Living on the Edge

Chip Ingram: Today on Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. Do you wish you had more courage that you were stronger, that you were more faithful? How do we overcome this deep-seated fear that grows in our heart? Today we'll hear from the Apostle Paul, his very last words on earth that will give you and me the hope we need. You don't want to miss it. Stay with me.

Chip Ingram: There's a word Paul chose near the end of his life that reframes everything. He didn't say he was being killed. He said he was being poured out like an offering given willingly, not taken by force. That one distinction is key to how you read what comes next, because a man who sees his own death as an act of worship has something to say that a man running from it never could.

Chip Ingram: I'm Dave Drewe, and today on Living on the Edge, Chip Ingram concludes our series called, You Can Make Disciples, personal coaching from the Apostle Paul. Here's Chip with today's message titled, Be Faithful, Don't Shrink Back.

Chip Ingram: One of the most powerful things that keep you and keep me from doing and fulfilling all God wants us to do, is the insidious power of wanting to be accepted by the crowd. Here's the deal. From the time of Solomon to now it's been true. The fear of man is a snare. So what's the antidote to peer pressure?

Chip Ingram: The Apostle Paul knows the greatest antidote to peer pressure is God pressure. And so as you open your bibles to 2 Timothy chapter 4, notice how he opens. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is the judge of the living and the dead and by his appearing and his kingdom.

Chip Ingram: Preach the word. Second command. Be ready in season and out of season to do what, to correct, to rebuke, to exhort. That's what you're to do. Well, how do you do it? Do it with great patience and instruction.

Chip Ingram: Let's do a little work together on this passage. So he says, I want you to the word for preach is to be a herald. I want you to proclaim. This is Timothy. I want you to tell people what the truth is. He'll say, I want you to give them sound doctrine. And then he's going to tell him in your declaration of the truth of God.

Chip Ingram: It's more than just Bible stories. It's more than interesting illustrations. It's more than keeping people's attention. It's more than helping them live better moral lives and being kinder neighbors. I want you to take the great doctrines of the church and I want you to explain them and declare them and apply them.

Chip Ingram: And here's how it works. I want you to preach the word of God, not your opinions. And then I want you to do it in such a way where it convicts, where it cuts to the heart, where it helps people to see who they are before God. Where they see where this is the truth and this is where they don't measure up.

Chip Ingram: And then I want you to go beyond that, because after you do that, you're going to see that some people respond very positively and some people don't. And then I want you to rebuke. It literally means to censure. This is like saying, we're teaching this is what your priorities are. This is what God says about our money and our possessions and our stewardship.

Chip Ingram: This is what he says about our mental life and our sexuality. And you teach that truth because every command, listen carefully, every command of God in scripture is for your good. You know what we pastors are afraid of? We don't like talking about things that we know we're going to get rejected on. The fear of man's a snare.

Chip Ingram: I can't tell you how many sermons it's been like, oh God. Do you really want me to say this? I remember one guy, the very first church too, he was very demonstrative. And I remember I'd look at him and I'd think. You know, I'd want to change my sermon right in the middle of it. This young pastor and I care about what people think and and there was another older guy named Bill.

Chip Ingram: And I don't know where I would be. Bill was a layman and he he spent three or four hours every night after his work in God's word. He would come to me and ask a question and literally, I was a young pastor. I was really sure Bill knew the Bible way, way better than me.

Chip Ingram: And and Bill and I would go out on Thursday nights. You know, this is the old days and people would move into the area, so we would take them a pie and we would welcome them and we would let them know kind of what's going on and looked for an opportunity to, has anyone ever shared with you how much God loves you and how you can have eternal life.

Chip Ingram: And, you know, this is rural Texas. You know, it's not quite like today. No. Well, would you like us to? And, well, sure. Well, why don't you come on in and sit down? We'll cut that pie. And I mean every Thursday night, I'm sitting around these tables with Bill and and I'll never forget this huge man talking to this lady. Tears streaming down his face as she's rejected Christ.

Chip Ingram: And he just said, I just want to make sure you understand that you are choosing a Christless eternity forever and ever and ever. You're rejecting the love of the Son of God. And you know why I told you about Bill? Bill was ready in season and out of season.

Chip Ingram: And you know, I look back and I just realize, when you're a pastor, there's there's like, you know, some people that you can trust. There's people that are like on your team that you can really be vulnerable with. Or a lot of pastors, part of their big challenges, they don't have that. And it doesn't matter what they do right now.

Chip Ingram: Can you imagine if the church rose up and said, we're going to help our pastors. You know, I don't care what people think. We're not we're not doing that here. We're going to disagree and we're going to agree to disagree. We're not having disunity in this church. We are one. And I'm one of the leaders, or I'm one of the influencers and you are.

Chip Ingram: You're generous with your finances. Your priorities in general are in order, and the favor of God has been on your life. But here's the memo. It's not so that you're happy and everything's just go with you. It's so you're positioned to make a difference in your church and in your neighborhood and in your community and where you work. That's the why.

Chip Ingram: How, with great patience and instruction. That word is in some of your translations will be long suffering. It's the it's that picture of it just with patience. You have a very, very long fuse before you give up on something. You you you hang in there. It's the brick layer saying, everyone thinks we should give up on Chip because he's a flake, because he's a flake. But I'm not.

Chip Ingram: He long suffered with me. It's not about do this and do this and why did you do this? It's here's this God's better than plan. Here's where you fall short. I'm going to encourage those who are making progress. I'm going to comfort those that are struggling. Uh I'm going to admonish and come up pretty strong against the people who are willfully disobeying.

Chip Ingram: I'm going to do it with patience and then when you when we correct, it's that here's the way to do it. Not you're a bad person. Here's the way to do it. And so he uh he says, Timothy, that's the what and the how. Then notice verse three and four, he says, there's going to be a challenge.

Chip Ingram: For the time will come when they will not tolerate, are you ready? Here it is again, underline it, sound doctrine. It's this theme of truth of reality. But wanting to have their ears tickled, just the idea of tell me something I like. They will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires.

Chip Ingram: I can't think of a better definition of the prosperity gospel than that line. I mean, who does who doesn't want to go ra ra ra for a message that says, here's how to get rich. Jesus is your self-help genie. The only people who get rich are prosperity teachers.

Chip Ingram: Verse five, but as for you contrast. I love this. Keep your head. Wouldn't that be a good word for all of us right now in the world we're living in, hey, keep your head. The word means to uh to use self-restraint, to be wide awake. Uh the literal meaning of it is is kind of to be sober and not overcome with wine. Just keep your head.

Chip Ingram: Don't get drunk with all that's happening and all the media and all the struggles and and all the people and all the stuff. In the midst of all of this, hey, use self-restraint in all things, endure hardship. Do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. Literally, discharge it. You do Timothy in your life and with your life, everything God has called you to do.

Chip Ingram: Just like I have done everything God's called me to do. Perfectly, absolutely not. We put these people in stained glass. Timothy hung out with Paul. I would go on record, and I I don't know, but I'm going to go on record anyway. I think if you hang out with Paul, there were days that he he really kind of lost it.

Chip Ingram: This choleric, high high driving personality. I think there was times where I think he I I think he was a little harsh at times. Mark can't go. He's done. Really? Yeah. Why? Cause he flaked out once. You don't get a second chance like you? No. You want to talk about this? No.

Chip Ingram: You got any other questions? Remember, I'm the guy that sort of gave you the second chance with the disciple. Yeah, I get it. Good. Go do that with him. I'm going to get back on mission. God used him. But he wasn't Jesus. It was just Paul. And neither are you, neither am I.

Chip Ingram: We'll be right back with more from Chip Ingram here on Living on the Edge. If you want to see Chip teach, not just hear him, the Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram YouTube channel has the full video experience, complete series, onscreen message notes, and content you won't get to see anywhere else.

Chip Ingram: It's a great way to share a message with someone who prefers video. So check it out today by searching for Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram on YouTube and be sure to hit subscribe. Now back to the message.

Chip Ingram: And then we get the reason. In verse six and seven. This is this is really, these are very encouraging, encouraging verses. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering and the time of my departure has come. I've fought the good fight. I finished the course. I've kept the faith. In the future there's a reserve for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, unlike Nero, will award to me on that day.

Chip Ingram: And this isn't just for me, but not only me, but also those who love his appearing. Those that are looking forward. Those that are living with an eternal perspective. Timothy, those that are doing what I told you, be bold. Be strong. Be prepared. Be faithful. And did you notice Paul's picture isn't? Rome is not killing me and Nero is not killing me.

Chip Ingram: This is an offering. This is my drink offering. I'm giving my life. This is just a great picture. Time of departure. The word has two or three different meanings, but one is to sort of put up your sail to catch the wind. The word was also used for like your you're at a dock and you take off the rope and so you depart, you leave your mooring.

Chip Ingram: I'm leaving the earth and death is not an end. I'm going to somewhere. And finally, the word was used for someone whose chains are loosed. And so he says, I'm loosing the chains of my mortality and all that I've been through. I'm departing to receive the gift and the reward that the righteous judge has promised for me.

Chip Ingram: And then like a military campaign, if they would say, okay, strike your tents because we're going to move. And Paul saying, I'm I'm striking my tent, the tent of this body. And I'm going to move on. And and and I love. He he he's so confident. I'm moving on. And and then he uses this military term, I've fought the good fight.

Chip Ingram: I've been in a battle. I've finished the course. I've kept the faith. And I think he's saying to us and saying to Timothy, in the midst of evil, in the midst of chaos, in the midst of struggle, in the midst of suffering. Hey, fight the good fight. Finish the race.

Chip Ingram: It'd be interesting, you can do a little study in 1st and 2nd Timothy, the number of times in so and so drifted. So and so turned away. So and so departed from the truth. There's this theme through these books of focus, soldier, athlete, discipline, finishing and turning, drifting, departing.

Chip Ingram: And then he says, make every effort to come to me soon. What I love about this is he not only has in focus his reward, is that Paul is despite his great godliness, you never outgrow your need for others. He says, you know, come soon. Once winter comes, it's too dangerous. The ships don't sail. I need you, man. I need you. I can't do this alone.

Chip Ingram: Make every effort. I mean, hurry up. It's a strong word. Why? For Demas having loved this present world has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia. Did you catch the contrast? Those who love his appearing, Demas loves this world.

Chip Ingram: I am departing to be with God. Demas is deserting. And it's it's it's not without intention that the Holy Spirit sort of lays before us, do you want to go the Paul way or the Demas way? Only Luke is with me. Take along Mark, bring him with you. I guess Paul softened up after a while. He's useful for me.

Chip Ingram: By the way, isn't it great to remember the body? Paul was a lousy counselor, but a great apostle. Praise God for Barnabases. I'll just tell you your pastor and some of your friends need a Barnabas. Some of you, oh, I'm an introvert or great. You'll go deeper with people than other people.

Chip Ingram: Oh, I have this mercy. I you know, I don't strike up conversations, great. Just look for people that are hurting, sit down next to them, start asking them questions. I mean, I mean, there's a role in the body for each one of us. He goes on and sort of basically going through why Timothy needs to come.

Chip Ingram: When you come, bring the overcoat, which I left in Troas with Carpus and the books, especially the parchments. Warning, Alexander, that coppersmith did me great harm. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds. There's the Paul we know and love. Be on your guard against him too, for he vigorously opposes our teaching. No, notice.

Chip Ingram: Did you get it? Preach the word. Sound doctrine. Tickled ears. The teaching. The truth. It's what we need today. It's what they needed then. That my first defense, no one supported me, but all deserted me. I love this. May it not be counted against them. Anybody feel like someone in your family or someone in your church has hurt you?

Chip Ingram: Said hurtful things, did hurtful things. How are you doing with forgiving them? Paul's in a dungeon, chained to a wall, rats running around, all by himself. His closest associates out of fear, they're human. I mean, Peter did it to Jesus. We we've all been cowards at times. They've all departed.

Chip Ingram: And Paul's attitude to the end is, may the Lord not hold it against him. Don't hold it against them. They're in the process. They're on the journey. They're just like you. They're just like me. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me. Why? The guy never loses his focus so that purpose clause through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished and all the Gentiles might hear.

Chip Ingram: And I was rescued out of the lion's mouth. I don't think this is literal. Maybe the lion was Nero. Maybe it's just a picture of at that defense, not being executed. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. Confidence. Did you notice, did you notice the lack of the word hope?

Chip Ingram: I wish or I hope that someday, some way, somehow? No. The Lord will rescue me from every evil and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. He had absolute assurance of salvation. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, the house of Onesiphorus. Erastus remained at Corinth, but I left Trophimus sick at mytus.

Chip Ingram: Make every effort to come before winter. And then he gives a few more names. He identifies 20 different people in this small book. Life really is about relationships. The summary is faithfulness to endure whatever suffering, hardship or persecution can only be accomplished by God's supernatural enabing, his grace and a supernatural power of the Holy Spirit within us.

Chip Ingram: How often does this truth counterbalance our own human inclination to compromise under peer pressure? On what issues do you find yourself struggling to communicate God's truth as it relates to life? Marriage, gender, sexuality. And finally, what is God saying to you? Who and what do you need in your life to be bold, to be strong, to be prepared, and to be faithful in the days ahead?

Chip Ingram: You need to sit quietly and say, Lord, since you are so kind and so patient and know me better than I know myself, what's the one step you want me to take this week? Cause if you respond to the light that God gives you, you get more light. If you don't respond to the light that God gives you, even the light that you have will be taken away.

Chip Ingram: Application and obedience are the organ of transformation, not knowledge. This world is messed up and the church is the only hope. And you can look around this room and wish there was someone better, smarter, more godly, more wonderful than you. But here's the deal, it's us and this is it. In your world, in your network, in your family, in your neighborhood, in your church, you're it.

Chip Ingram: You're the man. You're the woman. You're the I mean, right? And this this book is filled with ordinary, very struggling, inadequate people who something happened and they got tapped on the shoulder and they didn't become superstars and they had lots of struggle. But they responded to the light that God gave them. And we see it all through church history.

Chip Ingram: You're listening to Living on the Edge in the final part of our series called, You Can Make Disciples, personal coaching from the Apostle Paul. Today's message is titled, Be Faithful, Don't Shrink Back. And if you want to revisit any part or find more from this series, just go online to livingontheedge.org.

Chip Ingram: And to make sure you never miss a lesson throughout the week, no matter what your schedule looks like, be sure to subscribe to the Living on the Edge podcast, as well as the Chip Ingram Sermon podcast, which has Chip's full-length unedited sermons. Paul wrote his final words from a Roman prison, and they were full of hope, not regret.

Chip Ingram: That's the fruit of a life lived from God's grace, rather than for man's approval. The book, Yes, You Really Can Change, is the practical companion for that kind of transformation, not white knuckling it, but learning to live from God's grace. And because this whole series has been about making disciples the way Paul poured into Timothy, when you purchase this book today, we'll include a second copy to pass along to someone you're investing in.

Chip Ingram: Just look for Chip's book, Yes, You Really Can Change, online at livingontheedge.org/offers. 30 years of ministry, thanks to the faithful support of our listeners. If you'd like to be part of keeping this ministry going, your gift of any amount makes a difference. Give at livingontheedge.org, or call us at 888-333-6003.

Chip Ingram: You can also mail your gift to Living on the Edge, P.O. Box 3007, Atlanta, Georgia 30024. Well, now here's Chip with a final word.

Chip Ingram: Thanks, Dave. You know, I want to say one last thing as we wrap up this series, this teaching. Multiple times the Apostle Paul wrote and he said, Timothy, come quickly. He actually in this book alone mentions 20 different people. Sometimes we as Americans, especially, we hear God's word, we feel that we want to obey him and do what he wants us to do, and we get this unconscious idea that I've got to do it on my own.

Chip Ingram: Here's what I want you to know. The great Apostle Paul couldn't do it on his own. Neither can you, and neither can I. Can I encourage you, get into community. You just simply can't watch videos or listen to podcasts or even read good Christian books. Those things are super helpful, but who in your life could you do life with?

Chip Ingram: And if you don't have those people, ask God for them. Lord, I need people to do life with that I could be me and be real and get supported and be loved and give love and encourage them. Could I encourage you to step out of the rat race, of the demands, of all this stuff that's never going to slow down and make sure that this week you develop a pattern, do life in community.

Chip Ingram: Well, that wraps up our series, You Can Make Disciples, personal coaching from the Apostle Paul. I'm Dave Drewe, and we'll see you next time for more Bible teaching from Chip Ingram here on Living on the Edge. Today's program is produced and sponsored by Living on the Edge.