word; be instant (be present to stand upon) in season (opportunity or), out of season (in-opportunity) ; reprove (showing disapproval of false teaching), rebuke (admonishing), exhort (desiring) with all longsuffering (patient endurance) and doctrine (instruction of the Gospel).

3 For the time will come when they (professing Christians) will not endure sound doctrine (instructions of the Gospel) ; but after their own lusts (desires) shall they heap to themselves (accumulate or seek additional)teachers (instructors, false teachers), having itching ears (being taught that which they want to hear);

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (false teachings).

5 But watch (keep sober) thou in all things, endure afflictions (undergoing hardships) , do the work of an evangelist (preacher of the Gospel), make full proof of (carrying out fully) thy ministry (Christian service).

6 For I am now ready to be offered (to end my life), and the time of my departure is at hand.

7 I have fought a good fight (literal struggle with an adversary), I have finished (concluded) my course (career), I have kept (held fast) the faith (moral conviction):

8 Henceforth there is laid up (reserved) for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (can’t wait for the advent of Christ). (KJV)

Even though this is a letter to Timothy with words of instruction and comfort, I believe that these words are true today as we look around us. Think about all the false churches today. Sure, we have the Jehovah Witnesses and the New Age Church, but many of these members wouldn’t be members if we were doing our job. Somebody has to knock on those doors out there. If we don’t take the opportunity, then Satan will.

Verse two tell us to preach the word and stand upon it. Preach it in both opportune and in-opportune times, which also means; day as well as night, in church and out of church, at home or away, everywhere and on all occasions, wherever the Lord’s work requires it.

Listen to this true story about God’s love: I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.