Well, we have arrived to the last portion of second Timothy
together, and we trust that the Lord will help us.
See Christ, even in these final verses and as we celebrate this
week concerning his passion, so meet me in the book of 2nd
Timothy. In chapter 4 beginning in verse
19. He's a Paul says, by the spirit.
Greek prisca and Aquila and the household of inessa forests.
Erastus remained at Corinth and I left trophimus who is ill and
my lead us do your best to come before winter.
You Bullis sends, greetings to you as the Puritans and Linus
and Claudia and all the brothers.
The Lord be with your spirit Grace be with you.
Heavenly Father, help us, help us with these verses by the
spirit. Lord help us see the value.
Help us see the richness of even a text like this and we pray.
Lord, that you would fill us a fresh with a revelation of your
wisdom and goodness and that it would transform us Lord even
with these verses exalt Christ through them.
Let no human words. Interfere with the
interpretation and Content with these scriptures.
Oh be glorified, we long for you to be blessed and pleased with
what you hear and more importantly, what you see, as we
apply it to our lives. We ask these things in Jesus
name, amen. If we have not yet grasped the
love that the Apostle Paul and the special interests that he
had four other people fellow believers.
Hopefully these concluding verses in this letter will
confirm that truth. Truth that isn't given to us
just for mere admiration. By the way, it's a truth that
should cause us to be inspired. These verses are for
inspiration, nine other names. Nine additional names are
mentioned in these verses. As this martyr to be is ready to
sign off as he's ready to go home to be with his Lord and it
shows. Is this really just how much the
Apostle Paul was in tune with other people?
It shows us just how much she cared whether it was a desire to
make people feel like they were known by his greetings.
He wanted to make sure that they were comforted because he was
thinking of them or updating Timothy with the State of
Affairs of ministers that they both knew this this saint really
cared for people. He deeply cared for the children
of God. And every letter that he wrote
really oozes out, that kind of love that he had for those who
belong to God. And as you look at this, you
might think well, how can someone, who is ready to die?
Be so concerned about greeting people.
Or about translating or about giving information.
To another person, I'm you're about to be executed And it is
no secret. It is not.
It is not some foreign idea to the Bible, Paul himself.
Even tells us why he is so attentive, why he is so deeply
aware, why he actually cares for the littlest things in other
people's lives and I want you to see it.
So go to Philippians chapter 1 very quickly.
And look at verse 8, Just backtrack a few books.
And when you go to chapter 1, you will see the secret to this
man sentiment you will see the motivation.
That he had four people. It's one simple.
Verse in verse 8. Paul says to the Philippian
Christians for God is my witness.
How I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Paul did not express a human fondness for believers.
He communicated a love that came from God himself.
Even called God to be witnessed to what was in his bosom, how he
had an actual compassion, how he actually had this concern for
others, and it could be paralleled, imagine that.
It actually reflects the care that Jesus Christ himself has
for his own, he can call God to Bear witness that what he had in
his heart, for the people of God, is what Jesus himself has
in his heart for those that he has redeemed.
And I read a verse like this And you cannot help, but realize the
implications of it, this is very exciting.
This is glorious because of Fallen human being.
Like Paul has learned a lot of that was untainted by selfish
ambition. He had a love living inside him,
and that excited him. To joyful.
Sacrificial, living. There is a love that did not
fluctuate based on somebody else's failures.
It was the love of Jesus Christ running through the veins of
this vessel this instrument, for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and
we would be rightly called foolish for looking at a verse
like this and just smiling at it while we study it.
Should I not cause us to seek the one who inspired this
attitude and Paul to inspire us as well.
Can I ask you a very simple question today as we reflect on
the love of Christ this week, what would your marriage look
like husband? What would your marriage look
like wife? If you both share the affection
of Christ, Jesus for one another what would our friendships feel
like what would they be like if we all mutually shared the
Masters tenderness, What kind of Aroma with this church create if
every single one of us in this place had Christ's Mercy beating
in each of our hearts. When you look at a verse like
this, it is not just for mere observation, it is not even for
admiration. It is for imitation.
God Almighty, if you did it with that former terrorist, surely
you can do it in me. Oh would you not want to know
what it feels like to have the actual affection of Jesus Christ
Living inside of you? It can happen and there's no
doubt that Paul echoed what the psalmist said in psalm 16 3.
When he said concerning the Saints of the land, they are the
X in the ones in whom is all my delight.
But as much as this man was compelled to supervise and
Supply, the emotional physical and spiritual needs of others.
Can I tell you something? He was a human still and Paul
himself had personal wishes. He had desires he had needs.
He had wants. And tucked in beautifully
between these names in the final verses of our book here.
He has a request. Did you see it?
Look again. He says here in second Timothy
when he looks forward to his departure to be with Christ.
Verse 21, do your best to come before.
Winter, do your best to come before winter and all this
really is is an echo of to other similar cries in the same book.
Do you remember what he says here in chapter 1 verse 4.
I long to see you Timothy, I long to see you and in chapter
4, he says, even earlier in verse 9, do your best to come to
me soon. But in this final request
though, it sounds similar. There is an additional There's
an additional demand and that is for him to come at a precise
time. Timothy, I need you to get here
before winter. I need you to get here before it
gets cold. I need you to get here before
the air gets chilly. The question is why?
Let's ask another question. Why does it really matter?
Well, you'll find out in a moment.
The first reason I believe why Paul was so urgent with his
appeal was because travel, what's much more difficult in
the winter seasons? All you have to do, is read the
final chapters of the book of Acts to see the great struggles
that Paul had to endure as he was sailing to Rome.
And so he calls his young disciple and he gives them
wisdom to say for you to have a more graceful Journey.
Would you get here before winter?
I need you to arrive here for your sake.
Yes. And Mine.
Because secondly, Paul here has already communicated that his
departure is near that he is going to be with Christ and it's
coming very soon. And so he makes this call, he
makes this urgent appeal to Timothy get here as quick as
possible. And for Timothy if he didn't
come before winter, it was either before winter or never.
You need to arrive here. There is a certain timeline that
you're working with Timothy. You can't just leave at your own
convenience. You can't just delay.
You must come as soon as possible.
Before going to the final point, which will be the focus of our
time together. I cannot help but think that
this is, this is a worthy place to pause and to consider
principle that applies to all men.
Yes, that's small instruction that urgent call has something
to say about God's urgency for men today.
What do I mean in our brief lives?
There are many things that present themselves to us, that
cannot be delayed to Acted upon less we forfeit the opportunity
all together. In our brief lives, the Mist
that it is, there are certain things that present themselves
as certain times, that demands, that demands an Urgent Response
less, we lose that opportunity and it evaporates never to
return again. And I believe the principal one,
the universal one is the call to Salvation.
If Paul here makes an appeal to Timothy to make sure that he
comes before winter. Let's T risks uncertainty.
How much more is it urgent for man to respond to the call of
Christ to be saved? That invitation that command to
be saved to put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
Listen, it is always always coupled with an immediate
response. There is no place in the
scripture where the spirit of God encourages a postponed
repentance. There is no place in the Bible
where you see, even a suggestion that there should be a stalled
surrender to his lordship, you will never see the Lord Jesus
Christ preaching, you'll never see the apostles preaching and
saying, repent and believe tomorrow, today is the day of
salvation. You must respond.
Now, you are held accountable with the news that you have
received this glorious, good news of his love.
And you even think about Jesus Christ who was approached by
different men who expressed a desire to follow him, but they
had their own terms of timing. Remember, let me bury my father.
And each of those individuals Christ, did not even take them
seriously. Because they fail to realize
just how much of a priority is to deal with that information
when it is given to you. I'm not saying that men should
not pause and consider the cost of discipleship you should, but
you shouldn't wait too long. Because tomorrow is not
promised. And if today, you're in this
place, maybe you've heard the gospel a thousand times.
Maybe this is your first time whether it's a thousand times or
the first time you have to make a decision.
As soon as possible, you have to come to Jesus before winter.
Not literally, of course, but the principle of it before your
time Runs Out. You must say yes to him.
Less you forfeit. The opportunity all together.
But what about if you have said yes to Jesus.
What if you're a believer in this place is that I have
responded to that wonderful call?
I did not delay. I've been living for him.
This this concept of taking advantage of the opportunity
time. Still applied to the redeemed.
Yes. And in many ways and I cannot
help. But think when I look at the
Urgent appeal, You're here for Timothy of the wise words of
King Solomon, when he spoke in that glorious Book of
Ecclesiastes, that really sobers you and how you view this world
and he says that they're in Ecclesiastes 12 one.
Does he not remember, also your creator in the days of your
youth. Before.
Paul said to Timothy come before winter and here's Solomon by the
spirit saying to the young reader, remember your creator in
the days of your youth not before winter?
But before the day's, the evil days come and the years draw
near which you will say. I have no pleasure in them.
The Holy Spirit, turns his
attention to the young reader and he calls him to remember God
in his youth, why? Because young people often fail
to consider God and their thinking, and in their planning.
It is usually those who are seasoned and life.
It is. Usually those who experienced
the disappointments of life and are approaching death where they
contemplate God in eternity. And so there is a call here that
in the prime of your life. Don't think that you have so
much opportunity ahead of you don't think that there is so
much for you to experience. I can tell you this that the
youth are arguably one of the most difficult demographics, to
convince that this life is transient and that the things of
this world offers are meaningless And the Holy Spirit
knows that, that's why he says you young people and that season
of strength. Remember your creator before,
before what the son of your strength sets before you have to
face the various difficulties of a limited body before you have
to experience the struggles of your schedule being filled
because of growing responsibilities that come with
life. The world is fully aware of The
Young and the potential that they have.
And even good-hearted, people try to disciple their children
teachers. Well, nowadays you question
their integrity, most of them, but good-hearted, teachers,
God-fearing teachers, also, will look at the Young and they will
say, use this time to study. Use this time to travel use this
time to invest use this time to do things even take risks if you
need to. But I wonder how many parents,
how many teachers look at their children.
Look at their teens and say, remember God, serve God, give
him all that, you have now it only gets harder and harder as
you grow an aged Reserve these Seasons Reserve this time and
give it to him. Before winter.
I'm trying to show you today how
God encourages the believer to consider every season of life.
And to ask ask him to maximize the opportunities in every
single one before winter comes before he comes.
But we look here in Paul's urgent call for Timothy to come
before winter and there is one other reason, I believe among
many. And that is the reason that you
and I will focus today. It is connected to verse 13.
He says come Before winter. Because in verse 13, He says
when you come bring the cloak that I left with carpus at
Troy's, also the books and above all the parchments.
Seems trivial, doesn't it? I don't think I've met somebody
who says, you know, I was meditating on that verse where
Paul said, bring me my cloak. And bring me my books and don't
forget the parchments. You won't really find a verse
like that in your devotional 365 day and night, maybe you will,
if it's Spurgeon. What does this have to do with
us? What is this personal request
have to do with my life? What is this?
Transitional verse have to offer me in my walk with the lord.
Well, a Spurgeon said, Let this cloak warm you today, as you.
And I consider how these things. These items these personal
belongings to a man who lived thousands of years ago, hundreds
of years ago has something to do with you.
And I today, so let us consider thoughts from Paul's cloak.
I believe, when you see this. You see this request?
You see a sad thing. You see a sad thing here?
Because last week, we learned that no one attended Paul at his
first defense. Nobody came to his hearing and
that news was especially sorrowful because it is believed
that Paul was in prison in Rome. It is believed that he wrote
this letter in that great City and you know that there was an
entire glorious epistle, a theological Masterpiece that was
delivered to Christians who are already in Rome that were not a
result of Paul's Evangelistic efforts is most likely These
Roman Christians were saved at the day of Pentecost because
there are Romans who were there in Jerusalem.
And so Paul, as you see in chapter 1, he longs to see them
face to face, and he gives this awesome piece of work.
Where were they? Not one could have showed up to
his hearing not one out of those band of people that he mentions
in chapter 16 of Romans could have come to at least be an
encouraging presence. I want to, I want you to see the
enthusiasm that these Romans believed our had when Paul first
arrived at Rome, an axe. So, turn their quickly in Acts
28 verse 14. I just want you to see the
contrast. How what we've been hearing week
after week is so true, that men change. people change Christ,
doesn't acts 28 verse 14. Luke writes, there we found
brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days
and so we came to Rome there it is.
They arrive to Rome. Here's the chronological
recording of it. And what happens when they come
to Rome verse 15 and the brothers there, when they heard
about us came as far as the form of APS and three taverns to meet
us on seeing them. Paul, thank God and took
courage. So these men heard that this
Paul who wrote this, Letter to them years before, perhaps has
now arrived in to their land and so they come to meet him as he
comes and they escort him into the city like royalty.
They robed him with honor and dignity.
And this man who went through a hell Of a ride through the sea
was, was thinking, God, and he took courage, I have brothers
with me in Rome, do they heard? And it says, even hear that they
came as far. They traveled long and far to
make sure that Paul will not arrive, without people who are
ready to host them and love him and lead him into this new land.
as Paul arrived to Rome there was that great eagerness and as
Paul is ready to depart out of Roman to Glory, They're not
there. Where are they?
Where is that enthusiasm? Where's that excitement?
Wears that great sacrifice, you were willing to walk and travel
so far to make sure that he was greeted.
What about now as he lays in a cold stinking dungeon You and I
thought it was heartbreaking to see that.
Nobody came to his first defense.
Let me add something to it. Nobody thought as the seasons
were transitioning. maybe Paul is cold and that cell we should
close him appropriately. Nobody thought maybe we should
cover his bruised and scarred back with a layer of clothing so
that he can endure. We may not be able to get him
out, maybe we did Skip his first hearing, but let's at least drop
off some articles of clothing. Nobody even thought that this
man, perhaps just needed something warm to sleep with.
This Old Saint, as he sat in the cold dark.
Hole. Awaiting his execution.
Did not have any visitation. Did not have anybody who cared
for him to bring a cloak. And so, what did he have to do?
He has a send a letter to ask for that cloak, that was hidden
away by trust, worthy disciple, named karpis.
So Out Of Reach so far and we don't know why, we don't know
why it was left behind in triage, but it really spoke
about the kind of life. He lived that it doesn't not the
quality of life. This man's life was so
unpredictable. Filled with suspense.
He's here then he's there then it goes back here.
I mean there was no permanent place for him to reside, it was
too dangerous and so that saintly had laid on on various
types of materials. And I can tell you most of them
were not comfortable. And his possessions went with
him. One day, they're here.
One day, they're there. He did not know the comfort that
you and I and I and I know with a routine in life with a
permanent residential place that you can call home.
This man was just on the go his service to the Lord, Jesus
Christ, cause them to live with such suspense.
And we think to himself to ourselves is that the kind of
life, I would be willing to live for my Lord.
I look at a verse like that where he asked for his cloak
miles away and I think what, how can I complain This man served
you and he did not waste one portion of his letter to murmur
about his material lack. He did not try to receive pity.
He was very simple and very quiet, a true Bond slave of
Jesus Christ with every meaning The sense of the meaning and
like any Earthly, save would tell you, there was very little
possessions that Paul could claim exclusively for himself.
In fact, the longer you serve Jesus, the more he seemed to
have lost in this life, don't you forget who this apostle was?
This was the great revered honored Saul of Tarsus.
The man who had a reputation that commanded respect from
every sphere of society, the man who had an Entourage when he was
traveling to Damascus, the man who had a very important vote, a
vote that can that can actually make you either.
Dead or alive. And that same Saul of Tarsus
now. Is alone old shriveling shaking
in asking for a cloak. With all that he had owned,
including that wonderful reputation, it was all given
away. And to the person who does not
have the eyes of Faith, they might look a Paul in his
condition now, And feel sad for him.
But Paul again would not demand such pity because the same man
who demanded a cloak knew that very, very soon.
He was going to be robed with eternal comfort.
And he was going to be crowned and he was going to be given
Treasures. That would put all the Earthly
accolades to shame. Paul had a perspective, that
many Christians do not have and so he did not look here for some
kind of pat on the back. He was very very in control.
Paul was a tough man. I'm telling you today many
Christians have a low tolerance and suffering.
A very low tolerance. There are willing to serve the
Lord, but the moment things get difficult.
They squeal. All this menu, could not beat
the courage out of him, you could not freeze him into
surrender. All he did was request for a
cloak. And that comes to this second
Point regarding this garment. The first one was the fact that
he was forgotten by those that he remembered every detail about
and secondly, this this call for his cloak reminds us that
Servants of God are not spared from natural course of action in
life. You and I will be sadly mistaken
and greatly disappointed. If we think to ourselves that as
we follow Jesus Christ, that there will never be moments of
waiting that as we pursue our desires.
Hopefully, they're righteous. That they will be void of
disruptions. It is a very detrimental frame
of mind to think that if I choose to give myself to God and
I choose to understand his promise of provision, that
includes the exemption of common challenges, discomforts and
delays. This man.
This man here who was an instrument of Mighty miracles.
Who is revered even by? Demons is sending a letter for a
jacket. Sounds very human because he is.
And that should help us as we look at these Giants in the
faith to realize that they were not exempt, from normal
procedures in life like making appointments and making requests
and sending things and waiting for things.
Paul was normal. Paul was human.
Paul did not receive special treatment and Paul didn't
receive special treatment. What makes you think that you
and I will go through this life without things that will cause
us to wonder. Lord, are you with me?
Could not have God materialize, a jacket out of thin air for
Paul? Could you have not just woven
the rags that he was wearing there?
Cannot have God done, a miraculous work and his body,
where his heat arose and regulated though.
The dungeon itself was freezing could not have got appear to a
saint and roam like he did with ananias after Paul's conversion
and command them go and see that man and provide him a cloak, of
course, God could have. He's God Like, with many things.
God doesn't always Implement his Supernatural.
Means For his servants, just like, God can heal every disease
but oftentimes he doesn't and Supernatural fashion.
Look at verse 20, do you see it? And second Timothy 4, I left
trophimus, who was Ill at my letus.
Why? Paul, you have Apostolic
Authority. You've raised the dead.
You've healed so many. In fact, you were so anointed by
the power of God. At one point, that didn't even
need you to come to the location.
They just wanted your handkerchief and they laid it on
the sick, and they were delivered and demons were cast
out. And Paul, you're telling me the
man that I saw and was inspired by throughout that book of Acts
left his friend sick and my letus.
Why do you command for his well-being?
Why didn't you command for his healing?
When you put an end to his suffering once and for all
because, as much as Authority Paul had, he was still
surrendered to a sovereign. God, who knows?
What is best? And there are times in which God
in order to prove his power and his love.
Will heal instantly. Like he saw eutychus raised from
the dead, after he fell asleep in a church service.
And God's miraculous power so created.
That is not limited to your body.
It's even, it's even applied. If he Wills to the very thing
that covers your body. Do you remember the Israelites
were wandering in the wilderness for 40 years?
Do you know what? Deuteronomy 29 5 says, let me
read it to you. God says, I have led you 40
years in the wilderness, your clothes.
Your clothes have not worn out on you.
And your sandals have not worn off your feet.
When we think of the Miracles in that Journey, we think about the
Manna From Heaven, the water coming from the raw, the sea
splitting. Have you ever considered the
fact that they wore the same shoes for 40 years and it didn't
have any mark? They wore the same outfit and it
was in perfect condition as though they had just bought it.
And there are times in which God has proven that he can heal, he
can raise the dead, he can even command your shirt to stay the
same, but there are also times in which sickness seems to stay
Like his friend here in my leaders.
And there are times in which even the most faithful of God's
servants. Need a cloak.
And it's not at their disposal. I'm sure.
Paul made a request for God to perform the same miracle for the
remnants of those Israelites. But, no, he also knew that God
works through human procedure and means and Providence.
And so, he does what you. And I would do send a letter for
a friend, to bring a jacket. I also see with this request for
a cloak that contentment of Paul.
The contentment. Don't you see how concrete it
is? Do you see how this man is?
So humble? So simple.
He lived his life with such ease.
Why? Because when he says, make sure
that you bring the cloak that I left with carpets at Troy as he
didn't say. Bring me a new one.
Hey, on your way to Rome. Would you stop by the store and
get me brand new cloak? He didn't make unrealistic
demands for certain goods and services Paul was so, so so easy
to please. He didn't struggle with that
that poison of covetousness. You do not live his life, always
wanting. He was not high maintenance.
Paul was so calm because there is a calmness that you and I
inherit when we are satisfied in Jesus Christ.
I want to tell you that this Grace, this Grace were Paul just
says, can you bring what I already have?
Please just, just make sure you. Don't forget it that quietness,
that, that simple attitude is learned.
Even this giant had to learn it because he says in Philippians,
does he not and Philippians 4:11?
I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
I've learned that, that's not intrinsic, that's not That you
and I have automatically. That's something that we are
discipled into that some of the Holy Spirit.
Teaches us, overtime, and Paul had it in every situation.
I'm to be content. My requests are very minimal.
I enjoy whatever God has determined for my life, whatever
season I'm in. Look at this man and I think to
myself. Oh, oh.
To be so calm and such confining circumstances with the authority
that he had, he could have made demands on people.
He could have exercised Pride, he could have acted, like, many
people do today and Ministry. Putting demands for high
honorariums, on people putting a number on their service for
Christ as preachers. I cannot even fathom the thought
Jeremiah Burroughs who was a Puritan wrote in the rare Jewel
of Christian contentment. Listen carefully, quote,
contentment is not by addition. But by subtraction seeking to
add a thing, will not bring contentment instead subtracting
from your desires until you were satisfied.
Only with Christ brings contentment.
He goes on to say my brethren, the reason why you have not
gotten contentment in the things of the world is not because you
have not enough of them, that is not the reason.
But the reason is because they are not things proportionable to
that Immortal, soul of yours, that is capable of God himself.
You will never be content and adding more because what only
can fill that void is the one who made it.
And Paul learned that more and more and more.
If you are not growing in the Years with a knowledge of how
Christ satisfies you and I are not doing it right?
If we started out in our walk with the Lord greatly satisfies
and you know that if you truly been born again, nothing else
seems to have mattered at that season, right?
But if you've left that and now you are starting to get edgy And
and becoming ungrateful. Something happen along the way
because Paul learned it. As he went on, Paul grew and
greater contentment. Reverse Christians were
groaning. Greater discontentment Then we
are not knowing satisfaction in Christ.
We have to go back to the basics.
Bring me my cloak. Who would have thought that
would have been so much, but what about the books?
What about the parchments? What we're on those books.
What what did they carry? What kind of information you can
imagine? It's not told so there's great
speculation about it. Some would say that when Paul
requested for the books, what he was asking for was blank
material so that he can write more letters before his
departure some would say that it included some of his already
writings and he wanted to preserve them and pass them on.
And some would even suggest no, no.
Paul was a learned, man. He was aware of his culture, he
was aware of philosophies and Poets.
And so he just wanted different genres so that he can educate
himself. That is Up For Debate.
But one thing that there is a general consensus on is the
parchments the parchments he says oh would you make sure
especially that you bring the parchments?
Why? Well the books or Papyrus?
There are more readily available but the parchments were much
more expensive. The material was made out of
animal skin and that understanding helps people
realize that what he's probably asking for most likely For the
Hebrew, scriptures. And perhaps some recordings of
the words of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Bring me. The scriptures.
I want to hold them in my hand, I need them.
You see when he required the cloak, that would preserve and
protect his body, but when he asked for the parchments, those
would be the means to warm his soul.
Are we all that surprised that Paul in these dire conditions in
the midst of such tense circumstances wants to study the
Bible? Wants to read and meditate and
grow in the knowledge of God in his word.
Although this man felt a chilling Breeze because of the
absence of his friends, he knew that there would be a fellowship
that would come from the Living Word of God, bring the
parchments to me. Because the word of God is a
primary means in which God consoles, your soul, my brother,
the word of God is God's. Primary means for you to have
the armor necessary for Spiritual battle.
It is the window in which you and I look through this world
and see Christ and fellowship with him and him fellowshipping
with us. I've heard from some people that
they can't get themselves to read the Bible because they're
not much readers themselves. But I can't read the Bible
because I don't read. I'm not much of a reader and
some of those people if they're honest who say they can't read
the Bible, they can't get themselves to focus seem to do
just fine with news articles. And memorizing sports stats.
For some reason, when it comes to the Bible, they can't give 10
minutes of attention to it. If that is you, if you're a
person who says, you know, I just, I don't know why.
Doesn't really Draw Me In. Let me just ask one simple
question just one very simple question.
If God in his Heavenly wisdom has ordained that his means of
communicating with this world. Would be through a book even
though there are other means. And even though there would be
developing Technologies to come if God has determined for all of
time that my will my person, my character, my nature, my person
would be known through a book. Wouldn't that be enough for you
to say? Let me read it.
Would not be enough for you to say.
I will honor his method and I will read him and know him.
Think about it. If it is true that the
parchments were the scripture, is this is a very powerful
statement Paul is making, you know why?
Because before he makes that request, he emphasizes the
parchments, he said, especially the parchments, which means in
the Greek, chiefly most of all above all you see, Timothy he
could have forgotten the cloak, he could have left behind the
books but there's one thing he could not fail to bring in those
were the parchments. If Timothy only had limited
space and he had to choose Who's out of all the items?
One Paul would be satisfied. If he only came with those
parchments, Paul was willing to endure the winter season without
a cloak as long as he had the book.
When I think about that, I wonder this past few weeks, I've
been challenged by the love of Paul for people, but would you
open your heart to another love that he had?
And it was a love for the written word of God.
Bring me the parchments. As we close this book.
As we? Put an end to the series in 2nd
Timothy. What visual are we left with?
You know, what you and I are left with a lonely worn out,
man. Shivering in a dungeon awaiting
his unjust execution. Eagerly expecting the Speedy
arrival of one of his most faithful disciples to hopefully
bring a jacket, a few books and portions of the scriptures.
And to the unbelieving mind or to the spiritually immature,
they would look at this and they would see something that is
quite disheartening and sad. Paul.
You could have become someone as a Pharisee of the Pharisees man.
you had such an advantage, unlike very few in Israel, you
could have really, really made it the connections, the
resources, the respect that you had, and you threw it all the
way for what To be in this. This is what serving an
invisible Messiah gets you. That is the world's perspective.
That is the carnal understanding.
Heaven has a completely different idea of what we see
here with Paul and it is found in our final text this afternoon
to Hebrews chapter 11. Hebrews 11 teaches us, what
faith lives like what it looks like.
What it does. And Hebrews 11 36.
About those who have lived, a life of faith in Christ.
You know what it says others suffered mocking and flogging
and even chains and imprisonment they were stoned.
They were sawn into, they were killed with the sword.
They went about and skins of sheep and goats destitute
Afflicted mistreated pause there.
This material is not speaking about luxurious clothing.
Speaks about miserable conditions, like Paul.
This is what faith will get you. Yes.
Sometimes you will be able to close the mouths of lions and
you will see great, armies flee, but the Bible is very honest.
You want to live for Christ, this is how it can end up for
you. And then look what it says in
verse 38 of whom, the world was not worthy.
Of whom the world was not worthy wandering about in deserts and
mountains and in dens and caves of the earth, it's as though the
holy spirit is trying to say something as you reading this
list of things that nobody would dare to volunteer to endure.
God wants to make sure that these who have experienced this
outcome of their faith. The world is not worthy of them.
The world would scorn them the world would shrink from them,
but from Heaven's perspective, Christ and All His angels look
down and say, they do not understand who is walking in
their midst. They do not understand the honor
that they will have, when they come into my presence.
They do not understand, how they will be esteemed for all of
eternity. The world is not worthy of such
men of such who of a man stuck in a jail cell, forgotten and
abandoned. Yes.
The world is not worthy. and you and I as we close this book,
have to consider That the end of this thing for you may be very
similar. And if it is Remember that you
can do contentment. You can know a concrete comfort
from Christ. And though the world may see you
as a waste, as a loss of potential.
Christ through his word says they're not worthy.
They're not worthy, they do not realize, who is among them.
But we thank you for your word. We thank you for the mention of
the cloak, the books in the parchments.
We thank you. That there is so much for us to
consider of own lives through them.
Lord with this time together. through stammering lips and a
limited vocabulary Lord, we trust that your word would have
its effect in our hearts. But we worship you that there is
not one detail of your word. That is without purpose.
You speak to us in all things and we pray that you would open
our eyes to see these things in your word.
Well, we thank you for our time and second Timothy together.
Thank you for all that. You've taught us.
And Lord, we just pray that as we as a church move forward to
another book. You would lead us perfectly into
that book. Whatever it is that you long to
teach us as your people. Please lead us perfectly in it.
The Lord before then, we worship you for what you've given us
now. We worship you for the past few
weeks, and months how you've spoken to us through this
precious epistle and we give you all the glory.
Lord, we magnify your name as we worship you today.
In Jesus name, we pray. Amen, let's stand and Worship
the Lord shall we?