Living under God’s Authority
2 Timothy 4:1-4
Turn in your Bibles to 2 Timothy 3. Back a few months ago, we were working through this book of 2 Timothy where Paul is trying to encourage Timothy to act out his ministry as a pastor in the face of fear, struggle, and hardship. Because in Paul’s mind, there was no need to fear, as Timothy was performing the very work of God. Therefore, any opposition. or the attitude of the culture, or any struggle for Timothy did not need to hinder Timothy from doing what he was called and gifted to do. And we have said many times throughout this series that we need not be intimidated, or slowed down, or discouraged by what we might see around us, as God has called you and I for such a time as this. And God knows exactly our circumstance, and has placed us here for the purpose of doing His will, which He predetermined before the foundation of the world. We left last Sunday with a focus on two verses.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Tim 3:16-17 (LSB)
We declared that this was our book, given to us by God, and that its truth is profitable for us in all matters of life. Young people, you were downstairs when we talked about this last week. So, I also wanted to remind you this morning that yes, you may be laughed at for believing this book, for allowing its truth to direct your life, and choosing to live differently than many. But we said that when someone challenges us, we can respond graciously, are you crazy? For the truth of this book has changed my life. And if anyone ever tries to question God’s Word, we know that, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the WOG stands forever.” Now this morning as we get into 2 Timothy 4, we are really challenged now that once we are confident of this book, how are we going to use it in the face of opposition? For Paul will describe the onlookers toward Christianity, so that we would not be naïve, and fool ourselves into thinking that our task given to us from the Lord is an easy one. So, listen to what Paul tells Timothy.
“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.”
2 Tim 4:1-4 (LSB)
How do you do with opposition? How do you do when someone comes against you, especially when that opposition seems to be so overpowering? I have mentioned to you before about our boys being in high school in Chatham, each of them played high school football, and I enjoyed watching those games so much. Well a couple of times when they were playing senior football, they were able to win the county championship, and then they would go on to play the championship team from Lambton County. Well, I do not know how things are now in Sarnia, but back then each time my guys would get out of their own county, they would play Sarnia Northern. And I can remember the first time Sarnia came down to Chatham Kent High School in Chatham, Sarnia, who I did not care for one bit, as I was so self-absorbed in everything about Chatham. I was thinking, who are these Philistines coming from Sarnia? Well, when I saw them, they were big, and that was okay. But the problem was that they were bigger than our guys, and what made it so intimidating, as I told you, was that they had these all-black uniforms, while we were these nice guys in blue and gold. And a few times in the regional finals, Sarnia beat Andy and Matt’s teams on various occasions and it was so annoying! As we often made past Kent County, and then we had to play the big guys in the black uniforms, as that was the big opposition.
Well, in this passage before us, Paul presents a picture where there is opposition, where the two2 sides are lining up. On the one side, there is the preaching and teaching and presentation of the gospel with what? (vs 2) patience. With patience! That alone makes the side seem a little weak, doesn’t it? The little team in the blue and gold. Then you have the other side. The self-righteous, selfish, untruthful passionate sinners, Sarnia Northern! The good guys, the blue and gold Chatham Kent; and the bad guys, the black uniforms from Sarnia Northern.
So, let’s look at the opposition that Paul was addressing, (vs 3), “for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.” First off, we need to determine who these people are. They cannot be Christians as it would be difficult to think that a born-again Christian, being changed by the power of God would not listen to sound teaching. However, I would also suggest that this is not completely the unbelieving world in the sense of why they would give really any concern for Christian thought or truth anyway, as this verse insinuates that there is some surprise that these people are not listening, as if they should know better. Therefore, I believe that this refers to those primarily who somewhat hang around Christianity, and for whatever reason had not fully embraced Christianity. Certainly, we understand today that even this morning, there are millions of folks sitting in church, who sing the songs, who may teach a Sunday school class, and yet have no real understanding of the grace that has been offered to sinners, and believe they are safe with God because of their own goodness and moral lifestyle.
So, Paul says here that there is a time coming when there will be those in churches where the true gospel is not preached or taught, and that there will be those in churches where the true gospel is taught, but many will not embrace it or even listen to it. The writer of Hebrews has much to say about this. He teaches that it is very difficult for someone who has sat under the teaching of God’s Word and rejected it to at some time later embrace the truth. But Paul says that the time will come, and the insinuation in this passage is that this situation will at some time grow worse. So, I belief that these people are partly the unsaved in the world, unsaved church folks, church associated people, and those who have church connections. They have from a limited to a very good understanding of the gospel, yet they do not embrace the gospel. Jesus spoke about many of these folks in Matthew 13, those who heard the Word with joy, but it did not last, it did not endure. And the fact that Paul says that these people will not endure sound teaching, explains why after an amount of time, they will fall away. For I am sure that we all know those who have been excited about the gospel and showed an interest in spiritual things, and yet eventually they became disinterested in the truths of the Bible.
So, I trust that we here are a church that cherishes the central truths of Christianity, and the deep teaching of who our God is. That He is an awesome God, who is great and all-powerful, sovereign, all-knowing, all-present, holy, loving, righteous, good, and forgiving. To save sinners like us who are sinful, who are indifferent, unlovable, in opposition against Him, and that His salvation of us is completely by His grace, undeserved, and unmerited, and that He saved us despite ourselves. And that He saved us to serve Him, to worship His as Lord and Saviour, and to commit our very lives to Him, and that we desire to be with Him in eternity. And in this life, we are without expectation of wealth, health, or abundant blessing, knowing that our eternal inheritance is in heaven, as we are looking for an eternal city. And this is what we preach and this what we cherish, for this is the Word of God. Martin Luther said:
“I simply taught God’s Word; otherwise I did nothing … I did nothing; the Word did it all, I did nothing; I left it to the Word.”
Martin Luther
That’s what we hold to dearly here, and Paul is simply saying that some will not endure that kind of teaching. But what will they want? (vs 3), they will want things that will tickle their ears. They will desire whatever makes them feel better, or know that their sin is not an issue with God. A safe place where the Word of God is not presented to them in its fullness. As the passage says here that they will want something that will be in “accordance with their own desires.” That is a bit of an oxymoron, to sit in church, and want something that is in “accordance with your own desires,” as the Greek word used here could be translated “lusts.” Therefore, these are not godly passions, but these are selfish, human passions.
Yet, it is the passion of God the Father that we become like His Son, and realizing that the only true fulfillment in life is to be obedient to the passion of God and His desire for us. So, what will they do? They will turn away from listening to the truth. So, these are at least those who have heard the truth to some extent and wander off into myths. Myths can be defined as just fabrications of the mind: fairy tales, things that men make up, human wisdom, things that we like to talk about. And it is certainly easy today to listen to those and find those who will satisfy the desire for myth, as many preachers will speak for 30-40 minutes and extol their own myths, and avoid almost anything that the Scriptures would teach.
Therefore, it is so important for us to be discerning as Christians. Ss so many “preachers” speak about health, wealth, politics, continuous ongoing repetition about the end times, crazy interpretations of dates and events, and promises of healing, if you send money. But those are the easy ones, as many others are subtler in their message, that feeds our own passions. And if you become dissatisfied with church and the truth being taught, you will find for yourself teachers and others that will agree with you, as they are all over the Internet, all out in the world, and some even within the church. And I understand from this passage, that they may not necessarily leave the church. They may just “turn away from listening to the truth.” In other words, they may continue to attend week after week. But they will wander off into myths, anything that will satisfy their desires, anything that they might find from others, or anything they might make up in their own mind.
In many ways, we are a frail bunch, aren’t we? For if I can convince myself that I am right or I am okay with my own thinking, then I must be right with God. When I was on holidays, we attended Lighthouse Fellowship Baptist Church in Kincardine on the two Sundays, and Anne and I went to the young pastor’s house for lunch on our second Sunday. And we spoke about the many things that may go on in churches today, and all the various issues out there. And he said, Mark, I find that Christians are becoming “bored” with Christianity, and therefore, they tend to drift on to other things. Silly myths that they believe they might find in the Scriptures. That they have either lost a love for Christ or never had a love for Christ, and therefore, they move on to other things. Folks, we cannot stress enough here to never lose the core of the gospel. That Jesus Christ died for you and has saved you, and that your life then becomes a lifetime of loving and serving Him, and having a deep love for His Word.
So, there will be opposition, and Paul has given Timothy the Lord’s command to combat such opposition, simply by saying (vs 2), “preach the word, be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, and exhort.” True, Timothy, some will listen to you and some will not, but continue to preach at a time when it would seem suitable and at a time when it would not be suitable, yet always be ready Timothy. Now these words reprove, rebuke, and exhort, are very closely connected. We need to reprove, to correct, help people put truth back in line. David Platt calls this “formative discipline” as opposed to “restorative discipline.” Restorative discipline is church discipline, where someone has sinned and the church comes alongside to confront and restore. But Platt calls this “formative discipline,” where correction and truth are taught so that people do not error. John MacArthur also likens this to correcting the mind.
And then Paul also says to rebuke. In other words, to confront people for wrong beliefs or wrong life choices, or for not persevering in the faith. MacArthur suggests that this is more about the heart, that people would gain a passion to live for Christ in their heart. But with reproving and rebuking, in our preaching and teaching, sin must be addressed, so that the Word of God convicts and makes right the heart. Paul said to Timothy in his first letter:
“Those who continue in sin, reprove in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful.”
- Tim 5:20 (LSB)
And then finally exhort or encourage, helping folks get through fear and anxiety and struggles, as our ministry is always with the hope that brothers and sisters will be restored and continue to grow in their faith. Now, I believe we can understand from this that though Paul is speaking to Timothy about preaching, the lesson here is that we can all be motivated in our speaking and ministering to believers and unbelievers alike. Knowing that our message to them will not always be received well. But not to lose heart, and continue to tell others about Christ, and the truth of His Word. But what is difficult in this passage, as with much of what Paul writes here and elsewhere, he always has to add something to his thoughts. For he fully describes the opposition and their unwillingness to listen, and he also presents the action of preaching to combat that opposition. So vital to Timothy, and so vital to all of us as we minister to people. But he then adds something here, and it is a difficult something. That when you preach, confront, rebuke, encourage, even against opposition, do it with patience. And not with just patience, but with great patience. Turn back to 2 Timothy 2:
“And the Lord’s slave must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may give them repentance leading to the full knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.”
2 Tim 2:24-26 (LSB)
Listen, there is little value in our ministry endeavours, to think that we are going to accomplish something for the kingdom. To do something right, yet without the proper Christ-like attitude. We must realize that for the most part, that our ministry, whether it be sharing Christ, teaching our kids, encouraging Christians is a slow process and requires great patience. I know my own sanctification is slow, and that requires time, work, and patience. This word “patience” here means not to become exasperated or angry. Folks, never underestimate the effectiveness of words like patience and gentleness in the Bible and their effectiveness in ministry. In fact, character quality enables you to do exactly the other thing Paul refers to here, and that is to teach. As anyone can give information, but it is people of character that can teach, because you are teaching both by words and example. Look what Paul taught the Thessalonian Christians:
“For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full assurance; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.”
- Thess 1:5 (LSB)
Part of the power of our ministry to people is not merely the effort and the amount of ministry we do, but it must include a Christ-like attitude and character. Finally, I want to give to you the basis for such a statement, that Paul could confidently tell Timothy that he was going to face great opposition, and yet at the same time through all this he was still able to teach, and instruct, and reprove, and rebuke, and encourage. What was it about this particular message that brings with it so much confidence? Remember when Moses stood before the Lord at the burning bush and the Lord gave Moses many instructions of what he was to do. And the real concern Moses had in agreeing to the responsibility was really, by what authority am I going to Pharaoh? Are these not just words Lord? What if he does not listen to me? Well really, Moses was not listened to, for the most part, until he had to, Pharaoh refused to let the people go. Yet Moses still went. Not so much with a great confidence of success humanly, but Moses still went, because the Lord told him that he was going with the authority of the Word of God, as Moses asked the Lord, whom shall I say sent me? And the Lord replied. I am that I am has sent you.
At that moment, it no longer was required that Pharaoh would listen to Moses because Moses then just becomes the messenger, sent with the Word of the Lord. The real question was this, was Pharaoh going to listen to the voice of God? And Paul picks up on this in this passage as well, as he really is saying to Timothy, Timothy, you are only the messenger, bringing to the people the message of God. The test is not whether they choose to listen to you. The real test is whether they choose to listen to God. The test for us as a congregation is not whether you listen to me. The test becomes, if I am preaching the Word of God, is whether you are listening to God. Because look how Paul sets this up before instructing Timothy to preach. These are not just words of Paul, but this instruction is a direct command from God.
“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom.”
2 Tim 4:1 (LSB)
This must have been a sobering thought to Timothy, to realize that the responsibility of the people in his church, to respond to his teaching, was not that they were accepting or rejecting him, but that they were accepting or rejecting God. Listen to Paul’s resounding opening, “I solemnly charge you.” That’s you Timothy, “in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus.” This is a personal call on Timothy’s life. This is first and foremost the personal invitation that the Lord gives to all of us. Now it may not be to preach to everyone, but there is a demand from God personally to you, that you would submit your life to Him, and obey Him in what he has called you to do. Jesus said to His disciples, all authority has been given unto Me, so just relax and go have a picnic or go home and watch the Leafs lose! No, Jesus said, all authority is given to Me. Therefore, submit to My call on your life.
And look what else Paul says (vs 1), “who is to judge the living and the dead.” Who is not included in that list? Anybody here that is neither dead or alive? I trust that even after my preaching, you are still alive. This statement pretty much includes everybody. In other words, all are under His authority, whether they acknowledge Him as Lord or not. Every man and woman, whether Christian, unchristian, church-goer, non-church-goer, atheist, fair-weather believer. The statement means that all will someday stand before God, to be accepted by Him because of faith in His Son, or to be condemned by Him, because of a refusal to receive His Son. It doesn’t matter whether one is rich or poor, tall or small, influential or insignificant, man or woman, black or white, living now or living a thousand years ago. Every person will someday stand before Christ, as His authority in not only on your life, but His authority is over every individual who ever lived.
Finally (vs 1) he says “and by His appearing and His kingdom.” Here is the certainty of Paul’s words to Timothy, it is as certain as the day the Lord will appear, and it will be over. This word appearing means two things. One, is that it literally means a “shining forth;” but it also gives the understanding that it will be sudden. This implies that there will be a “quickness” about His appearing.
Have you ever planned for something for a long time? Whether it was a holiday that you were wanting to go somewhere special. Or planning for a wedding, or planning for this coming Thanksgiving. And you make the plans, and you work towards them, and it sometimes even seems slow in coming. And your kids might say, how many days until Christmas? Or even some of us adults might say that. But the day comes, or the wedding comes, or the vacation comes, and it is over, and you think that was so quick. That is what we are to know about the appearing of Christ. That it will be quick and will take everyone unawares. Listen to Jesus speak about that time:
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For just as the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be … Therefore stay awake, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.”
Matt 24:36-39, 42 (LSB)
The quickness of the return of Christ. It will happen in a world that has little urgency for truth, as folks will be busy with their human interests, as in the days of Noah, with no understanding of the authority of God on their lives, just going about the mundane things and fun things of life. And the Lord will flash His authority in the heavens, and the Lord will appear and prepare for His kingdom, and it will be over. That is the authority of the Scriptures and the truth that we teach, and the truth that we cherish. That it comes with the very authority of God in my life, in your life, and in the life of every individual.
When my third oldest son Aaron was in his last year of high school, Chatham Kent High School, made it to the regional finals in senior football. And we had to play the mean guys from Sarnia, Sarnia Northern. We were down by five points and we had the ball on Sarnia’s one-yard line with about one-minute left in the game. I was excited because this was huge, well, because I tend to get excited! I am not sure Anne was as excited as she was worried about her little boy Aarie playing slot back for the Chatham Kent Golden Hawks, as Aaron carried the ball a lot and when you carry the ball, you end up at the bottom of the pile. And we had three opportunities to get the ball over and win the game. And we were stopped on the first two attempts. But on the third attempt with the championship on the line … we were stopped! And we lost!
Well that’s football, and that’s life, but this is God and His Word. And He has entrusted us to be forth tellers of His truth, because it comes with His authority, and all that the Lord has determined will come to pass. Let’s pray. Father, we acknowledge your sovereign call and authority in our lives. So, may we be faithful to proclaim the message of Your truth in the face of much opposition. And may we realize the urgency of the times, and be looking for the return of our Saviour. And all God’s people said, amen.