A CHARGE TO KEEP I HAVE
2 TIMOTHY 3:10-4:5
FEBRUARY 10, 2002
INTRODUCTION: One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey; So he invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed
as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off!
TRANSITION THOUGHT: What will keep you in the Faith? What will keep you from washing out? What will keep you from being a “Wimp” where Jesus is concerned? What will keep you from Giving up? Our text stands in contrast to the thoughts of quitting. The Apostle Paul encourages his young apprentice to stay true to the faith while others do not. This is one of those classic-rallying speeches given at half time. This is a charge! This is a call to commitment! These are marching orders! The war is on! Are you ready for battle? Are you ready to get on board and get out? Hear the Charge, respond in like manner, and fulfill your Lord’s command!
THESIS SENTENCE: We are all called to impact our world for Christ regardless of the situations of life.
ARE YOU READY TO RECEIVE YOUR CHARGE? A CHARGE TO KEEP I HAVE:
I. THE CHARGE IS GROUNDED IN EXAMPLE
A. The example of persecution (vv. 10-13)
1. External opposition: The Apostle Paul shares the reality of the journey with Timothy, who already knew! But don’t we all need to be reminded? In the great reminder comes the word: “Persecution!”
2. Internal/ inward suffering: Verse 12 seems to be one of encouragement: NOT! This is the reality of the journey, but you have my example to follow as well as the example of many others!
B. The example of early instruction [(vv. 14) 2 Tim. 1:5]
1. Not only did Timothy have Paul, but there were others!
2. Notably, his own mother and Grandmother!
ILLUSTRATION: A study once disclosed that if both Mom and Dad attend church regularly, 72% of their children remain faithful. If only Dad, 55% remain faithful. If only Mom, 15%. If neither attended regularly, only 6% remain faithful. The statistics speak for themselves--the example of parents and adults is more important than all the efforts of the church and Sunday school.
Warren Mueller in Homemade, May 1990.
3. He had seen the life lived!
4. The charge is to remember and act!
5. Where are we today? Where are you today?
C. The example of the Word (vv. 15-17)
1. Not only did Timothy have Paul, others, and even his own family, these all are most excellent, But greater than all these, the example of the WORD!
2. What can make you wise? Paul says it is the Word of God!
3. Timothy had known the word since infancy!
4. The word is the Tool of God, it has the power to teach, rebuke, correct and train in righteousness. The end result is that the Person of God will be thoroughly equipped for every good work!
4. How long have you known the word? What difference does it make in your life? DO YOU KNOW THE WORD? DO YOU STUDY THE WORD?
ARE YOU READY TO RECEIVE YOUR CHARGE? A CHARGE TO KEEP I HAVE:
II. THE CHARGE IS VALIDATED BY DIVINE INTERVENTION
A. JESUS TO THE RESCUE (vv. 11 & 15)
1. No matter what the Apostle Paul went through, guess what, Jesus came to his aid! Jesus does not set us up to crash, but to grow!
2. Not only does Jesus come to the rescue? He comes to save! How does He save us? It is through the scriptures that make us wise for salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus!
3. Jesus gets involved in lives! Is He involved in your life? If he is not, it is not HIS doing. It is yours!
B. JESUS TO THE JUDGMENT (chapter 4:1)
1. Jesus comes to the rescue and to save, because He knows that one day He must come to Judge!
2. Paul give Timothy this charge because Jesus will one day come to judge each of us based on what we have done, not only with Jesus, but for Jesus.
3. Paul asserts that this judgment is based on Jesus showing up one day, HIS APPEARING, and on the fact that His kingdom will come! With all this in mind, Paul gets serious with Timothy!
ARE YOU READY TO RECEIVE YOUR CHARGE? A CHARGE TO KEEP I HAVE, A GOD TO GLORIFY:
III. THE CHARGE IS FOCUSED ON ACCOUNTABILITY
A. TO THE WORD 2A&B
1. Preach the word!
2. Use it as it was intended to be used! Correct, rebuke, and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction.
3. We are accountable to the Word of God! We can not leave it sitting on the shelf! We can not pretend it doesn’t exist! We must share it! We must tell others what it says, even if it is a word of correct, or rebuke! BUT, God has a plane and HOW WE SHARE THE WORD IS just as important as sharing it!
B. TO THE CULTURE 2C, 3-4
1. AFFLICT THE COMFORTABLE (EG. Nathan the biblical role model: 2 Sam. 12: 4-7) There will come a day, and it has been here for a long time, when people will not want to hear what we have to say, even if we say it with grace and mercy! Therefore, we must be ready at ALL TIMES, WHETHER THE SOIL IS TILLED OR NOT!
2. COMFORT THE AFFLICTED: We must never forget the word encouragement: correct, rebuke, and ENCOURAGE! Our culture is desperate for a word of hope, do you offer it?!
3. As I said, the day is here, people don’t want to hear the truth! We might be with them! Do we only want to hear what our ears are itching for? Do we want to know the truth? Does our world want the truth? We are accountable, regardless of what the world wants, to share the truth, “in season and out of season!”
C. To yourself (v. 5)
1. “AND AS FOR YOU…”
2. We are accountable!
3. We must keep our heads! IN ALL SITUATIONS!
4. WE MUST ENDURE HARDSHIP!
5. WE MUST DO THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST!
6. WE MUST DISCHARGE, LIKE A RIFLE, ALL OUR DUTIES!
7. THE MINISTRY MUST GO FORWARD!
ILLUSTRATION: Two frogs fell into a deep cream bowl; The one was wise, and a cheery soul. The other one took a gloomy view And bade his friend a sad adieu.
Said the other frog with a merry grin, "I can’t get out, but I won’t give in;
I’ll swim around till my strength is spent, Then I will die the more content."
And as he swam, though ever it seemed, His struggling began to churn the cream
Until on top of pure butter he stopped, And out of the bowl he quickly hopped.
The moral, you ask? Oh, it’s easily found! If you can’t get out, keep swimming around.
CONCLUSION: Charles Wesley penned these words:
A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify, a never dying soul to save, and fit it for the sky.
To serve the present age, my calling to fulfill; O may it all my powers engage to do my Master’s will!
Arm me with watchful care as in thy sight to live, and now Thy servant, Lord, prepare a strict account to give!
Help me to watch and pray, and still on Thee rely, O let me not my trust betray, but press to realms on high. Amen.
You are now charged the same in the presence of God and these many witness. Will you receive your commission and serve? Will you rise to the challenge though the way be rough, the company few, the hours long? Will you stand for Him will others fall? Receive the Word! Hear His voice. Do not harden your hearts!
