Paul's Farewell Speech On His Way To Freedom

Weekly Message/Devotion

October 27, 2019

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-1

Paul’s Farewell Speech On His Way To FREEDOM

Sermon Prayer: “Heavenly Father, I stand before Your people, to deliver Your message. Though the words are mine and I prepared this message, I pray that this message is Your message in its entirety. I pray your blessing and anointing on its delivery, its reception and most of all its application in our lives.” Amen

The Reading

4:6-8

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

4:16-18

At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.

But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also, I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

The more we dig into this reading the more intense it gets (at least for me). In verse 1, Paul says he is already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of his departure is at hand. A “drink offering”? I began trying to understand #1 what is a drink offering biblically speaking and #2 how does Paul equate his impending death as such.

I read one overview that said it was a Roman sacrifice to the Roman gods. NO! That just does not fit with what Paul would be saying. So, after much research, I wound up in the Book of Numbers 15:4-5.

“then he who presents his offering to the LORD shall bring a grain offering of one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of oil; and one-fourth of a hin of wine as a drink offering you shall prepare with the burnt offering or the sacrifice”

This is an excerpt from God’s instructions to Moses to be part of the sacrifice celebrating the LAND God has granted them. Further on, it is stated in verse 15: “an ordinance forever throughout your generations;”

The oil and wine were poured out over the meat sacrifice to give off a sweet aroma.

Paul is that sweet aroma. He is the very sacrifice. He is the lesson and example for us all.

We frequently quote Paul as saying, “HANG IN THERE!” “FINISH THE RACE!” And now, Paul is at the end of his race and he has endured many hardships along the way, yet never wavered in his faith nor his love for God. Paul speaks of the crown of righteousness that awaits him when he appears before the Judge. Paul stood the test of time and did not falter.

Can you imagine for even a second being beaten mercilessly, starved and thrown into the depths of a filthy prison and in the midst of all of that, singing praises to God and showing kindness and forgiveness to his captors.

Paul says in verse 16 that no one came to his defense and no one stood up for him against the charges against him by the Roman government and by the Jewish leaders. And he prays that “May it not be charged against them.

In our very last message about living in persistent prayer, we stated: “When we go through the events and trials of our daily lives, we have an advocate who is at our side constantly when we pray without ceasing.”

In our reading today verse 17, Paul says: “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear.”

This message is like a farewell speech.it is a farewell speech meant to be an encouragement and a lesson (or sermon) being lived out not just read or spoken. Folks, that is indeed what we are all called to do. We are to be a living message of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ! We cannot do that if we carry a chip on our shoulder; if we harbor unforgiveness toward anyone; if we allow pride to overtake us; if we allow lust and or material wealth to attract us; and if we withdraw from God when it appears that we might suffer for Him.

True Freedom comes at a cost. Just ask any disabled veteran, or widow of a fallen member of the armed forces!