1 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:06,560 This weekend wasn't long enough. We blinked and here we are. 2 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:11,360 It is such a joy to see you. It is such a joy to see the 3 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:15,360 wider Maranatha community here to be with us for this Lord's 4 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:18,280 Day service. As most of you are aware, we 5 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:22,800 spent our time together this weekend to explore the amazing 6 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:27,320 legacy and life of the great Apostle Paul. 7 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:31,480 And I believe it is fitting that as we've come to this final 8 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:34,920 moment of our conference, though our time in these past few 9 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:39,360 meetings have only scratched the surface of this man's legacy, 10 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:43,720 it's fitting to consider some of his final thoughts from the 11 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:48,360 final epistle that the Holy Spirit has preserved for us to 12 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:50,960 consider. And you know that epistle very 13 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:52,800 well. I'm sure it is the book of 14 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:55,640 Second Timothy. And I invite you to turn there 15 00:00:55,640 --> 00:01:00,120 with me briefly. It is in this letter that we 16 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:07,560 have one of the most astounding faith installing, joy, exalting 17 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:12,760 crescendos in all of the Bible. Most of us know it by heart, 18 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:18,840 where Paul near the end of this letter tells us by the Spirit in 19 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:22,360 Second Timothy 47. I have fought the good fight. 20 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:27,680 I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 21 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:31,640 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, 22 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:36,280 which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that 23 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:39,920 day, not only to me, but also to all who have loved His 24 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:44,520 appearing. Can you think of better words to 25 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:48,520 be your final recorded words on this side of eternity? 26 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:53,440 What more needs to be said? Why would you need to add 27 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:59,600 anything further? And yet, to our surprise, the 28 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:05,160 Holy Spirit shows us that there are 14 verses that follow this 29 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:09,479 incredible pronouncement. And if you just look at it, you 30 00:02:09,479 --> 00:02:11,800 can see it right beginning in verse nine. 31 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:17,520 And we see these names mentioned, name upon name. 32 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:19,680 And then you come even to verse 19, and what do you find? 33 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:23,960 More names. What does the Holy Spirit have 34 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:31,160 to teach us these inclusions? I believe this is a glance that 35 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:35,640 the Spirit of God desires to give concerning Paul's dynamic 36 00:02:35,640 --> 00:02:41,520 relationships, Paul's incredible love that he had for the people 37 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:43,560 of God. Let's read some of these names. 38 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:47,320 Look at verse nine. Do your best to come to me soon. 39 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,840 For Demas in love with this present world has deserted me 40 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:54,360 and gone to Thessalonica. Christians has gone to Galatia, 41 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:57,920 Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. 42 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:01,720 Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for 43 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:04,400 ministry. Take a kiss I have sent to 44 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:07,440 Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak 45 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:09,560 that I left with Carpus at Troas. 46 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:11,600 Also the books and above all the parchments. 47 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:16,160 Look at verse 19. Greek, Prisca and Aquila in a 48 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:19,720 household of Anissa Forrest, Erastus remain at Corinth, and I 49 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:22,160 left Trophemus, who is ill at my leaders. 50 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:24,440 Do your best to come before winter. 51 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,440 Ubilis sends greetings to you as the Putin's and Linus and 52 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:31,840 Claudia and all the brothers. The Lord be with your spirit. 53 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:38,920 Grace be with you. You would think that this letter 54 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:42,000 will come to a full stop, what we just read earlier. 55 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:45,400 I fought the good fight. I have finished the race right. 56 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:50,320 I've kept the faith. Yet in the mind of God, the 57 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:53,720 wisdom of the Spirit, we get a glimpse. 58 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:58,680 We get a glimpse of Paul and what he thought about near the 59 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:02,560 end of his life. And it's because I believe the 60 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:06,720 Holy Spirit wants to show us that the genuine Christian life, 61 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:13,480 from beginning to end, is experienced with and defined by 62 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:22,280 the intricacy of relationships. Paul loved God, and because Paul 63 00:04:22,280 --> 00:04:26,680 loved God, Paul loved God's people. 64 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,680 And Paul proved to us this weekend that it is absolutely 65 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:36,760 impossible to claim to serve God and yet not open your life to 66 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:42,080 serving His people. And that way of life opens up 67 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:47,000 our souls to one of the greatest joys that we can experience, as 68 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,160 well as some of the most painstaking aches that we can 69 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:53,560 undergo. Paul proves that by how he 70 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:57,480 mentions these names. And as much as he was compelled 71 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:02,000 in his final recorded words to ensure of the emotional, 72 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:05,880 physical, more importantly, the spiritual well-being of some of 73 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:09,400 the people he knew. I mean, this man was an expert 74 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:13,880 at remembering names, right? And he he could he could recall 75 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:16,120 some of the things that some of these brethren were going 76 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:18,480 through and he would check up on them. 77 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:22,440 And despite the selflessness we see here Paul also making 78 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,640 personal request, he makes these wishes. 79 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:29,640 And there is one particular wish that is tucked perfectly in 80 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:32,360 between the final list of names in this letter. 81 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:35,800 So look here with me at verse 21. 82 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:43,880 He says to Timothy, do your best to come before winter. 83 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:48,080 The Bible doesn't waste any words. 84 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:53,400 The Holy Spirit doesn't waste any real estate in the 85 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:57,160 Scriptures. Paul tells Timothy, I'll do your 86 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,000 best to come to me before winter. 87 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:01,680 And this was an appeal that he made throughout this letter. 88 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:06,440 He says in the beginning of this book, I long to see you look at 89 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:08,360 verse 9 here in the same chapter. 90 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:14,760 Do your best to come to me soon. This man yearned and longed for 91 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:19,000 the personal company of his spiritual son, and he puts a 92 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:21,720 time stamp. He puts this urgency on the 93 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:26,240 matter come before winter. Why did Paul say that? 94 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:29,480 I want to present to you 3 brief reasons why. 95 00:06:30,280 --> 00:06:33,480 The first one is because of the inconvenience of winter. 96 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:37,120 All you have to do is read the latter portion of the book of 97 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:40,760 Acts to see how difficult it was to travel during the winter 98 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,760 months. And so Paul is reminding 99 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:45,520 Timothy, look, you're going to have a much more graceful 100 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:47,880 journey if you just come sooner than later. 101 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:51,240 But it wasn't just the timing of the seasons. 102 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:53,000 It was the timing of Paul's life. 103 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:58,040 The sand and the hourglass of his days was dwindling. 104 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:03,640 His departure was near. His graduation into glory was 105 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:08,360 soon. And so he tells Timothy, listen, 106 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:10,200 it's either before winter or never. 107 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:13,360 In a sense, you can't afford to delay this, Timothy. 108 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:16,160 I need to see you. I want to see you. 109 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,840 And before I get to the third reason why Paul mentions the 110 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:22,520 winter, allow me to pause here and provide a universal 111 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:27,760 principle from this command. This is this is specific to yes, 112 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:30,320 Timothy, and to Paul's experience. 113 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:34,320 But oh, is there a theme of urgency in it? 114 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:40,000 Well, Paul proves to us here is that in our brief lives there 115 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:43,200 are opportunities that arise that cannot be delayed without 116 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:46,760 the risk of forfeiting them all together. 117 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:52,400 And that is certainly true when it comes to the call for 118 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:56,280 salvation. There is a spiritual winter, you 119 00:07:56,280 --> 00:08:01,480 know. There is a time limit, you know, 120 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:08,880 and the Spirit of God in his Word never, ever, ever suggests 121 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:14,120 that we can postpone repentance or that we can stall in our 122 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:16,240 surrender to the lordship of Jesus Christ. 123 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:20,000 Last night there was a call for people to be saved, and it's 124 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:23,560 very possible that people, even in that call, delayed it. 125 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:26,160 And by God's grace, you woke up this morning and you're 126 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:30,760 breathing. But I want to let you know, as 127 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:33,000 one person said, that procrastination is the 128 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:39,720 recruiting Sergeant of hell. And many will be in hell. 129 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:42,400 I know that's not a word you hear often in church anymore, 130 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:49,800 but there will be many who will be in hell because they delayed 131 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:54,480 in dying to self and receiving the free gift of salvation in 132 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:58,720 the person of Jesus Christ. And this is a tendency that is 133 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:01,400 found in the earlier portions of our Bible. 134 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:05,360 You remember that stubborn man, Pharaoh, do you not? 135 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:08,400 And we think Pharaoh was uniquely stubborn. 136 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:11,080 Perhaps you can make that case, but I believe Pharaoh is a 137 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:16,400 reflection on millions specifically in this matter of 138 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:19,160 procrastination. And you see it. 139 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:22,600 You see it so clear, specifically with the plague of 140 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:24,840 the frogs. And you don't have to turn 141 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:26,600 there, but listen to these words unless you want to see with your 142 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:28,640 own eyes. Because it's almost hard to 143 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:32,760 believe that while the frogs were sitting in the beds and in 144 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:36,240 people's pots and in people's sandals and in their purses. 145 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:43,920 Finally, Pharaoh comes to Moses in Exodus 88, and we're told 146 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:46,360 here. Then Pharaoh called Moses and 147 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:50,960 Aaron and said, Plead with the Lord to take away the frogs from 148 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:54,600 me and from my people, and I will let the people go to 149 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:58,480 sacrifice to the Lord. Moses said to Pharaoh, Be 150 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:02,040 pleased to command me when I am to plead for you and for your 151 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:05,880 servants and for your people, that the frogs be cut off from 152 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:09,280 you and your houses and be left only in the Nile. 153 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:12,160 Pause Moses saying, When do you want it? 154 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:15,800 When would you like the frogs to stop harassing you? 155 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:18,960 What would you think would be the same answer? 156 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:25,320 No, why are you even suggesting another day? 157 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:28,400 Let's get this thing going and you can just imagine as he's 158 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:31,040 saying that the frogs are there crogging. 159 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:40,760 But look what he says in verse 10 and he said tomorrow tomorrow 160 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:47,640 Moses said be it is as you say so that you may know that there 161 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:52,040 is no one like the Lord our God tomorrow. 162 00:10:52,720 --> 00:11:01,240 Do you know how many people I've met who said tomorrow Jesus told 163 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:04,720 people to repent and believe today. 164 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:10,680 Paul emphasize that and whenever anyone try to follow Jesus on 165 00:11:10,680 --> 00:11:13,280 their terms. They were never taken seriously 166 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:18,760 by the Lord. We have to understand here that 167 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:21,960 if you're in this place and you have not yet given your heart to 168 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:26,160 the Lord Jesus Christ, do so before winter. 169 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:32,240 Not literally, of course, before your time runs out. 170 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:36,560 But what about the believer? Does this principle of taking 171 00:11:36,560 --> 00:11:40,320 advantage of a reasonable time apply even to the Christian? 172 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:45,400 Absolutely, and in so many ways. There are various examples of 173 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:46,920 this in the Bible. Let's consider one of the 174 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:49,360 strongest charges from the wise words of King Solomon. 175 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:51,720 You know this very well in Ecclesiastes 12/1. 176 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:57,040 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before 177 00:11:57,040 --> 00:11:59,880 the evil days come and the years draw near, which you will say I 178 00:11:59,880 --> 00:12:02,960 have no pleasure in them. What? 179 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:06,400 What's happening here? You have Solomon near the end of 180 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:08,920 his sermon. It's really a sermon and the 181 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:13,720 Holy Spirit turns the attention to the young reader and he tells 182 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:17,000 the young man, he tells the young woman, remember your 183 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:18,560 Creator in the days of your youth. 184 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:21,920 Why do you think that is a special temptation for young 185 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:23,680 people? Because in their strength, 186 00:12:23,680 --> 00:12:27,480 because in the sense of all the opportunities that lie ahead of 187 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:31,640 them, their vigor, their energy, they face the greater 188 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:34,080 temptation. I'm not considering eternal 189 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:38,000 matters. God, His glory, even serving 190 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:43,160 him, and countless people even bargain with God in their faith 191 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:46,000 and determined that they will give the leftovers of their 192 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:48,800 years. But even the world recognizes 193 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:51,760 the preciousness of your youth. I'm talking to the young people 194 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:55,400 today as though I'm old or anything, but I'm talking to the 195 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:57,760 young people here. Listen very carefully. 196 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:01,440 The world understands that there's a segment of your life 197 00:13:02,240 --> 00:13:04,400 that should be used in a special way. 198 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:07,880 They tell you to study. They tell you to travel the 199 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:10,080 world. They tell you to invest. 200 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:14,520 They tell you to take risk. But oh, where are the teachers? 201 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:18,400 Where are the parents who can look their children dead in the 202 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:26,040 eye and say, would you give your best to God, give the best years 203 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:29,000 to God? And Solomon later on in this 204 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:33,840 chapter gives his reason why. Before the sunsets on your 205 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:38,480 strength, before you accumulate growing responsibilities through 206 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:43,000 the natural courses of life, before you come into contact 207 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:47,720 with a failing body that betrays you year after year after year, 208 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:51,120 remember your Creator in the days of your youth. 209 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:59,160 Serve God, if I may say, before winter, before it gets harder. 210 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:04,160 And it's important for all of us to seize the opportunity of 211 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:08,400 every season in life to give our best to the Lord Jesus Christ. 212 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:11,400 But that's not the main point of the message, though it can be a 213 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:14,160 message on its own. I told you that there are three 214 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:17,640 reasons I believe Paul told Timothy to come to him before 215 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:19,240 winter. The 1st is because of the 216 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:22,880 obvious ease of spring, summer, maybe fall. 217 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:26,800 Secondly, there is an urgency concerning Paul's life. 218 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:29,120 The days of his life were ticking. 219 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:33,680 But lastly, Paul saying, come to me before winter is connected to 220 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:35,120 what he said a few verses earlier. 221 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:36,560 So I hope you're still in Second Timothy. 222 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:39,160 Four, look with me here again at verse 13. 223 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:42,120 We read through it. I wonder how many who have read 224 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:47,080 these verses didn't consider the awesome implications of what he 225 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:53,320 commands in verse 13. He says here, when you come, 226 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:59,120 bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas. 227 00:14:59,920 --> 00:15:05,200 Also the books and above all the parchments. 228 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:12,440 Paul had personal belongings and he desired it before a certain 229 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:15,240 time. And you might be wondering, what 230 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:17,280 in the world does that have to do with me? 231 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:25,600 All Scripture is breathed out by God and all scripture is useful 232 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:27,680 for your instruction and your transformation. 233 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:35,000 Even when Paul says bring me my jacket, my books, and especially 234 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:38,680 my parchments. I present to you today in this 235 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:43,920 brief message 4 lessons from Paul's request for his cloak, 236 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:49,320 his books, and his parchments. If you're a note taker, here it 237 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:57,000 comes #1 Paul's request shows the reality of Christian 238 00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:02,560 relationships. So we see this man here making 239 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:06,480 this request to Timothy. And later on, with a heart free 240 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:11,680 from bitterness, he reveals something quite sad in verse 16. 241 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:17,080 He says that no one, no person attended to him at his first 242 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:20,080 defense. So when he went to court, 243 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:23,720 because he's in jail while he's writing this, not one believer 244 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:26,880 came to his side, not one Christian testified of his 245 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:33,280 character or his innocence. And that news was especially 246 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:35,800 disheartening since it is believed that this epistle was 247 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:42,000 written in Rome and Paul wrote a letter to Roman Christians. 248 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:45,200 Did he not? Paul even encountered these 249 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:48,680 Christians and stayed with them for a few years. 250 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:52,720 And we read this in in the past few days together of how Paul 251 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:55,680 long to go to Rome. And that prayer was answered at 252 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:58,400 the end of the book of Acts. And so I'm not going to turn 253 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:01,560 there, but if you need a reference, it's in Acts 2814 and 254 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:06,319 15 where Paul finally gets to Rome and he was given royal 255 00:17:06,319 --> 00:17:09,680 treatment. People traveled from miles to 256 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:13,880 meet him, and they escorted him into their land. 257 00:17:14,599 --> 00:17:17,480 That's what people did for kings when they came into their 258 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:20,400 presence. Paul received kingly respect. 259 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:24,000 And yet now you come to the end of this letter and you get the 260 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:30,400 sense that the honor he received when he arrived at Rome, there's 261 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:33,080 nowhere to be found, as he was ready to go from Rome into 262 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:40,440 glory. The people that Paul never 263 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:49,080 forgot, always remembered, seem to have abandoned him, so much 264 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:55,320 so never mind his first defense. But by way of inference, we can 265 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:59,240 also say that no one thought to provide the spiritual giant a 266 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:02,400 garment as the seasons were changing. 267 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:07,120 I wonder why nobody in Rome ever thought maybe we should bring 268 00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:14,840 Paul the proper clothing. As the air got chillier and as 269 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:20,320 people were preparing for the aggressive weather, here's Paul 270 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:26,720 in a frigid, dark, wet dungeon and he has to make a long 271 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:30,800 distance call for a jacket to be delivered to him. 272 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:37,760 And throughout this letter, what you really see here is that the 273 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:41,000 apostles account of his friendships and ministry 274 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:44,320 partners is somewhat of a model of what every single Christian 275 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:47,640 can expect in their own journey with others. 276 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:50,400 I want you to see here quickly that the attitudes and the 277 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:53,960 actions that he brings up about certain individuals is almost a 278 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:59,120 preview of general realities that you and I can expect as we 279 00:18:59,120 --> 00:19:02,080 seek to obey the Lord and walk hand in hand with other blood 280 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:04,720 bought Christians. So let me give you just a quick 281 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:06,640 surface level understanding of that. 282 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:09,320 Again, look at verse nine. Do your best to come to me soon. 283 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:11,720 He's talking to Timothy. So let me tell you this, that 284 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:14,280 there are going to be Christians in your life who bring you great 285 00:19:14,280 --> 00:19:17,160 joy and comfort. That's a gift from God. 286 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:21,200 Timothy was a gift to Paul. But then he noticed here in 287 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:24,240 verse 10 that demons in love with the present world walks 288 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:27,400 away from the cause of Christ. And you better believe it, too, 289 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:31,000 that you might see Christians that once served with you and 290 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:35,480 were in leadership who will also abandoned the cause of Christ. 291 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:40,960 We're seeing that more and more, especially with leadership in 292 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:44,720 the church in the West. But we also see here that he 293 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:48,000 mentions interesting characters like Christians and Titus, 294 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:51,480 showing us that not everybody in our lives will depart because 295 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:53,840 they abandoned the faith. Some will be sent elsewhere to 296 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:57,200 serve God in other areas. And that's still painful, right? 297 00:19:57,200 --> 00:19:59,640 Because we want to hold on to all the people that we know and 298 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:01,640 love. But Paul shows here that even in 299 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:03,520 Providence, some other believers will leave you. 300 00:20:04,120 --> 00:20:06,400 Not because they're leaving God or the cause of Christ, but 301 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:07,800 because they're serving him elsewhere. 302 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:12,000 You have here Luke verse 11. Luke alone is with me. 303 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:14,040 Isn't it a joy to know that there are some Christians in 304 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:16,160 your life that will stick with you until the end? 305 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:22,880 They will be with you until the end and there will be guys like 306 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:25,640 Mark. Get Mark and bring him with you 307 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:28,000 for he is very useful to me from in ministry. 308 00:20:28,120 --> 00:20:29,520 That wasn't true always from Mark. 309 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:35,080 Mark disappointed Paul a lot, and there will be Christians in 310 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:36,360 your life who will disappoint you. 311 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:42,360 They will, but like Paul, be ready to forgive them when they 312 00:20:42,360 --> 00:20:49,680 repent. There also be men like Alexander 313 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:55,640 the coppersmith in verse 14, who don't, in moments of weakness, 314 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:58,320 hurt you or betray you or disappoint you, but 315 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:02,240 intentionally will seek out your harm. 316 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:09,360 But don't be mistaken here. Paul is not fishing for pity, 317 00:21:09,360 --> 00:21:13,400 especially in this letter, because this shabby clothed man 318 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:17,280 reveals to us a secret. He reveals to us the best 319 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:19,800 relationship, a relationship that will never fail you, a 320 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:23,560 relationship that is capable of sustaining you until the end. 321 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:26,640 Look here at what he says at verse 17. 322 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:30,520 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me. 323 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:35,160 Some walk, some stage, some were sporadic, some were 324 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:38,720 inconsistent. And Paul ends his thoughts on 325 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:42,760 relationships by mentioning his best friend. 326 00:21:43,360 --> 00:21:47,200 The Lord stood by me, the Lord strengthened me. 327 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:50,040 I think Paul was just saying random things here. 328 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:51,520 Is he just trying to sound poetic? 329 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:56,120 No, this man experienced it. That's one of the glories of the 330 00:21:56,120 --> 00:21:59,760 Christian faith. Your Savior, as splendid and as 331 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:02,480 brilliant as he is, walks with you. 332 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:07,920 And even though you live this journey long enough and you see 333 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:10,880 crazy things from people that you thought would never be able 334 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:15,320 to perform, all that does is provide a backdrop for Christ to 335 00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:18,760 shine all the more beautiful and glorious. 336 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:21,840 I'll tell you this, walking with the Lord for 10 something years 337 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:26,840 that with all the ups and downs, one thing has been sure, Christ 338 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:28,600 is more attractive to me than ever. 339 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:33,200 Christ has proven to be more faithful than ever and Paul is 340 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:36,840 expressing that here. Paul's request for a cloak 341 00:22:37,360 --> 00:22:40,800 exposes the reality, the sobering reality of Christian 342 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:44,040 relations. But #2 Paul's request reveals 343 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:48,200 that servants of God are not spared from the natural courses 344 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:51,520 of life. So look, if if you're not 345 00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:55,720 careful, you think that men even like Paul, spiritual giants, 346 00:22:56,360 --> 00:23:01,800 Trail Blazers, get special treatment in some way and that 347 00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:05,600 they get to escape common protocols and discomforts or 348 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:08,080 delays. And serving the Lord does not 349 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:10,840 promise that. Serving the Lord does not 350 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:14,160 promise that we do not pursue things through the normal 351 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:18,960 processes of life. Here's Paul and he, he in this 352 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:23,440 letter ask something that a normal person would ask, hey, 353 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:28,880 can you grab my jacket? Can you, can you make sure that 354 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:32,080 you bring from carpet something that belongs to me? 355 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:36,000 And it does us good to remember that men of God are men. 356 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:41,160 Still, it's no different for Paul here because he's doing 357 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:44,720 something that we can relate to men of the spiritual caliber. 358 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:47,840 And I thought to myself when reading Paul, asking for a 359 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:50,480 jacket could not have God materialize one out of thin air 360 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:55,880 for him. Could not have God defied the 361 00:23:55,880 --> 00:24:00,680 natural law and warmed his body while he stayed there isolated. 362 00:24:03,360 --> 00:24:08,000 Could not have God sent a vision like he did to Ananias at Paul's 363 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:12,520 conversion and said, hey, listen, you're a you're an 364 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:14,960 apostle. My servant is freezing. 365 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:17,760 Get up, take this jacket and go to him. 366 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:19,560 Could have got that. He could have done that and much 367 00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:22,480 more. Just like God can do many things 368 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:25,640 but often doesn't use the miraculous. 369 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:29,360 Here's a hint of that. Look at verse 20 in your Bibles. 370 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:35,320 The last part. And I left Trophemus, who was 371 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:41,400 ill at my leaders. Paul saw miracles. 372 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:43,440 Paul laid. I mean, never mind laying hands. 373 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:46,320 There are people who saw the power surging from Paul, that 374 00:24:46,320 --> 00:24:48,640 they allowed his skin to touch handkerchiefs. 375 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:50,440 They brought it to their sick, and they were healed. 376 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:52,120 That's the kind of guy we're talking about. 377 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:55,400 And what does Paul confess? Your Trophimus? 378 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:57,960 I left him. I'll at my latest. 379 00:24:58,120 --> 00:25:03,520 Can't you have healed him? Oh, this is a sobering reality 380 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:07,960 for those who claim that every time you pray for healing, it 381 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:09,680 has to happen. If it doesn't, then your faith 382 00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:11,840 is weak. Also, is Paul's faith weak? 383 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:16,560 No, Paul didn't perform miracles on demands. 384 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:20,960 Paul proves here that he, just like you, depended upon the 385 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:23,280 sovereignty in the Providence of God. 386 00:25:24,360 --> 00:25:27,520 And yes, he believed for the best, but he also trusted in the 387 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:29,760 wisdom of God. And there are times when the 388 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:32,160 Lord can heal in an instant. I believe he can do it. 389 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:36,840 I've seen him do it. Paul's seen him do it many 390 00:25:36,840 --> 00:25:39,680 times. And there are also testimonies 391 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:45,880 of God preserving the footwear and the clothing of his people, 392 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:50,120 namely the people of Israelites. Have you ever considered that 393 00:25:50,120 --> 00:25:51,960 miracle in the Exodus? When you think about the 394 00:25:51,960 --> 00:25:53,880 miracles of the Exodus, what do you think about the man that 395 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:59,480 coming from heaven, the water gushing from that rock, the 396 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:02,080 miracles that were so unique to that journey? 397 00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:05,600 And I never hear this miracle being brought up when the Exodus 398 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:07,160 is studied. It's one of my favorite 399 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:08,960 miracles. Here's the reference. 400 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:12,160 Let me read it to you from Deuteronomy, chapter 29, verse 401 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:16,920 five. The Lord says I have led you 40 402 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:20,960 years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out 403 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:24,880 on you and your sandals have not worn off your feet. 404 00:26:26,360 --> 00:26:28,360 That's a miracle. Imagine not having to change 405 00:26:28,360 --> 00:26:33,560 your shoes for decades, not having to worry to buy anything 406 00:26:33,560 --> 00:26:37,040 else for your back. God even says I preserved your 407 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:39,280 clothing during that whole wilderness journey. 408 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:43,840 Could God have provided Paul a cloak? 409 00:26:45,360 --> 00:26:51,360 Surely, But he doesn't. In the concluding chapter of 410 00:26:51,360 --> 00:26:57,880 this book, we learned that sometimes sickness stays and 411 00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:01,160 sometimes you and I have to endure inconveniences like Paul, 412 00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:06,400 who was cold and could have used a miracle with his raiment like 413 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:08,000 the Israelites did with their clothing. 414 00:27:10,760 --> 00:27:14,320 Thirdly, Paul's request confirms that true contentment is found 415 00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:19,560 in Christ alone. Don't allow yourself to miss the 416 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:25,800 concrete joy and satisfaction that Paul exudes even in this 417 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:27,240 request. You're saying What do you mean? 418 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:31,960 Notice again at verse 13, he says bring the cloak that I left 419 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:35,360 with Carpus at Troas. You know what Paul could have 420 00:27:35,360 --> 00:27:39,760 said? Timothy, on your way to me, can 421 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:44,800 you stop by the outlet mall and buy me a new jacket? 422 00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:53,000 Paul was very low maintenance. Paul even in other instances 423 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:55,680 shares that he could have made demands as an apostle. 424 00:27:55,680 --> 00:27:58,000 He could have got royal treatment and asked for it and 425 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:00,080 he could have gotten it, but he refused to do that. 426 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:05,720 Paul was a true servant. I remember hearing this from 427 00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:08,760 somebody and I'll try to spare the details, but I'll give you a 428 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:12,600 general idea because I believe so many are so far removed from 429 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:17,000 Apostolic Christianity. This individual told me that 430 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:21,600 they were hosting an event for a specific holiday of the year and 431 00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:24,720 so they reached out to a worship team that they have never met, 432 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:28,160 but we're hoping they would come to help make this event an 433 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:32,000 exciting 1A Worshipful one. And he told me that this worship 434 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:37,920 team came back with a document listing all their requirements 435 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:40,520 if they were to be part of this event. 436 00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:41,880 What do you think those requirements were? 437 00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:44,480 I'm not making this up. I'm what you're about the year. 438 00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:48,800 I'm not making this up. We want these specific colored M 439 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:55,560 and Ms. in the green room and also these specific brands of 440 00:28:55,560 --> 00:28:58,120 potato chips, and those are only two of many. 441 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:02,040 Sounds like Apostolic Christianity, right? 442 00:29:02,600 --> 00:29:04,280 Sounds like something Paul would do, right? 443 00:29:08,240 --> 00:29:13,520 Bring me the cloak that I left. Why? 444 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:17,680 Why was Paul's cloak left? Why didn't he bring it with him? 445 00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:21,520 Have you read this man's life? It's so unpredictable. 446 00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:24,240 One day he's here, the next day he's there. 447 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:27,440 One day he's stoned, the next day he seems to have a private 448 00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:29,440 resurrection. He's just everywhere. 449 00:29:29,880 --> 00:29:31,280 The rhythm, the rhythm of his life. 450 00:29:31,280 --> 00:29:33,760 I mean, he never knew the comfort of a routine. 451 00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:39,080 And so just as he was spontaneous, you can imagine 452 00:29:39,080 --> 00:29:43,080 what his possessions were like, where they were found, where 453 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:48,080 they were left behind. This man was sold out for Christ 454 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:52,480 and yet we see here that in his request he learned to be 455 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:54,960 satisfied with the lot that God had ordained for him. 456 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:57,840 And the beauty, the beauty of that is that there is a 457 00:29:57,840 --> 00:30:03,600 wonderful calmness that you enjoy and inherit with Christ 458 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:09,640 centered satisfaction. It's helpful to realize that 459 00:30:09,640 --> 00:30:11,560 this is not something that you and I as Christians 460 00:30:11,560 --> 00:30:14,520 automatically learn. It's not like that contentment 461 00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:16,320 is realized the moment you come to Christ. 462 00:30:16,320 --> 00:30:19,680 Even Paul himself confessed that it wasn't something that he knew 463 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:21,840 right away. You remember what he told the 464 00:30:21,840 --> 00:30:24,240 Philippians and Philippians 411, he says. 465 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:28,080 Not that I'm Speaking of being in need, for I have learned in 466 00:30:28,080 --> 00:30:31,000 whatever situation I am to be content. 467 00:30:31,760 --> 00:30:34,600 Notice his words carefully. I have learned. 468 00:30:36,720 --> 00:30:38,480 It took time for me to understand it. 469 00:30:39,120 --> 00:30:41,960 It took time for me to grasp. It took time for me, trial and 470 00:30:41,960 --> 00:30:45,720 error, to realize that in the end, really it comes down to 471 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:49,520 Christ, who brings permanent contentment. 472 00:30:51,080 --> 00:30:52,760 Whether I have the newest or not. 473 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:55,360 It doesn't matter whether I get a new cloak or it's my old 474 00:30:55,360 --> 00:30:57,840 cloak. That doesn't determine the 475 00:30:57,840 --> 00:31:03,840 strength of my joy. And I argue that the only way 476 00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:07,280 you can grow in this quality of contentment is by One Ave. 477 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:12,360 experiencing the fulfillment that comes from personal 478 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:18,480 fellowship with Christ. And Jeremiah Burrows, a Puritan 479 00:31:19,760 --> 00:31:22,920 who wrote The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, would 480 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:25,800 agree. I rarely do this, but from time 481 00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:28,960 to time I love to quote some of these men, and I believe his 482 00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:32,080 words are fitting for this time. Listen to what he says. 483 00:31:32,080 --> 00:31:36,600 Quote. Contentment is not by addition, 484 00:31:37,360 --> 00:31:41,840 but by subtraction. Seeking to add a thing will not 485 00:31:41,840 --> 00:31:44,720 bring contentment. Instead, subtracting from your 486 00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:48,640 desires until you are satisfied only with Christ brings 487 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:52,240 contentment. My brethren, the reason why you 488 00:31:52,240 --> 00:31:55,640 have not got contentment in the things of the world is not 489 00:31:55,640 --> 00:31:57,880 because you have not enough of them. 490 00:31:58,160 --> 00:32:01,680 That is not the reason, but the reason is because they are not 491 00:32:01,680 --> 00:32:06,680 things proportionable to that immortal soul of yours that is 492 00:32:06,680 --> 00:32:13,920 capable of God himself. Yeah, that's why it's like a 493 00:32:13,920 --> 00:32:16,840 vacuum in there. You stuff it and you think it's 494 00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:22,320 going to stay and it disappears because that soul of yours was 495 00:32:22,320 --> 00:32:24,720 made to know the one who made it. 496 00:32:27,040 --> 00:32:30,400 Paul at the end of his life shows that you can no 497 00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:34,480 contentment in Jesus till your final moments. 498 00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:47,400 Lastly, Paul's request defines what we should treasure more 499 00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:52,240 than anything. The cloak is not the solitary 500 00:32:52,240 --> 00:32:56,640 item on Paul's mind. He mentions books and he says 501 00:32:56,640 --> 00:33:01,920 above all the parchments. We're not told what content the 502 00:33:01,920 --> 00:33:04,920 books in the parchments contained, so we are limited to 503 00:33:04,920 --> 00:33:08,320 our sanctified imagination. But some would say that these 504 00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:11,240 books may have included blank materials for Paul to write more 505 00:33:11,240 --> 00:33:16,880 things That could be so. Some say that there were copies 506 00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:19,760 of his writing so that he can spread them and share them to 507 00:33:19,760 --> 00:33:22,560 others or plan to preserve them in some way. 508 00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:28,360 Some also believe that Paul, being the genius that he was, as 509 00:33:28,360 --> 00:33:31,120 you see in Acts, he was acquainted and educated with 510 00:33:31,120 --> 00:33:34,160 philosophers and poets, and so that was the genre that he was 511 00:33:34,160 --> 00:33:37,120 asking for when demanding for his books. 512 00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:41,680 We're not, we're not certain, but we have more confidence. 513 00:33:41,680 --> 00:33:44,680 There is more consensus about the parchments. 514 00:33:46,240 --> 00:33:49,560 The parchments, which were made of more expensive material, were 515 00:33:49,560 --> 00:33:55,480 very likely copies of the Hebrew Scriptures, and very likely 516 00:33:55,920 --> 00:33:59,720 records of the very words of the Lord Jesus Christ. 517 00:34:01,360 --> 00:34:06,880 And if that is true, then what a thing Paul does, and making that 518 00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:09,560 the emphasis of his request. Look at it again. 519 00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:12,920 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas. 520 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:18,239 Also the books, and above all, above all, the parchments. 521 00:34:19,199 --> 00:34:23,320 So Paul here would have been OK, I think, if Timothy had 522 00:34:23,320 --> 00:34:25,360 forgotten the cloak. See, the cloak would be used to 523 00:34:25,360 --> 00:34:28,639 preserve the warmth of his body, but the parchments would have 524 00:34:28,639 --> 00:34:36,120 been used to kindle his soul. Are we all that surprised that 525 00:34:36,120 --> 00:34:42,520 this man wanted the word of God in such confining, intense 526 00:34:42,520 --> 00:34:46,000 circumstances? That doesn't shock me at all. 527 00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:51,560 And although Paul felt a chilling breeze from the lack of 528 00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:54,840 support from his companions, he knew that there was a fellowship 529 00:34:55,080 --> 00:34:58,280 that he could know, the greatest fellowship, as he took the word 530 00:34:58,280 --> 00:35:07,080 of God and ate them and breathed them in and meditated on them. 531 00:35:07,320 --> 00:35:11,680 Above all, bring me the parchments. 532 00:35:14,880 --> 00:35:17,120 I've heard from some that they can't get themselves to read the 533 00:35:17,120 --> 00:35:20,160 Bible because they're not readers. 534 00:35:20,240 --> 00:35:24,520 And from my humble observation, most of those people who say 535 00:35:24,520 --> 00:35:27,480 that are also experts in politics and they read all the 536 00:35:27,480 --> 00:35:30,160 articles they can get their hands on and they've memorized 537 00:35:30,160 --> 00:35:34,120 sports statistics. And can I ask you a question? 538 00:35:34,120 --> 00:35:36,480 If you struggle to read your Bible, let me provide an 539 00:35:36,480 --> 00:35:38,960 illustration. Imagine a deceased multi 540 00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:43,120 billionaire who for some reason included your name in their will 541 00:35:44,160 --> 00:35:48,000 along with the contingencies for accessing their estates and 542 00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:50,800 their treasures. What would you do with such a 543 00:35:50,800 --> 00:35:53,600 document once it arrived at your front door? 544 00:35:55,640 --> 00:36:00,840 I know I'm not a prophet. You would set aside time. 545 00:36:01,800 --> 00:36:04,320 You don't wear glasses, but you're going to wear glasses. 546 00:36:05,200 --> 00:36:08,160 You might even hire a lawyer to help you interpret the legal 547 00:36:08,160 --> 00:36:09,400 jargon. Why? 548 00:36:09,400 --> 00:36:13,120 Because you want to make sure that if your name is on this 549 00:36:13,120 --> 00:36:17,240 thing that you don't miss out on the least of the rewards that 550 00:36:17,240 --> 00:36:19,600 I've been preserved for you, right? 551 00:36:20,720 --> 00:36:27,600 And yet God gave you a document intended for you with treasures 552 00:36:27,600 --> 00:36:32,000 and rewards beyond this life. And I wonder how many of us are 553 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:35,440 eager to discover not just some, not just the surface level, not 554 00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:40,680 just the first few pages, but all that God has promised you 555 00:36:41,320 --> 00:36:45,000 with all the contingencies that are required for us to walk in 556 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:46,600 them. Is that true of you? 557 00:36:46,880 --> 00:36:48,920 Above all, give me the parchments. 558 00:36:51,840 --> 00:36:53,520 Above all, give me the Word of God. 559 00:36:56,320 --> 00:37:01,440 This is an example that this man sets the Greek word for above 560 00:37:01,440 --> 00:37:03,800 all there is chiefly, most of all, above all. 561 00:37:03,800 --> 00:37:06,760 You see, Timothy could have forgotten the cloak, he could 562 00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:10,280 have forgotten the books. But as long as he did not leave 563 00:37:10,280 --> 00:37:14,440 behind the parchments. And if Timothy did not have room 564 00:37:14,440 --> 00:37:17,160 to bring all the items, then bring the parchments. 565 00:37:18,120 --> 00:37:21,120 I'm willing to face this winter without my cloak, but don't 566 00:37:21,120 --> 00:37:27,000 leave behind the Bible, you said. 567 00:37:27,000 --> 00:37:28,720 Why are you telling me this? Because if you were here at the 568 00:37:28,720 --> 00:37:30,600 beginning of the conference, you know how we opened up. 569 00:37:30,760 --> 00:37:34,840 This man dared to say, imitate me as I imitate Christ. 570 00:37:36,400 --> 00:37:41,000 Imitate not just my actions, not just my attitudes, imitate my 571 00:37:41,000 --> 00:37:46,200 appetites. It's so obvious here, is it not? 572 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:50,160 We've been challenged these past few days and seeing Paul's love 573 00:37:50,160 --> 00:37:52,000 for people. But can I add another challenge 574 00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:55,960 to you? Consider and reflect on His love 575 00:37:55,960 --> 00:38:00,560 for the sacred writings. I want you to leave this 576 00:38:00,560 --> 00:38:04,520 conference with an insatiable desire for the Word of God. 577 00:38:04,520 --> 00:38:13,040 This book, every page of it, breathes, speaks, and God can 578 00:38:13,040 --> 00:38:17,080 use this book to speak to you in ways as though He is speaking to 579 00:38:17,080 --> 00:38:21,000 you audibly. It's amazing what He has given 580 00:38:21,000 --> 00:38:24,760 to us. What visual are we left as I 581 00:38:24,760 --> 00:38:28,600 conclude today about this man Paul, as we've been studying him 582 00:38:30,120 --> 00:38:32,360 to the natural mind. What we find perhaps, is a 583 00:38:32,360 --> 00:38:38,880 lonely, worn out man who is in a foul dungeon awaiting his unjust 584 00:38:38,880 --> 00:38:43,400 execution, eagerly expecting the speedy arrival of his spiritual 585 00:38:43,400 --> 00:38:47,760 son, hopefully to bring with him very simple things. 586 00:38:48,760 --> 00:38:53,040 Not many possessions left in Paul's name, and those who do 587 00:38:53,040 --> 00:38:56,040 not have the eyes of faith might look at this man and be sad for 588 00:38:56,040 --> 00:39:01,240 him. That would perhaps be the 589 00:39:01,240 --> 00:39:04,600 thoughts of some. You have to remember who Paul 590 00:39:04,600 --> 00:39:07,280 was before he followed Christ. He was a man of great repute. 591 00:39:07,960 --> 00:39:10,360 Saul of Tarsus, the revered Pharisee. 592 00:39:11,400 --> 00:39:12,920 It's very likely that he was a wealthy man. 593 00:39:12,920 --> 00:39:15,960 It was very likely that wherever he stepped foot into it, he 594 00:39:15,960 --> 00:39:19,240 demanded the reverence of everybody in that place. 595 00:39:21,320 --> 00:39:25,120 And this is what he has come to as a follower of Jesus Christ. 596 00:39:25,920 --> 00:39:27,440 See, here's how the natural mind would think. 597 00:39:27,720 --> 00:39:32,280 This is what you get for following an invisible Messiah. 598 00:39:34,840 --> 00:39:37,800 But you cannot look at this with the eyes of the flesh. 599 00:39:38,520 --> 00:39:41,400 You have to see it the way Paul saw himself. 600 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:44,840 You might see a dignified man to a despised man. 601 00:39:45,040 --> 00:39:49,720 You might see a cold man, a lonely man, but Paul in this 602 00:39:49,720 --> 00:39:53,480 final moments instead invokes us to behold a man who was 603 00:39:53,480 --> 00:39:59,760 imprisoned, yes, but was not shackled by sin or unforgiveness 604 00:40:00,760 --> 00:40:04,160 because the same people that he mentioned that hurt him and 605 00:40:04,160 --> 00:40:06,280 betrayed him and left him, he says, may the Lord not hold it 606 00:40:06,280 --> 00:40:09,200 against them. In the very same chapter you 607 00:40:09,200 --> 00:40:13,320 might see a man here who have lost the loyalty and the respect 608 00:40:13,320 --> 00:40:17,720 of even even Christians. But I see a man who is 609 00:40:17,920 --> 00:40:20,880 experiencing the unbroken faithfulness of the Lord Jesus 610 00:40:20,880 --> 00:40:24,800 Christ in his life. You might see a man who who has 611 00:40:24,880 --> 00:40:28,160 pathetically, pathetically poor in this world. 612 00:40:29,240 --> 00:40:36,720 But this man was also rich, rich in love, rich in contentment and 613 00:40:36,720 --> 00:40:39,880 all. Very shortly after this, he 614 00:40:39,880 --> 00:40:45,160 would be clothed with eternal robes and an eternal crown, and 615 00:40:45,160 --> 00:40:49,800 enjoying the eternal fellowship of the master that he loved up 616 00:40:49,800 --> 00:40:57,000 to his dying breath. Bring the cloak that I left with 617 00:40:57,000 --> 00:41:02,840 Carpas at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 618 00:41:03,400 --> 00:41:16,880 Let's pray, Lord, we thank you that you've 619 00:41:16,880 --> 00:41:22,080 allowed us in these past few days to study someone that you 620 00:41:22,080 --> 00:41:26,920 intended to be studied. But we thank you that every bit, 621 00:41:27,120 --> 00:41:34,360 every morsel of the Bible is pregnant with practical truth. 622 00:41:35,480 --> 00:41:37,040 And Lord, we've got a glimpse of that today. 623 00:41:37,040 --> 00:41:39,200 We give you glory for that. We give you thanks for that. 624 00:41:39,200 --> 00:41:42,400 Lord, help us remember these truths. 625 00:41:43,960 --> 00:41:49,440 Help us to realize, not to be cynical, but help us to realize 626 00:41:49,440 --> 00:41:52,960 the reality of Christian relationships, that we're going 627 00:41:52,960 --> 00:41:55,600 to know the good and the bad, but ultimately we have you. 628 00:41:57,040 --> 00:42:02,520 Lord, help us realize that as servants of God, we are subject 629 00:42:02,520 --> 00:42:05,360 to the natural courses of life. Not every day is going to be a 630 00:42:05,360 --> 00:42:10,640 miracle, and that's OK Help us remember to trust you in the 631 00:42:10,640 --> 00:42:13,520 mundane. Lord. 632 00:42:13,520 --> 00:42:18,840 Help us remember also that there is true contentment in Christ 633 00:42:18,840 --> 00:42:21,960 alone. And if we find ourselves itchy 634 00:42:23,040 --> 00:42:28,600 and unstable, always looking for the newest, always looking for 635 00:42:28,880 --> 00:42:34,840 the best, help us remember that contentment is not by addition, 636 00:42:34,840 --> 00:42:38,840 but subtraction. And lastly, Lord, help us 637 00:42:38,840 --> 00:42:43,200 treasure the Word of God. Lord, your word says, I will run 638 00:42:43,200 --> 00:42:46,880 in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart. 639 00:42:47,360 --> 00:42:49,680 So Lord, we pray that you enlarge our hearts for the 640 00:42:49,680 --> 00:42:53,800 scriptures this day. And we believe that as we pray 641 00:42:53,800 --> 00:42:58,040 these things, you will indeed help us as you strengthen Paul, 642 00:42:58,320 --> 00:43:02,720 strengthen each of us in Jesus name, Amen. 643 00:43:02,840 --> 00:43:05,560 Amen. Can we stand and worship the 644 00:43:05,560 --> 00:43:08,560 King of Kings and the Lord of Lords?