TIMELY SUPPORT for MINISTRY-I—2Timothy 4:9-22
This section highlights some personal concerns of Paul the apostle in his last recorded letter.
They entail concerns regarding certain named people both good & bad.
Paul makes sure that Timothy is aware of their background so he is better able to aid the churches in preaching the message fully(:17).
Every true ministry is vital/important...because it is ordained of God.
But no ministry functions in a vacuum or on an island, or separate from that which will perfect it.
Paul urgently needed Timothy’s support.
Effective ministry requires timely support.
What is required for timely support in ministry?
4 Sacrifices made for timely support in ministry.
1—Timely support for ministry requires a Sacrifice to...
AID ANOTHER(:9, 11b, 13, 21a)
Explanation:(:9, 11b, 13, 21a)
:9—“Be diligent to come to me quickly;”
:11—“....Get Mark & bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.”
John Mark had early on, in Paul’s 1st missionary journey, returned to Jerusalem. He left “the work” upon arriving at Perga in Pamphylia. His leaving in the way he did & for the reasons he did, brought a notable reaction from Paul. It sparked contention between fellow ministers & caused Paul & Barnabas to go in different directions & with other partners(Acts 15:36-41). Mark appears to have been a burned-out Christian worker. He returned to those who accepted him. We return to family for the love we miss in the field.
John Mark had joined his cousin Barnabas(Col. 4:10) at the beginning of Paul’s 2nd missionary journey as a result of Paul & Barnabas’ disagreement.
*Regardless of Mark’s former failings, at the end of Paul’s effective ministry, he knows that Mark will be faithful to the work of which Paul sees him capable. Mark has some particular giftedness which was “useful” to the ministry for which Paul has need.
Timothy was told what was needed & given a target date, & was left to make the crucial decisions in bringing it all together within the time-frame.
This is no short-term trip. It is long-term commitment & requires love, sacrifice & planning.
:13—“Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come--& the books, especially the parchments.”
Paul asks Timothy, not only to bring Mark, but to come thru Troas & pick up some personal effects, the first one being his cloak. Basically it was a poncho made of one piece of heavy cloth which would have protected the body in bad weather & cold. It must have been valuable for Paul to request it. Thus it must have been left in very capable Christian hands, in particular, “Carpus.”
1Cor. 4:11—“To the present hour we both hunger & thirst, & we are poorly clothed, & beaten, & homeless.”
Php. 4:11-12—“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, & I know how to abound. Everywhere & in all things I have learned both to be full & to be hungry, both to abound & to suffer need.”
Paul must have also left his “books” with Carpus as well. The parchment material would have been vastly more expensive than the cloak. It was a specially treated type of animal hide called ‘vellum’ & was used for writing the most important of documents. These could have 1)Held the Scriptures themselves or been, 2) Blank sheets used for his letters to the churches, or even 3)Legal documents.
“Cloak”—felonhv—A traveling cloak, used for protection against stormy weather.
“Books”—biblion—1) A small book, a scroll, a written document; 2) A sheet on which something has been written. A diminutive of biblov—A roll:-- bill, book, scroll, writing.—Strong—Properly, the inner bark of the papyrus plant, i.e. (by implication) a sheet or scroll of writing:-- book.
“Especially”—malista—Especially, chiefly, most of all, above all.
“Parchments”—membrana—Parchment, made first of dressed skins at Pergamos, hence its name. Strong—A (written) sheep-skin:-- parchment.
:21a—“Do your utmost to come before winter....”
Paul sees a need to be in Timothy’s presence soon. Thus he encourages Timothy to come to him quickly.
Timothy was told that his effort was needed & that it was needed promptly.
*The need is directed to a specific person, with specific gifts, with specific ability, with a specific heart of compassion to aid.
Each of us is more inclined to aid those closest to us. We give assistance to those whom we trust & to whose ministry is of the Lord. We are called to bear the burdens of others.
“Diligent/Diligence/Every effort/Do your best”(See :21)—spoudazw—1) To hasten, make haste; 2) To exert one's self, endeavor, give diligence. Strong—From spoudh; To use speed, i.e. To make effort, be prompt or earnest:-- Do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavor, labor, study.
“Quickly/Shortly/Soon”— tacewv—Quickly, shortly. Strong—Briefly, i.e. (in time) speedily, or (in manner) rapidly:-- Hastily, quickly, shortly, soon, suddenly.
Argumentation:
Heb 12:12-15—“Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, & the feeble knees, & make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all people, & holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, & by this many become defiled;”
Mr 12:28-34—“Then one of the scribes came, & having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. ‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, & with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. “And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, & there is no other but He. “And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, & with all the strength, & to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings & sacrifices.” Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question Him.”
Gal. 5:22-23—“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
Rom. 14:19—“Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace & the things by which one may edify another.”
1Cor. 10:23—“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.”
1Thess. 5:11—“Therefore comfort each other & edify one another, just as you also are doing.”
1Cor. 12:28—“And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.”
Gal. 6:2—“Bear one another’s burdens, & so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Illustration:
AID:
Familiar: Trusted, Friendships, Brothers & Sisters in Christ—Change oil, Clean house, Mow lawn, Cut trees, Clear brush, Wash clothes, Take them places(Dr. visits, Vacations, Meals, Visits), Repair house, etc.
Unfamiliar: Homeless shelter, Food pantry, Clothes pantry, Meals on Wheels
Application:
?You provided timely support for ministry thru a Sacrifice to AID ANOTHER?
?You supplied/provided Timely Support for ministry of the Gospel?
2—Timely support for ministry requires a Sacrifice to
COMMITMENT(:10-18)
Explanation:(:10-18)
a. Outward Dangers(:14-16)
i. Recognition(:14a)
:14—“Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works.”
Alexander the coppersmith is in Rome. Timothy’s other sacrifices will eventually draw him into the presence of a real adversary.
This Alexander(very common name) was a coppersmith by trade & like Demetrius the silversmith(Acts 19:24), may have made his living forming idols &/or shrines for pagan deities. Thus he would have opposed Paul due to loss of income minimally & further for being insultive to his deities. He may have been an informer on Paul.
Paul seems convinced that Alexander will not undergo saving faith as Paul had, following his own deeds against the church of God (Acts 9:1-6; 26:12-18).
“Harm/Evil”—kakov—1) Of a bad nature—1a) Not such as it ought to be; 2) Of a mode of thinking, feeling, acting—2a) Base, wrong, wicked; 3) Troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful. Kakov frequently means evil rather negatively, referring to the absence of the qualities which constitute a person or thing as it should be or what it claims to be. It is also used meaning evil in a moral sense. It is a general antithesis to agayov. Strong—worthless (intrinsically, such & refers rather to essential character.
“Repay”—apodidwmi—1) To deliver, to give away for one's own profit what is one's own, to sell; 2) To pay off, discharge what is due; 3) To give back, restore; 4) To requite, recompense in a good or a bad sense. Strong—To give away, i.e. up, over, back, etc. (in various applications):-- Deliver (again), give (again), (re-)pay(-ment be made), perform, recompense, render, requite, restore, reward, sell, yield.
ii. Protection(:15a)
:15a—“You also must beware of him,...”
Mat. 10:16-20—““Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents & harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils & scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors & kings for My sake, as a testimony to them & to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; “for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”
Php. 3:2—“Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation[circumcision]!”
“Beware/Ware/Guard against”—fulassw—1) To guard; 2) To observe for one's self something to escape. Indicates safe custody & often implies assault from without.
iii. Opposition(:15b)
:15b— “...for he has greatly resisted our words.”
Active—Alexander is someone who openly & antagonistically opposes God’s work.
Passive—Others oppose God’s work secretly.
“Resisted/Withstood/Opposed”—anyisthmi—1) To set one's self against, to withstand, resist, oppose; 2) To set against. Strong—To stand against, i.e. oppose:-- resist, withstand.
iv. Desertion(:16)
:16—“At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.”
In a Roman court there were two hearings or ‘defenses’ to which the accused person would be party. The 1st was the prima actio & the 2nd, the secunda actio. The primo or 1st defense, clearly established the charge. The secuda or 2nd defense determined one’s guilt or innocence.
The charges against Paul would have been stated & confirmed at his first or primo defense.
At this public arraignment, there was no one, or at least no Christian, who supported Paul. He had to answer the charges singly & alone in a pagan secular court.
How lonely he must have felt were it not for the presence of God’s Holy Spirit who indwelt him.
All of Paul’s saved life had been given to God in calling out the church & none provided him comfort, or encouragement in his public defense of his actions regarding the Gospel.
Paul then writes or has it written, that he desires God not “charge” them with this horrible crime. Why? It is a testimony to the poor quality or lack thereof, of the faith of those who were not supportive.
b. Inward Dangers:(:10, 14b, 16)
i. Vengeance(:14b) is of the Lord
:14—“....May the Lord repay him according to his works.”
‘His[God’s] retribution is the calm, controlled, just punishment meted out by the perfectly righteous Judge to those who have willfully violated his perfect law.’—MacArthur (1&2Thessalonians)
2Thes. 1:3-6—“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, & the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience & faith in all your persecutions & tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you,”
Rom. 12:19—“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.”
Rev. 6:10—“And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy & true, until You judge & avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?””
:10—“for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, & has departed for Thessalonica....”
:16—“At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.”
ii. Disappointment(:10, 16)
iii. Frustration(:10)
iv. Anger(:10) Righteous
v. Bitterness(:10, 16)
vi. Resentful(:10)
c. Commitment To the Lord(:17-18)
:17—“But the Lord stood with me & strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, & that all the Gentiles might hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.”
i. Recognition of the Lord: “Stood with me”
Ps 109:31—“For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, To save him from those who condemn him.”
Isa 41:10—“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’”
Song—‘I have decided to follow Jesus’...‘...Though none go with me, I still will follow....’
...Even if our best friend, spouse, parents, children, et al, abandon us.
Lk. 14:26-27—“If anyone comes to Me & does not hate his father & mother, wife & children, brothers & sisters, yes, & his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross & come after Me cannot be My disciple.”
ii. Protection for ministry: “Strenghtened me”
Ps. 28:7—“The LORD is my strength & my shield; My heart trusted in Him, & I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.”
iii. Message declared: “that the message might be preached fully through me”
Even in the midst of trial, God wants His message preached & it may be that the trial itself is an opportunity for the Gospel.
Php. 1:12-14—“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, & to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; & most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”
:18—“And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work & preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever & ever. Amen!”
iv. Rescue: ‘Safety’
Rom. 8:31—“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Illustration:
Our 3-day canoe trip thru the Okefenokee Swamp in summer/Sun was intense & deer-yellow flies insane!/But we stuck with it & were rewarded!/COMMITMENT
Application:
?You provided timely support for ministry thru a Sacrifice to COMMITMENT?
?You supplied/provided Timely Support for ministry of the Gospel?
CONCLUSION:
Action:
Timely support for ministry requires a Sacrifice to...
1—AID ANOTHER(:9, 11b, 13, 21a)
2—COMMITMENT(:10-18)
Presented 08/01/2010pm to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
