Timely Support For Ministry-2

TIMELY SUPPORT for MINISTRY-II—2Timothy 4:9-22

A man is at Grand Central Station waiting for his train that is leaving soon. He notices a guy carrying two suitcases & sporting this fabulous hi-tech watch, so he approaches him & says...

"Wow! That’s a pretty cool watch you’ve got there."

"Yeah, This is an i-Watch. Its a satellite-computer-phone with bluetooth. It has GPS, fax, e-mail, internet—You can even swipe your debit-card to order things online. It has 4 tetrabytes of memory, you can download movies & can even receive Satellite television & display either one on its miniature or its expandable LCD HDTVscreen with surround sound, or plug it into any desktop TV or monitor." Its very handy because you can’t lose it like a regular mobile phone or computer.

"Boy, that’s incredible. I wish I had an i-watch like that one. Where can I get one?"

Well, its experimental & not available to the public because they can’t get the price under $1000. But I’ll sell you this one if you’re interested, because, well, actually the novelty has worn off for me, so for $2500, if you want it, it’s yours."

The traveler can hardly whip out his debit-card fast enough to the tune of $2500.

The seller takes off the watch & gives it to him. "Congratulations, here is you new i-Watch."

Then, handing the two suitcases over as well, he says, "And here are the batteries & support units."

TIMELY SUPPORT

TIMELY SUPPORT for MINISTRY-II—2Timothy 4:9-22

Attention:

Need:

Every ministry is vital/important...because it is ordained of God.

But no ministry functions in a vacuum or on an island, or separate from at least two things. Every ministry requires something to perfect it...People & Commitment

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).

Paul urgently needed Timothy’s support.

Effective ministry requires timely support.

What is required for timely support in ministry?

5 Sacrifices made for timely support in ministry.

Previously we found that....

Timely support for ministry requires a Sacrifice to...

1—AID ANOTHER(:9, 11b, 13, 21a)

2—COMMITMENT(:10-18)

3—Timely support for ministry requires a Sacrifice to

MANY(:10, 12, 19-21)

Explanation:(:10, 12, 19-21)

:10—“....--Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.”

:11—“Only Luke is with me. Get Mark & bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.”

“Only Luke is with me.”

Col. 4:11, 14—“& Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.”....“Luke the beloved physician & Demas greet you.”

Phm. 23-24—“Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.”

“Get Mark & bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.”

*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.

:12—“And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.”

Another minister, Tychicus, has been specially commissioned by Paul’s hand to Ephesus. Again the reasons are not stated. Timothy obviously knows the situation & needs no further information. Tychicus was from Asia(Acts 20:4). Ephesus was located in Asia.

Tychicus had possibly delivered Paul’s letters to Ephesus(Eph. 6:21) & Colosse(Col. 4:7), & possibly to Titus in Crete(Tit. 3:12), as he was charged with personally relating any news about Paul & his ministry.

:19—“Greet Prisca & Aquila, & the household of Onesiphorus.”

Prisca & Aquila as well as Onesiphorus were readily available to Timothy as he was instructed to “greet” the couple & Onesiphorus’ “household.”

Paul had met Prisca(Priscilla) & Aquila in Corinth on his 2nd missionary journey. Aquila was originally from Pontus, on the Black Sea. Both were Jews who hailed from Rome, Italy but were in Corinth because political pressure, from Emperor Claudius, forced the Jews to leave Rome(AD 49-50).

They made their living as tent-makers, just as did Paul.

Priscilla & Aquila left with Paul for Syria. In Ephesus they led Apollos to Christ & provided references for his entrance into the churches of Achaia.

The church met in their house while they were in Asia(Ephesus?) as well as later in Rome.

Paul considered them both as “fellow workers in Christ Jesus.”

:20—“Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.”

It appears that Erastus was one who, having passed thru Corinth with Paul previously, had remained there for unstated reasons. No doubt it was for the sake of the ministry of the Gospel.