Sermon The Charge To Keep On Going And Fulfill Your Ministry

Subject: The Charge - Fulfill Your Ministry

Scripture Lessons: Jeremiah 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Jeremiah 23:3-4“And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.”

2 Timothy 4:1-5 "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully."

Introduction: I wanted to read these passages from Jeremiah because the word “pastors” occurs eight times in the Scripture, seven of them are in Jeremiah, the longest book in the Bible. Probably no other Old Testament captures the obligations of a pastor as did Jeremiah. He clearly defines both the blessing wrought by a good pastor and the destruction of a people brought on when a pastor neglects his duty. The perilous times faced by Judah and Jerusalem were the result of pastoral negligence. Their restoration could only come from God through His gift of proper pastoral leadership.

The Apostle Paul writing to Timothy describes the end times as perilous times, troubled times or grievous times. Young Timothy was being called to serve God and live out his ministry in a time filled with persecution from without and within a church filled with corruption within. Paul describes the coming season as a time when men (leaders and members) love to gratify their own lusts; love to please themselves rather than to please God and do their duty.

A time when men were eager for gain, to get all they can for themselves at any cost, and they become anxious about keeping all they gain. The spirit of greed causes men to become dangerous to themselves, to one another and to the world. It is a time when men do not fear God, they do not value or regard mankind. A time when children are disobedient to their parents and will disrespect every level of authority. These conditions make the times “perilous.”

Paul could foresee a day when men would be unholy, ungodly, and ungrateful. 2 Timothy 3:2-5, “For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, profane. They will be disobedient to parents, thankless, irreligious, and destitute of natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers. They will have no self-control, but will be brutal, opposed to goodness, treacherous, headstrong, self-important. They will love pleasure instead of loving God, and will keep up a make-believe of piety and yet live in defiance of its power. Turn away from people of this sort.”

Every follower of Jesus Christ must carry out their ministry in the midst of perilous times. These are words of a death doomed man to his faithful son in the ministry. How can Paul expect Timothy to be successful in ministry in times like these? What does it take to fulfill your ministry in these times? First there must be some agreement on what ministry is. What has God called us to do? How do we go about doing it?

In a day when people (leaders and members) will turn away from the truth, when many will grow weary of hearing the plain gospel of Jesus Christ; when others will be greedy of fables, and take pleasure in them, we must be clear about our assignment. In these first five verses from 2 Timothy 4, Paul gives his understanding of what ministry really is. Those who desire to fulfill their ministry must give heed to the words of Paul. We are grateful for every year of faithful service you have rendered. Your task, should you choose accept it, will not become easier in the future. Listen to our text again!

2 Timothy 4:1-5 "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully."