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"Profiles In The Christian Life" • 9.4.16 • Calvary
Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- II
Timothy appears sequentially before Titus,
but it is Paul's final letter. Essentially, these are the last of his last
words.
- He finishes with a rapid fire update on
several individuals that Timothy knew, who were a part of Paul's Christian
existence. These are people that surrounded his ministry.
- You'll see that these are not simply
statistics to brag about or stories to impress with. These are the men and
women that were on Paul's mind.
- As we go through this section, see if there
isn't a profile that speaks to you, either for encouragement or warning. Let's
begin in verse 9.
Text
•
II Timothy 4:9,10 : "Be diligent to come to me quickly; for Demas has forsaken me, having
loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for
Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia." : Paul
would have asked Timothy to come regardless of the circumstance, but there were
several reasons for haste.
-
For one, his execution date was unknown. The second was more heavily on his
mind, as Demas had forsaken, abandoned the Apostle.
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Demas, whose name means "Governor of the people," had worked
alongside of Paul for as many as 4 years.
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When Paul wrote to Philemon, he
identified Demas as a "fellow laborer." There, he is mentioned along
with Mark, Aristarchus and Luke. (Philemon
1:24)
-
When the letter to the Colossians
was finished, it seems that even then, there were troubling signs on the horizon.
• Colossians
4:14 : "Luke the
beloved physician and Demas greet you." : No
"beloved" or "fellow worker" tag is assigned to Demas.
-
In fact, the lack of detail here in our passage seems to indicate that this was
an expected outcome. His abandonment is somewhat easy to understand given the
climate of persecution.
-
In chapter 1, Paul had mentioned the
defection of Phygellus and Hermogenes. Their decision was motivated by simple
self-preservation.
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Demas left Paul for a much more perplexing reason, namely because he loved this
present world! Literally, Demas loved this present age or as the NLT says:
"he loved the things of this life."
-
When the Bible speaks about "this age," it refers to the attitudes
and values associated with popular and secular thinking. Demas decided that he
was loyal to what this world had to offer him.
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Consider what Paul has just written. His pending death was a departure and
there was a crown of righteousness from the hands of Christ awaiting him.
-
Demas weighed the reality of heaven against the tangibility of this present
reality and chose.
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You can't blame it on the teacher! Demas had an amazing teacher and the
privilege of advanced learning. Having witnessed Paul's example, he still
followed his own heart.
-
Soon, the Lord willing, we will be studying the book of First Kings. Some Kings were exceptional and godly. When they died,
their sons ascended to their thrones and not all were godly.
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In fact, many of the most wicked Kings were sons of the most righteous Kings!
Most were led astray by their heart's desires over against their mind's
knowledge. Be careful of your heart desires.
-
In studying this, I could not help but think of Lot's wife, who in spite of a
world of judgment behind her, couldn't keep from looking back, actually
surrendering her life in the process.
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What about the Rich Young Ruler, who for sake of the love of his possessions,
wouldn't take possesssion of the eternal life offered to him by Jesus Christ
Himself!
-
Today, I've known men and women who for the love of their own perceived
identity and the pleasures associated with their desires, have abandoned their
call in order to return to their slop!
-
We could debate whether or not people like Demas are actually saved. Let's save
ourselves the conundrum and take the warning: Love the Lord with all your
heart, mind and strength!
-
Be sure that your heart is excited by heaven! When Demas left Paul, he went
back to Thessalonica. Wherever he went was a backward step and a downhill digression
indeed!
-
Demas traded in the gold of the Kingdom of God for the dust of the Earth! What
a sad testimony! I pray that it will not be one that any of you share.
Thankfully, Paul had better news.
-
Crescens, whose name means "growing" and Titus, or "nurse"
had also left Paul's side.
-
Paul is not saying that they had abandoned him for the sake of a love of the
world. It seems that their departure for Galatia and Dalmatia coincided with
Demas' departure.
-
To be honest, I have the feeling that God's Spirit allowed this group to be
mentioned together because one represented failure, while the others represent
triumph!
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We know nothing of Crescens, but Galatia was a very important area to Paul. He
visited that area on his second and third missionary journeys.
-
Assuming that Paul sent Crescens there, it would represent yet another visit by
Paul, which I feel is encouraging. The book of Galatians was a very scathing book calling for their repentance.
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Paul is direct and hardly relaxes in that book, leaving one to wonder how
things resolved.
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Crescen's visit may be indicative of their repentance and the restoration of a
good relationship with Paul in his final years! Then there was Titus and his
trip to Dalmatia.
-
Because we will be studying Titus next
week, we'll save his biography for our introduction.
-
Dalmatia was an area above the Adriatic sea, north of Italy, south of Budapest,
known today as Croatia.
-
Being that this is the only time the area is mentioned in scripture, we can
assume that Titus was sent out by Paul to investigate a new area for missions
work! Look at that!
-
Paul's Pastoral heart is seen in his sending Crescens to Galatia. His Missions
heart is seen in sending Titus to Dalmatia! Every Pastor and Christian should
have that same dual focus!
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There should be a heart for the established body of Christ, to support it and
see it flourish. At the same time, there should be a zeal to see the Kingdom of
God expand through evangelism!
-
With just hours left to live, Paul is still engaged in both enterprises! Verse 11.
•
II Timothy 4:11-13 : "Only Luke
is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for
ministry. And
Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and
the books, especially the parchments." : Luke remained
with Paul in an official capacity as a physician and was thus obliged to remain
by Paul's side. There were still ministry items to be taken care of.
-
This is why Paul instructs Timothy to bring Mark along with him. This is quite
a surprise given their history.
-
When Barnabas wanted to "get Mark," his cousin, to bring him along on
the 2nd Missionary Journey, it ended in a big fight between he and Paul! Acts 15:37ff recounts the story.
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Paul looked at Mark and considered him a quitter. Mark had departed from them
in Pamphylia during a particularly difficult stretch.
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The argument was so hotly contested that Paul and Barnabas parted ways! 15
years later and Paul requests that Timothy get Mark to come along with him,
finding him "useful."
-
The sense is that there is a task that Mark would specifically do well in
service to Paul.
-
Earlier in his life, Mark wanted to be a missionary, but found that the romance
was greatly outweighed by the personal danger! Paul knew that he wasn't cut out
for that work.
-
Mark had a different temperament. That isn't a negative assessment. There are
many who wish to serve the Lord in a different capacity than they do.
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Understand however, that your limitations are given to you by God's
superintending grace!
-
It's great to have people like Barnabas, who believe in us without question.
But, please thank God for people like Paul, who bear the burden of telling us
the truth in love.
-
Mark must have been sad that Paul didn't believe in him. But that didn't stop
him from serving the Lord. He didn't resent the ministry because of the
experience or become an embittered servant!
-
"I did my best and gave the best of my life and that guy just cast me
aside like trash!"
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That wasn't Mark at all! He wasn't a good missionary, but he was a great
writer, eventually penning his own gospel! If the chronologists are correct,
that gospel was about to be released!
-
The source material for his gospel came from Peter, who saw Mark as his own
son! (I Peter 5:13) Isn't that
great!? If Paul doesn't relate to you, go find a Peter!
-
Mark kept working to find a relationship within the body of Christ where he
could serve the Lord! He found another spiritual mentor, in this case Peter,
and served well under him.
-
Part of his use might have been augmented by the fact that Paul had recently
sent Tychicus, "Fateful" to Ephesus to cover TImothy's duties.
-
At this point, a strong wind must have come through the Mamertine prison, as
Paul just takes this left turn and asks Timothy to bring what would amount to a
winter jacket.
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He had left it with Carpus in Troas, but he had also left his books and
parchments, pieces of scripture there.
-
On the veritable eve of his death, Paul is still interested in reading and
learning about the faith! Paul yearns to learn and grow, even in his final
days!
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What will mark your final hours on this planet? Paul wasn't going to waste a
single second.
-
Whatever you will be in those final moments, you will have been in the moments
that are before you now! Verse 14.
•
II Timothy 4:14-16 : "Alexander
the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his
works. You also
must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words. At my first defense no one stood with
me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them." : Alexander is likely the same man named in I Timothy 1:20, who along with Hymaneus, had been excommunicated.
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Paul characterizes his attacks as personally harming him, bringing evil upon
Paul's work and reputation. How should we handle such cases?
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Certainly, our flesh needs very little to arouse it and the world around us
would applaud any act of personal vengeance.
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By the way, know for certain that when the world agrees with your response
toward an offense, it's not likely that God does! Paul didn't return evil for
evil.
-
He had just testified of having endured patiently, in longsuffering, in the
ministry before Timothy's eyes. (II
Timothy 3:10)
-
Previously, Paul had instructed Timothy that an overseer should not be a
striker, nor a brawler in I Timothy 3:3.
-
What a contradiction he would have provided if he reversed the course here at
this offense!
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Instead, Paul strikes the balance and lives out the example that we are to
follow. "May the Lord repay him according to his works." Let the Lord
do His work!
-
Part of the mark of our sinful nature is to avenge evil well beyond the
original offense. This is why God's law made it clear that an eye would be for
an eye and a tooth for a tooth. (Exodus
21:24)
-
The Psalmists often asked God to be their defense, to stand up and vindicate
them and to deal with the wicked according to their works. Psalm 28 is a good
example.
•
Psalm 28:4,5 : "Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of
their endeavors; Give them according to the work
of their hands; Render to them what they
deserve. Because they do not regard the works of
the Lord, nor the operation of His hands, He shall destroy them and not
build them up." : Not only does God do it
better, He often does it redemptively! Paul expects that God's goodness will
superintend His judgment. For Timothy, there was still reason to be careful.
-
Alexander had not changed his ways. He had harmed Paul and he wasn't done.
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This is why Paul commands him to keep his guard up! Alexander was standing in
opposition to their words, the message of the gospel, to that very hour!
-
Speaking of people who had wronged the Apostle, none could find their way to
stand with him at his first defense before Nero. Here we see the other side of
Paul's passion.
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When it came to avenging himself, he left it in the hands of the Lord. When it
came to having to forgive a wrong, he went before the Lord in prayer. What a
great example!
-
Where do you think Paul learned this? Certainly, he knew that Jesus said,
"Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
-
Additionally, Paul saw this first hand when he stood approving the execution of
Stephen who mouthed a very similar set of words.
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Acts 7:60 says that Stephen asked
the Lord not to charge those who were stoning him with their sin! I bet Paul
thought about that when he was left with nobody to support him.
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Whether he understood their motives or not, Paul had glaring examples of men
who forgave others for far worse treatment than he was experiencing!
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On the flip side of that coin, consider the fact that HE had been forgiven of
greater things than what he was experiencing against himself!
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He had been a blasphemer, an insolent man, who tortured Christians and God
forgave him!
-
Choosing to forgive is one of our greatest freedoms in Christ! What was the
difference between how he responded to Alexander and the believers that
abandoned him?
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It relates to their position regarding the gospel! We can't forgive an offense
what God doesn't!
-
This the same man that said twice, "If anyone preaches any other gospel
than what you have received let him be accursed!" (Galatians 1:8,9)
-
Aside from that, personal sins committed by men against him were easy to
forgive that I believe he had another
reason to choose forgiveness. Take a look at verse 17.
•
II Timothy 4:17,18 : "But the
Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached
fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered
out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve
me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!" : Nobody stood with Paul except for the Lord! He had been
standing with him. What more could Paul need?
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This isn't to say that we don't need each other. We do. However, we need to
understand that when there isn't anyone to come to our aid, that we are never
left alone.
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God meets us every single time and Paul's experience can be ours! When God met
him, He met him and filled him with His mighty power! God's power flowed freely
to him. How could he tell?
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Listen to him declare it. God strengthened him with power so that he could
preach!
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God's strength wasn't simply for Paul to endure through the circumstances. He
strengthened him to perform his task fully, or in it's entirety!
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God gave Paul the platform to be able to fully express the message that he had
been given for all the Gentiles to hear! In the midst of it, God delivered Paul
from the mouth of the lion.
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Most commentators believe that this is a coded reference to Nero, who at
certain points in his reign, did in fact have Christians executed by feeding
them to lions.
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Others are inclined to believe that this is more of a figure of speech denoting
the imminent threat and the narrow escape.
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At least at that first hearing, Paul was delivered from that fate and it gave
him the renewed confidence that the Lord would again deliver him from every
evil work.
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"God will come to my rescue again Timothy and He will preserve me for His
heavenly Kingdom!" What confidence that Paul had and that we can have in
Christ!
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This is why Paul moves on toward a mini worship service as he raises his glass
toward heaven with a toast to the worthy One, who will forever be worshipped!
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When all hell was breaking loose around Paul, he looked toward heaven and
worshipped!
•
II Timothy 4:19-22 : " Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the
household of Onesiphorus. Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus
sick. Do your
utmost to come before winter. Eubulus greets
you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren. The Lord Jesus Christ be with your
spirit. Grace be with you. Amen." : Prisca
is a nickname for Priscilla and her husband Aquila. These were long time
partners of the Apostle Paul who are mentioned 6 times in the New Testament.
-
Every time you find them, you will find them in alternating order. Some have
suggested that this is indicative of their being equally strong in the Lord and
in their ministry call.
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They were exemplary believers, as was Onesiphorus, who we looked at in chapter 1.
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Erastus may be the fellow worker in Corinth or the treasurer of the city
mentioned in Romans 16. Trophimus
was dealing with an illness at this time on the Island of Malta.
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Paul tells Timothy that he left him there sick. This is not a favorite verse of
the "Name it and claim it" bunch! Timothy needs to know, that he
might remain in prayer for Trophimus.
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Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brethren sent their greetings to
Timothy. We aren't told who they were but Timothy needed no introduction!
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Paul concludes the letter with a blessing for Timothy. It's not probable that
Paul and Timothy met again. So may the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
and may you have His grace!
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The first part of this is personal to Timothy. The word your is singular.
Timothy had an uncertain future to face. May Christ strengthen him as he had
Paul.
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But when he closes, he opens it up. Grace be with you, the plural form, meaning
you all! Paul's final words fittingly are about Jesus Christ and His wonderful
grace!
Conclusion
- May His grace
keep our hearts from deserting like Demas or denying like Alexander. We are
frail and easily led astray. May His grace keep us believing in His reality and
the truth of His reward!
- May His grace
work in us the devotion of Mark and the determination of Paul! May He cause our
hearts to seek out the ministry that most glorifies Him and hold onto it until
our dying day!
- His grace be
with us all!