God Is Counting On You!
The Passage: 2 Timothy 4:1-5
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
NIV
Note: While there is a great shortage of teachers for our children’s academic education, there will never be a shortage of teachers when it comes to teaching us about living immoral, unbiblical lives.
Question: Have you ever wondered why the Lord has truly placed you at your present job or residence?
The Problem: Here is the problem, suppose you were taken out of the equation that defines your present relationships; who would be left to teach them about Jesus?
The Need: I am suggesting to you, that you are extremely valuable to the Lord right where you are! And HE (who will judge the living and the dead) is counting on you!
Vital Issue: I truly believe, and I believe many of you believe with me, we are living in a time when Christians, and certainly non-Christians, are looking for authority figures (or teachers) to give them license to live below the moral level, the Lord requires of us all.
The Point: Living life at a constant level to be used by the Lord, is not only our reasonable service, it is the world’s greatest hope of coming to Jesus.
Let’s observe and put into practice three principles offered in our passage.
1.The Winning Word
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction.
Everyone loves a winner.
Illustration: My senior year in high school when I stole home from third base on the pitch.
Jackie Robinson did the same thing. While many think he was out and the television camera angles suggest the same, the umpire called him safe and the rest is baseball history.
The Principle: The eternal umpire will one day “make the call” as to how we individually lived up to His charge to witness (be a teacher) for Him.
The Application: Our eternal umpire has instructed each of us to:
1.Preach the Word, kerusso (kay-roos’-so); to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel)
2.Correct, elegcho (el-eng’-kho); give a warning (let the Holy Spirit bring conviction)
3.Rebuke: epitimao (ep-ee-tee-mah’-o); to tax upon, i.e. censure or show disapproval; by implication, forbid. (Walk away from sinful behavior)
4.Encourage: parakaleo (par-ak-al-eh’-o); from NT:3844 and NT:2564; to call near, i.e. invite, call upon or call up (comfort, support or console: KJV-beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort (-ation), intreat, pray.
When are we do this? In season and out of season, in other words be willing to take a stand (carry on in the tradition of the martyrs, "stick to it). There are all sorts of seasons, some difficult “chalepoi” meaning through the idea of reducing the strength (times when we just don’t feel like it); difficult times, dangerous times, or (by implication) furious: fierce, perilous.
2 Tim 3:1-5
1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
NIV
And there are easy times (seasons), meaning well timed, very convenient or opportune. Few and far between maybe, but if we will look for opportunity to share our faith we will find it to be easier than we think.
Major problem with witnessing…
Illustration: The Fear of WITNESSING
Lieghton Ford, Good News is for Sharing, 1977, David C. Cook Publishing Co., Page 15
I have talked to a lot of people, and the fear issue comes up front again and again. What makes people hesitate to share their faith? Here are some of the fears that have been mentioned to me:
- "I am afraid I might do more harm than good."
- "I don’t know what to say."
- "I may not be able to give snappy answers to tricky questions."
- "I may seem bigoted."
- "I may invade someone’s privacy."
- "I am afraid I might fail."
- "I am afraid I might be a hypocrite."
Perhaps the most common fear, however, is that of being rejected. A survey was given to those attending training sessions for the Billy Graham crusade in Detroit. One question asked, "What is your greatest hindrance to witnessing?" Nine percent said they were too busy to remember to do it. Twenty-eight percent felt the lack of real information to share. None said they didn’t really care. Twelve percent said their own lives were not speaking as they should. But by far, the largest group, were the 51 percent whose biggest problem was the fear of how the other person would react! None of us likes to be rejected, ridiculed, or regarded as an oddball.
While I totally agree with Mr. Ford about rejection being a problem, I remain driven by the reality that one day our eternal Umpire will call us “safe” (regardless of how the whole world might see it) if we continue to witness in season and out of season!
2.The Warning Word
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
The Principle: While God’s Word remains true and unmatched for benefiting all of mankind, many will always reject it for other teachings.
The Application: Listen to what I am about to say and respond with an AMEN when you hear truth spoken.
[For the time will come] There is a time coming, and I believe has now come to the church when men, women, teens and children will no longer listen to the practical truths of the Gospel. The time has come when many prefer temporary opinions (situational ethics), which either corrupt or destroy the soul. The “clean living” doctrine of "deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me," which Jesus Christ left His church is now being rejected. The present teaching to “blame others” instead of “accepting personal responsibility” for your behavior now rules supreme in the hearts of most.
[But after their own lusts] Militant people follow their own heart and desires, and hate the preachers and the teachings that go against them. Look at how militant sinful life styles have become. There are no sins anymore only sickness, diseases and lifestyles we must embrace.
Note: Sinful people will not, cannot and must not tolerate intolerance!
[they will gather around them a great number of teachers] They will add one teacher to another, running after those who can deliver teachings of amusement over conviction. To find those who no longer insist on the necessity of bearing the cross, of being crucified to the world, and of having the mind of Jesus. Seeking after teachers who will only deal with them on a superficial level.
[to say what their itching ears want to here] Endless curiosity, an unquenchable desire for variety; and they get their ears tickled with the language and emphasis of teachers, abandoning the good and faithful preacher for the fine speaker.
A strong desire for deception says, please me now! And I will deal will death when it comes! Truer words have not now or will ever be spoken. Timothy McVeigh: Many were disappointed because he seem to have been too much in control of his own destiny. That façade only lasted until the demons of hell or the angels of heaven came for his soul! Whether repentant or unrepentant, Timothy now knows who controls eternity.
Illustration: DECEPTION OF SELF
Jessica Hawn, former church secretary who committed immoral acts with Jim Bakker (former host of the PTL Club), and later brought down the PTL empire, said today (9-28-87) that God gave her "real peace" about granting an interview to Playboy magazine and posing for topless pictures. On 9-29-87 the news reports that she still considers herself a Christian, but goes to God "one-on-one," not through any church or organization. Also: she doesn’t consider herself a "bimbo." But her mother does.
3.The Watchful Word
But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
The Principle: When difficult times come, and they will, stay Christ-centered and you will be a winner.
The Application: Learn to recognize the situations that tend to lead you away from the Lord and develop a contingency plan. In other words always have a plan “B”.
{But you, keep your head in all situations} It is possible to surrender to sinful behavior, to neglect one’s duty, and to lose one’s soul. Remaining constant in your prayer life, devotional life, church life and being accountable to others prevent all these evils.
[Endure hardship] Hard times will come to Christians. In times of sickness, suffering, trial or temptation, do not allow hardships to cause you to walk out on the Lord. Be extremely careful to not become so relaxed in you relationship with the Lord that your zeal for the salvation of others loses its priority, whatever the reason.
[Do the work of an evangelist] That is: Preach Christ crucified for the sins of the whole world; for this, and this alone, is doing the work of an evangelist. An angel from God was first sent to do this work, and how did he do it?
Behold, said he, I bring you good tidings of great joy; Behold, I evangelize unto you great joy, which shall be to all people; to you is born a Savior.
Those who do not proclaim Christ as having tasted death for every man, and who do not implicitly show that every human soul may be saved, do not perform the work of evangelists; they, and may God help them! limit the Holy One of Israel.
If you will preach the truth in sincerity, God will acknowledge and bless you and your labors; remember, we are all called to do our part in this great work, and no one person is called to do it all.
(discharge all the duties of your ministry) Think about the three greatest principles you live by, and answer these two questions:
1.Does your top three principles include evangelism?
2.How will you include evangelism if it isn’t already? (There are consequences for those who neglect evangelism).
Suggestion:Once it is firmly planted in your daily priorities, sit back and enjoy what the Lord will do for you. One theologian tenderly ask us, “ please do not abandon this sacred function.”
Conclusion:
Do you still believe evangelism is the assigned task of others? You would not be alone in your thinking, but you would be wrong.
Lieghton Ford, Good News is for Sharing, 1977, David C. Cook Publishing Co., p. 67
Illustration: I was speaking at an open-air crusade in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Billy Graham was to speak the next night and had arrived a day early. He came incognito and sat on the grass at the rear of the crowd. Because he was wearing a hat and dark glasses, no one recognized him.
Directly in front of him sat an elderly gentleman who seemed to be listening intently to my presentation. When I invited people to come forward as an open sign of commitment, Billy decided to do a little personal evangelism. He tapped the man on the shoulder and asked, "Would you like to accept Christ? I’ll be glad to walk down with you if you want to." The old man looked him up and down, thought it over for a moment, and then said, "Naw, I think I’ll just wait till the big gun comes tomorrow night." Billy and I have had several good chuckles over that incident. Unfortunately, it underlines how, in the minds of many people, evangelism is the task of the "Big Guns," not the "little shots."
Call to Action: While you may not feel comfortable enough to start preaching today, let me suggest something we can all do. Let’s begin to set an empty chair at each meal to represent our acknowledgement of Jesus being the head of our home.
In addition, lets place the names of those we know that need Jesus as their Savior, in or on the chair, and pray for them.
I am certain the Lord will bless this and many will come to Christ. It is definitely convert evangelism, but basic evangelism at it’s best! The whole family will learn from this experience and see first hand God move in the lives of others, simply and profoundly because we chose to follow His commandment to Evangelize!
Altar Call
