SUNDAY October 2, 2022 

A Strong Charge 

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage— with great patience and careful instruction.
2 Timothy 4:1-2 NIV

After about thirty years of ministry, Paul was prepared to die for his faith in Christ: For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:6-7 NIV). Nero would kill him. 

Paul needed to prepare Timothy for the future. In doing so, he gave him an important charge. As a son in the faith, Timothy needed to preach the word and be ready to correct false doctrine. He was to rebuke and encourage anyone who erred from truth, with great patience and careful instruction. Paul warned:

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry (2 Timothy 4:3-5 NIV). 

When Bible teachers give an expository teaching, whether they expound using exegetical teaching––verse by verse––or they give a topical study, doctrine must always remain the same. It has been said that for any given Scripture passage, there is “one interpretation, many applications.” It is a true precept of hermeneutics (Bible interpretation). There can be no false doctrine arising from an experience. The Word of God has to back it up. 

Take time to reread Timothy’s charge. What action words do you need to take to heart? Preach the Word, be prepared in every season, correct, rebuke, or encourage. In the love of Christ, I charge you, do them! 

These then are the marks of the ideal Church––love, suffering, holiness, sound doctrine, genuiness, evangelism and humility. They are what Christ desires to find in His churches as He walks among them.
~John Stott~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!