A Daily Walk

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Announcer: Pastor John Randall reminds us the Lord is always with us.

John Randall: Every pastor, every person who's a Christian who serves in the name of the Lord needs to have this understanding that the Lord is present. He's present with you, no matter what. It's not like you could say, "Hey Lord, I'm going to—I'll be right back. Can you stay here? This might stumble you, so I'm going to—and then I'll be back. Just stay here, don't come in." No, it doesn't work that way.

He is present with us. He said to the disciples, "I will be with you even to the end of the age. I'll never leave you nor forsake you." He is always present, and that can be a tremendous encouragement, but it also makes us realize we are accountable to God. He's there. He's here this morning.

Announcer: Hello friend, today we get back into 2 Timothy here on A Daily Walk as we continue through the Bible. In 2 Timothy chapter 4, Paul the Apostle encourages Timothy in his ministry to preach the word. It's the word that brings correction and encouragement. It's what equips us for life and service. It's how we come to know the Lord and grow in our relationship with him. For more on this, let's join Pastor John Randall again in 2 Timothy chapter 4.

John Randall: Today we often use the phrase in conversation, maybe you've said it before: "famous last words." Usually, we say that to show disbelief of a person's previous statement. For example, "I will never do that," and we say, "famous last words." We just kind of don't believe it.

But the truth of the matter is there are famous last words that have been recorded throughout history and even throughout the Scriptures. Some throughout history, to name a couple: how about Karl Marx, the German philosopher and revolutionary who put forward his theories about society and economics in what has been called Marxism. Here were his last words: "Go on, get out! Last words are for fools who haven't said enough."

How about Voltaire, the skeptic? Voltaire said at one point in his life, "In twenty years, Christianity will be no more. My single hand will destroy the edifice that it took the twelve apostles to rear." Some years later, Voltaire's house was used by the Geneva Bible Society to print Bibles. Famous last words, I guess.

But he said more. His last words that were recorded, he said, "I am abandoned by God and man. I will give you half of what I'm worth if you will give me six months' life, and then I shall go to hell, and you will go with me. Oh Christ!"

Bing Crosby, on a lighter note. Maybe you've been listening to his songs during this time of year. Famous last words: "That was a great game of golf." End quote. Prince, that singer that some of you may be familiar with. His lawyer reported that his last words he heard him say were, "I'm doing perfect."

How about the last words of those people who have the assurance of salvation? Like Jonathan Edwards, who said, "Trust in God, and you will have nothing to fear." Or David Livingstone, who said, "Build me a hut to die in; I am going home." Or how about Isaac Watts, that hymn writer, who said, "It is a great mercy that I have no manner of fear or dread of death. I could, if God pleased, lay my head back and die without terror this afternoon."

Or D.L. Moody. His last words that were recorded, he said, "I see earth receding, heaven opening. God is calling me." One day, if the Lord tarries, we will all have our last words that we will say. In the final chapter of 2 Timothy, we have the last recorded words of the Apostle Paul.

You can tell within this conclusion that there is a definite increase in intensity, in urgency, and overall emotion. For one thing, Paul was about to die. He was about to be taken outside of the Mamertine Prison, down the Appian Way, and he would be beheaded for his faith in Christ. But as he writes his final words, he has no regrets about his life.

He writes straightforwardly to Timothy, who would be left to carry on the work of the ministry. In his final moments, his final letter, he mentions some seventeen names, and he also has a number of exhortations given to this young pastor who was to carry on. The first, beginning in verse 1, we see a solemn charge. He says, "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and kingdom."

At least two times previously, Paul had used this same word in writing to Timothy. It was back in 1 Timothy chapter 5, verse 21, that he said, "I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality." Then in 2 Timothy chapter 2, verse 14, Paul used the word again. He said, "Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers."

The word "charge" means "I solemnly implore you. I'm appealing to you. I'm calling you out. I'm charging you, I adjure you." It's a very serious command that Paul gives. Why is it so serious? For one thing, there were false teachers who were deceiving and being deceived within the church, trying to infiltrate the work of the ministry. This was reason enough to understand this charge.

But there's more to it. Why is this so serious? For one thing, the Lord was present while Timothy was pastoring. He says here, "I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ." He's saying it with the understanding that they were there presently. The Lord is there with you, Timothy. I'm charging you before God, who is present all the time, omnipresent.

You remember before Jesus ascended back to his Father there in heaven, the disciples were very discouraged that Jesus was leaving. To encourage them, he said, "I'm not going to leave you orphans. I will leave with you the Holy Spirit." God, the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, present with the disciples. He will be with you, he will be in you, and he also said the Holy Spirit's going to come upon you. He's going to remind you of everything that I've told you up to this point. He's going to be with you.

Here he reminds Timothy that Timothy was ministering before God and even the Lord Jesus Christ. The Greek rendering is actually "in the presence of God, even Jesus Christ," which speaks of the deity of our Savior. Every pastor, every person who's a Christian who serves in the name of the Lord needs to have this understanding that the Lord is present. He's present with you, no matter what.

It's not like you could say, "Hey Lord, I'm going to—I'll be right back. Can you stay here? This might stumble you, so I'm going to—and then I'll be back. Just stay here, don't come in." No, it doesn't work that way. He is present with us. He said to the disciples, "I will be with you even to the end of the age. I'll never leave you nor forsake you." He is always present.

That can be a tremendous encouragement, but it also makes us realize we are accountable to God. He's there. He's here this morning. It makes you realize that you're going to give an account to God, and that puts you on notice. I'm speaking to myself here at this moment as a pastor. The Lord is present in whatever I'm doing. I'm accountable to him.

But I'll tell you what else this does for you. When you understand that the Lord is present, it helps take away the fear of man, because I'm accountable to God. In what I do and how I minister and how I serve, I'm going to give an account to him. I don't need to be afraid of man. I'd rather fear God than fear man. I believe perhaps that is why James gave that strong exhortation in his epistle in James chapter 3 when he said, "Let not many of you become teachers, knowing that you will receive a stricter judgment from the Lord."

It's a very sobering warning for the person who speaks the word of God on a regular basis. There's a stricter judgment for you, and so you need to be aware of this. "I'm charging you before God, before Jesus Christ. You are accountable to him." But not only was Timothy accountable knowing that the Lord was present, but also he would one day stand before Jesus and give an account of his ministry. He says that God is going to judge the living and the dead at his appearing.

Do you remember that Jesus declared in his earthly ministry in John chapter 5, verse 22, that the Father judges no one but has committed all judgment to the Son? Jesus Christ is the Savior, but he will also be the judge. There are three judgments in the New Testament that Jesus will actually preside over. The first, which is what Paul is referring to here, is called the Bema Seat judgment.

That is recorded in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, verse 10, where Paul wrote and said, "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ," that is the Bema Seat of Christ, "that each one may receive the things done within the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." Every single person who is a Christian, who has accepted Christ, will one day stand before Christ, before his judgment seat.

But you will not be judged for your sins because our sins have been judged at Calvary. Instead, we will receive rewards for the things that we have done within this life. Whatever we've done in the name of the Lord. Paul would write in 1 Corinthians chapter 3, verse 12, and he'd say, "Each one's work is going to be tested by the fire. Whatever is wood, hay, stubble is going to be burned up, but whatever is built with gold, silver, precious stones, it's going to last."

It's going to make its way through the fire when it's refined. At that Bema Seat judgment, we're going to receive a crown of righteousness, the Bible says, that doesn't fade away for those who have loved his appearing. You're going to be rewarded. It's not a judgment to be afraid of, but that's the judgment that we'll stand before and Jesus will be there.

But there is a second judgment the Bible speaks of: it's the judgment of the nations that's recorded in Matthew chapter 25. It says, "When the Son of Man will come in his glory and the holy angels with him, that he will sit upon his throne in his glory. And all the nations will be gathered to him, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats." Jesus will judge the nations, dividing them like a shepherd does. These are the sheep, these are the goats.

Then there is a third judgment that Jesus will preside over, recorded in the book of Revelation chapter 20, and that is called the Great White Throne judgment. That is a judgment where the Bible says that all the books—by the way, plural, books—will be opened. It says that death and Hades will give up the dead, and they will all come and stand before him who sits upon that Great White Throne, and he will judge them there.

It says that anyone's name who was not found written in the Lamb's Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity. Eternal judgment. Jesus desires to be your Savior this morning. He died so that you could be saved, rose again from the grave so that we could be forgiven, so that we could be reconciled to God. But if you reject him as Savior, you will stand before him as judge.

All judgment has been committed to the Son. But what Paul is saying to Timothy: "Timothy, the Lord is present when you're ministering, and you will give an account of your ministry when it's all over to the one who's going to judge the living and the dead. Therefore, here comes the exhortation, here comes the admonition: preach the word. Preach the word. Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and teaching."

Now, when Paul uses this word "preach," it isn't so much that he's describing what we would think of today in the words of preaching or a preacher. Somebody who stands behind a pulpit and that guy—as they say in South Florida when I was pastoring there—"that guy's a preacher." You know, you have those kind of people. A preacher.

The word that Paul uses is actually the word "herald." A herald. What a herald's job was in that first century, the responsibility that he had, is that he was given a message either from a governor or a king or an emperor. He would declare a proclamation of war, or there would be a challenge to battle, or a proclamation of peace, or some edict that was to be passed down to the people.

The herald proclaims what the one in authority has told him to declare. He is sent with a message that he can't change in any way. He is not allowed to alter that message. This message that he brings, there is formality, there is a gravity about it, there is authority attached to it that must be listened to. This was Timothy's responsibility. He was to herald God's holy word with the authority of heaven behind him.

That's a great responsibility. Preach the word. Not preach this or preach that. Very specifically, preach the word. The Apostle then gives Timothy instructions as to how it is he is to proclaim and when he is to proclaim the word. When is he to herald the word? First of all, here he says, "in season and out of season," which means anytime.

Be at your work. Be ready. Let nothing stop you. When you feel like it, when you don't feel like it. When you're hurt or when you're happy. When you're sick or when you're feeling well. When you are accepted or you are rejected. Preach the word. In season, out of season. It gives the idea of urgency and preparedness, readiness. Like a soldier that is ready for battle.

He's ready to go at a moment's notice. He is to move forward. He's ready for that. He's alert because of the threat of the enemy or infiltration or attack. He's ready to go. That's what Paul is saying. In season, out of season. Any season of life, anytime, anyplace, whenever there's a divine appointment that presents itself, you have to be ready. Timothy had to remain in a constant state of readiness.

I believe it is similar to what the Apostle Peter said in his first epistle in chapter 3, verse 15, when he said, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and in fear." You're just ready. Sometimes those opportunities you're ready for, you're prepared for, it was on the calendar.

Then those other times when you weren't ready. It was in the morning, you had your pajamas on, you just yelled at the kids, and there's a knock at the door and they want to give you something, and you know, here's the opportunity. You just be ready. You never know when God's going to open up that door. So you ought to pray daily, "Lord, help me to be ready if you give me the opportunity."

Timothy had to be ready in season and out of season, whether he felt like it or not. I remember hearing about a man who didn't want to get up to go to church in the morning. As he was lying there, he said to his wife, "I don't want to go. I don't feel like going today." She said, "You have to go." "I don't want to go." "Why?" "Nobody likes me there. Nobody likes me at church."

"It doesn't matter, God likes you, and that's what matters." She's trying to—you know how wives can be—encouraging you. "You need to go." He said, "I don't think I can go." She said, "You have to go." He said, "I can't go." She said, "Honey, you have to go. You're the pastor." In season, out of season. That's when you're to preach.

What about how to preach? How do you do it? You know when, but how? Paul gives to Timothy some really important instructions, very descriptive words here. First of all, make note of it: he says you need to, when you're preaching, you need to convince. It's also translated "reprove." It means to point out error, it means to refute falsehood, it means a rebuke that results in a person's confession of sin.

It means to bring to light, to reveal something that's hidden, to present the evidence so that the person can see it. There can be adequate proof of wrongdoing, and when they see it, they can then turn from it and repent. There's an element to preaching that is to convince. It reproves. When the word of God is presented, it's like a floodlight that shines on your life.

Have you ever stood in a floodlight when there's just this big old light that just shines right on you? There's really no shadow to—it just has such a wide circumference around you, it's like you can't find a shadow, and everything is illuminated in that moment. That's often as the word of God is being preached and it's anointed and it's going forth, it just shines on everything.

It reveals so much. It brings to light the hidden works of darkness. That's what Paul said in Ephesians chapter 5, verse 11. He said, "Have nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." Same word. Shine the light on it, just there it is. The word of God is like that in Scripture. When the word, it's like a light that shines, it illuminates darkness.

Remember, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path." It reveals things. Remember Jesus when he described the work of the Holy Spirit? He said that the Holy Spirit, when he comes, he's going to convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment to come. When the floodlight of the word shines, it convinces, it reveals.

John chapter 3, verses 19 and 20, Jesus said, "This is the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. Everyone practicing evil hates the light and doesn't come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." Sometimes, maybe even in churches, we want to avoid certain words like "sin."

Instead, we have replacement words like "flaws," "mistakes," "errors," "oops-a-daisies." I mean, just different things that we want to use to replace "sin." Why? Because sin is offensive. It is offensive, and it's especially offensive to God. In some places, it isn't so much what they are telling people that's the greatest concern; it's what they're not telling people that concerns me.

What they're not saying, and what they're not saying is really important. It's really critical. So Timothy, when he preached, he had to do so in a way that was convincing. It presents the evidence. You can look at it and you can see it there. Convince. But there's another word. Not only are you to convince, but he also says to rebuke.

Now, this is a little different word, and it's a little bit stronger. It's a corrective word and implies more authority and less argument, less reasoning. More authoritative. One definition for rebuke is to speak seriously by corrective warning in order to prevent an action or bring one to an end. It means a rebuke with the suggestion of an impending penalty if you don't turn.

The word of God is full of those. I mean, you could think of so many Scriptures that give a warning and tell you if you don't turn from this, this is what will happen. Think about the prophets, how they would often say to the people and warn the people, "If you don't turn, this is what's going to happen," and how they would not listen. They would reject it.

So they would have to give a rebuke. Now, some people don't like to be on the receiving end—I don't personally like to be on the receiving end of a rebuke. Sometimes I might need it, and you might too. The word of God can do that, and preaching in this way will bring a corrective word. Sometimes we don't want to give that because the Bible says, you remember in Proverbs?

In Proverbs chapter 27, it says, "Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed." And "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. Why? I just want to carefully conceal my love. Let me explain. This person is about to walk off a cliff and to their death, and you know it and you can see it. Do you love them?