Timely Support For Ministry-1

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.