A Call For Help
II Timothy 4:9-15
Purpose: To describe Paul’s humble willingness to ask for help.
Aim: I want the listener to see a need to be actively involved in serving Christ.
INTRODUCTION: What is the difference between a contribution and a commitment? Perhaps I can best explain this by a story about a hen and a pig. The farmer took very good care of them both so one day the hen suggested they surprise him with a good breakfast. The hen found the pig and said, “I’ll provide the eggs, you provide the bacon.” The pig objected, “Wait a minute, you are only making a contribution, but your asking me to make a commitment.”
Many Christians are willing to contribute to Christ’s kingdom, but not many are willing to commit themselves to Christ’s kingdom. This is why Jesus always pointed to the cost of being a disciple when He invited people to follow Him. Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. (NAU)
Our goal is to live faithfully for Christ. The greatest desire we experience should be to live a life that is pleasing to God. The Bible says that the Christian life is a race, and we are told to run so that we can win the prize. In other words we need to give our best efforts.
✔ How can a Christian Remain Faithful to Christ?
REVIEW:
1:1-2:13 I. How Should a Christian React to Stress?
2:14-26 II. How Should a Christian Relate to Fellow Believers?
3:1-17 III. How Can a Christian Reside in a Hostile Culture?
4:1-22 IV. How Can a Christian Remain Faithful to Christ?
Vs.1-5 A. Put first things first “preach the word”
Vs.6-8 B. Focus on the joy of our reward “crown of righteousness”
LESSON:
Vs.9-15 C. Ask others for help
Here we can see some of Paul’s love and affection for young Timothy and we also sense Paul’s loneliness. Paul is a man who not only desired Christian fellowship, he is also open about expressing his desire for Christian fellowship.
Titus 3:12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. (NAU)
2 Timothy 1:4 longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. (NAU)
2 Timothy 4:21 Make every effort to come before winter. . . . (NAU)
We must remember, though, that even loneliness is not an excuse to be unfaithful to Christ. ✔ Paul desired Christian fellowship, but he didn’t depend on it in order to obey Christ.
Philippians 4:11-13 11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (NAU)
Vs.9-10a 1. Because some are busy loving the world “loved this present world”
Notice the contrast between Demas and Paul in verse 8. ✔ Paul longed for the coming of Jesus Christ, ✔ Demas longed for what the world could offer him.
This Greek word (DESERTED) means “to utterly abandon,” with the idea of leaving someone in a dire situation. Demas was a fair-weather disciple who had never counted the cost of genuine commitment to Christ.
What a disappointment Demas was! He stood with Paul in Col. 4:14 and Philemon 24, but now he has turned away. One of the most difficult experiences in life is when a faithful companion forsakes you at a time you really need them the most.
Jesus warned us about this. Matthew 13:20-21 20 “The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. (NAU)
The solution is for us to count the cost ahead of time. Luke 14:28-30 28 “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 “Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ (NAU)
If losing your friends is too high of a cost to follow Christ – then don’t follow Him.
If turning away from pleasure is too high of a cost to follow Christ – then don’t follow Him.
Loving the world is much more than just a bad idea. It is a disaster to love worldly things. James 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (NAU)
1 John 2:15-17 15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. (NAU)
Every single one of us is in danger of letting the world capture our affection. 1 Timothy 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. (NAU) In other words, ✔ God generously supplies us with things to enjoy when we are committed to enjoying Him.
Vs.10b-13 2. Because some are busy serving the Lord “Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus”
Mark’s life is a wonderful example that our God is the God of the second chance.
Mark went with Paul and Barnabas on their First Missionary Journey, but then left them at Perga to return home. When it came time to go out on the Second Missionary Journey, Paul did not want to bring Mark along because of the young man’s previous retreat. When Barnabas insisted that Mark should accompany them, the matter was resolved by Paul’s leaving for Syria and Cilicia with Silas, while Barnabas and Mark went to Cyprus.
When Mark was younger and immature Paul did not feel that he was ready for missionary work. But now, years later Paul was humble enough to acknowledge that Mark had grown up. Later this same man wrote the gospel of Mark.
Paul even makes his affection for Mark clearer in the book of Colossians 4:10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas’s cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him); (NAU)
“Many of God’s greatest servants failed miserably at the start of their course, but returned to finish the race in a God-honoring fashion. When David Livingstone attempted to preach his first sermon, he went blank and told the audience, "I have forgotten all that I had to say." He left the pulpit in utter shame and discouragement. But through the encouragement of Robert Moffat, he went on to be an accomplished preacher and doctor. God ever provides a second chance to the man who is willing to get back on his feet and run the race set before him. "Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, ’Arise, go . . . preach . . . ’" Jonah 3:1,2”
This is the only mention of Crescens (whose name means “growing”) in the Bible. We know nothing more about him. This should be an encouragement to all believers. No matter how humble their position in life may be, even an errand run for the Lord will not go unnoticed or unrewarded.
Vs.14-15 3. Because some are busy attacking believers “Alexander...did me much harm”
Paul was not shy about naming Alexander the coppersmith as someone who worked hard to oppose the gospel, but Paul didn’t take responsibility for punishing him.
Paul quotes an OT passage in Romans 12:19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (NAU)
Notice the full context of the verse that Paul quoted: Deuteronomy 32:35 ‘Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, In due time their foot will slip; For the day of their calamity is near, And the impending things are hastening upon them.’ (NAU)
This Alexander was probably the same man that Paul had thrown out of the church of Ephesus. 1 Timothy 1:18-20 18 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, . . . fight the good fight, 19 keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. 20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme. (NAU)
If this is the same man, he probably became bitter against Paul because he exposed his carnal nature to the church. He obviously never repented.
Two names, among the ones that Paul listed, stick out like sore thumbs. Demas and Alexander who were both co-laborers with Paul who forsook him. One turned and ran, the other openly opposed what Paul was teaching.
CONCLUSION: Statistics tells us that there are some listening to me this morning who will not finish the race for Christ. Some of you will quit. Could that be you? If you have been baptized, then you made a solemn vow to follow Christ no matter what. Please don’t ever turn away from that promise no matter now difficult following Christ becomes.
Many of you have made commitments to this church body. The ushers are giving you a list of some of the jobs that help this body function. There are many here who serve this body faithfully and sacrificially, but there may be some others here who could come alongside and lighten the load. Our goal is: ✔ “Everybody works – nobody does all of the work.” I am asking you to take this list home, read it carefully, and ask God what He would have you to do, mark what those things are and return it next week.
God is looking for servants who are willing to make a commitment like the pig, and not just contributions like the hen.
God has many servants, but little service in the world.
Thomas Adams
